[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2954-S2961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCain:
  S. 667. A bill to improve and reform elementary and secondary 
education; to the Committee on Finance.


           Educating America's Children for Tomorrow (ED-ACT)

  Mr. McCain. President, centuries ago, Aristotle wrote, ``All who have 
meditated in the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the 
fate of empires depends on the education of the youth.'' His words 
still hold true today. Educating our children is a critical component 
in their quest for personal success and fulfillment, but it also plays 
a pivotal role in the success of our nation economically, 
intellectually, civically and morally.
  Like many Americans, I have grave concerns about the current 
condition of our nation's education system. If a report card on our 
educational system were sent home today, it would be full of 
unsatisfactory and incomplete marks. In fact, it would be full of 
``D's'' and ``F's.'' These abominable grades demonstrate our failure to 
meet the needs of our nation's students in kindergarten through twelfth 
grade.
  Failure is clearly evident throughout the educational system. One 
prominent illustration of our nation's failure is seen in the results 
of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS.) Over 
forty countries participated in the 1996 study which tested science and 
mathematical abilities of students in the fourth, eighth and twelfth 
grades. Tragically, American students scored lower than students in 
other countries. According to this study, our twelfth graders scored 
near the bottom, placing 19th out of 21 nations in math and 16th in 
science, while scoring at the absolutely bottom in physics.
  Meanwhile, students in countries which are struggling economically, 
socially and politically, such as Russia, outscored U.S. children in 
math and scored far above them in advanced math and physics. Clearly, 
we must make significant changes in our children's academic performance 
in order to remain a viable force in the world economy.
  We can also see our failure when we look at the federal government's 
efforts to combat illiteracy. We spend over $8 billion a year on 
programs to eradicate illiteracy across the country. Yet, we have not 
seen any significant improvement in literacy in any segment of our 
population. Today, more than 40 million Americans cannot read a menu, 
instructions, medicine labels or a newspaper. And, tragically, four out 
of ten children in third grade cannot read.
  For too long, Washington has been creating new educational programs 
which provide good sound-bites for politicians, make great campaign 
slogans, or serve the specific needs of select interests groups, but 
completely ignore the fundamental academic needs of our children. The 
time has come for us to free our schools from the shackles of the 
federal government and give them the freedom and the tools to educate 
children.
  The first step is putting parents back in charge. Federal education 
dollars should be spent where they do the most good. The ED-ACT would 
funnel millions of dollars directly into our classrooms, rather than 
wasting education dollars on federal red tape. By sending federal 
elementary and secondary education funds directly to local education 
agencies (LEAs), schools will be able to utilize the funds for the 
unique needs of their students rather than wasting their time jumping 
through hoops for government bureaucrats. Giving the money directly to 
the LEAs with strong accountability requirements for the academic 
performance and improvement of our children is the right thing to do.
  We must have higher learning expectations for our children, but we 
cannot and should not have these standards controlled at the national 
level. States and local communities must control the development, 
implementation and assessment of academic standards. This bill would 
prohibit federal funds from being used to develop or implement national 
education tests. National tests and standards only result in new 
bureaucracies, depriving parents of the opportunity to manage the 
education of their children.
  ED-ACT strengthens and reauthorizes the successful Troops to Teachers 
program. As many of my colleagues know, the Troops to Teachers program 
was initially created in 1993 to assist military personnel affected by 
defense downsizing who were interested in utilizing their knowledge, 
professional skills and expertise as teachers. Unfortunately, the 
authorization for this program is set to expire at the end of this 
fiscal year.
  Local school districts across the city are facing a shortage of two 
million teachers over the next decade, and the Troops to Teachers 
program is an important resource to help schools address this shortfall 
by recruiting, funding and retaining new teachers to make America's 
children ready for tomorrow, particularly in the areas of math, reading 
and science.
  ED-ACT would also encourage states to ensure that all Americans are 
fluent in English, while helping develop innovative initiatives to 
promote the importance of foreign language skills.

[[Page S2955]]

The ability to speak one or more languages, in addition to English, is 
a tremendous resource to the U.S. because it enhances our 
competitiveness in global markets. Multilingualism also enhances our 
nation's diplomatic efforts and leadership role on the international 
front by fostering greater communication and understanding between 
people of all nations and cultures.
  ED-ACT provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged children 
by providing parents and students the freedom to choose the best school 
for their unique academic needs, while encouraging schools to be 
creative and responsive to the needs of all students. This three-year 
demonstration would allow up to ten states or localities to implement a 
voucher program empowering low-income parents with more options for 
their child's education. Parents should be allowed to use their tax 
dollars to send their children to the school of their choice, public or 
private. Tuition vouchers would give low- income families the same 
choice.

  ED-ACT also creates additional financial opportunities for parents, 
guardians and communities to plan for the educational expenses of their 
children. First, it would increase the amount allowed to be contributed 
to a higher education IRA from $500 to $1,000 annually. Under current 
law, the maximum amount which could be saved for a child throughout 
their lifetime is $9,000, which would not cover the basic costs of 
tuition at a private institution, let alone books, foods and living 
expenses for a student. This amount barely covers the tuition at a 
public four-year institution, but that is before factoring in 
inflation, expenses, room and board. In my home state of Arizona, a 
four-year degree from one of the three state colleges costs about 
$8,800--and that is just for tuition, not books, food, room and board. 
In addition, ED-ACT allows a $500 tax credit for taxpayers who make a 
voluntary contribution to public or private schools.
  This bill would also help develop better educational tools for our 
children by gathering and analyzing pertinent data regarding some of 
our most vulnerable students, while collecting information about how we 
can ensure the best teachers are in our classrooms.
  Finally, the last section of the ED-ACT reduces the bureaucratic 
costs at the Department of Education by thirty-five percent no later 
than October 1, 2004. Far too many resources are spent on funding 
bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., rather than teaching our children.
  Thomas Jefferson said, ``The purpose of education is to create young 
citizens with knowing heads and loving hearts.'' If we fail to give our 
children the education they need to nurture their heads and hearts, 
then we threaten their futures and the future of our nation. The bill I 
am introducing today is an important step towards ensuring that our 
children have both the love in their hearts and the knowledge in their 
heads to not only dream, but to make their dreams a reality.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of this bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered printed in the Record, 
as follows:

                                 S. 667

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``EDucating 
     America's Children for Tomorrow (ED-ACT)''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definitions.

                TITLE I--EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Sec. 101. Empowering parents and students.

TITLE II--PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING 
                      NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

Sec. 201. Prohibition regarding funding for developing or implementing 
              national education standards.

                 TITLE III--TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Improvement and transfer of jurisdiction of troops-to-
              teachers program.

               TITLE IV--ENGLISH PLUS AND MULTILINGUALISM

Sec. 401. English plus.
Sec. 402. Multilingualism study.

     TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

Sec. 501. Purposes.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations; program authority.
Sec. 503. Eligibility.
Sec. 504. Scholarships.
Sec. 505. Eligible children; award rules.
Sec. 506. Applications.
Sec. 507. Approval of programs.
Sec. 508. Amounts and length of grants.
Sec. 509. Uses of funds.
Sec. 510. Effect of programs.
Sec. 511. National evaluation.
Sec. 512. Enforcement.
Sec. 513. Definitions.

                        TITLE VI--TAX PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Credit for contributions to schools.
Sec. 602. Increase in annual contribution limit for education 
              individual retirement accounts.

              TITLE VII--DEVELOPING BETTER EDUCATION TOOLS

Sec. 701. Educational tools for underserved students.
Sec. 702. Teacher training.
Sec. 703. Putting the best teachers in the classroom.

                    TITLE VIII--EMPOWERING STUDENTS

Sec. 801. Empowering students.
       (c) Definitions.--In this Act:
       (1) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General'' 
     means the Comptroller General of the United States.
       (2) Elementary school; local educational agency; parent; 
     secondary school; state educational agency.--The terms 
     ``elementary school'', ``local educational agency'', 
     ``parent'', ``secondary school'', and ``State educational 
     agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 14101 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 8801 et seq.).
       (3) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means the 
     poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and 
     Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 
     673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9902(2)) applicable to a family of the size involved.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Education.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
     States of the United States and the District of Columbia.

                TITLE I--EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS

     SEC. 101. EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

       (a) Direct Awards to Local Educational Agencies.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for each fiscal year the Secretary shall award the total 
     amount of funds described in paragraph (2) directly to local 
     educational agencies in accordance with paragraph (4) to 
     enable the local educational agencies to carry out the 
     authorized activities described in paragraph (5).
       (2) Applicable funding.--The total amount of funds referred 
     to in paragraph (1) are all funds that are appropriated for 
     the Department of Education for a fiscal year to carry out 
     programs or activities under the following provisions of law:
       (A) Title III of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 
     U.S.C. 5881 et seq.).
       (B) Title IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 
     U.S.C. 5911 et seq.).
       (C) Title VI of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 
     U.S.C. 5951).
       (D) The School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 
     6101 et seq.).
       (E) Section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6492).
       (F) Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.).
       (G) Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.).
       (H) Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
       (I) Part A of title V of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.).
       (J) Part B of title V of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7231 et seq.).
       (K) Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.).
       (L) Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
       (M) Part B of title IX of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et seq.).
       (N) Part C of title IX of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7931 et seq.).
       (O) Part A of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.).
       (P) Part B of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8031 et seq.).
       (Q) Part D of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8091 et seq.).
       (R) Part F of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8141 et seq.).
       (S) Part G of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8161 et seq.).

[[Page S2956]]

       (T) Part I of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8241 et seq.).
       (U) Part J of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8271 et seq.).
       (V) Part K of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8331 et seq.).
       (W) Part L of title X of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8351 et seq.).
       (X) Part A of title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
       (Y) Part C of title XIII of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8671 et seq.).
       (Z) Part B of title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11421 et seq.).
       (3) Census determination.--
       (A) In general.--Each local educational agency shall 
     conduct a census to determine the number of kindergarten 
     through grade 12 students that are in the school district 
     served by the local educational agency for an academic year.
       (B) Private school students.--In carrying out subparagraph 
     (A), each local educational agency shall determine the number 
     of private school students described in such paragraph for an 
     academic year on the basis of data the local educational 
     agency determines reliable.
       (C) Submission.--Each local educational agency shall submit 
     the total number of public and private school children 
     described in this paragraph for an academic year to the 
     Secretary not later than March 1 of the academic year.
       (D) Penalty.--If the Secretary determines that a local 
     educational agency has knowingly submitted false information 
     under this subsection for the purpose of gaining additional 
     funds under this section, then the local educational agency 
     shall be fined an amount equal to twice the difference 
     between the amount the local educational agency received 
     under this section, and the correct amount the local 
     educational agency would have received if the agency had 
     submitted accurate information under this subsection.
       (4) Determination of allotments.--From the total applicable 
     funding available for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make 
     allotments to each local educational agency in a State in an 
     amount that bears the same relation--
       (A) to 50 percent of such total applicable funding as the 
     number of individuals in the school district served by the 
     local educational agency who are aged 5 through 17 bears to 
     the total number of such individuals in all school districts 
     served by all local educational agencies in all States; and
       (B) to 50 percent of such total amount as the total amount 
     all local educational agencies in the State are eligible to 
     receive under part A of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for 
     the fiscal year bears to the total amount all local 
     educational agencies in all States are eligible to receive 
     under such part for the fiscal year.
       (5) Authorized activities.--
       (A) In general.--A local educational agency receiving an 
     allotment under paragraph (4) shall use the allotted funds 
     for innovative assistance programs described in subparagraph 
     (B).
       (B) Innovative assistance.--The innovative assistance 
     programs referred to in subparagraph (A) include--
       (i) technology programs related to the implementation of 
     school-based reform programs, including professional 
     development to assist teachers and other school officials 
     regarding how to use effectively such equipment and software;
       (ii) programs for the acquisition and use of instructional 
     and educational materials, including library services and 
     materials (including media materials), assessments, reference 
     materials, computer software and hardware for instructional 
     use, and other curricular materials that--

