I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1687
To provide financial assistance to eligible local educational agencies to improve
rural education, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 2, 1993
Mr. WILLIAMS (for himself, Mr. DE LA GARZA, Mr. FAZIO, Mr. GUNDERSON,
Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. PARKER, Mr. WISE, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. JEF-
FERSON, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. VOLKMER, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota,
Mr. OLVER, and Mr. BOUCHER) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
A BILL
To provide financial assistance to eligible local educational
agencies to improve rural education, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Rural Schools of America (RSA) Act of 1993’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents is
as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of purpose.
TITLE I—RURAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Sec. 101. Authorization.
Sec. 102. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 103. Application.
Sec. 104. Planning period.
Sec. 105. Uses of funds.
Sec. 106. Accountability.
Sec. 107. Incentive awards to exemplary programs.
Sec. 108. Regulatory assessment.
Sec. 109. Local advisory group.
Sec. 110. Special rules.
TITLE II—SCHOOL BUILDING REPAIR AND RENOVATION
Sec. 201. Purpose; authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 202. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 203. Application.
Sec. 204. Repair and renovation.
Sec. 205. Environment and safety.
Sec. 206. Waiver.
Sec. 207. Application of the Davis-Bacon Act.
TITLE III—EVALUATION OF RESULTS
Subtitle A—Assistant Secretary
Sec. 301. Assistant Secretary for rural education.
Subtitle B—Rural School Research and Evaluation
Sec. 311. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 312. Establishment; operation; uses of funds.
Sec. 313. Local rural school evaluation.
Sec. 314. Local applications.
TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 401. Interagency Council and Rural Schools.
Sec. 402. White House Conference on Rural Education.
Sec. 403. Federal funds to supplement not supplant non-Federal funds.
Sec. 404. Definitions.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the ability of America’s rural school systems
to meet the National Education Goals will contribute
to the economic competitiveness and academic stand-
ing of the Nation in the world community;
(2) the quality of public education in the rural
areas of the Nation has a direct effect on the eco-
nomic development of the rural communities of the
Nation;
(3) the success of rural schools in boosting the
achievement of minority youth attending such
schools will determine the ability of the Nation to
close the gap between the ‘‘haves and have-nots’’ in
society;
(4) the cost to America’s businesses to provide
remedial education to high school graduates is ap-
proximately $30,000,000,000 per year;
(5) approximately one-third of the Nation’s
work force will be minority by the year 2000;
(6) rural schools enroll a disproportionately
large share of the Nation’s poor and ‘‘at-risk’’
youth;
(7) approximately 60 percent of the Nation’s
public school districts are rural with a population of
less than 2,500;
(8) approximately one out of every four of
America’s rural children are living below the poverty
line;
(9) the academic performance of students in the
average rural school system is below that of students
in most other suburban school systems;
(10) rural preschoolers have less access to early
childhood development programs than other children;
(11) shortages of teachers for rural school sys-
tems is greater than in other kinds of school sys-
tems;
(12) a declining number of rural high school
graduates are pursuing postsecondary education op-
portunities;
(13) the average age of rural public school
buildings is more than 45 years old and are often in
serious disrepair, creating poor and demoralizing
working and learning conditions;
(14) solving the challenges facing the Nation’s
rural schools will require the concerted and collabo-
rative efforts of all levels of government and all sec-
tors of the community;
(15) State and Federal funding of rural schools
has not adequately reflected need; and
(16) Federal funding that is well targeted, flexi-
ble and accountable would contribute significantly to
addressing the comprehensive needs of rural schools.
(8) improve the Nation’s global economic and
educational competitiveness by improving the coun-
try’s rural schools;
(9) encourage community, parental and busi-
ness collaboration in the improvement of rural
schools;
(10) review regulations the simplification of
which might improve the achievement of rural school
children;
(11) encourage rural school consortia for the
purpose of increasing efficiency and course offerings;
(12) encourage a positive role for rural public
schools in local rural entrepreneurship and the iden-
tification of rural community economic development
opportunities;
(13) encourage ‘‘community as school’’ con-
cepts, which include the role public schools can play
to assist with rural community economic revitaliza-
tion; and
(14) provide meaningful inservice opportunities
for rural public school teachers.
TITLE I—RURAL SCHOOL
IMPROVEMENT
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There 
are 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated
$1,500,000,000 for 1994 and such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,
1999, and 2000 to carry out the provisions of this title.
SEC. 102. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.
(a) RESERVATION.—From the amount appropriated
or otherwise made available to carry out the provisions of
this title for any fiscal year after the first fiscal year in
which the Secretary awards allotments to State edu-
cational agencies under this title, the Secretary shall re-
serve 5 percent of such funds to provide competitive
awards in accordance with section 107.
