[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1995 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 1995


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 1999

     Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to empower 
teachers, improve student achievement through high-quality professional 
 development for teachers, reauthorize the Reading Excellence Act, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Teacher Empowerment Act''.

SEC. 2. TEACHER EMPOWERMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking the heading for title II and inserting the 
        following:

                     ``TITLE II--TEACHER QUALITY'';

            (2) by repealing sections 2001 through 2003; and
            (3) by amending part A to read as follows:

                     ``PART A--TEACHER EMPOWERMENT

``SEC. 2001. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this part is to provide grants to States and local 
educational agencies in order to assist their efforts to increase 
student academic achievement through such strategies as improving 
teacher quality.

                     ``Subpart 1--Grants to States

``SEC. 2011. FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of each State that in accordance 
with section 2013 submits to the Secretary an application for a fiscal 
year, the Secretary shall make a grant for the year to the State for 
the uses specified in section 2012. The grant shall consist of the 
allotment determined for the State under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Determination of Amount of Allotment.--
            ``(1) Reservation of funds.--From the amount made available 
        to carry out this subpart for any fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall reserve--
                    ``(A) \1/2\ of 1 percent for allotments for the 
                Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to be 
                distributed among these outlying areas on the basis of 
                their relative need, as determined by the Secretary in 
                accordance with the purpose of this part; and
                    ``(B) \1/2\ of 1 percent for the Secretary of the 
                Interior for programs under this part for professional 
                development activities for teachers, other staff, and 
                administrators in schools operated or funded by the 
                Bureau of Indian Affairs.
            ``(2) State allotments.--
                    ``(A) Hold harmless.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to subparagraph 
                        (B), from the total amount made available to 
                        carry out this subpart for any fiscal year and 
                        not reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                        shall allot to each of the 50 States, the 
                        District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of 
                        Puerto Rico an amount equal to the total amount 
                        that such State received for fiscal year 1999 
                        under--
                                    ``(I) section 2202(b) of this Act 
                                (as in effect on the day before the 
                                date of the enactment of the Teacher 
                                Empowerment Act);
                                    ``(II) section 307 of the 
                                Department of Education Appropriations 
                                Act, 1999; and
                                    ``(III) section 304(b) of the Goals 
                                2000: Educate America Act.
                            ``(ii) Nonparticipating states.--In the 
                        case of a State that did not receive any funds 
                        for fiscal year 1999 under one or more of the 
                        provisions referred to in subclauses (I) 
                        through (III) of clause (i), the amount 
                        allotted to the State under such clause shall 
                        be the total amount that the State would have 
                        received for fiscal year 1999 if it had elected 
                        to participate in all of the programs for which 
                        it was eligible under each of the provisions 
                        referred to in such subclauses.
                            ``(iii) Ratable reduction.--If the total 
                        amount made available to carry out this subpart 
                        for any fiscal year and not reserved under 
                        paragraph (1) is insufficient to pay the full 
                        amounts that all States are eligible to receive 
                        under clause (i) for any fiscal year, the 
                        Secretary shall ratably reduce such amounts for 
                        such fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Allotment of additional funds.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        for any fiscal year for which the total amount 
                        made available to carry out this subpart and 
                        not reserved under paragraph (1) exceeds the 
                        total amount made available to the 50 States, 
                        the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth 
                        of Puerto Rico for fiscal year 1999 under the 
                        authorities described in subparagraph (A)(i), 
                        the Secretary shall allot such excess amount as 
                        follows:
                                    ``(I) 50 percent of such excess 
                                amount shall be allotted among such 
                                States on the basis of their relative 
                                populations of individuals aged 5 
                                through 17, as determined by the 
                                Secretary on the basis of the most 
                                recent satisfactory data.
                                    ``(II) 50 percent of such excess 
                                amount shall be allotted among such 
                                States in proportion to the number of 
                                children, aged 5 to 17, who reside 
                                within the State from families with 
                                incomes below the poverty line (as 
                                defined by the Office of Management and 
                                Budget and revised annually in 
                                accordance with section 673(2) of the 
                                Community Services Block Grant Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 9902(2)) applicable to a family 
                                of the size involved for the most 
                                recent fiscal year for which 
                                satisfactory data are available, 
                                compared to the number of such 
                                individuals who reside in all such 
                                States for that fiscal year.
                            ``(ii) Exception.--No State receiving an 
                        allotment under clause (i) may receive less 
                        than \1/2\ of 1 percent of the total excess 
                        amount allotted under clause (i).
            ``(3) Reallotment.--If any State does not apply for an 
        allotment under this subsection for any fiscal year, the 
        Secretary shall reallot such amount to the remaining States in 
        accordance with this subsection.

``SEC. 2012. WITHIN-STATE ALLOCATIONS.