       (I) are tied to high academic standards;
       (II) will be used to improve student achievement; and
       (III) are part of an overall education reform program;

       (iii) promising education reform programs, including 
     effective schools and magnet schools;
       (iv) programs to improve the higher order thinking skills 
     of disadvantaged elementary school and secondary school 
     students and to prevent students from dropping out of school;
       (v) programs to combat illiteracy in the student and adult 
     populations, including parent illiteracy;
       (vi) programs to provide for the educational needs of 
     gifted and talented children;
       (vii) hiring of teachers or teaching assistants to decrease 
     a school, school district, or statewide student-to-teacher 
     ratio; and
       (viii) school improvement programs or activities described 
     in sections 1116 and 1117 of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965.
       (6) Accountability.--
       (A) Local educational agency.--A local educational agency 
     that receives funds under this section in any fiscal year 
     shall make available for review by parents, community 
     members, the State educational agency and the Department of 
     Education--
       (i) a proposed budget regarding how such funds shall be 
     used; and
       (ii) an accounting of the actual use of such funds at the 
     end of the fiscal year of the local educational agency.
       (B) School.--Each school receiving assistance under this 
     section in any fiscal year shall prepare and submit to the 
     Secretary and make available to the public a detailed plan 
     that outlines--
       (i) clear academic performance objectives for students at 
     the school;
       (ii) a timetable for improving the academic performance of 
     the students; and
       (iii) methods for officially evaluating and measuring the 
     academic growth or progress of the students.
       (b) Direct Awards of Part A of Title I Funding.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall award the 
     total amount of funds appropriated to carry out part A of 
     title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for a fiscal year directly to local 
     educational agencies in accordance with paragraph (2) to 
     enable the local educational agencies to support programs or 
     activities, for kindergarten through grade 12 students, that 
     the local educational agencies deem appropriate.
       (2) Eligible local educational agencies.--The Secretary 
     shall make awards under this section for a fiscal year only 
     to local educational agencies that are eligible for 
     assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 for the fiscal year.
       (3) Amount.--Each local educational agency shall receive an 
     amount awarded under this subsection for a fiscal year equal 
     to the amount the local educational agency is eligible to 
     receive under part A of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 for the fiscal year.

TITLE II--PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING 
                      NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

     SEC. 201. PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR 
                   IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS.

       No Federal funds may be obligated or expended to develop or 
     implement national education standards.

                 TITLE III--TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Troops-to-Teachers Program 
     Improvement Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 302. IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION OF TROOPS-
                   TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM.

       (a) Recodification, Improvement, and Transfer of Program.--
     (1) Section 1151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 1151. Assistance to certain separated or retired 
       members to obtain certification and employment as teachers

       ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
     of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, may carry 
     out a program--
       ``(1) to assist eligible members of the armed forces after 
     their discharge or release, or retirement, from active duty 
     to obtain certification or licensure as elementary or 
     secondary school teachers or as vocational or technical 
     teachers; and
       ``(2) to facilitate the employment of such members by local 
     educational agencies identified under subsection (b)(1).
       ``(b) Identification of Local Educational Agencies and 
     States.--(1)(A) In carrying out the program authorized by 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of Education shall periodically 
     identify local educational agencies that--
       ``(i) are receiving grants under title I of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) 
     as a result of having within their jurisdictions 
     concentrations of children from low-income families; or
       ``(ii) are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers, 
     in particular a shortage of science, mathematics, reading, 
     special education, or vocational or technical teachers.
       ``(B) The Secretary may identify local educational agencies 
     under subparagraph (A) through surveys conducted for that 
     purpose or by utilizing information on local educational 
     agencies that is available to the Secretary from other 
     sources.
       ``(2) In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall also 
     conduct a survey of States to identify those States that have 
     alternative certification or licensure requirements for 
     teachers, including those States that grant credit for 
     service in the armed forces toward satisfying certification 
     or licensure requirements for teachers.
       ``(c) Eligible Members.--(1) The following members shall be 
     eligible for selection to participate in the program:
       ``(A) Any member who--
       ``(i) during the period beginning on October 1, 1990, and 
     ending on September 30, 1999, was involuntarily discharged or 
     released from active duty for purposes of a reduction of 
     force after six or more years of continuous active duty 
     immediately before the discharge or release; and
       ``(ii) satisfies such other criteria for selection as the 
     Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense and

