(A) the number of requests for information
received by the grantee in the course of car-
rying out such requirements;
(B) who made such requests; and
(C) the types of information requested;
(2) identifies unmet and future information
needs in the field of character education; and
(3) provides a detailed account of the use of the
grant funds provided under this section.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$750,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
SEC. 3. GRANT TO CONDUCT CHARACTER EDUCATION RE-
SEARCH.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) States and local educational agencies have
benefitted from Federal funding to support the im-
plementation of character education initiatives in the
schools in such States, but have been subject to
minimal reporting requirements regarding the im-
pact of such initiatives.
(2) The number of schools currently imple-
menting character education initiatives is undeter-
mined, and the scope and success of such initiatives
are unknown.
(3) The continuing needs of schools that have
begun character education initiatives have not been
identified.
(4) The resources required by schools that have
not yet been able to start character education initia-
tives are unknown.
(5) Efforts should be made to determine the ex-
tent to which schools are undertaking character edu-
cation, the effectiveness of such efforts, and the ex-
tent to which Federal funds are being used to spon-
sor effective character education initiatives.
(b) GRANT AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to make a single 5-year grant to the eligible orga-
nization that, in the judgment of the Secretary, best
demonstrates—
(1) expertise in evaluation and research;
(2) a conceptual understanding of the various
approaches used in character education;
(3) experience in developing character education
initiatives in schools;
(4) expertise in understanding and identifying
quality character education initiatives;
(5) an established record of research and prac-
tice in the field of character education;
(6) an established record of publishing research
findings; and
(7) a partnership or connection with an institu-
tion of higher education.
(c) GRANT REQUIREMENTS.—The recipient of the
grant under subsection (b) (hereafter in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘grantee’’) shall—
(1) determine the extent to which schools are
undertaking character education initiatives;
(2) identify and classify the various character
education approaches being undertaken in schools;
(3) investigate the extent to which Federal and
State funds have facilitated the implementation of
character education initiatives; and
(4) assess the effectiveness of character edu-
cation initiatives, including evaluating the reported
outcomes of character education initiatives.
(d) REPORT.—The grantee shall submit to the Sec-
retary an annual report, titled ‘‘The State of Character
Education in the Nation’s Schools’’, that—
(1) specifies the progress of its research in the
areas identified in subsection (c);
(2) provides a detailed description of the results
of its research;
(3) discusses unmet and future information
needs in the field of character education; and
(4) provides a detailed account of the use of the
grant funds provided under this section.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$700,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble organization’’ means an organization (or a group
of organizations, if the group meets the requirement
of subparagraph (C) and each organization com-
prising the group meets the requirements of sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B)) that—
(A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(B) is exempt from taxation under section
501(a) of such Code; and
(C) has submitted a grant application to
the Secretary at such time, in such form, and
containing such information as the Secretary
may reasonably require.
(2) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term
‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given
such term under section 14101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801).
(3) SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘school’’ means any el-
ementary school (as defined by section 14101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 8801)) and any secondary school (as de-
fined by such section).
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Education.
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