(b) ALLOTMENTS.—
(1) FEDERAL ALLOTMENT.—From the remain-
der of the funds not reserved under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall allot to each State educational
agency with an approved application in each fiscal
year an amount which bears the same relationship to
such funds as the amount all eligible local edu-
cational agencies with approved applications in the
State were allocated under sections 1005 and 1006
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 in the preceding fiscal year bears to the total
amount received under such sections in such preced-
ing fiscal year by all eligible local educational agen-
cies with approved applications in all States.
(2) STATE ALLOTMENT.—
(A) RESERVATION.—From amounts re-
ceived pursuant to paragraph (1), each State
educational agency may reserve 1 percent of
such amount for administrative expenses.
(B) FORMULA.—From the remainder of
amounts received pursuant to paragraph (1) in
each fiscal year, each State educational agency
shall allot to each eligible local educational
agency with an approved application an amount
which bears the same relationship to such funds
as the amount such eligible local educational
agency was allocated under sections 1005 and
1006 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 in the preceding fiscal year
bears to the total amount received under such
sections in such preceding fiscal year by all eli-
gible local educational agencies with approved
applications in the State.
(C) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—Not more
than 5 percent of any eligible local educational
agency’s allotment under this subsection may be
used for administrative costs.
(c) REALLOTMENT.—Any amounts available for real-
lotment pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) shall be real-
lotted in the same manner as the original allotments were
made.
(d) RESERVATION FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANI-
ZATIONS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts allotted
under subsection (b)(2) for any fiscal year, each eli-
gible local educational agency shall reserve not more
than 5 percent to make as many grants as prac-
ticable for activities in accordance with the National
Education Goals and described in section 105 to—
(A) community-based organizations; or
(B) nonprofit partnerships among the eligi-
ble local educational agency, local colleges or
universities, or area-wide collaboratives with
private sector businesses who enter into a writ-
ten agreement with the eligible local educational
agency.
(2) SPECIAL RULE.—Grants awarded pursuant
to paragraph (1) shall be of sufficient size, scope
and quality to be effective.
SEC. 103. APPLICATION.
(a) STATE APPLICATION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each State educational
agency desiring to receive an allotment in any fiscal
year to carry out the provisions of this title shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and accompanied by such informa-
tion as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall—
(A) contain such information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require in order to make
the allotment described in section 102(b)(1);
(B) inform the Secretary regarding any eli-
gible local educational agency that fails to com-
ply with the provisions of this title; and
(C) contain such other information or as-
surances as the Secretary determines necessary
to ensure compliance with the provisions of this
title.
(b) LOCAL APPLICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any eligible local educational
agency desiring to receive an allotment to carry out
the provisions of this title, shall—
(A) develop and prepare an application
with the local advisory group in accordance with
section 109 of this Act;
(B) submit the application described in
subparagraph (A) to the State educational
agency at such time, in such manner and ac-
companied by such information as the State
educational agency may reasonably require.
(2) CONTENTS OF LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGEN-
CY APPLICATION.—Each application submitted by an
eligible local educational agency pursuant to para-
graph (1) shall include a description of—
(A) the ranking of all schools in the eligi-
ble local educational agency by achievement,
poverty, and racial isolation and how such
schools will be served in accordance with section
110(a);
(B) the community served by the eligible
local educational agency and the effects of the
community on the educational conditions within
the schools served by the eligible local edu-
cational agency;
(C) the collaboration in program planning
with the local advisory group described in sec-
tion 109;
(D) the goals selected by the eligible local
educational agency pursuant to section 106(b),
the rationale for choosing such goals over oth-
ers, and a description of whether the goals se-
lected differ between elementary and secondary
schools in the district;
(E) how funds received under this title will
be used to meet the National Educational Goals
selected by the eligible local educational agency;
(F) how promising or successful models or
programs will be replicated in designing activi-
ties assisted under this title;
(G) which federally funded programs and
activities are being expanded under this title;
and
(H) the statistical indicators and other cri-
teria that the eligible local educational agency
will use to measure progress toward meeting
National Education Goals, and a description of
what the local educational agency has done to
ensure that any assessments used to measure
such progress will not have a negative effect on
minority or language minority students;
(3) DURATION.—Except as provided in section
106, the application described in paragraph (1) may
be for a period of not more than 3 years.
