[Pages S2371-S2377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED

______

EDUCATION FLEXIBILITY PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 1999

______

WELLSTONE AMENDMENTS NOS. 41-42

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. WELLSTONE submitted two amendments intended to be proposed by him
to amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill (S. 280) to
provide for education flexibility partnerships; as follows:

Amendment No. 41

On page 3, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following:
(8)(A) Part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 is intended to provide supplementary
educational services to low achieving children attending
schools with relatively high concentrations of students from
low income families.
(B) Other than fiscal year 1966, Congress has never passed
legislation that provided the maximum funding authorized to
carry out such part.
(C) The fiscal year 1999 appropriation for such part is
less than half of the level required to fund such part of the
maximum authorized level.
(D) By funding such part at the maximum authorized level,
the Federal Government will provide more assistance for
disadvantaged children than the Federal Government did for
fiscal year 1999.
(E) The Senate is committed to funding such part at the
maximum authorized level.
____

Amendment No. 42

On page 15, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
(F) local and state plans, use of funds, and
accountability, under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and
Technical Education Act of 1998, except to permit the
formation of secondary and post-secondary consortia.
______

WELLSTONE (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 43

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by them to amendment No. 31 proposed
by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280, supra; as follows:

On page 15, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:
``(F) Sections 1114b and 1115c of Title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965;''.
______

TORRICELLI AMENDMENTS NOS. 44-45

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. TORRICELLI submitted two amendments intended to be proposed by
him to amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280,
supra; as follows:

Amendment No. 44

At the end, add the following:

SEC. ____01. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the length of the academic year at most elementary and
secondary schools in the United States consists of
approximately 175 to 180 academic days, while the length of
the academic years at elementary and secondary schools in a
majority of the other industrialized countries consists of
approximately 190 to 240 academic days;
(2) eighth-grade students from the United States have
scored lower, on average, in mathematics than students in
Japan, France, and Canada;
(3) various studies indicate that extending the length of
the academic year at elementary and secondary schools results
in a significant increase in actual student learning time,
even when much of the time in the extended portion of the
academic year is used for increased teacher training and
increased parent-teacher interaction;
(4) in the final 4 years of schooling, students in schools
in the United States are required to spend a total of 1,460
hours on core academic subjects, which is less than half of
the 3,528 hours so required in Germany, the 3,280 hours so
required in France, and the 3,170 hours so required in Japan;
(5) American students' lack of formal schooling is not
counterbalanced with more homework as only 29 percent of
American students report spending at least 2 hours on
homework per day compared to half of all European students;
(6) extending the length of the academic year at elementary
and secondary schools will lessen the need for review, at the
beginning of an academic year, of course material covered in
the previous academic year; and
(7) in 1994, the Commission on Time and Learning
recommended that school districts keep schools open longer to
meet the needs of children and communities.
(b) Demonstration Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education, from amounts
appropriated under subsection (d) for a fiscal year, shall
award demonstration grants to local educational agencies to--
(A) enable the local educational agencies to extend the
length of the school year to 210 days;
(B) study the feasibility of an effective methods for
extending learning time within or beyond the school day or
year, including consultation with other schools or local
educational agencies that have designed or implemented
extended learning time programs;
(C) conduct outreach to and consult with community members,
including parents, students, and other stakeholders, such as
tribal leaders, to develop a plan to extend learning time
within or beyond the school day or year; and
(D) research, develop, and implement strategies, including
changes in curriculum and instruction, for maximizing the
quality and percentage of common core learning time in the
school day and extending learning time during or beyond the
school day or year.
(2) Definition.--In this section, the term ``common core
learning time'' means high-quality, engaging instruction in
challenging content in the core academic subjects of English,
mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and
government, economics, arts, history, and geography.
(c) Application.--A local educational agency desiring a
grant under this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary of Education at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
Each application shall describe--
(1) the activities for which assistance is sought;
(2) any study or other information-gathering project for
which funds will be used;
(3) the strategies and methods the applicant will use to
enrich and extend learning time for all students and to
maximize the percentage of common core learning time in the
school day, such as block scheduling, team teaching, longer
school days or years, and extending learning time through new
distance-learning technologies.
(4) the strategies and methods the applicant will use,
including changes in curriculum and instruction, to challenge
and engage students and to maximize the productiveness of
common core learning time, as well as the total time students
spend in school and in school-related enrichment activities;
(5) the strategies and methods the applicant intends to
employ to provide continuing financial support for the
implementation of any extended school day or school year;
(6) with respect to any application seeking assistance for
activities described in subsection (b)(1)(A), a description
of any feasibility or other studies demonstrating the
sustainability of a longer school year;
(7) the extent of involvement of teachers and other school
personnel in investigating, designing, implementing and
sustaining the activities assisted under this part;
(8) the process to be used for involving parents and other
stakeholders in the development and implementation of the
activities assistance under this section;
(9) any cooperation or collaboration among public housing
authorities, libraries, businesses, museums, community-based
organizations, and other community groups and organizations
to extend engaging, high-quality, standards-based learning
time outside of the school day or year, at the school or at
some other site;
(10) the training and professional development activities
that will be offered to teachers and others involved in the
activities assisted under this section;
(11) the goals and objectives of the activities assisted
under this section, including a description of how such
activities will assist all students to reach State standards;
(12) the methods by which the applicant will assess
progress in meeting such goals and objectives; and
(13) how the applicant will use funds provided under this
section in coordination with funds provided under other
Federal laws.
(d) Duration.--A grant under this section shall be awarded
for a period of 3 years.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--

[[Page S2372]]

(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2000 through 2004.
(2) Use of funds.--The Secretary of Education shall use not
less than 70 percent of the amount appropriated for each
fiscal year under paragraph (1) to award grants to applicants
that want to extend the school year to at least 210 days.
____

Amendment No. 45

At the end, add the following:

TITLE____--TEACHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT AND INCENTIVE PROGRAM

SEC. ____01. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this title is--
(1) to encourage the best and brightest candidates to teach
in public elementary and secondary schools serving
disadvantaged populations; and
(2) to encourage high achieving candidates to enter the
teaching profession who would otherwise not consider a career
in teaching.

