(B) increasing student achievement and de-
creasing achievement gaps; 
(C) increasing high school graduation rates; 
(D) increasing readiness for postsecondary 
education and careers; 
(E) improving access to mental health and 
social-emotional learning; 
(F) reducing school discipline rates; and 
(G) any other indicator the Secretary or eli-
gible entity may identify; and 
(2) increasing diversity and decreasing racial or 
socioeconomic isolation in covered schools. 
SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORTS. 
An eligible entity that receives a grant under section 
4 shall submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such 
manner as the Secretary may require, an annual report 
that includes— 
(1) a description of the efforts of the eligible enti-
ty to increase inclusivity; 
(2) information on the progress of the eligible en-
tity with respect to the performance measures de-
scribed in section 7; 
(3) the data supporting such progress; 
(4) a description of how the eligible entity will 
continue to make improvements toward increasing di-
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versity and decreasing racial or socioeconomic isola-
tion in covered schools and sustaining inclusion; and 
(5) information on the progress of regional pro-
grams on reducing racial and socioeconomic isolation 
in covered schools, if applicable. 
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022 
and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COVERED
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘covered 
school’’ means— 
(A) a publicly-funded early childhood edu-
cation program; 
(B) a public elementary school; or 
(C) a public secondary school. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a State educational agency, a local edu-
cational agency, a consortium of such agencies, an 
educational service agency, or a regional educational 
agency that at the time of the application of such eli-
gible entity has significant achievement gaps and so-
cioeconomic or racial segregation within or between 
the school districts served by such entity. 
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(3) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘educational serv-
ice agency’’, ‘‘elementary school’’, ‘‘local educational 
agency’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, ‘‘Secretary’’, and ‘‘State 
educational agency’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(4) PUBLICLY-FUNDED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDU-
CATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘publicly-funded early 
childhood education program’’ means an early child-
hood education program (as defined in section 103(8) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1003(8)) that receives State or Federal funds. 
SEC. 11. PROHIBITION AGAINST FEDERAL CONTROL OF 
EDUCATION. 
No provision of this Act shall be construed to authorize 
any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United 
States to exercise any direction, supervision, or control over 
the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or 
personnel of any educational institution, school, or school 
system. 
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Union Calendar No. 127 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 729 
[Report No. 117–176] 
A BILL 
To establish the Strength in Diversity Program, 
and for other purposes. 
NOVEMBER 23, 2021 
Reported with an amendment; committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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