[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1772 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1772

 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to foster 
  family and school partnerships for promoting children's educational 
  achievement through strengthening family involvement and providing 
   professional development to school staff, and to amend the Higher 
   Education Act of 1965 to provide for parenting education programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 22, 1999

  Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to foster 
  family and school partnerships for promoting children's educational 
  achievement through strengthening family involvement and providing 
   professional development to school staff, and to amend the Higher 
   Education Act of 1965 to provide for parenting education programs.

    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 ``Family and School Partnership Act of 
1999''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To improve student achievement by--
                    (A) encouraging more meaningful partnerships 
                between families and school staff;
                    (B) improving professional development with respect 
                to family involvement; and
                    (C) improving communciation between families and 
                school staff through the use of technology and other 
                means.
            (2) To promote the establishment of parent education 
        programs in communities through community and technical 
        colleges and other agencies and organizations.

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

               TITLE I--STRENGTHENING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

SEC. 101. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) When families are involved in their children's learning 
        at school, not just at home, children do better in school, stay 
        in school longer, and go to better schools.
            (2) Family involvement is associated with higher school 
        performance regardless of family income, grade level, or type 
        of neighborhood.
            (3) Family involvement is more important than family 
        education level or income in determining student success.
            (4) The more comprehensive, well-planned, and long-lasting 
        the family and school relationship, the higher the student 
        achievement.
            (5) Family and school partnerships tend to decline across 
        the upper grades.
            (6) Congress has adopted as the eighth National Education 
        Goal that ``every school will promote partnerships that will 
        increase parental involvement and participation in promoting 
        the social, emotional, and academic growth of children''.

SEC. 102. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE I OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    (a) Schoolwide Programs.--Section 1114(b)(1)(E) (20 U.S.C. 
6314(b)(1)(E)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``parental involvement'' and inserting 
        ``family involvement described in section 1118''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, in-school volunteer opportunities, or 
        family membership on school-based leadership or management 
        teams'' after ``literacy services''.
    (b) Targeted Assistance Schools.--Section 1115(c)(1)(H) (20 U.S.C. 
6315(c)(1)(H)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``parental involvement'' and inserting 
        ``family involvement described in section 1118''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, in-school volunteer opportunities, or 
        family membership on school-based leadership or management 
        teams'' after ``literacy services''.
    (c) School Improvement.--Section 1116(c)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6317(c)(4)) 
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) Technical assistance.--For each school identified 
        under paragraph (1), the local educational agency shall provide 
        technical or other assistance as the school develops and 
        implements the school's plan or revised plan, such as--
                    ``(A) a joint plan between the local educational 
                agency and school that--
                            ``(i) addresses specific elements of 
                        student performance problems;
                            ``(ii) addresses specific elements of 
                        school problems, if any, in implementing family 
                        involvement requirements described in section 
                        1118; and
                            ``(iii) specifies school and local 
                        educational agency responsibilities under the 
                        plan; and
                    ``(B) waivers or modifications of requirements of 
                local educational agency policy or regulation that 
                impede the ability of the school to educate 
                students.''.
    (d) State Assistance.--Section 1117 (20 U.S.C. 6318) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``programs and'' and inserting 
                ``programs,''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and family involvement 
                programs,'' after ``program improvement,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``parents,'' after 
                                ``including''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``family 
                                involvement programs,'' after 
                                ``successful''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E)(i), by inserting 
                        ``, and in meeting the requirements for family 
                        involvement described in section 1118'' after 
                        ``part''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) family involvement in their 
                        children's education at school and at home, and 
                        effective family and school communication, has 
                        been achieved or significantly improved.''.
    (e) Parental Involvement.--Section 1118 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is 
amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``parental'' and 
        inserting ``family'';
            (2)(A) by striking ``parental'' each place the term appears 
        (other than in subsection (g)) and inserting ``family''; and
            (B) by striking ``Parental'' each place the term appears 
        and inserting ``Family'';
            (3) by striking ``parent'' each place the term appears 
        (other than in subsection (g)) and inserting ``family'';
            (4)(A) by striking ``parents'' each place the term appears 
        (other than in subsection (g)) and inserting ``families''; and
            (B) by striking ``Parents'' each place the term appears 
        (other than in subsections (a)(2)(D) and (e)(4)) and inserting 
        ``Family'';
            (5) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``periodically'' and inserting ``at 
                least annually''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and shall be made available to 
                the local community through a published school report 
                card or by other appropriate means'' after ``and the 
                school'';
            (6) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) may create roles for families on school-based 
        leadership or management teams.''; and
            (7) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Family Involvement Activities.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be 
        necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
            ``(2) Allocation.--Each local educational agency receiving 
        a grant pursuant to subpart 2 for a fiscal year shall receive 
        an allocation under this subsection that bears the same 
        relation to the funds appropriated under paragraph (1) for the 
        fiscal year as the amount the local educational agency received 
        under such subpart bears to the amount all local educational 
        agencies received under such subpart for the fiscal year.
            ``(3) Uses.--Funds allocated under paragraph (2) shall be 
        used for--
                    ``(A) the payment of school staff time, or for 
                technical assistance, regarding the development or 
                implementation programs to increase meaningful family 
                involvement in their children's education in school and 
                at home, and to increase family and school 
                communication;
                    ``(B) staffing the programs;
                    ``(C) outreach efforts to and transportation for 
                the most difficult to involve families; and
                    ``(D) appropriate other materials and resources for 
                the programs.''.
    (f) Demonstrations of Innovative Practices.--Section 1502(a)(1) (20 
U.S.C. 6492(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) programs that are especially effective in 
                enhancing families' involvement in their children's 
                education in school and at home, and in increasing 
                family and school communication.''.
    (g) Information.--Part F of title I (20 U.S.C. 6511 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 1605. INFORMATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall identify, collect, and 
disseminate information regarding the following:
            ``(1) Quality research on family involvement as family 
        involvement relates to student achievement, school improvement, 
        and family success.
            ``(2) Effective family involvement practices and model 
        programs.
            ``(3) Opportunities for families, schools, and communities 
        to receive technical assistance in implementing such practices 
        and programs.
    ``(b) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate such 
information--
            ``(1) through the Parental Information and Resource Centers 
        under section 1118(g) to families, community organizations, 
        schools, and local educational agencies; and
            ``(2) directly using various media, including print and the 
        Internet.''.

