I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 972
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strength-
en the involvement of parents in the education of their children, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 8, 2001
Ms. WOOLSEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 to strengthen the involvement of parents in
the education of their children, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Parent Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms
of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to
a section or other provision of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Parents are the first and most influential
educators of their children.
(2) The Federal Government must provide lead-
ership, technical assistance, and financial support to
States and local educational agencies, as partners, in
helping the agencies implement successful and effec-
tive parental involvement policies and programs that
lead to improved student achievement.
(3) State and local education officials, as well
as teachers, principals, and other staff at the school
level, must work as partners with the parents of the
children they serve.
(4) Research has documented that, regardless
of the economic, ethnic, or cultural background of
the family, parental involvement in a child’s edu-
cation is a major factor in determining success in
school.
(5) Parental involvement in a child’s education
contributes to positive outcomes such as improved
grades and test scores, higher expectations for stu-
dent achievement, better school attendance, im-
‘‘(d) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.—Each State plan
shall demonstrate that the State has identified or devel-
oped effective research-based best practices designed to
foster meaningful parental involvement. Such best prac-
tices shall—
‘‘(1) be disseminated to all schools and local
educational agencies in the State;
‘‘(2) be implemented in all schools in the State;
and
‘‘(3) address the full range of parental involve-
ment activities required under section 1118.’’.
(b) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY PLANS.—Section
1112 (20 U.S.C. 6312) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5),
(6), (7), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (5), (6),
(7), (8), (9), and (10) respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following:
‘‘(4) a description of the strategy the local edu-
cational agency will use to implement effective pa-
rental involvement in accordance with section
1118;’’;
(2) in subsection (c)(1)—
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D)
through (H) as subparagraphs (E) through (I);
and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
‘‘(D) work in consultation with schools as
the schools develop and implement their plans
or activities under sections 1118 and 1119;’’;
and
(3) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting before the
period the following: ‘‘and if such agency’s parental
involvement activities are in accordance with section
1118’’.
(c) SCHOOLWIDE PROGRAMS.—Section 1114 (20
U.S.C. 6314) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by inserting after
‘‘involvement’’ the following: ‘‘in accordance with
section 1118’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(iv), by inserting
after ‘‘results’’ the following: ‘‘in a language the
family can understand’’.
(d) TARGETED ASSISTANCE.—Section 1115(c)(1)(H)
(20 U.S.C. 6315(c)(1)(H)) is amended by inserting after
‘‘involvement’’ the following: ‘‘in accordance with section
1118’’.
(e) ASSESSMENTS.—Section 1116 (20 U.S.C. 6317)
is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and
(4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
‘‘(3) review the effectiveness of the actions and
activities the schools are carrying out under this
part with respect to the parental involvement pro-
grams described in section 1118, the professional de-
velopment activities described in section 1119, and
other activities assisted under this Act;’’;
(2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting after ‘‘ele-
ments of student performance problems’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, that addresses school problems, if any, in
implementing the parental involvement requirements
in section 1118 and the professional development re-
quirements in section 1119,’’;
(3) in subsection (d)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following:
‘‘(B) annually review the effectiveness of
the action or activities carried out under this
part by each local educational agency receiving
funds under this part with respect to parental
involvement, 
professional 
development, 
and
other activities assisted under this Act; and’’;
and
(4) in subsection (d)(5)(i)—
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(III) address problems, if any,
in implementing the parental involve-
ment requirements described in sec-
tion 1118 and the professional devel-
opment provisions described in section
1119; and’’.
(f) STATE ASSISTANCE.—Section 1117 (20 U.S.C.
6318) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘parental
involvement,’’ after ‘‘including’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(C)—
(i) by inserting ‘‘parents,’’ after ‘‘in-
cluding’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘parental involvement
programs,’’ after ‘‘successful’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.—Each State
shall collect and disseminate effective parental in-
volvement practices to local educational agencies and
schools. Such practices shall—
‘‘(A) be based on the most current re-
search on effective parental involvement that
fosters achievement to high standards for all
children; and
‘‘(B) be geared toward lowering barriers to
greater participation in school planning, review,
and improvement experienced by parents.’’.
