[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3642 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3642

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
        grants for expanded learning time schools and programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2007

  Mr. Payne 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 provide 
        grants for expanded learning time schools and programs.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expanded Learning Time Demonstration 
Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDED LEARNING TIME SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.

    Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new part:

         ``PART J--EXPANDED LEARNING TIME SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS

``SEC. 1941. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this part are to provide support through 
competitive grants to local education agencies and State education 
agencies to develop expanded learning time schools and--
            ``(1) to expand learning time in the form of longer school 
        days, additional school days or a combination of longer school 
        days and additional school days;
            ``(2) to spur innovation within participating schools and 
        local education agencies that are adding time to the school 
        schedule for all students, redesigning their educational 
        program, and offering challenging and well-integrated learning 
        experiences focused on raising student achievement and 
        engagement;
            ``(3) to allow schools and local education agencies to 
        provide more in-depth learning opportunities in mathematics, 
        literacy, science and other core subjects to support academic 
        excellence;
            ``(4) to provide schools and local education agencies with 
        the opportunity to add or expand programs that contribute to a 
        well rounded education, such as arts, music, drama, and other 
        learning opportunities, for which they do not have time in the 
        current school calendar;
            ``(5) to encourage schools and local education agencies to 
        address the physical health and increasing rate of obesity 
        among children by enabling schools to expand physical 
        education, athletics, and health programs;
            ``(6) to offer students engaging learning opportunities 
        that increase graduation rates and develop 21st century skills 
        related to the use of technology, oral presentation and team 
        building skills, project-based learning and exposure to 
        community resources through activities including 
        apprenticeships;
            ``(7) to encourage the participation of teachers and 
        teacher union representatives in school redesign efforts 
        associated with expanded learning time in order to create the 
        most effective redesign efforts;
            ``(8) to provide educators in participating schools with 
        increased opportunities to work collaboratively and to 
        participate in professional planning to improve instruction and 
        student achievement;
            ``(9) to encourage schools and local education agencies to 
        form partnerships with community-based organizations, 
        institutions of higher learning, cultural organizations, and 
        health and mental health organizations to provide additional 
        learning and development opportunities to children;
            ``(10) to provide for accountability to ensure the 
        efficient and effective implementation of expanded learning 
        time initiatives in participating local education agencies; and
            ``(11) to determine through a rigorous evaluation whether 
        expanding the school day and/or year is a feasible and 
        effective way to help students meet challenging State academic 
        standards and close the achievement gap.

``SEC. 1942. EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND SCHOOL REDESIGN GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award expanded learning time 
and school redesign grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
entities and State education agencies to enable schools and local 
education agencies served by the participating eligible entities and 
State education agencies to expand learning time and improve student 
achievement and engagement. The Secretary, from amounts appropriated 
under section 1002(b)(1) shall award, on a competitive basis--
            ``(1) expanded learning time and school redesign planning 
        grants to eligible entities as specified in section 1943;
            ``(2) State expanded learning time initiative grants to 
        eligible State education agencies, as specified in section 
        1944; and
            ``(3) expanded learning time and school redesign 
        implementation grants to eligible entities and State education 
        agencies as specified in section 1945.
    ``(b) Determination of Amount of Allotments.--
            ``(1) Reservations from appropriations.--From the total 
        amount made available to carry out this part for a fiscal year, 
        the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall reserve not less than $4,500,000 to 
                carry out section 1946 relating to national activities 
                including evaluation, information dissemination and 
                technical assistance; and
                    ``(B) shall reserve not more than $1,000,000 to 
                carry out the activities described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Planning and administration.--The Secretary may 
        expend funds made available under paragraph (1)(B) for planning 
        and administration relating to the uses of funds authorized 
        under this part, including--
                    ``(A) administering the review, selection, and 
                distribution of competitive subgrants to eligible 
                entities and State education agencies under section 
                1943, 1944, and 1945; and
                    ``(B) assessing and evaluating, on a regular basis, 
                activities of eligible entities and State education 
                agencies allowed under this part, with respect to 
                whether they have been effective in implementing 
                expanded learning time and school redesign initiatives.
