instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Construction Reform Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONSTRUCTION REFORMS.

(a) Application of Industry Standards; Assistance.--Section 8103 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsections:
''(f) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use
industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying
out the construction of medical facilities.
''(g)(1) The Secretary shall provide to a non-Department Federal
entity with which the Secretary has entered into an agreement under
subsection (e)--
''(A) design, planning, and construction assistance before
the entity issues a request for proposals for the design or
construction of the super construction project covered by the
agreement;
''(B) any documents or information needed for the entity to
carry out the responsibilities of the entity with respect to
the super construction project; and
''(C) upon the request of the entity, any other assistance
that the entity determines necessary to carry out such
responsibilities.
''(2) Any assistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be provided
to the non-Department Federal entity on a non-reimbursable basis.
''(h)(1) With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered
into by a non-Department Federal entity with which the Secretary has
entered into an agreement under subsection (e) that is estimated at a
value of less than $250,000, the non-Department Federal entity shall
issue a final decision regarding such change not later than 30 days
after the date on which the change is proposed.
''(2) With respect to a proposed change to such a contract that is
estimated at a value of $250,000 or more--
''(A) the Secretary may provide to the entity the
recommendations of the Secretary regarding such change;
''(B) during the 30-day period beginning on the date on
which the entity furnishes to the Secretary information
regarding such change, the Secretary may issue the final
decision regarding such change; and
''(C) if the Secretary does not issue a final decision
under subparagraph (B), during the 30-day period following the
period described in such paragraph, the entity shall issue a
final decision regarding such a change no later than 90 days
from when the entity furnished information regarding such a
change to the Secretary.
''(i) The Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the
Department with responsibilities relating to the construction or
alteration of medical facilities, including such construction or
alteration carried out pursuant to contracts or agreements, undergoes a
program of ongoing professional training and development. Such program
shall be designed to ensure that employees maintain adequate expertise
relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition
of design and construction services. The Secretary may provide the
program under this subsection through a contract or agreement with a
non-Federal entity or with a non-Department Federal entity.''.
(b) Limitation on Planning and Design for Super Construction
Projects.--
(1) In general.--Section 8104(a) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4);
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following
new paragraph (3):
''(3) The Secretary may not obligate or expend funds for advance
planning or design for any super construction project, until the date
that is 60 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives notice of such
obligation or expenditure.''; and
(C) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph
(1) of this subsection, by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
''(C) The term 'super construction project' means a project
for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical
facility involving a total expenditure of more than
$100,000,000, but such term does not include an acquisition by
exchange.''.
(2) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall apply with respect to a construction project that is
initiated on or after that date.
(c) Congressional Approval of Certain Projects.--
(1) Projects that exceed specified amount.--Subsection (c)
of section 8104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
''(c)(1) The Secretary may not obligate funds for a major medical
facility project or a super construction project approved by a law
described in subsection (a)(2) in an amount that would cause the total
amount obligated for that project to exceed the amount specified in the
law for that project (or would add to total obligations exceeding such
specified amount) by more than 10 percent unless the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation
of those funds.
''(2) The Secretary shall--
''(A) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic
audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an
external forensic audit of the expenditures relating to any
major medical facility or super construction project for which
the total expenditures exceed the amount specified in the law
for the project by more than 25 percent; and
''(B) enter into a contract with an appropriate non-
department Federal entity with the ability to conduct forensic
audits on medical facility projects for the conduct of an
external audit of the medical center construction project in
Aurora, Colorado.''.
(2) Use of extra amounts.--Subsection (d) of such section
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ''Whenever'' and inserting
''Before''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(3) The Secretary may not obligate any funds described in
paragraph (1) or amounts described in paragraph (2) before the date
that is 30 days after the notification submitted under paragraph (1) or
paragraph (2)(B), as the case may be, unless the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives each approve in writing the obligation of
those funds or amounts.''.
(3) Notification requirements.--
(A) Committees required.--Subsection (d)(1) of such
section is amended by striking ''each committee'' and
inserting ''the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives''.
(B) Use of amounts from bid savings.--Subsection
(d)(2)(B) of such section is amended by adding at the
end the following new clause:
''(iv) With respect to the major construction project that
is the source of the bid savings--
''(I) the amounts already obligated or available in
the project reserve for such project;
''(II) the percentage of such project that has been
completed; and
''(III) the amount of such bid savings that is
already obligated or otherwise being used for a purpose
other than such project.''.
(d) Quarterly Report on Super Construction Projects.--
(1) In general.--At the end of subchapter I of chapter 81
of title 38, United States Code, add the following new section:
''Sec. 8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects
''(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the
last day of each fiscal quarter the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives on the super construction projects carried out by the
Secretary during such quarter. Each such report shall include, for each
such project--
''(1) the budgetary and scheduling status of the project,
as of the last day of the quarter covered by the report; and
''(2) the actual cost and schedule variances of the
project, as of such day, compared to the planned cost and
schedules for the project.
''(b) Super Construction Project Defined.--In this section, the
term 'super construction project' has the meaning given such term in
section 8104(a)(4)(C) of this title.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of the chapter is amended by adding at the end of the
items relating to such subchapter the following new item:

