H. R. 6—351
‘‘(4) Access to health and social service programs can
address the basic physical and emotional needs of children
so that children can fully participate in the learning experiences
offered children in school.
‘‘(5) Services for at-risk students need to be more conven-
ient, and less fragmented, regulated and duplicative, in order
to meet the needs of children and their families.
‘‘(6) School personnel, parents, and support service provid-
ers often lack knowledge of, and access to, available services
for at-risk students and their families in the community, and
have few resources to coordinate services and make services
accessible.
‘‘(7) Service providers, such as teachers, social workers,
health care and child care providers, juvenile justice workers
and others, are often trained in separate disciplines that provide
little support for the coordination of services.
‘‘(8) Coordination of services is more cost effective because
such coordination substitutes prevention for expensive crisis
intervention.
‘‘(9) Coordinating health and social services with education
can help the Nation meet the National Education Goals by
ensuring better outcomes for children.
‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF COORDINATING SERVICES.—The purpose of this
title is to provide elementary and secondary school students and
their families better access to the social, health and education
services necessary for students to succeed in school and for their
families to take an active role in ensuring that such students
receive the best possible education.
‘‘SEC. 11002. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘For the purpose of this title—
‘‘(1) the term ‘coordinated services project’ means a com-
prehensive approach to meeting the educational, health, social
service, and other needs of children and their families, including
foster children and their foster families, through a community-
wide partnership that links public and private agencies
providing such services or access to such services through a
coordination site at or near a school; and
‘‘(2) the term ‘eligible entity’ means a local educational
agency, school, or a consortium of schools.
‘‘SEC. 11003. AUTHORITY.
‘‘In order to use funds made available under section 14206(b)
for the development, or the implementation or expansion, of a
coordinated service project an eligible entity shall have an applica-
tion approved under subsection (b) or (c), respectively, of section
11004.
‘‘SEC. 11004. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.
‘‘(a) APPLICATIONS.—Each eligible entity desiring to use funds
made available under section 14206(b) shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner and accompanied
by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
‘‘(b) PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PLAN.—The application for the
development of the coordinated services project under this title
shall cover a period of not more than 1 year and shall include
a plan that—
H. R. 6—352
‘‘(1) demonstrates that an assessment will be performed
of the economic, social, and health barriers to educational
achievement experienced by children and families, including
foster children and their foster families, in the community,
and the local, State, Federal, and privately funded services
available to meet such needs;
‘‘(2) identifies the measures that will be taken to establish
a communitywide partnership that links public and private
agencies providing services to children and families; and
‘‘(3) identifies any other measures that will be taken to
develop a comprehensive plan for the implementation or expan-
sion of a coordinated services project.
‘‘(c) PROJECT
IMPLEMENTATION
OR
EXPANSION
PLAN.—The
application for the implementation or expansion of a coordinated
services project under this title shall contain a plan that includes—
‘‘(1) the results of a children and families needs assessment,
which shall include an assessment of the needs of foster chil-
dren;
‘‘(2) a description of the entities operating the coordinated
services project;
‘‘(3) a description of the proposed coordinated services
project, the objectives of such project, where such project will
be located, and the staff that will be used to carry out such
project;
‘‘(4) a description of how the success of the coordinated
services project will be evaluated;
‘‘(5) a description of the training to be provided to teachers
and appropriate personnel;
‘‘(6) information regarding whether a sliding scale fee for
services will be employed, and if not, an explanation of why
such scale is not feasible; and
‘‘(7) when applicable, strategies to ensure that the health
and welfare needs of migratory families are addressed.
‘‘SEC. 11005. USES OF FUNDS.
‘‘(a) USES.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Funds made available under section
14206(b) may be used for planning for, or the implementation
or expansion of, activities which include—
‘‘(A) hiring a services coordinator;
‘‘(B) making minor renovations to existing buildings;
‘‘(C) purchasing basic operating equipment;
‘‘(D) improving communications and information-shar-
ing among entities participating in the coordinated services
project;
‘‘(E) providing training to teachers and appropriate
personnel concerning such teacher’s and personnel’s role
in a coordinated services project; or
‘‘(F) conducting the needs assessment required in sec-
tion 11004(b)(1).
