H. R. 2646—25
the principles of reliable, replicable research, through the
following:
‘‘(A) The promulgation of a set of objective criteria,
pertaining to the ability of a tutorial assistance provider
successfully to provide tutorial assistance in reading, that
will be used to determine in a uniform manner, at the
beginning of each school year, the eligibility of tutorial
assistance providers, subject to the succeeding subpara-
graphs of this paragraph, to be included on the list
described in subparagraph (B) (and thereby be eligible
to enter into a contract pursuant to subparagraph (F)).
‘‘(B) The promulgation, maintenance, and approval of
a list of tutorial assistance providers eligible to enter into
a contract pursuant to subparagraph (F) who—
‘‘(i) have established a record of effectiveness with
respect to reading readiness, reading instruction for
children in kindergarten through third grade, and early
childhood literacy;
‘‘(ii) are located in a geographic area convenient
to the school or schools attended by the children who
will be receiving tutorial assistance from the providers;
and
‘‘(iii) are capable of providing tutoring in reading
to children who have difficulty reading, using instruc-
tional practices based on the principles of reliable,
replicable research and consistent with the instruc-
tional methods used by the school the child attends.
‘‘(C) The development of procedures: (i) for the receipt
of applications for tutorial assistance, from parents who
are seeking such assistance for their child or children,
that select a tutorial assistance provider from the list
described in subparagraph (B) with whom the child or
children will enroll, for tutoring in reading; and (ii) for
considering children for tutorial assistance who are identi-
fied under subparagraph (D) and for whom no application
has been submitted, provided that such procedures are
in accordance with this paragraph and give such parents
the right to select a tutorial assistance provider from the
list referred to in subparagraph (B), and shall permit a
local educational agency to recommend a tutorial assistance
provider from the list under subparagraph (B) in a case
where a parent asks for assistance in the making of such
selection.
‘‘(D) The development of a selection process for provid-
ing tutorial assistance in accordance with this paragraph
that limits the provision of assistance to children identified,
by the school the child attends, as having difficulty reading,
including difficulty mastering essential phonic, decoding,
or vocabulary skills. In the case of a child included in
the selection process for whom no application has been
submitted by a parent of the child, the child’s eligibility
for receipt of tutorial assistance shall be determined under
the same procedures, timeframe, and criteria for consider-
ation as is used to determine the eligibility of a child
whose parent has submitted such an application. Such
local educational agency shall apply the provisions of sub-
paragraphs (F) and (G) to a tutorial assistance provider
H. R. 2646—26
selected for a child whose parent has not submitted an
application pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i) in the same
manner as the provisions are applied to a provider selected
in an application submitted pursuant to subparagraph
(C)(i).
‘‘(E) The development of procedures for selecting chil-
dren to receive tutorial assistance, to be used in cases
where insufficient funds are available to provide assistance
with respect to all children identified by a school under
subparagraph (D) that—
‘‘(i) gives priority to children who are determined,
through State or local reading assessments, to be most
in need of tutorial assistance; and
‘‘(ii) gives priority, in cases where children are
determined, through State or local reading assess-
ments, to be equally in need of tutorial assistance,
based on a random selection principle.
‘‘(F) The development of a methodology by which pay-
ments are made directly to tutorial assistance providers
who are identified and selected pursuant to subparagraphs
(C), (D), and (E). Such methodology shall include the mak-
ing of a contract, consistent with State and local law,
between the tutorial assistance provider and the local
educational agency carrying out this paragraph. Such
contract—
‘‘(i) shall contain specific goals and timetables with
respect to the performance of the tutorial assistance
provider;
‘‘(ii) shall require the tutorial assistance provider
to report to the parent and the local educational agency
on the provider’s performance in meeting such goals
and timetables; and
‘‘(iii) shall contain provisions with respect to the
making of payments to the tutorial assistance provider
by the local educational agency.