(c) COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-
PROFIT PARTNERSHIPS.—Any community-based organiza-
tion or nonprofit partnership described in section 102(d)
desiring to receive a grant from an eligible local edu-
cational agency pursuant to such section shall—
(1) prepare an application for approval by the
local advisory group described in section 109 and
submit such application to the eligible local edu-
cational agency;
(2) describe in the application the collaborative
efforts undertaken with the eligible local educational
agency in designing a program to meet the purposes
of the Act; and
(3) describe in the application how funds will be
used to help meet the education goals selected by the
eligible local educational agency pursuant to sub-
section (b) of this section.
SEC. 104. PLANNING PERIOD.
Any eligible local educational agency requiring addi-
tional planning efforts to meet the provisions of this title
may use the first 6 months of the initial program year
for planning purposes, subject to approval by the State
educational agency, except that no more than 15 percent
of the first year’s allotment shall be used for such pur-
poses. A written report of the results of the plan shall be
submitted to the State educational agency.
SEC. 105. USES OF FUNDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Funds allotted under section
102(b)(2) shall be used by eligible local educational agen-
cies, or community-based organizations or nonprofit part-
nerships described in section 102(d) to meet national edu-
cation goals through programs designed to—
(1) increase the academic achievement of rural
school children to at least the national average, in-
cluding such education reform initiatives as—
(A) effective schools programs;
(B) tutoring, mentoring, and other activi-
ties to improve academic achievement directly;
(C) supplementary academic instruction;
(D) efforts to improve problem-solving and
higher-order critical thinking skills;
(E) programs to increase student motiva-
tion for learning;
(F) efforts to lengthen the school day,
school year or reduce class sizes; and
(G) encouraging the establishment of rural
school consortia to increase efficiency and
course offerings; and
(2) ensure the readiness of all rural children for
school, including—
(A) full workday, full calendar-year com-
prehensive early childhood development pro-
grams;
(B) parenting classes and parent involve-
ment activities;
(C) activities designed to coordinate pre-
kindergarten and child care programs;
(D) efforts to integrate developmentally
appropriate prekindergarten services into the
overall school program;
(E) upgrading the qualifications of early
childhood education staff and standards for
programs;
(F) collaborative efforts with health and
social service agencies to provide comprehensive
services and to facilitate the transition from
home to school;
(G) establishment of comprehensive child
care centers in high schools for student-parents
and their children; and
(H) augmenting early childhood develop-
ment programs to meet the special educational
and cultural needs of limited-English proficient
and migrant preschool children;
(3) increase the graduation rates of rural stu-
dents to at least the national average, including—
(A) dropout prevention activities and sup-
port services for students at-risk of dropping
out of school;
(B) re-entry, outreach and support activi-
ties to recruit students who have dropped out of
school to return to school;
(C) development of systemwide policies and
practices that encourage students to stay in
school;
(D) efforts to provide individualized stu-
dent support, such as mentoring programs;
(E) collaborative activities between schools,
parents, community groups, agencies and insti-
tutions of higher education aimed at preventing
individuals from dropping out of school;
(F) programs to increase student attend-
ance; and
(G) alternative programs for students, es-
pecially bilingual, special education and migrant
students, who have dropped out of school or are
at-risk of dropping out of school;
(4) prepare rural school graduates to enter
higher education, pursue careers and exercise their
responsibilities as citizens, including—
(A) activities designed to increase the
number and percentages of students, enrolling
in postsecondary educational institutions after
graduation from secondary schools;
(B) in-school youth employment, vocational
education, and career education programs that
improve the transition from school to work;
(C) activities designed in collaboration with
colleges and universities to assist rural school
graduates in completing higher education;
(D) activities designed in conjunction with
community colleges to provide a K–14 experi-
ence for rural school secondary school students;
(E) efforts to increase voter registration
among eligible high school students attending
schools served by eligible local educational agen-
cies;
(F) activities designed to promote commu-
nity service and volunteerism among students,
parents, teachers, and the community;
(G) civic education, law-related education
and other programs designed to enhance re-
sponsible citizenship and understanding of the
political process; and
(H) encouraging a positive role for rural
public schools in local rural entrepreneurship
and the identification of rural community eco-
nomic development opportunities;
(5) recruit and retain qualified teachers, includ-
ing—
(A) school-based management projects and
activities;
(B) programs designed to increase the sta-
tus of the teaching profession;
(C) alternative routes to certification for
qualified individuals from business, the military
and other fields;
(D) efforts to recruit and retain teachers
in critical shortage areas, including early child-
hood teachers, mathematics and science teach-
ers, and special education and bilingual teach-
ers;
(E) upgrading the skills of existing class-
room teachers through the use of year-round,
systematic, comprehensive inservice training
programs;
(F) upgrading the skills of teacher aides
and paraprofessionals to assist such individuals
in becoming certified teachers;
(G) efforts specifically designed to increase
the number of minority teachers in rural
schools;
(H) programs designed to ‘‘grow your
own’’ teachers;
(I) incentives for teachers to work in rural
schools;
(J) collaborative activities with colleges
and universities to revise and upgrade teacher
training programs to meet the needs of rural
school students; and
(K) training activities for the purpose of
incorporating distance learning technologies;
(6) decrease the use of drugs and alcohol
among rural students, and to enhance the physical
and emotional health of such students, including—
(A) activities designed to improve the self-
esteem and self-worth of rural students;
(B) the provision of health care services
and other social services and the coordination of
such services with other health care providers;
(C) programs designed to improve safety
and discipline and reduce in-school violence and
vandalism;
(D) activities that begin in the early
grades and are designed to prevent drug and al-
cohol abuse and smoking among students;
(E) collaborative activities with other agen-
cies, businesses, and community groups to dis-
courage the advertisement and glorification of
drugs and alcohol;
(F) efforts to enhance health education
and nutrition education; and
(G) alternative schools, and schools-within-
schools programs, including bilingual, migrant
and special education programs for students
with special needs.