(g) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.—Section 1118 (20
U.S.C. 6319) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting before
the semicolon the following: ‘‘activities that will lead
to improved student achievement for all students’’;
(2) in subsection (a)(3)—
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C);
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following:
‘‘(B)(i) The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to local educational agencies to enable the
local educational agencies to supplement the imple-
mentation of the provisions of this section and to
allow for the expansion of other recognized and
proven initiatives and policies to improve student
achievement through the involvement of parents.
‘‘(ii)(I) Each local educational agency desiring a
grant under this subparagraph shall submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require.
‘‘(II) Each application submitted under sub-
clause (I) shall describe the activities to be under-
taken using funds received under this subparagraph
and shall set forth the process by which the local
educational agency will annually evaluate the effec-
tiveness of the agency’s activities in improving stu-
dent achievement and increasing parental involve-
ment.
‘‘(iii) Each grant under this subparagraph shall
be awarded for a 5-year period.
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the
last sentence the following: ‘‘Parents shall be noti-
fied of the policy in the language most familiar to
the parents.’’;
(4) in subsection (e)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘partici-
pating parents’’ and inserting ‘‘all parents of
children served by the school or agency, as ap-
propriate,’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(C) materials or training using technology
to foster parental involvement;’’;
(5) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the
following: ‘‘Such local educational agencies and
schools may use information, technical assistance,
and other support from the parental information
and resource centers to create parent resource cen-
ters in schools.’’; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(i) STATE REVIEW.—The State educational agency
shall review the local educational agency’s parental in-
volvement policies and practices to determine if such poli-
cies and practices meet the requirements of section 1118
and are meaningful and targeted to improve home and
school communication, student achievement, and parental
involvement in school planning, review, and improve-
ment.’’.
SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
(a) 
PURPOSES.—Section 
2002(2) 
(20 
U.S.C.
6602(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(G) incorporates training in effective
practices in order to encourage and offer oppor-
tunities to get parents involved in their child’s
education in ways that will foster student
achievement and well-being; and
‘‘(H) includes special training for teachers
and administrators to develop the skills nec-
essary to work most effectively with parents.’’.
(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Section 2102(c) (20
U.S.C. 6622(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(15) the development and dissemination of
model programs that teach teachers and administra-
tors how best to work with parents and how to en-
courage the parent’s involvement in the full range of
parental involvement activities described in section
1118.’’.
(c) STATE APPLICATIONS.—Section 2205(b)(2) (20
U.S.C. 6645(b)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as sub-
paragraph (P); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(O) describe how the State will train
teachers to foster relationships with parents
and encourage parents to become collaborators
with schools in their children’s education; and’’.
(d) STATE-LEVEL ACTIVITIES.—Section 2207 (20
U.S.C. 6647) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13)
as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(12) providing professional development pro-
grams that enable teachers, administrators, and
pupil services personnel to effectively communicate
with and involve parents in the education process to
support school planning, review, improvement, and
classroom instruction, and to work effectively with
parent volunteers;’’.
(e) LOCAL PLAN AND APPLICATION FOR IMPROVING
TEACHING AND LEARNING.—Section 2208 (20 U.S.C.
6648) is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘parents,’’
after ‘‘administrators,’’; and
(2) in subsection (d)(1)—
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (I)
and (J) as subparagraphs (J) and (K), respec-
tively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (H)
the following:
‘‘(I) describe the specific professional de-
velopment strategies that will be implemented
to improve parental involvement in education
and how such agency will be held accountable
for implementing such strategies.’’.
(f) LOCAL ALLOCATION.—Section 2210(b)(3) (20
U.S.C. 6650(b)(3)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (P) and
(Q) as subparagraphs (Q) and (R), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(P) professional development activities de-
signed to enable teachers, administrators, and
pupil services personnel to communicate with
parents regarding student achievement on as-
sessments;’’.
SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION.