''8120. Quarterly report on super construction projects.''.
(e) Accelerated Master Planning for Each Medical Facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.--
(1) Existing facilities.--Not later than December 31, 2016,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall complete a master plan
described in paragraph (3) for each medical facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) New facilities.--For each medical facility of the
Department for which construction is completed after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a
master plan described in paragraph (3) for the facility by not
later than the earlier of the following dates:
(A) The date on which activation is completed.
(B) The date of the formal dedication of the
facility.
(3) Master plan described.--A master plan described in this
paragraph is, with respect to a medical facility of the
Department, a plan to inform investment decisions and funding
requests over a 10-year period for construction projects at
such medical facility--
(A) to meet the health care needs of a changing
veteran population through a combination of health care
from the Department and other community resources; and
(B) to maximize the best use of the land and
structures comprising such medical facility.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR CONSTRUCTION.

(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 312 the following new section:
''Sec. 312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction
''(a) In General.--There is in the Office of Inspector General an
Assistant Inspector General for Construction. The Assistant Inspector
General for Construction is responsible for conducting, supervising,
and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the
planning, design, contracting, execution, and construction of
facilities and infrastructure of the Department, including major and
minor construction projects and leases.
''(b) Qualifications.--Each individual appointed as Assistant
Inspector General for Construction shall be an individual who has
expertise in construction and facilities management.
''(c) Reports.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the appointment of
an individual as the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and
every calendar quarter thereafter, the Assistant Inspector General for
Construction shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report summarizing the activities
of the Assistant Inspector General for Construction during the 120-day
period ending on the date of such report.
''(2) In addition to the report required in paragraph (1), and the
requirements contained in section 5 of the Inspector General Act of
1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), the Assistant Inspector General for Construction
shall promptly provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives the findings of any investigation
undertaken by the Assistant Inspector General for Construction, and
shall notify the Committees promptly if the Assistant Inspector General
for Construction identifies any serious or flagrant problem or
deficiency relating to the administration or operation of any
construction program of the Department, if, during the course of any
investigation, the Assistant Inspector General for Construction
determines that Congress should take immediate action.
''(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize
the public disclosure of information that is--
''(A) specifically prohibited from disclosure by any other
provision of law;
''(B) specifically required by Executive Order to be
protected from disclosure in the interest of national defense
or national security or in the conduct of foreign affairs; or
''(C) a part of an ongoing criminal investigation.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
312 the following new item:

''312A. Assistant Inspector General for Construction.''.

Passed the House of Representatives February 9, 2016.

Attest:

