[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1472 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1472

  To provide financial assistance to rural eligible local educational 
      agencies to improve rural education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 20 (legislative day, September 7), 1993

Mr. Simon (for himself, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Jeffords) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                       Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide financial assistance to rural eligible local educational 
      agencies to improve rural education, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Schools of 
America (RSA) Act of 1993''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of purpose.
                   TITLE I--RURAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 103. Application.
Sec. 104. Planning period.
Sec. 105. Uses of funds.
Sec. 106. Accountability.
Sec. 107. Incentive awards to exemplary programs.
Sec. 108. Regulatory assessment.
Sec. 109. Local advisory group.
            TITLE II--SCHOOL BUILDING REPAIR AND RENOVATION

Sec. 201. Purpose; authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 202. Allotment of funds.
Sec. 203. Application.
Sec. 204. Repair and renovation.
Sec. 205. Environment and safety.
Sec. 206. Waiver.
Sec. 207. Application of the Davis-Bacon Act.
                    TITLE III--EVALUATION OF RESULTS

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. Establishment; operation; uses of funds.
Sec. 303. Local rural school evaluation.
Sec. 304. Local applications.
                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Interagency Council on Rural Schools.
Sec. 402. White House Conference on Rural Education.
Sec. 403. Federal funds to supplement not supplant non-Federal funds.
Sec. 404. Definitions.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the ability of America's rural school systems to meet 
        the National Education Goals will contribute to the economic 
        competitiveness and academic standing of the Nation in the 
        world community;
            (2) the quality of public education in the rural areas of 
        the Nation has a direct effect on the economic development of 
        the rural communities of the Nation;
            (3) the success of rural schools in boosting the 
        achievement of minority youth attending such schools will 
        determine the ability of the Nation to close the gap between 
        the ``haves and have-nots'' in society;
            (4) the cost to America's businesses to provide remedial 
        education to secondary school graduates is approximately 
        $21,000,000,000 per year;
            (5) approximately one-third of the Nation's work force will 
        be minority by the year 2000;
            (6) rural schools enroll a disproportionately large share 
        of the Nation's poor and ``at-risk'' youth;
            (7) approximately 60 percent of the Nation's public school 
        districts are rural with a population of less than 2,500;
            (8) approximately one out of every four of America's rural 
        children are living below the poverty line;
            (9) the academic performance of students in the average 
        rural school system is below that of students in most other 
        suburban school systems;
            (10) rural preschoolers have less access to early childhood 
        development programs than other children;
            (11) shortages of teachers for rural school systems is 
        greater than in other kinds of school systems;
            (12) a declining number of rural secondary school graduates 
        are pursuing postsecondary education opportunities;
            (13) the average age of rural public school buildings is 
        more than 45 years old and such buildings are often in serious 
        disrepair, creating poor and demoralizing working and learning 
        conditions;
            (14) solving the challenges facing the Nation's rural 
        schools will require the concerted and collaborative efforts of 
        all levels of government and all sectors of the community;
            (15) State and Federal funding of rural schools has not 
        adequately reflected need; and
            (16) Federal funding that is well targeted, flexible and 
        accountable would contribute significantly to addressing the 
        comprehensive needs of rural schools.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to provide financial assistance for 
those rural schools most in need to encourage the comprehensive 
restructuring of America's rural schools, the appropriate use of 
telecommunications technologies for learning and to support innovative 
programs which improve performance through programs and projects 
designed to--
            (1) assist rural schools in meeting National Education 
        Goals;
            (2) encourage rural schools to engage in school reform;
            (3) develop pilot projects that experiment with innovative 
        ways to teach rural public school children more effectively;
            (4) improve the educational and social well being of rural 
        public school children;
            (5) close the achievement gap between children attending 
        rural schools and other children, while improving the 
        achievement level of all children nationally;
            (6) renovate and repair aging rural school buildings and 
        facilities;
            (7) conduct coordinated research on rural education 
        problems, solutions, promising practices, and distance learning 
        technologies;
            (8) improve the Nation's global economic and educational 
        competitiveness by improving the Nation's rural schools;
            (9) encourage community, parental and business 
        collaboration in the improvement of rural schools;
            (10) review regulations the simplification of which might 
        improve the achievement of rural school children;
            (11) encourage rural school consortia for the purpose of 
        increasing efficiency and course offerings;
            (12) encourage a positive role for rural public schools in 
        local rural entrepreneurship and the identification of rural 
        community economic development opportunities;
            (13) encourage ``community as school'' concepts, which 
        include the role public schools can play to assist with rural 
        community economic revitalization; and
            (14) provide meaningful inservice opportunities for rural 
        public school teachers.

                   TITLE I--RURAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000,000 for 1994 and 
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 
1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 to carry out the provisions of this title.

