[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3502 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3502

    To modernize the education system of the United States, to arm 
individuals with 21st century knowledge and skills in order to preserve 
the economic and national security of the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2006

 Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Kerry) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To modernize the education system of the United States, to arm 
individuals with 21st century knowledge and skills in order to preserve 
the economic and national security of the United States, 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 ``New National Defense Education Act 
of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Throughout our Nation's history, the skills and 
        education of our workforce have been a major determinant of the 
        standard of living of the people of the United States.
            (2) Spurred into action by the launch of Sputnik, Congress 
        passed the National Defense Education Act of 1958 (Public Law 
        85-864, 72 Stat. 1580). The law, now nearly 50 years old, 
        declared a national ``educational emergency'', and Federal 
        expenditures for education more than doubled in the 4 years 
        after its passage. The programs authorized under the Act helped 
        the United States to improve rapidly in mathematics, science, 
        engineering, technology, and foreign languages and led to our 
        dominance in the arms race and the global economy.
            (3) Today, our Nation once again faces an international 
        challenge in education: we must confront a shortage of highly 
        skilled and educated workers, especially in mathematics, 
        science, engineering, technology, and critical-need foreign 
        languages. As a percentage of total first university degrees 
        granted, the United States produced fewer graduates in 
        mathematics, science, and engineering in 2002 than the Nation 
        did in 1985. Currently, the United States Government requires 
        34,000 employees with foreign language skills in 100 languages 
        across more than 80 Federal agencies. These trends pose a 
        threat to our national security and our economic security.
            (4) Student achievement in mathematics and science in 
        elementary school and secondary school lags behind other 
        nations, according to the Trends in International Mathematics 
        and Science study and other studies, including the Programme 
        for International Student Assessment, that recently ranked 
        United States secondary school students 28th out of 40 first- 
        and second-world nations, and tied with Latvia, in mathematics 
        performance and problem solving.
            (5) According to the most recent National Assessment of 
        Educational Progress, less than 40 percent of the students in 
        grade 4 and 30 percent of the students in grade 8, and only 17 
        percent of the students in grade 12, reach the proficient level 
        in mathematics, and approximately \1/3\ of the students in 
        grades 4 and 8, and nearly \1/2\ of the students in grade 12, 
        do not reach the basic level in science.
            (6) A State-by-State comparison of the 2005 National 
        Assessment of Educational Progress average scale scores for 8th 
        grade mathematics reveals that 31 States--more than \1/2\ of 
        the States in the Nation--scored more than 10 points (about 1 
        grade level) below the highest scoring State, Massachusetts.
            (7) More than 200,000,000 children in China are studying 
        English, a compulsory subject for all Chinese primary school 
        students. By comparison, only about 24,000 of approximately 
        54,000,000 elementary and secondary school children in the 
        United States are studying Chinese.
            (8) There is a significant shortage of trained and 
        qualified mathematics and science teachers in the United 
        States. According to the National Science Board, in 2002, 
        between 17 and 28 percent of public secondary school science 
        teachers (depending on the specific scientific field), and 20 
        percent of public secondary school mathematics teachers, lacked 
        full certification in their teaching field.
            (9) More than \1/2\ of the 20 fastest growing occupations 
        require postsecondary degrees in mathematics or science. 
        According to the National Science Board, out of more than 
        15,000,000 college students, less than 400,000 Americans a year 
        graduate with a bachelor's degree in mathematics, science, 
        engineering, or technology. According to the National Science 
        Foundation, only 75,000 American undergraduate students obtain 
        a master's degree in mathematics, science, engineering, or 
        technology.
            (10) In a 2002 Government Accountability Office report, the 
        United States Army reported that it was experiencing serious 
        shortfalls of translators and interpreters in 5 of its 6 
        critical languages: Arabic, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Persian-
        Farsi, and Russian. According to the Modern Language 
        Association, enrollment in foreign languages declined from 16 
        percent of college students in 1965 to 8 percent in 1974, 
        rebounding to just 8.6 percent in 2002. Less commonly taught 
        languages accounted for only 12 percent of all language 
        enrollments. This means that 1 percent of American 
        undergraduate students are studying these critical languages.
            (11) In 2002, 79 percent of Americans agreed that students 
        should have a study-abroad experience sometime during college. 
        Only 1 percent of all United States undergraduate students 
        studied abroad in the 2001-2002 school year.
            (12) The Government Accountability Office estimates that 
        the number of students enrolled in science, technology, 
        engineering, or mathematics doctoral degree programs at United 
        States institutions of higher education declined from 217,395 
        during the 1995-1996 academic year to 198,504 during the 2003-
        2004 academic year.
            (13) The extent of this crisis requires a coordinated 
        Federal response and an increased Federal investment in 
        programs of the Department of Education and the National 
        Science Foundation.

            TITLE I--MODERNIZING AMERICA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM

         Subtitle A--Prekindergarten Through Grade 16 Education

SEC. 111. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this subtitle are the following:
            (1) To ensure students receive an education competitive 
        with other industrialized countries.
            (2) To assist States in improving the rigor of standards 
        and assessments.
            (3) To provide for the establishment of prekindergarten 
        through grade 16 student preparedness councils to better link 
        early childhood education and school readiness with elementary 
        school success, elementary student skills with success in 
        secondary school, and secondary student skills and curricula, 
        especially with respect to reading, mathematics, and science, 
        with the demands of higher education, the 21st century 
        workforce, and the Armed Forces, in order to--
                    (A) ensure that greater number of students, 
                especially low-income and minority students, complete 
                secondary school with the coursework and skills 
                necessary to enter--
                            (i) credit-bearing coursework in higher 
                        education without the need for remediation;
                            (ii) high-paying employment in the 21st 
                        century workforce; or
                            (iii) the Armed Forces.
            (4) To establish a system that encourages local educational 
        agencies to adopt a curriculum that meets State academic 
        content standards and student academic achievement standards 
        and prepares all students for success in elementary school, 
        secondary school, and post-secondary endeavors in the 21st 
        century.

SEC. 112. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
            (1) In general.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``limited 
        English proficient'', ``local educational agency'', 
        ``scientifically based research'', ``secondary school'', 
        ``Secretary'', and ``State educational agency'' have the 
        meanings given such terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Academic content standards; student academic 
        achievement standards.--The terms ``academic content 
        standards'' and ``student academic achievement standards'', 
        when used with respect to a particular State, mean the academic 
        content standards and student academic achievement standards 
        adopted by a State under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)).
            (3) 21st century curriculum.--The term ``21st century 
        curriculum'' means a course of study identified by a State as 
        preparing secondary school students for entrance into credit-
        bearing coursework in higher education without the need for 
        remediation, employment in the 21st century workforce, or 
        entrance into the Armed Forces. A State shall define the 21st 
        century curriculum in terms of content as well as course names.
            (4) End of course examination.--The term ``end of course 
        examination'' means an assessment of student learning given at 
        the end of a particular course that is used to measure student 
        learning of State academic content standards in the subject 
        matter of the course.
            (5) Graduation rate.--The term ``graduation rate'' means 
        the percentage of students who graduate from secondary school 
        with a regular diploma in the standard number of years.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (7) Professional development.--The term ``professional 
        development'' includes activities that--
                    (A) improve and increase teachers' knowledge of the 
                academic subjects the teachers teach, and enable 
                teachers to become highly qualified;
                    (B) are an integral part of broad educational 
                improvement plans across the school and across the 
                local educational agency;
                    (C) give teachers, principals, and administrators 
                the knowledge and skills to provide students with the 
                opportunity to meet the State academic content 
                standards and student academic achievement standards 
                and the 21st century curriculum demands;
                    (D) are high-quality, sustained, intensive, and 
                classroom-focused, in order to have a positive and 
                lasting effect on classroom instruction and the 
                teacher's performance in the classroom;
                    (E) advance teacher understanding of effective 
                instructional strategies that are based on 
                scientifically based research and are directly aligned 
                with the State academic content standards and State 
                assessments;
                    (F) are designed to give teachers the knowledge and 
                skills to provide instruction and appropriate language 
                and academic support services to limited English 
                proficient students and students with special needs, 
                including the appropriate use of curricula and 
                assessments;
                    (G) are, as a whole, regularly evaluated for their 
                impact on increased teacher effectiveness and improved 
                student academic achievement, with the findings of the 
                evaluations used to improve the quality of professional 
                development; and
                    (H) include instruction in the use of data and 
                assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice.
            (8) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
        Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated 
        States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
            (9) State assessment.--The term ``State assessment'', when 
        used with respect to a particular State, means the student 
        academic assessments implemented by the State pursuant to 
        section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)).
            (10) Student preparedness.--The term ``student 
        preparedness'' means preparedness based on the knowledge and 
        skills that--
                    (A) are prerequisites for entrance into--
                            (i) credit-bearing coursework in higher 
                        education without the need for remediation;
                            (ii) the 21st century workforce; and
                            (iii) the Armed Forces;
                    (B) can be measured and verified objectively using 
                widely accepted professional assessment standards; and
                    (C) are consistent with widely accepted 
                professional assessment standards and competitive with 
                international levels of preparedness of students for 
                postsecondary success.

SEC. 113. ALIGNING STATE STANDARDS WITH NATIONAL BENCHMARKS.

    (a) Report on Results of State Assessments and National 
Assessment.--Not later than 90 days after each release of the results 
of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (as carried out 
under section 303(b)(2) of the National Assessment of Educational 
Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622(b)(2)) and section 
1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6311(c)(2)) in reading or mathematics (or, beginning in 2009, 
science) in grades 4 and 8, the Secretary shall--
            (1) prepare and submit to Congress the report described in 
        subsection (b) on the results of the State assessments and the 
        assessments of reading and mathematics, and, beginning in 2009, 
        science, in grades 4 and 8, required under section 1111(c)(2) 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
            (2) identify States with significant discrepancies in 
        performance between the 2 assessments, as described in 
        subsection (b)(3).
    (b) Contents of Report.--
            (1) In general.--The report described in this subsection 
        shall include the following information for each subject area 
        and grade described in subsection (a)(1) in each State:
                    (A) The percentage of students who performed at or 
                above the basic level on the State assessment--
                            (i) for the most recent applicable year;
                            (ii) for the preceding year; and
                            (iii) for the previous year in which the 
                        assessment required under section 1111(c)(2) of 
                        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965 was given in such subject,
                and the change in such percentages between those 
                assessments.
                    (B) The percentage of students who performed at or 
                above the proficient level on the State assessment--
                            (i) for the most recent applicable year;
                            (ii) for the preceding year; and
                            (iii) for the previous year in which the 
                        assessment required under section 1111(c)(2) of 
                        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965 was given in such subject,
                and the change in such percentages between those 
                assessments.
                    (C) The percentage of students who performed at or 
                above the basic level on the assessment required under 
                section 1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965--
                            (i) for the most recent applicable year; 
                        and
                            (ii) for the previous such assessment,
                and the change in such percentages between those 
                assessments.
                    (D) The percentage of students who performed at or 
                above the proficient level on the assessment required 
                under section 1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965--
                            (i) for the most recent applicable year; 
                        and
                            (ii) for the previous such assessment,
                and the change in such percentages between those 
                assessments.
                    (E) The difference between--
                            (i) the percentage of students who 
                        performed at or above the basic level for the 
                        most recent applicable year on the assessment 
                        required under section 1111(c)(2) of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; 
                        and
                            (ii) the percentage of students who 
                        performed at or above the basic level on the 
                        State assessment for such year.
                    (F) The difference between--
                            (i) the percentage of students who 
                        performed at or above the proficient level for 
                        the most recent applicable year on the 
                        assessment required under section 1111(c)(2) of 
                        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965; and
                            (ii) the percentage of students who 
                        performed at or above the proficient level on 
                        the State assessment for such year.
            (2) Analysis.--In addition to the information described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include in the report--
                    (A) an analysis of how the achievement of students 
                in grades 4, 8, and 12, and the preparedness of 
                students in grade 12 (when such data on preparedness 
                exists from assessments described in section 303 of the 
                National Assessment of Educational Progress 
                Authorization Act), in the United States compares to 
                the achievement and preparedness of students in other 
                industrialized countries; and
                    (B) possible reasons for any deficiencies 
                identified in the achievement or preparedness of United 
                States students compared to students in other 
                industrialized countries.
            (3) Ranking.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) using the information described in paragraph 
                (1), rank the States according to the degree to which 
                student performance on State assessments differs from 
                performance on the assessments required under section 
                1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965; and
                    (B) identify those States with the most significant 
                discrepancies in performance between the State 
                assessments and the assessments required under section 
                1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965.
    (c) Report on State Progress.--Beginning 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall include in the report 
described in subsection (a)(1) the following:
            (1) Information about the progress made by States to 
        decrease discrepancies in student performance on the State 
        assessments and the assessments required under section 
        1111(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965.
            (2) The differences that exist in States across subject 
        areas and grades.

SEC. 114. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS CHANGES.