KAREN L. HAAS,

Clerk.
answer:
Construction Reform Act of 2016 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out medical facility construction. A super construction project is one for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million (but does not include an acquisition by exchange). The VA shall provide, on a non-reimbursable basis, a non-VA federal entity with: (1) design, planning, and construction assistance; (2) project documents; and (3) other assistance upon request. With respect to a proposed change to a contract entered into by a non-VA federal entity with which the VA has entered into an agreement that is estimated at a value of less than $250,000, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding such change within 30 days. With respect to a proposed contract change estimated at a value of $250,000 or more: the VA may make recommendations to the entity; the VA may issue the final decision regarding the change within 30 days after the entity proposes it; and if the VA does not issue a final decision within 60 days after the entity proposes the contract change, the entity shall issue a final decision regarding the change no later than 90 days after it proposes the change. The VA shall ensure that each VA employee with responsibilities relating to the construction or alteration of medical facilities undergoes ongoing professional training and development. The VA is prohibited from: obligating or expending funds for advance planning or design for any super construction project until 60 days after congressional notification, obligating funds for a major medical facility project or a super construction project by more than 10% of the amount approved by law unless certain congressional committees approve the obligation, or using bid savings amounts or funds for other than their original purpose before 30 days after notifying those committees unless each committee approves the obligation. The VA shall enter into a contract with an appropriate non-department federal entity to conduct an external forensic audit of: (1) the medical center construction project in Aurora, Colorado; and (2) the expenditures relating to any major medical facility or super construction project when such expenditures exceed the amount approved by law by more than 25%. The VA must complete a 10-year master plan for: (1) each existing VA medical facility by December 31, 2016, and (2) each new VA medical facility by not later than the earlier of the date on which activation is completed or the date of the facility's formal dedication. (Sec. 3) There is established in the Office of Inspector General an Assistant Inspector General for Construction who shall be responsible for conducting, supervising, and coordinating audits, evaluations, and investigations of the planning, design, contracting, and construction of VA facilities and infrastructure, including major and minor construction projects and leases.

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Travel Facilitation and Safety Act
of 2015''.

SEC. 2. RECOVERY OF INITIAL PRECLEARANCE OPERATION COSTS.

(a) Cost Sharing Agreements With Relevant Airport Authorities.--The
Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may enter into a
cost sharing agreement with airport authorities in foreign countries at
which preclearance operations are to be established or maintained if--
(1) an executive agreement to establish or maintain such
preclearance operations pursuant to the authorities under
section 629 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1629) and
section 103(a)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1103(a)(7)) has been signed, but has not yet entered
into force; and
(2) U.S. Customs and Border Protection has incurred, or
expects to incur, initial preclearance operations costs in
order to establish or maintain preclearance operations under
the agreement described in paragraph (1).
(b) Contents of Cost Sharing Agreements.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 13031(e) of the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19
U.S.C. 58c(e)) and section 286(g) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(g)), any cost sharing agreement
authorized under subsection (a) may provide for the airport
authority's payment to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of
its initial preclearance operations costs.
(2) Timing of payments.--The airport authority's payment to
U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its initial preclearance
operations costs may be made in advance of the incurrence of
the costs or on a reimbursable basis.
(c) Account.--
(1) In general.--All amounts collected pursuant to any cost
sharing agreement authorized under subsection (a)--
(A) shall be credited as offsetting collections to
the currently applicable appropriation, account, or
fund of U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
(B) shall remain available, until expended, for the
purposes for which such appropriation, account, or fund
is authorized to be used; and
(C) may be collected and shall be available only to
the extent provided in appropriations Acts.
(2) Return of unused funds.--Any advances or reimbursements
not used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection may be returned
to the relevant airport authority.
(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to preclude the use of appropriated funds, from
sources other than the payments collected under this Act, to
pay initial preclearance operation costs.
(d) Initial Preclearance Operations Costs Defined.--
(1) In general.--In this section, the term ''initial
preclearance operations costs'' means the costs incurred, or
expected to be incurred, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
to establish or maintain preclearance operations at an airport
in a foreign country, including costs relating to--
(A) hiring, training, and equipping new officers of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection who will be
stationed at United States domestic ports of entry or
other facilities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
to backfill such officers to be stationed at an airport
in a foreign country to conduct preclearance
operations; and
(B) visits to the airport authority conducted by
personnel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
necessary to prepare for the establishment or
maintenance of preclearance operations at such airport,
including the compensation, travel expenses, and
allowances payable to such personnel attributable to
such visits.
(2) Exception.--The costs described in paragraph (1)(A)
shall not include the salaries and benefits of new officers of
U.S. Customs and Border Protection once such officers are
permanently stationed at a domestic United States port of entry
or other domestic facility of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection after being hired, trained, and equipped.

SEC. 3. COLLECTION AND DISPOSITION OF FUNDS COLLECTED FOR IMMIGRATION
INSPECTION SERVICES AND PRECLEARANCE ACTIVITIES.