‘‘(2) PROHIBITION.—Funds made available under section
14206(b) shall not be used for the direct provision of any
health or health-related services.
‘‘(b) FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT, NON-
FEDERAL FUNDS.—An eligible entity shall use funds received under
this title only to supplement the amount of funds that would,
in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from
H. R. 6—353
non-Federal sources for coordinated services, and not to supplant
such funds.
‘‘SEC. 11006. CONTINUING AUTHORITY.
‘‘The Secretary shall prohibit an eligible entity from using
funds made available under section 14206(b) if the Secretary deter-
mines that the coordinated services project assisted under this
title is not achieving effective coordination after two years of
implementation of such project.
‘‘SEC. 11007. FEDERAL AGENCY COORDINATION.
‘‘(a) AGENCY COORDINATION.—The Secretaries of Education,
Health and Human Services, Labor, Housing and Urban Develop-
ment, Treasury, and Agriculture, and the Attorney General shall
review the programs administered by their agencies to identify
barriers to service coordination.
‘‘(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Such Secretaries and the Attorney
General shall submit jointly a report to the Congress not later
than two years after the date of the enactment of the Improving
America’s Schools Act of 1994, based on the review required under
subsection (a) recommending legislative and regulatory action to
address such barriers, and during the time preceding the submission
of such report, shall use waiver authorities authorized under this
and other Acts to address such barriers.
‘‘TITLE XII—SCHOOL FACILITIES
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT ACT
‘‘SEC. 12001. SHORT TITLE.
‘‘This title may be cited as the ‘Education Infrastructure Act
of 1994’.
‘‘SEC. 12002. FINDINGS.
‘‘The Congress finds the following:
‘‘(1) According to a 1991 survey conducted by the American
Association of School Administrators, 74 percent of all public
school buildings in the United States need to be replaced.
‘‘(2) Almost one-third of such buildings were built prior
to World War II.
‘‘(3) It is estimated that one of every four public school
buildings in the United States is in inadequate condition, and
of such buildings, 61 percent need maintenance or major
repairs, 43 percent are obsolete, 42 percent contain environ-
mental hazards, 25 percent are overcrowded, and 13 percent
are structurally unsound.
‘‘(4) Large numbers of local educational agencies have dif-
ficulties securing financing for school facility improvement,
including school libraries, media centers, and facilities.
‘‘(5) Improving the quality of public elementary and second-
ary schools will help our Nation meet the National Education
Goals.
‘‘(6) The challenges facing our Nation’s public elementary
and secondary schools require the concerted and collaborative
efforts of all levels of government and all sectors of the commu-
nity.
H. R. 6—354
‘‘SEC. 12003. PURPOSE.
‘‘The purpose of this title is to help the Nation meet the
National Education Goals through the provision of Federal funds
to enable local educational agencies to meet the costs associated
with the improvement of schools within their jurisdiction.
‘‘SEC. 12004. IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECOND-
ARY EDUCATION FACILITIES PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated under sec-
tion 12013 for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants
to eligible local educational agencies with applications approved
under section 12005 to carry out the authorized activities
described in section 12007.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary may reserve not more
than 1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 12013
to provide assistance to Indian schools in accordance with this
title.
‘‘(b) AWARD CATEGORIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the funds appropriated to carry
out this title for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall award
grants to eligible local educational agencies in each of the
following categories:
‘‘(A) Eligible local educational agencies in which the
number of students enrolled is less than 2,500.
‘‘(B) Such agencies in which such number is 2,500
or greater but less than 5,000.
‘‘(C) Such agencies in which such number is 5,000
or greater but less than 10,000.
‘‘(D) Such agencies in which such number is 10,000
or greater but less than 25,000.
‘‘(E) Such agencies in which such number is 25,000
or greater but less than 50,000.
‘‘(F) Such agencies in which such number is 50,000
or greater.