    (a) National Assessment Governing Board.--Section 302 of the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 
U.S.C. 9621) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``shall formulate'' and 
        all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
        ``shall--
            ``(1) formulate policy guidelines for the National 
        Assessment of Educational Progress (carried out under section 
        303); and
            ``(2) carry out, upon the request of a State, an alignment 
        analysis (under section 304) comparing a State's academic 
        content standards and student academic achievement standards 
        adopted under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965, assessment specifications, 
        assessment questions, and performance standards with national 
        benchmarks reflected in the assessments authorized under this 
        Act.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(O) One representative of the Armed Forces with 
                expertise in military personnel requirements and 
                military preparedness, who shall serve as an ex-
                officio, nonvoting member.'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (4);
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and 
                        grade 12 student preparedness levels'' after 
                        ``achievement levels'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting 
                        ``members of the business and military 
                        communities,'' after ``parents,'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E), by inserting 
                        ``and'' after ``subject matter,'';
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (G), 
                        (H), (I), and (J) as subparagraphs (H), (I), 
                        (K), and (L), respectively;
                            (v) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the 
                        following:
                    ``(G) consistent with section 303, measure grade 12 
                student preparedness;'';
                            (vi) by inserting after subparagraph (I) 
                        (as redesignated by clause (iv)) the following:
                    ``(J) ensure the rigor of the National Assessment 
                of Educational Progress framework and assessments, 
                taking into consideration--
                            ``(i) the knowledge and skills that are 
                        prerequisite to credit-bearing coursework in 
                        higher education without the need for 
                        remediation, the 21st century workforce, and 
                        the Armed Forces; and
                            ``(ii) rigorous international content and 
                        performance standards, and how the achievement 
                        of students in grades 4, 8, and 12, and the 
                        preparedness of students in grade 12, in the 
                        United States compare to the achievement and 
                        the preparedness of students in other 
                        industrialized countries;'';
                            (vii) in subparagraph (K) (as redesignated 
                        by clause (iv)), by striking ``and'' after the 
                        semicolon;
                            (viii) in subparagraph (L) (as redesignated 
                        by clause (iv)), by striking the period and 
                        inserting ``; and'';
                            (ix) by inserting after subparagraph (L) 
                        the following:
                    ``(M) conduct an alignment analysis as described in 
                section 304 for each State that requests such 
                analysis.''; and
                            (x) in the flush matter at the end--
                                    (I) by inserting ``for an 
                                assessment'' after ``data'';
                                    (II) by inserting ``Assessment 
                                Board's'' after ``prior to the''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``(J)'' and 
                                inserting ``(L)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``of Educational 
                Progress'' after ``National Assessment'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5), in the paragraph heading, by 
                inserting ``advice'' after ``Technical''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``or grade 12 
                student preparedness levels'' after ``student 
                achievement levels''; and
            (5) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``of Educational 
        Progress'' after ``National Assessment''.
    (b) National Assessment of Educational Progress.--Section 303 of 
the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 
U.S.C. 9622) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Purpose'' and inserting ``Purposes'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
                    ``(A) to provide, in a timely manner, a fair and 
                accurate measurement of student achievement and grade 
                12 student preparedness in reading, mathematics, 
                science, and other subject matter as specified in this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) to report trends in student achievement and 
                grade 12 student preparedness in reading, mathematics, 
                science, and other subject matter as specified in this 
                section.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting 
                        ``reading, mathematics, and science'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (C) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(C) conduct a national assessment and collect and 
                report assessment data, including achievement and 
                student preparedness data trends, in a valid and 
                reliable manner on student academic achievement and 
                student preparedness in public and private schools in 
                reading, mathematics, and science at least once every 2 
                years in grade 12;'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D)--
                                    (I) by striking ``subparagraph (B) 
                                are implemented and the requirements 
                                described in subparagraph (C) are 
                                met,'' and inserting ``subparagraphs 
                                (B) and (C) are implemented,''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``science,'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (E)--
                                    (I) by striking ``reading and 
                                mathematics'' and inserting ``reading, 
                                mathematics, and science''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``subparagraph 
                                (B)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) 
                                and (C)''; and
                            (v) in subparagraph (H), by striking 
                        ``achievement data'' and inserting ``student 
                        achievement data and grade 12 student 
                        preparedness data'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``reading and mathematics'' and 
                                inserting ``reading, mathematics, and 
                                science'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii)--
                                            (aa) by inserting ``and 
                                        grade 12 student preparedness'' 
                                        after ``achievement''; and
                                            (bb) by striking ``reading 
                                        and mathematics'' and inserting 
                                        ``reading, mathematics, and 
                                        science''; and
                                    (III) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``an evaluation'' and inserting ``a 
                                review''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
                        ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting 
                        ``reading, mathematics, and science'';
                    (E) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``, require, 
                or influence'' and inserting ``or require''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``academic 
                achievement'' and inserting ``academic achievement or 
                grade 12 student preparedness'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(3)(A), by striking ``academic 
        achievement'' and inserting ``academic achievement or grade 12 
        preparedness'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``reading and 
                mathematics in grades 4 and 8'' and inserting 
                ``reading, mathematics, and science in grades 4 and 
                8''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``reading and 
                mathematics assessments in grades 4 and 8'' and 
                inserting ``reading, mathematics, and science 
                assessments in grades 4 and 8'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
                Grade 12 Student Preparedness Levels'' after 
                ``Levels'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking the paragraph heading and 
                        inserting ``Development.--''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and develop grade 12 
                        student preparedness levels'' after 
                        ``subsection (b)(2)(F)'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (A) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) Student achievement and grade 12 preparedness 
                levels.--
                            ``(i) Student achievement levels.--The 
                        student achievement levels described in 
                        paragraph (1) shall be determined by--
                                    ``(I) identifying the knowledge and 
                                skills that--
                                            ``(aa) are prerequisite to 
                                        credit-bearing coursework in 
                                        higher education without the 
                                        need for remediation in 
                                        English, mathematics, or 
                                        science, participation in the 
                                        21st century workforce, and the 
                                        Armed Forces or, in the case of 
                                        grade 4 and grade 8 students, 
                                        are prerequisite to grade 12 
                                        preparedness;
                                            ``(bb) are competitive with 
                                        rigorous international content 
                                        and performance standards; and
                                            ``(cc) can be measured and 
                                        verified objectively using 
                                        widely accepted professional 
                                        assessment standards; and
                                    ``(II) developing student 
                                achievement levels that are--
                                            ``(aa) based on the 
                                        knowledge and skills identified 
                                        in subclause (I);
                                            ``(bb) based on the 
                                        appropriate level of subject 
                                        matter knowledge for the grade 
                                        levels to be assessed, or the 
                                        age of the students, as the 
                                        case may be; and
                                            ``(cc) consistent with 
                                        relevant widely accepted 
                                        professional assessment 
                                        standards.
                            ``(ii) Grade 12 student preparedness 
                        levels.--The grade 12 student preparedness 
                        levels described in paragraph (1) shall be 
                        determined by--
                                    ``(I) identifying the knowledge and 
                                skills that--
                                            ``(aa) are prerequisite to 
                                        credit-bearing coursework in 
                                        higher education without the 
                                        need for remediation in 
                                        English, mathematics, or 
                                        science, participation in the 
                                        21st century workforce, and the 
                                        Armed Forces;
                                            ``(bb) are competitive with 
                                        rigorous international content 
                                        and performance standards; and
                                            ``(cc) can be measured and 
                                        verified objectively using 
                                        widely accepted professional 
                                        assessment standards; and
                                    ``(II) developing grade 12 student 
                                preparedness levels that are--
                                            ``(aa) based on the 
                                        knowledge and skills identified 
                                        in subclause (I); and
                                            ``(bb) consistent with 
                                        widely accepted professional 
                                        assessment standards.''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``achievement levels'' and inserting ``student 
                        achievement levels and grade 12 student 
                        preparedness levels'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``After determining that 
                        such levels'' and inserting ``After determining 
                        that the student achievement levels and grade 
                        12 student preparedness levels''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``an evaluation'' and 
                        inserting ``a review''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``or grade 12 
                student preparedness levels'' after ``achievement 
                levels''; and
            (5) in subsection (f)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and grade 
                12 student preparedness levels'' after ``student 
                achievement levels''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``or grade 
                        12 student preparedness'' after 
                        ``achievement'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and 
                        grade 12 student preparedness levels'' after 
                        ``achievement levels'';
                            (iii) by striking clause (iii) and 
                        inserting the following:
                            ``(iii) whether any authorized assessment 
                        is being administered as a random sample and is 
                        reporting the trends in student achievement or 
                        grade 12 student preparedness in a valid and 
                        reliable manner in the subject areas being 
                        assessed;'';
                            (iv) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (v) in clause (v), by striking ``and 
                        mathematical knowledge.'' and inserting ``and 
                        mathematical knowledge and scientific 
                        knowledge; and''; and
                            (vi) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) whether the appropriate authorized 
                        assessments are measuring, consistent with this 
                        section, the preparedness of students in grade 
                        12 in the United States for entry into--
                            ``(I) credit-bearing coursework in higher 
                        education without the need for remediation in 
                        English, mathematics, or science;
                            ``(II) the 21st century workforce; and
                            ``(III) the Armed Forces.''.
    (c) National Benchmarks.--The National Assessment of Educational 
Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 304 and 305 as sections 305 
        and 306, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 303 the following:

``SEC. 304. NATIONAL BENCHMARKS.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            ``(1) to encourage the coordination of, and consistency 
        between--
                    ``(A) a State's academic content standards and 
                student academic achievement standards adopted under 
                section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965, assessment specifications, and 
                assessment questions; and
                    ``(B) national benchmarks, as reflected in the 
                National Assessment of Educational Progress;
            ``(2) to assist States in increasing the rigor of their 
        State academic content standards, student academic achievement 
        standards, assessment specifications, and assessment questions, 
        to ensure that such are competitive with rigorous national and 
        international benchmarks; and
            ``(3) to improve the instruction and academic achievement 
        of students, beginning in the early grades, to ensure that 
        secondary school graduates are well-prepared to enter--
                    ``(A) credit-bearing coursework in higher education 
                without the need for remediation;
                    ``(B) the 21st century workforce; or
                    ``(C) the Armed Forces.
    ``(b) Alignment Analysis.--
            ``(1) In general.--When the chief State school officer of a 
        State identifies a need for, and requests the Assessment Board 
        to conduct, an alignment analysis for the State in reading, 
        mathematics, or science in grades 4 and 8, the Assessment Board 
        shall perform an alignment analysis of the State's academic 
        content standards and student academic achievement standards 
        adopted under section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)), 
        assessment specifications, and assessment questions, for the 
        identified subject in grades 4 and 8. Such analysis shall begin 
        not later than 180 days after the alignment analysis is 
        requested.
            ``(2) Assessment board responsibilities.--As part of the 
        alignment analysis, the Assessment Board shall--
                    ``(A) identify the differences between the State's 
                academic content standards and student academic 
                achievement standards, assessment specifications, and 
                assessment questions for the subject identified by the 
                State, and national benchmarks reflected in the 
                National Assessment of Educational Progress in such 
                subject in grades 4 and 8;
                    ``(B) at the State's request, recommend steps for, 
                and policy questions such State should consider 
                regarding, the alignment of the State's academic 
                content standards and student academic achievement 
                standards in the identified subject, with national 
                benchmarks reflected in the National Assessment of 
                Educational Progress in such subject in grades 4 and 8; 
                and
                    ``(C) at the State's request, and in conjunction 
                with a State prekindergarten through grade 16 student 
                preparedness council established under section 115 of 
                the New National Defense Education Act of 2006, assist 
                in the development of a plan described in section 
                115(e)(1)(C) of such Act.
            ``(3) Contract.--At the discretion of the Assessment Board, 
        the Assessment Board may enter into a contract with an entity 
        that possesses the technical expertise to conduct the analysis 
        described in this subsection.
            ``(4) State panel.--The chief State school officer of a 
        State participating in an alignment analysis described in this 
        subsection shall appoint a panel of not less than 6 individuals 
        to partner with the Assessment Board in conducting the 
        alignment analysis. Such panel--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) local and State curriculum experts;
                            ``(ii) relevant content and pedagogy 
                        experts, including representatives of entities 
                        with widely accepted national educational 
                        standards and assessments; and
                            ``(iii) not less than 1 entity that 
                        possesses the technical expertise to assist the 
                        State in implementing standards-based reform, 
                        which may be the same entity with which the 
                        Assessment Board contracts to conduct the 
                        analysis under paragraph (3); and
                    ``(B) may include other State and local 
                representatives and representatives of organizations 
                with relevant expertise.''.
    (d) Definition of Secretary.--Section 305 of the National 
Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (as redesignated 
by subsection (c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Education.''.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 306(a) of the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (as 
redesignated by subsection (c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) for fiscal year 2007--
                    ``(A) $7,500,000 to carry out section 302;
                    ``(B) $200,000,000 to carry out section 303; and
                    ``(C) $10,000,000 to carry out section 304; and''; 
                and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``5 succeeding'' and inserting ``4 
                succeeding''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and 303, as amended by section 
                401 of this Act'' and inserting ``, 303, and 304''.
    (f) Conforming Changes and Amendments.--
            (1) Conforming changes to the elementary and secondary 
        education act of 1965.--
                    (A) State plans.--Section 1111(c)(2) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``and 
                mathematics'' and inserting ``, mathematics, and 
                science''.
                    (B) Local educational agency plans.--Section 
                1112(b)(1)(F) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6312(b)(1)(F)) is amended by 
                striking ``reading and mathematics'' and inserting 
                ``reading, mathematics, and science''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 113(a)(1) of the 
        Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9513(a)(1)) is 
        amended by striking ``section 302(e)(1)(J)'' and inserting 
        ``section 302(e)(1)(L)''.