(b) SPECIAL RULE.—Funds allotted under section
102(b)(2) may be used by eligible local educational agen-
cies, community-based organizations, or nonprofit partner-
ships described in section 102(d) for the planning, devel-
opment, operation, or expansion of programs and activities
which are designed to assist rural schools in meeting Na-
tional Education Goals, and may include—
(1) training of teachers and other educational
personnel in subject areas, or instructional tech-
nology and methods that would improve the delivery
of services in rural settings in any of the National
Education Goal areas, including staff development
efforts which emphasize multicultural, gender and
disability bias-free curricula;
(2) coordination and collaboration with other
rural agencies, including State rural development
councils, child care organizations, universities or the
private sector;
(3) parental involvement and outreach efforts
and other activities designed to enhance parental en-
couragement of student learning;
(4) guidance counseling, psychological, social
work, and other support services that contribute to
progress in achieving national education goals;
(5) efforts to acquire and improve access to
educational technology, including distance learning
technologies;
(6) programs to serve homeless children, deseg-
regating children, immigrants, migrants, or other
highly mobile populations, even if such individuals
do not attend a rural project school assisted under
this title;
(7) efforts to improve, reform and strengthen
the curriculum, especially efforts to enhance critical
thinking skills among rural students, and efforts to
coordinate services across grade levels; and
(8) other activities designed to assist in achiev-
ing the national education goals.
(c) PRIORITY.—Each local educational agency sub-
mitting an application under this section shall give priority
in designing the program assisted under this title to activi-
ties that replicate successful efforts in other local edu-
cational agencies or expand successful programs within
the eligible local educational agency.
SEC. 106. ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The State educational agency
may award an allotment under this title to an eligible local
educational agency to enable such an agency to operate
a program under this title for a period of not more than
3 years. If an eligible local educational agency receiving
an allotment under this title meets the accountability re-
quirements described in subsection (b) at the end of 3
years and the requirements described in subsection (c) at
the end of each year, as determined by the State edu-
cational agency, such agency shall be eligible to continue
the project with funds under this title for an additional
3 years if such agency so desires.
(b) REQUIREMENTS TO MOVE TOWARD NATIONAL
EDUCATION GOALS.—
(1) PROGRAM CONTINUATION.—If, after 3 years
of receiving an allotment under this title, an eligible
local educational agency is able to demonstrate to
the satisfaction of the State educational agency that
it has increased the achievement within the lowest 2
quartiles of students in schools assisted under this
title as measured by the statistical indicators and
other criteria specified in the application in compari-
son to the year prior to the initiation of the project,
then such agency shall be eligible to continue the
project with funds under this title for an additional
3 years upon reapplication under section 103.
(2) SPECIAL RULE.—If, after 3 years of receiv-
ing an allotment under this title, an eligible local
educational agency is able to demonstrate progress
on meeting at least 3 other National Education
Goals as measured by the criteria described in para-
graph (3), then such agency shall be deemed to have
met the requirements of paragraph (1) so long as
the average achievement level of the schools assisted
under this title did not decline in any of the 3 pre-
vious school years.
(3) CRITERIA.—For purposes of paragraph (2),
the criteria are:
(A) The number or percentage of preschool
children served by the eligible local educational
agency is greater than the average such number
or percentage in the 3 previous school years.
(B) The secondary school graduation rate
in the eligible local educational agency is great-
er than the average such rate for the 3 previous
school years.
(C) The percentage of secondary school
graduates in the eligible local educational agen-
cy enrolled in postsecondary education is great-
er than such percentage for the 3 previous
school years.
