1.This Act may be cited as
the Time for Innovation Matters in
Education Act of 2011
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Although the
demands of our global society have grown and expectations of our students and
schools have risen, the time allotted for students and teachers to reach these
standards has remained the same for decades.
(2)The
near-universal school calendar, consisting of 180 6-hour days, has not changed
since the school calendar was designed to meet the needs of farms and factories
in the early 20th century.
(3)According to the
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures how well
students from more than 70 economies are prepared to meet the challenges they
may encounter in the future, students in the United States have maintained a
status quo for nearly 1 decade, while the mathematics and reading ratings of
students from other high-performing nations surpass the ratings of students in
the United States.
(4)Quality expanded
learning programs, which provide students with more than 300 additional school
hours per year, have demonstrated success in improving student academic
performance across the United States.
(5)Expanded learning
time initiatives can address the diverse academic needs and interests of
students and modernize public schools to help students develop 21st century
learning skills and prepare all students for life-long success.
(6)As of the date of
enactment of this Act, most expanded learning opportunities are offered through
charter schools or schools with independent organizational structures, but
expanded learning time could positively impact all public school students, from
prekindergarten through grade 12.
3.The purposes of this Act are—
(1)to increase
opportunities for students in high-need schools to participate in expanded
learning time initiatives, including expanded school days, expanded school
weeks, or expanded school years, in order to increase student academic
achievement and student engagement and success in schools, by—
(A)providing
students with more in-depth and rigorous learning opportunities in reading or
language arts, mathematics, science, history and civics, and other core
academic subjects;
(B)providing
students with more time for additional subjects and enrichment activities that
contribute to a well-rounded education, which may include music and the arts,
physical education, service-learning, and experiential and work-based learning
opportunities (such as community service, learning apprenticeships,
internships, and job shadowing); and
(C)providing
teachers with increased opportunities to work collaboratively, and to
participate in common planning, within and across grades and subjects, to
improve instruction;
(2)to improve
teaching and learning by using expanded learning, including school redesign,
to—
(A)create a seamless
program or curriculum with regular and expanded teaching and learning
opportunities within a school program that is comprehensively redesigned for
students and teachers; and
(B)improve access to
instructional supports for academically struggling students;
(3)to encourage
States, local educational agencies, and schools to develop high-quality,
innovative, replicable, and sustainable initiatives to expand learning time,
including using school redesign; and
(4)to create
partnerships between schools and local educational agencies, and external
organizations such as community-based organizations, institutions of higher
education, community learning centers, cultural organizations, and health and
mental health agencies to provide expanded learning opportunities for
students.
4.Definitions and
references
(a)In
this Act:
(1)Elementary and
secondary education Act termsThe terms community-based
organization, core academic subjects, elementary
school, highly qualified, institution of higher
education, local educational agency, other
staff, parent, professional development,
secondary school, Secretary, State, and
State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(2)Community
learning centerThe term community learning center
means a community learning center, as defined in section 4201(b) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7171(b)), that
receives assistance under part B of title IV of such Act.
(3)The term eligible entity means—
(A)1 or more local
educational agencies; or
(B)a partnership
that includes 1 or more local educational agencies and 1 or more of the
following:
(i)A nonprofit
community-based organization, such as—
(I)an organization
with demonstrated experience in expanding learning opportunities and helping
schools redesign their educational programs to better meet student needs;
or
(II)an organization
focused on alternative learning or dropout prevention.
(ii)An institution
of higher education.
(iii)A community
learning center.
(iv)An entity that
is carrying out an after-school program.
(v)A public or
nonprofit entity.