SEC. 115. PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 16 STUDENT PREPAREDNESS COUNCIL 
              GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (g) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award, on 
        a competitive basis, grants to States for the purpose of 
        allowing the States to establish State prekindergarten through 
        grade 16 student preparedness councils (referred to in this 
        section as ``councils'') that--
                    (A) convene stakeholders within the State and 
                create a forum for identifying and deliberating on 
                educational issues that cut across prekindergarten 
                through grade 12 education and higher education, and 
                transcend any single system of education's ability to 
                address;
                    (B) develop and implement a plan for improving the 
                rigor of a State's academic content standards, student 
                academic achievement standards, assessment 
                specifications, and assessment questions as necessary, 
                to ensure such standards and assessments meet national 
                and international benchmarks as reflected in the 
                assessments required under section 303(b)(2) of the 
                National Assessment of Educational Progress 
                Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622(b)(2)) or as defined 
                by the council as necessary for success in credit-
                bearing coursework in higher education without the need 
                for remediation, the 21st century workforce, or the 
                Armed Forces;
                    (C) inform the design and implementation of 
                integrated prekindergarten through grade 16 data 
                systems, which--
                            (i) will allow the State to track the 
                        progress of individual students from 
                        prekindergarten through grade 12 and into 
                        higher education; and
                            (ii) shall be capable of being linked with 
                        appropriate databases on service in the Armed 
                        Forces and participation in the 21st century 
                        workforce; and
                    (D) shall develop challenging--
                            (i) school readiness standards;
                            (ii) curricula for elementary schools and 
                        middle schools; and
                            (iii) 21st century curricula for secondary 
                        schools.
            (2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under this 
        section for a period of not more than 5 years.
            (3) Existing state council.--A State with an existing State 
        council may qualify for the purposes of a grant under this 
        section if--
                    (A) such council--
                            (i) has the authority to carry out this 
                        section; and
                            (ii) includes the members required under 
                        subsection (b); or
                    (B) the State amends the membership or 
                responsibilities of the existing council to meet the 
                requirements of subparagraph (A).
    (b) Composition.--
            (1) Required members.--The members of a council described 
        in subsection (a) shall include--
                    (A) the Governor of the State or the designee of 
                the Governor;
                    (B) the chief executive officer of the State public 
                institution of higher education system, if such a 
                position exists;
                    (C) the chief executive officer of the State Higher 
                Education Coordinating Board;
                    (D) the chief State school officer;
                    (E) not less than 1 representative each from--
                            (i) the business community; and
                            (ii) the Armed Forces;
                    (F) a public elementary school teacher employed in 
                the State; and
                    (G) a public secondary school teacher employed in 
                the State.
            (2) Optional members.--The council described in subsection 
        (a) may also include--
                    (A) a representative from--
                            (i) a private institution of higher 
                        education;
                            (ii) the Chamber of Commerce for the State;
                            (iii) a civic organization;
                            (iv) a civil rights organization;
                            (v) a community organization; or
                            (vi) an organization with expertise in 
                        world cultures;
                    (B) the State official responsible for economic 
                development, if such a position exists; or
                    (C) a dean or similar representative for a school 
                of education at an institution of higher education or a 
                similar teacher certification or licensure program.
    (c) Timeline.--A State receiving a grant under this section shall 
establish a council (or use or amend an existing council in accordance 
with subsection (a)(3)) not later than 60 days after the receipt of the 
grant.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each State 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 reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) demonstrate that the opinions of the larger 
                education, business, and military community, including 
                parents, students, teachers, teacher educators, 
                principals, school administrators, and business 
                leaders, will be represented during the determination 
                of the State academic content standards and student 
                academic achievement standards, assessment 
                specifications, assessment questions, and the 
                development of curricula, if applicable;
                    (B) include a comprehensive plan to provide high-
                quality professional development for teachers, 
                paraprofessionals, principals, and school 
                administrators;
                    (C) explain how the State will provide assistance 
                to local educational agencies in implementing rigorous 
                State standards through substantive curricula, 
                including scientifically based remediation and 
                acceleration opportunities for students; and
                    (D) explain how the State and the council will 
                leverage additional State, local, and other funds to 
                pursue curricular alignment and student success.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Required activities.--A State receiving a grant under 
        this section shall use the grant funds to establish a council 
        that shall carry out the following:
                    (A) Design and implement an integrated 
                prekindergarten through grade 16 longitudinal data 
                system for the State, if such system does not exist, 
                that will allow the State to track the progress of 
                students from prekindergarten, through grade 12, and 
                into higher education, the 21st century workforce, and 
                the Armed Forces. The data system shall--
                            (i) include--
                                    (I) a unique statewide student 
                                identifier for each student;
                                    (II) student-level enrollment, 
                                demographic, and program participation 
                                information, including race or 
                                ethnicity, gender, and income status;
                                    (III) the ability to match 
                                individual students' test records from 
                                year to year to measure academic 
                                growth;
                                    (IV) information on untested 
                                students;
                                    (V) a teacher identifier system 
                                with the ability to match teachers to 
                                students;
                                    (VI) student-level transcript 
                                information, including information on 
                                courses completed and grades earned;
                                    (VII) student-level college 
                                preparedness examination scores;
                                    (VIII) student-level graduation and 
                                dropout data;
                                    (IX) the ability to match student 
                                records between the prekindergarten 
                                through grade 12 and the postsecondary 
                                systems;
                                    (X) a State data audit system 
                                assessing data quality, validity, and 
                                reliability;
                                    (XI) rates of student attendance at 
                                institutions of higher education;
                                    (XII) rates of student enrollment 
                                and retention in the Armed Forces; and
                                    (XIII) student nonmilitary 
                                postsecondary employment information;
                            (ii) to the extent possible, coordinate 
                        with other relevant State databases, such as 
                        criminal justice or social services data 
                        systems;
                            (iii) allow the State to analyze 
                        correlations between course-taking patterns in 
                        prekindergarten through grade 12 and outcomes 
                        after secondary school graduation, including--
                                    (I) entry into higher education;
                                    (II) the need for, and cost of, 
                                remediation in higher education;
                                    (III) graduation from higher 
                                education;
                                    (IV) entry into the 21st century 
                                workforce;
                                    (V) entry into the Armed Forces; 
                                and
                                    (VI) to the extent possible through 
                                linkages with appropriate databases on 
                                service in the Armed Forces and 
                                participation in the 21st century 
                                workforce, persistence in the Armed 
                                Forces and continued participation in 
                                the 21st century workforce; and
                            (iv) ensure that the use of any available 
                        data does not allow for the public 
                        identification of the individual student's 
                        personally identifiable information, and that 
                        all data shall be collected and maintained in 
                        accordance with section 444 of the General 
                        Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 
                        commonly referred to as the Family Educational 
                        Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).
                    (B) If an integrated prekindergarten through grade 
                16 longitudinal data system exists or is currently 
                being built, ensure that it complies with the 
                requirements described in subparagraph (A).
                    (C) Develop and implement a plan to increase the 
                rigor of standards or assessments in reading, 
                mathematics, or science in order to better align such 
                standards or assessments with national benchmarks 
                reflected in the National Assessment of Educational 
                Progress in grades 4 and 8 (in accordance with the 
                results of the alignment analysis conducted under 
                section 304 of the National Assessment of Educational 
                Progress Authorization Act), and in other grades to 
                ensure the alignment of kindergarten through grade 12 
                standards or assessments with the revisions made in 
                grades 4 and 8, or to align such standards or 
                assessments with the demands of higher education, the 
                21st century workforce, or the Armed Forces or other 
                national and international benchmarks identified by the 
                council. Such plan may include--
                            (i) an articulation of the steps 
                        necessary--
                                    (I) for revising the State academic 
                                content standards and student academic 
                                achievement standards, assessment 
                                specifications, and assessment 
                                questions for the identified subject; 
                                and
                                    (II) to better align the standards 
                                and the assessment specifications and 
                                questions described in subclause (I) 
                                with--
                                            (aa) national benchmarks as 
                                        reflected in the National 
                                        Assessment of Educational 
                                        Progress required under section 
                                        303 of the National Assessment 
                                        of Educational Progress 
                                        Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 
                                        9622) for the identified 
                                        subject; or
                                            (bb) the demands of higher 
                                        education, the 21st century 
                                        workforce, or the Armed Forces 
                                        or other national or 
                                        international benchmarks 
                                        identified by the council;
                            (ii) an articulation of the steps necessary 
                        and the process the State will undertake to 
                        revise standards or assessments, or both, in 
                        the identified subject;
                            (iii) a description of the partners the 
                        State will work with to revise standards or 
                        assessments, or both; and
                            (iv) a description of the activities the 
                        State will undertake to implement the revised 
                        standards or assessments, or both, at the State 
                        educational agency level and the local 
                        educational agency level, which activities may 
                        include--
                                    (I) preservice and in-service 
                                teacher, paraprofessional, principal, 
                                and school administrator training;
                                    (II) statewide meetings to provide 
                                professional development opportunities 
                                for teachers and administrators;
                                    (III) development of curricula and 
                                instructional methods and materials;
                                    (IV) the redesign of existing 
                                assessments, or the development or 
                                purchase of new high-quality 
                                assessments, with a focus on ensuring 
                                that such assessments are rigorous, 
                                measure significant depth of knowledge, 
                                use multiple measures and formats (such 
                                as student portfolios), and are 
                                sensitive to inquiry-based, project-
                                based, or differentiated instruction; 
                                and
                                    (V) other activities necessary for 
                                the effective implementation of the new 
                                State standards or assessments, or 
                                both.
                    (D) Analyze the State's level of prekindergarten 
                through grade 16 curricular alignment and the success 
                of the State's education system in preparing students 
                for higher education, the 21st century workforce, and 
                the Armed Forces by--
                            (i) using the data produced by a data 
                        system described in subparagraph (A) or (B), or 
                        other information as appropriate; and
                            (ii) exploring a possible agreement between 
                        the State educational agency and the higher 
                        education system in the State on a common 
                        assessment or assessments that--
                                    (I) shall follow established 
                                guidelines to guarantee reliability and 
                                validity;
                                    (II) shall provide adequate 
                                accommodations for students who are 
                                limited English proficient and students 
                                with disabilities; and
                                    (III) may be a placement 
                                examination, end of course examination, 
                                college, workforce, or Armed Forces 
                                preparedness examination, or admissions 
                                examination, that measures secondary 
                                students' preparedness to succeed in 
                                postsecondary, credit-bearing courses.
                    (E) If the State has an officially designated 
                college preparatory curriculum at the time the State 
                applies for a grant under this section--
                            (i) describe the extent to which students 
                        who completed the college preparatory 
                        curriculum are more or less successful than 
                        other students, including students who did not 
                        complete a college preparatory curriculum, in 
                        entering and graduating from a program of study 
                        at an institution of higher education or 
                        entering the 21st century workforce or the 
                        Armed Forces;
                            (ii) examine the extent to which the 
                        expectations of the college preparatory 
                        curriculum are aligned with the entry standards 
                        of the State's institutions of higher 
                        education, including whether such curriculum 
                        enables secondary school students to enter 
                        credit-bearing coursework in higher education 
                        without the need for remediation; and
                            (iii) examine the extent to which the 
                        curriculum allows graduates to attain the 
                        skills necessary to enter the 21st century 
                        workforce or the Armed Forces.
                    (F) If the State has not designated a college 
                preparatory curriculum at the time the State applied 
                for a grant under this section, or if the curriculum 
                described in subparagraph (E) does not result in a 
                higher number of students enrolling in and graduating 
                from institutions of higher education or entering the 
                21st century workforce or the Armed Forces, or is not 
                aligned with the entry standards described in 
                subparagraph (E)(ii), develop a 21st century curriculum 
                that--
                            (i) may be adopted by the local educational 
                        agencies in the State for use in secondary 
                        schools;
                            (ii) enables secondary school students to 
                        enter credit-bearing coursework in higher 
                        education without the need for remediation;
                            (iii) allows graduates to attain the skills 
                        necessary to enter the 21st century workforce 
                        or the Armed Forces;
                            (iv) reflects the input of teachers, 
                        principals, school administrators, and college 
                        faculty; and
                            (v) focuses on providing rigorous core 
                        courses that reflect the State academic content 
                        standards and student academic achievement 
                        standards.
                    (G) Develop and make available specific 
                opportunities for extensive professional development 
                for teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, and school 
                administrators, to improve instruction and support 
                mechanisms for students using a curriculum described in 
                subparagraph (E) or (F).
                    (H) Develop a plan to provide remediation and 
                additional learning opportunities for students below 
                grade level to ensure that all students will have the 
                opportunity to meet the curricular standards of a 
                curriculum described in subparagraph (E) or (F).
                    (I) Use data gathered by the council to improve 
                instructional methods, better tailor student support 
                services, and serve as the basis for all school reform 
                initiatives.
                    (J) Implement activities designed to ensure the 
                enrollment of all students in rigorous coursework, 
                which may include--
                            (i) specifying the courses and performance 
                        levels required for acceptance into public 
                        institutions of higher education;
                            (ii) collaborating with institutions of 
                        higher education or other State educational 
                        agencies to develop assessments aligned to 
                        State academic content standards and a 
                        curriculum described in subparagraph (E) or 
                        (F), which assessments may be used as measures 
                        of student achievement in secondary school as 
                        well as for entrance or placement at 
                        institutions of higher education;
                            (iii) creating ties between elementary 
                        schools and secondary schools, and institutions 
                        of higher education, to offer--
                                    (I) accelerated learning 
                                opportunities, particularly with 
                                respect to mathematics, science, 
                                engineering, technology, and critical-
                                need foreign languages (as determined 
                                by the Secretary under section 222) to 
                                secondary school students, which may 
                                include--
                                            (aa) granting postsecondary 
                                        credit for secondary school 
                                        courses;
                                            (bb) providing early 
                                        enrollment opportunities in 
                                        postsecondary education for 
                                        secondary students enrolled in 
                                        postsecondary-level coursework;
                                            (cc) creating dual 
                                        enrollment programs;
                                            (dd) creating satellite 
                                        secondary school campuses on 
                                        the campuses of institutions of 
                                        higher education; and
                                            (ee) providing 
                                        opportunities for higher 
                                        education faculty who are 
                                        highly qualified, as such term 
                                        is defined in section 9101 of 
                                        the Elementary and Secondary 
                                        Education Act of 1965 (20 
                                        U.S.C. 7801), to teach credit-
                                        bearing postsecondary courses 
                                        in secondary schools; and
                                    (II) professional development 
                                activities for teachers, which may 
                                include--
                                            (aa) mentoring 
                                        opportunities; and
                                            (bb) summer institutes;
                            (iv) expanding or creating higher education 
                        awareness programs for middle school and 
                        secondary school students;
                            (v) expanding opportunities for students to 
                        enroll in highly rigorous postsecondary 
                        preparatory courses, such as Advanced Placement 
                        and International Baccalaureate courses; and
                            (vi) developing a high-quality professional 
                        development curriculum to provide professional 
                        development opportunities for 
                        paraprofessionals, teachers, principals, and 
                        administrators.
            (2) Planning and implementation.--A State receiving a grant 
        under this section may use grant funds received for the first 
        fiscal year to form the council and plan the activities 
        described in paragraph (1). Grant funds received for subsequent 
        fiscal years shall be used for the implementation of the 
        activities described in such paragraph.
    (f) Reports and Publication.--
            (1) Reports.--
                    (A) Initial report.--Not later than 9 months after 
                a State receives a grant under this section, the State 
                shall submit a report to the Secretary that includes--
                            (i) an analysis of alignment and 
                        articulation across the State's systems of 
                        public education for prekindergarten through 
                        grade 16, including data that indicates the 
                        percent of students who--
                                    (I) graduate from secondary school 
                                with a regular diploma in the standard 
                                number of years;
                                    (II) complete a curriculum 
                                described in subparagraph (E) or (F) of 
                                subsection (e)(1);
                                    (III) matriculate into an 
                                institution of higher education 
                                (disaggregated by 2-year and 4-year 
                                degree-granting programs);
                                    (IV) are secondary school graduates 
                                who need remediation in reading, 
                                writing, mathematics, or science before 
                                pursuing credit-bearing post-secondary 
                                courses in English, mathematics, or 
                                science;
                                    (V) persist in an institution of 
                                higher education into the second year; 
                                and
                                    (VI) graduate from an institution 
                                of higher education within 150 percent 
                                of the expected time for degree 
                                completion (within 3 years for a 2-year 
                                degree program and within 6 years for a 
                                baccalaureate degree);
                            (ii) an analysis of the strengths and 
                        weaknesses of the State--
                                    (I) in transitioning students from 
                                the prekindergarten through grade 12 
                                education system into higher education, 
                                the 21st century workforce, and the 
                                Armed Forces; and
                                    (II) in transitioning students from 
                                the prekindergarten through grade 12 
                                education system into mathematics, 
                                science, engineering, technology, and 
                                critical-need foreign language degree 
                                programs at institutions of higher 
                                education;
                            (iii) an analysis of the quality and rigor 
                        of the State's curriculum described in 
                        subparagraph (E) or (F) of subsection (e)(1), 
                        and the accessibility of the curriculum to all 
                        students in prekindergarten through grade 12;
                            (iv) an analysis of the strengths and 
                        weaknesses of the State in recruiting, 
                        retaining, and supporting qualified teachers, 
                        including--
                                    (I) whether the State needs to 
                                recruit additional teachers at the 
                                secondary level for specific subjects 
                                (such as mathematics, science, 
                                engineering and technology education, 
                                (as such term is defined in section 
                                9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801), 
                                and critical-need foreign languages (as 
                                determined by the Secretary under 
                                section 222)), particular schools, or 
                                local educational agencies; and
                                    (II) recommendations on how to set 
                                and achieve goals in this pursuit; and
                            (v) a detailed action plan that describes 
                        how the council will accomplish the goals and 
                        tasks required by the grant under this section, 
                        including a timeline for accomplishing all 
                        activities under the grant.
                    (B) Annual reports.--Not later than 1 year 
                following the submission of the initial report 
                described in subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter 
                for the duration of the grant, a State receiving a 
                grant under this section shall prepare and submit to 
                the Secretary a report that describes the State's 
                progress in accomplishing the goals and tasks required 
                by the grant, including progress on each item described 
                in subparagraph (A). The final annual report under this 
                subparagraph shall be submitted 1 year after the 
                expiration of the grant.
            (2) Publication.--A State submitting a report in accordance 
        with this subsection shall publish and widely disseminate the 
        report to the public, including posting the report on the 
        Internet.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 116. COLLABORATIVE STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible state.--The term ``eligible State'' means a 
        State that demonstrates that it has analyzed and, where 
        applicable, revised the State standards and assessments, 
        through participation in a prekindergarten through grade 16 
        student preparedness council described in section 115 or 
        through other State action, to ensure the standards and 
        assessments--
                    (A) are aligned with the demands of the 21st 
                century; and
                    (B) prepare students for entry into--
                            (i) credit-bearing coursework in higher 
                        education without the need for remediation;
                            (ii) the 21st century workforce; and
                            (iii) the Armed Forces
            (2) Eligible consortium.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``eligible consortium'' 
                means a consortium of 2 or more eligible States that 
                agrees to allow the Secretary, under subsection (e), to 
                make available any assessment developed by the 
                consortium under this section to a State that so 
                requests, including a State that is not a member of the 
                consortium.
                    (B) Additional members.--An eligible consortium may 
                include, in addition to 2 or more eligible States, an 
                entity with the technical expertise to carry out a 
                grant under this section.
    (b) Program Authorized.--From amounts authorized under subsection 
(f), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible consortia to enable the eligible consortia to develop common 
standards and assessments that--
            (1) are highly rigorous, internationally competitive, and 
        aligned with the demands of higher education, the 21st century 
        workforce, and the Armed Forces; and
            (2) in the case of assessments, set rigorous performance 
        standards comparable to rigorous national and international 
        benchmarks.
    (c) Application.--An eligible consortium desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the end of the grant 
period, an eligible consortium receiving a grant under this section 
shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary describing the grant 
activities.
    (e) Availability of Assessments.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) make available, to a State that so requests and at no 
        charge to the State, any rigorous, high-quality assessment 
        developed by an eligible consortium under this section; and
            (2) notify potential eligible States, at reasonable 
        intervals, of all assessments currently under development by 
        eligible consortia under this section.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and such sums as are necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
years.

