1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009
.
(b)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 professional development grant programs.
TITLE III—Environmental education grant program to help build national capacity
Sec. 301. Environmental education grant program to help build national capacity.
2.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.).
3.Authorization of appropriations
(a)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 2010 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
(b)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.
<enum>I</enum><header>Environmental literacy plans</header>
<section id="ID2b58d97ce65f4dadaab906ef70b4cc9b"><enum>101.</enum><header>Development, approval, and implementation of State environmental literacy plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFF99721E687643969B4070465A851BCA" style="OLC">
<subpart id="idDE11A47F97D544D8BE7811304BB8D7D2"><enum>22</enum><header>Environmental literacy plans</header>
<section id="ID102cbe27920049cc8c5b72bd8b8fbe67"><enum>5621.</enum><header>Environmental literacy plan requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text> </section>
<section id="ID260f057d93b74642841fba010906bd4f"><enum>5622.</enum><header>State environmental literacy plans</header>
<subsection id="ID28e7323abe6a4c4a832519af9ef1ae61"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission of plan</header>
<paragraph id="IDd9b4150362a940ca80913af47608e8a6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the <short-title>No Child Left Inside Act of 2009</short-title>, a State educational agency subject to the requirements of section 5621 shall, in consultation with State environmental agencies and State natural resource agencies, and with input from the public—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID73451605ad4a4b2fb63c4fc2a6daea12"><enum>(A)</enum><text>submit an environmental literacy plan for prekindergarten 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</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID80a28221c2bb476e88e2aa502d78701f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>begin the implementation of such plan in the State.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID4a0ee5fa16ad49bd8a3dd0c68b07c3d7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Existing plans</header><text>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 in cooperation with a State environmental or natural resource management agency, if such plan complies with this section.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDdee1ba0a7b7849a2869e2717ad3e539b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan objectives</header><text>A State environmental literacy plan shall meet the following objectives:</text>
<paragraph id="IDa2f409d8d52745e2bd709e396ee8c822"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Prepare students to understand, analyze, and address the major environmental challenges facing the students' State and the United States.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID16971b9e937d40a48359cd6dacffb8bf"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Provide field experiences as part of the regular school curriculum and create programs that contribute to healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDfab78b6663064d298a07d89b6bab98d9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Create opportunities for enhanced and on-going professional development for teachers that improves the teachers’—</text>
<subparagraph id="id646B48508BC5410FAB6B21CB7F355AE2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>environmental subject matter knowledge; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id1B28FE970D32421F855F5199737AE12C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>pedagogical skills in teaching about environmental issues, including the use of—</text>
<clause id="id77D5E53CA4CE4624808A7450ADFA858D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>interdisciplinary, field-based, and research-based learning; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="idA8677265A0414D3EB295F7DDA45245D0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>innovative technology in the classroom.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDbbacb27295804e3abebff83efe8f2291"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents of plan</header><text>A State environmental literacy plan shall include each of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="ID7a649cbe59b749ffa6a5ce6e028c87f9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of how the State educational agency will measure the environmental literacy of students, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID93c1756f673147fa88a8bda17b9b6fbf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>relevant State academic content standards and content areas regarding environmental education, and courses or subjects where environmental education instruction will be integrated throughout the prekindergarten to grade 12 curriculum; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDeb708fb7812e48b98cdce40e7c4824e0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of the relationship of the plan to the secondary school graduation requirements of the State.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDd45a7ba0779a4477b31594371f6c2356"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A description of programs for professional development for teachers to improve the teachers’—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID38b42d6bab1e48f5af35b2c1a0e25253"><enum>(A)</enum><text>environmental subject matter knowledge; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDb1f493b8ff2d4f2292e046b968e29ede"><enum>(B)</enum><text>pedagogical skills in teaching about environmental issues, including the use of—</text>
<clause id="idA402075D5E0E41339A8ABA64D77B0475"><enum>(i)</enum><text>interdisciplinary, field-based, and research-based learning; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="id0F2ED3BEDCC94239A188559C04C58709"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>innovative technology in the classroom.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID22513c8fab25456e9aec8065b1f00d4a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A description of how the State educational agency will implement the plan, including securing funding and other necessary support.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ID556e7f7f3a434506ae507318a7925cd7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Plan update</header><text>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.