‘‘(G) The development of procedures under which the
local educational agency carrying out this paragraph—
‘‘(i) will ensure oversight of the quality and
effectiveness of the tutorial assistance provided by each
tutorial assistance provider that is selected for funding;
‘‘(ii) will remove from the list under subparagraph
(B) ineffective and unsuccessful providers (as deter-
mined by the local educational agency based upon the
performance of the provider with respect to the goals
and timetables contained in the contract between the
agency and the provider under subparagraph (F));
‘‘(iii) will provide to each parent of a child identified
under subparagraph (D) who requests such information
for the purpose of selecting a tutorial assistance pro-
vider for the child, in a comprehensible format,
information with respect to the quality and effective-
ness of the tutorial assistance referred to in clause
(i); and
‘‘(iv) will ensure that each school identifying a
child under subparagraph (D) will provide upon
request, to a parent of the child, assistance in selecting,
from among the tutorial assistance providers who are
H. R. 2646—27
included on the list described in subparagraph (B),
the provider who is best able to meet the needs of
the child.
‘‘(c) DEFINITION.—For the purpose of this section the term
‘parent’ includes a legal guardian.
‘‘SEC. 2506. PROGRAM EVALUATION.
‘‘(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—From 
funds 
reserved 
under 
section
2510(b)(1), the Secretary shall conduct a national assessment of
the programs under this part. In developing the criteria for the
assessment, the Secretary shall receive recommendations from the
peer review panel convened under section 2503(f ).
‘‘(b) SUBMISSION TO PEER REVIEW PANEL.—The Secretary shall
submit the findings from the assessment under subsection (a) to
the peer review panel convened under section 2503(f ).
‘‘SEC. 2507. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.
‘‘(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—From 
funds 
reserved 
under 
section
2510(b)(2), the National Institute for Literacy shall disseminate
information on reliable, replicable research on reading and informa-
tion on subgrantee projects under section 2504 or 2505 that have
proven effective. At a minimum, the institute shall disseminate
such information to all recipients of Federal financial assistance
under titles I and VII, the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801 et
seq.), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1400 et seq.), and the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1201 et
seq.).
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the National
Institute for Literacy—
‘‘(1) shall use, to the extent practicable, information
networks developed and maintained through other public and
private persons, including the Secretary, the National Center
for Family Literacy, and the Readline Program;
‘‘(2) shall work in conjunction with any panel convened
by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Develop-
ment and the Secretary, and any panel convened by the Office
of Educational Research and Improvement to assess the current
status of research-based knowledge on reading development,
including the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching
children to read, with respect to determining the criteria by
which the National Institute for Literacy judges reliable,
replicable research and the design of strategies to disseminate
such information; and
‘‘(3) shall assist any reading and literacy partnership
selected to receive a grant under section 2503, and that requests
such assistance—
‘‘(A) in determining whether applications for subgrants
submitted to the partnership meet the requirements of
this part relating to reliable, replicable research on reading;
and
‘‘(B) in the development of subgrant application forms.
‘‘SEC. 2508. STATE EVALUATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each reading and literacy partnership that
receives a grant under this part shall reserve not more than 2
percent of such grant funds for the purpose of evaluating the
success of the partnership’s subgrantees in meeting the purposes
of this part. At a minimum, the evaluation shall measure the
H. R. 2646—28
extent to which students who are the intended beneficiaries of
the subgrants made by the partnership have improved their reading.
‘‘(b) CONTRACT.—A reading and literacy partnership shall carry
out the evaluation under this section by entering into a contract
with an eligible research institution under which the institution
will perform the evaluation.
‘‘(c) SUBMISSION.—A reading and literacy partnership shall sub-
mit the findings from the evaluation under this section to the
Secretary and the peer review panel convened under section 2503(f ).
The Secretary and the peer review panel shall submit a summary
of the findings from the evaluations under this subsection to the
appropriate committees of the Congress, including the Committee
on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.
‘‘SEC. 2509. PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRIVATE
SCHOOLS.
‘‘Each reading and literacy partnership that receives funds
under this part shall provide for, or ensure that subgrantees provide
for, the participation of children in private schools in the activities
and services assisted under this part in the same manner as the
children participate in activities and services pursuant to sections
2503, 2504, 2505, and 2506.
‘‘SEC. 2510. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS
FROM APPROPRIATIONS; APPLICABILITY; SUNSET.