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 3111 (20 U.S.C. 6811) is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘and by fa-
cilitating mentor relationships,’’ after ‘‘by means of
telecommunications,’’;
(2) in paragraph (14), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (15), by striking the period
and inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(16) access to education technology and teach-
ers trained in how to incorporate the technology into
their instruction leads to improved student achieve-
ment, motivation, and school attendance;
‘‘(17) the use of technology in education can
enhance the educational opportunities schools can
offer students with special needs; and
‘‘(18) the introduction of education technology
increases parental involvement, which has been
shown to improve student achievement.’’.
(b) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.—Section 3112 (20
U.S.C. 6812) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding after paragraph (12), the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(13) development and support for technology
and technology programming that will enhance and
facilitate meaningful parental involvement.’’.
(c) NATIONAL LONG-RANGE TECHNOLOGY PLAN.—
Section 3121(c)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6831(c)(4)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(G) increased parental involvement in
schools through the use of technology;’’.
(d) FEDERAL LEADERSHIP.—Section 3122(c) (20
U.S.C. 6832(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (15), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (16) as para-
graph (17); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (15) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(16) the development, demonstration, and
evaluation of model technology programs designed to
improve parental involvement; and’’.
(e) LOCAL USES
OF FUNDS.—Section 3134 (20
U.S.C. 6844) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(7) utilizing technology to develop or expand
efforts to connect schools and teachers with parents
to promote meaningful parental involvement and fos-
ter increased communication about curriculum, as-
signments, and assessments; and
‘‘(8) providing support to help parents under-
stand the technology being applied in their child’s
education so that parents are able to reinforce their
child’s learning.’’.
(f) LOCAL APPLICATIONS.—Section 3135 (20 U.S.C.
6845) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(D)—
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(iii) a description of how parents will be
informed of the use of technologies so that the
parents are able to reinforce at home the in-
struction their child receives at school;’’;
(2) in paragraph (3)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) improve parental involvement in
schools;’’;
(3) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(5) describe how the local educational agency
will effectively use technology to promote parental
involvement and increase communication with par-
ents.’’.
(g) 
NATIONAL
CHALLENGE
GRANTS.—Section
3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 6846(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(6) the project will enhance parental involve-
ment by providing parents the information needed to
more fully participate in their child’s learning.’’.
SEC. 7. DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
(a) STATE APPLICATIONS.—Section 4112 (20 U.S.C.
7112) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, in-
cluding how the agency will receive input from
parents regarding the use of such funds’’ after
‘‘4113(b)’’; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘, and
how such review will include input from par-
ents’’ after ‘‘4115’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(7) a specific description of how input from
parents will be sought regarding the use of funds
under section 4114(a).’’.
(b) EVALUATION
AND REPORTING.—Section 4117
(20 U.S.C. 7117) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) on the State’s efforts to inform par-
ents of, and include parents in, violence and
drug prevention efforts.’’; and
(2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by
striking the period and inserting ‘‘and a description
of how parents were informed of, and participated
in, violence and drug prevention efforts.’’.
SEC. 8. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM STRATEGIES.
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 6003 (20 U.S.C. 7303) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘children, and (3)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘children, (3) adopting meaningful parental in-
volvement policies and practices, and (4)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(F) A climate that promotes meaningful
parental involvement in the classroom and in
site-based activities.’’.
(b) STATE APPLICATIONS.—Section 6202(a) (20
U.S.C. 7332(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(8) provides information on the parental in-
volvement policies and practices promoted by the
State.’’.
(c) TARGETED USES OF FUNDS.—Section 6301(b)
(20 U.S.C. 7351(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(10) programs to promote the meaningful in-
volvement of parents.’’.
(d) LOCAL APPLICATIONS.—Section 6303(a)(1)(A)
(20 U.S.C. 7353(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, in-
cluding parental involvement,’’ before ‘‘designed’’.
SEC. 9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 14101 (20 U.S.C. 8801)
is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (24) through
(30) as paragraphs (25) through (31), respectfully;
and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(24) PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.—The term
‘parental involvement’, when used with respect to a
school, means—
‘‘(A) the school engages parents in regular,
two-way, and meaningful communication;
‘‘(B) parenting skills are promoted and
supported at the school;
‘‘(C) parents play an integral role in as-
sisting student learning;
‘‘(D) parents are welcome in the school;
‘‘(E) parents are included in decision-mak-
ing and advisory committees at the school; and
‘‘(F) parents are included in other activi-
ties described in section 1118.’’.