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="ID4fa4b2cce9524a22b00782cd947b846e"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Peer review and secretarial approval</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="IDdada858bc2f6416dbd32e56a226e5ff3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish a peer review process to assist in the review of State environmental literacy plans;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID3bc94a0091554610a48e0c5474921268"><enum>(2)</enum><text>appoint individuals to the peer review process who—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8960ea7a92ae4e559a29e7ff50ac0086"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are representative of parents, teachers, State educational agencies, State environmental agencies, State natural resource agencies, local educational agencies, and nongovernmental organizations; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDb8b0891b5b994202aad02bbccb229a72"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are familiar with national environmental issues and the health and educational needs of students;</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID6777919ff3604d3fa4625f312aee0669"><enum>(3)</enum><text>include, in the peer review process, appropriate representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department of Interior, Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to provide environmental expertise and background for evaluation of the State environmental literacy plan;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID04f23ad868924aa5acd0901a960ab71a"><enum>(4)</enum><text>approve a State environmental literacy plan not later than 120 days after the plan’s submission unless the Secretary determines that the State environmental literacy plan does not meet the requirements of this section;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID3fd22943e21c401699ea014d1e057b44"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDe798ddaa9d1b427096cabbb6089646f2"><enum>(6)</enum><text>not decline to approve a State environmental literacy plan before—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDf48b3ef0fd5f482fac8120e03ccbafc6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>offering the State an opportunity to revise the State environmental literacy plan;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID71807d5697a843bfbd2eae3e83d50ada"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providing technical assistance in order to assist the State to meet the requirements of this section; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID78a0aacc5397443aa1d7f0adf1ca96c4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID92b4233198a94e9e956ad52aebeb26ea"><enum>(7)</enum><text>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—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID169eda352fa144368b2c415a8ca3f799"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDcb0866f26a694230a7c42c082d8d0e39"><enum>(B)</enum><text>use specific academic assessment instruments or items.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDc05a3caa4b1047fc8c92630ce72f6e8b"><enum>(f)</enum><header>State revisions</header><text>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.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="ID16bf3084377f41f49c4646aed7e52e46"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Grants for implementation</header>
<paragraph id="IDc88c431e760548f885e46e81f6163d51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program authorized</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID94177eea8cea4983a71acf7bcd443ba6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID65ad0af7170d4bf9a02f3f188f8d0f13"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text>A State receiving a grant under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of the grant funds for administrative expenses.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDcc72226c4a80421aa178f40a773c77f7"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reporting</header>
<paragraph id="IDe06b5107bdd44d7dac18779e3fa46f6f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after approval of a State environmental literacy plan, and every 2 years thereafter, the State educational agency shall submit to the Secretary a report on the implementation of the State plan.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID05d2c2cf58204daf93e87ad992505c8e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report requirements</header><text>The report required by this subsection shall be—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID7f5030fcb90a4608834ef17eb39c28a2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the form specified by the Secretary;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idBAB0B092F8AF403991A8A70890BB0FDB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>based on the State's ongoing evaluation activities; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idE10077720DA8424199A7402498AF8464"><enum>(C)</enum><text>made readily available to the public.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subpart><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Establishment of environmental education professional development grant programs</header>
<section id="IDdadb471047674773bf64bd24d3544899"><enum>201.</enum><header>Environmental education professional development grant programs</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title II (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2D19873CB102476A94E28F1B5563A402" style="OLC">
<part id="id87F28CB96A0D4AE3856DF23F88B2F812"><enum>E</enum><header>Environmental education professional development grant programs</header>
<section id="id6A0F95F4D6174444BCF4A2A1DEDAD687"><enum>2501.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this part is to ensure the academic achievement of students in environmental literacy through the professional development of teachers and educators.</text> </section>
<section id="IDb3099045b5684c768b767e339e76eb4c"><enum>2502.</enum><header>Grants for enhancing education through environmental education</header>
<subsection id="ID41f66dd4715c47e999ea41a0538cc991"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible partnership</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible partnership</term> means a partnership that—</text>
<paragraph id="IDc981d3bd6c2a40759110371ce848b729"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall include a local educational agency; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID4e28e4297b014485b16b0c699e2a6ccb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may include—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID0560cef13c894404a085a0ff10033b7a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the teacher training department of an institution of higher education;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID80b890aa22e1472a953d696e5277eb43"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the environmental department of an institution of higher education;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID0a8e0db34c0748c79914dcb552aae16d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>another local educational agency, a public charter school, a public elementary school or secondary school, or a consortium of such schools;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDd037a86ba5c04a23874ecb1f650828ed"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a Federal, State, regional, or local environmental or natural resource management agency that has demonstrated effectiveness in improving the quality of environmental education teachers; or</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID312c920c6aff4545a16b850c0541302c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in improving the quality of environmental education teachers.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDfc09e1cd603f4f618d2acdad8c7a19eb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header>
