[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1596 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1596

                   To provide for reading excellence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 2, 1998

 Mr. Coverdell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
                   To provide for reading excellence.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reading Excellence Act''.

                        TITLE I--READING GRANTS

SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO ESEA FOR READING GRANTS.

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                       ``TITLE XV--READING GRANTS

``SEC. 15101. PURPOSE.

    ``The purposes of this title are as follows:
            ``(1) To teach every child to read in their early childhood 
        years--
                    ``(A) as soon as they are ready to read; or
                    ``(B) as soon as possible once they enter school, 
                but not later than 3d grade.
            ``(2) To improve the reading skills of students, and the 
        in-service instructional practices for teachers who teach 
        reading, through the use of findings from reliable, replicable 
        research on reading, including phonics.
            ``(3) To expand the number of high-quality family literacy 
        programs.
            ``(4) To reduce the number of children who are 
        inappropriately referred to special education due to reading 
        difficulties.

``SEC. 15102. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this title:
            ``(1) Eligible professional development provider.--The term 
        `eligible professional development provider' means a provider 
        of professional development in reading instruction to teachers 
        that is based on reliable, replicable research on reading.
            ``(2) Eligible research institution.--The term `eligible 
        research institution' means an institution of higher education 
        at which reliable, replicable research on reading has been 
        conducted.
            ``(3) Family literacy services.--The term `family literacy 
        services' means services provided to participants on a 
        voluntary basis that are of sufficient intensity in terms of 
        hours, and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes 
        in a family (such as eliminating or reducing welfare 
        dependency) and that integrate all of the following activities:
                    ``(A) Interactive literacy activities between 
                parents and their children.
                    ``(B) Equipping parents to partner with their 
                children in learning.
                    ``(C) Parent literacy training, including training 
                that contributes to economic self-sufficiency.
                    ``(D) Appropriate instruction for children of 
                parents receiving parent literacy services.
            ``(4) Reading.--The term `reading' means the process of 
        comprehending the meaning of written text by depending on--
                    ``(A) the ability to use phonics skills, that is, 
                knowledge of letters and sounds, to decode printed 
                words quickly and effortlessly, both silently and 
                aloud;
                    ``(B) the ability to use previously learned 
                strategies for reading comprehension; and
                    ``(C) the ability to think critically about the 
                meaning, message, and aesthetic value of the text.
            ``(5) Reading readiness.--The term `reading readiness' 
        means activities that--
                    ``(A) provide experience and opportunity for 
                language development;
                    ``(B) create appreciation of the written word;
                    ``(C) develop an awareness of printed language, the 
                alphabet, and phonemic awareness; and
                    ``(D) develop an understanding that spoken and 
                written language is made up of phonemes, syllables, and 
                words.
            ``(6) Reliable, replicable research.--The term `reliable, 
        replicable research' means objective, valid, scientific studies 
        that--
                    ``(A) include rigorously defined samples of 
                subjects that are sufficiently large and representative 
                to support the general conclusions drawn;
                    ``(B) rely on measurements that meet established 
                standards of reliability and validity;
                    ``(C) test competing theories, where multiple 
                theories exist;
                    ``(D) are subjected to peer review before their 
                results are published; and
                    ``(E) discover effective strategies for improving 
                reading skills.