SEC. 102. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

    (a) Reservation.--From the amount appropriated or otherwise made 
available to carry out the provisions of this title for any fiscal year 
after the first fiscal year in which the Secretary awards allotments to 
State educational agencies under this title, the Secretary shall 
reserve 5 percent of such funds to provide competitive awards in 
accordance with section 107.
    (b) Allotments.--
            (1) Federal allotment.--From the remainder of the funds not 
        reserved under subsection (a), the Secretary shall allot to 
        each State educational agency with an approved application in 
        each fiscal year an amount which bears the same relationship to 
        such funds as the amount all rural eligible local educational 
        agencies with approved applications in the State were allocated 
        under chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 in the preceding fiscal year bears to the 
        total amount received under such chapter in such preceding 
        fiscal year by all rural eligible local educational agencies 
        with approved applications in all States.
            (2) State allotment.--
                    (A) Reservation for administrative expenses.--From 
                amounts received pursuant to paragraph (1), each State 
                educational agency may reserve not more than 1 percent 
                of such amount for administrative expenses.
                    (B) Reservation for community-based organizations 
                and nonprofit partnerships.--From amounts received 
                under paragraph (1) for any fiscal year, each State 
                educational agency shall reserve not more than 5 
                percent to make as many grants as practicable for 
                activities in accordance with the National Education 
                Goals and described in section 105 to--
                            (i) community-based organizations; or
                            (ii) nonprofit partnerships among rural 
                        eligible local educational agencies, local 
                        colleges or universities, private sector 
                        businesses, or any combination thereof, that 
                        enter into a written agreement with at least 
                        one rural eligible local educational agency.
                    (C) Formula.--From the remainder of amounts 
                received pursuant to paragraph (1) and not reserved 
                pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) in each fiscal 
                year, each State educational agency shall allot to each 
                rural eligible local educational agency with an 
                approved application an amount which bears the same 
                relationship to such funds as the amount such rural 
                eligible local educational agency was allocated under 
                chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 in the preceding fiscal year 
                bears to the total amount received under such chapter 
                in such preceding fiscal year by all rural eligible 
                local educational agencies with approved applications 
                in the State.
                    (D) Administrative costs.--Not more than 5 percent 
                of any rural eligible local educational agency's 
                allotment under this subsection may be used for 
                administrative costs.
    (c) Reallotment.--Any amounts available for reallotment pursuant to 
subsections (a) and (b) shall be reallotted in the same manner as the 
original allotments were made.

SEC. 103. APPLICATION.

    (a) State Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each State educational agency desiring to 
        receive an allotment in any fiscal year to carry out the 
        provisions of this title shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) describe the State's approach to improving 
                education in rural schools;
                    (B) contain such information as the Secretary may 
                reasonably require in order to make the allotment 
                described in section 102(b)(1); and
                    (C) contain such other information or assurances as 
                the Secretary determines necessary to ensure compliance 
                with the provisions of this title.
    (b) Local Application.--
            (1) In general.--Any rural eligible local educational 
        agency desiring to receive an allotment to carry out the 
        provisions of this title, shall--
                    (A) develop and prepare an application with the 
                local advisory group in accordance with section 109 of 
                this Act; and
                    (B) submit the application described in 
                subparagraph (A) to the State educational agency at 
                such time, in such manner and accompanied by such 
                information as the State educational agency may 
                reasonably require.
            (2) Contents of local educational agency application.--Each 
        application submitted by a rural eligible local educational 
        agency pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include a description 
        of--
                    (A) the community served by the rural eligible 
                local educational agency and the effects of the 
                community on the educational conditions within the 
                schools served by the rural eligible local educational 
                agency;
                    (B) the collaboration in program planning with the 
                local advisory group described in section 109;
                    (C) the goals selected by the rural eligible local 
                educational agency pursuant to section 106(b), the 
                rationale for choosing such goals over others, and a 
                description of whether the goals selected differ 
                between elementary and secondary schools in the 
                district;
                    (D) how funds received under this title will be 
                used to meet the National Educational Goals selected by 
                the rural eligible local educational agency;
                    (E) how promising or successful models or programs 
                will be replicated in designing activities assisted 
                under this title;
                    (F) which federally funded programs and activities 
                are being expanded under this title; and
                    (G) the statistical indicators and other criteria 
                that the rural eligible local educational agency will 
                use to measure progress toward meeting National 
                Education Goals, and a description of what the local 
                educational agency has done to ensure that any 
                assessments used to measure such progress will not have 
                a negative effect on minority or language minority 
                students.
            (3) Duration.--Except as provided in section 106, the 
        application described in paragraph (1) may be for a period of 
        not more than 3 years.
    (c) Community-Based Organizations and Nonprofit Partnerships.--Any 
community-based organization or nonprofit partnership described in 
section 102(b)(2)(B) desiring to receive a grant from a State 
educational agency pursuant to such section shall--
            (1) prepare and submit an application to the State 
        educational agency;
            (2) describe in the application the collaborative efforts 
        undertaken with a rural eligible local educational agency in 
        designing a program to meet the purposes of the Act; and
            (3) describe in the application how funds will be used to 
        help meet the education goals selected by a rural eligible 
        local educational agency pursuant to subsection (b) of this 
        section.

SEC. 104. PLANNING PERIOD.

    Any rural eligible local educational agency requiring additional 
planning efforts to meet the provisions of this title may use the first 
3 months of the initial program year for planning purposes, subject to 
approval by the State educational agency, except that not more than 10 
percent of the first year's allotment shall be used for such purposes. 
A written report of the results of the plan shall be submitted to the 
State educational agency.

