1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the No Child Left Inside Act of
2011
.
(b)The table of
contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. References.
Sec. 4. 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.The Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)Environmental
education is essential for—
(A)enhancing student
learning and problem solving skills, especially in science;
(B)creating
responsible and engaged citizens; and
(C)producing
graduates who are prepared to address the challenges, adjustments, and
opportunities that will be present in the life and the workforce of the 21st
century due to threats to human health, economical development, biological
diversity, and national security arising from environmental stresses.
(2)Studies
documenting the increasing indicators of nature deficit show that time spent
out of the classroom for learning during the school day is critical to the
intellectual, emotional, and physical health of children and that providing
students with quality opportunities to directly experience the natural world
can improve students’ overall readiness to learn and academic performance, as
well as self-esteem, personal responsibility, community involvement, personal
health (including child obesity issues), and understanding of nature.
(3)Fewer and fewer
students are becoming involved in important environmental education courses,
classwork, and field investigations as an unintended consequence of the No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
(4)Hands-on,
experience-based environmental education as part of the school curriculum
connects children to the natural world, and research supports that time spent
outdoors lessens the symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD), reduces stress and aggression, helps children sleep better, and
improves physical health.
(5)Environmental
education in the field
as part of the regular school curriculum
gets kids outside contributing to healthy lifestyles through outdoor
recreation, exercise, play and experience in the natural world that is critical
to helping prevent obesity and address other related health problems.
(6)Environmental
education for elementary and secondary school students is critical as our
Nation transitions to a green economy where manufacturing workers, as well as
architects, engineers, planners, scientists, business managers, financial
experts, lawyers, entrepreneurs, political leaders, resource managers, and
others, must be environmentally literate to succeed in a green economy.
(7)Environmental
education provides critical tools for a 21st century workforce by providing
students with the skills to understand complex environmental issues so they may
make informed decisions in their own lives and find solutions for real world
challenges facing us as a nation. Business leaders also increasingly believe
that an environmentally literate workforce is critical to their long-term
success. Environmental education helps prepare students for real world
challenges.
3.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.).
4.Authorization of
appropriations
(a)There are 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 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year
2012 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="HC138C1E596F14FF6AD651939C435F85C"><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="H10716D52C06047BBBD6774AEA090B6EC" style="OLC">
<subpart id="H2EF04667887F48979BB651F576D7E5D7"><enum>22</enum><header>Environmental
literacy plans</header>
<section id="H123F6FBBE79F4A429F955CCE449A1BBA"><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="HE76C526C14474B009AA41BE1A3186F0A"><enum>5622.</enum><header>State
environmental literacy plans</header>
<subsection id="H055B23E3FDB9447BB49F246CE94EE97A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Submission of
plan</header>
<paragraph id="HF40B75CFCEA44BFE83836442D40B2F89"><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
2011</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="H5F4A9773947B4BB183CF44B93EDC77D1"><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="H81EA63EECB5348F8B4EE5CEEC136DBED"><enum>(B)</enum><text>begin the
implementation of such plan in the State.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H980F38B0209E4123B84AB950AB4899AA"><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="HB7A19ADFCBFC4AE49CAF2F1B17336802"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan
objectives</header><text>A State environmental literacy plan shall meet the
following objectives:</text>
<paragraph id="H6952B13E53C6446BBD9CCD8FF8366324"><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="HC337998ACEE94435AA81F5DD48FBDF40"><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="H00317F8091F54DA8BE1F056F908C1199"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Create
opportunities for enhanced and on-going professional development for teachers
that improves the teachers’—</text>
<subparagraph id="H39A1E8D701624908B400DF7AC1907AB0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>environmental
subject matter knowledge; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFAF542B5DCA2491B9798F48EEC9FF7D5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>pedagogical skills
in teaching about environmental issues, including the use of—</text>
<clause id="H8EA94ED615B74298BB819836B3A77B66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>interdisciplinary,
field-based, and research-based learning; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD7FD0780B4344F81A470951B2480A030"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>innovative
technology in the classroom.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H31D55F2F24724CA29BA8B92C21AA6DBB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Contents of
plan</header><text>A State environmental literacy plan shall include each of
