[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3614 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3614

 To reauthorize the Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2011

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reauthorize the Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001.

    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 Reauthorization Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

    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--ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

``SEC. 2401. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This part may be cited as the `Achievement Through Technology and 
Innovation Act of 2011' or the `ATTAIN Act'.

``SEC. 2402. PURPOSES AND GOALS.

    ``The purposes and goals of this part are--
            ``(1) to ensure that through effective and innovative uses 
        of technology that every student has access to personalized, 
        rigorous, and relevant learning to meet the goals of this Act 
        to raise student achievement, close the achievement gap, and 
        ensure highly effective teaching, and to prepare all students 
        to be technology literate and college and career ready for the 
        21st century digital economy;
            ``(2) to evaluate, build upon, and increase the use of 
        evidence-based and innovative systemic school redesigns that 
        center on the use of technology that leads to school 
        improvement, improved productivity, and increased student 
        achievement;
            ``(3) to ensure that all educators are connected in an 
        ongoing manner to technology-based and online resources and 
        supports, including through enhanced ongoing, meaningful 
        professional development to ensure that--
                    ``(A) all educators are technology literate and 
                effectively use technology to improve instruction; and
                    ``(B) education administrators possess the capacity 
                to--
                            ``(i) provide leadership in the use of 
                        technology for systemic redesign of curriculum, 
                        instruction, and the education enterprise; and
                            ``(ii) improve educational productivity;
            ``(4) to improve student engagement, opportunity, 
        attendance, graduation rates, and technology access through 
        enhanced or redesigned curriculum or instruction;
            ``(5) to more effectively collect and use student 
        performance and other data in a timely manner to inform 
        instruction, address individualized student needs, support 
        school decisionmaking, and support school improvement and 
        increased student achievement, including through delivery of 
        computer-based and online assessments;
            ``(6) to enhance the use of technology, online and blended 
        learning for systemic education transformation, including 
        curricula redesign and new instructional strategies to 
        personalize learning; and
            ``(7) to increase education productivity and reduce costs 
        through the use of technology, blended and online learning, 
        including for the delivery of online assessments.

``SEC. 2403. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Local educational agency.--The term `local 
        educational agency' includes a consortium of local educational 
        agencies.
            ``(2) Student technology literacy.--The term `student 
        technology literacy' means student knowledge and skills in 
        using contemporary information, communication, and learning 
        technologies in a manner necessary for successful employment, 
        life-long learning, and citizenship in the knowledge-based, 
        digital, and global 21st century, as further defined by the 
        State educational agency, which includes, at a minimum, the 
        ability--
                    ``(A) to effectively communicate and collaborate;
                    ``(B) to analyze and solve problems;
                    ``(C) to access, evaluate, manage, and create 
                information and otherwise gain information literacy;
                    ``(D) to demonstrate creative thinking, construct 
                knowledge, and develop innovative products and 
                processes; and
                    ``(E) to do so in a safe and ethical manner.

``SEC. 2404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this part, $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, and such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(b) Allocation of Funds Between State and Local Initiatives.--The 
funds made available under subsection (a) shall be available to carry 
out subparts 1 and 2, as described in subsection (d).
    ``(c) Limitation.--
            ``(1) Local administrative costs.--Of the funds made 
        available to a local educational agency under this part for a 
        fiscal year, not more than 3 percent may be used by the local 
        educational agency for administrative costs.
            ``(2) State administrative costs.--Of the funds made 
        available to a State educational agency under section 
        2412(a)(1)(A), not more than 60 percent may be used by the 
        State educational agency for administrative costs.
    ``(d) Trigger.--For fiscal years--
            ``(1) for which the amount appropriated to carry out this 
        part is less than $300,000,000, all funds available under 
        subsection (b)(2) shall be available to carry out subpart 2; 
        and
            ``(2) for which the amount appropriated to carry out this 
        part equals or is more than $300,000,000, all funds available 
        under subsection (b)(2) shall be available to carry out subpart 
        1.

                  ``Subpart 1--State and Local Grants

``SEC. 2411. ALLOTMENT AND REALLOTMENT.

