I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 597 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
grants for core curriculum development. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 15, 2009 
Ms. WOOLSEY (for herself, Mr. LOEBSACK, and Mr. SARBANES) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to provide grants for core curriculum development. 
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 ‘‘Access to Complete 
Education Act’’. 
SEC. 2. NEW PART I (CORE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT). 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title I of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by redesig-
nating part I as J and inserting after part H the following: 
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‘‘PART I—CORE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT 
‘‘SEC. 1851. GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to 
support systemic, comprehensive education reform by 
strengthening the instruction of music and arts, foreign 
languages, civics and government, economics, history, ge-
ography, and physical education and health as an integral 
part of the elementary and secondary school curriculum. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary is authorized to 
award grants to local educational agencies to promote and 
strengthen one or more of the subjects specified in sub-
section (a) as an integral part of the elementary school 
and secondary school curriculum. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, a local educational agency shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants to local edu-
cational agencies under this section, the Secretary shall 
give priority to local educational agencies with greater— 
‘‘(1) numbers of children who are counted 
under section 1124(c); and 
‘‘(2) percentages of children from families below 
the poverty line. 
‘‘(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds may be used to expand 
access to the subjects specified in subsection (a) by— 
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‘‘(1) expanding the amount of instructional 
time on these subjects; 
‘‘(2) providing for curriculum development that 
is aligned with State standards where relevant; 
‘‘(3) providing essential materials and text 
books that are aligned with State standards where 
relevant; 
‘‘(4) partnering with Federal, State, and com-
munity-based organizations and institutions to in-
crease student learning in these subjects; 
‘‘(5) providing professional development to en-
sure curricula are implemented effectively; and 
‘‘(6) creating and using formative assessments 
where appropriate to advance student achievement 
and improve instruction. 
‘‘(f) CONDITIONS.—As a condition of receiving assist-
ance made available under this section, the Secretary shall 
require each local educational agency receiving such assist-
ance— 
‘‘(1) to coordinate, to the extent practicable, 
each project or program carried out with such assist-
ance with appropriate activities of public or private 
cultural agencies, institutions, and organizations, in-
cluding museums, education associations, libraries, 
and theaters; and 
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‘‘(2) to use such assistance only to supplement, 
and not to supplant, any other assistance or funds 
made available from non-Federal sources for the ac-
tivities assisted under this section. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each local educational 
agency that receives funds under this section shall 
provide the Secretary, at the conclusion of every fis-
cal year during which the funds are received, with 
an evaluation, in a form prescribed by the Secretary. 
This evaluation shall include— 
‘‘(A) a description of the programs and ac-
tivities conducted by the local educational agen-
cy with funds received; 
‘‘(B) data on curriculum and partnerships 
developed; 
‘‘(C) data on the amount of time spent on 
subjects allowed for under the grant; and 
‘‘(D) other information as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) USE OF EVALUATION.—An evaluation pro-
vided by a local educational agency shall be used by 
the local educational agency and the State edu-
cational agency for improvement of programs and 
activities. 
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‘‘(h) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal and 
State agencies or institutions, educators (including profes-
sional education associations), organizations representing 
subjects funded under this part. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this 
section the following: 
‘‘(1) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
‘‘(2) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
‘‘(3) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
‘‘(4) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2013. 
‘‘(5) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. 
‘‘(6) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The following pro-
visions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 are each amended by striking ‘‘part I’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘part J’’: 
(1) Section 1304(c)(2) (20 U.S.C. 6394(c)(2)). 
(2) 
Section 
1415(a)(2)(C) 
(20 
U.S.C. 
6435(a)(2)(C)). 
Æ 
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