[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 558 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 558

   To reauthorize part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
                         Education Act of 1965.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 15, 2009

  Ms. Roybal-Allard (for herself, Mr. Hinojosa, Mrs. Biggert, and Mr. 
    Kind) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To reauthorize part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
                         Education Act of 1965.

    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 ``Achievement Through Technology and 
Innovation Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCING EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

    Part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6751 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

            ``Part D--Enhancing Education Through Technology

``SEC. 2401. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND GOALS.

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) Learning technologies are critical in our schools to 
        meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 of 
        raising student achievement, closing the achievement gap and 
        ensuring high quality teaching, and to ensure that our Nation's 
        students are prepared to compete in the 21st Century knowledge-
        based global economy.
            ``(2) A 2007 Department of Education random control study 
        found that students using selected reading and math software 
        achieved at least as well as those in the control classrooms 
        using other methods and curriculum, `students were more likely 
        to engage in individual practice and teachers were more likely 
        to facilitate student learning rather than lecture', and nearly 
        all teachers indicated that they would want to use the 
        technology again. These findings came in only the first year of 
        implementation, with less than recommended time using the 
        software, and with half of teachers indicating their need for 
        more related professional development.
            ``(3) Increased professional development opportunities are 
        needed if teachers are to be highly qualified and effective in 
        a 21st century classroom with today's digital native students, 
        including in the use of learning technologies to deliver 
        innovative instruction and curriculum and to use data to inform 
        instruction.
            ``(4) Scientifically based research, conducted with Federal 
        funding, demonstrates that systemic reform initiatives centered 
        around technology have shown great promise in improving 
        teaching and learning, including the following:
                    ``(A) In Utah, Missouri, and Maine, the eMINTS 
                program provides schools and teachers with educational 
                technology tools, curriculum, and over 200 hours of 
                professional development to change how teachers teach 
                and students learn. In classrooms in the same school 
                (one with eMINTS and one without), the student 
                achievement of students in the eMINTS classroom was 
                repeatedly over 10 percent higher than the control 
                classroom.
                    ``(B) In West Virginia, students receiving access 
                to on-line foreign language courses performed at least 
                as well as those in face-to-face versions of the 
                classes, providing comparable high quality instruction 
                for those in rural areas who otherwise would not have 
                access to such courses.
                    ``(C) In Michigan's Freedom to Learn technology 
                program, 8th grade math achievement increased from 31 
                percent in 2004 to 63 percent in 2005 in one middle 
                school, and science achievement increased from 68 
                percent of students proficient in 2003 to 80 percent in 
                2004.
                    ``(D) In Texas, the Technology Immersion Pilot, 
                implemented in middle schools, demonstrated that 
                discipline referrals went down by over \1/2\ with the 
                changes in teaching and learning; while in one school, 
                6th grade standardized math scores increased by 5 
                percent, 7th grade by 42 percent, and 8th grade by 24 
                percent.
                    ``(E) In Iowa, after connecting teachers with 
                sustainable professional development and technology-
                based curriculum interventions, student scores 
                increased by 14 points in 8th grade math, 16 points in 
                4th grade math, and 13 points in 4th grade reading 
                compared with control groups.
            ``(5) Technology and e-learning in our schools are 
        necessary to meet our science, technology, engineering and 
        mathematics education needs and provide students with 21st 
        century skills, including technology literacy, information 
        literacy, communication, problem solving, and the ability for 
        self-directed lifelong learning.
            ``(6) A 2003 Department of Commerce report credits United 
        States industry's investments in information technology between 
        1989-2001 with producing positive and probably lasting changes 
        in the Nation's economic potential, but finds education in the 
        United States last in intensity of information technology of 55 
        industry sectors.
            ``(7) Many schools in the United States lack the resources 
        necessary for the 21st century classroom and to meet the needs 
        and expectations of today's digital native students, including 
        software, digital content, broadband and other technologies.
            ``(8) According to the Department of Education's National 
        Educational Technology Trends Study (NETTS 2007), insufficient 
        or outdated technology presented a substantial barrier to 
        technology use for teaching and learning for more than 40 
        percent of students, while lack of support specialists was a 
        barrier to technology use for more than 50 percent of students.
            ``(9) Federal leadership and investment is needed to serve 
        as a catalyst for State and local education initiatives aimed 
        at school innovation and improved student achievement through 
        leveraging educational technologies. According to the 
        Department of Education's National Educational Technology 
        Trends Study (NETTS 2007), because funds generated locally 
        through bonds or taxes frequently have legal restrictions 
        requiring them to be spent on hardware and connectivity 
        purchases only, Federal and State funds supporting the use of 
        technology resources fill a critical gap.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are the following:
            ``(1) To ensure that through technology every student has 
        access to individualized, rigorous, and relevant learning to 
        meet the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and to 
        prepare all students and the United States for the 21st 
        century.
            ``(2) To evaluate, build upon and increase the use of 
        research-based and innovative systemic school reforms that 
        center on the use of technology and lead to school improvement 
        and increase student achievement.
            ``(3) To increase on-going, meaningful professional 
        development around technology that leads to changes in teaching 
        and curriculum, and which improves student achievement, 
        including but not limited to core curricular subjects, and 
        student technology literacy.
    ``(c) Goals.--The goals of this part are the following:
            ``(1) To improve student academic achievement on State 
        academic standards through the use of professional development, 
        research-based and innovative systemic school reforms, and 
        other technology uses and applications.
            ``(2) To improve teacher professional development to ensure 
        every teacher and administrator is technologically literate, 
        including possessing the knowledge and skills to use technology 
        across the curriculum, to use technology and curriculum 
        redesign as key components of changing teaching and learning 
        and improving student achievement, to use technology for data 
        analysis to enable individualized instruction, and to use 
        technology to improve student technology literacy.
            ``(3) To ensure that every student is technologically 
        literate by graduation, regardless of the student's race, 
        ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or 
        disability.
            ``(4) To improve student engagement, opportunity, 
        attendance, graduation rates, and technology access through 
        enhanced or redesigned curriculum or instruction.
            ``(5) To more effectively use data to inform instruction, 
        address individualized student needs, and support school 
        decision making.
            ``(6) To improve the efficiency and productivity of the 
        classroom and school enterprise toward the ultimate purposes of 
        improving student achievement.