(4)Expanded
learning time initiativeThe term expanded learning time
initiative means a program that—
(A)uses an expanded
school day, expanded school week, or expanded school year schedule, that
increases the total number of school hours for the school year at a school by
not less than 300 hours (which shall include hours in which a student is
engaged in academic activities, experiential learning, work-based learning, and
enrichment, but shall not include hours in which a student is engaged in sports
or employment activities)—
(i)compared to the
school year that is standard for the local educational agency serving the
school, for schools of the comparable level (elementary school, middle school,
or high school, as defined under applicable State law); or
(ii)in
the case of a charter school that is its own local educational agency, compared
to the school year that is standard for local educational agencies in the
surrounding area, for schools of the comparable level;
(B)uses the expanded
learning time involved to redesign the school's program in a manner that
includes additional time—
(i)for
academic work, and to support innovation in teaching, to improve the
proficiency of participating students (particularly struggling students) in
reading or language arts, mathematics, science, history and civics, and other
core academic subjects;
(ii)to
advance student learning for all students, including those who already meet or
exceed student academic achievement standards, as measured by State academic
assessments required under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3));
(iii)for additional
subjects and enrichment activities that contribute to a well-rounded education,
which may include music and the arts, physical education, service-learning, and
experiential and work-based learning opportunities (such as community service,
learning apprenticeships, internships, and job shadowing); and
(iv)for teachers for
collaboration, and common planning, within and across grades and subjects;
and
(C)will expand
learning time for all students in all grade levels in the school, except
that—
(i)the program shall
not require secondary schools to have all students on campus at all times;
and
(ii)a school that
includes an on-site prekindergarten-level program may choose whether or not to
expand the learning time of such program, however, if the school decides to
provide expanded learning time for prekindergarten, the school must do so for
all students enrolled in prekindergarten at the school.
(5)Expanded
learning time schoolThe term expanded learning time
school means a school that has implemented an expanded learning time
initiative using funds received under this Act.
(6)The term graduation rate means a graduation
rate as defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi)) and clarified by section
200.19(b) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, or any corresponding
similar regulation or ruling.
(7)
(A)The term high-need school means—
(i)a
public elementary school or secondary school at which 50 percent or more of the
students are low-income students; or
(ii)a
high school with a graduation rate of less than 75 percent.
(8)The term high school means a public high
school, as defined under applicable State law.
(9)The term low-income student means a student
who is eligible to be counted under 1 of the measures of poverty described in
section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
(10)The
term redesign, used with respect to a school or school program,
means a process to significantly reconfigure a school's or program's schedule
in a manner that more effectively utilizes students and teachers' time,
including providing additional time—
(A)for academic work
and to support innovation in the teaching of core academic subjects;
(B)for teachers to
collaborate and conduct common planning; and
(C)for innovative
approaches to providing academic, experiential, and work-based learning
opportunities.
(b)In
this Act—
(1)a reference to a
school day, school week, or school year includes a reference to a combination
thereof; and
(2)a reference to a
school day, school week, or school year program (or schedule) includes a
reference to a combination thereof.
5.
(a)Grants to State
educational agenciesFrom the amount appropriated under section
12, the Secretary is authorized to award grants on a competitive basis under
section 6 to State educational agencies having applications approved pursuant
to section 6(c) to enable such agencies to award subgrants on a competitive
basis to eligible entities as described in sections 7 and 8.
(b)From
the amount made available under this Act for each fiscal year, the Secretary
may reserve—
(1)3 percent of the
amount to carry out the activities described in section 10; and
(2)from the
remainder—
(A)not more than 20
percent of the remainder to award grants under section 9; and
(B)not more than
$1,000,000 to carry out the review of applications for, selection of recipients
of, and distribution of, grants to State educational agencies and eligible
entities under sections 6 and 9.
6.Grants to State
educational agencies
(a)
(1)The Secretary is authorized to award grants to State
educational agencies on a competitive basis to assist the agencies in
developing State expanded learning time grant programs in accordance with this
Act, which shall involve awarding subgrants on a competitive basis to eligible
entities in accordance with this Act, to plan and implement expanded learning
time initiatives in high-need schools.
(2)The
Secretary shall ensure that grants awarded under this section and section 9 are
distributed to State educational agencies and eligible entities from diverse
geographical regions.
(b)The
Secretary shall award grants described in subsection (a) for an initial period
of not more than 4 years, and shall renew a State educational agency's grant
for an additional period of not more than 2 years if the Secretary finds that
the State educational agency is achieving the objectives of the grant and has
shown improvement against baseline data on the performance indicators described
in subsection (d)(4).