    ``(a) Use of Funds.--Each State receiving a grant under this 
subpart shall use the funds provided under the grant in accordance with 
this section to carry out activities for the improvement of teaching 
and learning.
    ``(b) Required and Authorized Expenditures.--
            ``(1) Required expenditures.--The Secretary may make a 
        grant to a State under this subpart only if the State agrees to 
        expend at least 95 percent of the amount of the funds provided 
        under the grant for the purpose of making, in accordance with 
        this part, subgrants to local educational agencies under 
        subpart 3 and subgrants to eligible partnerships under subpart 
        2.
            ``(2) Authorized expenditures.--A State that receives a 
        grant under this subpart may expend not more than 5 percent of 
        the amount of the funds provided under the grant for one or 
        more of the authorized State activities described in subsection 
        (d) (of which percent, the State may use up to 5 percent for 
        planning and administration related to carrying out such 
        activities and making subgrants to local educational agencies 
        under subpart 3).
    ``(c) Distribution of Subgrants.--
            ``(1) Formula for 80 percent of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State receiving a grant under 
                this subpart shall distribute 80 percent of the amount 
                described in subsection (b)(1) through a formula under 
                which--
                            ``(i) 50 percent is allocated to local 
                        educational agencies in accordance with the 
                        relative enrollment in public and private 
                        nonprofit elementary and secondary schools 
                        within the boundaries of such agencies; and
                            ``(ii) 50 percent is allocated to local 
                        educational agencies in proportion to the 
                        number of children, aged 5 to 17, who reside 
                        within the geographic area served by such 
                        agency from families with incomes below the 
                        poverty line (as defined by the Office of 
                        Management and Budget and revised annually in 
                        accordance with section 673(2) of the Community 
                        Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) 
                        applicable to a family of the size involved for 
                        the most recent fiscal year for which 
                        satisfactory data are available, compared to 
                        the number of such individuals who reside in 
                        the geographic areas served by all the local 
                        educational agencies in the State for that 
                        fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Minimum amount.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For any fiscal year for 
                        which a local educational agency would receive 
                        under subparagraph (A) an amount that is less 
                        than the total amount that the agency received 
                        for fiscal year 1999 under--
                                    ``(I) section 2203(1)(B) of this 
                                Act (as in effect on the day before the 
                                date of the enactment of the Teacher 
                                Empowerment Act); and
                                    ``(II) section 307 of the 
                                Department of Education Appropriations 
                                Act, 1999,
                        a State receiving a grant under this subpart 
                        shall ensure that the local educational agency 
                        receives under this paragraph an amount equal 
                        to such total amount.
                            ``(ii) Source of funds.--Notwithstanding 
                        paragraph (2), a State shall use such portion 
                        of the funds described in paragraph (2)(A) as 
                        may be necessary to pay to a local educational 
                        agency the difference between the agency's 
                        allotment under subparagraph (A) and the 
                        allotment to the agency required under clause 
                        (i).
            ``(2) Distribution of 20 percent of funds.--
                    ``(A) Competitive process.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (C), a State receiving a grant under this subpart shall 
                distribute 20 percent of the amount described in 
                subsection (b)(1) (or such portion of such amount as 
                remains after satisfaction of the requirements in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B)(ii) of paragraph (1)) through 
                a competitive process that results in an equitable 
                distribution by geographic area within the State.
                    ``(B) Participants.--The competitive process under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be open to local educational 
                agencies and eligible partnerships (as defined in 
                section 2021(d)), except that a State shall give 
                priority to local educational agencies that focus on 
                math, science, or reading professional development 
                programs.
                    ``(C) Subgrants to eligible partnerships.--A State 
                receiving a grant under this subpart shall expend at 
                least 3 percent of the amount described in subparagraph 
                (A) for the purpose of making subgrants to eligible 
                partnerships under subpart 2.
    ``(d) Authorized State Activities.--The authorized State activities 
referred to in subsection (b)(2) are the following:
            ``(1) Reforming teacher certification, recertification, or 
        licensure requirements to ensure that--
                    ``(A) teachers have the necessary teaching skills 
                and academic content knowledge in the subject areas in 
                which they are assigned to teach;
                    ``(B) they are aligned with the State's challenging 
                State content standards; and
                    ``(C) teachers have the knowledge and skills 
                necessary to help students meet challenging State 
                student performance standards.
            ``(2) Carrying out programs that--
                    ``(A) include support during the initial teaching 
                experience, such as mentoring programs that--
                            ``(i) provide mentoring to beginning 
                        teachers from veteran teachers with expertise 
                        in the same subject matter that the beginning 
                        teachers will be teaching;
                            ``(ii) provide mentors time for activities 
                        such as coaching, observing, and assisting the 
                        teachers who are mentored; and
                            ``(iii) use standards or assessments for 
                        guiding beginning teachers that are consistent 
                        with the State's student performance standards 
                        and with the requirements for professional 
                        development activities under section 2033.
                    ``(B) establish, expand, or improve alternative 
                routes to State certification of teachers, especially 
                in the areas of mathematics and science, for highly 
                qualified individuals with a baccalaureate degree, 
                including mid-career professionals from other 
                occupations, paraprofessionals, former military 
                personnel, and recent college or university graduates 
                with records of academic distinction who demonstrate 
                the potential to become highly effective teachers.
            ``(3) Developing and implementing effective mechanisms to 
        assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively 
        recruiting and retaining highly qualified and effective 
        teachers and principals.
            ``(4) Reforming tenure systems and implementing teacher 
        testing and other procedures to expeditiously remove 
        incompetent and ineffective teachers from the classroom.
            ``(5) Developing enhanced performance systems to measure 
        the effectiveness of specific professional development programs 
        and strategies.
            ``(6) Providing technical assistance to local educational 
        agencies consistent with this part.
            ``(7) Funding projects to promote reciprocity of teacher 
        certification or licensure between or among States, except that 
        no reciprocity agreement developed under this paragraph or 
        developed using funds provided under this part may lead to the 
        weakening of any State teaching certification or licensing 
        requirement.
            ``(8) Developing or assisting local educational agencies or 
        eligible partnerships (as defined in section 2021(d)) in the 
        development and utilization of proven, innovative strategies to 
        deliver intensive professional development programs that are 
        both cost-effective and easily accessible, such as through the 
        use of technology and distance learning.
            ``(9) Providing assistance to local educational agencies 
        and eligible partnerships (as defined in section 2021(d)) for 
        the development and implementation of innovative professional 
        development programs that train teachers to use technology to 
        improve teaching and learning and are consistent with the 
        requirements of section 2033.
    ``(e) Components of Alternative Routes to State Certification 
Programs.--To the extent appropriate, programs under subsection 
(d)(2)(B) shall--
            ``(1) include strong academic and teaching-related course 
        work that provides teachers with the subject matter and 
        teaching knowledge needed to help students reach the States 
        content standards;
            ``(2) provide intensive field experience in the form of an 
        internship, or student teaching, under the direct daily 
        supervision of an expert, veteran teacher; and
            ``(3) provide that, before entry into teaching, candidates 
        must be fully qualified.
    ``(f) Coordination.--States receiving grants under section 202 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall coordinate the use of such funds 
with activities carried out under this section.
    ``(g) Public Accountability.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
        subpart--
                    ``(A) in the event the State provides public State 
                report cards on education, shall include in such report 
                cards information on the State's progress with respect 
                to--
                            ``(i) subject to paragraph (2), improving 
                        student academic achievement, as defined by the 
                        State;
                            ``(ii) closing academic achievement gaps, 
                        as defined by the State, between the groups 
                        described in paragraph (2)(A)(i);
                            ``(iii) increasing the percentage of 
                        classes in core academic areas taught by fully 
                        qualified teachers; and
                            ``(iv) reducing class size; or
                    ``(B) in the event the State provides no such 
                report card, shall publicly report the information 
                described in subparagraph (A) through other means.
            ``(2) Disaggregated data.--The information described in 
        paragraph (1)(A)(i) and section 2013(b)(3)((A) shall be--
                    ``(A) disaggregated--
                            ``(i) by minority and non-minority status 
                        and by low-income and non-low-income status; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) using assessments consistent with 
                        section 1111(b)(3); and
                    ``(B) publicly reported in the form of 
                disaggregated data only when such data are 
                statistically sound.