``SEC. 2402. DEFINITION.

    ``In this part, the term `student technology literacy' means 
student knowledge and skills in using contemporary information, 
communication and learning technologies in a manner necessary for 
successful life-long learning and citizenship in the knowledge-based, 
digital, and global 21st century, which includes the abilities to 
effectively communicate and collaborate; to analyze and solve problems; 
to access, evaluate, manage and create information and otherwise gain 
information literacy; and to do so in a safe and ethical manner.

``SEC. 2403. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this part, $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(b) Allocation of Funds Between State and Local and National 
Initiatives.--Allocation of funds between State and local and national 
initiatives--the amount of funds made available under subsection (a) 
for a fiscal year shall be allocated so that--
            ``(1) the lesser of 3 percent or $10,000,000 is made 
        available to carry out subpart 2, including not more than 
        $2,000,000 annually to carry out section 2421(a); and
            ``(2) the remainder of funds is made available to carry out 
        subpart 1.
    ``(c) Limitation.--
            ``(1) Of the amount of funds made available to a local 
        educational agency under this part for a fiscal year, not more 
        than 5 percent may be used by the recipient for administrative 
        costs or technical assistance, of which not more than 60 
        percent may be used by the recipient for administrative costs.
            ``(2) Of the amount of funds made available to a State 
        local educational agency under section 2412(a)(1) for 
        administrative costs and technical assistance, nor more than 60 
        percent may be used by the recipient for administrative costs.
            ``(3) The funds made available to carry-out activities 
        under section 2421(a) shall be used solely to develop the 
        National Education Technology Plan and not transferred or 
        otherwise used for any other purpose.