            ``(3) Grant allotments.--In accordance with paragraph (5), 
        the Secretary shall allot among participating eligible entities 
        and State education agencies the total amount made available to 
        carry out this part for any fiscal year and not reserved under 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this part $140,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2008, $280,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
        $290,000,000 in fiscal year 2010, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2011, and $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
            ``(5) Determination of grant allotment amounts.--Subject to 
        paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall allot the amount made 
        available under paragraph (3) for each fiscal year among the 
        qualifying eligible entities and State education agencies with 
        no entity being eligible to receive monies for an expanded 
        learning time and school redesign initiative that serves more 
        than 10 schools and no State education agency eligible to 
        receive monies for an expanded learning time and school 
        redesign initiative that serves more than 30 schools.

``SEC. 1943. EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND SCHOOL REDESIGN PLANNING 
              GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award expanded 
learning time and school redesign planning grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible entities to develop expanded learning time and 
school redesign implementation plans as specified in this section.
    ``(b) Application for Planning Grants.--An eligible entity that 
desires to receive an expanded learning time and school redesign 
planning grant pursuant to this subsection shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner as the Secretary may 
require. The application shall contain, but need not be limited to the 
information described in subsection (d).
    ``(c) Review of Expanded Learning Time and School Redesign Planning 
Grant Applications.--Upon receiving qualifying applications for the 
expanded learning time and school redesign planning grant program, the 
Secretary shall review all applications and award expanded learning 
time and school redesign planning grants to the most qualified 
applications pursuant to subparagraph (d).
    ``(d) Application Contents.--An application for an expanded 
learning time and school redesign planning grant or planning subgrant 
under this section shall contain the following:
            ``(1) The process and selection criteria the eligible 
        entity will use to select schools to participate in creating 
        expanded learning time and school redesign implementation 
        plans.
            ``(2) How the eligible entity will encourage participating 
        schools or local education agencies to expand learning time to 
        spur innovation, redesign and improve their educational 
        program, improve instruction and teacher collaboration, and 
        improve the academic achievement of all students in 
        participating schools.
            ``(3) How the eligible entity will assess the leadership 
        capacity of participating schools to--
                    ``(A) implement successfully a complex school 
                improvement initiative; and
                    ``(B) use data effectively to align curriculum, 
                instruction, and assessment.
            ``(4) A statement of intent to add not less than 360 hours 
        to the schedule of any participating school and that the 
        additional time be in the form of longer school days, 
        additional school days or a combination of longer days and more 
        days.
            ``(5) The requirement that participating schools expand 
        learning time for all students attending any participating 
        school.
            ``(6) The requirement that each participating school will 
        develop an expanded learning time and school redesign 
        implementation plan as specified in section 1945.
            ``(7) The process by which the eligible entity will ensure 
        the meaningful involvement of teachers, union representatives, 
        parents, and school partners in the planning of the expanded 
        learning time and school redesign initiative.
            ``(8) A description of the eligible entity's rationale for 
        redesigning schools with expanded learning time including, but 
        not limited to, an analysis of relevant school performance data 
        and how expanded learning time will help meet student learning 
        and developmental needs and achieve academic excellence.
            ``(9) A description of how the expanded learning time 
        initiative integrates into the eligible entity's plan for 
        improving academic achievement and for improving schools 
        identified as being in need of improvement, corrective action, 
        or restructuring.
            ``(10) A description of how the eligible entity will 
        collect, maintain, and report data required by the Secretary 
        including, but not limited to, formative student achievement 
        data that is collected at regular intervals during a school 
        year.
            ``(11) A description of how the eligible entity will review 
        annually the implementation and impact of its expanded learning 
        time initiative.