SEC. 105. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Funds allotted under section 102(b)(2) shall be 
used by rural eligible local educational agencies, or community-based 
organizations or nonprofit partnerships described in section 
102(b)(2)(B), to meet National Education Goals through programs 
designed to--
            (1) increase the academic achievement of rural school 
        children to at least the national average, including such 
        education reform initiatives as--
                    (A) effective schools programs;
                    (B) tutoring, mentoring, and other activities to 
                improve academic achievement directly;
                    (C) supplementary academic instruction;
                    (D) efforts to improve problem-solving and higher-
                order critical thinking skills;
                    (E) programs to increase student motivation for 
                learning;
                    (F) efforts to lengthen the school day, school year 
                or reduce class sizes; and
                    (G) encouraging the establishment of rural school 
                consortia to increase efficiency and course offerings;
            (2) ensure the readiness of all rural children for school, 
        including--
                    (A) full workday, full calendar-year comprehensive 
                early childhood development programs;
                    (B) parenting classes, including parenting classes 
                for teenage parents, and parent involvement activities;
                    (C) activities designed to coordinate 
                prekindergarten and child care programs;
                    (D) efforts to integrate developmentally 
                appropriate prekindergarten services into the overall 
                school program;
                    (E) improving the skills of early childhood 
                education staff and standards for programs;
                    (F) collaborative efforts with health and social 
                service agencies to provide comprehensive services and 
                to facilitate the transition from home to school;
                    (G) establishment of comprehensive child care 
                centers in secondary schools for student-parents and 
                their children; and
                    (H) augmenting early childhood development programs 
                to meet the special educational and cultural needs of 
                limited-English proficient and migrant preschool 
                children;
            (3) increase the graduation rates of rural students to at 
        least the national average, including--
                    (A) dropout prevention activities and support 
                services for students at-risk of dropping out of 
                school;
                    (B) re-entry, outreach and support activities to 
                recruit students who have dropped out of school to 
                return to school;
                    (C) development of systemwide policies and 
                practices that encourage students to stay in school;
                    (D) efforts to provide individualized student 
                support;
                    (E) collaborative activities between schools, 
                parents, community groups, agencies and institutions of 
                higher education aimed at preventing individuals from 
                dropping out of school;
                    (F) programs to increase student attendance; and
                    (G) alternative programs for students, especially 
                bilingual, special education and migrant students, who 
                have dropped out of school or are at-risk of dropping 
                out of school;
            (4) prepare rural school graduates to enter higher 
        education, pursue careers and exercise their responsibilities 
        as citizens, including--
                    (A) activities designed to increase the number and 
                percentages of students, enrolling in postsecondary 
                educational institutions after graduation from 
                secondary schools;
                    (B) in-school youth employment, vocational 
                education, and career education programs that improve 
                the transition from school to work;
                    (C) activities designed in collaboration with 
                colleges and universities to assist rural school 
                graduates in completing higher education;
                    (D) activities designed in conjunction with 
                community colleges to provide a kindergarten through 
                grade 14 experience for rural school secondary school 
                students;
                    (E) efforts to increase voter registration among 
                eligible secondary school students attending schools 
                served by rural eligible local educational agencies;
                    (F) activities designed to promote community 
                service and volunteerism among students, parents, 
                teachers, and the community;
                    (G) civic education, law-related education and 
                other programs designed to enhance responsible 
                citizenship and understanding of the political process; 
                and
                    (H) encouraging a positive role for rural public 
                schools in local rural entrepreneurship and the 
                identification of rural community economic development 
                opportunities;
            (5) recruit and retain qualified teachers, including--
                    (A) school-based management projects and 
                activities;
                    (B) programs designed to increase the status of the 
                teaching profession;
                    (C) alternative routes to certification for 
                qualified individuals from business, the military and 
                other fields;
                    (D) efforts to recruit and retain teachers in 
                critical shortage areas, including early childhood 
                teachers, mathematics and science teachers, foreign 
                language teachers, and special education and bilingual 
                teachers;
                    (E) upgrading the skills of existing classroom 
                teachers through the use of year-round, systematic, 
                comprehensive inservice training programs;
                    (F) upgrading the skills of teacher aides and 
                paraprofessionals to assist such individuals in 
                becoming certified teachers;
                    (G) efforts specifically designed to increase the 
                number of minority teachers in rural schools;
                    (H) programs designed to encourage parents and 
                students to enter the teaching profession;
                    (I) incentives for teachers to work in rural 
                schools;
                    (J) collaborative activities with colleges and 
                universities to revise and upgrade teacher training 
                programs to meet the needs of rural school students; 
                and
                    (K) training activities for the purpose of 
                incorporating distance learning technologies; or
            (6) decrease the use of drugs and alcohol among rural 
        students, and to enhance the physical and emotional health of 
        such students, including--
                    (A) activities designed to improve the self-esteem 
                and self-worth of rural students;
                    (B) the provision of health care services and other 
                social services and the coordination of such services 
                with other health care providers;
                    (C) programs designed to improve safety and 
                discipline and reduce in-school violence and vandalism;
                    (D) activities that begin in the early grades and 
                are designed to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and 
                smoking among students;
                    (E) collaborative activities with other agencies, 
                businesses, and community groups;
                    (F) efforts to enhance health education and 
                nutrition education; and
                    (G) alternative schools, and schools-within-schools 
                programs, including bilingual, migrant and special 
                education programs for students with special needs.
    (b) Special Rule.--Funds allotted under section 102(b)(2) may be 
used by rural eligible local educational agencies, or community-based 
organizations or nonprofit partnerships, described in section 
102(b)(2)(B), for the planning, development, operation, or expansion of 
programs and activities which are designed to assist rural schools in 
meeting National Education Goals, and may include--
            (1) training of teachers and other educational personnel in 
        subject areas, or instructional technology and methods that 
        would improve the delivery of services in rural settings in any 
        of the National Education Goal areas, including staff 
        development efforts which emphasize multicultural, gender and 
        disability bias-free curricula;
            (2) coordination and collaboration with other rural 
        agencies, including State rural development councils, child 
        care organizations, universities or the private sector;
            (3) parental involvement and outreach efforts and other 
        activities designed to enhance parental encouragement of 
        student learning;
            (4) guidance counseling, psychological, social work, and 
        other support services that contribute to progress in achieving 
        National Education Goals;
            (5) efforts to acquire and improve access to educational 
        technology, including distance learning technologies;
            (6) programs to serve homeless children, children in 
        schools undergoing desegregation, immigrants, migrants, or 
        other highly mobile populations, even if such individuals do 
        not attend a rural project school assisted under this title;
            (7) efforts to improve, reform and strengthen the 
        curriculum, especially efforts to enhance critical thinking 
        skills among rural students, and efforts to coordinate services 
        across grade levels; and
            (8) other activities designed to assist in achieving the 
        National Education Goals.
    (c) Priority.--Each local educational agency submitting an 
application under this section shall give priority in designing the 
program assisted under this title to activities that replicate 
successful efforts in other local educational agencies or expand 
successful programs within the rural eligible local educational agency.