SEC. 102. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE IV OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    (a) State Applications.--Section 4112(a) (20 U.S.C. 7112(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) describes strategies for enhancing families' 
        involvement in the activities assisted under this subpart and 
        in their children's education in school and at home, and for 
        increasing family and school communication about such 
        activities and education;
            ``(6) contains a description of the special outreach 
        activities that will be carried out to maximize the 
        participation of families in school and at home in carrying out 
        the activities assisted under this subpart; and''.
    (b) Local Applications.--Section 4115(b) (20 U.S.C. 7115(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) a description of how the local educational agency 
        will enhance families' involvement in the activities assisted 
        under this subpart in their children's education in school and 
        at home, and how the agency will increase family and school 
        communication about such activities and education;
            ``(4) a description of the special outreach activities that 
        will be carried out to maximize the participation of families 
        in school and at home in carrying out the activities assisted 
        under this subpart; and''.
    (c) Local Drug and Violence Prevention Programs.--Section 
4116(a)(2) (20 U.S.C. 7116(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``parents'' 
and inserting ``families''.

SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE VI OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    (a) Purpose.--Section 6001(b) (20 U.S.C. 7301(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) to support efforts to forge family and school 
        partnerships that make use of families as a resource for, and 
        give family members a leadership role in, educational reform 
        programs.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 6003 (20 U.S.C. 7303) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
                    ``(F) Strong family involvement in their children's 
                education in school and at home, and effective family 
                and school communication.''.
    (c) Targeted Use of Funds.--Section 6301(b) (20 U.S.C. 7351(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) family involvement programs or activities such as 
        those described in section 1118.''.

          TITLE II--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL STAFF

SEC. 201. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Parents are much more likely to become involved in the 
        education of their children when teachers encourage parents to 
        help, and assist parents in helping, their children with 
        schoolwork.
            (2) Parental attendance at parent-teacher conferences may 
        significantly influence children's academic performances. 
        Children become higher achievers when their families are 
        consistently informed about the children's progress.
            (3) Pre-service teacher education programs lag behind 
        school efforts in promoting family involvement because the 
        programs do not adequately prepare teachers to involve parents, 
        and most States' certification requirements do not mention 
        family involvement.
            (4) Teachers ranked strengthening families' roles in their 
        children's learning as the issue that should receive the 
        highest priority in public education.
            (5) Teachers feel that the teachers need more instruction 
        in working with families. Principals say that a lack of staff 
        training with respect to partnering with families is a major 
        reason for low parent involvement.
            (6) Teacher education in strengthening family involvement 
        is potentially one of the most effective methods of reducing 
        the barriers to strong partnerships between families and 
        schools.