            ``(12) A description of the process the eligible entity 
        will use to disseminate materials, information and lessons 
        learned about how participating schools effectively expand 
        learning time to other schools served by the eligible entity.
            ``(13) A memorandum of understanding between the eligible 
        entity and a qualified external organization, or organizations, 
        that has a successful track record of helping schools 
        comprehensively redesign their educational program to better 
        meet student needs and improve student achievement that 
        includes--
                    ``(A) a description of how they will work together 
                to effectively provide support and technical assistance 
                to participating schools including providing materials, 
                planning support, and on-site assistance during the 
                planning and implementation phases; and
                    ``(B) a budget detailing the costs associated with 
                the technical assistance specified in subparagraph (A).
            ``(14) An agreement to participate in the Federal 
        evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of expanded learning 
        time as it relates to this grant program including, but not 
        limited to, the reporting of data as requested by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(e) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications--
            ``(1) submitted by eligible entities that have more than 25 
        percent of students eligible for the Federal free or reduced-
        price meals program;
            ``(2) proposing to target high-need schools--
                    ``(A) with 50 percent or more students eligible for 
                the Federal free or reduced-price meals program;
                    ``(B) that are identified as being in need of 
                improvement, corrective action, or restructuring as 
                defined in section 1116; or
                    ``(C) that are eligible to receive assistance under 
                part A;
            ``(3) submitted by eligible entities that, at the time of 
        application, are using, or have plans to use during the 
        implementation of expanded learning time, formative assessments 
        to assess growth in student learning during a school year and 
        from year to year;
            ``(4) that have the greatest potential for district-wide 
        impact; and
            ``(5) that have plans to incorporate community-based 
        organizations and partners including after-school program 
        providers into the planning and implementation of the expanded 
        learning time redesign.
    ``(f) Timeframe.--Each eligible entity that applies for an expanded 
learning time and school redesign planning grant may submit a plan that 
consists of no more than two cohorts of schools to complete expanded 
learning time and school redesign implementation plans pursuant to 
section 1945(B).
    ``(g) Broad Geographic Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure 
that grants awarded under this part are distributed among diverse 
geographical regions, including rural, suburban, and urban areas.
    ``(h) Duration of Grants.--Each expanded learning time and school 
redesign planning grant awarded under this part shall be for a period 
of not more than 2 years.
    ``(i) Grant Amount.--Grants awarded pursuant to this section may be 
for not less than $20,000 and for not more than $70,000 per fiscal year 
to each participating eligible entity.
    ``(j) Local Administration.--An eligible entity that receives a 
subgrant under this subsection may use not more than 5 percent of the 
funds provided under the subgrant for administration.

``SEC. 1944. STATE EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND SCHOOL REDESIGN 
              INITIATIVE GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under this Act, 
the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to State 
education agencies for the purpose of creating State expanded learning 
time and school redesign initiatives that will enable local education 
agencies within a participating State to expand learning time to 
improve student achievement and engagement in a subset of schools 
served by such local education agency.
    ``(b) Subgrants Authorized.--A State education agency that receives 
a grant under section 1944 shall award subgrants, on a competitive 
basis, to local education agencies for the purpose of planning and 
implementing expanded learning time and school redesign efforts.
    ``(c) Applications.--A State education agency that desires to 
receive a grant under section 1944 shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require. 
The application shall contain the information described in subsection 
(d).
    ``(d) Contents.--An application under this section shall contain 
the following:
            ``(1) A provision for awarding expanded learning time and 
        school redesign planning subgrants and expanded learning time 
        and school redesign implementation subgrants, subject to the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Expanded learning time and school redesign 
                planning grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis 
                to local education agencies to develop expanded 
                learning time implementation plans pursuant to 
                guidelines set forth by the State education agency and 
                in accordance with the requirements of subsection 
                1943(d).