SEC. 106. ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) In General.--The State educational agency may award an 
allotment under this title to a rural eligible local educational agency 
to enable such an agency to operate a program under this title for a 
period of not more than 3 years. If a rural eligible local educational 
agency receiving an allotment under this title meets the accountability 
requirements described in subsection (b) at the end of 3 years and the 
requirements described in subsection (c) at the end of each year, as 
determined by the State educational agency, such local educational 
agency shall be eligible to continue the project with funds under this 
title for an additional 3 years if such local educational agency so 
desires.
    (b) Requirements To Move Toward National Education Goals.--
            (1) Program continuation.--If, after 3 years of receiving 
        an allotment under this title, a rural eligible local 
        educational agency is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction 
        of the State educational agency that such rural eligible local 
        educational agency has increased the achievement within the 
        lowest 2 quartiles of students in schools assisted under this 
        title as measured by the statistical indicators and other 
        criteria specified in the application in comparison to the year 
        prior to the initiation of the project, then such agency shall 
        be eligible to continue the project with funds under this title 
        for an additional 3 years upon reapplication under section 103.
            (2) Special rule.--If, after 3 years of receiving an 
        allotment under this title, a rural eligible local educational 
        agency is able to demonstrate progress on meeting at least 3 
        other National Education Goals as measured by the criteria 
        described in paragraph (3), then such agency shall be deemed to 
        have met the requirements of paragraph (1) so long as the 
        average achievement level of the schools assisted under this 
        title did not decline in any of the 3 previous school years.
            (3) Criteria.--For purposes of paragraph (2), the criteria 
        are:
                    (A) The number or percentage of preschool children 
                served by the rural eligible local educational agency 
                is greater than the average such number or percentage 
                in the 3 previous school years.
                    (B) The secondary school graduation rate in the 
                rural eligible local educational agency is greater than 
                the average such rate for the 3 previous school years.
                    (C) The percentage of secondary school graduates in 
                the rural eligible local educational agency enrolled in 
                postsecondary education is greater than such percentage 
                for the 3 previous school years.
                    (D) The incidence of discipline, drug-related or 
                in-school crime in the rural eligible local educational 
                agency is less than the average such incidence in the 3 
                previous school years.
    (c) Collection of Data and Certification.--
            (1) In general.--Each rural eligible local educational 
        agency, community-based organizations or nonprofit partnerships 
        described in section 102(b)(2)(B), receiving assistance under 
        this title shall annually collect and submit to the State 
        educational agency data based on the statistical indicators and 
        other criteria described in the application submitted by such 
        rural eligible local educational agency for the purposes of 
        monitoring progress in achieving the National Education Goals 
        in accordance with paragraph (2). Such data shall include 
        multiple measures or indicators of each variable, and may take 
        into consideration the mobility of students in the schools 
        served under this title or other special factors.
            (2) Certification.--Each rural eligible local educational 
        agency receiving an allotment pursuant to section 102(b)(2) 
        shall annually certify to the State educational agency that 
        such rural eligible local educational agency has--
                    (A) complied with the provisions of this 
                subsection; and
                    (B) made progress toward meeting National Education 
                Goals and the goals described in section 103(b)(2)(D).

