zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Certainty for States and Tribes Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to reestablish the Royalty Policy Committee, which should include members representing states and Indian tribes who produce minerals on federal or tribal land. In addition, Interior must establish a State and Tribal Resources Board, a subcommittee to the Royalty Policy Committee. The board and committee must advise Interior as it formulates policies and regulations regarding mineral production on federal and tribal lands. The board can delay the issuance of a final regulation by Interior if the board determines that such regulation will have a negative state or Tribal budgetary or economic impact.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must complete by January 15, 2019, its programmatic review of the federal coal leasing program as described in Secretarial Order 3338. Secretarial Order 3338 directed the BLM to prepare a discretionary review of the federal coal program. (Interior issued Secretarial Order 3338 on January 15, 2016.)

The moratorium on the issuance of new federal coal leasesby the BLMshall terminate on January 16, 2019.Additionally, the bill allows leases and modifications to be issued by the BLM for any coalleasing application currently under review. Secretarial Order 3338 prohibited approval of such leases and modifications.

The bill also directs the BLM toconduct federal coal lease sales and modifications within one year after it completes an analysis of anapplication.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Public Engagement at FERC Act

This bill amends the Federal Power Act to revise and expand the Office of Public Participation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)and rename it as the Office of Public Participation and Consumer Advocacy.

The office may participate in FERC proceedings on rates, service, and infrastructure siting to represent the interests of the public and issue guidance for potential improvements to industry and FERC practices.

Additionally, the office must establish a Public and Consumer Advocacy Advisory Committee to review rates, services, and disputes and make recommendations to the office.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
Securing Energy Infrastructure Act

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program within the Department of Energy's (DOE)national laboratories to identify thesecurity vulnerabilities of certain entities in the energy sector, and research and test technology that can be used to isolate the most critical systems of such entities from cyber-attacks.

In addition,DOE must establish a working group to evaluate the technology solutions proposed by the national laboratories and to develop a national cyber strategy to isolate the energy grid from attacks.

DOE must also submit a report to Congress describing the results of the pilot program, assessing the feasibility of the techniques considered, and outlining the results of the working group's evaluation.

Date: 2016-06-06
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
American Energy and Conservation Act of 2016

The bill amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to increase the revenue Gulf states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) receive for energy projects by removing the $500 million cap for FY2027-FY2055.Beginning in FY2027, the bill increases the percentage of federal revenues that Alaska and the Atlantic states (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia) receive from offshore energy projects.

 The bill amends the Mineral Leasing Act to eliminate the deduction from state revenues for administrative costs if the costs incurred by the federal government are less than a specified amount.

The Department of the Interior must establish priority areas on federal land for the development of renewable energy generation projects. Additionally, Interior must establish a program to improve federal permit coordination for renewable energy projects.

The bill also designates funds in the Treasury for the Tribal Resilience Program in Alaska to assist tribal nations adapt to the impact of climate change and for the National Park Service to address maintenance needs.

Date: 2016-06-29
Topic: Energy (General)
Subject: Energy
National Science Education Tax Incentive for Businesses Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a general business tax credit for contributions of property or services to elementary and secondary schools and for teacher training to promote instruction in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM contributions).

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Taxation
Education for the 21st Century (E-21) Act - Establishes assistance programs for: (1) middle school computer literacy; and (2) high-quality educational software for all schools.Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to states (especially those with a priority on training middle school teachers) that integrate into the state curriculum the goal of making all middle school graduates in the state technologically literate. Requires use of such grants for teacher training in technology, emphasizing programs preparing teachers in elementary, middle, and secondary schools to become technology leaders and then serve as experts and train other teachers. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants for students at secondary schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to work with IHE faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology in developing high-quality educational software and Internet websites. Directs the Secretary to recognize outstanding software and websites developed with such assistance that focus on core curriculum areas, especially: (1) for the first year of awards, mathematics, science, and reading; and (2) for the second and third years of awards, again mathematics, science, and reading, but also social studies, the humanities, and the arts. Requires: (1) such recognized educational software to be made available to local educational agencies for free downloading from the Department of Education's website; and (2) such recognized websites to be accessible to any Web user.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1987 to allow the Clerk of the House of Representatives, at the request of a Member of the House, to donate computers and related peripheral tools previously used by the Member to a public elementary or secondary school designated by such Member without regard to whether the donation: (1) is a cost to the government; or (2) has a recoverable value.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Congress
United States Library Trust Fund Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish in the Treasury the United States Library Trust Fund (Fund); and (2) allow taxpayers to designate a portion of any tax overpayment (not less than $1) to the Fund. Authorizes public libraries or public school libraries to receive grants from the Fund.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Taxation
National Board-Certified Teachers in Low-Performing Schools Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot program of stipends for teachers in low-income, low-performing schools who: (1) are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and (2) serve as resident facilitators at their schools and as liaisons with the Board to help encourage other teachers to become Board-certified. Authorizes base stipends and potential bonuses for up to 500 teachers annually under such five-year program.

