A PLUS Act

To allow a State to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students. 1. Short title; table of contents; purpose; definitions (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the “ Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act A PLUS Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; purpose; definitions. Sec. 2. Declaration of intent. Sec. 3. Transparency for results of public education. Sec. 4. Maintenance of funding levels spent by States on education. Sec. 5. Administrative expenses. Sec. 6. Equitable participation of private schools. (c) Purpose The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To give States and local communities maximum flexibility to determine how to improve academic achievement and implement education reforms. (2) To reduce the administrative costs and compliance burden of Federal education programs in order to focus Federal resources on improving academic achievement. (3) To ensure that States and communities are accountable to the public for advancing the academic achievement of all students, especially disadvantaged children. (d) Definitions (1) In general Except as otherwise provided, the terms used in this Act have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq. (2) Other terms In this Act: (A) Accountability The term accountability (B) Declaration of intent The term declaration of intent (C) State The term State 20 U.S.C. 6332(e) (D) State authorizing officials The term State Authorizing Officials (i) The governor of the State. (ii) The highest elected education official of the State, if any. (iii) The legislature of the State. (E) State designated officer The term State Designated Officer 2. Declaration of intent (a) In general Each State is authorized to submit to the Secretary a declaration of intent permitting the State to receive Federal funds on a consolidated basis to manage the expenditure of such funds to advance the educational policy of the State. (b) Programs eligible for consolidation and permissible use of funds (1) Scope A State may choose to include within the scope of the State's declaration of intent any program for which Congress makes funds available to the State if the program is for a purpose described in the Elementary and Education Secondary Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 (2) Uses of funds Funds made available to a State pursuant to a declaration of intent under this Act shall be used for any educational purpose permitted by State law of the State submitting a declaration of intent. (c) Contents of declaration Each declaration of intent shall contain— (1) a list of eligible programs that are subject to the declaration of intent; (2) an assurance that the submission of the declaration of intent has been authorized by the State Authorizing Officials, specifying the identity of the State Designated Officer; (3) the duration of the declaration of intent; (4) an assurance that the State will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures; (5) an assurance that the State will meet the requirements of applicable Federal civil rights laws in carrying out the declaration of intent and in consolidating and using the funds under the declaration of intent; (6) an assurance that in implementing the declaration of intent the State will seek to advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged; and (7) a description of the plan for maintaining direct accountability to parents and other citizens of the State. (d) Duration The duration of the declaration of intent shall not exceed 5 years. (e) Review and recognition by the secretary (1) In general The Secretary shall review the declaration of intent received from the State Designated Officer not more than 60 days after the date of receipt of such declaration, and shall recognize such declaration of intent unless the declaration of intent fails to meet the requirements under subsection (c). (2) Recognition by operation of law If the Secretary fails to take action within the time specified in paragraph (1), the declaration of intent, as submitted, shall be deemed to be approved. (f) Amendment to declaration of intent (1) In general The State Authorizing Officials may direct the State Designated Officer to submit amendments to a declaration of intent that is in effect. Such amendments shall be submitted to the Secretary and considered by the Secretary in accordance with subsection (e). (2) Amendments authorized A declaration of intent that is in effect may be amended to— (A) expand the scope of such declaration of intent to encompass additional eligible programs; (B) reduce the scope of such declaration of intent by excluding coverage of a Federal program included in the original declaration of intent; (C) modify the duration of such declaration of intent; or (D) such other modifications that the State Authorizing Officials deem appropriate. (3) Effective date The amendment shall specify an effective date. Such effective date shall provide adequate time to assure full compliance with Federal program requirements relating to an eligible program that has been removed from the coverage of the declaration of intent by the proposed amendment. (4) Treatment of program funds withdrawn from declaration of intent Beginning on the effective date of an amendment executed under paragraph (2)(B), each program requirement of each program removed from the declaration of intent shall apply to the State's use of funds made available under the program. 3. Transparency for results of public education (a) In general (1) Informing the public about Assessment and Proficiency Each State operating under a declaration of intent under this Act shall inform parents and the general public regarding the student achievement assessment system, demonstrating student progress relative to the State's determination of student proficiency, as described in paragraph (2), for the purpose of accountability. (2) Assessment and Standards Each State operating under a declaration of intent under this Act shall establish and implement a single system of academic standards and academic assessments, including the development of student proficiency goals. Such State may apply the academic assessments and standards described under section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 (b) Accountability system The State shall determine and establish an accountability system to ensure accountability under this Act. (c) Report on student progress Not later than 1 year after the effective date of the declaration of intent, and annually thereafter, a State shall disseminate widely to parents and the general public a report that describes student progress. The report shall include— (1) student performance data disaggregated in the same manner as data are disaggregated under section 1111(b)(3)(C)(xiii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(C)(xiii) (2) a description of how the State has used Federal funds to improve academic achievement, reduce achievement disparities between various student groups, and improve educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. 4. Maintenance of funding levels spent by States on education (a) In general For each State consolidating and using funds pursuant to a declaration of intent under this Act, for each school year of the declaration of intent, the aggregate amount of funds spent by the State on elementary and secondary education shall be not less than 90 percent of the aggregate amount of funds spent by the State on elementary and secondary education for the school year that coincides with the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Exception (1) State waiver claim The requirement of subsection (a) may be waived by the State Authorizing Officials if the State having a declaration of intent in effect makes a determination, supported by specific findings, that uncontrollable or exceptional circumstances, such as a natural disaster or extreme contraction of economic activity, preclude compliance for a specified period, which may be extended. Such determination shall be presented to the Secretary by the State Designated Officer. (2) Action by the Secretary The Secretary shall accept the State's waiver, as described in paragraph (1), if the State has presented evidence to support such waiver. The Secretary shall review the waiver received from the State Designated Officer not more than 60 days after the date of receipt. If the Secretary fails to take action within that time frame, the waiver, as submitted, shall be deemed to be approved. 5. Administrative expenses (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the amount that a State with a declaration of intent may expend for administrative expenses shall be limited to 1 percent of the aggregate amount of Federal funds made available to the State through the eligible programs included within the scope of such declaration of intent. (b) States not consolidating funds under part A of title I If the declaration of intent does not include within its scope part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq. 6. Equitable participation of private schools Each State consolidating and using funds pursuant to a declaration of intent under this Act shall provide for the participation of private school children and teachers in the activities assisted under the declaration of intent in the same manner as participation is provided to private school children and teachers under section 9501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7881

Summary: Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act - Allows each state to submit to the Secretary of Education a declaration of intent, applicable for up to five years, permitting it to receive federal funds on a consolidated basis that would otherwise be directed toward specific programs furthering the stated purpose of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Requires each declaration to be formulated by a combination of specified State Authorizing Officials or by referendum and to list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. Allows states to use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but requires them to make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, and advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. Allows states to amend their declarations. Allows each declaration state to adopt new academic assessments and standards or apply those described under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, but requires each state to have a single system of assessments and standards that includes student proficiency goals. Requires each declaration state to: (1) inform the public about its student achievement assessment system; (2) report annually on student progress toward the state's proficiency standards, disaggregating performance data by specified student groups; and (3) keep aggregate spending on elementary and secondary education at no less than 90% of such spending for the school year coinciding with this Act's enactment. Limits administrative expenses. Requires each declaration state to provide for the equitable participation of private school children and teachers in the activities assisted under its declaration of intent.