SEC. 202. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1119 OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    Section 1119(b)(1) (20 U.S.C. 6301(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); 
        and
            (3) inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
                    ``(E) include instruction for teachers, principals, 
                pupil services personnel, and school administrators in 
                effective practices for communicating with families, 
                working with families, and increasing families' 
                involvement in their children's education in school and 
                at home; and''.

SEC. 203. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE II OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 2002(2) (20 U.S.C. 6602(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``parents'' and inserting ``families'';
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
                    ``(E) incorporates effective strategies, 
                techniques, methods, and practices for increasing 
                families' involvement in their children's education in 
                school and at home;
                    ``(F) includes specific training of teachers, and, 
                where appropriate, other staff and administrators, to 
                communicate and work with families;''.
    (b) Authorized Activities.--Section 2102(c) (20 U.S.C. 6622(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period, and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(15) developing and disseminating models for high-quality 
        professional development activities that train educators and 
        other school staff in strategies, techniques, methods, and 
        practices for--
                    ``(A) working with families; and
                    ``(B) encouraging families' involvement in their 
                children's education in school and at home.''.
    (c) National Teacher Training Project.--Section 2103(b)(1)(A) (20 
U.S.C. 6623(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, working with and 
involving families in the education of their children,'' after 
``development''.
    (d) State Applications.--Section 2205(b)(2) (20 U.S.C. 6645(b)(2)) 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as subparagraph (P); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the following:
                    ``(O) describe how the State will prepare teachers, 
                administrators, and, where appropriate, pupil services 
                personnel, paraprofessionals and other staff, to work 
                collaboratively with families and to encourage their 
                involvement in their children's education at home and 
                in school; and''.
    (e) State-Level Activities.--Section 2207 (20 U.S.C. 6647) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs 
        (13) and (14), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
            ``(12) providing professional development programs that 
        train teachers, and, where appropriate, pupil services 
        personnel and other school staff, to communicate effectively 
        with families, and to involve families in their children's 
        education in school and at home;''.
    (f) Local Allocation of Funds and Allowable Activities.--Section 
2210(b)(3)(O) (20 U.S.C. 6650(b)(3)(O)) is amended by striking the 
semicolon and inserting ``, and to train teachers to communicate with 
families regarding standards, curricula, student assignments, and 
assessments;''.

    TITLE III--STRENGTHENING HOME AND SCHOOL COMMUNICATION THROUGH 
                               TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 301. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE III.

    (a) Statement of Purpose.--Section 3112 (20 U.S.C. 6812) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
        a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) development of and support for technology that will 
        enhance and facilitate families' involvement in their 
        children's education at school and at home, and increase family 
        and school communication about standards, curriculum, student 
        assignments, and assessments; and
            ``(14) provision of professional development for teachers, 
        administrators, and where appropriate, pupil services 
        personnel, paraprofessionals, and other staff, to prepare them 
        to use technology to facilitate and enhance family involvement 
        and increase family and school communication.''.
    (b) National Long-Range Technology Plan.--Section 3121(c)(4)(F) (20 
U.S.C. 6831) is amended by inserting ``for instructional purposes, and 
for facilitating and enhancing family involvement and increasing family 
and school communication'' after ``technologies''.
    (c) Federal Leadership.--Section 3122(c) (20 U.S.C. 6832(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (10), (11), (12), (13), 
        (14), (15), and (16) as paragraphs (11), (12), (13), (14), 
        (15), (16), and (17), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) the development, demonstration, dissemination, and 
        evaluation of model strategies for preparing teachers and other 
        personnel to use technology effectively to facilitate and 
        enhance family involvement and increase family and school 
        communication;''.
    (d) Local Uses of Funds.--Section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
        a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) acquiring, developing, adopting, or expanding 
        existing and new applications of technology, such as voice mail 
        or the Internet, to facilitate and enhance family involvement 
        and increase family and school communication about standards, 
        curriculum, student assignments, and assessments; and
            ``(8) providing ongoing professional development in the use 
        of technology to facilitate and enhance family involvement and 
        increase family and school communication.''.
    (e) Local Applications.--Section 3135 (20 U.S.C. 6845) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(D)(i), by inserting ``, and to further 
        the use of technology to facilitate and enhance family 
        involvement and increase family and school communication'' 
        after ``center''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (B) by adding after subparagraph (B) the following:
                    ``(C) facilitate and enhance family involvement in 
                schools and increase family and school communication; 
                and''.
    (f) National Challenge Grants for Technology in Education.--Section 
3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 6846(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, and to facilitate 
        and enhance family involvement and increase family and school 
        communication'' after ``center'';
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) the project will directly facilitate and enhance 
        family involvement and increase family and school 
        communications.''.
    (g) Regional Technical Support and Professional Development.--
Section 3141(b)(2)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 6861(b)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subclauses (IV) and (V) as subclauses 
        (V) and (VI), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subclause (III) the following:
                                    ``(IV) methods for the successful 
                                use of technology to facilitate and 
                                enhance family involvement and increase 
                                family and school communication about 
                                standards, curriculum, student 
                                assignments, and assessments;''.