                  ``Subpart 1--State and Local Grants

``SEC. 2411. ALLOTMENT AND REALLOTMENT.

    ``(a) Reservations and Allotment.--From the amount made available 
to carry out this part under section 2403(b)(2) for a fiscal year--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall reserve--
                    ``(A) three-fourths of 1 percent for the Secretary 
                of the Interior for programs under this subpart for 
                schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs; and
                    ``(B) one-half of 1 percent to provide assistance 
                under this subpart to the outlying areas; and
            ``(2) from the remainder of such amount and subject to 
        subsection (b), the Secretary shall make grants by allotting to 
        each eligible State educational agency under this subpart an 
        amount that bears the same relationship to such remainder for 
        such year as the amount received under part A of title I for 
        such year by such State educational agency bears to the amount 
        received under such part for such year by all State educational 
        agencies.
    ``(b) Minimum Allotment.--The amount of any State educational 
agency's allotment under subsection (a)(2) for any fiscal year may not 
be less than one-half of 1 percent of the amount made available for 
allotments to States under this part for such year.
    ``(c) Reallotment of Unused Funds.--If any State educational agency 
does not apply for an allotment under this subpart for a fiscal year, 
or does not use its entire allotment under this subpart for that fiscal 
year, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the State educational 
agency's allotment, or the unused portion of the allotment, to the 
remaining State educational agencies that use their entire allotments 
under this subpart in accordance with this section.
    ``(d) State Educational Agency Defined.--In this section, the term 
`State educational agency' does not include an agency of an outlying 
area or the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

``SEC. 2412. USE OF ALLOTMENT BY STATE.

    ``(a) In General.--Of the amount provided to a State educational 
agency from the agency's allotment under section 2411(a)(2) for a 
fiscal year--
            ``(1) the State educational agency may use the greater of 
        $100,000 or 5 percent to carry out activities under section 
        2414(a);
            ``(2) the State educational agency may use the greater of 
        $50,000 or 2.5 percent to carry out activities under section 
        2414(b); and
            ``(3) the State educational agency shall distribute the 
        remainder as follows:
                    ``(A) 60 percent shall be used to award subgrants 
                to local educational agencies for improving teaching 
                and learning through technology pursuant to section 
                2415(c) by allocating to each eligible local 
                educational agency that has submitted an application to 
                the State educational agency under such section, for 
                the activities described in section 2416(b), an amount 
                that bears the same relationship to 50 percent of the 
                remainder for such year as the amount received under 
                part A of title I for such year by such local 
                educational agency bears to the amount received under 
                such part for such year by all local educational 
                agencies within the State.
                    ``(B) 40 percent shall be used to award systemic 
                school reform through technology integration subgrants 
                pursuant to section 2416(a), through a State-determined 
                competitive process, to eligible local educational 
                agencies that have submitted applications to the State 
                educational agency under section 2415(b).
    ``(b) Sufficient Amounts.--
            ``(1) Special rule.--In awarding subgrants under subsection 
        (a)(3)(B), the State educational agency shall--
                    ``(A) ensure grants are of sufficient size and 
                scope to be effective, consistent with the purposes of 
                this part;
                    ``(B) ensure grants are of sufficient duration to 
                be effective, consistent with the purposes of this 
                part, including by awarding grants that will run for at 
                least 2 years and may be renewed for up to a total of 
                five years;
                    ``(C) give preference in the awarding of grants to 
                eligible local educational agencies that include 
                schools in need of improvement as identified under 
                section 1116, including those with high populations of 
                students with limited English proficiency or students 
                with disabilities; and
                    ``(D) ensure an equitable distribution of 
                assistance under this subpart among urban and rural 
                areas of the State, according to the demonstrated need 
                of those local educational agencies serving the areas.
            ``(2) Minimum allotment.--The amount of any local 
        educational agency's allotment under subsection (a)(3)(A) for 
        any fiscal year may not be less than $3,000.
    ``(c) Reallotment of Unused Funds.--If any local educational agency 
does not apply for an allotment under this subpart for a fiscal year, 
or does not use its entire allotment under this subpart for that fiscal 
year, the State shall reallot the amount of the local educational 
agency's allotment, or the unused portion of the allotment, to the 
remaining local educational agencies that use their entire allotments 
under this subpart in accordance with this section.