Date: 2007-01-05
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for Kids Act or the SPEAK Act - Amends the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (the Act) to require the Commissioner for Educational Statistics to add science to the mandatory biennial national and state academic achievement assessments of students in grades four, eight, and twelve in reading and mathematics. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require states receiving school improvement funds to participate in such science assessments of students in grades four and eight, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. Amends the Act to task the National Assessment Governing Board with creating or adopting voluntary American education content standards in mathematics and science for kindergarten through grade 12 which reflect the knowledge students need to enter college or the workforce and compete in the global economy. Requires the Secretary of Education to establish the American Standards Incentive fund to award competitive four-year grants to states which agree to: (1) adopt such voluntary mathematics and science standards as the core of their own academic content standards in such subjects; and (2) align their teacher certification and professional development requirements to such standards. Provides additional funds to successful grantees for the enhancement of their student performance data systems. Authorizes the Secretary to extend by two to four years for such grantees the 12-year period at the end of which students must meet or exceed state academic performance standards established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Date: 2007-01-09
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise requirements for Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under title V (Developing Institutions). Establishes a program of competitive grants to eligible HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees (part B grants). Limits a part B grant award's duration to not more than five years. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from awarding more than one part B grant to an HSI in any one fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the current part A program of grants to HSIs that offer baccalaureate degrees or are junior or community colleges; and (2) the new part B program of grants to HSIs that offer postbaccalaureate certifications or degrees.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a pilot program designated as "Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science" to award grants to partnerships to improve laboratories and to provide instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology instruction at the secondary school level. Requires grants awarded under this Act to be made to a partnership that: (1) includes an institution of higher education or a community college; (2) includes a high-need local educational agency; (3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization; and (5) may include a state educational agency, other public agency, national laboratory, or community-based organization.

Date: 2007-01-17
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones College Fire Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make competitive demonstration grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs), fraternities, and sororities for up to half the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems, or other fire suppression or prevention technologies, in student housing and dormitories owned or controlled by such entities. Gives grant priority to applicants that demonstrate the greatest financial need. Reserves the following portions of grant funds made available for each fiscal year: (1) at least 10% for historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and IHEs that are eligible for Institutional Aid under the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (2) at least 10% for social fraternities and sororities. Prohibits the use of more than 2% of a grant for administrative expenses. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress regarding such grant program and governmental policies that impede the development and installation of fire suppression or prevention technologies. Authorizes FY2009-FY2011 appropriations for the grant program. Provides that any application for assistance under this Act, any negative determination on the part of the Secretary with respect to such application, or any statement of reasons for the determination, shall not be admissible as evidence in any proceeding of any court, agency, board, or other entity (except a proceeding to enforce an agreement entered into between the Secretary and a grantee under this Act).