``SEC. 15103. GRANTS TO READING AND LITERACY PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may make grants on a 
competitive basis to reading and literacy partnerships for the purpose 
of permitting such partnerships to make subgrants under sections 15104 
and 15105.
    ``(b) Reading and Literacy Partnerships.--
            ``(1) Composition.--
                    ``(A) Required participants.--In order to receive a 
                grant under this section, a State shall establish a 
                reading and literacy partnership consisting of at least 
                the following participants:
                            ``(i) The Governor of the State.
                            ``(ii) The chief State school officer.
                            ``(iii) The chairman and the ranking member 
                        of each committee of the State legislature that 
                        is responsible for education policy.
                            ``(iv) A representative, selected jointly 
                        by the Governor and the chief State school 
                        officer, of at least 1 local educational agency 
                        that has at least 1 school that is identified 
                        for school improvement under section 1116(c) in 
                        the geographic area served by the agency.
                            ``(v) A representative, selected jointly by 
                        the Governor and the chief State school 
                        officer, of a community-based organization 
                        working with children to improve their reading 
                        skills, particularly a community-based 
                        organization using volunteers.
                    ``(B) Optional participants.--A reading and 
                literacy partnership may include additional 
                participants, who shall be selected jointly by the 
                Governor and the chief State school officer, which may 
                include--
                            ``(i) State directors of appropriate 
                        Federal or State programs with a strong reading 
                        component;
                            ``(ii) a parent of a public or private 
                        school student or a parent who educates their 
                        child or children in their home;
                            ``(iii) a teacher who teaches reading; or
                            ``(iv) a representative of (I) an 
                        institution of higher education operating a 
                        program of teacher preparation in the State; 
                        (II) a local educational agency; (III) an 
                        eligible research institution; (IV) a private 
                        nonprofit or for-profit eligible professional 
                        development provider providing instruction 
                        based on reliable, replicable research on 
                        reading; (V) a family literacy service 
                        provider; (VI) an adult education provider; 
                        (VII) a volunteer organization that is involved 
                        in reading programs; or (VIII) a school or a 
                        public library that offers reading or literacy 
                        programs for children or families.
            ``(2) Agreement.--The contractual agreement that 
        establishes a reading and literacy partnership--
                    ``(A) shall specify--
                            ``(i) the nature and extent of the 
                        association among the participants referred to 
                        in paragraph (1); and
                            ``(ii) the roles and duties of each such 
                        participant; and
                    ``(B) shall remain in effect during the entire 
                grant period proposed in the partnership's grant 
                application under subsection (e).
            ``(3) Functions.--Each reading and literacy partnership for 
        a State shall prepare and submit an application under 
        subsection (e) and, if the partnership receives a grant under 
        this section--
                    ``(A) shall solicit applications for, and award, 
                subgrants under sections 15104 and 15105;
                    ``(B) shall oversee the performance of the 
                subgrants and submit performance reports in accordance 
                with subsection (h);
                    ``(C) if sufficient grant funds are available under 
                this title--
                            ``(i) work to enhance the capacity of 
                        agencies in the State to disseminate reliable, 
                        replicable research on reading to schools, 
classrooms, and providers of early education and child care;
                            ``(ii) facilitate the provision of 
                        technical assistance to subgrantees under 
                        sections 15104 and 15105 by providing the 
                        subgrantees information about technical 
                        assistance providers; and
                            ``(iii) build on, and promote coordination 
                        among, literacy programs in the State, in order 
                        to increase their effectiveness and to avoid 
                        duplication of their efforts; and
                    ``(D) shall ensure that each local educational 
                agency to which the partnership makes a subgrant under 
                section 15104 makes available, upon request and in an 
                understandable and uniform format, to any parent of a 
                student attending any school selected under section 
                15104(a)(2) in the geographic area served by the 
                agency, information regarding the qualifications of the 
                student's classroom teacher to provide instruction in 
                reading.
            ``(4) Fiscal agent.--The State educational agency shall act 
        as the fiscal agent for the reading and literacy partnership 
        for the purposes of receipt of funds from the Secretary, 
        disbursement of funds to subgrantees under sections 15104 and 
        15105, and accounting for such funds.
    ``(c) Preexisting Partnership.--If, before the date of the 
enactment of the Reading Excellence Act, a State established a 
consortium, partnership, or any other similar body, that includes the 
Governor and the chief State school officer and has, as a central part 
of its mission, the promotion of literacy for children in their early 
childhood years through the 3d grade, but that does not satisfy the 
requirements of subsection (b)(1), the State may elect to treat that 
consortium, partnership, or body as the reading and literacy 
partnership for the State notwithstanding such subsection, and the 
consortium, partnership, or body shall be considered a reading and 
literacy partnership for purposes of the other provisions of this 
title.
    ``(d) Multi-State Partnership Arrangements.--A reading and literacy 
partnership that satisfies the requirements of subsection (b) may join 
with other such partnerships in other States to develop a single 
application that satisfies the requirements of subsection (e) and 
identifies which State educational agency, from among the States 
joining, shall act as the fiscal agent for the multi-State arrangement. 
For purposes of the other provisions of this title, any such multi-
State arrangement shall be considered to be a reading and literacy 
partnership.
    ``(e) Applications.--A reading and literacy partnership that 
desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
including such information as the Secretary may require. The 
application--
            ``(1) shall describe how the partnership will ensure that 
        95 percent of the grant funds are used to make subgrants under 
        sections 15104 and 15105;
            ``(2) shall be integrated, to the maximum extent possible, 
        with State plans and programs under this Act, the Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and, 
        to the extent appropriate, the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1201 et seq.);
            ``(3) shall describe how the partnership will ensure that 
        professional development funds available at the State and local 
        levels are used effectively to improve instructional practices 
        for reading and are based on reliable, replicable research on 
        reading;
            ``(4) shall describe--
                    ``(A) the contractual agreement that establishes 
                the partnership, including at least the elements of the 
                agreement referred to in subsection (b)(2);
                    ``(B) how the partnership will assess, on a regular 
                basis, the extent to which the activities undertaken by 
                the partnership and the partnership's subgrantees under 
                this title have been effective in achieving the 
                purposes of this title;
                    ``(C) what evaluation instruments the partnership 
                will use to determine the success of local educational 
                agencies to whom subgrants under sections 15104 and 
                15105 are made in achieving the purposes of this title;
                    ``(D) how subgrants made by the partnership under 
                such sections will meet the requirements of this title, 
                including how the partnership will ensure that 
                subgrantees will use practices based on reliable, 
                replicable research on reading; and
                    ``(E) how the partnership will, to the extent 
                practicable, make grants to subgrantees in both rural 
                and urban areas;
            ``(5) shall include an assurance that each local 