``SEC. 2413. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
subpart, a State educational agency shall submit to the Secretary, at 
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may specify, an 
application containing the contents described in subsection (b) and 
such other information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    ``(b) Contents.--Each State application submitted under subsection 
(a) shall include each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the State will support local 
        grant recipients in meeting, and help improve their capacity to 
        meet, the purposes, goals, and requirements of this part, 
        including through technical assistance.
            ``(2) A description of the State's long-term goals and 
        strategies for improving student academic achievement, 
        including core curricular areas and technology literacy, 
        through the effective use of technology in classrooms and 
        schools throughout the State.
            ``(3) A description of the priority areas on which the 
        State will focus its guidance, technical assistance, and other 
        local support under this part, as identified by the State from 
        among the core content areas, grade levels, and student 
        subgroup populations that may be causing the most number of 
        local educational agencies in the State to not make adequate 
        yearly progress (as described in section 1111).
            ``(4) A description of how the State will support local 
        grant recipients in implementing, and help improve their 
        capacity to implement, professional development programs 
        pursuant to section 2416(b)(1)(A).
            ``(5) A description of how the State will ensure that 
        teachers, paraprofessionals, library and media personnel, and 
        administrators in the State are technologically literate.
            ``(6) A description of the process, activities, and 
        performance measures that the State educational agency will use 
        to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of activities funded 
        under this part as required under section 2414(b).
            ``(7) Identification of the State challenging academic 
        content standards and challenging student academic achievement 
        standards that the State will use to ensure that each student 
        is technology literate by the end of the 8th grade (consistent 
        with the definition of student technology literacy in section 
        2402), and a description of how the State will assess student 
        performance in gaining technology literacy, except that--
                    ``(A) such assessment shall be used only to track 
                student technology literacy and not for purposes of 
                determining adequate yearly progress under section 
                1111; and
                    ``(B) nothing in this part shall be construed as 
                requiring a State to develop a separate test to measure 
                student technology literacy, as assessment may be 
                embedded in other State tests or performance-based 
                assessments portfolios, or made through other valid and 
                reliable means.
            ``(8) An assurance that financial assistance provided under 
        this subpart will supplement, and not supplant, State and local 
        funds.
            ``(9) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will, in providing technical and other assistance to local 
        educational agencies, give priority to those identified by the 
        State in the highest need of assistance, including those with 
        the highest percentage or number of students from families with 
        incomes below the poverty line, students not achieving at the 
        State proficiency level with student populations identified 
        under section 2412(b)(1)(C), or schools identified as in need 
        of improvement under section 1116.
            ``(10) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will ensure that each subgrant awarded under section 2412(a) is 
        of sufficient size, scope, and duration to be effective as 
        required under section 2412(b), and that such subgrants are 
        appropriately targeted and equitably distributed as required 
        under section 2412(b) to carry out the purposes of this part 
        effectively.
            ``(11) A description of how the State educational agency 
        consulted with local educational agencies in the development of 
        the State application.