‘‘(c) MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNTS.—The Secretary shall annually
set the maximum award amounts for each category described in
subsection (b)(1).
‘‘SEC. 12005. AWARD OF GRANTS.
‘‘(a) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall award grants under this
title on the basis of—
‘‘(1) high numbers or percentages of the total number of
children aged 5 to 17, inclusive, residing in the geographic
area served by an eligible local educational agency who are
counted under subpart 2 of part A of title I;
‘‘(2) the extent to which the eligible local educational agency
lacks the fiscal capacity, including the ability to raise funds
through the full use of such agency’s bonding capacity and
otherwise, to undertake the project without Federal assistance;
‘‘(3) the threat of the condition of the physical plant poses
to the safety and well-being of students;
‘‘(4) the demonstrated need for the construction, reconstruc-
tion, or renovation based on the condition of the facility;
‘‘(5) the age of the facility to be renovated or replaced;
and
H. R. 6—355
‘‘(6) such other criteria as the Secretary may prescribe
by regulation.
‘‘(b) ALLOCATION AMONG CATEGORIES.—The Secretary shall allo-
cate funds under this title among each of the categories described
in paragraph (1) on such basis as the Secretary determines is
appropriate, including—
‘‘(1) the relative numbers or percentages of students
counted under subpart 2 of part A of title I; and
‘‘(2) the relative costs of carrying out activities under this
title in eligible local educational agencies in each such category.
‘‘(c) FREQUENCY OF AWARDS.—No local educational agency may
receive more than one grant under this title in any five-year period.
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary shall only award grants
under this title if the Secretary determines that sufficient funds
will be provided under this title or from other sources, such as
the issuance of bonds, or savings generated from performance
contracting, to carry out the activities for which assistance is sought.
‘‘SEC. 12006. APPLICATIONS.
‘‘(a) APPLICATIONS REQUIRED.—Each eligible local educational
agency desiring to receive a grant under this title shall submit
an application to the Secretary.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION CONTENTS.—Each application described in
subsection (a) shall contain—
‘‘(1) an assurance that the application was developed in
consultation with parents and classroom teachers;
‘‘(2) a description of each architectural, civil, structural,
mechanical, or electrical deficiency to be corrected with funds
provided under this title, including the priority for the repair
of the deficiency;
‘‘(3) a description of the criteria used by the applicant
to determine the type of corrective action necessary to meet
the purpose of this title;
‘‘(4) a description of the improvement to be supported with
funds provided under this title;
‘‘(5) a cost estimate of the proposed improvement;
‘‘(6) an identification of other resources, such as unused
bonding capacity, that are available to carry out the activities
for which funds are requested under this title;
‘‘(7) a description of how activities supported with funds
provided under this title will promote energy conservation;
and
‘‘(8) such other information and assurances as the Secretary
may reasonably require.
‘‘SEC. 12007. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible local educational agency receiv-
ing a grant under this title shall use the grant funds only to
ensure the health and safety of students through the repair, renova-
tion, alteration, and construction of a public elementary or second-
ary school library, media center, or facility, used for academic
or vocational instruction.
‘‘(b) PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES.—Subject to subsection (a), each
eligible local educational agency receiving a grant under this title
may use the grant funds to meet the requirements of section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabil-
ities Act of 1990.
H. R. 6—356
‘‘SEC. 12008. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
‘‘(a) BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING.—In the performance of, and
with respect to, the functions, powers, and duties under this title,
the Secretary, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law,
shall—
‘‘(1) prepare annually and submit a budget program as
provided for wholly owned Government corporations by chapter
91 of title 31, United States Code; and
‘‘(2) maintain a set of accounts which shall be audited
by the Comptroller General in accordance with the provisions
of chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code, but such financial
transactions of the Secretary, as the making of loans and vouch-
ers approved by the Secretary, in connection with such financial
transactions shall be final and conclusive upon all officers of
the Government.