                    ``(B) Expanded Learning Time and School Redesign 
                Implementation grants shall be awarded as specified in 
                section 1945, on a competitive basis, to those local 
                education agencies that have completed qualifying 
                implementation plans as specified by the State 
                education agency and by section 1945, in order to 
                implement such plans fully.
            ``(2) The process and selection criteria the State 
        education agency will use to select local education agencies 
        for planning subgrants including, but not limited to, how the 
        State education agency will assess the local education agency's 
        and school's leadership capacity and its ability to 
        successfully implement a complex school improvement initiative, 
        and the use of data to effectively align curriculum, 
        instruction, and assessment.
            ``(3) A description of how the State education agency will 
        encourage participating schools and local education agencies to 
        expand learning time to spur innovation, redesign and improve 
        their educational program, improve instruction and teacher 
        collaboration, and improve the academic achievement of all 
        students in participating schools.
            ``(4) The requirement for each participating school within 
        a participating local education agency to add no less than the 
        equivalent of two hours per day (360 hours total) to the school 
        schedule that is standard for the participating local education 
        agency and that the additional time may be added in the form of 
        additional days or longer days or a combination of longer days 
        and additional days.
            ``(5) The requirement that participating schools expand 
        learning time for all students attending any participating 
        school and be in the form of longer school days, additional 
        school days or a combination thereof.
            ``(6) A description of how expanded learning time will 
        support the State intervention strategy for schools identified 
        as being in need of improvement, corrective action, or 
        restructuring.
            ``(7) A description of the process for disseminating 
        materials, information and lessons learned about how to 
        effectively expand learning time to other schools and local 
        education agencies within the State.
            ``(8) A description of how the State education agency shall 
        support the planning and implementation phases of any 
        participating schools and local education agencies by providing 
        technical assistance during the planning and implementation 
        phases including, but not limited to, the creation of a 
        partnership between the eligible entity and one or more 
        external organizations that have a successful track record of 
        helping schools comprehensively redesign their educational 
        program to better meet student needs, and have the capacity to 
        deliver high quality materials, professional planning, and on-
        site assistance during the planning and implementation phases.
            ``(9) An assurance that the State education agency, and any 
        local education agencies receiving a subgrant from that State 
        education agency under section 1944, will, if requested, 
        participate in the national activities as specified in section 
        1946.
            ``(10) Any other information that the Secretary may 
        reasonably require.
    ``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications--
            ``(1) submitted by States that target local education 
        agencies that have more than 25 percent of students eligible 
        for the Federal free or reduced-price meals program;
            ``(2) proposing to target high-need schools--
                    ``(A) with 50 percent or more students eligible for 
                the Federal free or reduced-price meals program;
                    ``(B) that are identified as being in need of 
                improvement, corrective action, or restructuring as 
                defined in section 1116 of title I; or
                    ``(C) that are eligible to receive assistance under 
                part A of title I;
            ``(3) submitted by State education agencies that, at the 
        time of application, are using, or have plans to use during the 
        implementation of expanded learning time, formative assessments 
        to assess growth in student learning during a school year and 
        from year to year;
            ``(4) submitted by State education agencies that 
        demonstrate a higher correlation between student results on 
        NAEP and the student results on that State administered 
        achievement test;
            ``(5) that support school partnerships with community-based 
        organizations, school partners, institutions of higher 
        education, and after-school providers as part of the expanded 
        learning time initiative; and
            ``(6) that have the greatest potential for Statewide 
        impact.
    ``(f) Timeframe.--Each State education agency that applies for an 
expanded learning time and school redesign grant must submit a plan for 
not more than two cohorts of local education agencies that complete 
expanded learning time and school redesign implementation plans 
pursuant to section 1945.
    ``(g) Broad Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure that grants 
awarded under this part are distributed among diverse geographical 
regions and to a diverse range of States of different sizes and 
populations.