<paragraph id="ID4740661cee0d404699ba52a4534dfc79"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program authorized</header><text>From amounts appropriated for this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, through allotments in accordance with the regulations described in paragraph (2), to States whose State environmental literacy plan has been approved under section 5622, to enable the States to award subgrants under subsection (c).</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID926856712d2b483db09e145381a01732"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID49d4a01cb3324bbabf1b4956248a03f8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text>A State receiving a grant under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of the grant funds for administrative expenses.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDe111b611cabe481496092f195da72c6c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Subgrants authorized</header>
<paragraph id="ID8c09cb50b3a6480d925b367d1d104e5e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Subgrants to eligible partnerships</header><text>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 serving the State, to enable the eligible partnerships to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (e) consistent with the approved State environmental literacy plan.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDc0eb6a6f3bc646eaaf855ac6c43693fd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDab958493a95a4251a16555315958e86d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Supplement, not supplant</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ID4d45366c1cc54118b9347a3e6e4161f6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application requirements</header>
<paragraph id="IDa246add583c146c68e50721a99a58495"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID080415bb66f44caa99bba708a4ac99e4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDdc6a2cef00c548d7b5ebb3e97ef08886"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the results of a comprehensive assessment of the teacher quality and professional development needs, with respect to the teaching and learning of environmental content;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDda28757e13074388a1bf316cd347821b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID6ac544ea284042b79529c8a77b61185a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of how the activities to be carried out by the eligible partnership—</text>
<clause id="ID2cbfe0d64c26426ba0581b9dad936992"><enum>(i)</enum><text>will be aligned with challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards in environmental education, to the extent such standards exist, and with the State's environmental literacy plan under section 5622; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="IDe1cfb2fea9334afeba06a073739d3961"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>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;</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID6ecb18db0ed0468e8a333e4072b95f42"><enum>(D)</enum><text>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 or service learning to enable the teachers—</text>
<clause id="ID69142f52fa954bebb92a35ab4c4f92b5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to use the local environment and community as a resource; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="IDc3fa8d4c4e5045999340f28ba1673fca"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to enhance student understanding of the environment and academic achievement;</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDa5b44f88226a4d338e61827fc347ea25"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description of—</text>
<clause id="ID3f998f81f26349afb25b45e93999d70f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>how the eligible partnership will carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (e); and</text> </clause>
<clause id="ID9ebc71a5c8594e96b321d25147a946fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the eligible partnership's evaluation and accountability plan described in subsection (f); and</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID8d1bdbbdcd03423d80c1eb31f865ef58"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a description of how the eligible partnership will continue the activities funded under this part after the grant period has expired.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDd395c9cdd5804f34aa53d0f297bc889f"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorized activities</header><text>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:</text>
<paragraph id="ID566e0df91b5249288f06c3faf6afa46d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development of teachers that improves the environmental subject matter knowledge of such teachers.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID193237a1123f46d1b547eeca375a9689"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development of teachers that improves teachers’ pedagogical skills in teaching about the environment and environmental issues, including in the use of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id98FFDE2A51534FBAAC50217C3D403128"><enum>(A)</enum><text>interdisciplinary, research-based, and field-based learning; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id4DEDA0B64F5E4F4DA338C78F79C3D646"><enum>(B)</enum><text>innovative technology in the classroom.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID44e4d7c07a5745dc84416d37d2e55a00"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Establishing and operating environmental education summer workshops or institutes, including follow-up training, for elementary and secondary school teachers to improve their pedagogical skills and subject matter knowledge for the teaching of environmental education.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID5c889c062568424eb1120145de380082"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Developing or redesigning more rigorous environmental education curricula that—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDc0af9f3e1bd04b7a9b5fef7ce37c1d35"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are aligned with challenging State academic content standards in environmental education, to the extent such standards exist, and with the State environmental literacy plan under section 5622; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID3cf526e196484a4c9afb711ed08bfd04"><enum>(B)</enum><text>advance the teaching of interdisciplinary courses that integrate the study of natural, social, and economic systems and that include strong field components.