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available to the Secretary
pursuant to the provisions of this title shall be deposited in a
checking account or accounts with the Treasurer of the United
States. Receipts and assets obtained or held by the Secretary in
connection with the performance of functions under this title, and
all funds available for carrying out the functions of the Secretary
under this title (including appropriations therefor, which are hereby
authorized), shall be available, in such amounts as may from year
to year be authorized by the Congress, for the administrative
expenses of the Secretary in connection with the performance of
such functions.
‘‘(c) LEGAL POWERS.—In the performance of, and with respect
to, the functions, powers, and duties under this title, the Secretary,
notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, may—
‘‘(1) prescribe such rules and regulations as may be nec-
essary to carry out the purposes of this title;
‘‘(2) sue and be sued;
‘‘(3) foreclose on any property or commence any action
to protect or enforce any right conferred upon the Secretary
by any law, contract, or other agreement, and bid for and
purchase at any foreclosure or any other sale any property
in connection with which the Secretary has made a loan pursu-
ant to this part;
‘‘(4) in the event of any such acquisition, notwithstanding
any other provision of law relating to the acquisition, handling,
or disposal of real property by the United States, complete,
administer, remodel and convert, dispose of, lease, and other-
wise deal with, such property, but any such acquisition of
real property shall not deprive any State or political subdivision
of such State civil or criminal jurisdiction in and over such
property or impair the civil rights under the State or local
laws of the inhabitants on such property;
‘‘(5) sell or exchange at public or private sale, or lease,
real or personal property, and sell or exchange any securities
or obligations, upon such terms as the Secretary may fix;
‘‘(6) obtain insurance against loss in connection with prop-
erty and other assets held; and
‘‘(7) include in any contract or instrument made pursuant
to this title such other covenants, conditions, or provisions
as may be necessary to assure that the purposes of this title
will be achieved.
H. R. 6—357
‘‘(d) CONTRACTS FOR SUPPLIES OR SERVICES.—Section 3709 of
the Revised Statutes shall not apply to any contract for services
or supplies on account of any property acquired pursuant to this
subtitle if the amount of such contract does not exceed $1,000.
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY
OF GOVERNMENT CORPORATION CONTROL
ACT.—The provisions of section 9107(a) of title 31, United States
Code, which are applicable to corporations or agencies subject to
chapter 91 of such title, shall also be applicable to the activities
of the Secretary under this title.
‘‘SEC. 12009. FAIR WAGES.
‘‘All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or sub-
contractors in the performance of any contract and subcontract
for the repair, renovation, alteration, or construction, including
painting and decorating, of any building or work that is financed
in whole or in part by a grant under this title, shall be paid
wages not less than those determined 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 the authority and functions
set forth in reorganization plan of No. 14 of 1950 (15 FR 3176;
64 Stat. 1267) and section 2 of the Act of June 1, 1934 (commonly
known as the Copeland Anti-Kickback Act) as amended (40 U.S.C.
276c, 48 Stat. 948).
‘‘SEC. 12010. REQUIREMENTS.
‘‘(a) SPECIAL RULES.—
‘‘(1) MAINTENANCE
OF
EFFORT.—An eligible local edu-
cational agency may receive a grant under this title for any
fiscal year only if the Secretary finds that either the combined
fiscal effort per student or the aggregate expenditures of that
agency and the State with respect to the provision of free
public education by such local educational agency for the
preceding fiscal year was not less than 90 percent of such
combined fiscal effort or aggregate expenditures for the fiscal
year for which the determination is made.
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—An eligible local edu-
cational agency shall use funds received under this title only
to supplement the amount of funds that would, in the absence
of such Federal funds, be made available from non-Federal
sources for the repair, renovation, alteration, and construction
of school facilities used for educational purposes, and not to
supplant such funds.
‘‘(b) GENERAL LIMITATIONS.—
‘‘(1) REAL PROPERTY.—No part of any grant funds under
this title shall be used for the acquisition of any interest in
real property.
‘‘(2) MAINTENANCE.—Nothing in this title shall be construed
to authorize the payment of maintenance costs in connection
with any projects constructed in whole or in part with Federal
funds provided under this title.