SEC. 107. INCENTIVE AWARDS TO EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS.

    From amounts reserved pursuant to section 102(a) or otherwise made 
available, the Secretary is authorized to make competitive awards to 
rural eligible local educational agencies to enable such agencies to 
provide assistance to individual schools participating in a program 
assisted under this title which demonstrate to the satisfaction of the 
Secretary at least 3 of the following:
            (1) Unusual or exemplary progress in achieving the National 
        Education Goals through programs described in section 105.
            (2) Exemplary or unusually effective collaborative 
        arrangements between the schools, community-based 
        organizations, agencies, parent groups, colleges and 
        businesses.
            (3) Identification, review and removal of potential 
        barriers to student performance in the National Education Goal 
        areas, such as suspensions and expulsions, in-grade retentions, 
        ability grouping, and lack of access to course offerings, and 
        other such barriers.

SEC. 108. REGULATORY ASSESSMENT.

    (a) Report on Rural Public Schools.--In order to assist rural 
eligible local educational agencies under this Act in improving the 
performance of the school children enrolled in the schools served by 
such agencies, the Secretary shall, not later than January 1, 1995, 
prepare a report on the impact of Federal regulations, guidelines and 
policies on rural public schools.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report shall analyze the impact of 
Federal legal, regulatory, policy and organizational requirements on 
the time and resources that rural eligible local educational agencies 
assisted under this Act have for educating students, including fiscal 
resources, staff time, facilities, instructional equipment, and 
services. The report shall make recommendations on how best to simplify 
Federal legal, regulatory, policy and organizational requirements so 
that more resources can be devoted to improving rural school 
performance. The report shall also identify the regulations whose 
waiver might be used as incentives or rewards for unusual progress 
toward meeting National Education Goals.
    (c) Specific Issues for Analysis.--In preparing the report required 
by subsection (a), the Secretary shall analyze--
            (1) the effect of regulatory requirements on local program 
        flexibility and management within rural eligible local 
        educational agencies;
            (2) the effect of regulatory requirements on the size, cost 
        and composition of administrative practices within rural 
        eligible local educational agencies;
            (3) the extent to which regulatory requirements are 
        duplicative or contradictory;
            (4) the amount of time and resources that school 
        administrators and teachers must spend responding to data 
        requests and reporting requirements pursuant to Federal law;
            (5) the extent to which regulatory requirements are related 
        to instructional rather than noninstructional practices in 
        rural eligible local educational agencies;
            (6) the relationship between specific regulatory 
        requirements and the educational performance of rural students; 
        and
            (7) how the waiver or simplification of regulatory 
        requirements could enhance the performance of rural school 
        children and the progress of rural schools in meeting National 
        Education Goals.
    (d) Sample Data.--The Secretary may, in developing the report 
described in subsection (a), use appropriate sampling techniques.
    (e) Consultation With Congress.--The Secretary shall consult with 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate concerning 
the design of the report described in this section.

SEC. 109. LOCAL ADVISORY GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--Any rural eligible local educational agency 
desiring to receive an allotment under this Act shall form a local 
advisory group.
    (b) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--Each local advisory group described in 
        subsection (a) shall be composed of representatives of groups 
        such as--
                    (A) local government agencies;
                    (B) community-based organizations;
                    (C) service providers;
                    (D) teachers;
                    (E) parents;
                    (F) colleges and universities;
                    (G) businesses;
                    (H) principals, other school administrators and 
                school personnel, including the local vocational 
                education administrator;
                    (I) counselors, school psychologists and social 
                workers;
                    (J) students;
                    (K) State educational agencies and State boards of 
                education;
                    (L) labor;
                    (M) offices of the Mayor or other rural government 
                leader;
                    (N) religious leaders; and
                    (O) organizations with an interest in improving 
                rural education and expertise in the delivery of 
                services needed by the schools selected to participate 
                in a program assisted under this Act.
            (2) Appointment.--The superintendent of schools and the 
        head of the head of the rural eligible local educational agency 
        applying for funds under this title shall appoint the members 
        of the local advisory group, in consultation with teachers from 
        the rural eligible local educational agency and the teacher's 
        local bargaining agent where one exists. The local advisory 
        group may contain as many members as is necessary to ensure a 
        comprehensive community-wide program to improve education in 
        the schools served by the rural eligible local educational 
        agency.
            (3) Representation.--The local advisory group shall be 
        representative of the community and shall be balanced according 
        to the race, ethnicity, native language background, and gender 
        of its members, to the extent practicable.
    (c) Functions.--The local advisory group shall--
            (1) advise the rural eligible local educational agency on 
        the design and conduct of a needs assessment for all schools 
        expected to participate in the program assisted under this 
        title;
            (2) assist in planning for community-wide collaboration in 
        service delivery for students in schools expected to be served 
        by the program assisted under this title;
            (3) advise the rural eligible local educational agency and 
        the community on how such agency and community can work 
        together to use multiple service providers;
            (4) advise and assist the rural eligible local educational 
        agency on the implementation of the program assisted under this 
        title and review evaluations of such program's success;
            (5) advise the rural eligible local educational agency on 
        strategies for increasing parent involvement and the number of 
        school volunteers and role models in schools; and
            (6) review the success of community-based programs assisted 
        under this title for progress toward meeting the National 
        Education Goals.
    (d) Use of Existing Local Advisory Group.--To the extent that a 
rural eligible local educational agency has established a broadly 
representative local advisory group before the date of enactment of 
this Act that is comparable to the local advisory group described in 
this section, such existing local advisory group shall be considered to 
be in compliance with the provisions of this section.