``SEC. 2414. STATE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds made available under section 
2412(a)(1), a State educational agency--
            ``(1) shall--
                    ``(A) identify the State challenging academic 
                content standards and challenging student academic 
                achievement standards that the State will use to ensure 
                that each student is technology literate by the end of 
                the 8th grade (consistent with the definition of 
                student technology literacy in section 2402);
                    ``(B) assess at least once by the end of the 8th 
                grade student performance in gaining technology 
                literacy consistent with subparagraph (A), including 
                through embedding such assessment items in other State 
                tests, performance-based assessment portfolios, or 
                through other means, except that--
                            ``(i) such assessments shall be used only 
                        to track student technology literacy and not 
                        for purposes of determining adequate yearly 
                        progress under section 1111; and
                            ``(ii) nothing in this part shall be 
                        construed as requiring a State to develop a 
                        separate test to measure student technology 
                        literacy;
                    ``(C) provide guidance, technical assistance and 
                other support in the priority areas identified by the 
                State pursuant to section 2413(b)(3) to local 
                educational agencies receiving grants of under $10,000 
                under section 2412(a)(3)(A), with a priority given to 
                those in highest need of assistance pursuant to section 
                2413(b)(9);
                    ``(D) provide technical assistance to local 
                educational agencies (with a priority given to those 
                identified by the State as being the most in need of 
                assistance, including those with the highest percentage 
                or number of students from families with incomes below 
                the poverty line, students not achieving at the State 
                proficiency level, with student populations identified 
                under section 2412(b)(1)(C) and schools identified as 
                in need of improvement under section 1116) in--
                            ``(i) submitting applications for funding 
                        under this part;
                            ``(ii) carrying out activities authorized 
                        under section 2416, including implementation of 
                        systemic school reforms as described in section 
                        2415(b); and
                            ``(iii) developing local educational 
                        technology plans and integrating such plans 
                        with their plans for improving student 
                        achievement under sections 1111 and 1112 and, 
                        if applicable, section 1116; and
                    ``(E) provide guidance, technical assistance, and 
                other support to local educational agencies on their 
                plans to update computers and servers, including the 
                types of functionalities that elementary and secondary 
                schools should seek in purchasing new computers and 
                servers and the amount of time that schools should use 
                computers and servers before replacing them; and
            ``(2) may carry out the following activities:
                    ``(A) State leadership activities and technical 
                assistance that assist recipients of funds under this 
                part in achieving the purposes and goals of this part.
                    ``(B) Assisting recipients of funds under this part 
                in the development and utilization of research-based or 
                innovative strategies for the delivery of specialized 
                or rigorous academic courses and curricula through the 
                use of technology, including distance learning 
                technologies.
                    ``(C) Assisting recipients of funds under this 
                subpart in providing sustained and intensive, high-
                quality professional development pursuant to section 
                2416(b)(1)(A), including through assistance in a review 
                of relevant research.
    ``(b) Evaluation.--From funds made available under section 
2412(a)(2), a State educational agency shall carry out one or more of 
the following activities:
            ``(1) Conducting scientifically based or other rigorous 
        research to evaluate the impact of one or more programs or 
        activities authorized under this part in meeting the purposes 
        and goals of this part.
            ``(2) Providing technical assistance to eligible local 
        educational agencies in carrying out evaluation research 
        activities as required under section 2416(a)(1).
            ``(3) Creating one or more evaluation research protocols, 
        designs, performance measurement systems or other tools to 
        assist eligible local educational agencies in carrying out 
        evaluation activities as required under section 2416(a)(1).
            ``(4) Collecting and disseminating the findings of the 
        evaluation research carried out by eligible local educational 
        agencies under section 2416(a)(1).

