[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2111 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2111

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
         establish a partnership program in foreign languages.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 2, 2007

Mr. Holt (for himself, Mr. Hinojosa, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Wu, 
and Mr. Reyes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
         establish a partnership program in foreign languages.

    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 ``Foreign Language Education 
Partnership Program Act''.

SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

    (a) In General.--Subpart 9 of part D of title V of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
            (1) by striking section 5494 (20 U.S.C. 7259c); and
            (2) by inserting after section 5493 the following:

``SEC. 5494. PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
            ``(1) to provide incentives for developing and maintaining 
        model programs of articulated foreign language learning from 
        kindergarten through grade 12 that increase the number of 
        American students graduating from high school with an advanced 
        level of proficiency in at least one foreign language; and
            ``(2) to widely disseminate information on the model 
        programs that demonstrate success.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amounts made available to carry 
        out this section, the Secretary may make incentive payments for 
        a fiscal year to eligible partnerships to develop and maintain, 
        or to improve and expand, model programs that support 
        articulated foreign language learning in kindergarten through 
        grade 12.
            ``(2) Planning and development.--For the first two fiscal 
        years an eligible partnership receives funds under paragraph 
        (1) for a model program on a critical foreign language, the 
        Secretary may allow that partnership, based on demonstrated 
        need, to use those funds for planning and development 
        activities, including--
                    ``(A) development of an articulated instructional 
                curriculum for the critical foreign language to which 
                the model program relates;
                    ``(B) in-service and pre-service development of 
                teachers, and development of curriculum and language 
                assessments in the critical foreign language to which 
                the model program relates; and
                    ``(C) development of contextual programs and 
                curriculum materials related to the critical foreign 
                language to which the model program relates, as 
                described in subsection (e).
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership 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.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application shall--
                    ``(A) identify each member of the partnership, 
                provide contact information and letters of commitment 
                for each such member, and describe the responsibilities 
                of each such member, including--
                            ``(i) identifying the member that will 
                        receive and manage the grant;
                            ``(ii) specifying how each member will be 
                        involved in the planning, development, and 
                        implementation of the activities proposed under 
                        the grant;
                            ``(iii) describing the resources to be 
                        provided by each member; and
                            ``(iv) describing how each member will 
                        contribute to ensuring the continuity of 
                        student progress from kindergarten through 
                        grade 12;
                    ``(B) describe how an articulated curriculum for 
                students to achieve an advanced level of proficiency by 
                grade 12 will be developed and implemented;
                    ``(C) identify target proficiency levels for 
                students at critical benchmarks, and describe how 
                progress toward those proficiency levels will be 
                assessed at the benchmarks;
                    ``(D) describe how the partnership will support and 
                continue the program after the grant has expired, 
                including how the partnership will seek support from 
                other sources, such as State and local governments, 
                foundations, and the private sector; and
                    ``(E) describe what assessments will be used or, if 
                assessments are not available, how assessments will be 
                developed.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--Incentive payments under this section--
            ``(1) shall be used--
                    ``(A) to design programs and teaching strategies 
                informed by the best practices recognized by the field 
                and by available research;
                    ``(B) to develop curriculum materials based on an 
                articulated framework or approach designed to bring 
                students to an advanced level of proficiency by grade 
                12;
                    ``(C) to recruit students and teachers, such as 
                from heritage populations; and
                    ``(D) to carry out teacher in-service and pre-
                service professional development programs, including 
                summer institutes, that support the model programs; and
            ``(2) may be used--
                    ``(A) to develop nationally recognized assessments 
                for kindergarten through grade 12 for the foreign 
                language to which the model program relates, if such 
                assessments do not exist for that language;
                    ``(B) to enhance nationally recognized assessments 
                for kindergarten through grade 12 for the foreign 
                language to which the model program relates, if such 
                assessments already exist for that language;
                    ``(C) to provide scholarships and incentives to 
                recruit new teachers and encourage practicing teachers 
                to take advantage of the professional development 
                opportunities;
                    ``(D) to provide opportunities for maximum foreign 
                language exposure for students domestically, such as 
                the creation of immersion environments in the classroom 
                and school and on weekend or summer experiences, and 
                special tutoring and academic support;
                    ``(E) to provide the possibility for multiple entry 
                points for studying the foreign language;
                    ``(F) to provide scholarships for study-abroad 
                opportunities related to the foreign language to which 
                the model program relates, for students in grades 9 
                through 12 and teachers and prospective teachers of 
                such students, except that a recipient of incentive 
                payments may not use more than 20 percent of those 
                payments for this purpose;
                    ``(G) to carry out activities to integrate foreign 
                languages into the school curriculum and generate 
                whole-school collaboration, including activities and 
                support for teachers of other subjects and 
                administrators;
                    ``(H) to carry out activities to encourage 
                community involvement, especially with respect to 
                heritage communities;
                    ``(I) to incorporate effective and innovative uses 
                of technology to enhance student learning and teaching;
                    ``(J) to develop certification and alternative 
                certification programs at the State level, especially 
                for the less commonly taught foreign languages;
                    ``(K) to obtain technical assistance in the 
                development and implementation of the model program 
                funded under this section; and
                    ``(L) to recruit or appoint a language supervisor 
                to oversee and coordinate the progress of the 
                articulated foreign language program across grade 
                levels in the local education agency funded under this 
                section.
    ``(e) Contextual Dimension.--A model program may not receive an 
incentive payment under this section unless it includes a dimension, 