Date: 2007-01-23
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
National Security Language Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish programs to encourage early foreign language instruction, including grants to: (1) partnerships of institutions of higher education (IHEs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) for activities relating to foreign language instruction at elementary or secondary schools, with priorities for high-need LEAs and less-commonly taught foreign languages; and (2) IHEs that develop innovative programs for the teaching of foreign languages, with priorities for combining foreign languages with science and technology and for less-commonly taught foreign languages. Provides undergraduate student loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 for students who major in a critical foreign language and are employed as teachers of such language in elementary or secondary schools or as using such language regularly in a federal agency. Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) establish a foreign language education marketing campaign to encourage students at secondary schools and IHEs to study foreign languages, particularly ones less commonly taught and critical to national security; and (2) conduct a study to identify foreign language heritage communities and recruit speakers of such critical languages. Amends the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991 to establish an International Flagship Language Initiative with grants to IHEs.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Parental Empowerment Act of 2007 - Prohibits any state from receiving federal education funds unless the state has policies and procedures that require: (1) each local educational agency to maintain a parent review and empowerment council to provide input and recommendations regarding purchase or acquisition of library and classroom-based reference, instructional, and other print materials for use in elementary schools; or (2) the state educational agency to maintain such a council, if the state purchases most of such materials.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
National Foreign Language Coordination Act - Establishes, in the Executive Office of the President, a National Foreign Language Coordination Council to: (1) oversee and implement the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI); and (2) develop and implement a national foreign language strategy. Includes heads of certain federal agencies as members of the Council. Establishes a National Language Director, to be appointed by the President, to: (1) chair the Council; (2) develop and monitor implementation of the strategy, built upon the efforts of the NSLI; (3) establish formal relationships among major stakeholders, including federal, state, and local government agencies, academia, industry, labor, and heritage communities; and (4) coordinate and lead a public information campaign. Requires the Council to consult with states to provide for designation of state contact persons. Encourages formation of state interagency councils, or designation of state lead agencies, to coordinate with the Council and state and local agencies.

Date: 2007-01-31
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Math and Science Incentive Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program of assuming the obligation to pay up to $10,000 of interest on certain student loans under the Higher Education Act of 1965, for certain borrowers who agree to serve for five years as: (1) teachers of science, technology, engineering or mathematics at an elementary or secondary school; or (2) mathematics, science or engineering professionals. Requires that selection of program participants from among eligible applicants be based on: (1) U.S. national security, homeland security, and economic security needs; and (2) the applicant's academic record or job performance. Allows other factors to be considered in such selection.

Date: 2007-02-05
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Deleting Online Predators Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require schools and libraries that receive universal service support to enforce a policy that: (1) prohibits access to a commercial social networking website or chat room unless used for an educational purpose with adult supervision; and (2) protects against access to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. Allows an administrator, supervisor, or other authorized person to disable such a technology protection measure during use by an adult, or by minors with adult supervision, to enable access for educational purposes. Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to: (1) issue a consumer alert regarding use of the Internet by child predators and the potential dangers to children because of such use, including the potential dangers of commercial social networking websites and chat rooms; and (2) establish a website resource of information for parents, teachers, school administrators, and others regarding potential dangers posed by the use of the Internet by children.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing U.S. Entrepreneurship Act of 2007 - Requires U.S. courts to remit statutory damages for secondary infringement of copyright, with the exception of cases in which the copyright owner sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that the act or acts constituting secondary infringement were done under circumstances in which no reasonable person could have believed such conduct to be lawful. Prohibits any person from being liable for copyright infringement based on the design, manufacture, or distribution of a hardware device or of a component of such device if the device is capable of substantial, commercially significant noninfringing use. Makes the prohibition on the circumvention of a technological measure (to descramble a scrambled work, to decrypt an encrypted work, or to otherwise avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, or impair a technological measure without the authority of the copyright owner) that effectively controls access to a protected work non-applicable to a person by reason of that person's engaging in a noninfringing use of any of the six classes of of copyrighted works set forth in the determination of the Librarian of Congress in Docket No. RM 2005-11, as published as a final rule by the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, effective November 27, 2006. Excludes specified acts of circumvention from such prohibition.

Date: 2007-02-27
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Commerce
Innovations for our Nation's Vital Educational Needs for Technology Act - Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) establish a competitive grant program, with the goal of developing, and making available for use at the elementary, secondary, and undergraduate levels within two years after enactment of this Act, curriculum tools that will help foster inventiveness; and (2) develop and implement measures for the dissemination of such curriculum tools. Directs the NSF to: (1) implement a public awareness and outreach campaign relating to invention and inventiveness; and (2) establish engineering and social science research programs on the process of invention and the teaching of inventiveness.