the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H6B60155C2FFC45BEAD40911C6685807D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of
how the State educational agency will measure the environmental literacy of
students, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5B30BFFBA1664602820B2FEDEED0AE86"><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="HC744312021724F749FA31FF5314058C8"><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="H6B1EDB18FEB14542BDCB952B48EBFDC6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A description of
programs for professional development for teachers to improve the
teachers’—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAEB4CDEEE3AA4995916B156577DA516B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>environmental
subject matter knowledge; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC59701A4D17F40028A71F08F6232D7D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>pedagogical skills
in teaching about environmental issues, including the use of—</text>
<clause id="H2D4EAAF5F7634A08A82A1860C057BC37"><enum>(i)</enum><text>interdisciplinary,
field-based, and research-based learning; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H24B94C017C4C4009B6D6B4D73ABB066B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>innovative
technology in the classroom.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H289297D2854D45188707865DB41C2A6F"><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="HC4FB87EE246643AAB1C0A5AB4A7A08EA"><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="H6BB3A13B7E9E48BA90B55956C66E15D5"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Peer review and
secretarial approval</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H841C3C3121644AB19E55C92AF079F38D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish a peer
review process to assist in the review of State environmental literacy
plans;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEF39B1D63F59490C9A625948FD95DE39"><enum>(2)</enum><text>appoint
individuals to the peer review process who—</text>
<subparagraph id="H64EEFE8E8FA34BA3B022FBF126F45A50"><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="H339C30C1447E428AA09E3E0DC49AA829"><enum>(B)</enum><text>are familiar with
national environmental issues and the health and educational needs of
students;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAFD4456187DE43F99585E3AB8CA5EA6E"><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="H8935E7DCDACC4792B64F113A4E5919B9"><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="HB795F043BDBF4A80B6D3E788851A546F"><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="H3687EB9CA4D5413BB49D0E3A2EFE82C2"><enum>(6)</enum><text>not decline to
approve a State environmental literacy plan before—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4408EB0237D24251BF83D798E1047F3E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>offering the State
an opportunity to revise the State environmental literacy plan;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7F94038D96BB41BA8B69073C7D4681F5"><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="HA91B3678805047B1B018D36F4B83F9C4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>providing notice
and an opportunity for a hearing; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE6FE580020BA4170BD646889E678B3ED"><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="H1E32BC58EB9945889E8A1DF2B9D0EF12"><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="H8D17FC0B116D46AEA8A496AA83C26CEC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>use specific
academic assessment instruments or items.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6E9F902A09B24C798A4F03666DFB4526"><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="H9461C8AB02A84DCDBFA4AE0742BB86F0"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Grants for
implementation</header>
<paragraph id="HEDA6C89ECAEC4D428D9F7764160A81C3"><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="H8384695FC5F944A19415A8DFC006A3E0"><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="H13F6670ADED14047A8E67663EF58ABDD"><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="H68BAD14AF55F47DDA7F7A761C4E06364"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Reporting</header>
<paragraph id="H585A659745534B9D8504B5B3E5A52ED9"><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="HF55115AEEA6E43D39AC51C35577D13AC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report
requirements</header><text>The report required by this subsection shall
be—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2B3B0BF6AC84468F94648301B9DCCA11"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the form
specified by the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4BDCD72C32D74167BA12FCE8C2C1DC10"><enum>(B)</enum><text>based on the
State's ongoing evaluation activities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2ABC18A3CF8B43CFAC70A20D02D24C4E"><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="H0C85FB703D5040379061C66CE84B403A"><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="H84FD854F81544218BAD22959D6249C0A" style="OLC">
<part id="HF565FAC5C4804774873ACB97008DDBA5"><enum>E</enum><header>Environmental
education professional development grant programs</header>
<section id="HF1684A4ABFBA421B9C23E2A36C15CAD2"><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="H8B9F8D49E4C0472A98428CFEFB9CEA9B"><enum>2502.</enum><header>Grants for
enhancing education through environmental education</header>
<subsection id="H9B4C34D58AC7468FBAEADD2634B7C726"><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="H06E9EA822F0F4A9B81B9800BCCADE77E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall include a
local educational agency; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBECFF42C831841BB8A00E7C36B5B454D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may