``SEC. 2415. LOCAL APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive a subgrant from a 
State educational agency under this subpart, a local educational 
agency, or consortium of local educational agencies, shall submit to 
the State educational agency an application containing a new or updated 
local long-range strategic educational technology plan, and such other 
information as the State educational agency may reasonably require, at 
such time and in such manner as the State educational agency may 
require, which shall include each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the applicant will align and 
        coordinate its use of funds under this part to the district 
        technology plan, to the district plans and activities for 
        improving student achievement, including under sections 1111, 
        1112, and if applicable, section 1116, and to funds available 
        from other Federal, State and local sources.
            ``(2) An assurance that financial assistance provided under 
        this subpart will supplement, and not supplant other existing 
        funds.
            ``(3) A description of plans to regularly replace computers 
        and servers that lack the functional capabilities to process 
        new online applications and services, including video 
        conferencing, video streaming, virtual simulations, and 
        distance learning courses.
            ``(4) Such other information as the State educational 
        agency may reasonably require.
    ``(b) Competitive Grants for Systemic School Reform Through 
Technology Integration.--In addition to components included in 
subsection (a), eligible local educational agencies or consortiums of 
local educational agencies submitting application for a grant under 
section 2412(a)(3)(B) shall submit to the State educational agency an 
application containing the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the applicant will use grant 
        funds to implement systemic school reform, which is a 
        comprehensive set of programs, practices, and technologies that 
        collectively lead to school or agency change and improvement, 
        including in the use of technology, and in improved student 
        achievement and that incorporate all of the following elements:
                    ``(A) Reform or redesign of curriculum, 
                instruction, assessment, use of data, or other school 
                or classroom practices through the use of technology, 
                including to increase student learning opportunity, 
                technology literacy, access, and engagement.
                    ``(B) Improve educator quality, knowledge, and 
                skills through on-going, sustainable, timely, and 
                contextual professional development pursuant to section 
                2416(b)(1)(A).
                    ``(C) Develop student technology literacy and other 
                skills necessary for 21st century learning and success.
                    ``(D) On-going use of formative assessments and 
                other timely data sources and data systems to more 
                effectively identify individual student learning needs 
                and guide personalized instruction and learning and 
                appropriate interventions that address those 
                personalized student learning needs.
                    ``(E) Engagement of agency and school leaders, as 
                well as classroom educators.
                    ``(F) Are either research-based, innovative, or 
                both, such that research-based systemic reforms are 
                based on a review of the best available research 
                evidence, and innovative systemic reforms are based on 
                development and use of new reforms, programs, practices 
                and technologies.
            ``(2) An assurance that the applicant will use at least 25 
        percent of funds to implement a program of professional 
        development pursuant to section 2416(b)(1)(A).
            ``(3) A description of how the applicant will evaluate the 
        impact of one or more programs or activities authorized under 
        this part in meeting one or more of the purposes and goals of 
        this part.
    ``(c) Formula Grants for Improving Teaching and Learning Through 
Technology.--In addition to components included in subsection (a), 
eligible local educational agencies or consortiums of local educational 
agencies that submit an application for a grant under section 
2412(a)(3)(A) shall submit to the State educational agency an 
application containing the following:
            ``(1) An assurance that the applicant will use at least 40 
        percent of funds for professional development pursuant to 
        section 2416(b)(1)(A) and for technology tools, applications, 
        and other resources related specifically to such professional 
        development activities.
            ``(2) A description of how the applicant will implement a 
        program of professional development as required under paragraph 
        (1).
            ``(3) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will employ technology tools, applications, and other resources 
        in professional development and to improve student learning and 
        achievement in the areas of priority identified by the local 
        educational agency pursuant to paragraph (4).
            ``(4) A description of the priority areas upon which the 
        local educational agency will focus its grant funds under this 
        part, such that such priority areas shall be identified from 
        among the core content areas, grade levels and student subgroup 
        populations in which the most number of students are not 
        proficient.
    ``(d) Combined Applications.--An eligible local educational agency 
that submits an application to the State educational agency for funds 
awarded under section 2412(a)(3)(B) may, upon notice to the State 
educational agency, submit a single application that will also be 
considered by the State educational agency as an application for funds 
awarded under section 2412(a)(3)(A), if the application addresses each 
application requirement.
    ``(e) Consortium Applications.--For any fiscal year, a local 
educational agency applying for financial assistance described in 
section 2412(a)(3) may apply as part of a consortium in which more than 
one local educational agencies jointly submits a grant application 
under this part.