carried out in conjunction with foreign language instruction, under 
which each foreign language learner also participates in programs to 
expand the understanding and knowledge of historic, geographic, 
cultural, economic, and other contextual factors of countries with 
populations who speak the foreign language to which the model program 
relates.
    ``(f) Research and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--A model program may not receive an 
        incentive payment under this section unless it includes a 
        research and evaluation component, under which--
                    ``(A) information is collected and analyzed 
                regarding the effectiveness of activities carried out 
                under the program, including but not limited to--
                            ``(i) program design;
                            ``(ii) student and teacher recruitment 
                        strategies;
                            ``(iii) curricular approaches;
                            ``(iv) teacher development; and
                            ``(v) foreign language assessment 
                        instruments;
                    ``(B) information is collected and analyzed 
                regarding the impact of each activity in subparagraph 
                (A) on the foreign language proficiency of the 
                students;
                    ``(C) information is collected and analyzed 
                regarding program participation, including data on 
                student enrollments and numbers of foreign language 
                teachers; and
                    ``(D) the information collected, and the analyses 
                of that information, are made widely available to the 
                public.
            ``(2) Standardization.--The Secretary shall provide 
        guidelines to standardize the categories of information 
        collected and analyzed under paragraph (1) and the manner in 
        which that information is collected, analyzed, and made 
        available to the public.
    ``(g) Duration of Payments.--
            ``(1) A partnership awarded incentive payments under this 
        section for a fiscal year may continue to be awarded incentive 
        payments for the succeeding 3 fiscal years, but only if the 
        partnership demonstrates that the model program is effective 
        based on nationally recognized standardized foreign language 
        assessments.
            ``(2) The Secretary may waive the requirement (that the 
        partnership demonstrate that the model program is effective) in 
        paragraph (1) for the initial fiscal year or the first 
        succeeding fiscal year, or both, if the fiscal years for which 
        the waiver is made are years used primarily for planning and 
        development rather than implementation.
            ``(3) A partnership completing a four-year incentive grant 
        award may be eligible for two additional five-year awards, but 
        only if the partnership demonstrates, based on nationally 
        recognized standardized foreign language assessments, that the 
        model program is effective.
    ``(h) Matching Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
        grant under this section shall provide, toward the cost of 
        carrying out the activities supported by the grant, from non-
        Federal sources an amount equal to--
                    ``(A) 20 percent of the amount of the grant payment 
                for the first fiscal year for which a grant payment is 
                made;
                    ``(B) 30 percent of the amount of the grant payment 
                for the second such fiscal year;
                    ``(C) 40 percent of the amount of the grant payment 
                for the third such fiscal year; and
                    ``(D) 50 percent of the amount of the grant 
                payments for the duration of the first grant, and any 
                additional grants made under this section.
            ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share required 
        under paragraph (1) may be provided in cash or in kind.
            ``(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive, in whole or in 
        part, the matching requirement in paragraph (1) for any fiscal 
        year if--
                    ``(A) the eligible partnership demonstrates 
                hardship and the waiver will best serve the purposes of 
                this section; or
                    ``(B) the foreign language to which the model 
                program relates is a critical foreign language as 
                determined by the Secretary.
    ``(i) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and 
non-Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in 
this section.
    ``(j) Data Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 
        3 percent of the total amount appropriated for this section for 
        any fiscal year to--
                    ``(A) annually collect and analyze data on the 
                programs under this section; and
                    ``(B) disseminate nationally, including through a 
                Web-based clearinghouse--
                            ``(i) aggregated data collected under 
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) promising K-12 foreign language 
                        learning and teaching practices and successful 
                        program models developed under this section.
            ``(2) The activities described in paragraph (1) may be 
        carried out by the Secretary directly or through grants and 
        contracts to institutions of higher education and public and 
        private nonprofit agencies and organizations.
    ``(k) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Critical foreign language.--The term `critical 
        foreign language' means a less commonly taught foreign language 
        the teaching of which is critical to the Nation's security and 
        global economic leadership, as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
        partnership' means a partnership that--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) one or more local educational 
                        agencies or State educational agencies, or 
                        both; and
                            ``(ii) one or more institutions of higher 
                        education, which shall include--
                                    ``(I) a school, department, or 
                                program within the institution or 
                                institutions of higher education that 
                                provides a teacher preparation program;
                                    ``(II) a school, department, 
                                program, or center within the 
                                institution or institutions of higher 
                                education that provides a program of 
                                study or research in foreign languages; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) a school, department, 
                                program, or center within the 
                                institution or institutions of higher 
                                education that provides programs of 
                                study about the historic, geographic, 
                                cultural, economic, and other 
                                contextual factors of the world area or 
                                country with populations who speak the 
                                foreign language to which the model 
                                program relates; and
                    ``(B) may also include one or more businesses or 
                nonprofit organizations, or both.
            ``(3) Advanced level of proficiency.--The term `advanced 
        level of proficiency' means the advanced level as measured by 
        the American Council for Teachers of Foreign Languages, or 
        level 2 as measured by the Federal Interagency Language 
        Roundtable (ILR) or by other nationally recognized measures of 
        advanced standards of proficiency.
            ``(4) Articulated.--The term `articulated' means that each 
        grade level of the foreign language program is designed to 
        sequentially expand on the student achievement of the previous 
        level with a goal toward achieving an established level of 
        language proficiency.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for incentive payments under this section $50,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2008.''.
    (b) Findings and Purposes.--Subpart 9 of part D of title V of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is further amended by 
inserting after section 5491 the following:

``SEC. 5491A. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) According to the National Research Council in 2007, a 
        pervasive lack of knowledge about foreign cultures and foreign 
        languages in this country threatens the security of the United 
        States as well as its ability to compete in the global 
        marketplace and produce an informed citizenry.
            ``(2) According to the National Research Council in 2007, 
        early language learning in elementary and secondary school is 
        key to establishing a pipeline of students who can eventually 
        reach a high enough level of proficiency in foreign language 
        and culture to meet national needs.
            ``(3) According to the Committee for Economic Development 
        in 2006, current efforts to develop language skills and 
        knowledge of world regions at an early age are clearly 
        inadequate to prepare high school graduates with the skills 
        necessary for productivity and citizenship in an integrated 
        global economy.
            ``(4) The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign 
        Languages found that only 34 percent of United States K-12 
        students were enrolled in foreign language classes in 2000. 
        Furthermore, the length of time students spent studying 
        languages at school has stagnated, so that many students reach 
        only introductory levels of proficiency.
            ``(5) Research demonstrates that success lies not only in 
        the number of years of learning but also in having carefully 
        sequenced, articulated, programs of language learning across a 
        child's school experience, requiring bridging the gaps between 
        levels in foreign language education.
            ``(6) A survey of secondary school principals and foreign 
        language teachers by the Center for Applied Linguistics in 1999 
        identified a shortage of foreign language teachers as a major 
        impediment to greater foreign language learning, along with 
        funding, lack of training, and poor academic counseling.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subpart are to provide 
incentives for model programs that address the needs for developing, 
strengthening and expanding the teaching and learning of foreign 
languages and foreign cultures in the United States elementary and 
secondary schools, and to widely disseminate information on successful 
programs and practices.''.
    (c) Technical Amendments.--The table of contents in section 2 of 
such Act is amended--
            (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 5491 
        the following:

``Sec. 5491A. Findings; purposes.'';
        and
            (2) by striking the item relating to section 5494 and 
        inserting the following:

``Sec. 5494. Partnership program in foreign languages.''.
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