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID734752f7685e43469494b05c44e1942b"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Designing programs to prepare teachers at a school to provide mentoring and professional development to other teachers at such school to improve teacher environmental education subject matter and pedagogical skills.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID70585f60712142279d4dc786825aa083"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID5e52a18b9cbc4f379896492bfecdf7fa"><enum>(7)</enum><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDb8f9caf1a4b247e5a9b9fc614da4239d"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Promoting outdoor environmental education activities as part of the regular school curriculum and schedule in order to further the knowledge and professional development of teachers and help students directly experience nature.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDf1272419f4ce4476b62d485315b7edcb"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Evaluation and accountability plan</header>
<paragraph id="IDf0a7d5492e39429eb87784e64f315353"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID9f55c1930de9461f83f2c9ecc0f7d1b4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>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.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ID63dc9de611384c39ae76234a47e77127"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Each eligible partnership receiving a subgrant under this part shall report annually, for each year of the subgrant, 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).</text> </subsection></section></part><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Environmental education grant program to help build national capacity</header>
<section id="ID54b14e0620ff460e8f145dcdb8150f13"><enum>301.</enum><header>Environmental education grant program to help build national capacity</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3D25636945804192A650E2AEE8DA5C8A" style="OLC">
<subpart id="id5B99530FC0974F3A949CE39DBBDDE8FC"><enum>23</enum><header>Environmental education grant program</header>
<section id="IDf17292034d0449d7bf401dad820e580a"><enum>5631.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this subpart are—</text>
<paragraph id="idE0DCBAE64A7845209CD0498026E91C10"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to prepare children to understand and address major environmental challenges facing the United States; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idBA05E2DF219242CBA81CB489F14E29CB"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to strengthen environmental education as an integral part of the elementary school and secondary school curriculum.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="ID05747e7b5aa047b9b443d08bfb25182c"><enum>5632.</enum><header>Grant program authorized</header>
<subsection id="IDd81299483a1344e78295cf70414e8123"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible partnership</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible partnership</term> means a partnership that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID009d997ed917447fb58c5a4f2b5a7974"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall include a local educational agency; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID2ff0e8d70ce44387960242f97c80d061"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may include—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID7a3581e1475646fe9d0582f538969944"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the teacher training department of an institution of higher education;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID9c549a783f4345c79a611b4e989ad3e1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the environmental department of an institution of higher education;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID665aa857a1b84d478f06a3ba9e45ba30"><enum>(C)</enum><text>another local educational agency, a public charter school, a public elementary school or secondary school, or a consortium of such schools;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID4c923582e94d4a39852fbaec7d931a13"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a Federal, State, regional, or local environmental or natural resource management agency, or park and recreation department, that has demonstrated effectiveness, 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; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID6952a0993dca49b9bf7143fffe6aad3b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated effectiveness, 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.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDa9ded5efe4904ab7b66213cb1549cb51"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header>
<paragraph id="ID282d4b0fb5c84378b9c1fa6ba0fe7aa2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of the costs of activities under this subpart.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="IDaa13b5c59e484573a07ad9120ce3dd73"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>Each grant under this subpart shall be for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="ID6846fb015fb94a21a41aa81de18d7f4e"><enum>5633.</enum><header>Applications</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Each eligible partnership desiring a grant under this subpart shall submit to the Secretary an application that contains—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3dc07487587f497fb24f56992f4ccac0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a plan to initiate, expand, or improve environmental education programs in order to make progress toward meeting—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idCD657233229843A9BE05E98583C0C8ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards in environmental education, to the extent such standards exist; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idC8263D7C292C4BF3B444188AC52F4432"><enum>(B)</enum><text>academic standards that are aligned with the State's environmental literacy plan under section 5622; and</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID2c395f41d51e4eeb89207e135a2546c0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="ID6b93a81621874b848168d2fc9b83564e"><enum>5634.