SEC. ____02. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to 50 local educational agencies for a fiscal year to
enable the local educational agencies to award bonuses to
highly qualified individuals who agree to teach in elementary
schools or secondary schools that are served by the local
educational agency and located in high poverty areas, for a
period of not less than 4 years.
(b) Local Educational Agency Eligibility.--A local
educational agency shall be eligible for a grant under this
title if not less than 40 percent of children in the schools
served by the local educational agency are eligible to be
counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
(c) Amount.--Grants under this section shall be awarded in
the amount of $300,000.
(d) Bonuses Not Taxed.--For purposes of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, a bonus awarded under this title shall
not be includable in the gross income of the individual
awarded the bonus.
(e) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall collaborate with
local educational agencies, local boards of education, and
local offices of student financial assistance in carrying out
the program assisted under this section.
(f) Definition.--The definitions in section 14101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801) shall apply to this title.

SEC. ____03. LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Local Uses.--Each local educational agency receiving a
grant under this title shall use the funds made available
under this title to--
(1) award bonuses to highly qualified individuals who agree
to teach in elementary schools or secondary schools in which
at least 40 percent of the children are eligible to be
counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c));
(2) award the bonuses to not more than 40 highly qualified
individuals for a fiscal year on a competitive basis taking
into consideration--
(A) objective measures such as test scores, grade point
average or class rank, and such other criteria as the local
educational agency may determine appropriate; and
(B) recommendations received under subsection (c); and
(3) award the bonuses in the amount of $15,000 with $7,500
paid after the first year of such teaching and $7,500 paid
after the second year of such teaching.
(b) Prohibition.--Each local educational agency receiving a
grant under this title shall not use the grant funds to
offset the salary of a teacher awarded a bonus under this
title.
(c) Recommendations.--Each local educational agency
receiving a grant under this title shall establish a system
for receiving a limited number of recommendations from
institutions of higher education for individuals to receive
bonus awards under this title.

SEC. ____04. ELIGIBILITY.

To be eligible to receive a bonus award under this title an
individual--
(1) shall enter into an agreement with the local
educational agency to work in a school described in section
____03(1) for not less than 4 years or repay the bonus in
accordance with section __06;
(2) shall pass all State certification examinations
required to teach in an elementary school or secondary school
in the State;
(3) shall have graduated with a 3.5 grade point average
from an institution of higher education, or have graduated in
the top 15 percent of the individual's graduating class at an
institution of higher education, with a bachelor's degree;
(4) shall submit an application to the local educational
agency in accordance with section __05(a).

SEC. ____05. APPLICATIONS; NOTIFICATION.

(a) Application.--Each individual desiring a bonus award
under this title shall submit an application to a local
educational agency not later than January 15 of each year
containing such information as the local educational agency
may require.
(b) Notification.--A local educational agency shall notify
individuals of their bonus awards by May 1 of each year.

SEC. ____06. REPAYMENT.

Each individual who receives a bonus award under this title
and does not comply with the terms of the agreement described
in section __04(1) within 6 years of receiving the first
bonus award payment under this title, without an excuse that
is acceptable to the local educational agency, shall repay to
the local educational agency the amount of the bonus awards
received plus interest. Repayment shall begin not later than
2 years after the local educational agency determines the
individual is in noncompliance with the agreement.

SEC. ____07. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
______

REED (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 46

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Wellstone)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by them to amendment No.
31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280, supra; as follows:

On page 13, line 14, strike ``and''.

On page 13, line 15, strike ``all interested'' and insert
``parents, educators, and all other interested''.

On page 13, line 17, strike the period and insert ``, shall
provide that opportunity in accordance with any applicable
State law specifying how the comments may be received, shall
make the comments received available for public review, and
shall submit the comments with the agency's application to
the Secretary or the State educational agency, as
appropriate.''.
______

BOND AMENDMENT NO. 47

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. BOND submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to
amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280, supra;
as follows:

At the end, add the following new title:

TITLE ____--DIRECT CHECK FOR EDUCATION ACT

SEC. ____1. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Direct Check for Education
Act''.

SEC. ____2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) education should be a national priority but must remain
a local responsibility;
(2) the Federal Government's regulations and involvement
often create barriers and obstacles to local creativity and
reform;
(3) parents, teachers, and local school districts must be
allowed and empowered to set local education priorities; and
(4) schools and education professionals must be accountable
to the people and children served.

SEC. ____3. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:
(1) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United
States Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of
Palau.

SEC. ____4. DIRECT AWARDS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.

(a) Direct Awards.--From amounts appropriated under
subsection (b) and not used to carry out subsection (c), the
Secretary shall make direct awards to local educational
agencies in amounts determined under subsection (e) to enable
the local educational agencies to support programs or
activities, for kindergarten through grade 12 students, that
the local educational agencies determine to be appropriate.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this title $3,500,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2000 and 2001, $4,000,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2002 and 2003, and $5,000,000,000
for fiscal year 2004.
(c) Multiyear Awards.--The Secretary shall use funds
appropriated under subsection (b) for each fiscal year to
continue to make payments to eligible recipients pursuant to
any multiyear award made prior to the date of enactment of
this Act under the provisions of law repealed under
subsection (d). The payments shall be made for the duration
of the multiyear award.
(d) Repeals.--The following provisions of law are repealed:
(1) The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801 et
seq.).
(2) Section 307 of the Department of Education
Appropriations Act, 1999.
(3) Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.).