(D) The incidence of discipline, drug-relat-
ed or in-school crime in the eligible local edu-
cational agency is less than the average such in-
cidence in the 3 previous school years.
(c) COLLECTION OF DATA AND CERTIFICATION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each eligible local edu-
cational agency, community-based organization, or
nonprofit partnership described in section 102(d) re-
ceiving an allotment under this title shall annually
collect and submit to the State educational agency
data based on the statistical indicators and other
criteria described in the application submitted by
such eligible local educational agency for the pur-
poses of monitoring progress in achieving the Na-
tional Education Goals in accordance with para-
graph (2). Such data shall include multiple measures
or indicators of each variable, and may take into
consideration the mobility of students in the schools
served under this title or other special factors.
(2) CERTIFICATION.—
(A) Each eligible local educational agency
receiving an allotment pursuant to section
102(b)(2) shall annually certify to the State
educational agency that such eligible local edu-
cational agency has—
(i) complied with the provisions of sec-
tion 106(c); and
(ii) made progress toward meeting na-
tional education goals and the goals de-
scribed in section 103(b)(2)(D).
(B) The certification described in subpara-
graph (A) shall be reviewed by an independent
educational performance auditor for compliance
with clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
SEC. 107. INCENTIVE AWARDS TO EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS.
From amounts reserved pursuant to section 102(a)
or otherwise made available, the Secretary is authorized
to make competitive awards to eligible local educational
agencies on behalf of individual schools participating in
a program assisted under this title which demonstrate to
the satisfaction of the Secretary at least 3 of the following:
(1) Unusual or exemplary progress in achieving
the National Education Goals through programs de-
scribed in section 105.
(2) Exemplary or unusually effective collabo-
rative arrangements between the schools, commu-
nity-based organizations, agencies, parent groups,
colleges and businesses.
(3) Identification, review and removal of poten-
tial barriers to student performance in the National
Education Goal areas, such as suspensions and ex-
pulsions, in-grade retentions, ability grouping, and
lack of access to course offerings in prealgebra, in-
troductory algebra, higher mathematics, science, for-
eign languages, and critical thinking skills.
(4) Substantial expansion of the hours schools
assisted under this title remain open for community
use or student after-school recreation.
SEC. 108. REGULATORY ASSESSMENT.
(a) REPORT ON RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.—In order
to assist eligible local educational agencies under this Act
in improving the performance of the school children en-
rolled in the schools served by such agencies, the Secretary
shall, not later than January 1, 1995, prepare a report
on the impact of Federal regulations, guidelines and poli-
cies on rural public schools.
(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report shall ana-
lyze the impact of Federal legal, regulatory, policy and or-
ganizational requirements on the time and resources that
eligible local educational agencies assisted under this Act
have for educating students, including fiscal resources,
staff time, facilities, instructional equipment, and services.
The report shall make recommendations on how best to
simplify Federal regulations, guidelines and policies so
that more resources can be devoted to improving rural
school performance. The report shall also identify the reg-
ulations whose waiver might be used as incentives or re-
wards for unusual progress toward meeting National Edu-
cation Goals.
(c) SPECIFIC ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS.—In preparing
the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall
analyze—
(1) the effect of regulatory requirements on
local program flexibility and management within eli-
gible local educational agencies;
(2) the effect of regulatory requirements on the
size, cost and composition of administrative practices
within eligible local educational agencies;
(3) the extent to which regulatory requirements
are duplicative or contradictory;
(4) the amount of time and resources that
school administrators and teachers must spend re-
sponding to data requests and reporting require-
ments pursuant to Federal law;
(5) the extent to which regulatory requirements
are 
related 
to 
instructional 
rather 
than
noninstructional practices in eligible local edu-
cational agencies;
(6) the relationship between specific regulatory
requirements and the educational performance of
rural students; and
(7) how the waiver or simplification of regu-
latory requirements could enhance the performance
of rural school children and the progress of rural
schools in meeting National Education Goals.
(d) SAMPLE DATA.—The Secretary may, in develop-
ing the report described in subsection (a), use appropriate
sampling techniques.
(e) CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS.—The Sec-
retary shall consult with the Committee on Education and
Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate concerning
the design of the report described in this section.
SEC. 109. LOCAL ADVISORY GROUP.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Any eligible local educational
agency desiring to receive an allotment under this Act
shall form a local advisory group.