    ``(a) Reservations and Allotment.--From the amount made available 
to carry out this subpart under section 2404(b)(2) for a fiscal year--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall reserve--
                    ``(A) \3/4\ 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) \1/2\ of 1 percent to provide assistance 
                under this subpart to the outlying areas; and
            ``(2) subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall use 
        the remainder to award grants by allotting to each State 
        educational agency 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 shall 
not be less than \1/2\ of 1 percent of the amount made available for 
allotments to State educational agencies under this subpart for such 
year.
    ``(c) Reallotment of Unused Funds.--The Secretary shall reallot any 
unused amount of a State educational agency's allotment to the 
remaining State educational agencies that use their entire allotments 
under this subpart in accordance with this section.

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

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amount provided to a State 
        educational agency under section 2411(a)(2) for a fiscal year--
                    ``(A) the State educational agency may use not more 
                than 5 percent of such amount or $100,000, whichever 
                amount is greater, to carry out activities under 
                section 2414; and
                    ``(B) the State educational agency shall distribute 
                the remainder in accordance with paragraphs (2) and 
                (3).
            ``(2) Distribution of remainder.--The State educational 
        agency shall carry out the following:
                    ``(A) The State educational agency shall use 60 
                percent of the remainder to award Improving Teaching 
                and Learning through Technology subgrants to local 
                educational agencies having applications approved under 
                section 2415(c) for the activities described in section 
                2416(b) by allotting to each such local educational 
                agency an amount that bears the same relationship to 60 
                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, subject to subsection 
                (b)(2).
                    ``(B) The State educational agency shall use 40 
                percent of the remainder to award Systemic School 
                Redesign through Technology Integration subgrants, 
                through a State-determined competitive process, to 
                local educational agencies having applications approved 
                under section 2415(b) for the activities described in 
                section 2416(a).
            ``(3) Option in years with insufficient amounts 
        appropriated.--If the amount provided to a State educational 
        agency under section 2411(a)(2) for a fiscal year is not large 
        enough to provide every local educational agency with a minimum 
        subgrant under subsection (b)(2), the State educational agency 
        may distribute 100 percent of the remainder described in 
        paragraph (1)(B) as either formula grants under paragraph 
        (2)(A) or competitive grants under paragraph (2)(B).
    ``(b) Sufficient Amounts.--
            ``(1) Special rule.--In awarding subgrants under subsection 
        (a)(2)(B), the State educational agency shall--
                    ``(A) ensure the subgrants are of sufficient size 
                and scope to be effective, consistent with the purposes 
                of this part;
                    ``(B) ensure subgrants are of sufficient duration 
                to be effective, consistent with the purposes of this 
                part, including by awarding subgrants for a period of 
                not less than 2 years that may be renewed for not more 
                than an additional 1 year;
                    ``(C) give preference in the awarding of subgrants, 
                and the providing of all technical assistance, to local 
                educational agencies that serve schools in need of 
                improvement, as identified under section 1116, 
                including those schools with high populations of--
                            ``(i) students who are English Language 
                        Learners;
                            ``(ii) students with disabilities; or
                            ``(iii) other subgroups of students who 
                        have not met the State's student academic 
                        achievement standards; and
                    ``(D) ensure an equitable distribution among urban 
                and rural areas of the State, according to the 
                demonstrated need for assistance under this subpart of 
                the local educational agencies serving the areas.
            ``(2) Minimum formula-based subgrant.--The amount of any 
        local educational agency's subgrant under subsection (a)(2)(A) 
        for any fiscal year shall be not less than $3,000.
    ``(c) Reallotment of Unused Funds.--If any local educational agency 
does not apply for a subgrant under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, 
or does not use the local educational agency's entire allotment under 
this subpart for such fiscal year, the State shall reallot any unused 
funds to the remaining local educational agencies.