[[Page S2373]]

(4) Part B of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7331 et seq.).
(5) Part A of title X of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.).
(6) The School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C.
6101 et seq.).
(e) Determination of Amount.--
(1) Per child amount.--The Secretary, using the information
provided under subsection (f), shall determine a per child
amount for a year by dividing the total amount appropriated
under subsection (b) for the year, by the average daily
attendance of kindergarten through grade 12 students in all
States for the preceding year.
(2) Local educational agency award.--The Secretary, using
the information provided under subsection (f), shall
determine the amount provided to each local educational
agency under this section for a year by multiplying--
(A) the per child amount determined under paragraph (1) for
the year; by
(B) the average daily attendance of kindergarten through
grade 12 students that are served by the local educational
agency for the preceding year.
(f) Census Determination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than December 1 of each year,
each local educational agency shall conduct a census to
determine the average daily attendance of kindergarten
through grade 12 students served by the local educational
agency.
(2) Submission.--Not later than March 1 of each year, each
local educational agency shall submit the number described in
paragraph (1) to the Secretary.
(g) Penalty.--If the Secretary determines that a local
educational agency has knowingly submitted false information
under subsection (f) for the purpose of gaining additional
funds under this section, then the local educational agency
shall be fined an amount equal to twice the difference
between the amount the local educational agency received
under this section, and the correct amount the local
educational agency would have received under this section if
the agency had submitted accurate information under
subsection (f).
(h) Disbursal.--The Secretary shall disburse the amount
awarded to a local educational agency under this title for a
fiscal year not later than July 1 of that year.

SEC. ____5. AUDIT.

(a) In General.--The Secretary may conduct audits of the
expenditures of local educational agencies under this title
to ensure that the funds made available under this title are
used in accordance with this title.
(b) Sanctions and Penalties.--If the Secretary determines
that the funds made available under section ____4 were not
used in accordance with section ____4(a), the Secretary may
use the enforcement provisions available to the Secretary
under part D of the General Education Provisions Act (20
U.S.C. 1234 et seq.).
______

MURKOWSKI AMENDMENT NO. 48

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. MURKOWSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him
to amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280,
supra; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

TITLE ____--SAFE AND DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

SEC. ____1. DEFINITIONS.

Section 4131 of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 7141) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(7) Abuse.--The term `abuse', used with respect to an
inhalant, means the intentional breathing of gas or vapors
from the inhalant with the purpose of achieving an altered
state of consciousness.
``(8) Drug.--The term `drug' includes a substance that is
an inhalant, whether or not possession or use of the
substance is legal.
``(9) Inhalant.--The term `inhalant' means a product that--
``(A) may be a legal, commonly available product; and
``(B) has a useful purpose but can be abused, such as spray
paint, glue, gasoline, correction fluid, furniture polish, a
felt tip marker, pressurized whipped cream, an air freshener,
butane, or cooking spray.
``(10) Use.--The term `use', used with respect to an
inhalant, means abuse of the inhalant.''.

SEC. ____2. FINDINGS.

Section 4002 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7102) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, and the abuse of
inhalants,'' after ``other drugs'';
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and the illegal use of
alcohol and drugs'' and inserting ``, the illegal use of
alcohol and drugs, and the abuse of inhalants'';
(3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and tobacco'' each
place it appears and inserting ``, tobacco, and inhalants'';
(4) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and illegal drug use''
and inserting ``, illegal drug use, and inhalant abuse''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(11)(A) The number of children using inhalants has
doubled in the last 10 years. Inhalants are the third most
abused class of substances by children age 12 through 14 in
the United States, behind alcohol and tobacco. One of 5
students in the United States has tried inhalants by the time
the student has reached the 8th grade.
``(B) Inhalant vapors react with fatty tissues in the
brain, literally dissolving the tissues. A single use of
inhalants can cause instant and permanent brain, heart,
kidney, liver, and other organ damage. The user of an
inhalant can suffer from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome,
which can cause a user to die the first, tenth, or hundredth
time the user uses an inhalant.
``(C) Because inhalants are legal, education on the dangers
of inhalant abuse is the most effective method of preventing
the abuse.''.

SEC. ____3. PURPOSE.

Section 4003 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7103) is amended, in
the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``and abuse
of inhalants'' after ``and drugs''.

SEC. ____4. GOVERNOR'S PROGRAMS.

Section 4114(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7114(c)(2)) is
amended by inserting ``(including inhalant abuse education)''
after ``drug and violence prevention''.

SEC. ____5. DRUG AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

Section 4116 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7116) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting ``, and the abuse
of inhalants,'' after ``illegal drugs''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and the abuse of inhalants'' after ``use
of illegal drugs''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and abuse inhalants'' after ``use
illegal drugs''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``(including age appropriate inhalant prevention programs for
all students, from the preschool level through grade 12)''
after ``drug prevention''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and inhalant
abuse'' after ``drug use''.

SEC. ____6. FEDERAL ACTIVITIES.

Section 4121(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7131(a)) is amended,
in the first sentence, by striking ``illegal use of drugs''
and inserting ``illegal use of drugs, the abuse of
inhalants,''.

SEC. ____7. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Section 4122(a)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7132(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``the illegal use of alcohol and other
drugs'' and inserting ``the illegal use of alcohol and other
drugs, and the abuse of inhalants,''.

SEC. ____8. MATERIALS.

Section 4132(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7142(a)) is amended
by striking ``illegal use of alcohol and other drugs'' and
inserting ``illegal use of alcohol and other drugs and the
abuse of inhalants''.
______

FEINSTEIN AMENDMENT NO. 49

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mrs. FEINSTEIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her
to amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280,
supra; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

TITLE ____--STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

SEC. ____01. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Student Achievement Act of
1999''.

SEC. ____02. REMEDIAL EDUCATION.

