H. R. 1—408
assistance is sought, including training in using such facili-
ties and equipment and training in integrating programs
into the classroom curriculum; and
‘‘(H) the development of educational and related
programming for use on a telecommunications network.
‘‘(3) In the case of an application for assistance for instruc-
tional programming, a description of the types of programming
that will be developed to enhance instruction and training
and provide an assurance that such programming will be
designed in consultation with professionals (including classroom
teachers) who are experts in the applicable subject matter
and grade level.
‘‘(4) A description of how the eligible entity has engaged
in sufficient survey and analysis of the area to be served
to ensure that the services offered by the eligible entity will
increase the availability of courses of instruction in English,
mathematics, science, foreign languages, arts, history, geog-
raphy, or other disciplines.
‘‘(5) A description of the professional development policies
for teachers and other school personnel to be implemented
to ensure the effective use of the telecommunications facilities
and equipment for which assistance is sought.
‘‘(6) A description of the manner in which historically
underserved students (such as students from low-income fami-
lies, limited English proficient students, students with disabil-
ities, or students who have low literacy skills) and their fami-
lies, will participate in the benefits of the telecommunications
facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming
assisted under this subpart.
‘‘(7) A description of how existing telecommunications
equipment, facilities, and services, where available, will be
used.
‘‘(8) An assurance that the financial interest of the United
States in the telecommunications facilities and equipment will
be protected for the useful life of such facilities and equipment.
‘‘(9) An assurance that a significant portion of any facilities
and equipment, technical assistance, and programming for
which assistance is sought for elementary schools and secondary
schools will be made available to schools or local educational
agencies that have a high number or percentage of children
eligible to be counted under part A of title I.
‘‘(10) An assurance that the applicant will use the funds
provided under this subpart to supplement, and not supplant,
funds available for the purposes of this subpart.
‘‘(11) A description of how funds received under this subpart
will be coordinated with funds received for educational tech-
nology in the classroom.
‘‘(12) A description of the activities or services for which
assistance is sought, such as—
‘‘(A) providing facilities, equipment, training services,
and technical assistance;
‘‘(B) making programs accessible to students with
disabilities through mechanisms such as closed captioning
and descriptive video services;
‘‘(C) linking networks around issues of national impor-
tance (such as elections) or to provide information about
H. R. 1—409
employment opportunities, job training, or student and
other social service programs;
‘‘(D) sharing curriculum resources between networks
and development of program guides which demonstrate
cooperative, cross-network listing of programs for specific
curriculum areas;
‘‘(E) providing teacher and student support services,
including classroom and training support materials which
permit student and teacher involvement in the live inter-
active distance learning telecasts;
‘‘(F) incorporating community resources, such as
libraries and museums, into instructional programs;
‘‘(G) providing professional development for teachers,
including, as appropriate, training to early childhood
development and Head Start teachers and staff and voca-
tional education teachers and staff, and adult and family
educators;
‘‘(H) providing programs for adults to maximize the
use of telecommunications facilities and equipment;
‘‘(I) providing teacher training on proposed or estab-
lished models of exemplary academic content standards
in mathematics and science and other disciplines as such
standards are developed; and
‘‘(J) providing parent education programs during and
after the regular school day which reinforce a student’s
course of study and actively involve parents in the learning
process.
‘‘(13) A description of how the proposed program as a
whole will be financed and how arrangements for future
financing will be developed before the program expires.
‘‘(14) An assurance that a significant portion of any facili-
ties, equipment, technical assistance, and programming for
which assistance is sought for elementary schools and secondary
schools will be made available to schools in local educational
agencies that have a high percentage of children counted for
the purpose of part A of title I.
‘‘(15) An assurance that the applicant will provide such
information and cooperate in any evaluation that the Secretary
may conduct under this subpart.
‘‘(16) Such additional assurances as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
‘‘(c) APPROVAL.—In approving applications submitted under sub-
section (a) for grants under section 5473, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) to the extent feasible, ensure an equitable geographic
distribution of services provided under this subpart.