``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 educational agency application 
submitted under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will support local educational agencies that receive subgrants 
        under this subpart in meeting the purposes and goals of this 
        part and the requirements of this subpart, including through 
        technical assistance in using technology to redesign curriculum 
        and instruction, improve educational productivity, and deliver 
        computer-based and online assessment.
            ``(2) A description of the State educational agency's long-
        term goals and strategies for improving student academic 
        achievement, including student technology literacy, through the 
        effective use of technology.
            ``(3) A description of the priority area upon which the 
        State educational agency will focus its assistance under this 
        subpart, which shall be identified from among the core academic 
        subjects, 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 defined in 
        section 1111(b)(2)(C).
            ``(4) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will support local educational agencies to implement, 
        professional development programs pursuant to section 
        2416(b)(1)(A).
            ``(5) A description of how the State educational agency 
        will ensure that teachers, paraprofessionals, school 
        librarians, and administrators possess the knowledge and skills 
        to use technology--
                    ``(A) for curriculum redesign to change teaching 
                and learning and improve student achievement;
                    ``(B) for assessment, data analysis, and to 
                personalize learning;
                    ``(C) to improve student technology literacy; and
                    ``(D) for their own ongoing professional 
                development and for access to teaching resources and 
                tools.
            ``(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 
        described in section 2414.
            ``(7) Identification of the State challenging academic 
        content standards and challenging student academic achievement 
        standards that the State educational agency will use to ensure 
        that each student is technology literate consistent with the 
        definition of student technology literacy, and a description of 
        how the State educational agency will assess student 
        performance in gaining technology literacy, only for the 
        purpose of tracking progress towards achieving the 8th grade 
        technology literacy goal and not for meeting adequate yearly 
        progress goals, including through embedding such assessment 
        items in other State tests or performance-based assessments 
        portfolios, or through other valid and reliable means. Nothing 
        in this subpart shall be construed to require States to develop 
        a separate test to assess student technology literacy.
            ``(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 as being 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 
        consulted with local educational agencies in the development of 
        the State application.

``SEC. 2414. STATE ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Mandatory Activities.--From funds made available under 
section 2412(a)(1)(A), a State educational agency shall carry out each 
of the following activities:
            ``(1) Identify the State challenging academic content 
        standards and challenging student academic achievement 
        standards that the State educational agency will use to ensure 
        that each student is technology literate consistent with the 
        definition of student technology literacy.
            ``(2) Assess student performance in gaining technology 
        literacy consistent with paragraph (1), including through 
        embedding such assessment items in other State tests, 
        performance-based assessments, or portfolios, or through other 
        means, except that such assessments shall be used only to track 
        student technology literacy and shall not be used to determine 
        adequate yearly progress, and widely disseminate such results.
            ``(3) Provide guidance, technical assistance, and other 
        assistance, including in the priority area identified by the 
        State pursuant to section 2413(b)(3), in using technology to 
        improve teaching and redesign curriculum and instruction, 
        improve educational productivity, and deliver computer-based 
        and online assessment, and in submitting applications for 
        funding under this part to high-need local educational 
        agencies--
                    ``(A) with the highest percentage or number of--
                            ``(i) students not achieving at the State 
                        proficiency level; and
                            ``(ii) student populations described in 
                        section 2412(b)(1)(C); and
                    ``(B) serving schools identified as in need of 
                improvement under section 1116.
    ``(b) Permissive Activities.--From funds made available under 
section 2412(a)(1)(A), a State educational agency may carry out 1 or 
more of the following activities that assist local educational 
agencies:
            ``(1) State leadership activities and technical assistance 
        that support achieving the purposes and goals of this part.
            ``(2) Developing or utilizing 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.
            ``(3) Providing, or supporting local educational agencies 
        in providing, sustained and intensive, high-quality 
        professional development pursuant to section 2416(b)(1)(A).
            ``(4) Assessing student performance in gaining technology 
        literacy consistent with subsection (a)(2), including through 
        embedding such assessment items in other State tests, 
        performance-based assessments, or portfolios, or through other 
        means.