(a) Immigration and Nationality Act.--Section 286(i) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(i)) is amended by
striking the last sentence and inserting ''Reimbursements under this
subsection may be collected in advance of the provision of such
immigration inspection services. Notwithstanding subsection (h)(1)(B),
and only to the extent provided in appropriations Acts, any amounts
collected under this subsection shall be credited as offsetting
collections to the currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund
of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, remain available until expended,
and be available for the purposes for which such appropriation,
account, or fund is authorized to be used.''.
(b) Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.--Section
10412(b) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7
U.S.C. 8311(b)) is amended to read as follows:
''(b) Funds Collected for Preclearance.--Funds collected for
preclearance activities--
''(1) may be collected in advance of the provision of such
activities;
''(2) shall be credited as offsetting collections to the
currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection;
''(3) shall remain available until expended;
''(4) shall be available for the purposes for which such
appropriation, account, or fund is authorized to be used; and
''(5) may be collected and shall be available only to the
extent provided in appropriations Acts.''.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF PRECLEARANCE AT FOREIGN AIRPORTS.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Preclearance operations provide the ultimate ability
for the United States to address potential threats at the
earliest possible moment and prior to departure, through the
forward deployment of officers of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection to last points of departure in a foreign country.
(2) With inspections and examination operations of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection located in a foreign country,
preclearance provides the capability to interdict, address, and
work with host-country law enforcement in furtherance of both
aviation security and border security in the United States.
(3) Under current preclearance operations, officers of the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection collect biometrics in the
same way that is currently done upon arrival in the United
States, in accordance with current regulation, and as part of
the routine entry process from certain aliens who are not
citizens of the United States prior to boarding flights
destined to the United States.
(4) Preclearance operations provide the best means for
existing and future biometric security capabilities beyond the
United States. Support for preclearance expansion will greatly
increase border and aviation security in the United States and
foreign countries.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that each
country designated as a visa waiver program country under section 217
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) should seek to
participate in the preclearance program with the United States, to
jointly address security concerns through additional exchange of
information and to improve joint ability to secure the that visa waiver
program while maintaining the original intent of the program.

SEC. 5. BIOMETRIC DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AT PRECLEARANCE LOCATIONS.

(a) Authority.--The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to
select preclearance locations, including preclearance expansion
locations, and enter into an agreement with a foreign government or
airport to conduct a collaborative biometric demonstration program at
such a location to test emerging biometric technologies. The scope of
the demonstration program may encompass travelers other than those
utilizing preclearance at such a location, provided that such program
includes means for information sharing with U.S. Customs and Border
Protection operations.
(b) International Cooperation and Coordination.--Section 233(a) of
the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C.
983(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the period at the end and
inserting '', and to establish and maintain, in partnership
with foreign governments, demonstration programs to test
emerging biometric technologies at foreign airports at which
the Secretary has established preclearance operations.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ''and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon and ''and''; and
(C) by adding the following:
''(C) lease, loan, provide, or otherwise assist in
the deployment of biometric technologies at foreign
airports at which the Secretary has established
preclearance operations under such terms and conditions
as the Secretary prescribes, including nonreimbursable
loans or the transfer of ownership of such
technologies, and provide the necessary training and
technical assistance related to the biometric
demonstration programs referred to in paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 6. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Information Sharing Process.--The Director of National
Intelligence shall--
(1) develop a process to share information derived from the
Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE) database and
the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), including biometric
and biographic information, with countries participating in the
visa waiver program established under section 217(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(a)); and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, certify to Congress that such process may be
utilized by such countries.
(b) Continuing Qualification and Designation Terminations.--
Subsection (c) of section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1187) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ''Attorney General,'' and
inserting ''Secretary of Homeland Security,''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (C)(iii)--
(i) by striking ''and the Committee on
International Relations'' and inserting '', the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee
on Homeland Security''; and
(ii) by striking ''and the Committee on
Foreign Relations'' and inserting '', the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
''(G) Border security.--The government of the
country utilizes the process developed by the Director
of National Intelligence under section 6(a) of the
Travel Facilitation and Safety Act of 2015 to utilize
information derived from the Terrorist Identities
Datamart Environment (TIDE) database and the Terrorist
Screening Database (TSDB) for border security and
immigration purposes, including the screening of aliens
seeking asylum or refugee status in that country.''.
answer:
Travel Facilitation and Safety Act of 2015 This bill authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into cost-sharing agreements with airport authorities in foreign countries at which preclearance operations will be established or maintained if certain circumstances apply. Any cost-sharing agreement may provide for an airport authority's payment to the CBP of its initial preclearance operations costs. The Immigration and Nationality Act is amended with respect to reimbursements to the Department of Justice received from commercial aircraft or vessel owners, operators, or agents, or from any airport or seaport authority, for expenses incurred for immigration inspection services they have requested. Such reimbursements may be collected in advance of those services, and shall be credited as offsetting collections to the currently applicable CBP appropriation, account, or fund. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is amended to make the same disposition for reimbursements to the Department of Agriculture for preclearance of animals or articles at locations outside the United States for movement into the United States. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that each visa waiver program country should seek to participate in the U.S. preclearance program. DHS may select preclearance locations and enter into agreements with foreign governments or airports to conduct a collaborative demonstration program at those locations to test emerging biometric technologies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shall develop a process to share information derived from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment database and the Terrorist Screening Database with countries participating in the visa waiver program.