(b) PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.—Title XIV (20
U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘PART H—PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
‘‘SEC. 14901. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
‘‘(a) STATE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PLAN.—In
order to receive Federal funding for any program author-
ized under this Act, a State educational agency shall (as
part of a consolidated application, or other State plan or
application submitted under this Act) submit to the
Secretary—
‘‘(1) a description of the agency’s parental in-
volvement policies, consistent with section 1118, in-
cluding specific details about—
‘‘(A) how Federal funds will be used to im-
plement such policies; and
‘‘(B) successful research-based practices in
schools throughout the State; and
‘‘(2) a description of how such policies will be
evaluated with respect to increased parental involve-
ment in the schools throughout the State.
‘‘(b) PARENTAL REVIEW OF STATE PARENTAL IN-
VOLVEMENT PLAN.—Prior to making the submission de-
scribed in subsection (a), a State educational agency shall
involve parents in the development of the policies described
in such subsection by—
‘‘(1) providing public notice of the policies in a
manner and language understandable to parents;
‘‘(2) providing the opportunity for parents and
other interested individuals to comment on the poli-
cies; and
‘‘(3) including the comments received with the
submission.
‘‘(c) LANGUAGE APPLICABILITY.—Each State edu-
cational agency and local educational agency that is re-
quired to establish a parental involvement plan or policy
under a program assisted under this Act shall make avail-
able, to the parents of children eligible to participate in
the program, the plan or policy in the language most fa-
miliar to the parents and in an easily understandable man-
ner.
‘‘(d) REPORT CARDS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each local educational
agency that receives assistance under this Act shall
prepare and make available to parents an annual re-
port card that puts into context various factors that
affect student performance, such as the socio-
economic status of families in the school attendance
area, the level of student mobility, and the avail-
ability of other student support services, and in-
cludes, at a minimum—
‘‘(A) student achievement information as
demonstrated by how students within schools
served by the local educational agency perform
on tests;
‘‘(B) other measurements of student
achievement;
‘‘(C) teacher qualifications;
‘‘(D) class size;
‘‘(E) school safety;
‘‘(F) dropout rates;
‘‘(G) actions being taken by schools served
by the local educational agency to involve par-
ents in school activities and decision making;
and
‘‘(H) 
information 
concerning 
whether
schools served by the local educational agency
have been identified for school improvement,
and if so, what technical assistance, supports,
and resources have been provided to help the
schools improve student achievement.
‘‘(2) STUDENT DATA.—Student data in each re-
port card under paragraph (1) shall contain
disaggregated results for the following categories:
‘‘(A) Gender.
‘‘(B) Racial and ethnic group.
‘‘(C) Migrant status.
‘‘(D) Students with disabilities, as com-
pared with students who are not disabled.
‘‘(E) Economically disadvantaged students,
as compared with students who are not eco-
nomically disadvantaged.
‘‘(F) Students with limited English pro-
ficiency, as compared with students who are
proficient in English.
‘‘(3) FORMAT.—School report cards under this
subsection shall—
‘‘(A) be in a format that—
‘‘(i) is informative to the parents and
the public;
‘‘(ii) is easily understandable; and
‘‘(iii) is in the language most familiar
to the parents; and
‘‘(B) provide a clear description of statis-
tical data.
‘‘(4) OTHER
INFORMATION.—A local edu-
cational agency may include in the agency’s report
card under this subsection any other appropriate in-
formation.
‘‘(5) PUBLIC
DISSEMINATION.—Beginning in
the 2002–2003 school year, the local educational
agency shall publicly report the information de-
scribed in paragraph (1) through such means as
posting on the Internet, distribution to the media,
and through public agencies.
‘‘(6) PRIVACY.—Information collected under
this section shall be collected and disseminated in a
manner that protects the privacy of individuals.’’.
Æ