        educational agency to whom the partnership makes a subgrant 
        under section 15104--
                    ``(A) will carry out family literacy programs based 
                on the Even Start family literacy model authorized 
                under part B of title I to enable parents to be their 
                child's first and most important teacher, and will make 
                payments for the receipt of technical assistance for 
                the development of such programs;
                    ``(B) will carry out programs to assist those 
                kindergarten students who are not ready for the 
                transition to 1st grade, particularly students 
                experiencing difficulty with reading skills;
                    ``(C) will use supervised individuals (including 
                tutors), who have been appropriately trained using 
                reliable, replicable research on reading, to provide 
                additional support, before school, after school, on 
                weekends, during non-instructional periods of the 
                school day, or during the summer, for students in 
                grades 1 through 3 who are experiencing difficulty 
                reading; and
                    ``(D) will carry out professional development for 
                the classroom teacher and other appropriate teaching 
                staff on the teaching of reading based on reliable, 
                replicable research on reading; and
            ``(6) shall describe how the partnership--
                    ``(A) will ensure that a portion of the grant funds 
                that the partnership receives in each fiscal year will 
                be used to make subgrants under section 15105; and
                    ``(B) will make local educational agencies 
                described in section 15105(a)(1) aware of the 
                availability of such subgrants.
    ``(f) Peer Review Panel.--
            ``(1) Composition of peer review panel.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The National Institute for 
                Literacy, in consultation with the National Research 
                Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the 
                National Institute of Child Health and Human 
                Development, and the Secretary, shall convene a panel 
                to evaluate applications under this section. At a 
                minimum the panel shall include representatives of the 
                National Institute for Literacy, the National Research 
                Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the 
                National Institute of Child Health and Human 
                Development, and the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Experts.--The panel shall include experts who 
                are competent, by virtue of their training, expertise, 
                or experience, to evaluate applications under this 
                section, and experts who provide professional 
                development to teachers of reading to children and 
                adults, based on reliable, replicable research on 
                reading.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--Not more than \1/3\ of the panel 
                may be composed of individuals who are employees of the 
                Federal Government.
            ``(2) Payment of fees and expenses of certain members.--The 
        Secretary shall use funds reserved under section 15110(b)(2) to 
        pay the expenses and fees of panel members who are not 
        employees of the Federal Government.
            ``(3) Duties of panel.--
                    ``(A) Model application forms.--The peer review 
                panel shall develop a model application form for 
                reading and literacy partnerships desiring to apply for 
                a grant under this section. The peer review panel shall 
                submit the model application form to the Secretary for 
                final approval.
                    ``(B) Selection of applications.--
                            ``(i) Recommendations of panel.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                shall receive grant applications from 
                                reading and literacy partnerships under 
                                this section and shall provide the 
                                applications to the peer review panel 
                                for evaluation. With respect to each 
                                application, the peer review panel 
                                shall initially recommend the 
                                application for funding or for 
                                disapproval.
                                    ``(II) Priority.--In recommending 
                                applications to the Secretary, the 
                                panel shall give priority to 
                                applications from States that have 
                                modified, are modifying, or provide an 
                                assurance that not later than 1 year 
                                after receiving a grant under this 
                                section the State will modify, State 
                                teacher certification in the area of 
                                reading to reflect reliable, replicable 
                                research, except that nothing in this 
                                title shall be construed to establish a 
                                national system of teacher 
                                certification.
                                    ``(III) Ranking of applications.--
                                With respect to each application 
                                recommended for funding, the panel 
                                shall assign the application a rank, 
                                relative to other recommended 
                                applications, based on the priority 
                                described in subclause (II), the extent 
                                to which the application furthers the 
                                purposes of this title, and the overall 
                                quality of the application.
                                    ``(IV) Recommendation of amount.--
                                With respect to each application 
                                recommended for funding, the panel 
                                shall make a recommendation to the 
                                Secretary with respect to the amount of 
                                the grant that should be made.
                            ``(ii) Secretarial selection.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Subject to 
                                clause (iii), the Secretary shall 
                                determine, based on the peer review 
                                panel's recommendations, which 
                                applications from reading and literacy 
                                partnerships shall receive funding and 
                                the amounts of such grants. In 
                                determining grant amounts, the 
                                Secretary shall take into account the 
                                total amount of funds available for all 
                                grants under this section and the types 
                                of activities proposed to be carried 
                                out by the partnership.
                                    ``(II) Effect of ranking by 
                                panel.--In making grants under this 
                                section, the Secretary shall select 
                                applications according to the ranking 
                                of the applications by the peer review 
                                panel, except in cases where the 
                                Secretary determines, for good cause, 
                                that a variation from that order is 
                                appropriate.
                            ``(iii) Minimum grant amounts.--Each 
                        reading and literacy partnership selected to 
                        receive a grant under this section shall 
                        receive an amount for each fiscal year that is 
                        not less than $100,000.
    ``(g) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--A reading and 
literacy partnership that receives a grant under this section may use 
not more than 3 percent of the grant funds for administrative costs.
    ``(h) Reporting.--
            ``(1) In general.--A reading and literacy partnership that 
        receives a grant under this section shall submit performance 
        reports to the Secretary pursuant to a schedule to be 
        determined by the Secretary, but not more frequently than 
        annually. Such reports shall include--
                    ``(A) the results of use of the evaluation 
                instruments referred to in subsection (e)(4)(C);
                    ``(B) the process used to select subgrantees;
                    ``(C) a description of the subgrantees receiving 
                funds under this title; and
                    ``(D) with respect to subgrants under section 
                15104, the model or models of reading instruction, 
                based on reliable, replicable research on reading, 
                selected by subgrantees.
            ``(2) Provision to peer review panel.--The Secretary shall 
        provide the reports submitted under paragraph (1) to the peer 
        review panel convened under subsection (f). The panel shall use 
        such reports in recommending applications for funding under 
        this section.