‘‘(3) ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS.—All projects carried out
with Federal funds provided under this title shall comply with
all relevant Federal, State, and local environmental laws and
regulations.
‘‘(4) ATHLETIC AND SIMILAR FACILITIES.—No funds received
under this title shall be used for stadiums or other facilities
that are primarily used for athletic contests or exhibitions
H. R. 6—358
or other events for which admission is charged to the general
public.
‘‘SEC. 12011. FEDERAL ASSESSMENT.
‘‘The Secretary shall reserve not more than 1 percent of funds
appropriated for each fiscal year under section 15013—
‘‘(1) to collect such data as the Secretary determines nec-
essary at the school, local, and State levels;
‘‘(2) to conduct studies and evaluations, including national
studies and evaluations, in order to—
‘‘(A) monitor the progress of projects supported with
funds provided under this title; and
‘‘(B) evaluate the state of United States public
elementary and secondary school libraries, media centers,
and facilities; and
‘‘(3) to report to the Congress by July 1, 1997, regarding
the findings of the studies and evaluations described in para-
graph (2).
‘‘SEC. 12012. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘For the purpose of this title—
‘‘(1) the term ‘construction’ means the alteration or renova-
tion of a building, structure, or facility, including—
‘‘(A) the concurrent installation of equipment; and
‘‘(B) the complete or partial replacement of an existing
facility, but only if such replacement is less expensive
and more cost-effective than alteration, renovation, or
repair of the facility;
‘‘(2) the term ‘school’ means a public structure suitable
for use as a classroom, laboratory, library, media center, or
related facility, the primary purpose of which is the instruction
of public elementary and secondary school students; and
‘‘(3) the term ‘eligible local educational agency’ means a
local educational agency in which—
‘‘(A) not less than 15 percent of the children that
reside in the geographic area served by such agency are
eligible to be counted under subpart 2 of part A of title
I of this Act; or
‘‘(B) the United States owns Federal property described
in section 8015(5), that has an assessed value (determined
as of the time or times when acquired) aggregating 90
percent or more of the assessed value of all real property
in such agency (determined as of the time or times when
so acquired); and
‘‘(C) demonstrates in the application submitted under
section 12006 that such agency has urgent repair, renova-
tion, alteration and construction needs for its public
elementary or secondary schools used for academic or voca-
tional instruction.
‘‘SEC. 12013. AUTHORIZATION.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years.
H. R. 6—359
‘‘TITLE 
XIII—SUPPORT 
AND 
ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE EDU-
CATION
‘‘SEC. 13001. FINDINGS.
‘‘The Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) high-quality technical assistance can enhance the
improvements in teaching and learning achieved through the
implementation of programs under this Act;
‘‘(2) comprehensive technical assistance and effective pro-
gram dissemination are essential ingredients of the overall
strategy of the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 to
improve programs and provide all children opportunities to
meet challenging State content standards and challenging State
student performance standards;
‘‘(3) States, local educational agencies, tribes, and schools
serving students with special needs, such as students with
limited-English proficiency and students with disabilities, have
great need for comprehensive technical assistance in order to
use funds under this Act to provide such students with
opportunities to learn to challenging State content standards
and challenging State student performance standards;
‘‘(4) current technical assistance and dissemination efforts
are fragmented and categorical in nature, and thus fail to
address adequately the needs of States, local educational agen-
cies and tribes for help in integrating into a coherent strategy
for improving teaching and learning the various programs
under this Act with State and local programs and other edu-
cation reform efforts;
‘‘(5) too little creative use is made of technology as a means
of providing information and assistance in a cost-effective way;
‘‘(6) comprehensive technical assistance can help schools
and school systems focus on improving opportunities for all
children to meet challenging State content standards and chal-
lenging State student performance standards, as such schools
and systems implement programs under this Act;
‘‘(7) comprehensive technical assistance will provide coordi-
nated assistance to help States, local educational agencies,
tribes, participating colleges and universities, and schools
integrate Federal, State, and local education programs in ways
that contribute to improving schools and entire school systems;
‘‘(8) technical assistance in support of programs under this
Act should be coordinated with the Department’s regional
offices, the regional educational laboratories, State Literacy
Resource Centers, vocational resource centers, and other tech-
nical assistance efforts supported by the Department; and
‘‘(9) technical assistance providers should prioritize assist-
ance for local educational agencies and schools.