                   Subtitle B--Investing in Teachers

SEC. 121. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this subtitle is to increase the number and quality 
of teachers of mathematics, science, engineering and technology 
education, and critical-need foreign languages, in order to prepare 
students for entry into credit-bearing courses in higher education 
without the need for remediation, the 21st century workforce, and the 
Armed Forces.

SEC. 122. DEFINITION OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

    (a) Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.--Section 9101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (19) through (43) as 
        paragraphs (20) through (44), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:
            ``(19) Engineering and technology education.--The term 
        `engineering and technology education' means a curriculum and 
        instruction that--
                    ``(A) uses technology as a knowledge base or as a 
                way of teaching innovation using an engineering design 
                process and context;
                    ``(B) develops an appreciation and fundamental 
                understanding of technology through design skills and 
                the use of materials, tools, processes, and limited 
                resources;
                    ``(C) is taught in conjunction with applied 
                mathematics, science, language arts, fine arts, and 
                social studies as a part of a comprehensive education;
                    ``(D) applies the use of tools and skills employed 
                by a globalized skilled 21st century workforce that are 
                necessary for communication, manufacturing, 
                construction, energy systems, biomedical systems, 
                transportation systems, and other related fields; and
                    ``(E) through the application of engineering 
                principles and concepts, develops proficiency in 
                abstract ideas and in problem-solving techniques that 
                build a comprehensive education.''.
    (b) Higher Education Act of 1965.--Section 103 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (16) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (17), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) Engineering and technology education.--The term 
        `engineering and technology education' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965.''.

SEC. 123. EXPANDING TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS.

    (a) Increased Amount; Applicability of Expanded Program to Reading 
Specialist.--Sections 428J(c)(3) and 460(c)(3) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-10(c)(3), 1087j(c)(3)) are each amended--
            (1) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting 
        ``Additional amounts for teachers in mathematics, science, 
        engineering and technology education, a critical-need foreign 
        language, or special education'';
            (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``$17,500'' and inserting ``$23,000''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``or science'' and 
        all that follows through ``; and'' and inserting ``, science, 
        engineering and technology education, or a critical-need 
        foreign language (as determined by the Secretary under section 
        222 of the New National Defense Education Act of 2006), on a 
        full-time basis; and''.
    (b) Annual Increments Instead of End of Service Lump Sums.--
            (1) FFEL loans.--Section 428J(c) of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-10(c)) is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
            ``(4) Annual increments.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in 
        the case of an individual qualifying for loan forgiveness under 
        paragraph (3), the Secretary shall, in lieu of waiting to 
        assume an obligation only upon completion of 5 complete years 
        of service, assume the obligation to repay--
                    ``(A) after each of the first and second years of 
                service by an individual in a position qualifying under 
                paragraph (3), 15 percent of the total amount of 
                principal and interest of the loans described in 
                paragraph (1) to such individual that are outstanding 
                immediately preceding such first year of such service;
                    ``(B) after each of the third and fourth years of 
                such service, 20 percent of such total amount; and
                    ``(C) after the fifth year of such service, 30 
                percent of such total amount.''.
            (2) Direct loans.--Section 460(c) of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j(c)) is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
            ``(4) Annual increments.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in 
        the case of an individual qualifying for loan cancellation 
        under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall, in lieu of waiting to 
        assume an obligation only upon completion of 5 complete years 
        of service, assume the obligation to repay--
                    ``(A) after each of the first and second years of 
                service by an individual in a position qualifying under 
                paragraph (3), 15 percent of the total amount of 
                principal and interest of the loans described in 
                paragraph (1) to such individual that are outstanding 
                immediately preceding such first year of such service;
                    ``(B) after each of the third and fourth years of 
                such service, 20 percent of such total amount; and
                    ``(C) after the fifth year of such service, 30 
                percent of such total amount.''.

SEC. 124. EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF COMPENSATION OF TEACHERS AND 
              PRINCIPALS IN CERTAIN HIGH-NEED SCHOOLS AND TEACHING 
              HIGH-NEED SUBJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 
139A the following new section:

``SEC. 139B. COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS.

    ``(a) Principals in High-Need Schools.--In the case of an 
individual employed as a principal in a high-need school during the 
taxable year, gross income does not include so much remuneration for 
such employment (which would but for this paragraph be includible in 
gross income) as does not exceed $15,000.
    ``(b) Teachers in High-Need Schools and of High-Need Subjects.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual employed as 
        a teacher of high-need subjects and in a high-need school 
        during the taxable year, gross income does not include so much 
        remuneration for such employment (which would but for this 
        paragraph be includible in gross income) as does not exceed 
        $15,000.
            ``(2) Teacher of high-need subjects.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term `teacher of high-need subjects' means any 
        teacher in a public elementary or secondary school who--
                    ``(A)(i) teaches primarily 1 or more high-need 
                subjects in 1 or more of grades 9 through 12, or
                    ``(ii) teaches 1 or more high-need subjects in 1 or 
                more of grades kindergarten through 8,
                    ``(B) received a baccalaureate or similar degree 
                from an eligible educational institution (as defined in 
                section 25A(f)(2)) with a major in a high-need subject, 
                and
                    ``(C) is highly qualified (as defined in section 
                9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                1965 or, in the case of a special education teacher, in 
                section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities 
                Education Act).
            ``(3) High-need subjects.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        the term `high-need subject' means mathematics, science, 
        engineering and technology education, a critical-need foreign 
        language (as determined by the Secretary of Education under 
        section 222 of the New National Defense Education Act of 2006), 
        special education, teaching English language learners, or any 
        other subject identified as a high-need subject by the 
        Secretary of Education for purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Limitation on Total Remuneration Taken Into Account.--In the 
case of any individual whose employment is described in subsections (a) 
and (b)(1), the total amount of remuneration which may be taken into 
account with respect to such employment under this section for the 
taxable year shall not exceed $25,000.
    ``(d) High-Need School.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`high-need school' means a public elementary school or secondary school 
that is eligible for assistance under section 1114(a) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314(a)).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections of such part is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 139A the 
following new item:

        ``Sec. 139B. Compensation of certain teachers and 
                            principals.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to remuneration received in taxable years beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 125. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AND TEACHER 
              INSTITUTES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY THROUGH THE NATIONAL 
              SCIENCE FOUNDATION.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Sense of the senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
        that--
                    (A) the activities of the mathematics and science 
                education partnerships of the National Science 
                Foundation, described in section 9 of the National 
                Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, meet a 
                distinct need separate from other Federal investments 
                in improving science, technology, engineering, and 
                mathematics education;
                    (B) funding for the mathematics and science 
                education partnerships for fiscal year 2007 should be 
                increased to the $400,000,000 level authorized for 
                fiscal year 2005 under section 5 of such Act, and 
                increased by 10 percent annually for each of the fiscal 
                years 2008 through 2011; and
                    (C) the increase in funding for the mathematics and 
                science education partnerships should be in addition to 
                any other amounts authorized or appropriated for the 
                National Science Foundation.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations for nsf mathematics and 
        science education partnerships.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to the National Science Foundation for education 
        and human resources to carry out the mathematics and science 
        education partnerships described in section 9 of the National 
        Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, in addition to 
        the amounts authorized under section 214(b), amounts as 
        follows:
                    (A) For fiscal year 2007, $400,000,000, of which 
                $50,000,000 shall be for the teacher institutes for the 
                21st century under section 9(a)(3)(B) of the National 
                Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002.
                    (B) For fiscal year 2008, $440,000,000, of which 
                $60,000,000 shall be for the teacher institutes for the 
                21st century under such section.
                    (C) For fiscal year 2009, $484,000,000, of which 
                $70,000,000 shall be for the teacher institutes for the 
                21st century under such section.
                    (D) For fiscal year 2010, $532,400,000, of which 
                80,000,000 shall be for the teacher institutes for the 
                21st century under such section.
                    (E) For fiscal year 2011, $585,640,000, of which 
                $90,000,000 shall be for the teacher institutes for the 
                21st century under such section.
    (b) Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century.--Section 9(a) of the 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
1862n(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``summer or'' and 
        inserting ``teacher institutes for the 21st century, as 
        described in paragraph (7)'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) Teacher institutes for the 21st century.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Teacher institutes for the 21st 
                century carried out in accordance with paragraph (3)(B) 
                shall--
                            ``(i) be carried out in conjunction with a 
                        school served by the local educational agency 
                        in the partnership;
                            ``(ii) be science, mathematics, 
                        engineering, and technology focused institutes 
                        that provide professional development to 
                        elementary school and secondary school teachers 
                        during the summer;
                            ``(iii) serve teachers who are considered 
                        highly qualified (as defined in section 9101 of 
                        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965), teach high-need subjects, and teach in 
                        high-need schools (as defined in section 
                        1114(a) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965);
                            ``(iv) focus on the theme and structure 
                        developed by the Director under subparagraph 
                        (C);
                            ``(v) be content-based and build on school 
                        year curricula that are object-centered, 
                        experiment-oriented, content-based, and 
                        grounded in current research;
                            ``(vi) ensure that any pedagogy component 
                        is designed around specific strategies that are 
                        relevant to teaching the subject and content on 
                        which teachers are being trained, which may 
                        include training teachers in the essential 
                        components of adolescent literacy instruction 
                        in order to improve student reading skills 
                        within the subject areas of mathematics, 
                        science, and engineering and technology 
                        education (as defined in section 9101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965);
                            ``(vii) be a multiyear program that is 
                        conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks 
                        per year;
                            ``(viii) provide for direct interaction 
                        between students and faculty of the teacher 
                        institute;
                            ``(ix) have a component that includes the 
                        use of the Internet;
                            ``(x) provide for followup training in the 
                        classroom during the academic year for a period 
                        of not less than 3 days, which may or may not 
                        be consecutive, for participants in the teacher 
                        institute, except that for teachers in rural 
                        local educational agencies, the followup 
                        training may be provided through the Internet;
                            ``(xi) provide teachers participating in 
                        the teacher institute with travel expense 
                        reimbursement, stipends, and classroom 
                        materials related to the teacher institute; and
                            ``(xii) establish a mechanism to provide 
                        supplemental support during the academic year 
                        for teacher institute participants.
                    ``(B) Optional members of the partnership.--In 
                addition to the partnership requirement under paragraph 
                (2), an institution of higher education or eligible 
                nonprofit organization (or consortia) desiring a grant 
                for a teacher institute for the 21st century may also 
                partner with a museum or educational partnership 
                organization.
                    ``(C) Theme and structure.--Each year, not later 
                than 180 days before the application deadline for a 
                grant under this section, the Director shall, in 
                consultation with a broad group of professional 
                education organizations, develop a theme and structure 
                for the teacher institutes of the 21st century 
                supported under paragraph (3)(B).''.

SEC. 126. TEACH GRANTS; RECRUITING TEACHERS WITH MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, 
              ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, OR LANGUAGE MAJORS.

    (a) TEACH Grants.--Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                         ``PART C--TEACH GRANTS

``SEC. 231. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this part are--
            ``(1) to improve student academic achievement;
            ``(2) to help recruit and prepare teachers to meet the 
        national demand for a highly qualified teacher in every 
        classroom; and
            ``(3) to increase opportunities for Americans of all 
        educational, ethnic, class, and geographic backgrounds to 
        become highly qualified teachers.

``SEC. 232. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--
            ``(1) Payments required.--For each of the fiscal years 2007 
        through 2014, the Secretary shall pay to each eligible 
        institution of higher education such sums as may be necessary 
        to pay to each eligible student (defined in accordance with 
        section 484) who files an application and agreement in 
        accordance with section 233, and qualifies under subsection 
        (a)(2) of such section, a TEACH Grant in the amount of $7,000 
        for each academic year during which that student is in 
        attendance at an institution of higher education.
            ``(2) Reference.--Grants made under this part shall be 
        known as `Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher 
        Education Grants' or `TEACH Grants'.
    ``(b) Payment Methodology.--
            ``(1) Prepayment.--Not less than 85 percent of such sums 
        shall be advanced to eligible institutions prior to the start 
        of each payment period and shall be based upon an amount 
        requested by the institution as needed to pay eligible students 
        until such time as the Secretary determines and publishes in 
        the Federal Register with an opportunity for comment, an 
        alternative payment system that provides payments to 
        institutions in an accurate and timely manner, except that this 
        sentence shall not be construed to limit the authority of the 
        Secretary to place an institution on a reimbursement system of 
        payment.
            ``(2) Direct payment.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        interpreted to prohibit the Secretary from paying directly to 
        students, in advance of the beginning of the academic term, an 
        amount for which they are eligible, in cases where the eligible 
        institution elects not to participate in the disbursement 
        system required by paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Distribution of grants to students.--Payments under 
        this part shall be made, in accordance with regulations 
        promulgated by the Secretary for such purpose, in such manner 
        as will best accomplish the purposes of this part. Any 
        disbursement allowed to be made by crediting the student's 
        account shall be limited to tuition and fees and, in the case 
        of institutionally owned housing, room and board. The student 
        may elect to have the institution provide other such goods and 
        services by crediting the student's account.
    ``(c) Reductions in Amount.--
            ``(1) Part-time students.--In any case where a student 
        attends an institution of higher education on less than a full-
        time basis (including a student who attends an institution of 
        higher education on less than a half-time basis) during any 
        academic year, the amount of the TEACH Grant for which that 
        student is eligible shall be reduced in proportion to the 
        degree to which that student is not so attending on a full-time 
        basis, in accordance with a schedule of reductions established 
        by the Secretary for the purpose of this part, computed in 
        accordance with this part. Such schedule of reductions shall be 
        established by regulation and published in the Federal Register 
        in accordance with section 482 of this Act.
            ``(2) No exceeding cost of attendance.--No TEACH Grant for 
        a student under this part shall exceed the cost of attendance 
        (as defined in section 472) at the institution that such 
        student attends. If, with respect to any student, it is 
        determined that the amount of a TEACH Grant exceeds the cost of 
        attendance for that year, the amount of the TEACH Grant shall 
        be reduced until the TEACH Grant does not exceed the cost of 
        attendance at such institution.
    ``(d) Period of Eligibility for Grants.--
            ``(1) Undergraduate students.--The period during which an 
        undergraduate student may receive TEACH Grants shall be the 
        period required for the completion of the first undergraduate 
        baccalaureate course of study being pursued by the student at 
        the institution that the student attends, except that--
                    ``(A) any period during which the student is 
                enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of study, 
                subject to paragraph (3), shall not be counted for the 
                purpose of this paragraph; and
                    ``(B) the total amount that a student may receive 
                under this part for undergraduate study shall not 
                exceed $28,000.
            ``(2) Graduate students.--The period during which a 
        graduate student pursuing a master's degree or doctoral degree 
        may receive TEACH Grants shall be the period required for the 
        completion of a course of study for the degree at the 
        institution the student attends, except that the total amount 
        that a student may receive under this part for graduate study 
        shall not exceed $14,000 for a student pursuing a master's 
        degree or $28,000 for a student pursuing a doctoral degree.
            ``(3) Remedial course; study abroad.--Nothing in this 
        section shall exclude from eligibility a course of study that 
        is noncredit or remedial in nature (including a course in 
        English language acquisition) if such course is determined by 
        the institution to be necessary to help the student be prepared 
        for the pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate degree 
        or certificate or, in the case of courses in English language 
        instruction, to be necessary to enable the student to utilize 
        existing knowledge, training, or skills. Nothing in this 
        section shall exclude from eligibility a program of study 
        abroad that is approved for credit by the home institution at 
        which the student is enrolled.

``SEC. 233. ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS.

    ``(a) Applications; Demonstration of Eligibility.--
            ``(1) Filing required.--The Secretary shall from time to 
        time set dates by which students shall file applications for 
        TEACH Grants under this part. Each student desiring a TEACH 
        Grant for any year shall file an application therefore 
        containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may 
        deem necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out the 
        functions and responsibilities of this part.
            ``(2) Demonstration of eligibility.--Each such application 
        shall contain such information as is necessary to demonstrate 
        that--
                    ``(A) if the applicant is an enrolled student--
                            ``(i) the student is an eligible student 
                        for purposes of section 484 (other than 
                        subsection (r) of such section);
                            ``(ii) the student--
                                    ``(I) has a grade point average 
                                that is determined, under standards 
                                prescribed by the Secretary, to be 
                                comparable to a 3.25 average on a zero 
                                to 4.0 scale, except that, if the 
                                student is in the first year of a 
                                program of undergraduate education, 
                                such grade point average shall be 
                                determined on the basis of the 
                                student's cumulative secondary school 
                                grade point average; or
                                    ``(II) displayed high academic 
                                aptitude by receiving a score above the 
                                75th percentile on at least 1 of the 
                                batteries in an undergraduate or 
                                graduate school admissions test; and
                            ``(iii) the student is completing 
                        coursework and other requirements necessary to 
                        begin a career in teaching, or plans to 
                        complete such coursework and requirements prior 
                        to graduating; or
                    ``(B) if the applicant is a current or prospective 
                teacher applying for a grant to obtain a graduate 
                degree--
                            ``(i) the applicant is a teacher or a 
                        retiree from another occupation with expertise 
                        in a field in which there is a shortage of 
                        teachers, such as mathematics, science, 
                        engineering and technology education, a 
                        critical-need foreign language (as determined 
                        by the Secretary under section 222 of the New 
                        National Defense Education Act of 2006), 
                        special education, English language 
                        acquisition, or another high-need subject; or
                            ``(ii) the applicant is or was a teacher 
                        who is using high-quality alternative 
                        certification routes, such as Teach for 
                        America, to get certified.
    ``(b) Agreements To Serve.--Each application under subsection (a) 
shall contain or be accompanied by an agreement by the applicant that--
            ``(1) the applicant will--
                    ``(A) serve as a full-time teacher for a total of 
                not less than 4 academic years within 8 years after 
                completing the course of study for which the applicant 
                receives a TEACH Grant under this part;
                    ``(B) teach--
                            ``(i) in a school eligible for assistance 
                        under section 1114(a) of the Elementary and 
                        Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
                            ``(ii) in any of the following fields: 
                        mathematics, science, engineering and 
                        technology education, a critical-need foreign 
                        language (as determined by the Secretary under 
                        section 222 of the New National Defense 
                        Education Act of 2006), bilingual education, or 
                        special education, or as a reading specialist, 
                        or another field documented as high-need by the 
                        Federal Government, State government, or local 
                        educational agency and submitted to the 
                        Secretary;
                    ``(C) submit evidence of such employment in the 
                form of a certification by the chief administrative 
                officer of the school upon completion of each year of 
                such service; and
                    ``(D) comply with the requirements for being a 
                highly qualified teacher as defined in section 9101 of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or, 
                in the case of a special education teacher, in section 
                602 of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act; 
                and
            ``(2) in the event that the applicant is determined to have 
        failed or refused to carry out such service obligation, the sum 
        of the amounts of such TEACH Grants will be treated as a loan 
        and collected from the applicant in accordance with subsection 
        (c) and the regulations thereunder.
    ``(c) Repayment for Failure To Complete Service.--In the event that 
any recipient of a TEACH Grant fails or refuses to comply with the 
service obligation in the agreement under subsection (b), the sum of 
the amounts of such TEACH Grants provided to such recipient shall be 
treated as a Direct Loan under part D of title IV, and shall be subject 
to repayment in accordance with terms and conditions specified by the 
Secretary in regulations promulgated to carry out this part.