``SEC. 2416. LOCAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Competitive Grants for Systemic School Reform Through 
Technology Integration.--From funds made available to a local 
educational agency under section 2412(a)(3)(B), the local educational 
agency--
            ``(1) shall use at least 5 percent of funds to evaluate the 
        impact of one or more programs or activities carried out under 
        this grant in meeting one or more of the purposes and goals of 
        this part as approved by the State educational agency as part 
        of the local application as described under section 2415(b)(4);
            ``(2) shall use the remaining funds to implement a plan for 
        systemic school reform pursuant to section 2415(b)(1), 
        including--
                    ``(A) using at least 25 percent of funds to improve 
                teacher quality and skills through support for--
                            ``(i) professional development activities 
                        described in subsection (b)(1)(A); and
                            ``(ii) the acquisition and implementation 
                        of technology tools, applications and other 
                        resources to be employed in the professional 
                        development activities described in paragraphs 
                        (i);
                    ``(B) acquiring and effectively implementing 
                technology tools, applications and other resources in 
                conjunction with enhancing or redesigning the 
                curriculum or instruction in order to--
                            ``(i) increase student learning opportunity 
                        or access, student engagement in learning, or 
                        student attendance or graduation rates;
                            ``(ii) improve student achievement in one 
                        or more of the core academic subject areas; and
                            ``(iii) improve student technology 
                        literacy; and
                    ``(C) acquiring and effectively implementing 
                technology tools, applications, and other resources 
                to--
                            ``(i) conduct on-going formative assessment 
                        and use other timely data sources and data 
                        systems to more effectively identify individual 
                        students learning needs and guide personalized 
                        instruction, learning and appropriate 
                        interventions that address those personalized 
                        student learning needs;
                            ``(ii) support individualized student 
                        learning, including through instructional 
                        software and digital content that supports the 
                        learning needs of each student, or through 
                        providing access to high-quality courses and 
                        instructors, including math, science and 
                        foreign language courses, often not available 
                        except through technology and online learning, 
                        especially in rural and high-poverty schools; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) such other activities as 
                        appropriate consistent with the goals and 
                        purposes of research-based and innovative 
                        systemic school reform, including to increase 
                        parental involvement through improved 
                        communication with teachers and access to 
                        student assignments and grades.
    ``(b) Formula Grants for Improving Teaching and Learning Through 
Technology.--From funds made available to a local educational agency 
under section 2412(a)(3)(A), the local educational agency shall carry 
out activities to improve student learning, technology literacy, and 
achievement in the area of priority identified by the State under 
section 2413(b)(1), including the following:
            ``(1) Use of at least 40 percent of such funds for 
        professional development to improve teacher quality and skills 
        through support for--
                    ``(A) training of teachers, paraprofessionals, 
                library and media personnel, and administrators that--
                            ``(i) shall include the development, 
                        acquisition or delivery of--
                                    ``(I) training that is on-going, 
                                sustainable, timely, and directly 
                                related to current teaching content 
                                areas;
                                    ``(II) training in strategies and 
                                pedagogy in the core curriculum areas 
                                that involve use of technology and 
                                curriculum redesign as key components 
                                of changing teaching and learning and 
                                improving student achievement;
                                    ``(III) training in the use of 
                                technology to ensure every educator is 
                                technologically literate, including 
                                possessing the knowledge and skills to 
                                use technology across the curriculum, 
                                to use technology and curriculum 
                                redesign as key components of 
                                innovating teaching and learning and 
                                improving student achievement, to use 
                                technology for data analysis to enable 
                                individualized instruction, and to use 
                                technology to improve student 
                                technology literacy; and
                                    ``(IV) training that includes on-
                                going communication and follow-up with 
                                instructors, facilitators, and peers; 
                                and
                            ``(ii) may include--
                                    ``(I) use of instructional 
                                technology specialists, mentors or 
                                coaches to work directly with teachers, 
                                including through the preparing of one 
                                or more teachers as technology leaders 
                                or master teachers who are provided 
                                with the means to serve as experts and 
                                train other teachers in the effective 
                                use of technology; and
                                    ``(II) use of technology such as 
                                distance learning and online virtual 
                                educator-to-educator peer communities 
                                as a means for delivering professional 
                                development; and
                    ``(B) the acquisition and implementation of 
                technology tools, applications, and other resources to 
                be employed in the professional development activities 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Use of the remaining funds to acquire or implement 
        technology tools, applications and other resources to improve 
        student learning, technology literacy and achievement in the 
        areas of priority identified by the local educational agency, 
        including one or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Conducting on-going formative assessment and 
                using other timely data sources and data systems to 
                more effectively identify individual students learning 
                needs and guide personalized instruction, learning and 
                appropriate interventions that address those 
                personalized student learning needs.
                    ``(B) Supporting individualized student learning, 
                including through instructional software and digital 
                content that supports the learning needs of each 
                student, or through providing access to high-quality 
                courses and instructors including math, science and 
                foreign language courses.
                    ``(C) Increasing parental involvement through 
                improved communication with teachers and access to 
                student assignments and grades.
                    ``(D) Enhancing accountability, instruction and 
                data-driven decision making through data systems that 
                allow for management, analysis and disaggregating of 
                student, teacher and school data.
                    ``(E) Such other activities as appropriate 
                consistent with the goals and purposes of this part.
    ``(c) Multiple Grants.--Local educational agencies receiving grant 
awards under section 2412(a)(3)(A) and section 2412(a)(3)(B) may use 
all such funds for activities authorized under subsection (a).