‘‘SEC. 13002. PURPOSE.
‘‘The purpose of this title is to create a national technical
assistance and dissemination system to make available to States,
local educational agencies, tribes, schools, and other recipients of
funds under this Act technical assistance in—
H. R. 6—360
‘‘(1) administering and implementing programs under this
Act;
‘‘(2) implementing school reform programs in a manner
that improves teaching and learning for all students;
‘‘(3) coordinating such programs with other Federal, State,
and local education plans and activities, so that all students,
particularly students at risk of educational failure, are provided
opportunities to meet challenging State content standards and
challenging State student performance standards; and
‘‘(4) adopting, adapting, and implementing promising and
proven practices for improving teaching and learning.
‘‘PART A—COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL
ASSISTANCE CENTERS
‘‘SEC. 13101. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements
with, public or private nonprofit entities or consortia of such
entities in order to establish a networked system of 15 com-
prehensive regional assistance centers to provide comprehen-
sive training and technical assistance, related to administration
and implementation of programs under this Act, to States,
local educational agencies, schools, tribes, community-based
organizations, and other recipients of funds under this Act.
‘‘(2) 
CONSIDERATION.—In 
establishing 
comprehensive
regional assistance centers and allocating resources among the
centers, the Secretary shall consider—
‘‘(A) the geographic distribution of students assisted
under title I;
‘‘(B) the geographic and linguistic distribution of stu-
dents of limited-English proficiency;
‘‘(C) the geographic distribution of Indian students;
‘‘(D) the special needs of students living in urban and
rural areas; and
‘‘(E) the special needs of States and outlying areas
in geographic isolation.
‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary shall establish 1 com-
prehensive regional assistance center under this section in
Hawaii.
‘‘(b) SERVICE TO INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES.—The Secretary
shall ensure that each comprehensive regional assistance center
that serves a region with a significant population of Indian or
Alaska Native students shall—
‘‘(1) be awarded to a consortium which includes a tribally
controlled community college or other Indian organization; and
‘‘(2) assist in the development and implementation of
instructional strategies, methods and materials which address
the specific cultural and other needs of Indian or Alaska Native
students.
‘‘(c) ACCOUNTABILITY.—To ensure the quality and effectiveness
of the networked system of comprehensive regional assistance cen-
ters supported under this part, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) develop, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary
for Elementary and Secondary Education, the Director of Bilin-
gual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, and the Assist-
H. R. 6—361
ant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement, a
set of performance indicators that assesses whether the work
of the centers assists in improving teaching and learning under
this Act for all children, particularly children at risk of edu-
cational failure;
‘‘(2) conduct surveys every two years of populations to
be served under this Act to determine if such populations
are satisfied with the access to and quality of such services;
‘‘(3) collect, as part of the Department’s reviews of programs
under this Act, information about the availability and quality
of services provided by the centers, and share that information
with the centers; and
‘‘(4) take whatever steps are reasonable and necessary to
ensure that each center performs its responsibilities in a satis-
factory manner, which may include—
‘‘(A) termination of an award under this part (if the
Secretary concludes that performance has been unsatisfac-
tory) and the selection of a new center; and
‘‘(B) whatever interim arrangements the Secretary
determines are necessary to ensure the satisfactory delivery
of services under this part to an affected region.
‘‘(d) DURATION.—Grants, contracts or cooperative agreements
under this section shall be awarded for a period of 5 years.