    ``(h) Duration of Grants.--Each State expanded learning time and 
school redesign initiative grant awarded under this part shall be for a 
period of five years and be eligible for renewal for a period of not 
more than five years;
    ``(i) State Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State education agency that receives a 
        grant under this section may expend not more than a total of 10 
        percent of the grant funds to carry out the activities 
        described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
            ``(2) Technical assistance for local education agencies and 
        schools.--A State education agency may expend not more than 70 
        percent of the amount of the funds made available under 
        paragraph (1) for one or more of the following for assisting 
        local education agencies in accomplishing the tasks required to 
        design and implement a program under this part, which shall 
        include, but not be limited to--
                    ``(A) the facilitation of planning and development 
                processes;
                    ``(B) the identification and utilization of 
                eligible external organizations to help provide 
                technical assistance to participating local education 
                agencies and schools;
                    ``(C) disseminating research, information, and 
                guidance on best practices including, but not limited 
                to, instruction, budgeting, labor agreements, staffing, 
                and communications; and
                    ``(D) providing coaching, professional development, 
                technical assistance, and training related to the 
                development and implementation of an expanded learning 
                time plan.
            ``(3) Planning, administration, and reporting.--A State 
        education agency may expend not more than 30 percent of the 
        amount of the funds made available under paragraph (1) for one 
        or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Planning and administration.--A State 
                education agency that receives a grant under this 
                section may expend funds made available under 
                subparagraph (A) for planning and administration 
                relating to the State uses of funds authorized under 
                this part, including the following:
                            ``(i) Administering the review, approval 
                        and distribution of competitive subgrants to 
                        eligible local education agencies under 
                        subsection (c).
                            ``(ii) Assessing and evaluating, on a 
                        regular basis, eligible local education agency 
                        activities assisted under this part.
                    ``(B) Annual reporting.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A State education agency 
                        that receives a grant under this section shall 
                        expend funds made available under subparagraph 
                        (A) to provide the Secretary annually with a 
                        report on the implementation of this part.
                            ``(ii) Information included.--Each report 
                        under this subparagraph shall include 
                        information on the following:
                                    ``(I) A review of the progress 
                                being made on implementation by each 
                                local education agency with an approved 
                                implementation plan.
                                    ``(II) Attendance data for each 
                                participating school.
                                    ``(III) Retention, mobility and 
                                transfer rates into and out of each 
                                participating school.
                                    ``(IV) Formative achievement data 
                                collected at regular intervals during 
                                each school year for each participating 
                                school.
                                    ``(V) Summative achievement data 
                                including standardized test scores for 
                                each participating school.
                            ``(iii) Privacy protection.--Data in the 
                        report shall be reported in a manner that 
                        protects the privacy of individuals.
    ``(j) Review.--
            ``(1) Progress report.--
                    ``(A) Submission.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                termination of the second year of the grant period and 
                for each successive year after that until the 
                termination of this grant, each State education agency 
                receiving a grant under this section shall submit a 
                progress report to the Secretary in such manner as the 
                Secretary may require.
                    ``(B) Information included.--The progress report 
                shall include information on the progress the State 
                education agency and local education agencies within 
                the State are making in implementing expanded learning 
                time initiatives and the impact such initiatives have 
                had on improving academic achievement, and any 
                additional information and data as the Secretary may 
                require.
            ``(2) Consequences of insufficient progress.--After 
        submission of the progress report described in paragraph (1), 
        if the Secretary determines that the State education agency is 
        not making significant progress in meeting the purposes of this 
        part, the Secretary may withhold from the State education 
        agency, in whole or in part, further payments under this 
        section in accordance with section 455 of the General Education 
        Provisions Act or take such other action authorized by law as 
        the Secretary determines necessary, including providing 
        technical assistance upon request of the State education 
        agency.