Date: 2007-03-13
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Teaching Fellows Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to make competitive matching grants to states for Teaching and Partnership Fellows programs of scholarships for prospective public school teachers. Provides for scholarships: (1) under the Teaching program for high school seniors and second-year college students to encourage them to enter the teaching field and become career educators; and (2) under the Partnership program for individuals, such as paraprofessional educational personnel and others currently in the education field, to complete a bachelor's degree with a state license or certification to teach through partnerships among associate- and bachelor-degree-granting institutions. Requires scholarship recipients to repay specified amounts if they do not fulfill certain obligations to teach in their state's public elementary or secondary schools, under such Teaching and Partnership Fellows program.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Directs the National Science Foundation to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for a report: (1) concerning the effect of increasing the number of members of underrepresented groups, such as women and underrepresented minorities, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields would have on achieving a national strategic priority of expanding the pipeline of individuals entering such fields to support innovation and competitiveness; and (2) that identifies strategies for bringing more women and underrepresented minorities into those fields.

Date: 2007-04-18
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Improving Classroom Learning and Student Performance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award five-year grants to states that receive funds under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to enable them to: (1) collaborate with institutions of higher education, other research institutions, and other organizations to improve the quality, validity, and reliability of state and local academic assessments, including performance assessments that evaluate the application of knowledge to real-world tasks; (2) develop the capacity of local education agencies (LEAs) to assess student academic achievement using multiple measures, including school-based performance assessments; and (3) develop, together with LEAs, the capacity of teachers and school leaders to develop, use, and reliably evaluate the results of locally-administered performance assessments. Requires state grantees to ensure that state and local assessments are aligned to learning standards, unbiased, valid for the purposes for which they are used, reliably scored, and meet professional standards.

Date: 2007-06-25
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to local educational agencies for the development or expansion of gifted and talented education programs, and the provision of direct educational services and materials. Specifies that such gifted and talented education programs include: (1) professional development for such students' teachers; (2) the implementation of innovative educational strategies; (3) making materials and services available through state regional educational service centers, institutions of higher education, or other entities; and (4) providing challenging, high-level coursework through technology.

Date: 2007-06-28
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Strengthening America's Innovation and Competitiveness Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public or private entities to recruit and train individuals outside of the elementary and secondary education system who have expertise in core academic subjects, particularly mathematics, science, and critical foreign languages, to serve as adjunct secondary school teachers of such subjects. Revises the Advanced Placement Incentive grant program to: (1) require nonprofit grantees to partner with educational agencies; (2) give priority to applicants that increase mathematics, science, or critical foreign language programs or target rural schools; and (3) require grantees to cover two-thirds of program costs and provide salary incentives for AP mathematics, science, or critical foreign language teachers. Establishes Math Now programs awarding competitive grants to states, high-need LEAs, and rural educational service agencies to improve mathematics instruction for students in elementary and middle schools. Replaces the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship program with the Robert C. Byrd Mathematics and Science Honors Scholarship program awarding funds to a private nonprofit organization to administer, through a public-private partnership, such program for postsecondary and graduate students who commit to five consecutive years of service in a science, engineering, or mathematics field. Authorizes the Secretary to cover the student loan interest obligations of mathematics, science, or engineering professionals and elementary and secondary school teachers who make such an obligation. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education to establish, in partnership with LEAs, articulated programs of critical-need foreign language studies enabling successful students to advance from elementary school through college and achieve superior proficiency in such languages. Expresses the sense of the Congress that female students should be encouraged to participate in this Act's grant programs.

Date: 2007-07-31
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
U.S.-China Language Engagement Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive three-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for innovative model programs establishing, improving, or expanding Chinese language and cultural studies instruction for their elementary school and secondary school students. Directs the Secretary to award grants to LEAs for use in acquiring communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual exchanges with schools in China. Expresses the sense of Congress that increasing the number of students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance our global economic competitiveness in the 21st century.