(c)Each
State educational agency desiring to receive a grant under this section shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. At a minimum,
each State educational agency application shall include—
(1)a description of
how the State educational agency will use grant funds under this
section;
(2)a description of
the peer review process and selection criteria the State educational agency
will use to evaluate applications from, and select, eligible entities to
receive expanded learning time planning and implementation subgrants, which
shall include—
(A)a description of
how the State educational agency will assess the capacity of eligible entities
to plan and implement high-quality expanded learning time initiatives;
and
(B)a description of
how the State educational agency will prioritize applications from eligible
entities that meet the requirements of section 7(f);
(3)a description of
the process the State educational agency will use to encourage local
educational agencies and schools, especially local educational agencies and
schools with a high percentage of low-income students, to implement expanded
learning time initiatives;
(4)a description of
how the State educational agency will provide, or has provided, technical
assistance and support to eligible entities, local educational agencies, and
schools receiving funds through the State educational agency under this Act, in
implementing expanded learning time initiatives, including—
(A)assisting local
educational agencies in identifying potential partners that are external
organizations with demonstrated experience in expanding learning opportunities
and helping schools redesign their educational programs to better meet student
needs; and
(B)assisting
eligible entities, local educational agencies, and schools in collecting,
reviewing, and analyzing data on student academic achievement;
(5)a description of
how the State educational agency will use the expanded learning time grant
program, and lessons learned from such program—
(A)to improve
schools that have not made adequate yearly progress under section 1111(b)(2) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) for 2
or more consecutive years; and
(B)to improve
student academic achievement at such schools;
(6)a description of
how the State educational agency will evaluate, on a regular basis, activities
carried out by eligible entities receiving funds through the State educational
agency under this Act;
(7)a description of
how the State educational agency will collect, analyze, and disseminate, to
local educational agencies and other schools within the State, information on
best practices learned from schools receiving funding under this Act, including
best practices for—
(A)improving schools
that have not made adequate yearly progress under section 1111(b)(2) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) for 2 or
more years; and
(B)improving student
academic achievement at such schools;
(8)an assurance that
the State educational agency, and any eligible entity receiving funds through
the State educational agency under this Act, will, if requested, participate in
the evaluation described in section 10(b)(3); and
(9)information
identifying the per-pupil funding amount range the State will use to establish
the correct amount of subgrants that will be awarded to local educational
agencies under section 8(c).
(d)
(1)A
State educational agency that receives a grant under this section—
(A)may reserve not
more than 10 percent of the grant funds to carry out the activities described
in paragraphs (2) through (4); and
(B)shall use an
amount consisting of not less than 90 percent of the grant funds to award
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities under section 7 or
section 8 to enable the eligible entities to carry out the authorized
activities described in section 7(e) or 8(f), except that not more than 10
percent of that amount shall be used for subgrants under section 7.
(2)State-level
planning and administrationA State educational agency that
receives a grant under this section may use grant funds reserved under
paragraph (1)(A) for planning and administration, including—
(A)evaluating
applications from eligible entities;
(B)administering the
distribution of subgrants to eligible entities; and
(C)assessing and
evaluating, on a regular basis, activities carried out by eligible entities
receiving funds through the State educational agency under this Act.
(3)Technical
assistance for eligible entitiesA State educational agency that
receives a grant under this section may use grant funds reserved under
paragraph (1)(A) for technical assistance, including—
(A)assisting
eligible entities in planning and implementing expanded learning time
initiatives, including assisting local educational agencies in identifying
potential partners that are external organizations with demonstrated experience
in expanding learning opportunities and helping schools redesign their
educational programs to better meet student needs;
(B)implementing a
program of professional development for teachers and administrators, in schools
that receive funding under this Act, that prepares teachers and administrators
to implement the authorized activities described in section 8(f); and
(C)identifying best
practices for using expanded learning time to improve student academic
achievement in schools that have not made adequate yearly progress under
section 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) for 2 or more years, and providing technical assistance to
local educational agencies in using such best practices to implement expanded
learning time in such schools.