``SEC. 2013. APPLICATIONS BY STATES.

    ``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
subpart, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require.
    ``(b) Contents.--Each application under this section shall include 
the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the State will ensure that a 
        local educational agency receiving a subgrant under subpart 3 
        will comply with the requirements of such subpart, including 
        the required use of funds for mathematics and science programs, 
        professional development, and hiring teachers to reduce class 
        size.
            ``(2) A plan to ensure all teachers within the State are 
        fully qualified not later than December 31, 2003.
            ``(3) An assurance that the State will require each local 
        educational agency and school receiving funds under this title 
        to publicly report their annual progress on the agency's and 
        the school's performance indicators in the following:
                    ``(A) Subject to section 2012(f)(2), improving 
                student academic achievement, as defined by the State.
                    ``(B) Closing academic achievement gaps, as defined 
                by the State, between the groups described in section 
                2012(f)(2)(A)(i).
                    ``(C) Increasing the percentage of classes in core 
                academic areas taught by fully qualified teachers.
            ``(4) A description of how the State will hold local 
        educational agencies and schools accountable for making annual 
        gains in meeting the performance indicators described in 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(5) A description of how the State will coordinate 
        professional development activities authorized under this part 
        with professional development activities provided under other 
        Federal, State, and local programs, including those authorized 
        under title I, title III, title IV, part A of title VII, and 
        (where applicable) the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
        Act and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education 
        Act. The application shall also describe the comprehensive 
        strategy that the State will take as part of such coordination 
        effort, to ensure that teachers are trained in the utilization 
        of technology so that technology and its applications are 
        effectively used in the classroom to improve teaching and 
        learning in all curriculum and content areas, as appropriate.
            ``(6) A description of how the State will encourage the 
        development of proven, innovative strategies to deliver 
        intensive professional development programs that are both cost-
        effective and easily accessible, such as through the use of 
        technology and distance learning.
            ``(7) A description of how the State will ensure that local 
        educational agencies will comply with the requirement under 
        section 2033(b)(5), especially with respect to ensuring the 
        participation of teachers and parents.
    ``(c) Application Submission.--A State application submitted to the 
Secretary under this section shall be approved by the Secretary unless 
the Secretary makes a written determination, within 90 days after 
receiving the application, that the application is in violation of the 
provisions of this Act.

            ``Subpart 2--Subgrants to Eligible Partnerships

``SEC. 2021. PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--From the amount described in section 
2012(c)(2)(C), the State agency for higher education, working in 
conjunction with the State educational agency (if such agencies are 
separate), shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible 
partnerships to enable such partnerships to carry out activities 
described in subsection (b). Such grants shall be equitably distributed 
by geographic area within the State. Not more than 5 percent of the 
amount made available to an agency to carry out this subpart may be 
used for planning and administration.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--A recipient of funds under this section shall 
use the funds for--
            ``(1) professional development activities in core academic 
        subjects to ensure that teachers have content knowledge in the 
        subjects they teach; and
            ``(2) developing and providing assistance to local 
        educational agencies and the teachers, principals, and 
        administrators, of public and private schools in each such 
        agency, for sustained, high-quality professional development 
        activities which--
                    ``(A) ensure they are able to use State content 
                standards, performance standards, and assessments to 
                improve instructional practices and improve student 
                achievement; and
                    ``(B) may include intensive programs designed to 
                prepare teachers who will return to their school to 
                provide such instruction to other teachers within such 
                school.
    ``(c) Special Rule.--No single participant in an eligible 
partnership may retain more than 50 percent of the funds made available 
to the partnership under this section.
    ``(d) Eligible Partnerships.--As used in this section, the term 
`eligible partnerships' means an entity that--
            ``(1) shall include--
                    ``(A) a high-need local educational agency;
                    ``(B) a school of arts and sciences; and
                    ``(C) an institution that prepares teachers; and
            ``(2) may include other local educational agencies, a 
        public charter school, a public or private elementary or 
        secondary school, an educational service agency, a public or 
        private nonprofit educational organization, or a business.
    ``(e) Coordination.--Partnerships receiving grants under section 
203 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall coordinate the use of 
such funds with any related activities carried out by such partnership 
with funds made available under this section.

