[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 341 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 341

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize school construction funds for local educational agencies that 
   have made improvements in teacher quality and student achievement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2001

   Mr. Ford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize school construction funds for local educational agencies that 
   have made improvements in teacher quality and student achievement.

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

SECTION 1. SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL EDUCATIONAL 
              AGENCIES.

    Title XII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after the title heading the following:

           ``PART A--EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE ACT OF 1994'';

            (2) by striking ``title'' each place such term appears and 
        inserting ``part''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

``PART B--SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FOR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT 
   HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN TEACHER QUALITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

``SEC. 12020. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of the part is to award grants for school 
construction to local educational agencies that have taken steps to 
improve teacher quality and raise student achievement.

``SEC. 12021. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``The Secretary is authorized to award grants to local educational 
agencies that satisfy the conditions in section 12022 to enable such 
agencies to carry out school construction.

``SEC. 12022. CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to receive a grant under this part, a 
local educational agency shall have submitted to the Secretary (at such 
time and in such manner as the Secretary may require) an application 
establishing the following:
            ``(1) The percentage of children eligible for free and 
        reduced priced lunches under the National School Lunch Act 
        under the jurisdiction of the agency equals or exceeds 65 
        percent.
            ``(2) It has taken significant steps to ensure that all 
        students are taught by fully qualified teachers.
            ``(3) It does not use teachers certified on an emergency 
        basis.
            ``(4) It does not use social promotion.
            ``(5) All students in grades kindergarten through grade 12 
        under its jurisdiction are subject to State achievement 
        standards in the core curriculum at key transition points, as 
        determined by the State.
            ``(6) It uses tests and other indicators, such as grades 
        and teacher evaluations, to assess student performance in 
        meeting the State achievement standards, which tests are valid 
        for the purpose of such assessment.
    ``(b) Plan.--In order to receive a grant under this part, a local 
educational agency shall include in the application submitted under 
subsection (a)--
            ``(1) a plan for ensuring that all students are taught by 
        fully qualified teachers; and
            ``(2) an assurance that the agency will provide annual 
        reports to the Secretary quantifying progress toward achieving 
        that end.

``SEC. 12023. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this part:
            ``(1) Construction.--The term `construction' means--
                    ``(A) preparation of drawings and specifications 
                for school facilities;
                    ``(B) building new school facilities, or acquiring, 
                remodeling, demolishing, renovating, improving, or 
                repairing facilities; or
                    ``(C) inspection of work described in subparagraph 
                (B).
            ``(2) Fully qualified teacher.--The term `fully qualified 
        teacher' means--
                    ``(A) when used with respect to a public elementary 
                or secondary school teacher means that the teacher 
                holds a valid State teaching certificate or license for 
                the grade level at which he or she provides 
                instruction; and
                    ``(B) when used with respect to--
                            ``(i) an elementary school teacher, means 
                        that the teacher holds at least a bachelor's 
                        degree and has demonstrated the knowledge and 
                        teaching skills needed to teach effectively in 
                        the areas of 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 at least 
                        a bachelors degree and has demonstrated 
                        proficiency in all subject areas in which he or 
                        she provides instruction through--
                                    ``(I) a high level of performance 
                                on a rigorous and formal State 
                                assessment of content area knowledge; 
                                or
                                    ``(II) completion of at least an 
                                undergraduate major in each of the 
                                academic subject areas in which he or 
                                she provides instruction.
            ``(3) School facility.--The term `school facility' means a 
        public structure suitable for use as a classroom, laboratory, 
        library, media center, or related facility the primary purpose 
        of which is the instruction of public elementary school or 
        secondary school students.

``SEC. 12024. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.
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