(4)A State educational agency that receives a grant under
this section shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary a report that
contains all reports submitted by eligible entities under section 8(g), and
provide an evaluation of progress made by eligible entities in improving the
following (disaggregated by the student subgroups described in section
1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965):
(A)student academic
achievement and growth, as measured by State academic assessments required
under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965;
(B)for high
schools—
(i)graduation
rates;
(ii)rates of student
enrollment in an institution of higher education (as defined under section
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965) within 16 months of receiving a
regular high school diploma; and
(iii)rates of
remediation and credit accumulation of students who enroll in a public
institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965) within the State;
(C)performance on a
set of comprehensive school performance indicators, which—
(i)shall
include—
(I)student
attendance;
(II)as appropriate,
rate of earned on-time promotion from grade to grade;
(III)percentage of
students failing a credit-bearing mathematics, reading or language arts, or
science course, or failing 2 or more courses in any subjects; and
(IV)for high
schools, the percentage of students taking a curriculum that prepares students
for postsecondary education; and
(ii)for high
schools, may include student rates of attainment of an associate or
baccalaureate degree within 4, 5, and 6 years.
(e)
(1)Each State educational agency that receives a grant under
this section shall provide matching funds to carry out the activities supported
by the grant in an amount not less than—
(A)for the first
year of an initial grant under this section, 10 percent of the cost of the
activities;
(B)for the second
year of such a grant, 20 percent of the cost of the activities;
(C)for the third
year of such grant, or the first year of a subsequent grant under this section,
25 percent of the cost of the activities; and
(D)for the second or
any succeeding year of such subsequent grant, 30 percent of the cost of the
activities.
(2)The State educational agency may provide the matching funds
in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services,
but may not provide more than 50 percent of the matching funds in kind. The
State educational agency may provide the matching funds from State, local, or
private sources.
(f)Funds used to make grants under this Act shall be used
to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds
expended to plan or implement expanded learning time initiatives.
7.Expanded
learning time planning subgrants
(a)A State educational agency receiving a grant under
section 6 is authorized to award expanded learning time planning subgrants, on
a competitive basis, to eligible entities.
(b)The
State educational agency shall award each subgrant described in subsection (a)
for a period of not more than 1 year. Such grants shall be nonrenewable.
(c)The State educational agency shall award each subgrant
described in subsection (a) in an amount that is not less than $15,000 and not
more than $60,000.
(d)Each
eligible entity desiring to receive an expanded learning time planning subgrant
pursuant to this section shall submit an application to the State educational
agency at such time and in such manner as the agency may require. At a minimum,
the eligible entity's application shall include—
(1)a description of
the eligible entity's proposal to establish expanded learning time initiatives,
including school redesign, at high-need schools served by the eligible
entity;
(2)information
identifying the number of high-need schools the eligible entity proposes to
serve using funds made available under this Act, and a description of the
process, considerations, and criteria the eligible entity will use to select
schools to implement the expanded learning time initiatives—
(A)which
considerations shall include the percentage of low-income students attending
each school; and
(B)which criteria
shall include the local educational agency's determination of the capacity of
each school to implement successfully a proposed expanded learning time
initiative;
(3)a description of
the process by which the eligible entity will ensure the meaningful involvement
of teachers, teacher organizations, parents, and community-based organizations
in the development of the expanded learning time initiatives;
(4)a description of
how the local educational agency involved and participating high-need schools
will work with external organizations that comprise the eligible entity
involved, and any other external organizations as applicable (such as a
community-based organization, an institution of higher education, a community
learning center, an entity carrying out an after-school program, or an
organization that will provide students with internships and work-based
learning opportunities) to develop and implement expanded learning time
initiatives;
(5)an assurance that
the eligible entity has the infrastructure in place to collect the data
necessary for an evaluation of the impact of the expanded learning time
initiatives on student academic achievement, graduation rates, and indicators
described in section 6(d)(4), to be submitted in the report described in
section 8(g); and
(6)an assurance that
each participating local educational agency will use the subgrant period to
negotiate and reach an agreement with the recognized representatives of the
employees of each participating high-need school served by the agency or, where
there is no such representative, with the employees of each participating
high-need school served by the agency.
(e)An eligible entity receiving a subgrant under this
section shall use the subgrant funds to develop a detailed plan to implement
expanded learning time initiatives at high-need schools served by the eligible
entity, as specified in this section.