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this part $210,000,000 for fiscal years 1999, 2000,
and 2001.
‘‘(b) RESERVATIONS.—From the amount appropriated under
subsection (a) for each fiscal year, the Secretary—
‘‘(1) shall reserve 1.5 percent to carry out section 2506(a);
‘‘(2) shall reserve $5,075,000 to carry out sections 2503(f )(2)
and 2507, of which $5,000,000 shall be reserved for section
2507; and
‘‘(3) shall reserve $10,000,000 to carry out section 1202(c).
‘‘(c) APPLICABILITY.—Part E shall not apply to this part.
‘‘(d) SUNSET.—Notwithstanding section 422(a) of the General
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1226a(a)), this part is repealed,
effective September 30, 2001, and is not subject to extension under
such section.’’.
Subtitle B—Amendments to Even Start
Family Literacy Programs
SEC. 521. RESERVATION FOR GRANTS.
Section 1202(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(c)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(c) RESERVATION FOR GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) GRANTS
AUTHORIZED.—From funds reserved under
section 2510(b)(3), the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to States to enable such States to plan and
implement, statewide family literacy initiatives to coordinate
and integrate existing Federal, State, and local literacy
resources consistent with the purposes of this part. Such
coordination and integration shall include coordination and
integration of funds available under the Adult Education Act
H. R. 2646—29
(20 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), Head Start (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.),
this part, part A of this title, and part A of title IV of the
Social Security Act.
‘‘(2) CONSORTIA.—
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—To receive a grant under this
subsection, a State shall establish a consortium of State-
level programs under the following laws:
‘‘(i) This title.
‘‘(ii) The Head Start Act.
‘‘(iii) The Adult Education Act.
‘‘(iv) All other State-funded preschool programs
and programs providing literacy services to adults.
‘‘(B) PLAN.—To receive a grant under this subsection,
the consortium established by a State shall create a plan
to use a portion of the State’s resources, derived from
the programs referred to in subparagraph (A), to strengthen
and expand family literacy services in such State.
‘‘(C) COORDINATION
WITH
TITLE
II.—The consortium
shall coordinate its activities with the activities of the
reading and literacy partnership for the State established
under section 2503, if the State receives a grant under
such section.
‘‘(3) READING INSTRUCTION.—Statewide family literacy ini-
tiatives implemented under this subsection shall base reading
instruction on reliable, replicable research on reading (as such
terms are defined in section 2502).
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide,
directly or through a grant or contract with an organization
with experience in the development and operation of successful
family literacy services, technical assistance to States receiving
a grant under this subsection.
‘‘(5) MATCHING
REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall not
make a grant to a State under this subsection unless the
State agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred
by the eligible consortium in carrying out the activities for
which the grant was awarded, the State will make available
non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than
the Federal funds provided under the grant.’’.
SEC. 522. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1202(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(e)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs
(4) and (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
‘‘(3) the term ‘family literacy services’ means services pro-
vided to participants on a voluntary basis that are of sufficient
intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to make
sustainable changes in a family (such as eliminating or reducing
welfare dependency) and that integrate all of the following
activities:
‘‘(A) Interactive literacy activities between parents and
their children.
‘‘(B) Equipping parents to partner with their children
in learning.
‘‘(C) Parent literacy training, including training that
contributes to economic self-sufficiency.
H. R. 2646—31
(c) AWARD OF SUBGRANTS.—Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section
1208(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6368) are amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY.—In awarding subgrant funds
to continue a program under this part for the second, third,
or fourth year, the State educational agency shall evaluate
the program based on the indicators of program quality devel-
oped by the State under section 1210. Such evaluation shall
take place after the conclusion of the startup period, if any.
‘‘(4) 
INSUFFICIENT
PROGRESS.—The 
State 
educational
agency may refuse to award subgrant funds if such agency
finds that the eligible entity has not sufficiently improved the
performance of the program, as evaluated based on the indica-
tors of program quality developed by the State under section
1210, after—
‘‘(A) providing technical assistance to the eligible
entity; and
‘‘(B) affording the eligible entity notice and an oppor-
tunity for a hearing.’’.
