[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1981 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1981

 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding 
            environmental education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2007

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding 
            environmental education, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``No Child Left 
Inside Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References.
Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.
                 TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS

Sec. 101. Development, approval, and implementation of State 
                            environmental literacy plans.
    TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL 
                       DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Environmental education.
TITLE III--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL 
                                CAPACITY

Sec. 301. Environmental education grant program to help build national 
                            capacity.
   TITLE IV--ELIGIBILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FIELD-BASED 
     LEARNING ACTIVITIES UNDER EXISTING GRANT AND FUNDING PROGRAMS

Sec. 401. Promotion of field-based learning.
Sec. 402. Environmental education as an authorized program in the fund 
                            for the improvement of education.
                   TITLE V--AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS

Sec. 501. Department of Education Organization Act.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

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

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out section 5622(g) and part E of title II of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
    (b) Distribution.--With respect to any amount appropriated under 
subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
            (1) not more than 70 percent of such amount shall be used 
        to carry out section 5622(g) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 for such fiscal year; and
            (2) not less than 30 percent of such amount shall be used 
        to carry out part E of title II of such Act for such fiscal 
        year.

                 TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS

SEC. 101. DEVELOPMENT, APPROVAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE 
              ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS.

    Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

               ``Subpart 22--Environmental Literacy Plans

``SEC. 5621. ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    ``In order for any State educational agency or a local educational 
agency served by a State educational agency to receive grant funds, 
either directly or through participation in a partnership with a 
recipient of grant funds, under this subpart or part E of title II, the 
State educational agency shall meet the requirements regarding an 
environmental literacy plan under section 5622.

``SEC. 5622. STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS.

    ``(a) Submission of Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007, a State 
        educational agency subject to the requirements of section 5621 
        shall, in consultation with State environmental agencies, State 
        natural resource agencies, and with input from the public--
                    ``(A) submit an environmental literacy plan for 
                kindergarten through grade 12 to the Secretary for peer 
                review and approval that will ensure that elementary 
                and secondary school students in the State are 
                environmentally literate; and
                    ``(B) begin the implementation of such plan in the 
                State.
            ``(2) Existing plans.--A State may satisfy the requirement 
        of paragraph (1)(A) by submitting to the Secretary for peer 
        review an existing State plan that has been developed by or in 
        cooperation with State environmental organizations, if such 
        plan complies with this section.
    ``(b) Plan Objectives.--A State environmental literacy plan shall 
meet the following objectives:
            ``(1) Prepare students to understand, analyze, and address 
        the major environmental challenges facing the United States.
            ``(2) Provide field experiences as part of the regular 
        school curriculum and create programs that contribute to 
        healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound 
        nutrition.
            ``(3) Create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
        professional development for teachers that improves the 
        teachers' environmental content knowledge, skill in teaching 
        about environmental issues, and field-based pedagogical skill 
        base.
    ``(c) Contents of Plan.--A State environmental literacy plan shall 
include each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will measure the environmental literacy of students, 
        including--
                    ``(A) relevant State academic content standards and 
                content areas regarding environmental education, and 
                courses or subjects where environmental education 
                instruction will take place; and
                    ``(B) a description of the relationship of the plan 
                to the secondary school graduation requirements of the 
                State.
            ``(2) A description of programs for professional 
        development for teachers to improve the teachers'--
                    ``(A) environmental content knowledge;
                    ``(B) skill in teaching about environmental issues; 
                and
                    ``(C) field-based pedagogical skills.
            ``(3) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will implement the plan, including securing funding and other 
        necessary support.
    ``(d) Plan Update.--The State environmental literacy plan shall be 
revised or updated by the State educational agency and submitted to the 
Secretary not less often than every 5 years or as appropriate to 
reflect plan modifications.
    ``(e) Peer Review and Secretarial Approval.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) establish a peer review process to assist in the 
        review of State environmental literacy plans;
            ``(2) appoint individuals to the peer review process who--
                    ``(A) are representative of parents, teachers, 
                State educational agencies, State environmental 
                agencies, State natural resource agencies, local 
                educational agencies, and non-governmental 
                organizations; and
                    ``(B) are familiar with national environmental 
                issues and the health and educational needs of 
                students;
            ``(3) approve a State environmental literacy plan within 
        120 days of the plan's submission unless the Secretary 
        determines that the State environmental literacy plan does not 
        meet the requirements of this section;
            ``(4) immediately notify the State if the Secretary 
        determines that the State environmental literacy plan does not 
        meet the requirements of this section, and state the reasons 
        for such determination;
            ``(5) not decline to approve a State environmental literacy 
        plan before--
                    ``(A) offering the State an opportunity to revise 
                the State environmental literacy plan;
                    ``(B) providing technical assistance in order to 
                assist the State to meet the requirements of this 
                section; and
                    ``(C) providing notice and an opportunity for a 
                hearing; and
            ``(6) have the authority to decline to approve a State 
        environmental literacy plan for not meeting the requirements of 
        this part, but shall not have the authority to require a State, 
        as a condition of approval of the State environmental literacy 
        plan, to--
                    ``(A) include in, or delete from, such State 
                environmental literacy plan 1 or more specific elements 
                of the State academic content standards under section 
                1111(b)(1); or
                    ``(B) use specific academic assessment instruments 
                or items.
    ``(f) State Revisions.--The State educational agency shall have the 
opportunity to revise a State environmental literacy plan if such 
revision is necessary to satisfy the requirements of this section.
    ``(g) Grants for Implementation.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated for 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, through 
        allotments in accordance with the regulations described in 
        paragraph (2), to States to enable the States to award 
        subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational 
        agencies and eligible partnerships (as such term is defined in 
        section 2502) to support the implementation of the State 
        environmental literacy plan.
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations implementing the grant program under paragraph (1), 
        which regulations shall include the development of an allotment 
        formula that best achieves the purposes of this subpart.
            ``(3) Administrative expenses.--A State receiving a grant 
        under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of the 
        grant funds for administrative expenses.
    ``(h) Reporting.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after approval of 
        a State environmental literacy plan, and every 2 years 
        thereafter, the chief executive officer of the State, in 
        cooperation with the State educational agency, shall submit to 
        the Secretary a report on the implementation of the State plan.
            ``(2) Report requirements.--The report required by this 
        subsection shall be--
                    ``(A) in the form specified by the Secretary;
                    ``(B) based on the State's ongoing evaluation 
                activities; and
                    ``(C) made readily available to the public.''.

    TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL 
                       DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

    Title II (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

   ``PART E--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT 
                                PROGRAM

``SEC. 2501. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this part is to ensure the academic achievement of 
students in environmental literacy through the professional development 
of teachers and educators.

``SEC. 2502. GRANTS FOR ENHANCING EDUCATION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL 
              EDUCATION.

    ``(a) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, the 
term `eligible partnership' means a partnership that--
            ``(1) shall include a local educational agency; and
            ``(2) may include--
                    ``(A) the teacher training department of an 
                institution of higher education;
                    ``(B) the environmental department of an 
                institution of higher education;
                    ``(C) another local educational agency, a public 
                charter school, a public elementary school or secondary 
                school, or a consortium of such schools;
                    ``(D) a State environmental or natural resource 
                management agency or a local environmental or natural 
                resource management agency; or
                    ``(E) a nonprofit or for-profit organization of 
                demonstrated effectiveness in improving the quality of 
                environmental education teachers.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated for 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, through 
        allotments in accordance with the regulations described in 
        paragraph (2), to States to enable the States to award 
        subgrants under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations implementing the grant program under paragraph (1), 
        which regulations shall include the development of an allotment 
        formula that best achieves the purposes of this subpart.
            ``(3) Administrative expenses.--A State receiving a grant 
        under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of the 
        grant funds for administrative expenses.
    ``(c) Subgrants Authorized.--
            ``(1) Subgrants to eligible partnerships.--From amounts 
        made available to a State educational agency under subsection 
        (b)(1), the State educational agency shall award subgrants, on 
        a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable the 
        eligible partnerships to carry out the authorized activities 
        described in subsection (d) consistent with the approved State 
        environmental literacy plan.
            ``(2) Duration.--The State educational agency shall award 
        each subgrant under this part for a period of not more than 3 
        years beginning on the date of approval of the State's 
        environmental literacy plan under section 5622.
            ``(3) Supplement, not supplant.--Funds provided to an 
        eligible partnership under this part shall be used to 
        supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be 
        used for activities authorized under this part.
    ``(d) Application Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership desiring a 
        subgrant under this part shall submit an application to the 
        State educational agency, at such time, in such manner, and 
        accompanied by such information as the State educational agency 
        may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) the results of a comprehensive assessment of 
                the teacher quality and professional development needs, 
                with respect to the teaching and learning of 
                environmental content;
                    ``(B) a description of how the activities to be 
                carried out by the eligible partnership--
                            ``(i) where applicable, will be aligned 
                        with challenging State academic content 
                        standards and student academic achievement 
                        standards in environmental education; and
                            ``(ii) will advance the teaching of 
                        interdisciplinary courses that integrate the 
                        study of natural, social, and economic systems 
                        and that include strong field components in 
                        which students have the opportunity to directly 
                        experience nature;
                    ``(C) an explanation of how the activities to be 
                carried out by the eligible partnership are expected to 
                improve student academic achievement and strengthen the 
                quality of environmental instruction;
                    ``(D) a description of how the activities to be 
                carried out by the eligible partnership will ensure 
                that teachers are trained in the use of field-based and 
                service learning to enable the teachers--
                            ``(i) to use the local environment and 
                        community as a resource; and
                            ``(ii) to enhance student understanding of 
                        the environment and academic achievement;
                    ``(E) a description of--
                            ``(i) how the eligible partnership will 
                        carry out the authorized activities described 
                        in subsection (d); and
                            ``(ii) the eligible partnership's 
                        evaluation and accountability plan described in 
                        subsection (e); and
                    ``(F) a description of how the eligible partnership 
                will continue the activities funded under this part 
                after the grant period has expired.
    ``(e) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership shall use the 
subgrant funds provided under this part for 1 or more of the following 
activities related to elementary schools or secondary schools:
            ``(1) Improving the environmental content knowledge of 
        teachers.
            ``(2) Improving teachers' skills in teaching about 
        environmental issues.
            ``(3) Improving the field-based pedagogical skill base of 
        all teachers.
            ``(4) Providing professional development for teachers that 
        encourages the utilization of outdoor facilities.
            ``(5) Establishing and operating programs to bring teachers 
        into contact with working professionals in environmental fields 
        to expand such teachers' subject matter knowledge of, and 
        research in, environmental issues.
            ``(6) Creating initiatives that seek to incorporate 
        environmental education within teacher training programs or 
        accreditation standards consistent with the State environmental 
        literacy plan under section 5622.
            ``(7) Conducting and operating model environmental 
        education programs that utilize outdoor field investigations 
        for students to directly experience nature.
    ``(f) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership receiving a 
        subgrant under this part shall develop an evaluation and 
        accountability plan for activities assisted under this part 
        that includes rigorous objectives that measure the impact of 
        the activities.
            ``(2) Contents.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall include measurable objectives to increase the number of 
        teachers who participate in environmental education content-
        based professional development activities.
    ``(g) Report.--Each eligible partnership receiving a subgrant under 
this part shall report annually to the State educational agency 
regarding the eligible partnership's progress in meeting the objectives 
described in the accountability plan of the eligible partnership under 
subsection (f).''.

TITLE III--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL 
                                CAPACITY

SEC. 301. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL 
              CAPACITY.

    Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) (as amended by section 
101) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

          ``Subpart 23--Environmental Education Grant Program

``SEC. 5631. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subpart is to prepare children to understand 
and address major environmental challenges facing the United States and 
strengthen environmental education as an integral part of the 
elementary school and secondary school curriculum.

``SEC. 5632. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
means a nonprofit organization, State educational agency, local 
educational agency, or institution of higher education, that has 
demonstrated expertise and experience in the development of the 
institutional, financial, intellectual, or policy resources needed to 
help the field of environmental education become more effective and 
widely practiced.
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of Environmental Education, is authorized to award 
        grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable 
        the eligible entities to carry out the activities under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
        this subpart for a period of not less than 1 year and not more 
        than 3 years.

``SEC. 5633. APPLICATIONS.

    ``Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this subpart shall 
submit to the Secretary an application that contains--
            ``(1) a plan to initiate, expand, or improve environmental 
        education programs in order to make progress toward meeting 
        State standards for environmental learning; and
            ``(2) an evaluation and accountability plan for activities 
        assisted under this subpart that includes rigorous objectives 
        that measure the impact of activities funded under this 
        subpart.

``SEC. 5634. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``Grant funds made available under this subpart shall be used for 1 
or more of the following:
            ``(1) Developing and implementing challenging State 
        environmental education academic content standards, student 
        academic achievement standards, and State curriculum 
        frameworks.
            ``(2) Replicating or disseminating information about proven 
        and tested model environmental education programs that--
                    ``(A) use the environment as an integrating theme 
                or content throughout the curriculum; or
                    ``(B) provide integrated, interdisciplinary 
                instruction about natural, social, and economic systems 
                along with field experience that provides students with 
                opportunities to directly experience nature in ways 
                designed to improve students' overall academic 
                performance, personal health (including addressing 
                child obesity issues), or their understanding of 
                nature.
            ``(3) Developing and implementing new policy approaches to 
        advancing environmental education at the State and national 
        level.
            ``(4) Conducting studies of national significance that--
                    ``(A) provide a comprehensive, systematic, and 
                formal assessment of the state of environmental 
                education in the United States;
                    ``(B) evaluate the effectiveness of teaching 
                environmental education as a separate subject, and as 
                an integrating concept or theme; or
                    ``(C) evaluate the effectiveness of using 
                environmental education in helping students improve 
                their assessment scores in mathematics, reading or 
                language arts, and the other core academic subjects.
            ``(5) Executing projects that advance widespread State and 
        local educational agency adoption and use of environmental 
        education content standards.
            ``(6) Planning and initiating new national or State sources 
        of environmental education funding.