``SEC. 2415. LOCAL APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each local educational agency desiring a 
subgrant under this subpart 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 that shall include 
each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will align and coordinate the local educational agency's use of 
        funds under this subpart with--
                    ``(A) the school district technology plan;
                    ``(B) the school district plans and activities for 
                improving student achievement, including plans and 
                activities under sections 1111, 1112, 1116, and 2123, 
                as applicable; and
                    ``(C) 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 funds 
        available to carry out activities assisted under this subpart.
            ``(3) A description of the process used to assess and, as 
        needed, update technologies throughout the local educational 
        agency.
            ``(4) Such other information as the State educational 
        agency may reasonably require.
    ``(b) Competitive Grants; Systemic School Redesign Through 
Technology Integration.--In addition to the information described in 
subsection (a), a local educational agency submitting an application 
for a subgrant under section 2412(a)(2)(B) shall submit to the State 
educational agency an application containing each of the following:
            ``(1) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will use the subgrant funds to implement systemic school 
        redesign, which is a comprehensive set of programs, practices, 
        and technologies that--
                    ``(A) collectively lead to school or school 
                district change and improvement, improve educational 
                productivity, and improve student achievement and 
                technology literacy; and
                    ``(B) incorporate all of the following elements:
                            ``(i) Reform or redesign of curriculum, 
                        instruction, assessment, use of data, or other 
                        practices through the use of technology in 
                        order to increase student learning opportunity, 
                        and engagement in learning.
                            ``(ii) Improvement of educator quality, 
                        knowledge and skills, and effectiveness through 
                        ongoing, sustainable, timely, and contextual 
                        professional development described in section 
                        2416(b)(1)(A).
                            ``(iii) Ongoing use of formative and other 
                        assessments and other timely data sources and 
                        data systems to more effectively identify 
                        individual student learning needs and 
                        personalize learning.
                            ``(iv) Engagement of school district 
                        leaders, school leaders, and classroom 
                        educators.
                            ``(v) Programs, practices, and technologies 
                        that are based on a review of the best 
                        available research evidence or on development 
                        and use of new and innovative designs, 
                        programs, practices, and technologies.
            ``(2) An assurance that the local educational agency will 
        use not less than 25 percent of the subgrant funds to implement 
        a program of professional development described in section 
        2416(b)(1)(A).
            ``(3) A description of how the local educational agency 
        will evaluate the impact of 1 or more programs or activities 
        carried out under this subpart.
    ``(c) Formula Grants; Improving Teaching and Learning Through 
Technology.--In addition to the information described in subsection 
(a), a local educational agency submitting an application for a 
subgrant under section 2412(a)(2)(A) shall submit to the State 
educational agency an application containing each of the following:
            ``(1) An assurance that the local educational agency will 
        use not less than 40 percent of the subgrant funds for ensuring 
        educators, including teachers and administrators, are 
        technology literate, prepared to use technology to improve 
        curriculum and instruction, and are connected online to 
        supports and resources, including for--
                    ``(A) professional development described in section 
                2416(b)(1)(A); and
                    ``(B) to provide educators with ongoing access to 
                technology tools, applications, supports and other 
                resources, including those related specifically to such 
                professional development activities.
            ``(2) A description of the local educational agency's 
        program of professional development required under paragraph 
        (1)(A).
            ``(3) A description of the use of technology tools, 
        applications, and other resources to improve student learning 
        and achievement in the area of priority identified under 
        paragraph (4).
            ``(4) A description of the priority area subgrant funds 
        will target, identified from among the core academic subjects, 
        grade levels, and student subgroup populations in which the 
        most number of students served by the local educational agency 
        are not proficient.
            ``(5) A description of how funds will be used to integrate 
        technology to redesign curriculum or instruction, implement 
        computer-based and online assessments, improve use of data to 
        personalize learning, or improve education productivity.
    ``(d) Combined Applications.--A local educational agency that 
submits an application under subsection (b), may, upon notice to the 
State educational agency, submit a single application that will also be 
considered as an application for subgrant funds awarded under 
subsection (c), if the application addresses each application 
requirement under subsections (a), (b), and (c).