Date: 2007-08-01
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to raise monetary caps on the federal share of National Writing Project teacher training costs. Reauthorizes the National Writing Project through FY2013.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Instructional Leadership Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, or partnerships or consortia which include at least one of those entities to develop innovative programs and sites (such as leadership development schools) to train school principals in instructional leadership skills. Requires the Secretary to award additional competitive grants to states or partnerships or consortia which include states for pilot programs that evaluate and promote the incorporation of instructional leadership standards into state principal certification or licensure. Directs the Secretary to establish a definition of "highly-qualified principal" that is based on reports from this Act's grantees and emphasizes instructional leadership standards.

Date: 2007-08-03
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Gender Bias Elimination Act of 2007 - Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to separately host mandatory national meetings that educate members of review panels, university department chairs, and agency program officers about methods that minimize the effects of gender bias in evaluation. Requires that such meetings be held biennially for each major discipline. Instructs such agencies to enforce the federal anti-discrimination laws at universities and other higher education institutions through regular compliance reviews and prompt and thorough investigation of discrimination complaints. Requires enforcement efforts to evaluate whether universities have engaged in any discrimination banned under such laws. Requires the collection storage, and publication of specified grant data composite information. Requires submission by each agency of specified reports on: (1) workshop content and attendance, along with data on the participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (2) the impact of such program to reduce gender bias towards women engaged in research funded by the agency.

Date: 2007-09-10
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Improving the Leadership and Effectiveness of Administrators for Districts Act of 2007 or the I LEAD Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (the Act) to direct the Secretary of Education to establish a program awarding competitive School Leadership Partnership grants to partnerships, each composed of a state and a consortium of high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), to: (1) contract with experienced external agencies for research-based evaluations of the effectiveness of state school leader certification or licensure requirements and methods of recruiting, training, and retaining effective school leaders who improve student achievement at schools receiving improvement funds under part A of title I of the Act; (2) use such evaluations, if the certification or licensure requirements are shown to be ineffective, to develop plans to improve such requirements and school leadership recruitment, training, and support programs; and (3) if required to develop a plan, create model School Leadership Initiatives by implementing such plans in an urban and/or rural high-need LEA participating in their partnerships. Requires grantees to contract with an independent research and evaluation firm to evaluate the effectiveness of their School Leadership Initiatives in recruiting, training, and retraining school leaders and improving student achievement. Directs the Secretary to award an additional grant to partnership grantees whose model School Leadership Initiatives are evaluated as effective so that they can implement such Initiatives in other LEAs within their states.

Date: 2007-09-11
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Revolutionizing Education Through Digital Investment Act of 2007 - Establishes a National Center for Learning Science and Technology (the Center). Establishes in the Treasury the "National Center for Learning Science and Technology Trust Fund," the amounts of which may be used for: (1) supporting basic and applied research development and demonstrations of innovative learning and assessment systems and the components and tools needed to create them; (2) supporting the testing and evaluation of those systems; and (3) encouraging the widespread adoption and use of effective approaches to learning. Creates a board of directors for the Center to oversee the administration of the Center. Authorizes the Director of the Center to award contracts and grants to colleges and universities, museums, libraries, public broadcasting entities and similar nonprofits and public institutions (with or without private partners). Requires: (1) the Director to submit, to the President and specified congressional committees, an annual report which shall include a statement from the Board of its plans and priorities for expenditures and an estimate of funds that will be available for such expenditures from the Trust Fund; and (2) the Director and the Center's principal officers to testify to appropriate congressional committees about such reports and any other appropriate matters.

Date: 2007-09-20
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to give rural teachers who are highly qualified in at least one core academic subject they teach three years from their hiring date to become highly qualified in each additional subject they teach, if their local educational agencies provide them with high-quality professional development and a program of intensive supervision that will ensure that they become highly qualified in such additional subjects.

Date: 2007-09-24
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Science Museum and National Laboratory Partnership Demonstration Act - Authorizes the award of up to five grants only to partnerships that include science museums, or consortia thereof serving at least 1,000,000 visitors annually and with an existing partnership with one or more national laboratories, for the purposes of : (1) increasing public understanding of scientific work occurring at the national laboratories; (2) developing exhibits and informal education programs featuring advances in the physical sciences; and (3) increasing public understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Disallows such science museums or consortia from receiving more than 60% of a grant award for any fiscal year, with the remaining funds allocated to National Laboratory partners.