include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC5B4A8BB23F14B85B63A2583730692DC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the teacher
training department of an institution of higher education;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC366C61F24FE47B1AF2B8E0DCEF1A1FB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the environmental
department of an institution of higher education;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB4AD4EF28AFE4DF09454A2E72F6ECFEC"><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="H1F33B09237A9409AB9E9DBAA19106244"><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="H90FAD7193D024C24902BE7E79E068900"><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="HDE2EBB741C1F436ABF541E7A54539E56"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header>
<paragraph id="H24A32198F8FD44259D58CC715C0AD7FF"><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="H4D9AFB00C8654DE5885FCA9186D91B68"><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="HF4F8C64282404A53A885469C63D8B2B3"><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="H8A8FD973BF1A4DC0A5A63B8A64C6C805"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Subgrants
authorized</header>
<paragraph id="H9EE4A2BCF1A341E4B459EAF9BEB91910"><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="H299B15DEA2C24B14A5F2D099F0F63F62"><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="H4EAA24846BB94379BFFD949D340848F0"><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="H182E2903D39D46518E48719C35ED2515"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application
requirements</header>
<paragraph id="HCEB8F075F826400795831FDD1E7F3071"><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="H57AA838CCCF14F16BAFEAFB5F93437E0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each
application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA167BCA1BB384518BFBA0E8C42991E1D"><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="H3C54737FF4E14AB1970601E76FA4D266"><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="H255E3B079B714DBCA76B5360D175CFD1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of
how the activities to be carried out by the eligible partnership—</text>
<clause id="H45DEC38354BC44B781275686C8D46D96"><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="HB9DFCA6C53B14B6F8D25B912E6EEFB5A"><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="H25FAAD2244E34098A988EB925AC8461A"><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="H1437D847EFE54686903C4A39AB7386B3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to
use the local environment and community as a resource; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H693CB806CE8E4E3DBF5A7D22E797B9B8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to enhance
student understanding of the environment and academic achievement;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0DA829133BF848F7840B89A9F63B9137"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a description
of—</text>
<clause id="H6DBA77DE9753433FA574BF40C3C3B768"><enum>(i)</enum><text>how the eligible
partnership will carry out the authorized activities described in subsection
(e); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HCB55606322E449078A5E99543FFE1B69"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the eligible
partnership's evaluation and accountability plan described in subsection (f);
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B6AEEE7EF0249E7ADC28CEC33C8CD42"><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="H2824BFA174494704AFD972B6077D3189"><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="H3C8C1430653A4BF7A0F67D0083A95D43"><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="H33388973790C4A83B83AEECBD396270D"><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="H07EE1A5B62D044A1A28498EB490BD7CB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>interdisciplinary,
research-based, and field-based learning; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DCDF07CCAF24D95A36E5FDDF2BECF5A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>innovative
technology in the classroom.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H879BE380BD584B6FAAA0BECDC0181893"><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="H119EE5D615874FC493115922B47CA0DA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Developing or
redesigning more rigorous environmental education curricula that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H11F79F811C5B43CEB856EEB78AF14788"><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="HCF6C60E75E25434A9E10B3887ECAF51D"><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="H1675D15991794C68A1EB77F762AEB0B1"><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="H11416FEA1A9744E8B757759E2348C670"><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="H8BB34967D49748009C77FA86E21F071F"><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="H82A0E572F6EF4784A81019A79CAF50A5"><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="HC08E85981BAD49308DF9886518FDCC00"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Evaluation and
accountability plan</header>
<paragraph id="H7C9863297D81417E9DAA636C56C89BFA"><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="H7E194C68854B422AA917CB5D4159D55C"><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="H21E7DC68284F49E3A6E211C38EDA4BD3"><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="H1CD5E3A3EF384955890AB7410B0505FF"><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="HDF5FC95B1221475987A94B4C470BDBDF" style="OLC">
<subpart id="HB37C3EA4D0EB4FE9B33B84767FA897BC"><enum>23</enum><header>Environmental
education grant program</header>
<section id="H48B387D49AFF4DDE849D2C9F52B21C16"><enum>5631.</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purposes of this subpart are—</text>