``SEC. 2416. LOCAL ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Competitive Grants; Systemic School Redesign Through 
Technology Integration.--A local educational agency that receives funds 
through a subgrant under section 2412(a)(2)(B), shall carry out 
activities to improve student learning, technology literacy, and 
achievement, as follows:
            ``(1) Use not less than 5 percent of such funds to evaluate 
        the impact of 1 or more programs or activities carried out 
        under the subgrant as identified in the local educational 
        agency's application and approved by the State educational 
        agency.
            ``(2) Use funds remaining after carrying out paragraph (1) 
        to implement a plan for systemic school redesign in 1 or more 
        schools, in accordance with section 2415(b)(1), including each 
        of the following:
                    ``(A) Using not less than 25 percent of subgrant 
                funds to ensure educators, including teachers and 
                administrators, are technology literate, prepared to 
                use technology to improve curriculum and instruction, 
                and are connected online to supports and resources, 
                including through the following:
                            ``(i) Professional development activities, 
                        as described in subsection (b)(1)(A).
                            ``(ii) The acquisition and implementation 
                        of technology tools, applications, and other 
                        resources to provide educators with ongoing 
                        access and support, including for use in the 
                        professional development activities described 
                        in clause (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 1 or 
                        more of the core academic subjects; and
                            ``(iii) improve student technology 
                        literacy.
                    ``(C) Acquiring and effectively implementing 
                technology tools, applications, and other resources 
                to--
                            ``(i) conduct ongoing formative and other 
                        assessments and use other timely data sources 
                        and data systems to more effectively identify 
                        and address individual student learning needs;
                            ``(ii) support personalized 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 otherwise not available except 
                        through technology and online learning; and
                            ``(iii) conduct other activities consistent 
                        with research-based or innovative systemic 
                        school redesign, including activities that 
                        increase parental involvement.
    ``(b) Formula Grants; Improving Teaching and Learning Through 
Technology.--A local educational agency that receives funds through a 
subgrant under section 2412(a)(2)(A), shall carry out activities to 
improve student learning, technology literacy, and achievement in the 
area of priority identified under section 2415(c)(4), as follows:
            ``(1) Use not less than 40 percent of such funds for 
        professional development activities that are aligned with 
        activities supported under section 2123 to improve educator 
        quality and skills through support for the following:
                    ``(A) Training of school personnel, which--
                            ``(i) shall include the development, 
                        acquisition, or delivery of--
                                    ``(I) training that is ongoing, 
                                sustainable, timely, and directly 
                                related to up-to-date teaching content 
                                areas;
                                    ``(II) training in strategies and 
                                pedagogy in the core academic subjects 
                                that involve use of technology and 
                                curriculum redesign as key components 
                                of changing teaching and learning and 
                                improving student achievement and 
                                technology literacy;
                                    ``(III) training in the use of 
                                computer-based and online assessments, 
                                and in the use of student performance 
                                and other data to individualized 
                                instruction; and
                                    ``(IV) training that includes 
                                ongoing communication and follow-up 
                                with instructors, facilitators, and 
                                peers; and
                            ``(ii) may include--
                                    ``(I) the use of, and training of, 
                                instructional technology specialists, 
                                mentors, master teachers, or coaches to 
                                serve as experts and train other 
                                teachers in the effective use of 
                                technology; and
                                    ``(II) the use of technology, such 
                                as distance learning and online virtual 
                                educator-to-educator peer communities, 
                                as a means for delivering professional 
                                development.
                    ``(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 funds remaining after carrying out paragraph (1) 
        to acquire or implement technology tools, applications, and 
        other resources to improve student learning, technology 
        literacy, and achievement in the area of priority identified by 
        the local educational agency, including through 1 or more of 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Conducting ongoing formative assessment and 
                using other timely data sources and data systems to 
                more effectively identify and address individual 
                student learning needs.
                    ``(B) Supporting personalized 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 not otherwise available except 
                through technology such as online learning.
                    ``(C) Increasing parental involvement through 
                improved communication with teachers and access to 
                student assignments and grades.
                    ``(D) Enhancing accountability, instruction, and 
                data-driven decisionmaking through data systems that 
                allow for management, analysis, and disaggregating of 
                student, teacher, and school data.
                    ``(E) Such other activities as are appropriate and 
                consistent with the goals and purposes of this part.
    ``(c) Multiple Grants.--A local educational agency that receives a 
subgrant under subparagraph (A) and subparagraph (B) of section 
2412(a)(2) may use all such subgrant funds for activities authorized 
under subsection (a).