``SEC. 5635. REPORTS.

    ``(a) Eligible Entity Report.--In order to continue receiving grant 
funds under this subpart after the first year of a multiyear grant 
under this subpart, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
an annual report that--
            ``(1) describes the activities assisted under this subpart 
        that were conducted during the preceding year;
            ``(2) demonstrates that progress has been made in helping 
        schools to meet State standards for environmental education; 
        and
            ``(3) describes the results of the eligible entity's 
        evaluation and accountability plan.
    ``(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
submit a report to Congress that--
            ``(1) describes the programs assisted under this subpart;
            ``(2) documents the success of such programs in improving 
        national and State environmental education capacity; and
            ``(3) makes such recommendations as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate for the continuation and improvement of 
        the programs assisted under this subpart.

``SEC. 5636. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Federal Share.--The Federal share under this subpart shall 
not exceed--
            ``(1) 90 percent of the total cost of a program assisted 
        under this subpart for the first year for which the program 
        receives assistance under this subpart; and
            ``(2) 75 percent of such cost for the second and each 
        subsequent such year.
    ``(b) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 7.5 percent of the 
grant funds made available to a nonprofit organization, State 
educational agency, local educational agency, or institution of higher 
education under this subpart for any fiscal year may be used for 
administrative expenses.
    ``(c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts made available to the 
Secretary to carry out this subpart shall remain available until 
expended.

``SEC. 5637. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.

    ``Funds made available under this subpart shall be used to 
supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds 
available for environmental education activities.''.

   TITLE IV--ELIGIBILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND FIELD-BASED 
     LEARNING ACTIVITIES UNDER EXISTING GRANT AND FUNDING PROGRAMS

SEC. 401. PROMOTION OF FIELD-BASED LEARNING.

    (a) State Use of Funds.--Section 2113(c) (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``field-based learning, 
        service learning, outdoor experiential learning,'' after ``peer 
        networks,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(19) Encouraging and supporting the training of teachers 
        and administrators to incorporate field-based learning, service 
        learning, and outdoor experiential learning into the curricula 
        and instruction.''.
    (b) Local Use of Funds.--Section 2123(a)(3)(B) (20 U.S.C. 
6623(a)(3)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) provide training on how to integrate 
                        field-based learning, service learning, and 
                        outdoor experiential learning into the 
                        curricula and instruction.''.

SEC. 402. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AS AN AUTHORIZED PROGRAM IN THE FUND 
              FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION.

    Section 5411(b) (20 U.S.C. 7243(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) Activities and programs that advance environmental 
        education, including interdisciplinary courses that integrate 
        the study of natural, social, and economic systems and the use 
        of the environment as an integrating theme for a school 
        curriculum, as well as field-based learning, service learning, 
        and outdoor experiential learning.''.

                   TITLE V--AMENDMENTS TO OTHER LAWS

SEC. 501. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ORGANIZATION ACT.

    (a) Office of Environmental Education.--Title II of the Department 
of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 221. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

    ``(a) Office of Environmental Education.--There shall be in the 
Department an Office of Environmental Education (referred to in this 
section as `the Office').
    ``(b) Director.--
            ``(1) Appointment and reporting.--The Office shall be 
        headed by a Director of Environmental Education (in this 
        section referred to as the `Director'), who shall be appointed 
        by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Duties.--The Director shall--
                    ``(A) develop a national plan for kindergarten 
                through grade 12 environmental education and coordinate 
                the resulting implementation process for the plan;
                    ``(B) coordinate the development of voluntary 
                national standards and a national model curriculum;
                    ``(C) administer the environmental education grant 
                program under subpart 23 of part D of title V of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
                    ``(D) administer the environmental education 
                professional development grant program under part E of 
                title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                of 1965; and
                    ``(E) work in partnership with education activities 
                at the Environmental Protection Agency, the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department 
                of the Interior, and the National Science Foundation to 
                advance kindergarten through grade 12 environmental 
                education.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1 of the 
Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 note) is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 220 the 
following new item:

``Sec. 221. Office of Environmental Education.''.
                                 <all>