``SEC. 234. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$600,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

 ``PART D--RECRUITING TEACHERS WITH MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, 
                     TECHNOLOGY, OR LANGUAGE MAJORS

``SEC. 241. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) Definition of High-Need School.--In this section, the term 
`high-need school' means a school described in section 1114(a) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under 
        section 242, the Secretary shall make competitive grants to 
        institutions of higher education to improve the availability 
        and recruitment of teachers from among students majoring in 
        mathematics, science, engineering, technology, a critical-need 
        foreign language (as determined by the Secretary under section 
        222 of the New National Defense Education Act of 2006), special 
        education, or teaching the English language to students with 
        limited English proficiency.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher 
        education offering programs that--
                    ``(A) focus on preparing teachers in subjects in 
                which there is a shortage of highly qualified teachers 
                and increasing the number of teachers from minority or 
                underrepresented groups; and
                    ``(B) prepare students to teach in high-need 
                schools.
    ``(c) Application.--Any institution of higher education desiring to 
obtain a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such form, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary may require, which shall--
            ``(1) include reporting on baseline production of 
        teachers--
                    ``(A) with expertise in mathematics, science, a 
                critical-need foreign language, special education, or 
                teaching students with limited English proficiency;
                    ``(B) from minorities or underrepresented groups; 
                and
                    ``(C) who teach for 5 years or more in a high-need 
                school; and
            ``(2) establish a goal and timeline for increasing the 
        number of teachers described in each subparagraph of paragraph 
        (1) who are prepared for teaching by the institution.
    ``(d) Grant Award Amounts.--In determining the amount of a grant 
award under this section to an institution of higher education, the 
Secretary shall consider--
            ``(1) the extent to which the institution--
                    ``(A) focuses on preparing teachers in subjects in 
                which there is a shortage of highly qualified teachers 
                and increasing the number of teachers from minority or 
                underrepresented groups; and
                    ``(B) prepares students to teach in high-need 
                schools; and
            ``(2) in the case of an institution that has previously 
        received a grant under this section, the progress made by the 
        institution in increasing the number of teachers described in 
        subsection (c)(1), as compared to the baseline production of 
        such teachers reported in the institution's initial 
        application.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--Funds made available by a grant under this 
section--
            ``(1) shall be used to create new recruitment incentives to 
        teaching for students from other majors, with an emphasis on 
        high-need subjects such as mathematics, science, engineering 
        and technology education, a critical-need foreign language, 
        special education, and teaching the English language to 
        students with limited English proficiency and other subjects 
        identified as high-need by the Federal Government, State 
        government, or local educational agency;
            ``(2) may be used to upgrade the curriculum in order to 
        provide all students studying to become teachers with high-
        quality instructional strategies for teaching reading and 
        teaching the English language to students with limited English 
        proficiency, and for modifying instruction to teach students 
        with special needs;
            ``(3) may be used to integrate school of education faculty 
        with other arts and science faculty in mathematics, science, 
        engineering, technology, a critical-need foreign language, or 
        teaching the English language to students with limited English 
        proficiency, through steps such as--
                    ``(A) dual appointments for faculty between schools 
                of education and schools of arts and science or 
                engineering; and
                    ``(B) integrating coursework with clinical 
                experience;
            ``(4) may be used to develop strategic plans between 
        schools of education and local educational agencies to better 
        prepare teachers for high-need schools, including the creation 
        of professional development partnerships for training new 
        teachers in state-of-the-art practice;
            ``(5) may be used to create pilot programs to foster 
        collaborations at the institution of higher education between a 
        school of science, mathematics, or engineering, or a foreign 
        language department or language center, and a school of 
        education in order to enable the collaborating entities to 
        develop a 4-year program of study that would combine a 
        baccalaureate degree in mathematics, science, engineering, or 
        technology with concurrent teacher certification or licensure; 
        and
            ``(6) may be used to develop and implement a master's 
        degree program for current mathematics, science, or engineering 
        and technology education teachers that--
                    ``(A) will strengthen the participating teachers' 
                subject area knowledge and pedagogical skills; and
                    ``(B) shall be designed to allow a teacher to 
                enroll in the program on a part-time basis and obtain a 
                master's degree within a 2-year period.
    ``(f) Reports.--For each year that an institution of higher 
education receives a grant under this section, the institution of 
higher education shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an annual 
report documenting the baseline data regarding the teachers described 
in subsection (c)(1) and the progress made toward increasing the number 
of such teachers, as described in subsection (c)(2).

``SEC. 242. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Part A Authorization.--Section 210 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1030) is amended by striking ``$300,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1999'' and inserting ``$400,000,000 for fiscal year 2007''.

              Subtitle C--Ensuring College Access for All

SEC. 131. CONTRACT FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY (CEO) GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Cohort.--The term ``cohort'' means a group of students 
        in a State who are in the same grade for an identified school 
        year.
            (2) Expected family contribution.--The term ``expected 
        family contribution'', with respect to a student, means the 
        student's expected family contribution as determined in 
        accordance with part F of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1087kk et seq.).
            (3) Unmet need.--The term ``unmet need'', with respect to a 
        student, means the difference between the cost of attendance 
        (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 108711) to attend an institution of higher education 
        for an academic year and the resources available to the student 
        for such academic year, including Federal, State, and 
        institutional financial assistance and the student's expected 
        family contribution.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            (1) to encourage States to provide a financial aid 
        guarantee for low-income students;
            (2) to increase student academic performance and 
        achievement;
            (3) to increase public school secondary school graduation 
        rates as well as enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates 
        in public and private institutions of higher education, 
        especially among low-income and underrepresented minority 
        students; and
            (4) to improve the overall quality and supply of a State's 
        workforce.
    (c) Payments to States Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall pay to States the 
        Federal share, as determined under subsection (e), in order to 
        assist the States in awarding contract for educational 
        opportunity grants (referred to in this section as ``CEO 
        grants''), under subsection (g) to students in a cohort who 
        sign a contract for educational opportunity in grade 8 and 
        satisfy the requirements of the contract. A CEO grant shall 
        provide each such student with a need-based financial aid 
        guarantee, in an amount equal to the student's calculated unmet 
        need to attend a 2- or 4-year degree-granting public 
        institution of higher education in the State, to enable the 
        student to attend a 2- or 4-year degree-granting public or 
        private institution of higher education in the State.
            (2) Mandatory spending.--This subsection constitutes budget 
        authority in advance of appropriations Acts and represents the 
        obligation of the Secretary to provide for the payment of 
        amounts provided under this subsection.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--A State desiring a payment under 
        subsection (c) shall submit, through the State agency 
        identified in the application, to the Secretary an application 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Application.--An application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) A description of how the State will establish a 
                State benchmark for increasing the overall public 
                school secondary school graduation rate and the 
                enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates at the 
                State's 2- and 4-year degree-granting public and 
                private institutions of higher education, as well as a 
                description of strategies and activities the State will 
                employ to achieve the State's set goals as reflected in 
                the benchmark.
                    (B) The identification of the State agency that 
                will administer the CEO grants program, and a 
                description of the State agency's capacity to 
                administer such program.
                    (C) A description of the entities that will 
                contribute funds for the non-Federal share of the CEO 
                grants program.
                    (D) A description of the State's academic and 
                nonacademic components of the contract for educational 
                opportunity, including 100 hours of community service, 
                and how the State defines satisfactory academic 
                progress toward completing coursework that leads to a 
                secondary school diploma.
                    (E) A description of how the State agency will 
                provide access for all students to a State curriculum 
                that prepares the students to enter into credit-bearing 
                coursework in higher education without the need for 
                remediation, the 21st century workforce, or the Armed 
                Forces.
                    (F) A description of how the State agency will 
                notify students in grade 7 of their eligibility to 
                participate in the CEO grants program and earn a CEO 
                grant, as well as how the State will specifically 
                target students from low-income and underrepresented 
                minority families.
                    (G) A description of how the State agency will 
                regularly communicate with a cohort from the time the 
                students sign the contract for educational opportunity 
                through the period that the students are eligible for 
                CEO grants.
                    (H) An assurance that the State will award a CEO 
                grant, in the amount of the student's calculated unmet 
                need to attend a 2- or 4-year degree-granting public 
                institution of higher education in the State, to each 
                student who successfully meets the requirements of the 
                contract for educational opportunity.
                    (I) An assurance that decisions regarding the 
                State's higher education budget shall not lead to 
                increases in tuition and fees at public 2- or 4-year 
                degree-granting institutions of higher education that 
                are greater than the Consumer Price Index.
                    (J) An assurance that the State shall maintain 
                current levels of investment in State student aid 
                programs in addition to providing the non-Federal share 
                required under subsection (e)(4).
    (e) Payments; Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall pay the Federal share 
        of the CEO grants program, in the amount described in paragraph 
        (4), to each State that submits a complete application pursuant 
        to subsection (d).
            (2) Use of funds.--The Federal share and non-Federal share 
        described in paragraph (4) shall be used exclusively for 
        awarding financial aid grants to cover the unmet need for all 
        students in a cohort who have successfully met the components 
        of the State's contract, except that a State may use not more 
        than 2 percent of such funds for administrative purposes.
            (3) Subsequent payments.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall make 
                subsequent annual payments for future cohorts to 
                States, in accordance with paragraph (4), that receive 
                a payment under this section and that are not 
                determined to be ineligible under subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Ineligibility.--
                            (i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the Secretary shall determine a 
                        State to be temporarily ineligible to receive a 
                        payment under subparagraph (A) if--
                                    (I) the State fails to submit an 
                                annual report pursuant to subsection 
                                (h); or
                                    (II) the Secretary determines, 
                                based on information submitted in the 
                                annual report submitted under 
                                subsection (h), that--
                                            (aa) the State is not 
                                        effectively meeting the terms 
                                        and goals of the application; 
                                        or
                                            (bb) that the State is not 
                                        making satisfactory progress 
                                        toward the benchmark set forth 
                                        in subsection (d)(2)(A).
                            (ii) Ineligibility not to affect certain 
                        cohorts.--A determination of ineligibility to 
                        receive subsequent payments for future cohorts 
                        under clause (i) with respect to a State shall 
                        not apply to payments for students in a cohort 
                        in the State who are in grade 8, 9, 10, 11, or 
                        12 at the time of the determination.
                            (iii) Reinstatement.--If the Secretary 
                        determines a State is ineligible under clause 
                        (i), the Secretary may enter into an agreement 
                        with the State setting forth the terms and 
                        conditions under which the State may regain 
                        eligibility to receive payments under this 
                        section.
            (4) Matching requirement.--The amount of the Federal share 
        under this section for an academic year shall be equal to the 
        amount of the non-Federal share provided by the State for such 
        year. The sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal share 
        for an academic year shall be an amount equal to the total 
        unmet need, for the academic year, to attend a 2- or 4-year 
        degree-granting public institution of higher education in the 
        State, for all students in an identified cohort that complete 
        all eligibility requirements of a contract for educational 
        opportunity.
    (f) Reallotment or Redistribution of Funds.--If funds remain for a 
cohort for 6 years after the cohort has graduated from secondary 
school, the State shall return excess Federal funds to the Secretary. 
Any returned excess funds shall be used by the Secretary to carry out 
the program under this section.
    (g) CEO Grants.--
            (1) In general.--A State receiving a payment under 
        subsection (c) for a cohort shall provide, in the amount 
        determined under paragraph (3), a CEO grant to each student in 
        the cohort who--
                    (A) successfully completes the requirements of the 
                contract for educational opportunity; and
                    (B) enrolls in a 2- or 4-year degree-granting 
                institution of higher education in the State not later 
                than 2 years after receiving a secondary school 
                diploma.
            (2) Contracts for educational opportunity.--
                    (A) In general.--A student who is in a cohort for 
                which a State is eligible for payments under subsection 
                (c) and who desires to receive a CEO grant shall sign a 
                contract for educational opportunity when the student 
                begins grade 8 stating that the student will carry out 
                all of the following by the time the student graduates 
                from secondary school:
                            (i) Receive a secondary school diploma.
                            (ii) By the beginning of grade 11 (except 
                        as provided in subparagraph (B)), demonstrate 
                        satisfactory academic progress (as determined 
                        by the State agency) toward completing 
                        coursework that leads to a secondary school 
                        diploma.
                            (iii) Complete the academic components of 
                        the State contract for educational opportunity, 
                        as determined by the State agency.
                            (iv) Complete the nonacademic portion of 
                        the State contract for educational opportunity 
                        (as determined by the State agency), including 
                        100 hours of community service, of which at 
                        least 50 hours of community service shall be 
                        completed before the student begins grade 11 
                        (except as provided in subparagraph (B)).
                            (v) Apply for admission to a 2- or 4-year 
                        degree-granting institution of higher education 
                        in the State.
                            (vi) Preceding the date that the student 
                        intends to enroll in an institution of higher 
                        education, file for Federal financial aid.
                    (B) Special circumstances.--
                            (i) Transition.--During the academic year 
                        following the date of enactment of this Act, in 
                        the case of students in a cohort who are in 
                        grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 for such academic year, 
                        the students of such cohort shall be eligible 
                        for CEO grants if such students sign the 
                        contract for educational opportunity during the 
                        academic year and otherwise complete all of the 
                        eligibility requirements for the contract for 
                        educational opportunity under subparagraph (A) 
                        as applicable and by such time as determined by 
                        the State and approved by the Secretary.
                            (ii) Students who move into the state.--In 
                        the case of a student who moves into a State 
                        after the student begins grade 8, such student 
                        shall be eligible for a CEO grant from such 
                        State if such student signs the contract for 
                        educational opportunity at the time the student 
                        moves into the State and the student otherwise 
                        completes all of the eligibility requirements 
                        for the contract for educational opportunity 
                        under subparagraph (A), as applicable and by 
                        such time as determined by the State and 
                        approved by the Secretary.
            (3) Amount of ceo grants.--
                    (A) In general.--A CEO grant for an academic year 
                shall be in an amount equal to the student's calculated 
                unmet need to attend a 2- or 4-year degree-granting 
                public institution of higher education in the State for 
                such year.
                    (B) Private institutions.--A CEO grant for a 
                student who elects to enroll in a private 2- or 4-year 
                degree-granting public institution of higher education 
                in the State shall be in the amount described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            (4) Multiple grants.--
                    (A) In general.--A State shall award a CEO grant to 
                a student who meets the requirements of this section 
                for each academic year that the student attends a 2- or 
                4-year degree-granting institution of higher education 
                in the State.
                    (B) Maximum number of grants.--During the 6-year 
                period beginning on the date of receipt of a CEO grant 
                under this subsection, a student who meets the 
                requirements of this subsection shall be eligible to 
                receive a CEO grant for each year that the student is 
                enrolled in a 2- or 4-year degree-granting institution 
                of higher education in the State, except that no 
                student shall receive a total of more than 4 CEO 
                grants.
            (5) Ineligibility.--A student who otherwise meets the 
        requirements for a CEO grant shall be ineligible if the student 
        fails to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing, as 
        determined by the institution of higher education that the 
        student attends, or is dismissed from the institution of higher 
        education for disciplinary reasons.
    (h) Evaluation and Report.--A State receiving a payment under 
subsection (c) for a cohort shall prepare and submit an annual report 
to the Secretary on the success of the cohort. The State report shall 
include the following:
            (1) The following information relating to the students in 
        the cohort who sign a contract for educational opportunity, as 
        applicable:
                    (A) The participation and completion rates in the 
                CEO grants program under this section.
                    (B) The public school secondary school graduation 
                rate and how the rate relates to the established State 
                benchmark described in subsection (d)(2).
                    (C) The rate of enrollment in public and private 
                institutions of higher education and how the rate 
                relates to the established State benchmark.
                    (D) The rate of persistence in public and private 
                institutions of higher education and how the rate 
                relates to the established State benchmark.
                    (E) The rate of graduation from public and private 
                institutions of higher education and how the rate 
                relates to the established State benchmark.
                    (F) Average CEO grant aid per student.
                    (G) A description of, and justification for, any 
                increase in tuition and fees at the public 2- or 4-year 
                degree-granting institutions of higher education in the 
                State.
            (2) A comparison of the rates described in subparagraphs 
        (B) through (E) of paragraph (1) for students in the cohort who 
        sign a contract for educational opportunity to such rates for a 
        representative sample of students in the cohort in the State 
        who do not sign a contract.