(f)In
awarding subgrants under this section, a State educational agency shall give
priority to an application from an eligible entity that—
(1)serves a high
percentage of students eligible to be counted under section 1124(c)(1)(A) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6333(c)(1)(A));
(2)includes a
nonprofit community-based organization with a demonstrated record of success in
expanding learning opportunities or helping schools redesign their educational
programs to better meet student needs;
(3)has identified a
coordinator at each high-need school that will participate in the expanded
learning time initiative to support the integration and alignment of community
partners for the school, and the programming of such partners, throughout the
expanded school day, week, or year;
(4)will require each
high-need school that will participate in the expanded learning time initiative
to have a partnership agreement, signed by representatives of the school and
all community partners that will be part of the initiative, that—
(A)shows commitment
from teachers, school leaders, and the staff of community partners to work
collaboratively to implement the expanded learning time initiative;
(B)sets clear
expectations, including measurable goals for all community partners; and
(C)shows that staff
from all community partners are committed to collecting and reporting to the
school relevant data about the participation, performance, and outcomes of
expanded learning time programs in order to monitor progress toward achieving
such goals, and that the school is committed to sharing information with the
community partners, as necessary and appropriate, to assist the community
partners in meeting such goals; and
(5)will coordinate
funds received under this Act with other Federal, State, local, or private
sources of funding in order to implement high-quality expanded learning time
initiatives in participating schools.
8.Expanded
learning time implementation subgrants
(a)A State educational agency receiving a grant under
section 6 is authorized to award expanded learning time implementation
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities that have received
subgrants pursuant to section 7.
(b)The
State educational agency shall award each subgrant described in subsection (a)
for an initial period of not more than 3 years, and shall renew such subgrant
for an additional period of not more than 2 years if the State educational
agency finds that the eligible entity is achieving the objectives of the
subgrant and has shown improvement against baseline data on the performance
indicators described in section 6(d)(4).
(c)In awarding a subgrant described in subsection (a) to an
eligible entity, a State educational agency shall determine the amount of the
subgrant by taking into account the number of students expected to participate
in the expanded learning time initiatives involved, as specified in the
application submitted by the eligible entity under subsection (d), and the
approximate per student cost of implementing a high-quality expanded learning
time initiative.
(d)Each
eligible entity desiring to receive an expanded learning time implementation
subgrant pursuant to this section shall submit an application to the State
educational agency at such time and in such manner as the agency may require.
At a minimum, the eligible entity's application shall include—
(1)an identification
and description of each high-need school (selected in accordance with the
process, considerations, and criteria described in section 7(d)(2)) that will
receive funding from the eligible entity to participate in an expanded learning
time initiative, including—
(A)the number of
students that will be served through the initiative at the school; and
(B)student academic
achievement, demographic, and socioeconomic data for students at the
school;
(2)a description of
how the eligible entity will implement at each such school an expanded learning
time initiative that involves an expanded school day, expanded school week, or
expanded school year schedule, and school redesign at each such school
consistent with section 4(a)(4)(A), which description shall include—
(A)a description of
how the expanded learning time schedule will expand learning time by not less
than 300 hours, consistent with section 4(a)(4); and
(B)a description of
how the eligible entity will meet each of the other requirements of the
definition in section 4(a)(4);
(3)a description of
the plan the eligible entity will use to evaluate, on an annual basis, the
impact of each expanded learning time initiative, based on measures of student
academic achievement, student engagement and success, and other appropriate
measures;
(4)a description of
the additional subjects and enrichment activities that will be offered at each
such school that contribute to a well-rounded education;
(5)a comprehensive
plan, developed in collaboration with teachers and, as appropriate, other
staff, for professional development at each such school that includes a
description of intended changes in teaching practices and curriculum delivery
that will result in improved student academic achievement and student
engagement and success;
(6)a description of
how the eligible entity will use the expanded learning time initiatives, and
lessons learned from such initiatives, to improve student academic achievement
in schools that have not made adequate yearly progress under section 1111(b)(2)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2))