(b) COMPOSITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each local advisory group
described in subsection (a) shall be composed of rep-
resentatives of groups such as—
(A) local government agencies;
(B) community-based organizations;
(C) service providers;
(D) teachers;
(E) parents;
(F) colleges and universities;
(G) businesses;
(H) principals, other school administrators
and school personnel, including the local voca-
tional education administrator;
(I) counselors, school psychologists and so-
cial workers;
(J) students;
(K) State educational agencies and State
boards of education;
(L) labor;
(M) offices of the Mayor;
(N) religious leaders; and
(O) organizations with an interest in im-
proving rural education and expertise in the de-
livery of services needed by the schools selected
to participate in a program assisted under this
Act.
(2) APPOINTMENT.—The superintendent of
schools and the president of the board of education
of the eligible rural local educational agency apply-
ing for funds under this title shall appoint the mem-
bers of the local advisory group, in consultation with
teachers from the eligible local educational agency
and the teacher’s local bargaining agent where one
exists. The local advisory group may contain as
many members as is necessary to ensure a com-
prehensive community-wide program to improve edu-
cation in the schools served by the eligible local edu-
cational agency.
(3) REPRESENTATION.—The local advisory
group shall be representative of the community and
shall be balanced according to the race, ethnicity,
native language background, and gender of its mem-
bers, to the extent practicable.
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The local advisory group shall—
(1) advise the eligible local educational agency
on the design and conduct of a needs assessment for
all schools expected to participate in the program as-
sisted under this title;
(2) assist in planning for community-wide col-
laboration in service delivery for students in schools
expected to be served by the program assisted under
this title;
(3) advise the eligible local educational agency
and the community on how they can work together
to use multiple service providers;
(4) advise and assist the eligible local edu-
cational agency on the implementation of the pro-
gram assisted under this title and review evaluations
of such program’s success;
(5) review and approve applications submitted
to the eligible local educational agency by commu-
nity-based organizations pursuant to section 103(c);
(6) advise the eligible local educational agency
on strategies for increasing parent involvement and
the number of school volunteers and role models in
schools; and
(7) review the success of community-based pro-
grams assisted under this title for progress on the
national education goals.
(d) USE OF EXISTING LOCAL ADVISORY GROUP.—
To the extent that an eligible local educational agency has
established a broadly representative local advisory group
before enactment of this Act that is comparable to the
local advisory group described in this section, such existing
local advisory group shall be considered to be in compli-
ance with the provisions of this section.
SEC. 110. SPECIAL RULES.
(a) RANKING OF SCHOOLS IN LOCAL EDUCATIONAL
AGENCIES SERVING MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL TO DE-
TERMINE RELATIVE NEED.—
(1) RANKING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible local edu-
cational agency desiring to receive an allotment
under this title shall, in order to determine
which schools are most in need of services
under this title, separately rank all schools
under the jurisdiction of such agency on the
basis of—
(i) achievement;
(ii) poverty; and
(iii) racial isolation.
(B) SPECIAL
RULES.—(i) Eligible local
educational agencies may rank elementary and
secondary schools separately or together for
purposes of this subsection.
(ii) Eligible local educational agencies par-
ticipating in a consortium may rank elementary
and secondary schools separately for each local
educational agency participating in the consor-
tium for purposes of this subsection.
(2) 
PERCENTAGE
OF
SCHOOLS
TO
BE
SERVED.—Each eligible local educational agency
that receives an allotment under this title shall serve
at least 10 percent, but not more than 20 percent,
of the schools under the jurisdiction of such agency,
except that in school districts with less than 2,500
students, an eligible local educational agency may
use all of its funds for districtwide reform activities.
(3) CRITERIA FOR SCHOOLS TO BE SERVED.—
Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this
section, each eligible local educational agency that
receives an allotment under this title—
(A) shall serve any school that is deter-
mined to be most in need with respect to both
rankings described in paragraph (1);
(B) may serve any school that is deter-
mined to be most in need with respect to any
1 of such rankings; and
(C) may serve any school that received as-
sistance under this title in a previous fiscal
year.
(b) EXCLUSION.—Local educational agencies with
not more than 5 buildings used for instruction purposes
shall be exempt from the ranking process and shall receive
funding as determined under subsection (d).
(c) FLEXIBILITY.—Each eligible local educational
agency shall have the flexibility to serve homeless children,
desegregating students, immigrants, migrants, or other
highly mobile populations within the program assisted
under this title.
(d) CHAPTER 1 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.—The
approved program for any school served under sections
1020 and 1021 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965, may be considered sufficient to meet
the requirements of the provisions of section 106(b)(1) of
this title.
TITLE II—SCHOOL BUILDING
REPAIR AND RENOVATION
SEC. 201. PURPOSE; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this title to pro-
vide assistance to eligible local educational agencies to as-
sist such agencies in building or repairing, and renovating
instructional facilities in rural schools including but not
limited to the appropriate use of telecommunications tech-
niques for learning.
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000,000 for
1994 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 to
carry out the provisions of this title.