[[Page S2957]]

     the Secretary of Transportation, may prescribe.
       ``(B) Any member--
       ``(i) who, on or after October 1, 1999--
       ``(I) is retired for length of service with at least 20 
     years of active service computed under section 3925, 3926, 
     8925, or 8926 of this title or for purposes of chapter 571 of 
     this title; or
       ``(II) is retired under section 1201 or 1204 of this title;
       ``(ii) who--
       ``(I) in the case of a member applying for assistance for 
     placement as an elementary or secondary school teacher, has 
     received a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an 
     accredited institution of higher education; or
       ``(II) in the case of a member applying for assistance for 
     placement as a vocational or technical teacher--

       ``(aa) has received the equivalent of one year of college 
     from an accredited institution of higher education and has 10 
     or more years of military experience in a vocational or 
     technical field; or
       ``(bb) otherwise meets the certification or licensure 
     requirements for a vocational or technical teacher in the 
     State in which such member seeks assistance for placement 
     under the program; and

       ``(iii) who satisfies the criteria prescribed under 
     subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(2) A member who is discharged or released from active 
     duty, or retires from service, under other than honorable 
     conditions shall not be eligible to participate in the 
     program.
       ``(d) Information Regarding Program.--(1) The Secretary of 
     Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and 
     the Secretary of Transportation, shall provide information 
     regarding the program, and make applications for the program 
     available, to members as part of preseparation counseling 
     provided under section 1142 of this title.
       ``(2) The information provided to members shall--
       ``(A) indicate the local educational agencies identified 
     under subsection (b)(1); and
       ``(B) identify those States surveyed under subsection 
     (b)(2) that have alternative certification or licensure 
     requirements for teachers, including those States that grant 
     credit for service in the armed forces toward satisfying such 
     requirements.
       ``(e) Selection of Participants.--(1)(A) Selection of 
     members to participate in the program shall be made on the 
     basis of applications submitted to the Secretary of Education 
     on a timely basis. An application shall be in such form and 
     contain such information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(B) An application shall be considered to be submitted on 
     a timely basis if the application is submitted as follows:
       ``(i) In the case of an applicant who is eligible under 
     subsection (c)(1)(A), not later than September 30, 2003.
       ``(ii) In the case of an applicant who is eligible under 
     subsection (c)(1)(B), not later than four years after the 
     date of the retirement of the applicant from active duty.
       ``(2) In selecting participants to receive assistance for 
     placement as elementary or secondary school teachers or 
     vocational or technical teachers, the Secretary shall give 
     priority to members who--
       ``(A) have educational or military experience in science, 
     mathematics, reading, special education, or vocational or 
     technical subjects and agree to seek employment as science, 
     mathematics, reading, or special education teachers in 
     elementary or secondary schools or in other schools under the 
     jurisdiction of a local educational agency; or
       ``(B) have educational or military experience in another 
     subject area identified by the Secretary, in consultation 
     with the National Governors Association, as important for 
     national educational objectives and agree to seek employment 
     in that subject area in elementary or secondary schools.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not select a member to participate 
     in the program unless the Secretary has sufficient 
     appropriations for the program available at the time of the 
     selection to satisfy the obligations to be incurred by the 
     United States under subsection (g) with respect to that 
     member.
       ``(f) Agreement.--A member selected to participate in the 
     program shall be required to enter into an agreement with the 
     Secretary of Education in which the member agrees--
       ``(1) to obtain, within such time as the Secretary may 
     require, certification or licensure as an elementary or 
     secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher; 
     and
       ``(2) to accept an offer of full-time employment as an 
     elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or 
     technical teacher for not less than four school years with a 
     local educational agency identified under subparagraph (A) or 
     (B) of subsection (b)(1), to begin the school year after 
     obtaining that certification or licensure.
       ``(g) Stipend and Bonus for Participants.--(1)(A) Subject 
     to subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Education shall pay to 
     each participant in the program a stipend in an amount equal 
     to $5,000.
       ``(B) The total number of stipends that may be paid under 
     this paragraph in any fiscal year may not exceed 3,000.
       ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may, in 
     lieu of paying a stipend under paragraph (1), pay a bonus of 
     $10,000 to each participant in the program who agrees under 
     subsection (f) to accept full-time employment as an 
     elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or 
     technical teacher for not less than four years in a high need 
     school.
       ``(B) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under 
     this paragraph in any fiscal year may not exceed 1,000.
       ``(C) In this paragraph, the term `high need school' means 
     an elementary school or secondary school that meets one or 
     more of the following criteria:
       ``(i) A school with a drop out rate that exceeds the 
     national average school drop out rate.
       ``(ii) A school having a large percentage of students (as 
     determined by the Secretary in consultation with the National 
     Assessment Governing Board) who speak English as a second 
     language.
       ``(iii) A school having a large percentage of students (as 
     so determined) who are at risk of educational failure by 
     reason of limited proficiency in English, poverty, race, 
     geographic location, or economic circumstances.
       ``(iv) A school at least one-half of whose students are 
     from families with an income below the poverty line (as that 
     term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget and 
     revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the 
     Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) 
     applicable to a family of the size involved.
       ``(v) A school with a large percentage of students (as so 
     determined) who qualify for assistance under part B of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 
     et seq.).
       ``(vi) A school located on an Indian reservation (as that 
     term is defined in section 403(9) of the Indian Child 
     Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (25 U.S.C. 
     3202(9)).
       ``(vii) A school located in a rural area.
       ``(viii) A school meeting any other criteria established by 
     the Secretary in consultation with the National Governors 
     Association.
       ``(3) Stipends and bonuses paid under this subsection shall 
     be taken into account in determining the eligibility of the 
     participant concerned for Federal student financial 
     assistance provided under title IV of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
       ``(h) Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances.--(1) If a 
     participant in the program fails to obtain teacher 
     certification or licensure or employment as an elementary or 
     secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher 
     as required under the agreement or voluntarily leaves, or is 
     terminated for cause, from the employment during the four 
     years of required service, the participant shall be required 
     to reimburse the Secretary of Education for any stipend paid 
     to the participant under subsection (g)(1) in an amount that 
     bears the same ratio to the amount of the stipend as the 
     unserved portion of required service bears to the four years 
     of required service.
       ``(2) If a participant in the program who is paid a bonus 
     under subsection (g)(2) fails to obtain employment for which 
     such bonus was paid, or voluntarily leaves or is terminated 
     for cause from the employment during the four years of 
     required service, the participant shall be required to 
     reimburse the Secretary for any bonus paid to the participant 
     under that subsection in an amount that bears the same ratio 
     to the amount of the bonus as the unserved portion of 
     required service bears to the four years of required service.
       ``(3)(A) The obligation to reimburse the Secretary under 
     this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United 
     States.
       ``(B) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 shall not 
     release a participant from the obligation to reimburse the 
     Secretary.
       ``(C) Any amount owed by a participant under paragraph (1) 
     or (2) shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest 
     rate being paid by the United States on the day on which the 
     reimbursement is determined to be due for securities having 
     maturities of ninety days or less and shall accrue from the 
     day on which the participant is first notified of the amount 
     due.
       ``(i) Exceptions to Reimbursement Provisions.--(1) A 
     participant in the program shall not be considered to be in 
     violation of an agreement entered into under subsection (f) 
     during any period in which the participant--
       ``(A) is pursuing a full-time course of study related to 
     the field of teaching at an eligible institution;
       ``(B) is serving on active duty as a member of the armed 
     forces;
       ``(C) is temporarily totally disabled for a period of time 
     not to exceed three years as established by sworn affidavit 
     of a qualified physician;
       ``(D) is unable to secure employment for a period not to 
     exceed 12 months by reason of the care required by a spouse 
     who is disabled;
       ``(E) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as 
     a teacher in an elementary or secondary school or as a 
     vocational or technical teacher for a single period not to 
     exceed 27 months; or
       ``(F) satisfies the provisions of additional reimbursement 
     exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary of 
     Education.
       ``(2) A participant shall be excused from reimbursement 
     under subsection (h) if the participant becomes permanently 
     totally disabled as established by sworn affidavit of a 
     qualified physician. The Secretary may also waive 
     reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the 
     participant, as determined