            TITLE II--SCHOOL BUILDING REPAIR AND RENOVATION

SEC. 201. PURPOSE; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to provide assistance 
to rural eligible local educational agencies to assist such agencies in 
building or repairing, and renovating instructional facilities in rural 
schools, including but not limited to the appropriate use of 
telecommunications techniques for learning.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000,000 for 1994 and such sums as may be necessary 
for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 to 
carry out the provisions of this title.

SEC. 202. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS.

    (a) Allotments.--
            (1) Federal allotment.--In each fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall allot to each State educational agency with an approved 
        application, an amount which bears the same relationship to 
        such funds as the amount all rural eligible local educational 
        agencies with approved applications in the State were allocated 
        under chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 in the preceding fiscal year bears to the 
        total amount received under such chapter in such preceding 
        fiscal year by all rural eligible local educational agencies 
        with approved applications in all States.
            (2) State allotment.--
                    (A) Reservation.--From amounts received pursuant to 
                paragraph (1), each State educational agency may 
                reserve not more than 1 percent of such amount for 
                administrative expenses.
                    (B) Formula.--From the remainder of amounts 
                received pursuant to subparagraph (A) in each fiscal 
                year, each State educational agency shall allot to each 
                rural eligible local educational agency within the 
                State with an approved application an amount determined 
                on the basis of--
                            (i) the number of children in the rural 
                        eligible local educational agency between the 
                        ages of 5 and 17 who are members of families 
                        whose income does not exceed the income 
                        official poverty line (as defined by the Office 
                        of Management and Budget), according to the 
                        most recent decennial census of the population; 
                        and
                            (ii) the number, age and size of school 
                        buildings used for instructional purposes in 
                        the rural eligible local educational agency.
    (b) Reallotment.--Any amounts available for reallotment pursuant to 
subsections (a) and (b) shall be reallotted in the same manner as the 
original allotments were made.

SEC. 203. APPLICATION.

    (a) State Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each State educational agency desiring to 
        receive an allotment in any fiscal year to carry out the 
        provisions of this title shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such manner and accompanied by 
        such information as the Secretary reasonably may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) contain such information as the Secretary may 
                reasonably require in order to make the allotment 
                described in section 202(a)(1); and
                    (B) contain such other information and assurances 
                as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure 
                compliance with the provisions of this title.
    (b) Local Application.--
            (1) In general.--Any rural eligible local educational 
        agency desiring to receive an allotment to carry out the 
        provisions of this title shall submit to the State educational 
        agency an application at such time, in such manner and 
        accompanied by such information as the State educational agency 
        may reasonably require.
            (2) Duration.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.
            (3) Annual review.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall be subject to annual review.
            (4) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall contain--
                    (A) an assessment of needs for building repair, 
                renovation and construction;
                    (B) the name and location of all sites scheduled 
                for repair, renovation or construction and a 
                description of the activities planned at each site; and
                    (C) a description of accounting procedures used to 
                assure proper disbursement of Federal funds.

SEC. 204. REPAIR AND RENOVATION.

    Each rural eligible local educational agency receiving an allotment 
under section 202(a)(2) shall use 50 percent of such allotment to 
conduct programs for--
            (1) repair and renovation of school buildings used for 
        instruction;
            (2) upgrading of and alterations to buildings to 
        accommodate new instructional technology, including the 
        installation or improvement of telecommunications facilities 
        for learning and related technologies.
            (3) installation or upgrading of school security and 
        communications systems;
            (4) construction of new buildings that will serve to 
        replace old facilities that are most cost effectively torn down 
        rather than renovated;
            (5) alterations to buildings to meet special program, 
        curricula, or school-site management needs;
            (6) alterations to buildings to meet certain special 
        population needs, such as the needs of homeless children, 
        preschool children, and individuals with disabilities;
            (7) alterations to school buildings to enable such 
        buildings to serve as one-stop family support centers; and
            (8) facilities' costs associated with lengthening the 
        school day or school year.

SEC. 205. ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY.

    Each rural eligible local educational agency receiving an allotment 
under section 202(a)(2) shall use 50 percent of such allotment to 
conduct programs for--
            (1) energy conservation;
            (2) removal or containment of environmentally hazardous 
        material;
            (3) meeting the requirements of section 504 of the 
        Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and
            (4) meeting local, State or Federal laws or regulations 
        enacted or promulgated since the initial construction of a 
        building related to fire, air, light, noise, waste disposal, or 
        building height.

SEC. 206. WAIVER.

    The State educational agency may waive the 50 percent requirements 
described in sections 204 and 205 for any rural eligible local 
educational agency that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the State 
educational agency a greater need for services described in section 204 
or 205.

SEC. 207. APPLICATION OF THE DAVIS-BACON ACT.