(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to
award grants to high need, low-performing local educational
agencies to enable the local educational agencies to carry
out remedial education programs that enable kindergarten
through grade 12 students who are failing or are at risk of
failing to meet State achievement standards in the core
academic curriculum.
(b) Use of Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this section
may be used to provide prevention and intervention services
and academic instruction, that enable the students described
in subsection (a) to meet challenging State achievement
standards in the core academic curriculum, such as--
(1) implementing early intervention strategies that
identify and support those students who need additional help
or alternative instructional strategies;
(2) strengthening learning opportunities in classrooms by
hiring certified teachers to reduce class sizes, providing
high quality professional development, and using proven
instructional practices and curriculum aligned to State
achievement standards;
(3) providing extended learning time, such as after-school
and summer school; and
(4) developing intensive instructional intervention
strategies for students who fail to meet the State
achievement standards.
(c) Applications.--Each local educational agency desiring
to receive a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Secretary. Each application shall
contain--
(1) an assurance that the grant funds will be used in
accordance with subsection (b); and
(2) a detailed description of how the local educational
agency will use the grant funds to help students meet State
achievement standards in the core academic curriculum by
providing prevention and intervention services and academic
instruction to students who are most at risk of failing to
meet the State achievement standards.
(d) Conditions for Receiving Funds.--A local educational
agency shall be eligible to receive a grant under this
section if the local

[[Page S2374]]

educational agency or the State educational agency--
(1) adopts a policy prohibiting the practice of social
promotion;
(2) requires that all kindergarten through grade 12
students meet State achievement standards in the core
academic curriculum at key transition points (to be
determined by the State), such as 4th, 8th, 12th grades,
before promotion to the next grade level;
(3) uses tests validated for these purposes and other
indicators to assess student performance in meeting the State
achievement standards, such as tests, grades and teacher
evaluations; and
(4) has substantial numbers of students who are low-
performing students.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Core academic curriculum.--The term ``core academic
curriculum'' means curriculum in subjects such as reading and
writing, language arts, mathematics, social sciences
(including history), and science.
(2) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801).
(3) Practice of social promotion.--The term `practice of
social promotion' means a formal or informal practice of
promoting a student from the grade for which the
determination is made to the next grade when the student
fails to meet the State achievement standards in the core
academic curriculum. The term does not include decisions made
for children with disabilities consistent with the
requirements of section 601 et seq. of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 USC 1401 et seq.).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
______

MURRAY (AND KENNEDY) AMENDMENT NO. 50

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by them to amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr.
Jeffords to the bill, S. 280, supra; as follows:

At the end of the amendment, add the following:

SEC. ____. CLASS SIZE REDUCTION.

Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:

``PART E--CLASS SIZE REDUCTION

``SEC. 6601. SHORT TITLE.

``This part may be cited as the `Class Size Reduction and
Teacher Quality Act of 1999'.

``SEC. 6602. FINDINGS.

``Congress finds as follows:
``(1) Rigorous research has shown that students attending
small classes in the early grades make more rapid educational
progress than students in larger classes, and that these
achievement gains persist through at least the elementary
grades.
``(2) The benefits of smaller classes are greatest for
lower achieving, minority, poor, and inner-city children. One
study found that urban fourth-graders in smaller-than-average
classes were \3/4\ of a school year ahead of their
counterparts in larger-than-average classes.
``(3) Teachers in small classes can provide students with
more individualized attention, spend more time on instruction
and less on other tasks, cover more material effectively, and
are better able to work with parents to further their
children's education.
``(4) Smaller classes allow teachers to identify and work
more effectively with students who have learning disabilities
and, potentially, can reduce those students' need for special
education services in the later grades.
``(5) Students in smaller classes are able to become more
actively engaged in learning than their peers in large
classes.
``(6) Efforts to improve educational achievement by
reducing class sizes in the early grades are likely to be
more successful if--
``(A) well-prepared teachers are hired and appropriately
assigned to fill additional classroom positions; and
``(B) teachers receive intensive, continuing training in
working effectively in smaller classroom settings.
``(7) Several States have begun a serious effort to reduce
class sizes in the early elementary grades, but these actions
may be impeded by financial limitations or difficulties in
hiring well-prepared teachers.
``(8) The Federal Government can assist in this effort by
providing funding for class-size reductions in grades 1
through 3, and by helping to ensure that the new teachers
brought into the classroom are well prepared.

``SEC. 6603. PURPOSE.

``The purpose of this part is to help States and local
educational agencies recruit, train, and hire 100,000
additional teachers over a 7-year period in order to--
``(1) reduce class sizes nationally, in grades 1 through 3,
to an average of 18 students per classroom; and
``(2) improve teaching in the early grades so that all
students can learn to read independently and well by the end
of the third grade.