[[Page S2958]]

     by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Defense or the Secretary of Transportation, as the case may 
     be.
       ``(j) Relationship to Educational Assistance Under 
     Montgomery GI Bill.--The receipt by a participant in the 
     program of any assistance under the program shall not reduce 
     or otherwise affect the entitlement of the participant to any 
     benefits under chapter 30 of title 38 or chapter 1606 of this 
     title.
       ``(k) Discharge of State Activities Through Consortia of 
     States.--The Secretary of Education may permit States 
     participating in the program authorized by this section to 
     carry out activities authorized for such States under this 
     section through one or more consortia of such States.
       ``(l) Assistance to States in Activities Under Program.--
     (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Education may 
     make grants to States participating in the program authorized 
     by this section, or to consortia of such States, in order to 
     permit such States or consortia of States to operate offices 
     for purposes of recruiting eligible members for participation 
     in the program and facilitating the employment of 
     participants in the program in schools in such States or 
     consortia of States.
       ``(2) The total amount of grants under paragraph (1) in any 
     fiscal year may not exceed $4,000,000.
       ``(m) Limitation on Use of Funds for Management 
     Infrastructure.--The Secretary of Education may utilize not 
     more than five percent of the funds available to carry out 
     the program authorized by this section for a fiscal year for 
     purposes of establishing and maintaining the management 
     infrastructure necessary to support the program.
       ``(n) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `State' includes the District of Columbia, 
     American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the 
     Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands.
       ``(2) The term `alternative certification or licensure 
     requirements' means State or local teacher certification or 
     licensure requirements that permit a demonstrated competence 
     in appropriate subject areas gained in careers outside of 
     education to be substituted for traditional teacher training 
     course work.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of 
     such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
     section 1151 and inserting the following new item:

``1151. Assistance to certain separated or retired members to obtain 
              certification and employment as teachers.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1999.
       (c) Transfer of Jurisdiction over Current Program.--(1) The 
     Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Transportation, and 
     Secretary of Education shall provide for the transfer to the 
     Secretary of Education of any on-going functions and 
     responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Transportation with respect the program 
     authorized by section 1151 of title 10, United States Code, 
     for the period beginning on October 23, 1992, and ending on 
     September 30, 1999.
       (2) The Secretaries shall complete the transfer under 
     paragraph (1) not later than October 1, 1999.
       (d) Reports.--(1) Not later than March 31, 2002, the 
     Secretary of Education and the Comptroller General shall each 
     submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the 
     program authorized by section 1151 of title 10, United States 
     Code (as amended by subsection (a)), in the recruitment and 
     retention of qualified personnel by local educational 
     agencies identified under subsection (b)(1) of such section 
     1151 (as so amended).
       (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall include 
     information on the following:
       (A) The number of participants in the program.
       (B) The schools in which such participants are employed.
       (C) The grade levels at which such participants teach.
       (D) The subject matters taught by such participants.
       (E) The effectiveness of the teaching of such participants, 
     as indicated by any relevant test scores of the students of 
     such participants.
       (F) The extent of any academic improvement in the schools 
     in which such participants teach by reason of their teaching.
       (G) The rates of retention of such participants by the 
     local educational agencies employing such participants.
       (H) The effect of any stipends or bonuses under subsection 
     (g) of such section 1151 (as so amended) in enhancing 
     participation in the program or in enhancing recruitment or 
     retention of participants in the program by the local 
     educational agencies employing such participants.
       (I) Such other matters as the Secretary or the Comptroller 
     General, as the case may be, considers appropriate.
       (3) The report of the Comptroller General under paragraph 
     (1) shall also include any recommendations of the Comptroller 
     General as to means of improving the program, including means 
     of enhancing the recruitment and retention of participants in 
     the program.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for the Department of Education 
     $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004 for 
     purposes of carrying out the program authorized by section 
     1151 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by 
     subsection (a)).