for 2 or more consecutive years;
(7)evidence of an
agreement reached between each participating local educational agency and the
exclusive recognized representative of the employees of each participating
high-need school served by the agency, for employees to work the expanded
learning time schedules involved, or if there is no such representative,
evidence of an agreement supported by at least 2/3 of the
employees of each participating high-need school served by the local
educational agency, to work the expanded learning time schedules
involved;
(8)a description of
how the local educational agency involved and participating high-need schools
will work with external organizations that comprise the eligible entity
involved, and any other external organizations as applicable (such as a
community-based organization, an institution of higher education, a community
learning center, an entity carrying out an after-school program, or an
organization that will provide students with internships and work-based
learning opportunities) to implement expanded learning time initiatives,
including a description of the specific roles and responsibilities of such
external organizations;
(9)a description of
the process by which the eligible entity ensured the meaningful involvement of
teachers, teacher organizations, where applicable, administrators, parents, and
community-based organizations in the development (including the design) of the
expanded learning time initiatives;
(10)an assurance
that the eligible entity will work with a community learning center, or an
entity carrying out an after-school program, where appropriate, to provide
after-school programs for students participating in the expanded learning time
initiatives after the conclusion of the school day; and
(11)an assurance
that the eligible entity will report to the State educational agency all data
necessary for the State educational agency's report, under section
6(d)(4).
(e)In
awarding subgrants under this section, a State educational agency shall give
priority to an application from an eligible entity that meets the criteria
described in section 7(f).
(f)An eligible entity receiving a subgrant under this
section shall use the subgrant funds to implement high-quality expanded
learning time initiatives, at high-need schools served by such eligible entity,
that are consistent with section 4(a)(4).
(g)Reports by
eligible entitiesEach eligible entity receiving a subgrant under
this section for expanded learning time initiatives shall, not later than 1
year after the first day of the first school year in which the expanded
learning time initiatives were implemented, prepare and submit to the State
educational agency a report—
(1)containing a
detailed description of the expanded learning time initiatives carried
out;
(2)regarding the
technical assistance the eligible entity provided to expanded learning time
schools;
(3)for each expanded
learning time school—
(A)regarding the
budget for, and actual expenses associated with carrying out, the expanded
learning time initiatives in the first school year; and
(B)regarding the
amount of time by which the school day, school week, or school year, was
expanded in the school; and
(4)containing
information on the impact of the expanded learning time initiatives,
including—
(A)data on student
academic achievement and growth as measured by State academic assessments
required under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3));
(B)graduation rates;
and
(C)indicators
described in section 6(d)(4).
(h)Publication and
availability of report summariesThe Secretary shall publish and
make widely available to the public, including through a website or other
means, a summary of the eligible entity reports received under section 6(d)(4)
and subsection (g).
9.Grants to
eligible entities
(a)The Secretary may award a grant under this section to an
eligible entity that serves 1 or more areas within 1 or more States.
(b)Planning and
implementation grantsThe Secretary may award a planning grant
under subsection (a), to the eligible entity, to carry out the activities
described in section 7(e). In the case of an eligible entity that has received
a planning grant under subsection (a), the Secretary may award an
implementation grant under subsection (a) to the eligible entity, to carry out
the activities described in section 8(f).
(c)
(1)To be qualified to receive a grant under subsection (a),
an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application that contains
the following:
(A)If the
application is for a planning grant—
(i)information
describing how the entity will undertake the activities described in section
6(c)(7); and
(ii)the information
described in section 7(d).
(B)If the
application is for an implementation grant, the information described in
section 8(d), other than paragraph (11) of that section.
(2)In
determining whether to award a grant under subsection (a) to an eligible
entity, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that meets the
criteria described in section 7(f).
(d)The subgrant period and amount described in subsections
(b) and (c) of section 7 or 8, as appropriate, shall apply to the grant.
(e)Authorities;
responsibilitiesThe eligible entity shall have the same
authorities and responsibilities under this Act as an eligible entity that
receives a subgrant under section 7 or 8, as appropriate. In carrying out the
report responsibilities described in section 8(g), the eligible entity shall
submit the reports to the Secretary.