``SEC. 15104. LOCAL READING IMPROVEMENT SUBGRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Subgrants.--A reading and literacy partnership that 
        receives a grant under section 15103 shall make subgrants, on a 
        competitive basis, to local educational agencies that have at 
        least 1 school that is identified for school improvement under 
        section 1116(c) in the geographic area served by the agency.
            ``(2) Role of local educational agencies.--A local 
        educational agency that receives a subgrant under this section 
        shall use the subgrant in a manner consistent with this section 
        to advance reform of reading instruction in any school selected 
        by the agency that--
                    ``(A) is identified for school improvement under 
                section 1116(c) at the time the agency receives the 
                subgrant; and
                    ``(B) has a contractual association with 1 or more 
                community-based organizations that have established a 
                record of effectiveness with respect to reading 
                readiness, reading instruction for children in 
                kindergarten through 3d grade, and early childhood 
                literacy.
    ``(b) Grant Period.--A subgrant under this section shall be for a 
period of 3 years and may not be revoked or terminated on the ground 
that a school ceases, during the grant period, to be identified for 
school improvement under section 1116(c).
    ``(c) Applications.--A local educational agency that desires to 
receive a subgrant under this section shall submit an application to 
the reading and literacy partnership at such time, in such manner, and 
including such information as the partnership may require. The 
application--
            ``(1) shall describe how the local educational agency will 
        work with schools selected by the agency under subsection 
        (a)(2) to select 1 or more models of reading instruction, 
        developed using reliable, replicable research on reading, as a 
        model for implementing and improving reading instruction by all 
        teachers and for all children in each of the schools selected 
        by the agency under such subsection and, where appropriate, 
        their parents;
            ``(2) shall select 1 or more models described in paragraph 
        (1), for the purpose described in such paragraph, and shall 
        describe each such selected model;
            ``(3) shall demonstrate that a person responsible for the 
        development of each such model, or a person with experience or 
        expertise about such model and its implementation, has agreed 
        to work with the applicant in connection with such 
        implementation and improvement efforts;
            ``(4) shall describe--
                    ``(A) how the applicant will ensure that funds 
                available under this title, and funds available for 
                reading for grades kindergarten through grade 6 from 
                other appropriate sources, are effectively coordinated 
                and, where appropriate, integrated, with funds under 
this Act in order to improve existing activities in the areas of 
reading instruction, professional development, program improvement, 
parental involvement, technical assistance, and other activities that 
can help meet the purposes of this title; and
                    ``(B) the amount of funds available for reading for 
                grades kindergarten through grade 6 from appropriate 
                sources other than this title, including title I 
                (except that such description shall not be required to 
                include funds made available under part B of title I 
                unless the applicant has established a contractual 
                association in accordance with subsection (d)(2) with 
                an eligible entity under such part B), the Individuals 
                With Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et 
                seq.), and any other law providing Federal financial 
                assistance for professional development for teachers of 
                such grades who teach reading, which will be used to 
                help achieve the purposes of this title;
            ``(5) shall describe the amount and nature of funds from 
        any other public or private sources, including funds received 
        under this Act and the Individuals With Disabilities Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), that will be combined with funds 
        received under the subgrant;
            ``(6) shall include an assurance that the applicant--
                    ``(A) will carry out family literacy programs based 
                on the Even Start family literacy model authorized 
                under part B of title I to enable parents to be their 
                child's first and most important teacher, will make 
                payments for the receipt of technical assistance for 
                the development of such programs;
                    ``(B) will carry out programs to assist those 
                kindergarten students who are not ready for the 
                transition to 1st grade, particularly students 
                experiencing difficulty with reading skills;
                    ``(C) will use supervised individuals (including 
                tutors), who have been appropriately trained using 
                reliable, replicable research on reading, to provide 
                additional support, before school, after school, on 
                weekends, during non-instructional periods of the 
                school day, or during the summer, for students in 
                grades 1 through 3 who are experiencing difficulty 
                reading; and
                    ``(D) will carry out professional development for 
                the classroom teacher and other teaching staff on the 
                teaching of reading based on reliable, replicable 
                research on reading;
            ``(7) shall describe how the local educational agency 
        provides instruction in reading to children who have not been 
        determined to be a child with a disability (as defined in 
        section 602 of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act 
        (20 U.S.C. 1401)), pursuant to section 614(b)(5) of such Act 
        (20 U.S.C. 1414(a)(5)), because of a lack of instruction in 
        reading; and
            ``(8) shall indicate the amount of the subgrant funds (if 
        any) that the applicant will use to carry out the duties 
        described in section 15105(b)(2).
    ``(d) Priority.--In approving applications under this section, a 
reading and literacy partnership shall give priority to an application 
submitted by an applicant who demonstrates that the applicant has 
established--
            ``(1) a contractual association with 1 or more Head Start 
        programs under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.) 
        under which--
                    ``(A) the Head Start program agrees to select the 
                same model or models of reading instruction, as a model 
                for implementing and improving the reading readiness of 
                children participating in the program, as was selected 
                by the applicant; and
                    ``(B) the applicant agrees--
                            ``(i) to share with the Head Start program 
                        an appropriate amount of the applicant's 
                        information resources with respect to the 
                        model, such as curricula materials; and
                            ``(ii) to train personnel from the Head 
                        Start program;
            ``(2) a contractual association with 1 or more State- or 
        federally-funded preschool programs, or family literacy 
        programs, under which--
                    ``(A) the program agrees to select the same model 
                or models of reading instruction, as a model for 
                implementing and improving reading instruction in the 
                program's activities, as was selected by the applicant; 
                and
                    ``(B) the applicant agrees to train personnel from 
                the program who work with children and parents in 
                schools selected under subsection (a)(2); or
            ``(3) a contractual association with 1 or more public 
        libraries providing reading or literacy services to preschool 
children, or preschool children and their families, under which--
                    ``(A) the library agrees to select the same model 
                or models of reading instruction, as a model for 
                implementing and improving reading instruction in the 
                library's reading or literacy programs, as was selected 
                by the applicant; and
                    ``(B) the applicant agrees to train personnel, 
                including volunteers, from such programs who work with 
                preschool children, or preschool children and their 
                families, in schools selected under subsection (a)(2).
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an applicant 
        who receives a subgrant under this section may use the subgrant 
        funds to carry out activities that are authorized by this title 
        and described in the subgrant application, including the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Making reasonable payments for technical and 
                other assistance to a person responsible for the 
                development of a model of reading instruction, or a 
                person with experience or expertise about such model 
                and its implementation, who has agreed to work with the 
                recipient in connection with the implementation of the 
                model.
                    ``(B) Carrying out a contractual agreement 
                described in subsection (d).
                    ``(C) Professional development (including training 
                of volunteers), purchase of curricular and other 
                supporting materials, and technical assistance.
                    ``(D) Providing, on a voluntary basis, training to 
                parents of children enrolled in a school selected under 
                subsection (a)(2) on how to help their children with 
                school work, particularly in the development of reading 
                skills. Such training may be provided directly by the 
                subgrant recipient, or through a grant or contract with 
                another person. Such training shall be consistent with 
                reading reforms taking place in the school setting.
                    ``(E) Carrying out family literacy programs based 
                on the Even Start family literacy model authorized 
                under part B of title I to enable parents to be their 
                child's first and most important teacher, and making 
                payments for the receipt of technical assistance for 
                the development of such programs.
                    ``(F) Providing instruction for parents of children 
                enrolled in a school selected under subsection (a)(2), 
                and others who volunteer to be reading tutors for such 
                children, in the instructional practices based on 
                reliable, replicable research on reading used by the 
                applicant.
                    ``(G) Programs to assist those kindergarten 
                students enrolled in a school selected under subsection 
                (a)(2) who are not ready for the transition to 1st 
                grade, particularly students experiencing difficulty 
                with reading skills.
                    ``(H) Providing, for students who are enrolled in 
                grades 1 through 3 in a school selected under 
                subsection (a)(2) and are experiencing difficulty 
                reading, additional support before school, after 
                school, on weekends, during non-instructional periods 
                of the school day, or during the summer, using 
                supervised individuals (including tutors) who have been 
                appropriately trained using reliable, replicable 
                research on reading.
                    ``(I) Carrying out the duties described in section 
                15105(b)(2) for children enrolled in a school selected 
                under subsection (a)(2).
                    ``(J) Providing reading assistance to children who 
                have not been determined to be a child with a 
                disability (as defined in section 602 of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1401)), pursuant to section 614(b)(5) of such Act (20 
                U.S.C. 1414(b)(5)), because of a lack of instruction in 
                reading.
            ``(2) Limitation on administrative expenses.--A recipient 
        of a subgrant under this section may use not more than 3 
        percent of the subgrant funds for administrative costs.
    ``(f) Training Nonrecipients.--A recipient of a subgrant under this 
section may train, on a fee-for-service basis, personnel who are from 
schools, or local educational agencies, that are not receiving such a 
subgrant in the instructional practices based on reliable, replicable 
research on reading used by the recipient. Such a non-recipient school 
may use funds received under title I, and other appropriate Federal 
funds used for reading instruction, to pay for such training, to the 
extent consistent with the law under which such funds were received.