    ``(k) Funds Not Used for State Level Activities.--Any portion of 
funds that a State education agency does not expend in accordance with 
subsection (i) of this section shall be expended for the purpose of 
making subgrants in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

``SEC. 1945. EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND SCHOOL REDESIGN IMPLEMENTATION 
              GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary or a participating State 
education agency shall award expanded learning time implementation 
grants on a competitive basis to qualifying eligible entities that have 
submitted a qualifying implementation plan pursuant to paragraph (b) of 
this section. To be eligible for an implementation grant, an eligible 
entity must submit a qualifying implementation plan for review in such 
time and containing such information as the Secretary or State 
education agency may require and shall include, but not be limited to, 
the information specified in subparagraph (b) of this subsection.
    ``(b) Content.--
            ``(1) A qualifying expanded learning time and school 
        redesign implementation plan shall contain such information as 
        the Secretary may require including--
                    ``(A) the addition of not less than 360 hours to 
                the schedule of any participating school and that the 
                additional time be in the form of longer school days, 
                additional school days or a combination of longer days 
                and more days;
                    ``(B) the requirement for participating schools to 
                expand time for all students attending the 
                participating school;
                    ``(C) an increase in instructional time on core 
                academics and enrichment, and more time for teacher 
                planning and professional planning;
                    ``(D) a comprehensive restructuring of the entire 
                school day and/or year to maximize the use of the 
                additional learning time and improve student 
                achievement;
                    ``(E) documentation of leadership capacity to 
                implement the complex process required to expand 
                learning time and redesign the school program as well 
                as a track record of instituting complex school 
                improvement processes;
                    ``(F) an assurance that core academic subjects 
                shall be taught by qualified, certified teachers while 
                other enrichment programs may be taught by certified 
                teachers or other qualified personnel;
                    ``(G) evidence of an agreement between the 
                governing body of a participating local education 
                agency and employees, including teachers, or their 
                legal representatives, at participating schools to work 
                the expanded schedule;
                    ``(H) an audit of how time is currently used in the 
                participating school's existing schedule prior to 
                implementation of expanded learning time;
                    ``(I) an agreement with an external organization 
                that will provide high quality technical support and 
                assistance during the implementation phases, provided 
                that said external organization has a demonstrated 
                capacity to deliver high quality materials, 
                professional planning, and on-site assistance to 
                schools and local education agencies;
                    ``(J) a description of how the local education 
                agency or participating schools will utilize 
                partnerships with external organizations that have a 
                demonstrated capacity for implementing high quality 
                programs for public school students in the planning and 
                implementation of the expanded learning time programs 
                including organizations such as institutions of higher 
                education, community-based organizations, health and 
                mental health agencies, cultural organizations, and 
                after-school program providers; and
                    ``(K) include a comprehensive budget sufficient to 
                fund the approved plan that includes funding allocated 
                from this grant that is not more than the amount equal 
                to the number of students attending the participating 
                schools multiplied by the defined per pupil amount. 
                Said budget shall include not less than 5 percent of 
                total cost of implementing expanded learning time from 
                sources other than those allocated as part of this Act. 
                The match may include, but need not be limited to, 
                funds from other Federal, State, local, or private 
                sources, to assist with implementation of the expanded 
                learning time program.
    ``(c) Review of Expanded Learning Time and School Redesign Planning 
Grant Applications.--Upon receiving qualifying expanded learning time 
and school redesign implementation plans, the Secretary or State 
education agency shall review all implementation plans and award 
expanded learning time and school redesign implementation grants to the 
most qualified applications pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
    ``(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, the 
Secretary or State education agency shall give priority to 
applications--
            ``(1) submitted by eligible entities that have more than 25 
        percent of students eligible for the Federal free or reduced-
        price meals program;
            ``(2) proposing to target high-need schools--
                    ``(A) with 50 percent or more students eligible for 
                the Federal free or reduced-price meals program;
                    ``(B) that are identified as being in need of 
                improvement, corrective action, or restructuring as 
                defined in section 1116 of title I; or
                    ``(C) that are eligible to receive assistance under 
                part A of title I;
            ``(3) submitted by eligible entities that, at the time of 
        application, are using, or have plans to use during the 
        implementation of expanded learning time, formative assessments 
        to assess growth in student learning during a school year and 
        from year to year;
            ``(4) that have the greatest potential for district-wide 
        impact; and
            ``(5) that support school partnerships with community-based 
        organizations, school partners, institutions of higher 
        education, and after-school providers into as part of the 
        expanded learning time initiative.