                    ``Subpart 2--National Activities

``SEC. 2421. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``From the amount made available to carry out national activities 
under section 2403(b)(1), the Secretary shall carry out the following 
activities:
            ``(1) National study.--The Secretary shall annually conduct 
        a national study on student technology literacy to determine 
        the extent to which students have gained technology literacy, 
        as defined in section 2402 by the end of the 8th grade. In 
        conducting the study, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) consult first with experts and stakeholders, 
                including educators and education leaders, education 
                technology experts from education and industry, and the 
                business and higher education communities seeking high 
                school graduates with these skills; and
                    ``(B) employ a random stratified sample methodology 
                of student technology literacy performance using an 
                existing assessment instrument.
            ``(2) National education technology plan.--The Secretary 
        shall update at least once every five years the National 
        Education Technology Plan to promote understanding and 
        awareness of the role of technology and e-learning in meeting 
        the Nation's education goals and needs.
            ``(3) Other national activities.--From the remaining funds, 
        the Secretary shall carry out one or more of the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) Supporting efforts to increase student 
                technology literacy as defined in section 2402.
                    ``(B) Supporting and disseminating research to 
                examine and identify the conditions and practices that 
                support the effective use of technology in education to 
                improve teaching, learning, teacher quality, student 
                achievement, student technology literacy, and the 
                efficiency and productivity of the education 
                enterprise.
                    ``(C) Supporting efforts to increase the capacity 
                of State and local education officials to budget for 
                technology acquisition and implementation, including 
                taking into account the long-term costs, how technology 
                investments could increase effectiveness and 
                efficiencies that ultimately save other educational 
                costs or provide improved outcomes, and how spending 
                for technology in education should be considered in a 
                comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and not simply as a 
                supplemental expense.
                    ``(D) Supporting staff at the Department of 
                Education and other Federal agencies in their 
                understanding of education technology, its role in 
                Federal education programs, and how Federal grantees 
                can be supported in integrating education technologies 
                into their programs as appropriate.
                    ``(E) Convening stakeholders in an effort to 
                outline and support a national research and development 
                agenda aimed at supporting public-private partnerships 
                to leverage evolving technologies to meet evolving 
                educational needs.
                    ``(F) Convening practitioners and leaders from 
                local and State education, business and industry, 
                higher education, and other stakeholder communities to 
                carry out the activities described in this paragraph, 
                including convening an annual forum on classroom 
                technology best practices, and to otherwise address 
                challenges and opportunities in the use of technology 
                to improve teaching, learning, teacher quality, student 
                achievement, student technology literacy, the 
                efficiency and productivity of the education enterprise 
                and to otherwise support school innovation and the 
                Nation's competitiveness.''.
                                 <all>