Date: 2007-10-24
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states for the establishment of a task force composed of state, higher education, and early childhood education representatives and tasked with planning and reviewing the implementation of statewide early childhood education professional development and career systems. Includes among task force duties: (1) developing a professional development and career lattice that provides for a variety of early childhood professional roles with varying professional qualifications and responsibilities, including strategies that offer compensation commensurate with a individual's credentials and training support; (2) assisting institutions of higher education to develop articulation agreements that convert diverse training into academic credits; (3) supporting undergraduate and graduate degree programs in early childhood education; and (4) subjecting the system to quality assurance measures. Directs state grantees to submit their statewide plans for such systems to the Secretary within one year of receiving a grant.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Assessment Accuracy and Improvement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow states to require the use of adaptive assessments of student progress toward state academic performance standards that accurately assess student achievement above and below grade level while also measuring grade-level performance. Defines an "adaptive assessment" as one that changes in difficulty in accordance with a student's performance, but reports its outcome on a scale common to all students.

Date: 2007-10-25
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Improving Teacher Diversity Act - Amends title II (Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to certain minority-serving institutions of higher education (IHEs), or partnerships between such IHEs and other IHEs, to establish centers of excellence for teacher education. Requires the use of such grants to ensure that current and future teachers are highly qualified by: (1) reforming teacher preparation programs so that teachers are able to understand scientifically-based research and use advanced technology effectively in the classroom; (2) providing preservice clinical experience and mentoring to prospective teachers, and increased interaction between IHE faculty and new and experienced elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators; (3) implementing initiatives to promote the retention of highly qualified teachers and principals; (4) awarding need-based scholarships for students in teacher preparation programs; (5) disseminating information on effective teacher preparation practices; and (6) conducting certain other activities authorized under title II.

Date: 2007-11-01
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
STEM Promotion Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to contract with successful advertising firms to implement a campaign to expand the population of qualified individuals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields by encouraging young Americans to enter those fields. Requires that such a campaign be designed to: (1) enhance the image of education and professions in the STEM fields and promote participation in such fields; (2) hold as a high priority making specific appeals to Latinos, Native Americans, African-Americans, and women in order to increase their numbers in STEM fields; and (3) include a narrowly focused effort to attract current professionals in STEM fields into teaching in elementary and secondary schools.

Date: 2007-11-09
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
International Education Leadership Act of 2008 - Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish, in the Department of Education, an Office of International and Foreign Language Education, headed by an Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education with extensive experience in international and foreign language instruction. Makes the Assistant Secretary responsible for: (1) promoting the study of foreign languages and cultures at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels; (2) administering the Department's programs on international and foreign language education and research, and its activities in international affairs; and (3) coordinating such programs with other related federal programs.

Date: 2008-01-29
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Preparing Teachers for Digital Age Learners Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to replace the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology program of part B of title II with the Preparing Teachers for Digital Age Learners program. Authorizes the Secretary to provide funds, through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, to consortia of institutions of higher education, states or local educational agencies, and entities able to assist in the technology-related reform of teacher preparation programs, covering up to three-fourths of the costs of projects to: (1) develop long-term partnerships among consortium members that are focused on effective teaching with modern digital tools and content that connect pre-service teacher preparation with high-need schools; or (2) transform the way departments, schools, and colleges of education teach classroom technology integration to teacher candidates.

Date: 2008-04-17
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 - Requires the President to establish, in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM education) within the National Science and Technology Council.Establishes an Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education in the Department of Education, to be administered by an Assistant Secretary. Requires the Assistant Secretary to conduct an annual evaluation of the STEM education programs administered by the department.Requires the Secretary of Education to award a grant to establish a voluntary State Consortium on STEM Education and a grant to the National Science Digital Library to establish a National STEM Education Research Repository.

Date: 2008-05-21
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to provide grants to secondary schools with a recognized science and technology program to support research and development projects in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology in order to supplement Department of Defense (DOD) national security functions.