</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Grant funds made available under this subpart shall be used for 1 or more of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="ID0118927dfcfe45aca5c51b36109dffdd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Developing and implementing State curriculum frameworks for environmental education that meet—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id5082FCD08FA44E8DA6CA540B04AC5B7A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards for environmental education, to the extent such standards exist; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idFE2EF1163F95425ABB73896593BEACD7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>academic standards that are aligned with the State's environmental literacy plan under section 5622.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID5fe18ed3bf1443f09996e3315781b1ec"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Replicating or disseminating information about proven and tested model environmental education programs that—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDd04c1373e3c14d239cf69ee4891cfa0a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>use the environment as an integrating theme or content throughout the curriculum; or</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID8b11b52a586e4b33b17c2f64bdca3e26"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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), and understanding of nature.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID717f277300264e519c99a508c75bd9f6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Developing and implementing new policy approaches to advancing environmental education at the State and national level.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID4d14350efdbb4538adaa54de6c5e0823"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Conducting studies of national significance that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID05925f7ecc6a4253bbbbd0432a935c05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide a comprehensive, systematic, and formal assessment of the state of environmental education in the United States;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDfb5727ded6a744008ad48526dd894d56"><enum>(B)</enum><text>evaluate the effectiveness of teaching environmental education as a separate subject, and as an integrating concept or theme; or</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID58b5254bf842455e978dde678e8edd0f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>evaluate the effectiveness of using environmental education-based field-based learning, service learning or outdoor experiential learning in helping improve—</text>
<clause id="idAB2361026B9B49418A23DDECB3B241BB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>student academic achievement in mathematics, reading or language arts, science, or other core academic subjects;</text> </clause>
<clause id="id6CD36E69B6E841B39194A189BAF2D990"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>student behavior;</text> </clause>
<clause id="idE34A30217EE34DA280D662BB762FD26C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>student attendance; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="idB38A461939ED4AC99C25BD53196756EA"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>secondary school graduation rates.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID7ef3fe45e49447b5b07d25ecb43c9d94"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Executing projects that advance widespread State and local educational agency adoption and use of environmental education content standards.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="ID8b1f01ee67054e74afbb98b83bb0d6c2"><enum>5635.</enum><header>Reports</header>
<subsection id="IDe993e65efc8640b89a179176391ccd77"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Eligible partnership report</header><text>In order to continue receiving grant funds under this subpart after the first year of a multiyear grant under this subpart, the eligible partnership shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID42be985b9acf45509b527efe47262639"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the activities assisted under this subpart that were conducted during the preceding year;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID4b1e75d9fcd54ec98c710413ca9c8fc0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>demonstrates that progress has been made in helping schools to meet the State academic standards for environmental education described in section 5634(1); and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID960b18e510054e638f6a43ffa46fd020"><enum>(3)</enum><text>describes the results of the eligible partnership's evaluation and accountability plan.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ID163a5ddc792c4553b816a337cdec01f5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009 and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3d98ba179b534103bd9ac8aa8fc220f7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the programs assisted under this subpart;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID85010c8e0c81480e996d31a2a3a8552e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>documents the success of such programs in improving national and State environmental education capacity; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID8809298328f145778f01d5634d8c9eb8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>makes such recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate for the continuation and improvement of the programs assisted under this subpart.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="IDffa919992eb64ebf921a57f005bbeefb"><enum>5636.</enum><header>Administrative provisions</header>
<subsection id="IDe3c3d74be6504fee8b3fde271a128f40"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Federal share</header><text>The Federal share of a grant under this subpart shall not exceed—</text>
<paragraph id="IDafbf63f49b1e421b901ab57ca778a638"><enum>(1)</enum><text>90 percent of the total costs of the activities assisted under the grant for the first year for which the program receives assistance under this subpart; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID9c5e95b716254709b031f03389b6a0d9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>75 percent of such costs for each of the second and third years.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="IDaab7c7f5b6ec4b8ca75ed13f2711a6ad"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrative expenses</header><text>Not more than 7.5 percent of the grant funds made available to an eligible partnership under this subpart for any fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="IDd0579ec750434867b85e050a57587c0d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability of funds</header><text>Amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out this subpart shall remain available until expended.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="ID39f6914a83a6463783352a37e02f1a0d"><enum>5637.</enum><header>Supplement, not supplant</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text> </section></subpart><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>