   TITLE II--ARMING AMERICANS WITH 21ST CENTURY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

     Subtitle A--Increasing the Number of New American Scientists, 
                    Engineers, and Language Experts

SEC. 211. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this subtitle is to increase the number of low-
income and middle-income students who pursue careers in mathematics, 
science, technology, engineering, and critical-need foreign languages.

SEC. 212. GRANTS FOR STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND 
              ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Grants for Strengthening Mathematics, Science, and Engineering 
and Technology Education Infrastructure.--Part D of title V of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

   ``SUBPART 22--GRANTS FOR STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND 
          ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE

``SEC. 5621. GRANTS FOR STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND 
              ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to improve 
mathematics, science, and engineering and technology education 
infrastructure in public elementary schools and secondary schools to 
facilitate improved educational opportunities for all students.
    ``(b) Definition of High-Need.--In this section, the term `high-
need', when used with respect to a school, means a public elementary 
school or secondary school that is eligible for assistance under 
section 1114(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    ``(c) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under section 
5401(b) for a fiscal year, and subject to subsection (d), the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, shall award grants to local educational agencies to enable 
the local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (g).
    ``(d) Reservation of Funds.--From amounts appropriated under 
section 5401(b) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve a total 
of \1/2\ of 1 percent for the Secretary of the Interior to award grants 
to elementary schools and secondary schools operated or funded by the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs to enable such elementary schools and 
secondary schools to carry out the activities described in subsection 
(g).
    ``(e) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
        grant under subsection (c) shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--The application described in paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the activities under 
                subsection (g) for which assistance is sought and the 
                costs of such activities.
                    ``(B) A description of the process through which 
                the local educational agency identified the activities 
                described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Clear principles that the local educational 
                agency used to determine the priority of qualifying 
                activities under this section that prioritize the use 
                of quantitative data, such as student achievement on 
                standardized assessments and income data, in order to 
                give priority to projects benefiting high-need schools.
                    ``(D) An assurance that the local educational 
                agency will provide a complete and detailed accounting 
                of the use of grant funds awarded to the local 
                educational agency under this section.
                    ``(E) A description of the evaluation process that 
                will assess the accomplishments of the program.
    ``(f) Application Approval.--
            ``(1) Determination in consultation with national science 
        foundation.--The Secretary shall review each application 
        submitted under subsection (e) to determine whether the 
        application is sufficient. In making such a determination, the 
        Secretary shall consult with the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation, in part to ensure that the application is 
        coordinated with any preexisting National Science Foundation 
        initiatives in the State.
            ``(2) Determination of insufficient application.--If the 
        Secretary determines that an application submitted by a local 
        educational agency does not meet the requirements of paragraph 
        (1) or subsection (e), the Secretary shall provide the local 
        educational agency with--
                    ``(A) a written explanation of why the application 
                did not comply with such requirements; and
                    ``(B) an opportunity to submit an amended 
                application.
            ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to local educational agencies 
        with a high percentage of high-need schools.
    ``(g) Required Use of Funds.--A local educational agency that 
receives a grant under subsection (c) shall use grant funds, in 
accordance with the application of the local educational agency, to 
carry out not less than 1 of the following:
            ``(1) The purchase or refurbishment of mathematics, 
        science, and engineering and technology education equipment, 
        including laboratory equipment.
            ``(2) The purchase of instructional materials or curricula 
        with proven effectiveness in improving mathematics, science, 
        and engineering and technology education outcomes, including 
        age-appropriate reading materials on varying grade levels that 
        provide poor readers with access to mathematics, science, and 
        engineering and technology education subject matter.
            ``(3) Support for a science, mathematics, or engineering 
        and technology education specialist in each school who is 
        responsible for--
                    ``(A) assisting in the implementation of the 
                school's science, mathematics, or engineering and 
                technology education program;
                    ``(B) assisting other teachers in delivering 
                quality instruction;
                    ``(C) assisting in identifying and developing 
                professional development opportunities tied to the 
                curriculum; and
                    ``(D) providing guidance on curricula, equipment, 
                and other components necessary for high-quality 
                instruction.
            ``(4) Any other directly related activity--
                    ``(A) identified by the local educational agency in 
                the application required under subsection (e); and
                    ``(B) approved by the Secretary, in consultation 
                with the Director of the National Science Foundation.
    ``(h) Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--A local educational agency that receives 
        a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall submit, not 
        later than January 31 of the succeeding fiscal year, a report 
        in such form and containing such information as the Secretary 
        determines to be reasonably necessary to evaluate the 
        compliance of the local educational agency with the provisions 
        of this section.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report described in paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the activities carried out 
                with grant funds under this section.
                    ``(B) A complete and detailed accounting of the use 
                of funds awarded under this section, including how the 
                local educational agency gave priority to projects 
                benefiting students served by high-need schools.
                    ``(C) A description of how the local educational 
                agency assesses the impact of the program.
                    ``(D) A description of how students were served by 
                the projects assisted under this section, including any 
                expansion of inquiry-based learning opportunities, and 
                an accounting of the approximate number of students so 
                served.
                    ``(E) An accounting of student academic progress 
                made as a result of activities funded under this 
                section, using previously established statewide 
                academic achievement assessments in mathematics and 
                science.
                    ``(F) Qualitative testimony from students, 
                teachers, administrators, or parents on the effect of 
                activities funded under this section.
            ``(3) Penalty.--A local educational agency that receives a 
        grant under this section for a fiscal year but does not submit 
        the report required under this subsection shall not be eligible 
        to receive any subsequent grant funds under this section.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5401 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``this part'' and inserting ``this part 
        (excluding subpart 22)'';
            (2) by striking ``There are'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) General Authorization.--There are''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and Technology 
Education Infrastructure.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out subpart 22, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5618 the following:

   ``Subpart 22--Grants for Strengthening Mathematics, Science, and 
          Engineering and Technology Education Infrastructure

        ``Sec. 5621. Grants for strengthening mathematics, science, and 
                            engineering and technology education 
                            infrastructure.''.

SEC. 213. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, AND CRITICAL-
              NEED FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOLARS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
    (b) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
(j) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall carry out a program to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education (or 
consortia of such institutions) to enable the institutions of higher 
education (or consortia) to provide scholarships to make higher 
education tuition free for low-income and middle-income undergraduate 
and graduate students who are enrolled at the institutions of higher 
education to earn degrees in science, technology, engineering, 
mathematics, and critical-need foreign languages (as determined by the 
Secretary under section 222).
    (c) Application.--An institution of higher education or a 
consortium seeking a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give special consideration to programs that--
            (1) are a central organizational focus of the institution 
        of higher education or consortium;
            (2) enable scholarship recipients to become successful 
        members of the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, 
        and critical-need foreign language 21st century workforce; and
            (3) recruit undergraduate and graduate students, especially 
        female and underrepresented minority students, who would 
        otherwise not pursue careers in science, technology, 
        engineering, mathematics, or a critical-need foreign language.
    (e) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education or a 
consortium receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds to carry out a program to encourage low-income and middle-income 
undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the institution of 
higher education, or at an institution of higher education that is a 
member of the consortium, respectively, to earn degrees in science, 
technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical-need foreign 
language, through administering scholarships in accordance with 
subsection (f).
    (f) Scholarships.--
            (1) Scholarship requirements.--Scholarships under this 
        subsection shall be available to a student enrolled at an 
        institution of higher education that receives a grant under 
        this section or is a member of a consortium that receives a 
        grant under this section--
                    (A)(i) whose parents have an adjusted gross income 
                for the most recent tax year available of--
                            (I) less than $53,000 if single; or
                            (II) less than $107,000 if married; or
                    (ii) in the case of a student who is independent 
                (as defined in section 480 of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), who meets the adjusted 
                gross income requirements of clause (i); and
                    (B)(i) in the case of a student in the first or 
                second year of a program of undergraduate education, 
                who enrolls in prerequisite courses for a baccalaureate 
                degree with a major in science, technology, 
                engineering, mathematics, or a critical-need foreign 
                language, as determined by the institution of higher 
                education that the student attends;
                    (ii) in the case of a student who has completed 2 
                years of a program of undergraduate education, who is 
                pursuing a baccalaureate degree with a major in 
                science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
                critical-need foreign language; or
                    (iii) in the case of a graduate student, who is 
                pursuing a graduate degree in science, technology, 
                engineering, mathematics, or a critical-need foreign 
                language.
            (2) Amount.--
                    (A) Annual amount.--An institution of higher 
                education or consortium that receives a grant under 
                this section shall award a scholarship to a student 
                described in paragraph (1) in an amount that does not 
                exceed $5,500 per academic year, except that no student 
                shall receive for any academic year an amount that is 
                more than the cost of attendance, as determined under 
                section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1087ll)), at the institution where the student 
                is enrolled for such academic year.
                    (B) Reductions in amount for part-time students.--
                In any case where a student attends an institution of 
                higher education on less than a full-time basis 
                (including a student who attends an institution of 
                higher education on less than a half-time basis) during 
                any academic year, the amount of the scholarship for 
                which that student is eligible shall be reduced in 
                proportion to the degree to which that student is not 
                so attending on a full-time basis, in accordance with a 
                schedule of reductions established by the Secretary for 
                the purpose of this section, computed in accordance 
                with this subsection. Such schedule of reductions shall 
                be established by regulation and published in the 
                Federal Register in accordance with the schedule 
                described in section 482 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089).
                    (C) Cumulative amount.--An institution of higher 
                education or consortium receiving a grant under this 
                section may award an individual a scholarship under 
                this subsection for more than 1 year, or for both 
                undergraduate and graduate study, except that--
                            (i) no individual shall receive a total 
                        amount of scholarship support under this 
                        subsection for undergraduate study that is more 
                        than $22,000; and
                            (ii) no individual shall receive a total 
                        amount of scholarship support under this 
                        section for graduate study that is more than 
                        $22,000.
    (g) Conditions of Support.--As a condition of acceptance of a 
scholarship under this section, a recipient shall enter into an 
agreement with the institution of higher education or consortium--
            (1) accepting the terms of the scholarship; and
            (2) agreeing to provide the awarding institution of higher 
        education or consortium with up-to-date contact information and 
        to participate in surveys provided by the Secretary of 
        Education, institution of higher education, or consortium as 
        part of an assessment program.
    (h) Failure To Complete Obligation.--
            (1) General rule.--An individual who has received a 
        scholarship under this section shall be liable to the 
        institution of higher education or consortium that awarded the 
        scholarship, as well as to the United States, for the amount of 
        the scholarship, if such individual--
                    (A) fails to maintain an acceptable level of 
                academic standing in the institution of higher 
                education in which the individual is enrolled, as 
                determined by the institution of higher education;
                    (B) is dismissed from such institution for 
                disciplinary reasons; or
                    (C) withdraws from the baccalaureate or graduate 
                degree program for which the scholarship was made 
                before the completion of such program, and does not 
                transfer into another program that meets the 
                requirements of subsection (f)(1)(B).
            (2) Exclusion from future scholarships.--If a circumstance 
        described in paragraph (1) occurs, all of the following shall 
        apply:
                    (A) Nonrenewal of scholarship.--The institution of 
                higher education or consortium shall not renew the 
                scholarship to the individual. However, at the 
                discretion of the institution of higher education or 
                consortium awarding the scholarship, an individual may 
                regain eligibility for a scholarship under this section 
                after completing not less than 1 academic term at the 
                institution, if the individual--
                            (i) maintains an acceptable level of 
                        academic standing in the institution of higher 
                        education, as determined by the institution; 
                        and
                            (ii) reenrolls in the baccalaureate or 
                        graduate degree program for which the 
                        scholarship was made.
                    (B) Ineligibility for federal scholarships.--The 
                individual shall become automatically ineligible to 
                participate in any Federal scholarship programs for 
                future years.
            (3) Use of recovered scholarship funds.--An institution of 
        higher education or consortium that recovers funds under 
        paragraph (1) shall use such funds to provide additional 
        scholarships under subsection (f).
    (i) Data Collection.--An institution of higher education or 
consortium receiving a grant under this section shall supply to the 
Secretary any relevant statistical and demographic data on scholarship 
recipients the Secretary may request.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $750,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 214. EXPANSION OF NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EDUCATION AND HUMAN 
              RESOURCES DIRECTORATE.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure the 
continued involvement of experts at the National Science Foundation in 
improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at the 
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels by doubling funding for 
the education and human resources programs of the National Science 
Foundation, in addition to the increases made under section 125 for the 
mathematics and science partnerships described in section 9 of the 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 and in addition 
to any other amounts authorized or appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations for NSF Education and Human 
Resources.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation for education and human resources, in addition to 
the amounts authorized under section 125(a)(2), amounts as follows:
            (1) For fiscal year 2007, $886,810,000.
            (2) For fiscal year 2008, $1,040,110,000.
            (3) For fiscal year 2009, $1,193,410,000.
            (4) For fiscal year 2010, $1,346,710,000.
            (5) For fiscal year 2011, $1,500,000,000.
    (c) Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent 
Expansion Program.--Section 8(7)(C) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vi) as subclauses 
        (I) through (VI), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
            (2) by striking ``include those that promote high quality--
        '' and inserting ``include programs that--
                    ``(i) promote high-quality--''; and
            (3) in clause (i)--
                    (A) in subclause (III) (as redesignated by 
                paragraph (1)), by striking ``for students;'' and 
                inserting ``for students, especially underrepresented 
                minority and female mathematics, science, engineering, 
                and technology students;''; and
                    (B) in subclause (VI) (as redesignated by paragraph 
                (1)), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; 
                and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(ii) finance summer internships for mathematics, 
                science, engineering, and technology undergraduate 
                students;
                    ``(iii) facilitate smaller mathematics, science, 
                engineering, and technology class sizes;
                    ``(iv) facilitate the hiring of additional 
                mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
                faculty;
                    ``(v) serve as bridges to enable underrepresented 
                minority and female secondary school students to obtain 
                extra mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
                training prior to entering an institution of higher 
                education; and
                    ``(vi) finance mathematics, science, engineering, 
                and technology student research activities.''.