(f)
(1)Each eligible entity that receives an implementation
grant under this section shall comply with the matching requirements described
in section 6(e)(1), except that references in that section to a grant under
section 6 shall be considered to be references to an implementation grant under
this section.
(2)The eligible entity may provide the matching funds in cash
or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services, but may
not provide more than 50 percent of the matching funds in kind. The eligible
entity may provide the matching funds from State, local, or private sources, or
Federal sources under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
10.
(a)Technical
assistance and support
(1)The Secretary is authorized to provide, directly or by
entering into a contract with an independent organization, technical assistance
to State educational agencies, eligible entities, including eligible entities
receiving grants under section 9, local educational agencies, and schools in
developing and implementing expanded learning time initiatives under this
Act.
(2)The Secretary or such organization shall provide
technical assistance that shall include—
(A)assisting State
educational agencies (and eligible entities receiving grants under section 9,
at the election of the Secretary) with developing expanded learning time
initiatives; and
(B)identifying and
disseminating information about eligible entities, local educational agencies,
and schools that have effectively planned and implemented expanded learning
time initiatives, including schools that have implemented such initiatives to
improve student academic achievement in schools that previously had not made
adequate yearly progress under section 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) for 2 or more
years.
(b)Evaluation and
dissemination
(1)The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an
independent organization with expertise in school improvement, program
evaluation, and measurement (such as an institution of higher education or
other research organization) to assist with the provision of the technical
assistance, and conduct the evaluation and analyses, described in this
subsection.
(2)Technical
assistance on data collection and measures
(A)The independent organization shall provide technical
assistance to State educational agencies and eligible entities receiving funds
under this Act with data collection and analysis of—
(i)measures of
student academic achievement and student engagement and success, including the
indicators and other measures described in section 6(d)(4);
(ii)measures of
teacher collaboration and common planning; and
(iii)detailed
measures of the amount of time devoted to core academic subjects and additional
subjects and enrichment activities.
(B)Special rule
for eligible entities receiving grants under Section 9If an
eligible entity receives a grant under section 9, the eligible entity shall
establish measures in lieu of the measures described in subparagraph (A) to
assess the success of the eligible entity and schools receiving funds through
the eligible entity under this Act.
(3)
(A)The independent organization shall prepare a report that
shall include the evaluation described in subparagraph (B), including the
analyses described in subparagraph (C), and the analyses described in
subparagraph (D).
(B)The
independent organization shall conduct an evaluation of the impact and
implementation of the program funded under this Act, which evaluation shall
rely in part on the reports prepared by States under section 6(d)(4) and
eligible entities pursuant to section 8(g) (including reports described in
section 9(e)).
(C)In
conducting the evaluation, the independent organization shall conduct an
analysis of the impact of the expanded learning time initiatives funded under
this Act, by analyzing data on the measures described in paragraph (2) and
other appropriate measures for students participating in expanded learning time
initiatives in all expanded learning time schools, with results from that
analysis disaggregated by expanded school day, expanded school week, or
expanded school year program, as appropriate.
(D)The
independent organization shall conduct—
(i)a
comparative analysis of how variation in school design, instructional
practices, and other conditions influence the success of the implementation of
the expanded learning time initiatives;
(ii)a
comparative analysis of the conditions and activities that impact the planning
and implementation of the expanded learning time initiatives, including—
(I)teaching and
leadership practices at a school;
(II)student and
teacher schedules;
(III)the additional
costs of operating an expanded learning time school;
(IV)how the
additional school hours required for the initiative involved are used to
enhance teaching and learning; and
(V)how external
organizations are utilized for the initiative;
(iii)an analysis of
the similarities and differences in the ways in which schools implemented an
expanded school day, expanded school week, or expanded school year schedule;
and
(iv)any other
analysis requested by the Secretary.
(4)The
independent organization shall submit the report described in paragraph (3) to
Congress and the Secretary, and disseminate the report to the general public.
The Secretary shall ensure that the report described in paragraph (3) is
provided to eligible entities and local educational agencies on a periodic
basis for use in improving initiatives.
11.Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
alter or otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded to the
employees of local educational agencies under Federal, State, or local law
(including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms of
collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other
agreements between such employees and their employers.
12.Authorization
of appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be
necessary.