    ``(e) Duration of Grants.--Each expanded learning time and school 
redesign implementation grant awarded under this part shall be for a 
period of not less than 5 years and shall be renewable for a period of 
up to 5 years.
    ``(f) Grant Amount.--Implementation grants awarded to eligible 
entities pursuant to this section shall be for the amount calculated by 
multiplying the defined per pupil allotment by the number of students 
participating as specified in the approved implementation plan as 
submitted by the qualifying eligible entity.
    ``(g) Local Administration.--An eligible local education agency 
that receives a subgrant under this subsection may use not more than 
7.5 percent of the funds provided under the subgrant for 
administration, review, assessment, and reporting as described in the 
approved planning grant application and as required by the Secretary.

``SEC. 1946. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``From funds reserved under section 1942(b)(1)(C), the Secretary 
shall authorize not less than $4,500,000 in each fiscal year beginning 
with fiscal year 2008 and ending in fiscal year 2012 for external 
evaluation pursuant to section 1947 and the national technical 
assistance activities and information dissemination pursuant to section 
1948--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall carry out the external evaluation 
        as described in section 1947 and expend not less than 50 
        percent of the funds authorized in this section to carry out 
        the evaluation activities pursuant to section 1947; and
            ``(2) the Secretary shall expend not more than 50 percent 
        of the funds authorized in this section for national technical 
        assistance activities and information dissemination pursuant to 
        section 1948.

``SEC. 1947. EXTERNAL EVALUATION.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 1942(b)(1)(C), 
the Secretary shall contract with an independent organization outside 
of the Department for a 5-year, rigorous, scientifically valid 
evaluation of impact and implementation of the planning and 
implementation grants.
    ``(b) Process.--The evaluation under subsection (a) shall be 
conducted by an organization that is capable of designing and carrying 
out an independent evaluation that identifies the effects of specific 
activities carried out by eligible entities and local education 
agencies under this part on student achievement and engagement. Such 
evaluation shall also be designed to analyze the relationship between 
the implementation process and changes observed in student performance 
and other outcomes and take into account factors influencing student 
performance that are not controlled by teachers or education 
administrators.
    ``(c) Analysis.--The evaluation authorized under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            ``(1) a summative analysis to assess outcomes, particularly 
        in student performance, over the short and long term for an 
        analysis of expanded learning time schools and their impact on 
        various stakeholders over a five year period and shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) a quantitative analysis of all expanded 
                learning time schools;
                    ``(B) an in-depth analysis of a sub-sample of 
                expanded learning time schools, that includes, but is 
                not limited to, trends in test scores, changes in 
                educational practices, satisfaction of different 
                constituencies, teacher retention, school choice, 
                impact on key indicators of student success including, 
                but not limited to engagement in learning, social 
                competencies, collaboration skills and other 21st 
                century skills, retention, and disciplinary action; and
                    ``(C) an analysis of how variation in certain 
                factors including, but not limited to, school design, 
                instructional practices, and existing conditions 
                influence outcomes;
            ``(2) a formative analysis to gain understanding about the 
        conditions and activities that impacted the planning and 
        implementation of expanded learning time initiatives, including 
        but not limited to--
                    ``(A) teaching and leadership practices;
                    ``(B) student and teacher schedules;
                    ``(C) the added costs of operating an ELT school 
                and where these added costs reside in the budget, and 
                whether the schools needed to seek revenues beyond 
                those provided by the State and/or local district;
                    ``(D) changes to teacher, custodial and other 
                contracts to accommodate the longer hours;
                    ``(E) the meaningful similarities and differences 
                in the ways in which individual schools implemented a 
                longer day and/or year;
                    ``(F) how the additional time is used for enhancing 
                teaching and learning, as stated by administrators, 
                teachers, parents and students; and
                    ``(G) how partners are integrated into the school 
                day.