‘‘(2) give priority to applications describing programs that—
‘‘(A) propose high-quality plans, will provide instruction
consistent with State academic content standards, or will
otherwise provide significant and specific assistance to
States and local educational agencies undertaking systemic
education reform;
‘‘(B) will provide services to programs serving adults,
especially parents, with low levels of literacy;
‘‘(C) will serve schools with significant numbers of chil-
dren counted for the purposes of part A of title I;
‘‘(D) ensure that the eligible entity will—
H. R. 1—410
‘‘(i) serve the broadest range of institutions, pro-
grams providing instruction outside of the school set-
ting, programs serving adults, especially parents, with
low levels of literacy, institutions of higher education,
teacher training centers, research institutes, and pri-
vate industry;
‘‘(ii) have substantial academic and teaching
capabilities, including the capability of training,
retraining, and inservice upgrading of teaching skills
and the capability to provide professional development;
‘‘(iii) provide a comprehensive range of courses for
educators to teach instructional strategies for students
with different skill levels;
‘‘(iv) provide training to participating educators
in ways to integrate telecommunications courses into
existing school curriculum;
‘‘(v) provide instruction for students, teachers, and
parents;
‘‘(vi) serve a multistate area; and
‘‘(vii) give priority to the provision of equipment
and linkages to isolated areas; and
‘‘(E) involve a telecommunications entity (such as a
satellite, cable, telephone, computer, or public or private
television stations) participating in the eligible entity and
donating equipment or in-kind services for telecommuni-
cations linkages.
‘‘SEC. 5475. OTHER GRANT ASSISTANCE.
‘‘(a) SPECIAL STATEWIDE NETWORK.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in conjunction with the
Office of Educational Technology, may provide assistance to
a statewide telecommunications network if such network—
‘‘(A) provides 2-way full-motion interactive video and
audio communications;
‘‘(B) links together public colleges and universities and
secondary schools throughout the State; and
‘‘(C) meets any other requirements determined appro-
priate by the Secretary.
‘‘(2) MATCHING CONTRIBUTION.—A statewide telecommuni-
cations network assisted under paragraph (1) shall contribute,
either directly or through private contributions, non-Federal
funds equal to not less than 50 percent of the cost of such
network.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL LOCAL NETWORK.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to provide
assistance, on a competitive basis, to a local educational agency,
or a consortium of such agencies, to enable such agency or
consortium to establish a high-technology demonstration pro-
gram.
‘‘(2) PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS.—A high-technology dem-
onstration program assisted under paragraph (1) shall—
‘‘(A) include 2-way full-motion interactive video, audio,
and text communications;
‘‘(B) link together elementary schools and secondary
schools, colleges, and universities;
‘‘(C) provide parent participation and family programs;
‘‘(D) include a staff development program; and
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‘‘(E) have a significant contribution and participation
from business and industry.
‘‘(3) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—A local educational agency
or consortium receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall pro-
vide, either directly or through private contributions, non-Fed-
eral matching funds equal to not less than 50 percent of the
amount of the grant.
‘‘(c) TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS FOR CONTINUING EDU-
CATION.—
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to develop
and operate one or more programs that provide online access
to educational resources in support of continuing education
and curriculum requirements relevant to achieving a secondary
school diploma or its recognized equivalent. The program
authorized by this subsection shall be designed to advance
adult literacy, secondary school completion, and the acquisition
of specified competency by the end of the 12th grade.
‘‘(2) APPLICATIONS.—Each eligible entity desiring a grant
under this subsection shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary. The application shall include each of the following:
‘‘(A) A demonstration that the applicant will use pub-
licly funded or free public telecommunications infrastruc-
ture to deliver video, voice, and data in an integrated
service to support and assist in the acquisition of a sec-
ondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
‘‘(B) An assurance that the content of the materials
to be delivered is consistent with the accreditation require-
ments of the State for which such materials are used.
‘‘(C) To the extent feasible, materials developed in the
Federal departments and agencies and under appropriate
federally funded programs.
‘‘(D) An assurance that the applicant has the techno-
logical and substantive experience to carry out the program.
‘‘(E) Such additional assurances as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
‘‘SEC. 5476. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
‘‘(a) LEADERSHIP, EVALUATION, AND PEER REVIEW.—
‘‘(1) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may reserve
not more than 5 percent of the amount made available to
carry out this subpart for a fiscal year for national leadership,
evaluation, and peer review activities, which the Secretary
may carry out directly or through grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements.
‘‘(2) LEADERSHIP.—Funds reserved for leadership activities
under paragraph (1) may be used for—
‘‘(A) disseminating information, including lists and
descriptions of services available from grant recipients
under this subpart; and
‘‘(B) other activities designed to enhance the quality
of distance learning activities nationwide.
‘‘(3) EVALUATION.—Funds reserved for evaluation activities
under paragraph (1) may be used to conduct independent
evaluations of the activities assisted under this subpart and
of distance learning in general, including—