    All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or 
subcontractors in any construction, alteration, or repair, including 
painting and decorating, of projects, buildings, and works which are 
federally assisted under this title, shall be paid wages at rates not 
less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as 
determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Act of 
March 3, 1931 (commonly known as the Davis-Bacon Act), as amended (40 
U.S.C. 276a et seq.). The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect 
to such labor standards, the authority and functions set forth in 
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) 
and section 2 of the Act of June 1, 1934, as amended (48 Stat. 948, as 
amended; 40 U.S.C. 276(c)).

                    TITLE III--EVALUATION OF RESULTS

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 
1999, and 2000 to carry out the provisions of this title.

SEC. 302. ESTABLISHMENT; OPERATION; USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authority of section 301, the Secretary shall establish for each region 
a center to be known as the ``National Rural Regional Education 
Research Center'' (hereafter in this title referred to as the 
``Center'').
    (b) Operation.--Each Center shall be operated by the regional 
educational laboratory that is located in the region in which the 
Center is located and supported by the Secretary pursuant to section 
405(d)(4)(A) of the General Education Provisions Act.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Each Center shall--
            (1) conduct independent research in rural education and 
        distance learning technologies;
            (2) evaluate the progress of rural schools receiving funds 
        under title I of this Act toward meeting the National Education 
        Goals;
            (3) serve as clearinghouses on rural education research 
        findings, policies, and practices;
            (4) develop measurements of progress of rural schools;
            (5) disseminate results of evaluations and research on 
        rural schools to other Centers and rural school district 
        teachers and parents;
            (6) develop collaborative arrangements and consortia among 
        rural schools in each region to conduct joint research and 
        evaluation activities;
            (7) replicate successful models and program approaches in 
        rural schools;
            (8) provide technical assistance and outreach services for 
        rural schools in each region;
            (9) provide staff training; and
            (10) develop curricula to assist rural schools in moving 
        toward meeting the National Education Goals.

SEC. 303. LOCAL RURAL SCHOOL EVALUATION.

    From the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 
301 or otherwise made available to carry out the provisions of this 
title in any fiscal year, each Center shall reserve 25 percent of such 
funds to award direct grants to rural eligible local educational 
agencies within the region served by such Center and which are 
participating in a program assisted under title I to conduct local 
school district research and evaluation of efforts toward meeting the 
National Education Goals.

SEC. 304. LOCAL APPLICATIONS.

    Any rural eligible local educational agency desiring to receive a 
grant under this title shall--
            (1) submit an application to the Center;
            (2) describe in such application the research and 
        evaluation activities for measuring progress on the National 
        Education Goals;
            (3) consult with local universities, research institutes, 
        and other rural groups in developing a local research and 
        evaluation application; and
            (4) describe capacities for conducting evaluations with 
        funds provided under this title.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 401. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON RURAL SCHOOLS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Interagency Council on 
Rural Schools (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
``Council'').
    (b) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall consist of--
                    (A) the Secretary of Education, who shall serve as 
                Chairperson of the Council;
                    (B) the Secretary of Labor;
                    (C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
                    (D) the Secretary of Agriculture;
                    (E) the Secretary of Energy;
                    (F) the Secretary of Commerce;
                    (G) the Director of the Environmental Protection 
                Agency;
                    (H) the Director of the Commission on Civil Rights;
                    (I) the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission on 
                Intergovernmental Relations;
                    (J) the Chairperson of the National Endowment on 
                the Arts and the Humanities;
                    (K) the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation; and
                    (L) such other officers of the Federal Government 
                as may be designated by the President or the 
                Chairperson of the Council to serve wherever matters 
                within the jurisdiction of the agency headed by such an 
                officer are to be considered by the Council.
            (2) Representation.--Each individual described in paragraph 
        (1) may designate a person to represent such individual on the 
        Council.
            (3) Duration.--Each member shall be appointed for as long 
        as such member serves as the head of the appropriate department 
        or agency.
            (4) Principal advisor.--The Chairperson of the Council 
        shall be the President's principal advisor on rural schools.
    (c) Quorum.--Seven members of the Council shall constitute a quorum 
for the purposes of transmitting recommendations and proposals to the 
President, but a lesser number may meet for other reasons.
    (d) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at least 2 times each year. 
When a Council member is unable to attend a meeting, the Council member 
shall appoint an appropriate Assistant Secretary or an equivalent 
individual from the department or agency of the member to represent the 
member for that meeting.
    (e) Duties of the Council.--The Council shall--
            (1) review programs and activities conducted by each 
        department or agency represented on the Council to determine 
        the effects of such programs and activities on the ability of 
        rural schools to meet National Education Goals;
            (2) track progress of rural schools in meeting National 
        Education Goals;
            (3) solicit information and advice from experts in rural 
        education and representatives of rural schools, including 
        representatives from rural postsecondary education, on how the 
        Federal Government may improve the programs and activities of 
        the Federal Government which serve rural school students;
            (4) review regulations across various departments or 
        agencies of the Federal Government for duplication or 
        contradiction;
            (5) issue an annual report to Congress and the President on 
        the progress rural schools are making in meeting the National 
        Education Goals, and on how Congress might change Federal 
        programs to improve the effectiveness of such programs in rural 
        schools;
            (6) review and make recommendations regarding ways to 
        improve or streamline various Federal data collection 
        activities in rural schools; and
            (7) conduct such research as may be helpful to rural school 
        practitioners at the elementary, secondary and postsecondary 
        level in improving the performance of students attending rural 
        schools.