Date: 2008-06-25
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
American History and Civics Achievement Act - Amends the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act to direct the Commissioner for Education Statistics to give a priority to conducting national assessments of student achievement in history at least once every four years in grades 4, 8, and 12. Requires the Commissioner to conduct, in at least ten geographically diverse states, trial state academic assessments of student achievement in: (1) U.S. history in grades 8 and 12; and (2) civics in grades 8 and 12. Directs the National Assessment of Educational Progress governing board to select the participating states.

Date: 2008-07-16
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Ready to Compete Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to create a new Ready to Learn program authorizing the Secretary of Education to award a grant to a public broadcasting entity to provide a coordinated Ready to Learn television service by awarding subgrants and contracts to public television stations and producers or distributors of educational programming for the operation of Ready to Learn programs for preschool and elementary school children. Requires such service to include programming that: (1) is aligned with state academic and early learning standards; (2) addresses specific community and school needs, ascertained via ongoing community outreach programs; and (3) is in reading and social and emotional development. Specifies that public broadcasting entities are eligible for Ready to Teach grants to improve teaching in core curriculum areas by using high-tech platforms to deliver integrated educational content and services and teacher training. Requires grantees to direct a significant portion of such services to schools that have failed for two consecutive years to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic performance standards. Alters the Digital Educational Programming Grants program by authorizing competitive five-year (currently, three-year) grants to public television stations that partner with certain other entities to develop, and train teachers in the use of, innovative educational tools and digital content for core curriculum content areas, particularly math, science, and technology. Reauthorizes appropriations for such revamped programs through FY2014. Directs the Secretary to award ten-year grants to television public broadcasting entities to develop and operate a national on-demand digital education media service available to teachers, parents, educational entities, and the public at low or no cost. Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to create a Ready to Earn program authorizing the Secretary to award competitive grants to public television stations that partner with states, state workforce investment boards, or institutions of higher education to develop, disseminate, and provide on-line and on-air education and training services for adults.

Date: 2008-09-10
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the allowable tax deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers to $400; (2) allow the deduction of professional development expenses; and (3) make such deduction permanent.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Taxation
National Mathematics and Science Consistency Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to convene and oversee a panel to produce, for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12), voluntary national expectations for science and mathematics education, promising practices in teaching such subjects, and sample assessment questions based on the expectations. Requires such expectations to be based on core ideas in mathematics and science education common to all states, and the promising teaching practices to be developed by identifying proven and effective teaching materials or the need for new materials. Requires the panel also to develop and coordinate professional development criteria that would prepare teachers to incorporate such expectations into their teaching. Requires the Secretary to award grants to states to: (1) develop instructional materials based on the promising practices in teaching mathematics and science; (2) ensure that the infrastructure and technical assistance to provide such instructional materials online and free of charge to school personnel is available; and (3) train K-12 mathematics and science teachers to use the instructional materials and assessment questions in teaching.

Date: 2007-03-05
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a pilot program designated as "Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science" to award grants to partnerships to improve laboratories and to provide instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology instruction at the secondary school level. Requires grants awarded under this Act to be made to a partnership that: (1) includes an institution of higher education or a community college; (2) includes a high-need local educational agency; (3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization; and (5) may include a state educational agency, other public agency, national laboratory, or community-based organization.

Date: 2007-03-08
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act - Allows each state to enter into a five-year performance agreement with the Secretary of Education permitting it to receive federal funds on a consolidated basis that would otherwise be directed toward specific programs furthering the stated purpose of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Requires each agreement to be approved by a combination of specified state parties, and list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. Allows states to use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but requires states to make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, and advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. Allows amendments to the scope of performance agreements. Requires each agreement state to: (1) maintain an accountability system measuring annual student progress toward state proficiency standards; (2) annually disseminate student performance data disaggregated by specified student groups; and (3) keep aggregate spending on elementary and secondary education at no less than 90% of such spending for the school year coinciding with this Act's enactment. Limits administrative expenses. Requires the inclusion of private schools and teachers in activities funded on a consolidated basis. Directs the Secretary to evaluate each performance agreement midway through its execution. Allows the Secretary to terminate an agreement whose terms are not met for three consecutive school years.

Date: 2007-03-15
Topic: Education (Excellence)
Subject: Education