I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 341
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize
school construction funds for local educational agencies that have made
improvements in teacher quality and student achievement.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 31, 2001
Mr. FORD 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 authorize school construction funds for local
educational agencies that have made improvements in
teacher quality and student achievement.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR CERTAIN
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.
Title XII of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by inserting after the title heading the fol-
lowing:
‘‘PART A—EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF
1994’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘title’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘part’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘PART B—SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT HAVE
MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN TEACHER QUAL-
ITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
‘‘SEC. 12020. PURPOSE.
‘‘The purpose of the part is to award grants for
school construction to local educational agencies that have
taken steps to improve teacher quality and raise student
achievement.
‘‘SEC. 12021. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
‘‘The Secretary is authorized to award grants to local
educational agencies that satisfy the conditions in section
12022 to enable such agencies to carry out school con-
struction.
‘‘SEC. 12022. CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING FUNDS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to receive a grant under
this part, a local educational agency shall have submitted
to the Secretary (at such time and in such manner as the
Secretary may require) an application establishing the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(1) The percentage of children eligible for free
and reduced priced lunches under the National
School Lunch Act under the jurisdiction of the agen-
cy equals or exceeds 65 percent.
‘‘(2) It has taken significant steps to ensure
that all students are taught by fully qualified teach-
ers.
‘‘(3) It does not use teachers certified on an
emergency basis.
‘‘(4) It does not use social promotion.
‘‘(5) All students in grades kindergarten
through grade 12 under its jurisdiction are subject
to State achievement standards in the core cur-
riculum at key transition points, as determined by
the State.
‘‘(6) It uses tests and other indicators, such as
grades and teacher evaluations, to assess student
performance in meeting the State achievement
standards, which tests are valid for the purpose of
such assessment.
‘‘(b) PLAN.—In order to receive a grant under this
part, a local educational agency shall include in the appli-
cation submitted under subsection (a)—
‘‘(1) a plan for ensuring that all students are
taught by fully qualified teachers; and
‘‘(2) an assurance that the agency will provide
annual reports to the Secretary quantifying progress
toward achieving that end.
‘‘SEC. 12023. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘For purposes of this part:
‘‘(1) CONSTRUCTION.—The term ‘construction’
means—
‘‘(A) preparation of drawings and speci-
fications for school facilities;
‘‘(B) building new school facilities, or ac-
quiring, remodeling, demolishing, renovating,
improving, or repairing facilities; or
‘‘(C) inspection of work described in sub-
paragraph (B).
‘‘(2) FULLY QUALIFIED TEACHER.—The term
‘fully qualified teacher’ means—
‘‘(A) when used with respect to a public el-
ementary or secondary school teacher means
that the teacher holds a valid State teaching
certificate or license for the grade level at which
he or she provides instruction; and
‘‘(B) when used with respect to—
‘‘(i) an elementary school teacher,
means that the teacher holds at least a
bachelor’s degree and has demonstrated
the knowledge and teaching skills needed
to teach effectively in the areas of reading
writing, mathematics, science and other
areas of the elementary school curriculum;
or
‘‘(ii) a middle or secondary school
teacher, means that the teacher holds at
least a bachelors degree and has dem-
onstrated proficiency in all subject areas in
which he or she provides instruction
through—
‘‘(I) a high level of performance
on a rigorous and formal State assess-
ment of content area knowledge; or
‘‘(II) completion of at least an
undergraduate major in each of the
academic subject areas in which he or
she provides instruction.
‘‘(3) SCHOOL FACILITY.—The term ‘school fa-
cility’ means a public structure suitable for use as
a classroom, laboratory, library, media center, or re-
lated facility the primary purpose of which is the in-
struction of public elementary school or secondary
school students.
‘‘SEC. 12024. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this part $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and each
of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.’’.
Æ