``SEC. 15105. TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE SUBGRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Subgrants.--A reading and literacy partnership that 
        receives a grant under section 15103 shall make subgrants on a 
        competitive basis to--
                    ``(A) local educational agencies that have at least 
                1 school in the geographic area served by the agency 
                that--
                            ``(i) is located in an area designated as 
                        an empowerment zone under part I of subchapter 
                        U of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
                        1986; or
                            ``(ii) is located in an area designated as 
                        an enterprise community under part I of 
                        subchapter U of chapter 1 of the Internal 
                        Revenue Code of 1986; or
                    ``(B) in the case of local educational agencies 
                that do not have any such empowerment zone or 
                enterprise community in the State in which the agency 
                is located, local educational agencies that have at 
                least 1 school that is identified for school 
                improvement under section 1116(c) in the geographic 
                area served by the agency.
            ``(2) Applications.--A local educational agency that 
        desires to receive a subgrant under this section shall submit 
        an application to the reading and literacy partnership at such 
        time, in such manner, and including such information as the 
        partnership may require. The application shall include an 
        assurance that the agency will use the subgrant funds to carry 
        out the duties described in subsection (b) for children 
        enrolled in 1 or more schools selected by the agency and 
        described in paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A local educational agency that receives 
        a subgrant under this section shall carry out, using the funds 
        provided under the subgrant, each of the duties described in 
        paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Duties.--The duties described in this paragraph are 
        the provision of tutorial assistance in reading to children who 
        have difficulty reading, using instructional practices based on 
        the principles of reliable, replicable research, through the 
        following:
                    ``(A) The promulgation of a set of objective 
                criteria, pertaining to the ability of a tutorial 
                assistance provider successfully to provide tutorial 
                assistance in reading, that will be used to determine 
                in a uniform manner, at the beginning of each school 
                year, the eligibility of tutorial assistance providers, 
                subject to the succeeding subparagraphs of this 
                paragraph, to be included on the list described in 
                subparagraph (B) (and thereby be eligible to enter into 
                a contract pursuant to subparagraph (F)).
                    ``(B) The promulgation, maintenance, and approval 
                of a list of tutorial assistance providers eligible to 
                enter into a contract pursuant to subparagraph (F) 
                who--
                            ``(i) have established a record of 
                        effectiveness with respect to reading 
                        readiness, reading instruction for children in 
                        kindergarten through 3d grade, and early 
                        childhood literacy;
                            ``(ii) are located in a geographic area 
                        convenient to the school or schools attended by 
                        the children who will be receiving tutorial 
                        assistance from the providers; and
                            ``(iii) are capable of providing tutoring 
                        in reading to children who have difficulty 
                        reading, using instructional practices based on 
                        the principles of reliable, replicable research 
                        and consistent with the instructional methods 
                        used by the school the child attends.
                    ``(C) The development of procedures (i) for the 
                receipt of applications for tutorial assistance, from 
                parents who are seeking such assistance for their child 
                or children, that select a tutorial assistance provider 
                from the list described in subparagraph (B) with whom 
                the child or children will enroll, for tutoring in 
                reading; and (ii) for considering children for tutorial 
                assistance who are identified under subparagraph (D) 
                and for whom no application has been submitted, 
                provided that such procedures are in accordance with 
                this paragraph and give such parents the right to 
                select a tutorial assistance provider from the list 
                referred to in subparagraph (B), and shall permit a 
                local educational agency to recommend a tutorial 
                assistance provider from the list under subparagraph 
                (B) in a case where a parent asks for assistance in the 
                making of such selection.
                    ``(D) The development of a selection process for 
                providing tutorial assistance in accordance with this 
                paragraph that limits the provision of assistance to 
                children identified, by the school the child attends, 
                as having difficulty reading, including difficulty 
                mastering essential phonic, decoding, or vocabulary 
skills. In the case of a child included in the selection process for 
whom no application has been submitted by a parent of the child, the 
child's eligibility for receipt of tutorial assistance shall be 
determined under the same procedures, timeframe, and criteria for 
consideration as is used to determine the eligibility of a child whose 
parent has submitted such an application. Such local educational agency 
shall apply the provisions of subparagraphs (F) and (G) to a tutorial 
assistance provider selected for a child whose parent has not submitted 
an application pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i) in the same manner as 
the provisions are applied to a provider selected in an application 
submitted pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i).
                    ``(E) The development of procedures for selecting 
                children to receive tutorial assistance, to be used in 
                cases where insufficient funds are available to provide 
                assistance with respect to all children identified by a 
                school under subparagraph (D) that--
                            ``(i) gives priority to children who are 
                        determined, through State or local reading 
                        assessments, to be most in need of tutorial 
                        assistance; and
                            ``(ii) gives priority, in cases where 
                        children are determined, through State or local 
                        reading assessments, to be equally in need of 
                        tutorial assistance, based on a random 
                        selection principle.
                    ``(F) The development of a methodology by which 
                payments are made directly to tutorial assistance 
                providers who are identified and selected pursuant to 
                subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E). Such methodology shall 
                include the making of a contract, consistent with State 
                and local law, between the tutorial assistance provider 
                and the local educational agency carrying out this 
                paragraph. Such contract--
                            ``(i) shall contain specific goals and 
                        timetables with respect to the performance of 
                        the tutorial assistance provider;
                            ``(ii) shall require the tutorial 
                        assistance provider to report to the parent and 
                        the local educational agency on the provider's 
                        performance in meeting such goals and 
                        timetables; and
                            ``(iii) shall contain provisions with 
                        respect to the making of payments to the 
                        tutorial assistance provider by the local 
                        educational agency.
                    ``(G) The development of procedures under which the 
                local educational agency carrying out this paragraph--
                            ``(i) will ensure oversight of the quality 
                        and effectiveness of the tutorial assistance 
                        provided by each tutorial assistance provider 
                        that is selected for funding;
                            ``(ii) will remove from the list under 
                        subparagraph (B) ineffective and unsuccessful 
                        providers (as determined by the local 
                        educational agency based upon the performance 
                        of the provider with respect to the goals and 
                        timetables contained in the contract between 
                        the agency and the provider under subparagraph 
                        (F));
                            ``(iii) will provide to each parent of a 
                        child identified under subparagraph (D) who 
                        requests such information for the purpose of 
                        selecting a tutorial assistance provider for 
                        the child, in a comprehensible format, 
                        information with respect to the quality and 
                        effectiveness of the tutorial assistance 
                        referred to in clause (i); and
                            ``(iv) will ensure that each school 
                        identifying a child under subparagraph (D) will 
                        provide upon request, to a parent of the child, 
                        assistance in selecting, from among the 
                        tutorial assistance providers who are included 
                        on the list described in subparagraph (B), the 
                        provider who is best able to meet the needs of 
                        the child.
    ``(c) Definition.--For the purpose of this section the term 
`parent' includes a legal guardian.