                 ``Subpart 2--State Competitive Grants

``SEC. 2421. STATE COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--From the amount made available to carry out this 
subpart under section 2404(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
award grants to State educational agencies, and consortia of such 
agencies, having applications approved under subsection (b) for the 
activities described in subsection (d).
    ``(b) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subpart, a State educational agency or consortium of State 
        educational agencies shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including 
        the information described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Contents.--An application submitted by a State 
        educational agency or consortium of State educational agencies 
        for a grant under this subpart shall include the following:
                    ``(A) In the case of an applicaton by a consortium, 
                an identification of the States included in the 
                consortium, and which State will act as both fiscal 
                agent and lead grant administrator.
                    ``(B) A description of how the applicant will 
                support local educational agencies in achieving the 
                absolute priority of supporting enhanced use of 
                technology, including online and blended learning for 
                systemic education transformation, curricula redesign, 
                and new instructional strategies to personalize 
                learning.
                    ``(C) An identification of an additional priority 
                the applicant will address and a description of how the 
                applicant will support local educational agencies in 
                achieving the priority. Such priority shall be 1 or 
                more of the following:
                            ``(i) Preparing for and administering State 
                        assessments online.
                            ``(ii) Using technology and blended 
                        learning to improve education productivity and 
                        reduce education costs.
                            ``(iii) Preparing the capacity of 
                        administrators and other education leaders to 
                        lead systemic education transformation through 
                        technology.
                    ``(D) A brief description of the applicant's (or, 
                in the case of an applicant that is a consortium of 
                State educational agencies, each such agency's) long-
                term goals and strategies for improving student 
                academic achievement, including student technology 
                literacy, through the effective use of technology and 
                how the grant will support that plan's implementation 
                and achievement.
                    ``(E) A description of how the applicant will use 
                grant funds to improve the knowledge and skills of 
                educators, including teachers and administrators, to 
                more effectively use technology.
                    ``(F) A description of the process, activities, and 
                performance measures that the applicant will use to 
                evaluate the impact and effectiveness of activities and 
                to disseminate those findings.
                    ``(G) An identification of the challenging academic 
                content standards and challenging student academic 
                achievement standards that the applicant will use to 
                ensure that each student is technology literate.
                    ``(H) An assurance that financial assistance 
                provided under this subpart will supplement, and not 
                supplant, State and local funds available for 
                activities described in this subpart.
                    ``(I) A description of how the applicant consulted 
                with local educational agencies in the development of 
                the application.
                    ``(J) A listing of the local educational agencies 
                that will receive subgrants, and a description of the 
                activities the local educational agencies have agreed 
                to undertake with such funds should the applicant be 
                awarded a grant under this subpart.
                    ``(K) A description of how the applicant will 
                coordinate activities carried out with funds under this 
                subpart with other Federal, State, and local funds and 
                activities in order to leverage their impact beyond 
                what could be accomplished directly with grant funds.
    ``(c) Awards.--In awarding grants under this subpart, the Secretary 
shall do the following:
            ``(1) Ensure the grants--
                    ``(A) are of sufficient size and duration to be 
                effective;
                    ``(B) are distributed among States of diverse 
                geographic locations and populations; and
                    ``(C) serve students of greatest need.
            ``(2) Use the following characteristics of a State 
        educational agency (or, in the case of an applicant that is a 
        consortium of State educational agencies, the characteristics 
        of each participating agency) as absolute priorities for 
        awarding grants:
                    ``(A) Bases student advancement and graduation on 
                demonstrated competency regardless of seat-time, or 
                time spent in a traditional classroom.
                    ``(B) Seeks to ensure all students have access to 
                high-quality digital content and online courses without 
                arbitrary caps or other limitations on enrollment in 
                online learning.
                    ``(C) Has teacher certification or licensure 
                requirements that require educators to be technology 
                literate, including the ability to--
                            ``(i) integrate technology into curriculum, 
                        instruction, and assessment;
                            ``(ii) use data to personalize learning; or
                            ``(iii) teach online.
                    ``(D) Allows the use of State funds for technology 
                tools and applications, if appropriate, to meet program 
                goals and requirements, including ensuring that the 
                State's rules support adoption of electronic learning 
                materials, including allowance that materials may be 
                updated in an ongoing manner and can be acquired 
                through subscription.
                    ``(E) Has learning standards that include student 
                technology literacy standards and learning performance 
                standards that assess student technology literacy.
            ``(3) Use the following characteristics of a State 
        educational agency (or, in the case of an applicant that is a 
        consortium of State educational agencies, the characteristics 
        of each participating agency) as competitive preference 
        priorities for awarding grants:
                    ``(A) Assessments are delivered online and may be 
                taken when students have completed a particular course 
                or unit of instruction, not at a specified time and 
                date.
                    ``(B) Has teacher certification reciprocity 
                agreements with 1 or more other State educational 
                agencies, including for online instruction.
                    ``(C) Postsecondary and other teacher training 
                institutions are required to provide, or supported in 
                providing, training in online and blended instruction.
                    ``(D) Directly supports technology tools and 
                applications and ensure all students and teachers have 
                high-speed access to the Internet.
                    ``(E) Supports policies or plans facilitating the 
                use of student owned devices in schools or that 
                facilitate home access to digital content.
                    ``(F) Has plans that support students with 
                disabilities, advanced learners, below-grade-level 
                learners, and English language learners.
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant under this subpart 
shall--
            ``(1) allocate not less than 75 percent of grant funds to 
        local educational agencies to carry out the activities 
        described in the application; and
            ``(2) use the funds remaining after carrying out paragraph 
        (1) for State-level activities, as described in the 
        application, including--
                    ``(A) assessing the impact of grant funds; and
                    ``(B) disseminating the findings of the recipient 
                statewide and nationally and, in the case of a 
                consortium, throughout the States within the 
                consortium.''.
                                 <all>