``SEC. 6604. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of
carrying out this part, there are authorized to be
appropriated, $1,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,
$1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $1,700,000,000 for
fiscal year 2002, $1,735,000,000 for fiscal year 2003,
$2,300,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and $2,800,000,000 for
fiscal year 2005.
``(b) Allotments.--
``(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under
subsection (a) for a fiscal year the Secretary--
``(A) shall make a total of 1 percent available to the
Secretary of the Interior (on behalf of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs) and the outlying areas for activities that meet the
purpose of this part; and
``(B) shall allot to each State the same percentage of the
remaining funds as the percentage it received of funds
allocated to States for the previous fiscal year under
section 1122 or section 2202(b), whichever percentage is
greater, except that such allotments shall be ratably
decreased as necessary.
``(2) Definition of state.--In this part the term ``State''
means each of the several States of the United States, the
District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(3) State-level expenses.--Each State may use not more
than a total of \1/2\ of 1 percent of the amount the State
receives under this part, or $50,000, whichever is greater,
for a fiscal year, for the administrative costs of the State
educational agency.
``(c) Within State Distribution.--
``(1) In general.--Each State that receives an allotment
under this section shall distribute the amount of the
allotted funds that remain after using funds in accordance
with subsection (b)(3) to local educational agencies in the
State, of which--
``(A) 80 percent of such remainder shall be allocated to
such local educational agencies in proportion to the number
of children, aged 5 to 17, who reside in the school district
served by such local educational agency and are from families
with incomes below the poverty line (as defined by the Office
of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance
with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act
(42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) applicable to a family of the size
involved) for the most recent fiscal year for which
satisfactory data is available compared to the number of such
individuals who reside in the school districts served by all
the local educational agencies in the State for that fiscal
year, except that a State may adjust such data, or use
alternative child-poverty data, to carry out this
subparagraph if the State demonstrates to the Secretary's
satisfaction that such adjusted or alternative data more
accurately reflects the relative incidence of children living
in poverty within local educational agencies in the State;
and
``(B) 20 percent of such remainder shall be allocated to
such local educational agencies in accordance with the
relative enrollments of children, aged 5 to 17, in public and
private nonprofit elementary schools and secondary schools in
the school districts within the boundaries of such agencies.
``(2) Award rule.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the
award to a local educational agency under this section is
less than the starting salary for a new teacher in that
agency, the State shall not make the award unless the local
educational agency agrees to form a consortium with not less
than 1 other local educational agency for the purpose of
reducing class size.

``SEC. 6605. USE OF FUNDS.

``(a) In General.--Each local educational agency that
receives funds under this part shall use such funds to carry
out effective approaches to reducing class size with highly
qualified teachers to improve educational achievement for
both regular and special-needs children, with particular
consideration given to reducing class size in the early
elementary grades for which some research has shown class
size reduction is most effective.
``(b) Class Reduction.--
``(1) In general.--Each such local educational agency may
pursue the goal of reducing class size through--
``(A) recruiting, hiring, and training certified regular
and special education teachers and teachers of special-needs
children, including teachers certified through State and
local alternative routes;
``(B) testing new teachers for academic content knowledge,
and to meet State certification requirements that are
consistent with title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965;
and
``(C) providing professional development to teachers,
including special education teachers and teachers of special-
needs children, consistent with title II of the Higher
Education Act of 1965.
``(2) Restriction.--A local educational agency may use not
more than a total of 15 percent of the funds received under
this part for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2003 to
carry out activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C)
of paragraph (1), and may not use any funds received under
this part for fiscal year 2004 or 2005 for those activities.
``(3) Special rule.--A local educational agency that has
already reduced class size in the early grades to 18 or fewer
children may use funds received under this part--

[[Page S2375]]

``(A) to make further class-size reductions in grades 1
through 3;
``(B) to reduce class size in kindergarten or other grades;
or
``(C) to carry out activities to improve teacher quality,
including professional development activities.
``(c) Supplement Not Supplant.--A local educational agency
shall use funds under this part only to supplement, and not
to supplant, State and local funds that, in the absence of
such funds, would otherwise be spent for activities under
this part.
``(d) Prohibition.--No funds made available under this part
may be used to increase the salaries of or provide benefits
to (other than participation in professional development and
enrichment programs) teachers who are, or have been, employed
by the local educational agency.
``(e) Professional Development.--If a local educational
agency uses funds made available under this part for
professional development activities, the agency shall ensure
the equitable participation of private nonprofit elementary
and secondary schools in such activities. Section 6402 shall
not apply to other activities under this section.
``(f) Administrative Expenses.--A local educational agency
that receives funds under this part may use not more than 3
percent of such funds for local administrative expenses.

``SEC. 6606. COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.

(a) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of
activities carried out under this part--
``(1) may be up to 100 percent in local educational
agencies with child-poverty levels of 50 percent or greater;
and
``(2) shall be no more than 65 percent for local
educational agencies with child-poverty rates of less than 50
percent.
``(b) Local Share.--A local educational agency shall
provide the non-Federal share of a project under this part
through cash expenditures from non-Federal sources, except
that if an agency has allocated funds under section 1113(c)
to one or more schoolwide programs under section 1114, it may
use those funds for the non-Federal share of activities under
this program that benefit those schoolwide programs, to the
extent consistent with section 1120A(c) and notwithstanding
section 1114(a)(3)(B).

``SEC. 6607. REQUEST FOR FUNDS.

``Each local educational agency that desires to receive
funds under this part shall include in the application
submitted under section 6303 a description of the agency's
program under this part to reduce class size by hiring
additional highly qualified teachers.

``SEC. 6608. REPORTS.

``(a) State.--Each State receiving funds under this part
shall report on activities in the State under this section,
consistent with section 6202(a)(2).
``(b) School.--Each school receiving assistance under this
part, or the local educational agency serving that school,
shall produce an annual report to parents, the general
public, and the State educational agency, in easily
understandable language, regarding student achievement that
is a result of hiring additional highly qualified teachers
and reducing class size.''.
______

BINGAMAN AMENDMENT NO. 51

(Ordered to lie on the table.)
Mr. BINGAMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to
amendment No. 31 proposed by Mr. Jeffords to the bill, S. 280, supra;
as follows:

At the end, add the following:

TITLE ____--DROPOUT PREVENTION AND STATE RESPONSIBILITIES

SEC. ____01. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``National Dropout
Prevention Act of 1999''.

Subtitle A--Dropout Prevention

SEC. ____11. DROPOUT PREVENTION.

Part C of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7261 et seq.) is amended to read as
follows:

``PART C--ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS SCHOOL DROPOUT PROBLEMS

``Subpart 1--Coordinated National Strategy

``SEC. 5311. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

``(a) National Priority.--It shall be a national priority,
for the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of
the National Dropout Prevention Act of 1999, to lower the
school dropout rate, and increase school completion, for
middle school and secondary school students in accordance
with Federal law. As part of this priority, all Federal
agencies that carry out activities that serve students at
risk of dropping out of school or that are intended to help
address the school dropout problem shall make school dropout
prevention a top priority in the agencies' funding priorities
during the 5-year period.
``(b) Enhanced Data Collection.--The Secretary shall
collect systematic data on the participation of different
racial and ethnic groups (including migrant and limited
English proficient students) in all Federal programs.