          ``Subpart 3--Subgrants to Local Educational Agencies

``SEC. 2031. LOCAL USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Required Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each local educational agency that 
        receives a subgrant under this subpart shall use the subgrant 
        to carry out the activities described in this subsection.
            ``(2) Mathematics and science.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the amount made available to 
                each local educational agency under this subpart for a 
                fiscal year, the agency shall use not less than the 
                amount expended by the agency under section 2206(b) of 
                this Act (as in effect on the day before the date of 
                the enactment of the Teacher Empowerment Act) for the 
                fiscal year preceding such enactment for professional 
                development activities in mathematics and science in 
                accordance with section 2033.
                    ``(B) Waiver.--
                            ``(i) Application.--A local educational 
                        agency, in consultation with teachers and 
                        principals, may seek a waiver of the 
                        requirement in subparagraph (A) from a State in 
                        order to allow the local educational agency to 
                        use such funds for professional development in 
                        academic subjects other than mathematics and 
                        science.
                            ``(ii) Standard for granting.--A State may 
                        not approve such a waiver unless the local 
                        educational agency is able to demonstrate 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) the professional development 
                                needs of mathematics and science 
                                teachers, including elementary teachers 
                                responsible for teaching mathematics 
                                and science, have been adequately 
                                served and will continue to be 
                                adequately served if the waiver is 
                                approved;
                                    ``(II) State assessments in 
                                mathematics and science demonstrate 
                                that each school within the local 
                                educational agency has made and will 
                                continue to make progress toward 
                                meeting the challenging State or local 
                                content standards and student 
                                performance standards in these areas; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) State assessments in other 
                                academic subjects demonstrate a need to 
                                focus on subjects other than 
                                mathematics and science.
                            ``(iii) Grandfather of old waivers.--A 
                        waiver provided to a local educational agency 
                        under part D of title XIV prior to the date of 
                        the enactment of the Teacher Empowerment Act 
                        shall be deemed effective until such time as it 
                        otherwise would have ceased to be effective.
            ``(3) Professional development activities.--Each local 
        educational agency that receives a subgrant under this subpart 
        shall use a portion of such funds for professional development 
        activities that give teachers, principals, and administrators 
        the knowledge and skills to provide students with the 
        opportunity to meet challenging State or local content 
        standards and student performance standards. Such activities 
        shall be consistent with sections 2033 and 2034.
            ``(4) Hiring and retaining well-qualified and effective 
        teachers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each local educational agency 
                that receives a subgrant under this subpart shall use a 
                portion of such funds for recruiting, hiring, and 
                training fully qualified teachers, including teachers 
                fully qualified through State and local alternative 
                routes, in order to reduce class size.
                    ``(B) Special rule for special education 
                teachers.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a local 
                educational agency may use some or all of the funds 
                described in such subparagraph to hire special 
                education teachers regardless of whether such action 
                reduces class size.
                    ``(C) Waiver.--
                            ``(i) Application.--A local educational 
                        agency may seek a waiver of the requirement in 
                        subparagraph (A) from a State in order to allow 
                        the local educational agency to use such funds 
                        for purposes other than hiring teachers in 
                        order to reduce class size.
                            ``(ii) Standard for granting.--A State may 
                        not approve such a waiver unless the local 
                        educational agency is able to demonstrate 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) such funds will be used to 
                                ensure that all instructional staff 
                                have the subject matter knowledge, 
                                teaching knowledge, and teaching skills 
                                necessary to teach effectively in the 
                                content area or areas in which they 
                                provide instruction; or
                                    ``(II) an initiative to reduce 
                                class size would result in having to 
                                rely on underqualified teachers, 
                                inadequate classroom space, or would 
                                have any other negative consequence 
                                affecting the efforts of the local 
                                educational agency to improve student 
                                academic achievement.
    ``(b) Allowable Activities.--Each local educational agency that 
receives a subgrant under this subpart may use the subgrant to carry 
out the following activities:
            ``(1) Initiatives to assist recruitment of fully qualified 
        teachers who will be assigned teaching positions within their 
        field, including--
                    ``(A) providing signing bonuses or other financial 
                incentives, such as differential pay, for teachers to 
                teach in academic subject areas in which there exists a 
                shortage of such fully qualified teachers within a 
                school or the local educational agency;
                    ``(B) establishing programs that--
                            ``(i) recruit professionals from other 
                        fields and provide such professionals with 
                        alternative routes to teacher certification, 
                        especially in the areas of mathematics and 
                        science; and
                            ``(ii) provide increased opportunities for 
                        minorities, individuals with disabilities, and 
                        other individuals underrepresented in the 
                        teaching profession; and
                    ``(C) implementing hiring policies that ensure 
                comprehensive recruitment efforts as a way to expand 
                the applicant pool, such as through identifying 
                teachers certified through alternative routes, coupled 
                with a system of intensive screening designed to hire 
                the most qualified applicant.
            ``(2) Initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified 
        teachers and principals including--
                    ``(A) programs that provide mentoring to newly 
                hired teachers, such as from master teachers, and to 
                newly hired principals; or
                    ``(B) programs that provide other incentives, 
                including financial incentives, to retain teachers who 
                have a record of success in helping low-achieving 
                students improve their academic success.
            ``(3) Programs and activities that are designed to improve 
        the quality of the teacher force, such as--
                    ``(A) innovative professional development programs 
                (which may be through partnerships including 
                institutions of higher education), including programs 
                that train teachers to utilize technology to improve 
                teaching and learning, that are consistent with the 
                requirements of section 2033;
                    ``(B) development and utilization of proven, cost-
                effective strategies for the implementation of 
                professional development activities, such as through 
                the utilization of technology and distance learning;
                    ``(C) tenure reform;
                    ``(D) merit pay;
                    ``(E) testing of elementary and secondary school 
                teachers in the subject areas taught by such teachers;
                    ``(F) professional development programs that 
                provide instruction in how to teach children with 
                different learning styles, particularly children with 
                disabilities and children with special learning needs 
                (including those who are gifted and talented);
                    ``(G) professional development programs that 
                provide instruction in how best to discipline children 
                in the classroom and identify early and appropriate 
                interventions to help children described in 
                subparagraph (F) learn; and
                    ``(H) professional development programs that 
                provide instruction in how to teach character education 
                in a manner that--
                            ``(i) reflects the values of parents, 
                        teachers, and local communities; and
                            ``(ii) incorporates elements of good 
                        character, including honesty, citizenship, 
                        courage, justice, respect, personal 
                        responsibility, and trustworthiness.
            ``(4) Teacher opportunity payments, consistent with section 
        2034.
            ``(5) Professional activities designed to improve the 
        quality of principals.