SEC. 202. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.
(a) ALLOTMENTS.—
(1) FEDERAL
ALLOTMENT.—In each fiscal
year, the Secretary shall allot to each State edu-
cational agency with an approved application, an
amount which bears the same relationship to such
funds as the amount all eligible local educational
agencies with approved applications in the State
sus, divided by the number of all such chil-
dren in all eligible local educational agen-
cies in the State;
(ii) 33 percent of such funds on the
basis of the number of school buildings
used for instructional purposes in the eligi-
ble local educational agency, divided by the
number of all such buildings in all eligible
local educational agencies in the State; and
(iii) 33 percent of such funds on the
basis of the number of school buildings in
the eligible local educational agency which
are used for instructional purposes and
which are more than 25 years old, divided
by the number of all such buildings in all
eligible local educational agencies in the
State.
(b) REALLOTMENT.—Any amounts available for real-
lotment pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) shall be real-
lotted in the same manner as the original allotments were
made.
SEC. 203. APPLICATION.
(a) STATE APPLICATION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each State educational
agency desiring to receive an allotment in any fiscal
year to carry out the provisions of this title shall
submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner and accompanied by such informa-
tion as the Secretary reasonably may require.
(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall—
(A) contain such information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require in order to make
the allotment described in section 202(a)(1);
and
(B) contain such other information and as-
surances as the Secretary determines necessary
to ensure compliance with the provisions of this
title.
(b) LOCAL APPLICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any eligible local educational
agency desiring to receive an allotment to carry out
the provisions of this title shall submit to the State
educational agency an application at such time, in
such manner and accompanied by such information
as the State educational agency may reasonably re-
quire.
(2) DURATION.—Each application submitted
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be for a period of
not more than 3 years.
(3) ANNUAL
REVIEW.—Each application sub-
mitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be subject to
annual review.
(4) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall contain—
(A) an assessment of needs for building re-
pair, renovation and construction;
(B) the name and location of all sites
scheduled for repair, renovation or construction
and a description of the activities planned at
each site; and
(C) a description of accounting procedures
used to assure proper disbursement of Federal
funds.
SEC. 204. REPAIR AND RENOVATION.
Each eligible local educational agency receiving an al-
lotment under section 202(a)(2) shall use 50 percent of
such allotment to conduct programs for—
(1) repair and renovation of school buildings
used for instruction;
(2) upgrading of and alterations to buildings to
accommodate new instructional technology, including
the installation and/or improvement of telecommuni-
cations facilities for learning and related tech-
nologies.
(3) installation or upgrading of school security
and communications systems;
(4) construction of new buildings that will serve
to replace old facilities that are most cost effectively
torn down rather than renovated;
(5) alterations to buildings to meet special pro-
gram, curricula, or school-site management needs;
(6) alterations to buildings to meet certain spe-
cial population needs, such as the needs of homeless
children and preschool children;
(7) alterations to school buildings to enable
such buildings to serve as one-stop family support
centers; and
(8) facilities’ costs associated with lengthening
the school day or school year.
SEC. 205. ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY.
Each eligible local educational agency receiving an al-
lotment under section 202(a)(2) shall use 50 percent of
such allotment to conduct programs for—
(1) energy conservation;
(2) removal or containment of environmentally
hazardous material;
(3) meeting the requirements of section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and
(4) meeting local, State or Federal laws or reg-
ulations enacted or promulgated since the initial
construction of a building related to fire, air, light,
noise, waste disposal, or building height.
SEC. 206. WAIVER.
The State educational agency may waive the 50 per-
cent requirements described in sections 204 and 205 for
any eligible local educational agency that demonstrates to
the satisfaction of the State educational agency a greater
need for services described in section 204 or 205.
SEC. 207. APPLICATION OF THE DAVIS-BACON ACT.
All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors
or subcontractors in any construction, alteration, or re-
pair, including painting and decorating, of projects, build-
ings, and works which are federally assisted under this
Act, shall be paid wages at rates not less than those pre-
vailing on similar construction in the locality as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the
Act of March 3, 1931 (commonly known as the Davis-
Bacon Act), as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a–276a–5). The
Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to such labor
standards, the authority and functions set forth in Reor-
ganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64
Stat. 1267) and section 2 of the Act of June 1, 1934,
as amended (48 Stat. 948, as amended; 40 U.S.C.
276(c)).
TITLE III—EVALUATION OF
RESULTS
Subtitle A—Assistant Secretary
SEC. 301. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RURAL EDUCATION.
