To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to State and local educational agencies for the establishment, improvement, and expansion of world language education programs.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to State and local educational agencies for the establishment, improvement, and expansion of world language education programs. 1. World language advancement grant program Part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq. 22 World Language Advancement Act 5621. Short title This subpart may be cited as the World Language Advancement Act of 2015 5622. Program authorized (a) Program authority (1) In general The Secretary is authorized to make grants, on a competitive basis, to State educational agencies or local educational agencies to pay the Federal share of the cost of innovative model programs providing for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language study for elementary school and secondary school students. (2) Duration Each grant under paragraph (1) shall be awarded for a period of 3 years. (b) Requirements (1) Grants to State educational agencies In awarding a grant under subsection (a) to a State educational agency, the Secretary shall support programs that promote systemic approaches to improving world language learning in the State. (2) Grants to local educational agencies In awarding a grant under subsection (a) to a local educational agency, the Secretary shall support programs that— (A) show the promise of being continued beyond the grant period; (B) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and duplicated in other local educational agencies; and (C) may include a professional development component. (c) Federal share (1) In general The Federal share for each fiscal year shall be 50 percent. (2) Waiver Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may determine the Federal share for any local educational agency which the Secretary determines does not have adequate resources to pay the non-Federal share of the cost of the activities assisted under this subpart. (d) Special rule Not less than 75 percent of the funds made available under section 5401 to carry out this subpart shall be used for the expansion of world language learning in the elementary grades. (e) Reservation The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent of funds made available under section 5401 to carry out this subpart for a fiscal year to evaluate the efficacy of programs assisted under this subpart. 5623. Applications (a) In general Any State educational agency or local educational agency desiring a grant under this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. (b) Special consideration The Secretary shall give special consideration to applications describing programs that— (1) include intensive summer world language programs for professional development of world language teachers; (2) link nonnative English speakers in the community with the schools in order to promote two-way language learning; (3) promote the sequential study of a world language for students, beginning in elementary schools; (4) make effective use of technology, such as computer-assisted instruction, language laboratories, or distance learning, to promote world language study; (5) promote innovative activities, such as world language immersion, partial world language immersion, or content-based instruction; and (6) are carried out through a consortium comprised of the agency receiving the grant and an elementary school or secondary school. 5624. Definition In this subpart, the term world language . 2. Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5618 the following: Subpart 22. World Language Advancement Act Sec. 5621. Short title. Sec. 5622. Program authorized. Sec. 5623. Applications. Sec. 5624. Definition. .

Summary: This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive, three-year grants to states or local educational agencies (LEAs) for the establishment, improvement, and expansion of innovative model programs in world language education for elementary and secondary school students. Of the funds made available for this purpose, at least 75% must be used to expand world language learning in the elementary grades. ED may reserve up to 5% of funds made available for one fiscal year to evaluate the efficacy of assisted programs. In general, the federal share of the cost of such programs shall be 50% for each fiscal year. However, ED may determine the federal share for any LEA that is determined to have inadequate resources to pay the nonfederal share of program costs. ED must give special consideration to grant applications describing programs that: (1) include intensive summer programs for professional development of world language teachers; (2) promote sequential learning, two-way language learning, and innovative activities; (3) make effective use of technology; and (4) are carried out through a consortium comprised of the grant recipient and an elementary or secondary school.