``SEC. 5312. NATIONAL SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION STRATEGY.

``(a) Plan.--The Director shall develop, implement, and
monitor an interagency plan (in this section referred to as
the ``plan'') to assess the coordination, use of resources,
and availability of funding under Federal law that can be
used to address school dropout prevention, or middle school
or secondary school reentry. The plan shall be completed and
transmitted to the Secretary and Congress not later than 180
days after the first Director is appointed.
``(b) Coordination.--The plan shall address inter- and
intra-agency program coordination issues at the Federal level
with respect to school dropout prevention and middle school
and secondary school reentry, assess the targeting of
existing Federal services to students who are most at risk of
dropping out of school, and the cost-effectiveness of various
programs and approaches used to address school dropout
prevention.
``(c) Available Resources.--The plan shall also describe
the ways in which State and local agencies can implement
effective school dropout prevention programs using funds from
a variety of Federal programs, including the programs under
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the School-to-Work Opportunities
Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.).
``(d) Scope.--The plan will address all Federal programs
with school dropout prevention or school reentry elements or
objectives, programs under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A
of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-11 et seq.), title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the School-
to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.),
part B of title IV of the Job Training Partnership Act (29
U.S.C. 1691 et seq.), subtitle C of title I of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C 2881 et seq.), and other
programs.

``SEC. 5313. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE.

``Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
the National Dropout Prevention Act of 1999, the Director
shall establish a national clearinghouse on effective school
dropout prevention, intervention and reentry programs. The
clearinghouse shall be established through a competitive
grant or contract awarded to an organization with a
demonstrated capacity to provide technical assistance and
disseminate information in the area of school dropout
prevention, intervention, and reentry programs. The
clearinghouse shall--
``(1) collect and disseminate to educators, parents, and
policymakers information on research, effective programs,
best practices, and available Federal resources with respect
to school dropout prevention, intervention, and reentry
programs, including dissemination by an electronically
accessible database, a worldwide Web site, and a national
journal; and
``(2) provide technical assistance regarding securing
resources with respect to, and designing and implementing,
effective and comprehensive school dropout prevention,
intervention, and reentry programs.

``SEC. 5314. NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM.

``(a) In General.--The Director shall carry out a national
recognition program that recognizes schools that have made
extraordinary progress in lowering school dropout rates under
which a public middle school or secondary school from each
State will be recognized. The Director shall use uniform
national guidelines that are developed by the Director for
the recognition program and shall recognize schools from
nominations submitted by State educational agencies.
``(b) Eligible Schools.--The Director may recognize any
public middle school or secondary school (including a charter
school) that has implemented comprehensive reforms regarding
the lowering of school dropout rates for all students at that
school.
``(c) Support.--The Director may make monetary awards to
schools recognized under this section, in amounts determined
by the Director. Amounts received under this section shall be
used for dissemination activities within the school district
or nationally.

``Subpart 2--National School Dropout Prevention Initiative

``SEC. 5321. FINDINGS.

``Congress finds that, in order to lower dropout rates and
raise academic achievement levels, improved and redesigned
schools must--
``(1) challenge all children to attain their highest
academic potential; and
``(2) ensure that all students have substantial and ongoing
opportunities to--
``(A) achieve high levels of academic and technical skills;
``(B) prepare for college and careers;
``(C) learn by doing;
``(D) work with teachers in small schools within schools;
``(E) receive ongoing support from adult mentors;
``(F) access a wide variety of information about careers
and postsecondary education and training;
``(G) use technology to enhance and motivate learning; and
``(H) benefit from strong links among middle schools,
secondary schools, and postsecondary institutions.

``SEC. 5322. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

``(a) Allotments to States.--
``(1) In general.--From the sum made available under
section 5332(b) for a fiscal year the Secretary shall make an
allotment to each State in an amount that bears the same
relation to the sum as the amount the State received under
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) for the preceding fiscal

[[Page S2376]]

year bears to the amount received by all States under such
title for the preceding fiscal year.
``(2) Definition of state.--In this subpart, the term
``State'' means each of the several States of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
``(b) Grants.--From amounts made available to a State under
subsection (a), the State educational agency may award grants
to public middle schools or secondary schools, that have
school dropout rates which are in the highest \1/3\ of all
school dropout rates in the State, to enable the schools to
pay only the startup and implementation costs of effective,
sustainable, coordinated, and whole school dropout prevention
programs that involve activities such as--
``(1) professional development;
``(2) obtaining curricular materials;
``(3) release time for professional staff;
``(4) planning and research;
``(5) remedial education;
``(6) reduction in pupil-to-teacher ratios;
``(7) efforts to meet State student achievement standards;
and
``(8) counseling for at-risk students.
``(b) Intent of Congress.--It is the intent of Congress
that the activities started or implemented under subsection
(a) shall be continued with funding provided under part A of
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.).
``(c) Amount.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (d) and except as
provided in paragraph (2), a grant under this subpart shall
be awarded--
``(A) in the first year that a school receives a grant
payment under this subpart, in an amount that is not less
than $50,000 and not more than $100,000, based on factors
such as--
``(i) school size;
``(ii) costs of the model being implemented; and
``(iii) local cost factors such as poverty rates;
``(B) in the second such year, in an amount that is not
less than 75 percent of the amount the school received under
this subpart in the first such year;
``(C) in the third year, in an amount that is not less than
50 percent of the amount the school received under this
subpart in the first such year; and
``(D) in each succeeding year in an amount that is not less
than 30 percent of the amount the school received under this
subpart in the first such year.
``(2) Increases.--The Director shall increase the amount
awarded to a school under this subpart by 10 percent if the
school creates smaller learning communities within the school
and the creation is certified by the State educational
agency.
``(d) Duration.--A grant under this subpart shall be
awarded for a period of 3 years, and may be continued for a
period of 2 additional years if the State educational agency
determines, based on the annual reports described in section
5328(a), that significant progress has been made in lowering
the school dropout rate for students participating in the
program assisted under this subpart compared to students at
similar schools who are not participating in the program.