            ``(3) any other analysis or measurement pertinent to this 
        part that is determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Program Improvement.--The findings of the evaluation 
conducted under this section shall be provided to eligible entities and 
local education agencies on a periodic basis for use in program 
improvement.

``SEC. 1948. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds reserved under section 1942(b)(1)(C), 
the Secretary shall contract with an independent organization outside 
of the Department to provide technical assistance to State education 
agencies and local education agencies. Such an organization shall, in 
partnership with the Secretary--
            ``(1) assist State education agencies with the planning of 
        expanded learning time initiatives including, but not limited 
        to, the dissemination of information and research on existing 
        State and local expanded learning time efforts;
            ``(2) convene participating State and local education 
        agencies and relevant State technical assistance partners 
        through the use of regional and national networks to train and 
        educate them on best practices for expanding learning time in 
        the areas of finance, educational programming, human resources 
        and staffing, labor agreements, and school partnerships;
            ``(3) identify and disseminate information about schools, 
        local education agencies, and eligible entities that have 
        effectively developed and implemented expanded learning time 
        initiatives, including those eligible entities, local education 
        agencies, and schools that have been identified as effective 
        through the evaluation provisions of this part; and
            ``(4) support the continued identification and 
        dissemination of information expanded learning time programs 
        that can lead to improved learning outcomes for children, 
        youth, and adults.
    ``(b) Selection.--In naming an organization to be the national 
technical assistance provider for the expanded learning time 
initiative, the Secretary shall select from organizations that have a 
proven track record of providing technical assistance related to 
developing and implementing expanded learning time initiatives to State 
education agencies and local education agencies for a minimum of two 
years prior to the enactment of this section. In addition, the 
Secretary shall consider an organization's financial capacity, 
leadership capacity, and ability to attract a broad range of financial 
support.

``SEC. 1949. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a local education agency; or
                    ``(B) a consortium that consists of two or more 
                local education agencies.
            ``(2) Expanded learning time and school redesign planning 
        grant or planning grant.--The terms `expanded learning time and 
        school redesign planning grant' or `planning grant' mean a 
        subgrant awarded by the Secretary to an eligible entity or a 
        State education agency to a local education agency for the 
        purpose of developing an implementation plan for expanding the 
        school day and/or year.
            ``(3) Expanded learning time and school redesign 
        implementation subgrant or implementation grant.--The terms 
        `expanded learning time and school redesign implementation 
        grant' or `implementation grant' mean a grant awarded by the 
        Secretary to a qualifying eligible entity or subgrant awarded 
        by a State education agency to a local education agency to 
        enact its expanded learning time and school redesign 
        implementation plan to expand learning time by lengthening 
        school days or the school year, or a combination of both, at 
        selected schools.
            ``(4) Expanded learning time and school redesign 
        implementation plan or implementation plan.--The terms 
        `expanded learning time and school redesign implementation 
        plan' or `implementation plan' mean the plan developed by a 
        local education agency to expand the school day and/or year at 
        selected schools that is submitted to the Secretary or a State 
        education agency for review.
            ``(5) Defined per pupil allotment.--The term `defined per 
        pupil allotment' means the amount determined by the Secretary 
        to be the cost of expanding learning time pursuant to this Act. 
        The `defined per pupil amount' shall be equal to $1,500 and 
        adjusted higher or lower depending on regional differences in 
        per pupil cost as determined by the Secretary.''.
                                 <all>