question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Schools of the Future Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Digital learning technology holds the promise of
transforming rural education by removing barriers of distance
and increasing school capacity.
(2) While many large urban local educational agencies are
at the forefront of implementing new digital learning
innovations, it is often harder for smaller and more rural
local educational agencies to access these tools. Smaller local
educational agencies with less capacity may also find it more
difficult to provide the training needed to effectively
implement new digital learning technologies.
(3) Despite the potential of digital learning in rural
areas, these advancements risk bypassing rural areas without
support for their implementation. Rather than having schools
and local educational agencies apply digital learning
innovations designed for urban environments to rural areas, it
is important that digital learning technologies be developed
and implemented in ways that reflect the unique needs of rural
areas.
(4) Digital learning is rapidly expanding, and new tools
for improving teaching and learning are being developed every
day. A growing demand for digital learning tools and products
has made rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness
increasingly important, as this information would allow school
and local educational agency leaders to make informed choices
about how best to use these tools to improve student
achievement and educational outcomes.
(5) High-quality digital learning increases student access
to courses that may not have been available to students in
rural communities, increasing their college and career
readiness.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

(a) Grants to Eligible Partnerships.--From the amounts appropriated
to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Education is authorized to
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to carry
out the activities described in section 6.
(b) Duration of Grant.--A grant under subsection (a) shall be
awarded for not less than a 3-year and not longer than a 5-year period.
(c) Fiscal Agent.--If an eligible partnership receives a grant
under this Act, a school partner in the partnership shall serve as the
fiscal agent for the partnership.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION.

An eligible partnership desiring a grant under this Act shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which
shall include the following:
(1) A description of the eligible partnership, including
the name of each of the partners and their respective roles and
responsibilities.
(2) A description of the technology-based learning
practice, tool, strategy, or course that the eligible
partnership proposes to develop or implement using the grant
funds.
(3) An assurance that all teachers of record hold the
relevant license and are otherwise qualified to implement any
technology-based practice, tool, strategy, or course using the
grant funds.
(4) An assurance that all students in a class or school
implementing a practice, tool, strategy or course using the
grant funds will have access to any equipment necessary to
participate on a full and equitable basis.
(5) An assurance that the proposed uses of smartphones,
laptops, tablets, or other devices susceptible to inappropriate
use have the informed consent of parents or guardians and are
not inconsistent with any policies of the local educational
agency on the use of such devices.
(6) Information relevant to the selection criteria under
section 5(c).
(7) A description of the evaluation to be undertaken by the
eligible partnership, including--
(A) how the school partner and the evaluation
partner will work together to implement the practice,
tool, strategy, or course in such a way that permits
the use of a rigorous, independent evaluation design
that meets the standards of the What Works
Clearinghouse of the Institute of Education Sciences;
and
(B) a description of the evaluation design that
meets such standards, which will be used to measure any
significant effects on the outcomes described in
paragraphs (1) through (3) of section 7(a).
(8) An estimate of the number of students to be reached
through the grant and evidence of its capacity to reach the
proposed number of students during the course of the grant.
(9) An assurance that the school partner in the eligible
partnership will ensure that each school to be served by the
grant under this Act is designated with a school locale code of
Fringe Rural, Distant Rural, or Remote Rural, as determined by
the Secretary.
(10) Any other information the Secretary may require.