‘‘SEC. 13102. REQUIREMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE CENTERS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each comprehensive regional assistance cen-
ter established under section 13101(a) shall—
‘‘(1) maintain appropriate staff expertise and provide sup-
port, training, and assistance to State educational agencies,
tribal divisions of education, local educational agencies, schools,
and other grant recipients under this Act, in—
‘‘(A) improving the quality of instruction, curricula,
assessments, and other aspects of school reform, supported
with funds under title I;
‘‘(B) implementing effective schoolwide programs under
section 1114;
‘‘(C) meeting the needs of children served under this
Act, including children in high-poverty areas, migratory
children, immigrant children, children with limited-English
proficiency, neglected or delinquent children, homeless chil-
dren and youth, Indian children, children with disabilities,
and, where applicable, Alaska Native children and Native
Hawaiian children;
‘‘(D) implementing high-quality professional develop-
ment activities for teachers, and where appropriate,
administrators, pupil services personnel and other staff;
‘‘(E) improving the quality of bilingual education,
including programs that emphasize English and native lan-
guage proficiency and promote multicultural understand-
ing;
‘‘(F) creating safe and drug-free environments, espe-
cially in areas experiencing high levels of drug use and
violence in the community and school;
‘‘(G) implementing educational applications of tech-
nology;
H. R. 6—362
‘‘(H) coordinating services and programs to meet the
needs of students so that students can fully participate
in the educational program of the school;
‘‘(I) expanding the involvement and participation of
parents in the education of their children;
‘‘(J) reforming schools, school systems, and the govern-
ance and management of schools;
‘‘(K) evaluating programs; and
‘‘(L) meeting the special needs of students living in
urban and rural areas and the special needs of local edu-
cational agencies serving urban and rural areas;
‘‘(2) ensure that technical assistance staff have sufficient
training, knowledge, and expertise in how to integrate and
coordinate programs under this Act with each other, as well
as with other Federal, State, and local programs and reforms;
‘‘(3) provide technical assistance using the highest quality
and most cost-effective strategies possible;
‘‘(4) coordinate services, work cooperatively, and regularly
share information with, the regional educational laboratories,
the Eisenhower regional consortia under part C, research and
development centers, State literacy centers authorized under
the National Literacy Act of 1991, and other entities engaged
in research, development, dissemination, and technical assist-
ance activities which are supported by the Department as part
of a Federal technical assistance system, to provide a broad
range of support services to schools in the region while minimiz-
ing the duplication of such services;
‘‘(5) work collaboratively with the Department’s regional
offices;
‘‘(6) consult with representatives of State educational agen-
cies, local educational agencies, and populations served under
this Act;
‘‘(7) provide services to States, local educational agencies,
tribes, and schools, in coordination with the National Diffusion
Network State Facilitators activities under section 13201, in
order to better implement the purposes of this part and provide
the support and assistance diffusion agents need to carry out
such agents’ mission effectively; and
‘‘(8) provide professional development services to State edu-
cational agencies, local educational agencies, and the National
Diffusion Network State Facilitators to increase the capacity
of such entities to provide high-quality technical assistance
in support of programs under this Act.
‘‘(b) PRIORITY.—Each comprehensive regional assistance center
assisted under this part shall give priority to servicing—
‘‘(1) schoolwide programs under section 1114; and
‘‘(2) local educational agencies and Bureau-funded schools
with the highest percentages or numbers of children in poverty.
‘‘SEC. 13103. MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE AND APPLICATION REQUIRE-
MENTS.
‘‘(a) MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE.—The Secretary shall ensure
that the comprehensive regional assistance centers funded under
this part provide technical assistance services that address the
needs of educationally disadvantaged students, including students
in urban and rural areas, and bilingual, migrant, immigrant, and
Indian students, that are at least comparable to the level of such
H. R. 6—363
technical assistance services provided under programs administered
by the Secretary on the day preceding the date of enactment of
the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Each entity or consortium
desiring assistance under this part shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner and accompanied
by such information, as the Secretary may require. Each such
application shall—
‘‘(1) demonstrate how the comprehensive regional assist-
ance center will provide expertise and services in the areas
described in section 13102;
‘‘(2) demonstrate how such centers will work with the
National Diffusion Network under section 13201 to conduct
outreach to local educational agencies receiving priority under
section 13401;
‘‘(3) demonstrate support from States, local educational
agencies and tribes in the area to be served;
‘‘(4) demonstrate how such centers will ensure a fair dis-
tribution of services to urban and rural areas; and
‘‘(5) provide such other information as the Secretary may
require.