``SEC. 5323. STRATEGIES AND ALLOWABLE MODELS.

``(a) Strategies.--Each school receiving a grant under this
subpart shall implement research-based, sustainable, and
widely replicated, strategies for school dropout prevention
and reentry that address the needs of an entire school
population rather than a subset of students. The strategies
may include--
``(1) specific strategies for targeted purposes; and
``(2) approaches such as breaking larger schools down into
smaller learning communities and other comprehensive reform
approaches, developing clear linkages to career skills and
employment, and addressing specific gatekeeper hurdles that
often limit student retention and academic success.
``(b) Allowable Models.--The Director shall annually
establish and publish in the Federal Register the principles,
criteria, models, and other parameters regarding the types of
effective, proven program models that are allowed to be used
under this subpart, based on existing research.
``(c) Capacity Building.--
``(1) In general.--The Director, through a contract with a
non-Federal entity, shall conduct a capacity building and
design initiative in order to increase the types of proven
strategies for dropout prevention on a schoolwide level.
``(2) Number and duration.--
``(A) Number.--The Director shall award not more than 5
contracts under this subsection.
``(B) Duration.--The Director shall award a contract under
this section for a period of not more than 5 years.
``(d) Support for Existing Reform Networks.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall provide appropriate
support to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities
to provide training, materials, development, and staff
assistance to schools assisted under this subpart.
``(2) Definition of eligible entity.--The term `eligible
entity' means an entity that, prior to the date of enactment
of the National Dropout Prevention Act of 1999--
``(A) provided training, technical assistance, and
materials to 100 or more elementary schools or secondary
schools; and
``(B) developed and published a specific educational
program or design for use by the schools.

``SEC. 5324. SELECTION OF SCHOOLS.

``(a) School Application.--
``(1) In general.--Each school desiring a grant under this
subpart shall submit an application to the State educational
agency at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the State educational agency may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall--
``(A) contain a certification from the local educational
agency serving the school that--
``(i) the school has the highest number or rates of school
dropouts in the age group served by the local educational
agency;
``(ii) the local educational agency is committed to
providing ongoing operational support, for the school's
comprehensive reform plan to address the problem of school
dropouts, for a period of 5 years; and
``(iii) the local educational agency will support the plan,
including--

``(I) release time for teacher training;
``(II) efforts to coordinate activities for feeder schools;
and
``(III) encouraging other schools served by the local
educational agency to participate in the plan;

``(B) demonstrate that the faculty and administration of
the school have agreed to apply for assistance under this
subpart, and provide evidence of the school's willingness and
ability to use the funds under this subpart, including
providing an assurance of the support of 80 percent or more
of the professional staff at the school;
``(C) describe the instructional strategies to be
implemented, how the strategies will serve all students, and
the effectiveness of the strategies;
``(D) describe a budget and timeline for implementing the
strategies;
``(E) contain evidence of interaction with an eligible
entity described in section 5323(d)(2);
``(F) contain evidence of coordination with existing
resources;
``(G) provide an assurance that funds provided under this
subpart will supplement and not supplant other Federal,
State, and local funds;
``(H) describe how the activities to be assisted conform
with an allowable model described in section 5323(b); and
``(I) demonstrate that the school and local educational
agency have agreed to conduct a schoolwide program under
1114.
``(b) State Agency Review and Award.--The State educational
agency shall review applications and award grants to schools
under subsection (a) according to a review by a panel of
experts on school dropout prevention.
``(c) Criteria.--The Director shall establish clear and
specific selection criteria for awarding grants to schools
under this subpart. Such criteria shall be based on school
dropout rates and other relevant factors for State
educational agencies to use in determining the number of
grants to award and the type of schools to be awarded grants.
``(d) Eligibility.--
``(1) In general.--A school is eligible to receive a grant
under this subpart if the school is--
``(A) a public school--
``(i) that is eligible to receive assistance under part A
of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.), including a comprehensive
secondary school, a vocational or technical secondary school,
and a charter school; and
``(ii)(I) that serves students 50 percent or more of whom
are low-income individuals; or
``(II) with respect to which the feeder schools that
provide the majority of the incoming students to the school
serve students 50 percent or more of whom are low-income
individuals; or
``(B) is participating in a schoolwide program under
section 1114 during the grant period.
``(2) Other schools.--A private or parochial school, an
alternative school, or a school within a school, is not
eligible to receive a grant under this subpart, but an
alternative school or school within a school may be served
under this subpart as part of a whole school reform effort
within an entire school building.
``(e) Community-Based Organizations.--A school that
receives a grant under this subpart may use the grant funds
to secure necessary services from a community-based
organization, including private sector entities, if--
``(1) the school approves the use;
``(2) the funds are used to provide school dropout
prevention and reentry activities related to schoolwide
efforts; and
``(3) the community-based organization has demonstrated the
organization's ability to provide effective services as
described in section 107(a) of the Job Training Partnership
Act (29 U.S.C. 1517(a)), or section 122 of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842).
``(f) Coordination.--Each school that receives a grant
under this subpart shall coordinate the activities assisted
under this subpart with other Federal programs, such as
programs assisted under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1070a-11 et seq.) and the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of
1994 (20 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.).

[[Page S2377]]

``SEC. 5325. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES.

``Each school that receives a grant under this subpart
shall provide information and technical assistance to other
schools within the school district, including presentations,
document-sharing, and joint staff development.