``SEC. 15106. PROGRAM EVALUATION.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 15110(b)(1), 
the Secretary shall conduct a national assessment of the programs under 
this title. In developing the criteria for the assessment, the 
Secretary shall receive recommendations from the peer review panel 
convened under section 15103(f).
    ``(b) Submission to Peer Review Panel.--The Secretary shall submit 
the findings from the assessment under subsection (a) to the peer 
review panel convened under section 15103(f).

``SEC. 15107. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 15110(b)(2), 
the National Institute for Literacy shall disseminate information on 
reliable, replicable research on reading and information on subgrantee 
projects under section 15104 or 15105 that have proven effective. At a 
minimum, the institute shall disseminate such information to all 
recipients of Federal financial assistance under titles I and VII, the 
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.), the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and the Adult 
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.).
    ``(b) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the National 
Institute for Literacy--
            ``(1) shall use, to the extent practicable, information 
        networks developed and maintained through other public and 
        private persons, including the Secretary, the National Center 
        for Family Literacy, and the Readline Program;
            ``(2) shall work in conjunction with any panel convened by 
        the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
        and the Secretary, and any panel convened by the Office of 
        Educational Research and Improvement to assess the current 
        status of research-based knowledge on reading development, 
        including the effectiveness of various approaches to teaching 
        children to read, with respect to determining the criteria by 
        which the National Institute for Literacy judges reliable, 
        replicable research and the design of strategies to disseminate 
        such information; and
            ``(3) shall assist any reading and literacy partnership 
        selected to receive a grant under section 15103, and that 
        requests such assistance--
                    ``(A) in determining whether applications for 
                subgrants submitted to the partnership meet the 
                requirements of this title relating to reliable, 
                replicable research on reading; and
                    ``(B) in the development of subgrant application 
                forms.

