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ensure that there is compliance with the specific require-
ments and assurances required by this Act.
‘‘SEC. 8516. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT AUDITS.
‘‘The Secretary shall report to the Congress not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001 regarding how the Secretary
shall ensure that audits conducted by Department employ-
ees of activities assisted under this Act comply with
changes to this Act made by the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001, particularly with respect to permitting chil-
dren with similar educational needs to be served in the
same educational settings, where appropriate.
‘‘SEC. 8517. STUDY OF TESTING.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for
a study of the effects of testing on students in elementary
and secondary schools. Such study may include—
‘‘(1) overall improvement or decline in what
students are learning based on independent meas-
ures;
‘‘(2) changes in course offerings, teaching prac-
tices, course content, and instructional material;
‘‘(3) changes in rates of teacher and adminis-
trator turnover;
‘‘(4) changes in dropout, grade retention and
graduation rates for students;
969
‘‘(5) costs of preparing for, conducting and
grading the assessments in terms of dollars ex-
pended by the school district and time expended by
students and teachers; and
‘‘(6) such other effects as the Secretary may
deem appropriate.
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,
the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pen-
sions of the Senate a report on the study conducted under
subsection (a).
‘‘(c) 
SUBSEQUENT
CONGRESSIONAL
CONSIDER-
ATION.—After receipt of the report described in subsection
(b), Congress may consider whether it is appropriate to
enact legislation to mitigate any negative effects on stu-
dents in elementary or secondary schools caused by test-
ing.
‘‘SEC. 8518. REQUIRED APPROVAL OR CERTIFICATION PRO-
HIBITED.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of Federal law, no State shall be required to have
academic content standards or student academic achieve-
986
submits an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing or accompanied by such in-
formation as the Secretary may reasonably require.
‘‘(c) ALLOCATION AND RESERVATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2)
and section 724(d), from the amounts appropriated
for each fiscal year under section 726, the Secretary
is authorized to allot to each State an amount that
bears the same ratio to the amount appropriated for
such year under section 726 as the amount allocated
under section 1122 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 to the State for that
year bears to the total amount allocated under sec-
tion 1122 of such Act to all States for that year, ex-
cept that no State shall receive less than $125,000
or 1⁄2 of 1 percent of the amount appropriated under
section 726, whichever is greater.
‘‘(2) RESERVATION.—(A) The Secretary is au-
thorized to reserve 0.1 percent of the amount appro-
priated for each fiscal year under section 726 to be
allocated by the Secretary among the United States
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, ac-
cording to their respective need for assistance under
this subtitle, as determined by the Secretary.