``SEC. 5326. PROGRESS INCENTIVES.

``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each local
educational agency that receives funds under title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6301 et seq.) shall use such funding to provide assistance to
schools served by the agency that have not made progress
toward lowering school dropout rates after receiving
assistance under this subpart for 2 fiscal years.

``SEC. 5327. SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE CALCULATION.

``For purposes of calculating a school dropout rate under
this subpart, a school shall use--
``(1) the annual event school dropout rate for students
leaving a school in a single year determined in accordance
with the National Center for Education Statistics' Common
Core of Data, if available; or
``(2) in other cases, a standard method for calculating the
school dropout rate as determined by the State educational
agency.

``SEC. 5328. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

``(a) Reporting.--In order to receive funding under this
subpart for a fiscal year after the first fiscal year a
school receives funding under this subpart, the school shall
provide, on an annual basis, to the Director a report
regarding the status of the implementation of activities
funded under this subpart, the disaggregated outcome data for
students at schools assisted under this subpart such as
dropout rates, and certification of progress from the
eligible entity whose strategies the school is implementing.
``(b) Accountability.--On the basis of the reports
submitted under subsection (a), the Director shall evaluate
the effect of the activities assisted under this subpart on
school dropout prevention compared to a control group.

``SEC. 5329. PROHIBITION ON TRACKING.

``(a) In General.--A school shall be ineligible to receive
funding under this subpart for a fiscal year, if the school--
``(1) has in place a general education track;
``(2) provides courses with significantly different
material and requirements to students at the same grade
level; or
``(3) fails to encourage all students to take a core
curriculum of courses.
``(b) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate
regulations implementing subsection (a).

``Subpart 3--Definitions; Authorization of Appropriations

``SEC. 5331. DEFINITIONS.

``In this Act:
``(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director
of the Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion
established under section 220 of the General Education
Provisions Act.
``(2) Low-income.--The term ``low-income'', used with
respect to an individual, means an individual determined to
be low-income in accordance with measures described in
section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
``(3) School dropout.--The term ``school dropout'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4(17) of the School-to-Work
Opportunities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6103(17)).

``SEC. 5332. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

``(a) Subpart 1.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out subpart 1, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding
fiscal years.
``(b) Subpart 2.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out subpart 2, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding
fiscal years, of which--
``(1) $125,000,000 shall be available to carry out section
5322; and
``(2) $20,000,000 shall be available to carry out section
5323.''.

SEC. ____12. OFFICE OF DROPOUT PREVENTION AND PROGRAM
COMPLETION.

Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act
(20 U.S.C. 3411) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 216 (as added by Public Law
103-227) as section 218; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:

``office of dropout prevention and program completion

``Sec. 220. (a) Establishment.--There shall be in the
Department of Education an Office of Dropout Prevention and
Program Completion (hereafter in this section referred to as
the `Office'), to be administered by the Director of the
Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion. The
Director of the Office shall report directly to the Secretary
and shall perform such additional functions as the Secretary
may prescribe.
``(b) Duties.--The Director of the Office of Dropout
Prevention and Program Completion (hereafter in this section
referred to as the `Director'), through the Office, shall--
``(1) help coordinate Federal, State, and local efforts to
lower school dropout rates and increase program completion by
middle school, secondary school, and college students;
``(2) recommend Federal policies, objectives, and
priorities to lower school dropout rates and increase program
completion;
``(3) oversee the implementation of subpart 2 of part C of
title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965;
``(4) develop and implement the National School Dropout
Prevention Strategy under section 5312 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965;
``(5) annually prepare and submit to Congress and the
Secretary a national report describing efforts and
recommended actions regarding school dropout prevention and
program completion;
``(6) recommend action to the Secretary and the President,
as appropriate, regarding school dropout prevention and
program completion; and
``(7) consult with and assist State and local governments
regarding school dropout prevention and program completion.
``(c) Scope of Duties.--The scope of the Director's duties
under subsection (b) shall include examination of all Federal
and non-Federal efforts related to--
``(1) promoting program completion for children attending
middle school or secondary school;
``(2) programs to obtain a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent (including general equivalency diploma
(GED) programs), or college degree programs; and
``(3) reentry programs for individuals aged 12 to 24 who
are out of school.
``(d) Detailing.--In carrying out the Director's duties
under this section, the Director may request the head of any
Federal department or agency to detail personnel who are
engaged in school dropout prevention activities to another
Federal department or agency in order to implement the
National School Dropout Prevention Strategy.''.

Subtitle B--State Responsibilities

SEC. ____21. STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.

Title XIV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:

``PART I--DROPOUT PREVENTION

``SEC. 14851. DROPOUT PREVENTION.

``In order to receive any assistance under this Act, a
State educational agency shall comply with the following
provisions regarding school dropouts:
``(1) Uniform data collection.--Within 1 year after the
date of enactment of the National Dropout Prevention Act of
1999, a State educational agency shall report to the
Secretary and statewide, all school district and school data
regarding school dropout rates in the State, and demographic
breakdowns, according to procedures that conform with the
National Center for Education Statistics' Common Core of
Data.
``(2) Attendance-neutral funding policies.--Within 2 years
after the date of enactment of the National Dropout
Prevention Act of 1999, a State educational agency shall
develop and implement education funding formula policies for
public schools that provide appropriate incentives to retain
students in school throughout the school year, such as--
``(A) a student count methodology that does not determine
annual budgets based on attendance on a single day early in
the academic year; and
``(B) specific incentives for retaining enrolled students
throughout each year.
``(3) Suspension and expulsion policies.--Within 2 years
after the date of enactment of the National Dropout
Prevention Act of 1998, a State educational agency shall
develop uniform, long-term suspension and expulsion policies
for serious infractions resulting in more than 10 days of
exclusion from school per academic year so that similar
violations result in similar penalties.''.

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