``SEC. 2032. LOCAL APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--A local educational agency seeking to receive a 
subgrant from a State under this subpart shall submit an application to 
the State--
            ``(1) at such time as the State shall require; and
            ``(2) which is coordinated with other programs under this 
        Act, or other Acts, as appropriate.
    ``(b) Local Application Contents.--The local application described 
in subsection (a), shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the local educational agency 
        intends to use funds provided under this subpart, including an 
        assurance that the local educational agency will meet the 
        requirements for the use of funds for mathematics and science 
        programs, professional development, and hiring teachers to 
        reduce class size, under section 2031.
            ``(2) An assurance that the local educational agency will 
        target funds to schools within the jurisdiction of the local 
        educational agency that--
                    ``(A) have the lowest proportion of fully qualified 
                teachers;
                    ``(B) have the largest average class size; or
                    ``(C) are identified for school improvement under 
                section 1116(c).
            ``(3) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will coordinate professional development activities authorized 
        under this subpart with professional development activities 
        provided through other Federal, State, and local programs, 
        including those authorized under title I, title III, title IV, 
        part A of title VII, and (where applicable) the Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act and the Carl D. Perkins 
        Vocational and Technical Education Act.
            ``(4) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will integrate funds under this subpart with funds received 
        under title III that are used for professional development to 
        train teachers in how to use technology to improve learning and 
        teaching.
            ``(5) A description of how the local educational agency has 
        collaborated with teachers, principals, parents, and 
        administrators in the preparation of the application.
    ``(c) Parents' Right-To-Know.--A local educational agency that 
receives funds under this subpart shall provide, upon request and in an 
understandable and uniform format, to any parent of a student attending 
any school receiving funds under this subpart, information regarding 
the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers, 
including, at a minimum, the following:
            ``(1) Whether the teacher has met State qualification and 
        licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in 
        which the teacher provides instruction.
            ``(2) Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or 
        other provisional status through which State qualification or 
        licensing criteria have been waived.
            ``(3) The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any 
        other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and 
        the field or discipline of the certification or degree.

``SEC. 2033. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS.

    ``(a) Limitation Relating to Curriculum and Content Areas.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        professional development funds under this subpart may not be 
        provided for a teacher and an activity if the activity is not--
                    ``(A) directly related to the curriculum and 
                content areas in which the teacher provides 
                instruction; or
                    ``(B) designed to enhance the ability of the 
                teacher to understand and use the State's standards for 
                the subject area in which the teacher provides 
                instruction.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) does not apply to funds for 
        professional development activities that instruct in methods of 
        disciplining children.
    ``(b) Other Requirements.--Professional development activities 
funded under this subpart--
            ``(1) shall be measured, in terms of progress, using the 
        specific performance indicators established by the State in 
        accordance with section 2013(b)(3);
            ``(2) shall be tied to challenging State or local content 
        standards and student performance standards;
            ``(3) shall be tied to scientifically based research 
        demonstrating the effectiveness of such program in increasing 
        student achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge 
        and teaching skills of such teachers;
            ``(4) shall be of sufficient intensity and duration (such 
        as not to include 1-day or short-term workshops and 
        conferences) to have a positive and lasting impact on the 
        teacher's performance in the classroom, except that this 
        paragraph shall not apply to an activity if such activity is 
        one component of a long-term comprehensive professional 
        development plan established by the teacher and the teacher's 
        supervisor based upon an assessment of their needs, their 
        students' needs, and the needs of the local educational agency;
            ``(5) shall be developed with extensive participation of 
        teachers, principals, parents, and administrators of schools to 
        be served under this part and, with respect to any professional 
        development program described in subparagraphs (F) and (G) of 
        section 2031(b)(3), shall, if appropriate, be developed with 
        extensive coordination with, and participation of, 
        professionals with expertise in such types of professional 
        development; and
            ``(6) shall, to the extent appropriate, provide training 
        for teachers in the use of technology so that technology and 
        its applications are effectively used in the classroom to 
        improve teaching and learning in the curriculum and academic 
        content areas in which those teachers provide instruction.
    ``(c) Accountability.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State shall notify a local educational 
        agency that the agency is on notice of the possibility that the 
        agency may be subject to the requirement in paragraph (3) if, 
        after any fiscal year, the State determines that the programs 
        or activities funded by the agency fail to meet the 
        requirements of subsections (a) and (b).
            ``(2) Technical assistance.--A local educational agency 
        that has been put on notice pursuant to paragraph (1) may 
        request technical assistance from the State in order to provide 
        the opportunity for such local educational agency to comply 
        with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b).
            ``(3) Requirement to provide teacher opportunity 
        payments.--A local educational agency that has been put on 
        notice by the State pursuant to paragraph (1) during any 2 
        consecutive fiscal years shall expend under section 2034 for 
        the succeeding fiscal year a proportion of the amount made 
        available to the agency under this subpart equal to the 
        proportion of such amount expended by the agency on 
        professional development for the second fiscal year in which it 
        was put on notice.