<paragraph id="HACBCB24F75AD4F40A0A8CF776D7A2DAE"><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="HE56A26D86D2D4384A50693B4106CCC5F"><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="H9DFAA0003F644BD5B9B08F37B408B9BD"><enum>5632.</enum><header>Grant program
authorized</header>
<subsection id="H49953A317DF84367A86AF9DDDB5FF4E6"><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="H90B1498BE7DB49409E915FE5F6A53187"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall include a
local educational agency; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9C15FF477E454325A8D16DF5FBCA9895"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may
include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5F8F4A8802A949FFA36640F2689A5A10"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the teacher
training department of an institution of higher education;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE0E5E0A2DBF34B2C8978BD5F1A130745"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the environmental
department of an institution of higher education;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEFB21FA0D7CA49CD9387D3146833BAEA"><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="H2A4CE7368F9E4C22938D57E3E4304E40"><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="H2684DF6E3018481098C4FFE85BD63F7D"><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="HCF0B09436FEC40948F23DA0705ECED8B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header>
<paragraph id="HD71759CAF17F435599280363C5FA430C"><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="H67C57DD2B66747958313BF55001EBE70"><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="HA92CD405C9D643E098244463297ED687"><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="H72A833B74760449380088A6B4E2C952D"><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="HA6504282004445F4A895434A2F921863"><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="H1CEADD3BC9E145C69D56B1EF3AB09472"><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="HA821898C70404CC8B1F8004B6200C499"><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="H7CBAE288F9F74C9EBA9778FFF3E86447"><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="H9F41C76BD5AB400DBF2B8F110B03F471"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Developing and
implementing State curriculum frameworks for environmental education that
meet—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HECFAFD0A2CF743FE806392CEFDF64E89"><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="H988D91677F8146A2883B528F648EC9C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>academic standards
that are aligned with the State's environmental literacy plan under section
5622.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H033946E800814CA3B4CEFD250B7383A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Replicating or
disseminating information about proven and tested model environmental education
programs that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H50C5AA6752CD4019861B4D7AF01D77A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>use the
environment as an integrating theme or content throughout the curriculum;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB92A0D36E97D4101B9C7D9C3B9414A32"><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="HE7E980504BAC43969492BFC4DBF93821"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing and implementing new approaches
to advancing environmental education and the adoption and use of environmental
content standards at the State and local levels.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HAC9FCE15A1D3429AA15795FC2CF8C0F5"><enum>5635.</enum><header>Reports</header>
<subsection id="HE34D679E5778405CAC4CD70DFFC37A44"><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="HB02EA2F690794BD1AC6991F1F19313C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the
activities assisted under this subpart that were conducted during the preceding
year;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H314AFD93FA124BD0822D3E097A2BBECD"><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="H1C8B6FAD8A6746E588F62F4678B03AE6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>describes the
results of the eligible partnership's evaluation and accountability
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEFB620D22E344F83ADC598E88EFAA5E1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to
Congress</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
the <short-title>No Child Left Inside Act of
2011</short-title> and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report
to Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="H53B0C055DC584F28BC77298A0DC18136"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the
programs assisted under this subpart;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBF7517A0DB8B43BB999BF7A74939D0E0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>documents the
success of such programs in improving national and State environmental
education capacity; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H57477A928D7A47A2A7B0C1C193D5CB2F"><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="H7AFC90D4AB36445A98BBD177F91D2247"><enum>5636.</enum><header>Administrative
provisions</header>
<subsection id="H28A5AD374B24430B8707E248B78D595B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Federal
share</header><text>The Federal share of a grant under this subpart shall not
exceed—</text>
<paragraph id="H64BCF1E8750349A590A4261E4D7FC4AF"><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="H9D2E962B55B74557B9606F752E6D5B83"><enum>(2)</enum><text>75 percent of such
costs for each of the second and third years.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H957F6AB380644D668AB4DF714D801B30"><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="H5033BD563E2B4DC68968FB9C72855C17"><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="H767DD0AB3CE54812BDF7F606768150DA"><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>