``SEC. 15108. STATE EVALUATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each reading and literacy partnership that 
receives a grant under this title shall reserve not more than 2 percent 
of such grant funds for the purpose of evaluating the success of the 
partnership's subgrantees in meeting the purposes of this title. At a 
minimum, the evaluation shall measure the extent to which students who 
are the intended beneficiaries of the subgrants made by the partnership 
have improved their reading.
    ``(b) Contract.--A reading and literacy partnership shall carry out 
the evaluation under this section by entering into a contract with an 
eligible research institution under which the institution will perform 
the evaluation.
    ``(c) Submission.--A reading and literacy partnership shall submit 
the findings from the evaluation under this section to the Secretary 
and the peer review panel convened under section 15103(f). The 
Secretary and the peer review panel shall submit a summary of the 
findings from the evaluations under this subsection to the appropriate 
committees of the Congress, including the Education and the Workforce 
Committee of the House of Representatives.

``SEC. 15109. PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

    ``Each reading and literacy partnership that receives funds under 
this title shall provide for, or ensure that subgrantees provide for, 
the participation of children in private schools in the activities and 
services assisted under this title in the same manner as the children 
participate in activities and services pursuant to sections 14503, 
14504, 14505, and 14506.

``SEC. 15110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS FROM 
              APPROPRIATIONS; SUNSET.

    ``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this title $210,000,000 for fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 
2001.
    ``(b) Reservations.--From the amount appropriated under subsection 
(a) for each fiscal year, the Secretary--
            ``(1) shall reserve 1.5 percent to carry out section 
        15106(a);
            ``(2) shall reserve $5,075,000 to carry out sections 
        15103(f)(2) and 15107, of which $5,000,000 shall be reserved 
        for section 15107; and
            ``(3) shall reserve $10,000,000 to carry out section 
        1202(c).
    ``(c) Sunset.--Notwithstanding section 422(a) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1226a(a)), this title is repealed, 
effective September 30, 2001, and is not subject to extension under 
such section.''.

      TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO EVEN START FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. RESERVATION FOR GRANTS.