SEC. 525. RESEARCH.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended further by inserting after section
1210 (as inserted by section 524(a)(2) of this Act) the following:
‘‘SEC. 1211. RESEARCH.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out, through grant
or contract, research into the components of successful family
literacy services. The purpose of the research shall be—
‘‘(1) to improve the quality of existing programs assisted
under this part or other family literacy programs carried out
under this Act or the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1201
et seq.); and
‘‘(2) to develop models for new programs to be carried
out under this Act or the Adult Education Act.
‘‘(b) DISSEMINATION.—The National Institute for Literacy shall
disseminate, pursuant to section 2507, the results of the research
described in subsection (a) to States and recipients of subgrants
under this part.’’.
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
SEC. 601. MULTILINGUALISM STUDY.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) even though all residents of the United States should
be proficient in English, without regard to their country of
birth, it is also of vital importance to the competitiveness of
the United States that those residents be encouraged to learn
other languages; and
(2) education is the primary responsibility of State and
local governments and communities, and these entities are
responsible for developing policies in this subject area.
(b) RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DEFINED.—In this section,
the term ‘‘resident of the United States’’ means an individual who
H. R. 2646—32
resides in the United States, other than an alien who is not lawfully
present in the United States.
(c) STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Comptroller General’’)
shall conduct a study of multilingualism in the United States
in accordance with this section.
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The study conducted under this
section shall ascertain—
(i) the percentage of residents in the United States
who are proficient in English and at least one other
language;
(ii) the predominant language other than English
in which residents referred to in clause (i) are
proficient;
(iii) the percentage of the residents described in
clause (i) who were born in a foreign country;
(iv) the percentage of the residents described in
clause (i) who were born in the United States;
(v) the percentage of the residents described in
clause (iv) who are second-generation residents of the
United States; and
(vi) the percentage of the residents described in
clause (iv) who are third-generation residents of the
United States.
(B) AGE-SPECIFIC CATEGORIES.—The study under this
section shall, with respect to the residents described in
subparagraph (A)(i), determine the number of those
residents in each of the following categories:
(i) Residents who have not attained the age of
12.
(ii) Residents who have attained the age of 12,
but have not attained the age of 18.
(iii) Residents who have attained the age of 18,
but have not attained the age of 50.
(iv) Residents who have attained the age of 50.
(C) FEDERAL
PROGRAMS.—In conducting the study
under this section, the Comptroller General shall establish
a 
list 
of 
each 
Federal 
program 
that 
encourages
multilingualism with respect to any category of residents
described in subparagraph (B).
(D) COMPARISONS.—In conducting the study under this
section, the Comptroller General shall compare the multi-
lingual population described in subparagraph (A) with the
multilingual populations of foreign countries—
(i) in the Western hemisphere; and
(ii) in Asia.
(d) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study under this section,
the Comptroller General shall prepare, and submit to Congress,
a report that contains the results of the study conducted under
this section, and such findings and recommendations as the
Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.
H. R. 2646—33
SEC. 602. SAFER SCHOOLS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Safer
Schools Act of 1998’’.
(b) AMENDMENT.—Section 14601 of the Gun-Free Schools Act
of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 8921) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
‘‘(g) For the purposes of this section, a weapon that has been
determined to have been brought to a school by a student shall
be admissible as evidence in any internal school disciplinary
proceeding (related to an expulsion under this section).’’.
SEC. 603. STUDENT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARDS.
Section 6201 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7331) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) student improvement incentive awards described in
subsection (c).’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(c) STUDENT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARDS.—
‘‘(1) AWARDS.—A State educational agency may use funds
made available for State use under this title to make awards
to public schools in the State that are determined to be
outstanding schools pursuant to a statewide assessment
described in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) STATEWIDE
ASSESSMENT.—The statewide assessment
referred to in paragraph (1)—
‘‘(A) shall—
‘‘(i) determine the educational progress of students
attending public schools within the State; and
‘‘(ii) allow for an objective analysis of the assess-
ment on a school-by-school basis; and
‘‘(B) may involve exit exams.’’.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.