‘‘SEC. 13104. TRANSITION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use funds appropriated
to carry out this part for fiscal years 1995 and 1996 in order
to ensure an orderly transition and phase in of the comprehensive
regional assistance centers assisted under this part.
‘‘(b) EXTENSION OF PREVIOUS CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, notwithstanding
any other provision of law, use funds appropriated under section
13105 to extend or continue contracts and grants for existing
categorical technical assistance centers assisted under this Act
(as such Act was in effect on the day preceding the date
of enactment of the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994)
through fiscal year 1996, and take other necessary steps to
ensure a smooth transition of services provided under this
part and that such services will not be interrupted, curtailed,
or substantially diminished.
‘‘(2) STAFF
EXPERTISE.—In planning for the competition
for the new comprehensive regional assistance centers under
this part, the Secretary may draw on the expertise of staff
from existing categorical assistance centers assisted under this
Act prior to the date of enactment of the Improving America’s
Schools Act of 1994.
‘‘SEC. 13105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘For the purpose of carrying out this part, there are authorized
to be appropriated $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years.
‘‘PART B—NATIONAL DIFFUSION NETWORK
‘‘SEC. 13201. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to implement the purposes of
this title, the Secretary is authorized to establish the National
Diffusion Network (hereafter referred to in this Act as ‘NDN’)
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to carry out a State-based outreach, consultation, training,
and dissemination program.
‘‘(2) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the program
under this part, the Secretary shall award grants and contracts
to National Diffusion Network State Facilitators in each State
and outlying area, and to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in
order to assist State and local educational agencies, schools,
and other appropriate educational entities—
‘‘(A) to identify and secure appropriate, high-quality
technical assistance from the comprehensive regional
assistance centers under part A and other sources; and
‘‘(B) to identify and implement exemplary or promising
educational programs and practices.
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary shall award grants and
contracts under this section to public or private nonprofit organiza-
tions or institutions with demonstrated expertise in the areas of
applied education research and program dissemination.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The program under this part shall be
administered through the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemi-
nation established under section 941(b) of the Educational Research,
Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994.
‘‘(d) COORDINATION.—The National Diffusion Network State
Facilitators shall work in close cooperation, and coordinate their
activities, with the comprehensive regional assistance centers estab-
lished under part A.
‘‘(e) STATE FACILITATOR ACTIVITIES.—The National Diffusion
Network State Facilitators shall provide professional development
and technical assistance services to assist State educational agen-
cies, local educational agencies, tribal divisions of education, schools,
family and adult literacy programs, and other entities assisted
under this Act, in—
‘‘(1) defining such entities’ technical assistance needs and
aligning such needs with school reform under title I, profes-
sional development, and technology plans;
‘‘(2) securing the technical assistance and professional
development services that can best fulfill such needs by utilizing
the services of the comprehensive regional assistance centers,
the regional education laboratories, the Eisenhower regional
consortia, State Literacy Resource Centers authorized under
the National Literacy Act of 1991 and other technical assistance
providers, including local providers of professional development
services;
‘‘(3) identifying educational technology needs and securing
the necessary technical assistance to address such needs in
coordination with the Eisenhower regional consortia under part
C and the regional technical assistance and professional devel-
opment consortia under subpart 3 of title III; and
‘‘(4) utilizing technology, including regional and national
electronic networks, to increase such entities’ access to technical
assistance, professional development services, and dissemina-
tion of effective programs and promising practices.
‘‘(f) ADDITIONAL
DUTIES.—In addition, National Diffusion
Network State Facilitators shall—
‘‘(1) disseminate information about school reform and effec-
tive and promising practices, and help local educational
agencies and schools adapt such reform and practices to such
agencies’ needs;