SEC. 5. APPLICATION REVIEW AND AWARD BASIS.

(a) Peer Review.--The Secretary shall use a peer review process to
review applications for grants under this Act. The Secretary shall
appoint individuals to the peer review process who have relevant
expertise in digital learning, research and evaluation, standards
quality and alignment, and rural education.
(b) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary
shall ensure, to the extent practicable, diversity in the type of
activities funded under the grants.
(c) Selection Criteria.--In evaluating an eligible partnership's
application for a grant under this Act, the Secretary shall consider--
(1) the need for the proposed technology-based learning
practice, tool, strategy, or course;
(2) the quality of the design of the proposed practice,
tool, strategy, or course;
(3) the strength of the existing research evidence with
respect to such practice, tool, strategy, or course;
(4) the experience of the eligible partnership; and
(5) the quality of the evaluation proposed by the eligible
partnership.

SEC. 6. USE OF FUNDS.

(a) Required Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible partnership receiving a grant
under this Act shall use such funds to implement and evaluate
the results of technology-based learning practices, strategies,
tools, or courses, including the practices, strategies, tools,
or courses identified under paragraphs (2) through (6).
(2) Tools and courses designed to personalize the learning
experience.--Technology-based tools and courses identified
under this paragraph include the following types of tools and
courses designed to personalize the learning experience:
(A) Technology-based personalized instructional
systems.
(B) Adaptive software, games, or tools, that can be
used to personalize learning.
(C) Computer-based tutoring courses to help
struggling students.
(D) Games, digital tools, and smartphone or tablet
applications to improve students' engagement, focus,
and time on task.
(E) Other tools and courses designed to personalize
the learning experience.
(3) Practices and strategies designed to aid and inform
instruction.--Technology-based practices and strategies
identified under this paragraph include the following types of
practices and strategies designed to aid and inform
instruction:
(A) Adaptive software, games, or tools that can be
used for the purpose of formative assessment.
(B) Web resources that provide teachers and their
students access to instructional and curricular
materials that are--
(i) aligned with high-quality standards;
and
(ii) designed to prepare students for
college and a career, such as a repository of
primary historical sources for use in history
and civics courses or examples of
developmentally appropriate science
experiments.
(C) Online professional development opportunities,
teacher mentoring opportunities, and professional
learning communities.
(D) Tools or web resources designed to address
specific instructional problems.
(E) Other practices and strategies designed to
personalize the learning experience.
(4) Tools, courses, and strategies designed to improve the
achievement of students with specific educational needs.--
Technology-based tools, courses, and strategies identified
under this paragraph include the following types of tools,
courses, and strategies designed to meet the needs of students
with specific educational needs:
(A) Digital tools specifically designed to meet the
needs of students with a particular disability.
(B) Online courses that give students who are not
on track to graduate or have already dropped out of
school the opportunity for accelerated credit recovery.
(C) Language instruction courses, games, or
software designed to meet the needs of English language
learners.
(D) Other tools, courses, and strategies designed
to personalize the learning experience.
(5) Tools, courses, and strategies designed to help
students develop 21st century skills.--Technology-based tools,
courses, and strategies identified under this paragraph include
peer-to-peer virtual learning opportunities to be used for the
purposes of project-based learning, deeper learning, and
collaborative learning, and other tools, courses, and
strategies designed to help students develop 21st century
skills, such as the ability to think critically and solve
problems, be effective communicators, collaborate with others,
and learn to create and innovate.
(6) Technology-based or online courses that allow students
to take courses that they would not otherwise have access to.--
Technology-based or online courses identified under this
paragraph include courses or collections of courses that
provide students access to courses that they would not
otherwise have access to, such as the following:
(A) An online repository of elective courses.
(B) Online or software-based courses in foreign
languages, especially in languages identified as
critical or in schools where a teacher is not available
to teach the language or course level a student
requires.
(C) Online advanced or college-level courses that
can be taken for credit.
(b) Authorized Use of Funds.--An eligible partnership receiving a
grant under this Act may use grant funds to--
(1) develop the technology for technology-based learning
strategies, practices, courses, or tools to be carried out
under the grant;
(2) purchase hardware or software needed to carry out such
strategies, practices, courses, or tools under the grant,
except that such purchases may not exceed 50 percent of total
grant funds;
(3) address the particular needs of student subgroups,
including students with disabilities and English-language
learners;
(4) provide technology-based professional development or
professional development on how to maximize the utility of
technology; and
(5) address issues of cost and capacity in rural areas and
shortage subjects.