               TITLE IV--ENGLISH PLUS AND MULTILINGUALISM

     SEC. 401. ENGLISH PLUS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Immigrants to the United States have powerful 
     incentives to learn English in order to fully participate in 
     American society and the Nation's economy, and 90 percent of 
     all immigrant families become fluent in English within the 
     second generation.
       (2) A common language promotes unity among citizens, and 
     fosters greater communication.
       (3) The reality of a global economy is an ever-present 
     international development that is fostered by trade.
       (4) The United States is well postured for the global 
     economy and international development with its diverse 
     population and rich heritage of cultures and languages from 
     around the world.
       (5) Foreign language skills are a tremendous resource to 
     the United States and enhance American competitiveness in the 
     global economy.
       (6) It is clearly in the interest of the United States to 
     encourage educational opportunities for all citizens and to 
     take steps to realize the opportunities.
       (7) Many American Indian languages are preserved, 
     encouraged, and utilized, as the languages were during World 
     War II when the Navajo Code Talkers created a code that could 
     not be broken by the Japanese or the Germans, for example.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) our Nation must support literacy programs, including 
     programs designed to teach English, as well as those 
     dedicated to helping Americans learn and maintain languages 
     in addition to English;
       (2) our Nation must recognize the importance of English as 
     the unifying language of the United States;
       (3) as a Nation we must support and encourage Americans of 
     every age to master English in order to succeed in American 
     society and ensure a productive workforce;
       (4) our Nation must recognize that a skilled labor force is 
     crucial to United States competitiveness in a global economy, 
     and the ability to speak languages in addition to English is 
     a significant skill; and
       (5) our Nation must recognize the benefits, both on an 
     individual and a national basis, of developing the Nation's 
     linguistic resources.

     SEC. 402. MULTILINGUALISM STUDY.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) even though all residents of the United States should 
     be proficient in English, without regard to their country of 
     birth, it is also of vital importance to the competitiveness 
     of the United States that those residents be encouraged to 
     learn other languages; and
       (2) education is the primary responsibility of State and 
     local governments and communities, and the governments and 
     communities are responsible for developing policies in the 
     area of education.
       (b) Resident of the United States Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``resident of the United States'' means an 
     individual who resides in the United States, other than an 
     alien who is not lawfully present in the United States.
       (c) Study.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct 
     a study of multilingualism in the United States in accordance 
     with this section.
       (2) Requirements.--
       (A) In general.--The study conducted under this section 
     shall determine--
       (i) the percentage of residents in the United States who 
     are proficient in English and at least 1 other language;
       (ii) the predominant language other than English in which 
     residents referred to in clause (i) are proficient;
       (iii) the percentage of the residents described in clause 
     (i) who were born in a foreign country;
       (iv) the percentage of the residents described in clause 
     (i) who were born in the United States;
       (v) the percentage of the residents described in clause 
     (iv) who are second-generation residents of the United 
     States; and
       (vi) the percentage of the residents described in clause 
     (iv) who are third-generation residents of the United States.
       (B) Age-specific categories.--The study under this section 
     shall, with respect to the residents described in 
     subparagraph (A)(i), determine the number of those residents 
     in each of the following categories:
       (i) Residents who have not attained the age of 12.
       (ii) Residents who have attained the age of 12, but have 
     not attained the age of 18.
       (iii) Residents who have attained the age of 18, but have 
     not attained the age of 50.
       (iv) Residents who have attained the age of 50.
       (C) Federal programs.--In conducting the study under this 
     section, the Comptroller General shall establish a list of 
     each Federal program that encourages multilingualism with 
     respect to any category of residents described in 
     subparagraph (B).

[[Page S2959]]

       (D) Comparisons.--In conducting the study under this 
     section, the Comptroller General shall compare the 
     multilingual population described in subparagraph (A) with 
     the multilingual populations of foreign countries--
       (i) in the Western Hemisphere; and
       (ii) in Asia.
       (d) Report.--Upon completion of the study under this 
     section, the Comptroller General shall prepare, and submit to 
     Congress, a report that contains the results of the study 
     conducted under this section, and such findings and 
     recommendations as the Comptroller General determines to be 
     appropriate.

     TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

     SEC. 501. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this title are--
       (1) to assist and encourage States and localities to--
       (A) give children from low-income families more of the same 
     choices of all elementary and secondary schools and other 
     academic programs that children from wealthier families 
     already have;
       (B) improve schools and other academic programs by giving 
     low-income parents increased consumer power to choose the 
     schools and programs that the parents determine best fit the 
     needs of their children; and
       (C) more fully engage low-income parents in their 
     children's schooling; and
       (2) to demonstrate, through a competitive discretionary 
     grant program, the effects of State and local programs that 
     give middle- and low-income families more of the same choices 
     of all schools, public, private or religious, that wealthier 
     families have.

     SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out this title, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
     fiscal years 2001 through 2003.
       (b) Program Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     award grants to not more than 10 States or localities, on a 
     competitive basis, to enable the States or localities to 
     carry out educational choice programs in accordance with this 
     title.

     SEC. 503. ELIGIBILITY.

       A State or locality is eligible for a grant under this 
     title if--
       (1) the State or locality has taken significant steps to 
     provide a choice of schools to families with school children 
     residing in the program area described in the application 
     submitted under section 506, including families who are not 
     eligible for scholarships under this title;
       (2) during the year for which assistance is sought, the 
     State or locality provides assurances in the application 
     submitted under section 506 that if awarded a grant under 
     this title such State or locality will provide scholarships 
     to parents of eligible children that may be redeemed for 
     elementary schools or secondary education for their children 
     at a broad variety of public and private elementary schools 
     and secondary schools, including religious schools, if any, 
     serving the area;
       (3) the State or locality agrees to match 50 percent of the 
     Federal funds provided for the scholarships; and
       (4) the State or locality allows lawfully operating public 
     and private elementary schools and secondary schools, 
     including religious schools, if any, serving the area to 
     participate in the program.

     SEC. 504. SCHOLARSHIPS.

       (a) Scholarship Awards.--With funds awarded under this 
     title, each State or locality awarded a grant under this 
     title shall provide scholarships to the parents of eligible 
     children, in accordance with section 505.
       (b) Scholarship Value.--The value of each scholarship shall 
     be the sum of--
       (1) $2,000 from funds provided under this title;
       (2) $1,000 in matching funds from the State or locality; 
     and
       (3) an additional amount, if any, of State, local, or 
     nongovernmental funds.
       (c) Tax Exemption.--Scholarships awarded under this title 
     shall not be considered income of the parents for Federal 
     income tax purposes or for determining eligibility for any 
     other Federal program.

     SEC. 505. ELIGIBLE CHILDREN; AWARD RULES.

       (a) Eligible Child.--In this title the term ``eligible 
     child'' means a child who--
       (1) resides in the program area described in the 
     application submitted under section 506;
       (2) will attend a public or private elementary school or 
     secondary school that is participating in the program; and
       (3) subject to subsection (b)(1)(C), is from a low-income 
     family, as determined by the State or locality in accordance 
     with regulations of the Secretary, except that the maximum 
     family income for eligibility under this title shall not 
     exceed the State or national median family income adjusted 
     for family size, whichever is higher, as determined by the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of the Census, on 
     the basis of the most recent satisfactory data available.
       (b) Award Rules.--
       (1) Continuing eligibility.--Each State or locality 
     receiving a grant under this title shall provide a 
     scholarship in each year of its program to each child who 
     received a scholarship during the previous year of the 
     program, unless--
       (A) the child no longer resides in the program area;
       (B) the child no longer attends school;
       (C) the child's family income exceeds, by 20 percent or 
     more, the maximum family income of families who received 
     scholarships in the preceding year; or
       (D) the child is expelled or convicted of a felony, 
     including felonious drug possession, possession of a weapon 
     on school grounds, or violent acts against other students or 
     a member of the school's faculty.
       (2) Priority.--If the amount of the grant provided under 
     this title is not sufficient to provide a scholarship to each 
     eligible child from a family that meets the requirements of 
     subsection (a)(3), the State or locality shall provide 
     scholarships to eligible children from the lowest income 
     families.

     SEC. 506. APPLICATIONS.

       (a) Application.--Each State or locality that wishes to 
     receive a grant under this title shall submit an application 
     to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
     Secretary may reasonably require.
       (b) Contents.--Each such application shall contain--
       (1) a description of the program area;
       (2) an economic profile of children residing in the program 
     area, in terms of family income and poverty status;
       (3) the family income range of children who will be 
     eligible to participate in the proposed program, consistent 
     with section 505(a)(3), and a description of the applicant's 
     method for identifying children who fall within that range;
       (4) an estimate of the number of children, within the 
     income range specified in paragraph (3), who will be eligible 
     to receive scholarships under the program;
       (5) information demonstrating that the applicant's proposed 
     program complies with the requirements of section 503 and 
     with the other requirements of this title;
       (6) a description of the procedures the applicant has used, 
     including timely and meaningful consultation with private 
     school officials--
       (A) to encourage public and private elementary schools and 
     secondary schools to participate in the program; and
       (B) to ensure maximum educational choices for the parents 
     of eligible children and for other children residing in the 
     program area;
       (7) an identification of the public, private, and religious 
     elementary schools and secondary schools that are eligible 
     and have chosen to participate in the program;
       (8) a description of how the applicant will inform children 
     and their parents of the program and of the choices available 
     to the parents under the program, including the availability 
     of supplementary academic services under section 509(2);
       (9) a description of the procedures to be used to provide 
     scholarships to parents and to enable parents to use such 
     scholarships, such as the issuance of checks payable to 
     schools;
       (10) a description of the procedures by which a school will 
     make a pro rata refund to the Department of Education for any 
     participating child who, before completing 50 percent of the 
     school attendance period for which the scholarship was 
     provided--
       (A) is released or expelled from the school; or
       (B) withdraws from school for any reason;
       (11) a description of procedures the applicant will use 
     to--
       (A) determine a child's continuing eligibility to 
     participate in the program; and
       (B) bring new children into the program;
       (12) an assurance that the applicant will cooperate in 
     carrying out the national evaluation described in section 
     511;
       (13) an assurance that the applicant will maintain such 
     records relating to the program as the Secretary may require 
     and will comply with the Secretary's reasonable requests for 
     information about the program;
       (14) a description of State or local funds (including tax 
     benefits) and nongovernmental funds, that will be available 
     under section 504(b)(2) to supplement scholarship funds 
     provided under this title; and
       (16) such other assurance and information as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (c) Revisions.--Each such application shall be updated 
     annually as may be needed to reflect revised conditions.