(a) AMENDMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDU-
CATION ORGANIZATION ACT.—Title II of the Department
of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.)
is amended—
(1) in section 202(b)(1) by—
(A) striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (F);
(B) striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (G) and inserting a semicolon and
‘‘and’’; and
(C) inserting at the end thereof the follow-
ing new subparagraph:
‘‘(H) an Assistant Secretary for Rural
Education.’’.
Subtitle B—Rural School Research
and Evaluation
SEC. 311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994,
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 to carry out the
provisions of this subtitle.
SEC. 312. ESTABLISHMENT; OPERATION; USES OF FUNDS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—From amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authority of section 311, the Secretary
shall establish for each region a center to be known as
the ‘‘National Rural Regional Education Research Cen-
ter’’ (in this subtitle referred to as the ‘‘Center’’).
(b) OPERATION.—Each Center shall be operated by
the regional educational laboratory that is located in the
region in which the Center is located and supported by
the Secretary pursuant to section 405(d)(4)(A) of the
General Education Provisions Act.
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Each Center shall—
(1) conduct independent research in rural edu-
cation and distance learning technologies;
(2) evaluate the progress of rural schools receiv-
ing funds under title I of this Act toward meeting
the National Education Goals;
(3) serve as clearinghouses on rural education
research findings, policies, and practices;
(4) develop measurements of progress of rural
schools;
(5) disseminate results of evaluations and re-
search on rural schools to other Centers and rural
school district teachers and parents;
(6) develop collaborative arrangements and con-
sortia among rural schools in each region to conduct
joint research and evaluation activities;
(7) replicate successful models and program ap-
proaches in rural schools;
(8) provide technical assistance and outreach
services for rural schools in each region;
(9) provide staff training; and
(10) develop curricula to assist rural schools in
moving toward meeting the National Education
Goals.
SEC. 313. LOCAL RURAL SCHOOL EVALUATION.
From the amount appropriated pursuant to the au-
thority of section 311 or otherwise made available to carry
out the provisions of this subtitle in any fiscal year, each
Center shall reserve 25 percent of such funds received for
direct grants to rural eligible local educational agencies
within the region served by such Center and which are
participating in a program assisted under title I to con-
duct local school district research and evaluation of efforts
toward meeting the National Education Goals.
SEC. 314. LOCAL APPLICATIONS.
Any eligible rural local educational agency desiring
to receive a grant under this subtitle shall—
(1) submit an application to the Center;
(2) describe in such application the research
and evaluation activities for measuring progress on
the National Education Goals;
(3) consult with local universities, research in-
stitutes, and other rural groups in developing a local
research and evaluation application; and
(4) describe capacities for conducting evalua-
tions with funds provided under this subtitle.
TITLE IV—GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SEC. 401. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON RURAL SCHOOLS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the
Interagency Council on Rural Schools (hereafter in this
section referred to as the ‘‘Council’’).
(b) COMPOSITION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Council shall consist
of—
(A) the Secretary of Education, who shall
serve as Chairperson of the Council;
(B) the Secretary of Labor;
(C) the Secretary of Health and Human
Services;
(D) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(E) the Secretary of Energy;
(F) the Secretary of Commerce;
(G) the Director of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(H) the Director of the Commission on
Civil Rights;
(I) the Chairperson of the Advisory Com-
mission on Intergovernmental Relations;
(J) the Chairperson of the National En-
dowments on the Arts and the Humanities;
(K) the Director of the National Science
Foundation;
(L) such other officers of the Federal Gov-
ernment as may be designated by the President
or the Chairperson of the Council to serve
wherever matters within the jurisdiction of the
agency headed by such an officer are to be con-
sidered by the Council.
(2) REPRESENTATION.—Each individual de-
scribed in paragraph (1) may designate a person to
represent such individual on the Council.
(3) DURATION.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for as long as such member serves as the
head of the appropriate department or agency.
(4) PRINCIPAL ADVISOR.—The Chairperson of
the Council shall be the President’s principal advisor
on rural schools.
(c) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Council shall
constitute a quorum for the purposes of transmitting rec-
ommendations and proposals to the President, but a lesser
number may meet for other reasons.
(d) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet at least 2
times each year. When a Council member is unable to at-
tend a meeting, the Council member shall appoint an ap-
propriate Assistant Secretary or an equivalent individual
from the department or agency of the member to represent
the member for that meeting.
(e) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.—The Council shall—
(1) review programs and activities conducted by
each department or agency represented on the Coun-
cil to determine the effects of such programs and ac-
tivities on the ability of rural schools to meet Na-
tional Education Goals;
(2) track progress of rural schools in meeting
National Education Goals;
(3) solicit information and advice from experts
in rural education and representatives of rural
schools, including representatives from rural post-
secondary education, on how the Federal Govern-