``SEC. 2034. TEACHER OPPORTUNITY PAYMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--A local educational agency receiving funds under 
this subpart may (or, in the case of a local educational agency 
described in section 2033(c)(3), shall) provide funds directly to a 
teacher or a group of teachers seeking opportunities to participate in 
a professional development activity of their choice.
    ``(b) Notice to Teachers.--Local educational agencies distributing 
funds under this section shall establish and implement a timely process 
through which proper notice of availability of funds will be given to 
all teachers within schools identified by the agency and shall develop 
a process whereby teachers will be specifically recommended by 
principals to participate in such program by virtue of--
            ``(1) their not being fully qualified to teach in the 
        subject or subjects in which they teach; or
            ``(2) their need for additional assistance to ensure that 
        their students make progress toward meeting challenging State 
        content standards and student performance standards.
    ``(c) Selection of Teachers.--In the event adequate funding is not 
available to provide payments under this section to all teachers 
seeking such assistance, or identified as needing such assistance 
pursuant to subsection (b), a local educational agency shall establish 
procedures for selecting teachers which provide a priority for those 
teachers described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b).
    ``(d) Eligible Program.--Teachers receiving a payment under this 
section shall have the choice of attending any professional development 
program that meets the criteria set forth in subsection (a) or (b) of 
section 2033.

                    ``Subpart 4--National Activities

``SEC. 2041. ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO TEACHING.

    ``(a) Teacher Excellence Academies.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants on a 
        competitive basis to eligible consortia to carry out activities 
        described in this subsection.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible consortium receiving 
                funds under this subsection shall use the funds to pay 
                the costs associated with the establishment or 
                expansion of a teacher academy in an elementary or 
                secondary school facility that carries out the 
                activities promoting alternative routes to State 
                teacher certification specified in subparagraph (B), 
                the model professional development activities specified 
                in subparagraph (C), or all such activities.
                    ``(B) Promoting alternative routes to teacher 
                certification.--The activities promoting alternative 
                routes to State teacher certification specified in this 
                subparagraph are the design and implementation of a 
                course of study and activities providing an alternative 
                route to State teacher certification that--
                            ``(i) provide opportunities to highly 
                        qualified individuals with a baccalaureate 
                        degree, including mid-career professionals from 
                        other occupations, paraprofessionals, former 
                        military personnel, and recent college or 
                        university graduates with records of academic 
                        distinction;
                            ``(ii) provide stipends, for not more than 
                        2 years, to permit individuals described in 
                        clause (i) to participate as student teachers 
                        able to fill teaching needs in academic 
                        subjects in which there is a demonstrated 
                        shortage of teachers;
                            ``(iii) provide for the recruitment and 
                        hiring of master teachers to mentor and train 
                        student teachers within such academies; and
                            ``(iv) include a reasonable service 
                        requirement for individuals completing the 
                        alternative certification program established 
                        by the consortium.
                    ``(C) Model professional development.--The model 
                professional development activities specified in this 
                subparagraph are activities providing ongoing 
                professional development opportunities for teachers, 
                such as--
                            ``(i) innovative programs and model 
                        curricula in the area of professional 
                        development which may serve as models to be 
                        disseminated to other schools and local 
                        educational agencies; and
                            ``(ii) developing innovative techniques for 
                        evaluating the effectiveness of professional 
                        development programs.
            ``(3) Priority.--The Secretary shall award not less than 
        one grant to a consortium that--
                    ``(A) includes a high-need local educational agency 
                located in a rural area; and
                    ``(B) proposes the extensive use of distance 
                learning in order to provide the applicable course work 
                to student teachers.
            ``(4) Special rule.--No single participant in an eligible 
        consortium may retain more than 50 percent of the funds made 
        available to the consortium under this subsection.
            ``(5) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an eligible consortium shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
        require.
            ``(6) Eligible consortium.--In this subsection, the term 
        `eligible consortium' means a consortium for a State that--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) the State agency responsible for 
                        certifying teachers;
                            ``(ii) not less than one high-need local 
                        educational agency;
                            ``(iii) a school of arts and sciences; and
                            ``(iv) an institution that prepares 
                        teachers; and
                    ``(B) may include local educational agencies, 
                public charter schools, public or private elementary or 
                secondary schools, educational service agencies, public 
                or private nonprofit educational organizations, 
                museums, or businesses.
    ``(b) Continuation of Troops-to-Teachers Program.--
            ``(1) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subsection to 
        authorize the continuation after September 30, 2000, of the 
        teachers and teachers' aide placement program known as the 
        `troops-to-teachers program', which was established by the 
        Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation with 
        respect to the Coast Guard, under section 1151 of title 10, 
        United States Code.
            ``(2) Transfer of funds to continue program.--Subject to 
        the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary of Education 
        may provide a transfer of funds to the Defense Activity for 
        Non-Traditional Education Support of the Department of Defense 
        to permit the Defense Activity to carry out the troops-to-
        teachers program under section 1151 of title 10, United States 
        Code, notwithstanding the termination date specified in 
        subsection (c)(1)(A) of such section.
            ``(3) Defense and coast guard contribution.--The Secretary 
        of Education may not make a transfer of funds under paragraph 
        (2) unless the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of 
        Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, agree to cover 
        not less than 25 percent of the costs associated with the 
        activities conducted under the troops-to-teachers program. The 
        contributions may be in the form of in-kind contributions or 
        cash expenditures, which may include the use of private 
        contributions made for purposes of the program.

``SEC. 2042. EISENHOWER NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MATHEMATICS AND 
              SCIENCE EDUCATION.

    ``The Secretary may award a grant or contract, in consultation with 
the Director of the National Science Foundation, to continue the 
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science 
Education.

``SEC. 2043. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PRINCIPALS AS LEADERS OF 
              SCHOOL REFORM.

    ``(a) Competitive Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants on a 
competitive basis to eligible partnerships--
            ``(1) consisting of--
                    ``(A) one or more institutions of higher education 
                that provide professional development for principals 
                and other school administrators; and
                    ``(B) one or more local educational agencies; and
            ``(2) that may include other entities, agencies, or 
        organizations, such as a State educational agency, a State 
        agency for higher education, educational service agencies, or 
        professional organizations of principals and teachers.
    ``(b) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any eligible partnership that desires to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each such application shall include a 
        description of--
                    ``(A) the activities the partnership will carry out 
                to achieve the purpose of this section;
                    ``(B) how those activities will build on, and be 
                coordinated with, other professional development 
                programs and activities, including activities under 
                title I of this Act and title II of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965; and
                    ``(C) how principals, teachers, and other 
                interested individuals were involved in developing the 
                application and will be involved in planning and 
                carrying out activities under this section.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant 
under this section shall use the grant funds to provide professional 
development to principals and other school administrators to enable 
them to be effective school leaders and prepare all students to achieve 
to challenging State content and student performance standards, 
including professional development relating to--
            ``(1) leadership skills;
            ``(2) recruitment, assignment, retention, and evaluation of 
        teachers and other staff;
            ``(3) effective instructional practices, including the use 
        of technology;
            ``(4) using smaller classes effectively; and
            ``(5) parental and community involvement.