                  TITLE IV--PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SECTION 401. PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part D (20 U.S.C. 1066 et seq.) as 
        part E; and
            (2) by inserting after part C (20 U.S.C. 1065 et seq.) the 
        following:

                 ``PART D--Parenting Education Programs

``SEC. 341. PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated under 
        subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award 
        grants to community colleges to enable the community colleges 
        to carry out parenting education programs.
            ``(2) Amount.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
        this section in the amount of $100,000.
            ``(3) Duration.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
        this subpart for a period of 2 years.
            ``(4) Supplement not supplant.--Grant funds provided under 
        this subpart shall be used to supplement and not supplant other 
        Federal, State, and local public funds expended for parenting 
        education activities.
    ``(b) Authorized Activities.--
            ``(1) Parent educators.--Each community college receiving a 
        grant under this section shall use the grant funds to pay a 
        faculty member at the community college to administer a 
        parenting education program for the community college.
            ``(2) Parenting education programs.--Each community college 
        receiving a grant under this section shall use the funds to 
        carry out a parenting education program that provides parenting 
        education information through courses taught by an individual 
        who meets the State requirements for part-time faculty at the 
        community college. The program may--
                    ``(A) involve a child laboratory component under 
                which the children of parents attending the courses 
                engage in cooperative child care activities that are 
                coordinated with the courses;
                    ``(B) provide parenting education information in 
                the workplace or in the community served by the 
                community college; or
                    ``(C) involve a contract with a community-based 
                organization to provide parenting education information 
                to the community served by the community college.
            ``(3) Existing parenting education programs.--If a 
        community college has a faculty member administering a 
        parenting education program on the date of enactment of this 
        section, then the community college may use the grant funds 
        provided under this section for supplementary activities, 
        including the costs of travel and printing, with respect to the 
        parenting education program.
    ``(c) Application.--Each community college desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
may require. Each such application shall--
            ``(1) contain an assessment of the need for parenting 
        education in the community served by the community college 
        that--
                    ``(A) includes an analysis of parenting education 
                information available from resources in the community; 
                and
                    ``(B) is signed by a representative of a community-
                based organization or another organization that offers 
                parenting education information in the community, 
                including at least a representative of--
                            ``(i) a program assisted under part B of 
                        title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (Even Start);
                            ``(ii) a program assisted under the Head 
                        Start Act; or
                            ``(iii) the child care providers in the 
                        community;
            ``(2) contain a plan for the provision of activities under 
        this section that includes--
                    ``(A) a budget for the expenditure of the grant 
                funds; and
                    ``(B) a year-end report regarding the expenditure; 
                and
            ``(3) describe the steps the community college will take to 
        coordinate activities assisted under this section with the 
        activities of other providers of parenting education activities 
        in the community in order to improve parenting education in the 
        community.
    ``(d) Applicability.--The provisions of part E shall not apply to 
this section.
    ``(e) Definition of Community College.--For the purpose of this 
section the term `community college' means a junior or community 
college as defined in section 312(e).
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $111,300,000 for fiscal year 
2001 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
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