    Section 1202(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Reservation for Grants.--
            ``(1) Grants authorized.--From funds reserved under section 
        15109(b)(3), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive 
        basis, to States to enable such States to plan and implement, 
        statewide family literacy initiatives to coordinate and 
        integrate existing Federal, State, and local literacy resources 
        consistent with the purposes of this part. Such coordination 
        and integration shall include coordination and integration of 
        funds available under the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1201 
        et seq.), Head Start (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.), this part, part 
        A of this title, and part A of title IV of the Social Security 
        Act.
            ``(2) Consortia.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, a State shall establish a consortium of 
                State-level programs under the following laws:
                            ``(i) This title.
                            ``(ii) The Head Start Act.
                            ``(iii) The Adult Education Act.
                            ``(iv) All other State-funded preschool 
                        programs and programs providing literacy 
                        services to adults.
                    ``(B) Plan.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, the consortium established by a State shall 
                create a plan to use a portion of the State's 
                resources, derived from the programs referred to in 
                subparagraph (A), to strengthen and expand family 
                literacy services in such State.
                    ``(C) Coordination with title xv.--The consortium 
                shall coordinate its activities with the activities of 
                the reading and literacy partnership for the State 
                established under section 15103, if the State receives 
                a grant under such section.
            ``(3) Reading instruction.--Statewide family literacy 
        initiatives implemented under this subsection shall base 
        reading instruction on reliable, replicable research on reading 
        (as such terms are defined in section 15102).
            ``(4) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide, 
        directly or through a grant or contract with an organization 
        with experience in the development and operation of successful 
        family literacy services, technical assistance to States 
        receiving a grant under this subsection.
            ``(5) Matching requirement.--The Secretary shall not make a 
        grant to a State under this subsection unless the State agrees 
        that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible 
        consortium in carrying out the activities for which the grant 
        was awarded, the State will make available non-Federal 
        contributions in an amount equal to not less than the Federal 
        funds provided under the grant.''.

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 1202(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(e)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) the term `family literacy services' means services 
        provided to participants on a voluntary basis that are of 
        sufficient intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient 
        duration, to make sustainable changes in a family (such as 
        eliminating or reducing welfare dependency) and that integrate 
        all of the following activities:
                    ``(A) Interactive literacy activities between 
                parents and their children.
                    ``(B) Equipping parents to partner with their 
                children in learning.
                    ``(C) Parent literacy training, including training 
                that contributes to economic self-sufficiency.
                    ``(D) Appropriate instruction for children of 
                parents receiving parent literacy services.''.

SEC. 203. EVALUATION.

    Section 1209 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6369) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to provide States and eligible entities receiving a 
        subgrant under this part, directly or through a grant or 
        contract with an organization with experience in the 
        development and operation of successful family literacy 
        services, technical assistance to ensure local evaluations 
        undertaken under section 1205(10) provide accurate information 
        on the effectiveness of programs assisted under this part.''.

SEC. 204. INDICATORS OF PROGRAM QUALITY.

    (a) In General.--The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 1210 as section 1212; and
            (2) by inserting after section 1209 the following:

``SEC. 1210. INDICATORS OF PROGRAM QUALITY.

    ``Each State receiving funds under this part shall develop, based 
on the best available research and evaluation data, indicators of 
program quality for programs assisted under this part. Such indicators 
shall be used to monitor, evaluate, and improve such programs within 
the State. Such indicators shall include the following:
            ``(1) With respect to eligible participants in a program 
        who are adults--
                    ``(A) achievement in the areas of reading, writing, 
                English language acquisition, problem solving, and 
                numeracy;
                    ``(B) receipt of a secondary school diploma or its 
                recognized equivalent;
                    ``(C) entry into a postsecondary school, a job 
                retraining program, or employment or career 
                advancement, including the military; and
                    ``(D) such other indicators as the State may 
                develop.
            ``(2) With respect to eligible participants in a program 
        who are children--
                    ``(A) improvement in ability to read on grade level 
                or reading readiness;
                    ``(B) school attendance;
                    ``(C) grade retention and promotion; and
                    ``(D) such other indicators as the State may 
                develop.''.
    (b) State Level Activities.--Section 1203(a) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6363(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) carrying out section 1210.''.
    (c) Award of Subgrants.--Paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 1208(b) 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368) 
are amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) Continuing eligibility.--In awarding subgrant funds 
        to continue a program under this part for the second, third, or 
        fourth year, the State educational agency shall evaluate the 
        program based on the indicators of program quality developed by 
        the State under section 1210. Such evaluation shall take place 
        after the conclusion of the startup period, if any.
            ``(4) Insufficient progress.--The State educational agency 
        may refuse to award subgrant funds if such agency finds that 
        the eligible entity has not sufficiently improved the 
        performance of the program, as evaluated based on the 
        indicators of program quality developed by the State under 
        section 1210, after--
                    ``(A) providing technical assistance to the 
                eligible entity; and
                    ``(B) affording the eligible entity notice and an 
                opportunity for a hearing.''.

SEC. 205. RESEARCH.

    The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.), as amended by section 204 of this Act, is further amended by 
inserting after section 1210 the following:

``SEC. 1211. RESEARCH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out, through grant or 
contract, research into the components of successful family literacy 
services. The purpose of the research shall be--
            ``(1) to improve the quality of existing programs assisted 
        under this part or other family literacy programs carried out 
        under this Act or the Adult Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1201 et 
        seq.); and
            ``(2) to develop models for new programs to be carried out 
        under this Act or the Adult Education Act.
    ``(b) Dissemination.--The National Institute for Literacy shall 
disseminate, pursuant to section 15107, the results of the research 
described in subsection (a) to States and recipients of subgrants under 
this part.''.
                                 <all>