``SEC. 2044. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR TEACHER ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

    ``The Secretary may award a grant or contract to an organization or 
institution with substantial experience in entrepreneurship education 
to establish and operate a National Clearinghouse for Teacher 
Entrepreneurship to coordinate professional development opportunities 
for teachers, collect and disseminate curricular materials, and 
undertake other activities to encourage teacher interest and 
involvement in entrepreneurship education, particularly for teachers of 
grades 7 through 12.

``SEC. 2045. RURAL TEACHERS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants on a competitive 
basis to rural eligible local educational agencies to carry out 
activities described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--A rural eligible local educational agency that 
receives a grant under this section may use such funds to develop 
incentive programs--
            ``(1) to recruit and retain qualified teachers; and
            ``(2) to provide high-quality professional development to 
        teachers.
    ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a rural eligible local educational agency shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Metropolitan statistical area.--The term 
        `metropolitan statistical area' has the meaning given such term 
        by the Bureau of the Census.
            ``(2) Rural eligible local educational agency.--The term 
        `rural eligible local educational agency' means a local 
        educational agency--
                    ``(A) that is not located in a metropolitan 
                statistical area; and
                    ``(B) in which there is a high percentage of 
                individuals from families with incomes below the 
                poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management 
                and Budget and revised annually in accordance with 
                section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))).

``SEC. 2046. TRANSITION TO TEACHING.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to address the need 
of high-need local educational agencies for highly qualified teachers 
in particular subject areas, such as mathematics, science, foreign 
languages, bilingual education, and special education, needed by those 
agencies, following the model of the successful teachers placement 
program known as the `Troops-to-Teachers program', by recruiting, 
preparing, placing, and supporting career-changing professionals who 
have knowledge and experience that will help them become such teachers.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to use funds 
        appropriated under paragraph (2) for each fiscal year to award 
        grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to institutions of 
        higher education and public and private nonprofit agencies or 
        organizations to carry out programs authorized by this section.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of 
        carrying out this section, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as 
        may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2004.
    ``(c) Application.--Each applicant that desires an award under 
subsection (b)(1) shall submit an application to the Secretary 
containing such information as the Secretary requires, including--
            ``(1) a description of the target group of career-changing 
        professionals upon which the applicant will focus its 
        recruitment efforts in carrying out its program under this 
        section, including a description of the characteristics of that 
        target group that shows how the knowledge and experience of its 
        members are relevant to meeting the purpose of this section;
            ``(2) a description of the training that program 
        participants will receive and how that training will relate to 
        their certification as teachers;
            ``(3) a description of how the applicant will collaborate, 
        as needed, with other institutions, agencies, or organizations 
        to recruit, train, place, support, and provide teacher 
        induction programs to program participants under this section, 
        including evidence of the commitment of those institutions, 
        agencies, or organizations to the applicant's program;
            ``(4) a description of how the applicant will evaluate the 
        progress and effectiveness of its program, including--
                    ``(A) the program's goals and objectives;
                    ``(B) the performance indicators the applicant will 
                use to measure the program's progress; and
                    ``(C) the outcome measures that will be used to 
                determine the program's effectiveness; and
            ``(5) such other information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds and Period of Service.--
            ``(1) Authorized activities.--Funds under this section may 
        be used for--
                    ``(A) recruiting program participants, including 
                informing them of opportunities under the program and 
                putting them in contact with other institutions, 
                agencies, or organizations that would train, place, and 
                support them;
                    ``(B) training stipends and other financial 
                incentives for program participants, not to exceed 
                $5,000 per participant;
                    ``(C) assisting institutions of higher education or 
                other providers of teacher training to tailor their 
                training to meet the particular needs of professionals 
                who are changing their careers to teaching;
                    ``(D) placement activities, including identifying 
                high-need local educational agencies with a need for 
                the particular skills and characteristics of the newly 
                trained program participants and assisting those 
                participants to obtain employment in those local 
                educational agencies; and
                    ``(E) post-placement induction or support 
                activities for program participants.
            ``(2) Period of service.--A program participant in a 
        program under this section who completes his or her training 
        shall serve in a high-need local educational agency for at 
        least 3 years.
            ``(3) Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish such 
        requirements as the Secretary determines appropriate to ensure 
        that program participants who receive a training stipend or 
        other financial incentive under paragraph (1)(B), but fail to 
        complete their service obligation under paragraph (2), repay 
        all or a portion of such stipend or other incentive.
    ``(e) Equitable Distribution.--To the extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall make awards under this section that support programs in 
different geographic regions of the Nation.
    ``(f) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            ``(1) The term `high-need local educational agency' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 2061.
            ``(2) The term `program participants' means career-changing 
        professionals who--
                    ``(A) hold at least a baccalaureate degree;
                    ``(B) demonstrate interest in, and commitment to, 
                becoming a teacher; and
                    ``(C) have knowledge and experience that are 
                relevant to teaching a high-need subject area in a 
                high-need local educational agency.

                          ``Subpart 5--Funding

``SEC. 2051. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Fiscal Year 2000.--For the purpose of carrying out this part 
(other than section 2043), there are authorized to be appropriated 
$2,019,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, of which $15,000,000 are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 4 (other than 
section 2043).
    ``(b) Other Fiscal Years.--For the purpose of carrying out this 
part (other than section 2043), there are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2001 through 2004.