           Subtitle B--Improving Global Knowledge and Skills

SEC. 221. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
            (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (2) Local educational agency; state educational agency.--
        The terms ``local educational agency'' and ``State educational 
        agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.

SEC. 222. CRITICAL-NEED LANGUAGES.

    The Secretary shall, prior to requesting applications for grants 
under this subtitle during each grant cycle, consult with, and receive 
recommendations regarding, critical need for expertise in foreign 
languages and world regions from the head official, or a designee of 
such head official, of the National Security Council, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor, and the 
Department of Commerce, and the Director of National Intelligence. The 
Secretary shall take into account such recommendations when developing 
a list of critical-need languages and when requesting applications for 
grants under this subtitle. The Secretary shall also make available to 
applicants the list of the critical-need languages for the grant cycle.

SEC. 223. CRITICAL-NEED LANGUAGE PROGRAM GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a State educational agency; or
                    (B) a partnership between a local educational 
                agency and an institution of higher education.
            (2) High-need school.--The term ``high-need school'' means 
        a public elementary or secondary school that is eligible for 
        assistance under section 1114(a) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314(a)).
    (b) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities 
to develop programs that allow students to be exposed to and immersed 
in other languages and cultures from the early grades throughout the 
students' education.
    (c) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    (d) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that will use grant 
funds for programs that target a high-need school.
    (e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under this 
section shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the following:
            (1) Establish and maintain programs in a critical-need 
        language (as determined by the Secretary under section 222) in 
        the elementary schools served by the eligible entity.
            (2) Offer additional or more advanced critical-need 
        language classes in middle schools and secondary schools.
            (3) Create and implement effective models of instruction in 
        critical-need languages and world cultures.
            (4) Create and maintain internationally themed schools 
        that--
                    (A) offer dual language immersion programs;
                    (B) focus on international content; and
                    (C) use technology to bring the world into the 
                classroom virtually.
    (f) Technical Assistance Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into contracts 
        with entities to establish a system of regional critical-need 
        foreign language technical assistance centers focused on 
        developing critical-need language programs in kindergarten 
        through grade 12 education.
            (2) Application.--An entity desiring a contract under this 
        subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require.
            (3) Activities.--Each center established under this 
        subsection shall--
                    (A) assist States and local educational agencies in 
                developing critical-need language curricula; and
                    (B) disseminate best practices in the field.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the last day of the grant 
or contract period, an eligible entity receiving a grant under 
subsection (a) or an entity receiving a contract under subsection (f) 
shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary describing the 
supported activities.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 224. INTERNATIONAL SUMMER INSTITUTE GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or nonprofit 
organizations (or consortia of such institutions or organizations) to 
carry out summer institute programs that help teachers integrate 
international content into the curricula and improve the teachers' 
knowledge and teaching of foreign cultures.
    (b) Partnership.--In order to receive a grant under this section, 
an institution of higher education or a nonprofit organization (or a 
consortium of such institutions or organizations) shall enter into a 
partnership with a local educational agency to carry out the grant 
activities.
    (c) Application.--An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
organization, or consortium desiring a grant under this section shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
organization, or consortium receiving a grant under this section shall 
use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the following:
            (1) Integrate international content into existing summer 
        institute programs.
            (2) Assist States in creating new summer institutes to 
        prepare teachers--
                    (A) to teach international subjects, such as world 
                history, global economics, and geography; and
                    (B) to integrate international content into other 
                subjects to improve global competence.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the last day of the grant 
period, an institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or 
consortium receiving a grant under this section shall prepare and 
submit a report to the Secretary describing the grant activities.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 225. INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase study 
abroad and foreign language study opportunities in critical-need 
languages for secondary school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
    (b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means--
            (1) an institution of higher education;
            (2) a consortium of institutions of higher education;
            (3) an institution of higher education in partnership with 
        an international university;
            (4) an institution of higher education in partnership with 
        a local educational agency;
            (5) a State educational agency; or   
            (6) a local educational agency.
    (c) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under this 
section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities 
to establish or strengthen foreign language study programs in critical-
need languages, as determined by the Secretary under section 222.
    (d) Amount and Duration of Grant.--Each grant awarded under this 
section shall be--
            (1) for an amount of not less than $500,000 for each year 
        of the grant; and
            (2) for a period of not less than 4 years.
    (e) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    (f) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under this 
section shall use the grant funds to establish or strengthen foreign 
language study programs in critical-need languages, which may include 
the following activities:
            (1) The recruitment and retention of faculty in critical-
        need languages.
            (2) Curriculum development.
            (3) The acquisition of materials to improve instructional 
        programs.
            (4) The expansion of study abroad programs for 
        participating students.
            (5) The development of foreign language immersion programs.
            (6) Summer institutes for faculty development.
            (7) Bridge programs that allow dual enrollment for 
        secondary school students in institutions of higher education.
            (8) Programs to expand the understanding and knowledge of 
        cultural, geographic, and political factors within countries 
        with populations who speak critical-need languages.
            (9) Research on, and evaluation of, the teaching of 
        critical-need foreign languages.
            (10) Participation in national programs impacting critical-
        need foreign languages.
            (11) Data collection and analysis regarding the outcomes of 
        various student recruitment strategies and program design and 
        curricula approaches, and their impact on increasing--
                    (A) the number of students studying critical-need 
                languages; and
                    (B) the fluency of the students in the languages.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

         Subtitle C--Investing in Workers Through Job Training

SEC. 231. PROJECTS TO PROVIDE LITERACY, TECHNOLOGY, AND TECHNICAL 
              SKILLS TRAINING.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Labor.
            (2) Small business.--The term ``small business'' means a 
        business with not more than 100 employees.
    (b) Projects.--The Secretary shall carry out projects to provide 
literacy, technology, and technical skills training for workers, 
including both employed and unemployed workers.
    (c) Grants.--In carrying out projects described in subsection (b), 
the Secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships.
    (d) Eligible Partnerships.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive such a grant, a 
        partnership shall be a local or regional public-private 
        partnership consisting of at least--
                    (A) 1 State or local workforce investment board 
                established under section 111 or 117 of the Workforce 
                Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2821 or 2832) 
                (including a consortium of such boards in a region);
                    (B) 1 institution of higher education, as defined 
                in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 
                (including a consortium of such institutions);
                    (C) 1 business (including a consortium of such 
                businesses) or nonprofit employer; and
                    (D) 1 community-based organization, labor union, 
                trade association, or other intermediary.
            (2) Designation of responsible fiscal agents.--Each 
        partnership described in paragraph (1) shall designate a 
        responsible fiscal agent to receive and disburse grant funds 
        under this section.
    (e) Training.--
            (1) Participants.--A partnership that receives a grant 
        under subsection (c) shall provide training through a project 
        described in subsection (b) to persons who are employed and who 
        wish to obtain and upgrade skills to qualify for existing jobs 
        (as of the date such training begins) and to persons who are 
        unemployed.
            (2) Preparation.--Such training shall, to the extent 
        practicable, include the preparation of workers for a broad 
        range of positions along a career ladder.
    (f) Start-Up Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not 
        more than 5 percent, or $75,000, whichever is less, of the 
        funds made available through a single grant made under this 
        section may be used toward the start-up costs of a partnership 
        or training project.
            (2) Exception.--In the case of partnerships consisting 
        primarily of small businesses, not more than 10 percent, or 
        $150,000, whichever is less, of the funds made available 
        through a single grant made under this section may be used 
        toward the start-up costs of a partnership or training project.
            (3) Duration of start-up period.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, a start-up period consists of a period of not more 
        than 1 month, beginning on the first day of the grant period. 
        At the end of the start-up period, training shall immediately 
        begin and no further Federal funds may be used for start-up 
        costs.
    (g) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section, a partnership shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application for such a grant shall--
                    (A) provide evidence of the need for the training 
                to be provided through the grant, by providing evidence 
                of skill shortages in existing or emerging industries 
                as demonstrated through reliable regional, State, or 
                local data;
                    (B) articulate the level of skills that workers 
                will be trained for and the manner by which attainment 
                of those skills will be measured; and
                    (C) include an agreement that the project will be 
                subject to evaluation by the Secretary to measure the 
                effectiveness of the project.
            (3) Matching funds.--Each application for a grant to carry 
        out a project described in subsection (b) shall state the 
        manner by which the partnership will--
                    (A) make available, with respect to the costs to be 
                incurred by the partnership in carrying out the 
                project, non-Federal contributions (in cash or in kind) 
                in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the 
                Federal funds provided under the grant; and
                    (B) make the contributions available directly or 
                through donations from public or private entities, and 
                ensure that at least \1/2\ of the contributions will be 
                from businesses or nonprofit employers involved in the 
                partnership.
    (h) Considerations.--
            (1) Projects with commitments.--In making grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give consideration to an applicant 
        that provides a specific, measurable commitment--
                    (A) upon successful completion of a training course 
                by a participant--
                            (i) who is unemployed, to hire or 
                        effectuate the hiring of the participant (where 
                        applicable);
                            (ii) who is an incumbent worker, to 
                        increase the wages or salary of the worker 
                        (where applicable); or
                            (iii) to provide skill certification to the 
                        participant;
                    (B) to provide training that is linked to industry-
                accepted occupational skill standards, certificates, or 
                licensing requirements; or
                    (C) to provide a project that will lead to 
                attainment of baccalaureate or associate degrees.
            (2) Expanded and collaborative projects.--In making grants 
        under this section, the Secretary shall give consideration to 
        an applicant that proposes to use grant funds--
                    (A) to demonstrate a significant ability to expand 
                a training project through such means as training more 
                workers or offering more courses; and
                    (B) to carry out a training project resulting from 
                a collaboration, especially with more than 1 small 
                business or with an entity carrying out a labor-
                management training project.
            (3) Partnerships involving small businesses.--In making 
        grants under this section, the Secretary shall give 
        consideration to an applicant that involves and directly 
        benefits more than 1 small business.
            (4) Donations from public or private entities.--In making 
        grants under this section, the Secretary shall give 
        consideration to an applicant that provides a specific 
        commitment that a portion of the non-Federal contribution 
        described in subsection (g)(3) will be made available through 
        donations from other public or private entities, so as to 
        demonstrate the long-term sustainability of the project after 
        the expiration of the grant period involved.
    (i) Administrative Costs.--A partnership that receives a grant to 
carry out a project described in subsection (b) may not use more than 
10 percent of the funds made available through the grant to pay for 
administrative costs associated with the project.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $300,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.
                                 <all>