SEC. 402. WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON RURAL EDUCATION.

    (a) Authorization To Call Conference.--
            (1) In general.--The President is authorized to call and 
        conduct a White House Conference on Rural Education (hereafter 
        in this section referred to as the ``Conference'').
            (2) Special rule.--For the purpose of this section the term 
        ``Conference'' means the Conference on Rural Education.
            (3) Date.--The Conference described in paragraph (2) shall 
        be held not earlier than November 1, 1994, and not later than 
        October 30, 1996.
            (4) Purpose.--The purposes of the Conference shall be to--
                    (A) develop recommendations and strategies for the 
                improvement of rural education;
                    (B) marshal the forces of the private sector, 
                governmental agencies at all levels, parents, teachers, 
                communities, and education officials to assist rural 
                schools in achieving National Education Goals, and make 
                recommendations on the roles rural public schools can 
                play to assist with local rural community economic 
                revitalization; and
                    (C) conduct the initial planning for a permanent 
                national commission on rural education.
    (b) Composition of Conference.--
            (1) In general.--The Conference shall be composed of--
                    (A) representatives of eligible public school 
                systems, including members of the governing body of 
                local educational agencies, school superintendents and 
                classroom teachers;
                    (B) representatives of the Congress, the Department 
                of Education and other Federal agencies;
                    (C) State elected officials and representatives 
                from State educational agencies;
                    (D) individuals with special knowledge of and 
                expertise in rural education, including individuals 
                involved with rural postsecondary education; and
                    (E) individuals with special knowledge of and 
                expertise in rural business.
            (2) Selection.--The President shall select one-third of the 
        participants of the Conference, the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives shall select one-third of such participants, 
        and the majority leader of the Senate shall select the 
        remaining one-third of such participants.
            (3) Representation.--In selecting the participants of the 
        Conference the President, the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, and the majority leader of the Senate shall 
        ensure that the participants are as representative of the 
        ethnic, racial, and language diversity of rural areas as is 
        practicable.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The final reports of the Conference, 
        containing such findings and recommendations as may be made by 
        the Conference, shall be submitted to the President not later 
        than 120 days following the termination of the Conference. The 
        final reports shall be made public and, within 90 days after 
        receipt by the President, transmitted to the Congress together 
        with a statement of the President containing recommendations 
        for implementing the reports.
            (2) Publication and distribution.--The Conference is 
        authorized to publish and distribute the reports described in 
        this section. Copies of the reports shall be provided to the 
        Federal depository libraries and made available to local rural 
        school leaders and teachers.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        for each of the fiscal years 1994, 1995, and 1996 such sums as 
        may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts made available pursuant to the 
        authority of paragraph (1) shall remain available until 
        expended.

SEC. 403. FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT NON-FEDERAL FUNDS.

    A rural eligible local educational agency may use funds received 
under this Act only to supplement and, to the extent practicable, 
increase the level of funds that would, in the absence of such Federal 
funds, be made available from non-Federal sources for the education of 
students participating in activities assisted under this Act and in no 
such case may such funds be used to supplant funds from non-Federal 
sources.

SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.

    Except as otherwise provided, for the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``community-based organization'' means a 
        private nonprofit organization which is representative of a 
        community or significant segments of a community and which has 
        a proven record of providing effective educational or related 
        services to individuals in the community;
            (2) the term ``community as school concept'' means the 
        mutual sharing of the local public school's and the local 
        community's human, financial, technical, and environmental 
        resources to help meet each others needs;
            (3) the term ``elementary school'' has the meaning given to 
        such term by section 1471(8) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965;
            (4) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given to such term in section 1201(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965;
            (5) the term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given to such term in section 1471(12) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965, and includes a rural eligible 
        local educational agency;
            (6) the term ``poverty level'' means the criteria of 
        poverty used by the Bureau of Census in compiling the most 
        recent decennial census for a family of 4 in such form as those 
        criteria have been updated by increases in the Consumer Price 
        Index for All Rural Consumers;
            (7) the term ``rural eligible local educational agency'' 
        means a local educational agency--
                    (A)(i) in which at least 15 percent of the children 
                enrolled in the schools served by such agency are 
                eligible to be counted under section 1005 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
                    (ii) which is not in a metropolitan statistical 
                area; or
                    (B) in which the total enrollment in the schools 
                served by such agency is less than 2,500 students and 
                that does not serve schools located in a metropolitan 
                statistical area; and
                    (C) the term ``secondary school'' has the same 
                meaning given to such term by section 1471(21) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
            (8) the term ``Secretary'', except as otherwise provided, 
        means the Secretary of Education;
            (9) the term ``State'' means each of the several States, 
        but does not include the District of Columbia, Guam, American 
        Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
        Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated 
        States of Micronesia, and Palau; and
            (10) the term ``State educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given to such term in section 1471(23) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965.

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