                    ``Subpart 6--General Provisions

``SEC. 2061. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this part--
            ``(1) Arts and sciences.--The term `arts and sciences' 
        means--
                    ``(A) when referring to an organizational unit of 
                an institution of higher education, any academic unit 
                that offers one or more academic majors in disciplines 
                or content areas corresponding to the academic subject 
                matter areas in which teachers provide instruction; and
                    ``(B) when referring to a specific academic subject 
                matter area, the disciplines or content areas in which 
                academic majors are offered by the arts and sciences 
                organizational unit.
            ``(2) Fully qualified.--The term `fully qualified'--
                    ``(A) when used with respect to a public elementary 
                or secondary school teacher (other than a teacher 
                teaching in a public charter school), means that the 
                teacher has obtained State certification as a teacher 
                (including certification obtained through alternative 
                routes to certification) or passed the State teacher 
                licensing exam and holds a license to teach in such 
                State; and
                    ``(B) when used with respect to --
                            ``(i) an elementary school teacher, means 
                        that the teacher holds a bachelor's degree and 
                        demonstrates knowledge and teaching skills in 
                        reading, writing, mathematics, science, and 
                        other areas of the elementary school 
                        curriculum; or
                            ``(ii) a middle or secondary school 
                        teacher, means that the teacher holds a 
                        bachelor's degree and demonstrates a high level 
                        of competency in all subject areas in which he 
                        or she teaches through--
                                    ``(I) a high level of performance 
                                on a rigorous State or local academic 
                                subject areas test; or
                                    ``(II) completion of an academic 
                                major in each of the subject areas in 
                                which he or she provides instruction.
            ``(3) Beginning teacher.--The term `beginning teacher' 
        means an educator in a public school who has not yet been 
        teaching 3 full school years.
            ``(4) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
        need local educational agency' means a local educational agency 
        that serves an elementary school or secondary school located in 
        an area in which there is--
                    ``(A) a high percentage of individuals from 
                families with incomes below the poverty line (as 
                defined by the Office of Management and Budget and 
                revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of 
                the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
                9902(2)));
                    ``(B) a high percentage of secondary school 
                teachers not teaching in the content area in which the 
                teachers were trained to teach; or
                    ``(C) a high teacher turnover rate.
            ``(5) Mentoring program.--The term `mentoring program' 
        means to provide professional support and development, 
        instruction, and guidance to beginning teachers, but does not 
        include a teacher or individual who begins to work in a 
        supervisory position.
            ``(6) Publicly report.--The term `publicly report', when 
        used with respect to the dissemination of information, means 
        that the information is made widely available to the public, 
        including parents and students, through such means as the 
        Internet and major print and broadcast media outlets.
            ``(7) Scientifically based research.--The term 
        `scientifically based research'--
                    ``(A) means the application of rigorous, 
                systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid 
                knowledge relevant to professional development of 
                teachers; and
                    ``(B) shall include research that--
                            ``(i) employs systematic, empirical methods 
                        that draw on observation or experiment;
                            ``(ii) involves rigorous data analyses that 
                        are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and 
                        justify the general conclusions drawn;
                            ``(iii) relies on measurements or 
                        observational methods that provide valid data 
                        across evaluators and observers and across 
                        multiple measurements and observations; and
                            ``(iv) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed 
                        journal or approved by a panel of independent 
                        experts through a comparably rigorous, 
                        objective, and scientific review.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) National writing project.--Section 10992(i) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8332(i)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the grant to the National Writing Project, such sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004 to carry 
out the provisions of this section.''.
            (2) Reference to national clearinghouse for mathematics and 
        science education.--Section 13302(1) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8672(1)) is amended 
        by striking ``2102(b)'' and inserting ``2042''.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO READING EXCELLENCE ACT.

    (a) Repeal of Part B.--Part B of title II of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6641-6651) is repealed.
    (b) Reading Excellence Act.--
            (1) Part heading.--Part C of title II of such Act is 
        redesignated as part B and the heading for such part B is 
        amended to read as follows:

                  ``PART B--READING EXCELLENCE ACT''.

            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 2260(a) of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6661i(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Fiscal years 2001 to 2004.--There are authorized to 
        be appropriated to carry out this part $260,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 
        2002 through 2004.''.

SEC. 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by repealing part D;
            (2) by redesignating part E as part C; and
            (3) by striking sections 2401 and 2402 and inserting the 
        following:

``SEC. 2401. PROHIBITION ON MANDATORY NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF 
              TEACHERS.

    ``(a) Prohibition on Mandatory Testing or Certification.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is prohibited 
from using Federal funds to plan, develop, implement, or administer any 
mandatory national teacher test or certification.
    ``(b) Prohibition on Withholding Funds.--The Secretary is 
prohibited from withholding funds from any State or local educational 
agency if such State or local educational agency fails to adopt a 
specific method of teacher certification.

``SEC. 2402. PROVISIONS RELATED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

    ``The provisions of sections 14503 through 14506 apply to programs 
under this title.

``SEC. 2403. HOME SCHOOLS.

    ``Nothing in this title shall be construed to permit, allow, 
encourage, or authorize any Federal control over any aspect of any 
private, religious, or home school, whether or not a home school is 
treated as a private school or home school under State law. This 
section shall not be construed to bar private, religious, or home 
schools from participation in programs or services under this title.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Definition of covered program.--Section 14101(10)(C) of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8801(10)(C)) is amended by striking ``(other than section 2103 
        and part D)''.
            (2) Private school participation.--Section 14503(b)(1)(B) 
        (20 U.S.C. 8893(b)(1)(B)) of such Act is amended by striking 
        ``(other than section 2103 and part D of such title)''.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that high quality teachers are an 
important part of the development of our children and it is essential 
that Congress work to ensure that the teachers who instruct our 
children are of the highest quality possible.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.