SEC. 7. DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION.

(a) In General.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant under
this Act shall require its evaluation partner to complete an
independent, comprehensive, well-designed, and well-implemented
evaluation that meets the standards of the What Works Clearinghouse
after the third year of implementation of the grant to measure the
effect of the practice, tool, strategy, or course on--
(1) student achievement, as measured by high quality
assessments that provide objective, valid, reliable measures of
student academic growth and information on whether a student is
on-track to graduate ready for college and career;
(2) costs and savings to the school partner; and
(3) at least one of the following:
(A) Student achievement gaps.
(B) Graduation and dropout rates.
(C) College enrollment.
(D) College persistence.
(E) College completion.
(F) Placement in a living-wage job.
(G) Enhanced teacher or principal effectiveness as
measured by valid, reliable, and multiple measures of
student achievement and other appropriate measures.
(b) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--
(1) acting through the Director of the Institute of
Education Sciences--
(A) evaluate the implementation and impact of the
activities supported under the grant program authorized
under this section; and
(B) identify best practices; and
(2) disseminate, in consultation with the regional
educational laboratories established under part D of the
Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 and comprehensive centers
established under the Educational Technical Assistance Act of
2002, research on best practices in school leadership.
(c) Implementation Evaluation.--An evaluation partner may use funds
under this Act to carry out an implementation evaluation designed to
provide information that may be useful for schools, local educational
agencies, States, consortia of schools, and charter school networks
seeking to implement similar practices, tools, strategies, or courses
in the future.
(d) Publication of Results.--Upon completion of an evaluation
described in subsection (a), (b), or (c) the evaluation partner shall--
(1) submit a report of the results of the evaluation to the
Secretary; and
(2) make publicly available such results.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Eligible partnership.--The term ''eligible
partnership'' means a partnership that includes a school
partner and not less than 1--
(A) digital learning partner, except that in a case
in which a school partner or evaluation partner
demonstrates expertise in digital learning to the
Secretary; and
(B) evaluation partner.
(2) School partner.--The term ''school partner'' means a--
(A) local educational agency;
(B) a charter school network that does not include
virtual schools;
(C) a consortium of public elementary schools or
secondary schools;
(D) a regional educational service agency or
similar regional educational service provider; or
(E) a consortium of the entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(3) Digital learning partner.--The term ''digital learning
partner'' means an organization with expertise in the
technology required to develop or implement the digital
learning practices, tools, strategies, or courses proposed by
the school partner with which the digital learning partner will
partner or has partnered under this Act, such as--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a nonprofit organization; or
(C) an organization with school development or
turnaround experience.
(4) Evaluation partner.--The term ''evaluation partner''
means a partner that has the expertise and ability to carry out
the evaluation of a grant received under this Act, such as--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a nonprofit organization with expertise in
evaluation; or
(C) an evaluation firm.
(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
''institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002).
(6) Local educational agency.--The term ''local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(7) Secretary.--The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
answer:
Schools of the Future Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive three- to five-year grants to eligible partnerships to implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses at rural schools. Defines "eligible partnerships" as those composed of a school partner, a digital learning partner, and an evaluation partner. Describes a "school partner" as a: (1) local educational agency, (2) charter school network that does not include virtual schools, (3) consortium of public elementary or secondary schools, (4) regional educational service provider, or (5) consortium of such entities. Describes a "digital learning partner" as an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or an organization with school development or turnaround experience. Includes among the grant-funded technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses, those that: (1) personalize the learning experience, (2) aid and inform instruction, (3) meet the needs of students with specific educational needs, (4) help students develop 21st century skills, and (5) give students access to courses that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Requires each partnership's evaluation partner, after the third year of the grant, to evaluate the effect of the technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or courses on student achievement and its school partner's costs and savings. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, to: (1) evaluate the implementation and impact of the activities supported by this Act's grants, (2) identify best practices, and (3) disseminate research on best practices in school leadership.