     SEC. 507. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS.

       (a) Selection.--From applications received each year the 
     Secretary shall select not more than 10 scholarship programs 
     on the basis of--
       (1) the number and variety of educational choices that are 
     available under the program to families of eligible children;
       (2) the extent to which educational choices among public, 
     private, and religious schools are available to all families 
     in the program area, including families that are not eligible 
     for scholarships under this title;
       (3) the proportion of children who will participate in the 
     program who are from families at or below the poverty line;
       (4) the applicant's financial support of the program, 
     including the amount of State, local, and nongovernmental 
     funds that will be provided to match Federal funds, including 
     not only direct expenditures for scholarships, but also other 
     economic incentives provided to families participating in the 
     program, such as a tax relief program; and
       (5) other criteria established by the Secretary.
       (b) Geographic Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure 
     that, to the extent feasible, grants are awarded for programs 
     in urban and rural areas and in a variety of geographic areas 
     throughout the Nation.

[[Page S2960]]

       (c) Consideration.--In considering the factor described in 
     subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall consider differences 
     in local conditions.

     SEC. 508. AMOUNTS AND LENGTH OF GRANTS.

       (a) Awards.--The Secretary shall award not more than 10 
     grants annually taking into consideration the availability of 
     appropriations, the number and quality of applications, and 
     other factors related to the purposes of this title that the 
     Secretary determines are appropriate.
       (b) Renewal.--Each grant under this title shall be awarded 
     for a period of not more than 3 years.

     SEC. 509. USES OF FUNDS.

       The Federal portion of any scholarship awarded under this 
     title shall be used as follows:
       (1) First.--First, for--
       (A) the payment of tuition and fees at the school selected 
     by the parents of the child for whom the scholarship was 
     provided; and
       (B) the reasonable costs of the child's transportation to 
     the school, if the school is not in the school district to 
     which the child would be assigned in the absence of a program 
     under this title.
       (2) Second.--If the parents so choose, to obtain 
     supplementary academic services for the child, at a cost of 
     not more than $500, from any provider chosen by the parents, 
     that the State or locality, in accordance with regulations of 
     the Secretary, determines is capable of providing such 
     services and has an appropriate refund policy.
       (3) Lastly.--Any funds that remain after the application of 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be used--
       (A) for educational programs that help eligible children 
     achieve high levels of academic excellence in the school 
     attended by the eligible children for whom a scholarship was 
     provided, if the eligible children attend a public school; or
       (B) by the State or locality for additional scholarships in 
     the year or the succeeding year of its program, in accordance 
     with this title, if the child attends a private school.

     SEC. 510. EFFECT OF PROGRAMS.

       (a) Title I.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
     local educational agency that, in the absence of an 
     educational choice program that is funded under this title, 
     would provide services to a participating eligible child 
     under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965, shall provide such services to such 
     child.
       (b) Individuals With Disabilities.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to affect the requirements of part B of 
     the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1411 et seq.).
       (c) Aid.--
       (1) In general.--Scholarships under this title are to aid 
     families, not institutions. A parent's expenditure of 
     scholarship funds at a school or for supplementary academic 
     services shall not constitute Federal financial aid or 
     assistance to that school or to the provider of supplementary 
     academic services.
       (2) Supplementary academic services.--
       (A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a school or 
     provider of supplementary academic services that receives 
     scholarship funds under this title shall, as a condition of 
     participation under this title, comply with the 
     antidiscrimination provisions of section 601 of title VI of 
     the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 1681) and section 504 
     of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).
       (B) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate new 
     regulations to implement the provisions of subparagraph (A), 
     taking into account the purposes of this title and the 
     nature, variety, and missions of schools and providers that 
     may participate in providing services to children under this 
     title.
       (d) Other Federal Funds.--No Federal, State, or local 
     agency may, in any year, take into account Federal funds 
     provided to a State or locality or to the parents of any 
     child under this title in determining whether to provide any 
     other funds from Federal, State, or local resources, or in 
     determining the amount of such assistance, to such State or 
     locality or to a school attended by such child.
       (e) No Discretion.--Nothing in this title shall be 
     construed to authorize the Secretary to exercise any 
     direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, 
     program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any 
     educational institution or school participating in a program 
     under this title.

     SEC. 511. NATIONAL EVALUATION.

       The Inspector General of the Department of Education shall 
     conduct a national evaluation of the program authorized by 
     this title. Such evaluation shall, at a minimum--
       (1) assess the implementation of scholarship programs 
     assisted under this title and their effect on participants, 
     schools, and communities in the program area, including 
     parental involvement in, and satisfaction with, the program 
     and their children's education;
       (2) compare the educational achievement of participating 
     eligible children with the educational achievement of similar 
     non-participating children before, during, and after the 
     program; and
       (3) compare--
       (A) the educational achievement of eligible children who 
     use scholarships to attend schools other than the schools the 
     children would attend in the absence of the program; with
       (B) the educational achievement of children who attend the 
     schools the children would attend in the absence of the 
     program.

     SEC. 512. ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations to enforce the provisions of this title.
       (b) Private Cause.--No provision or requirement of this 
     title shall be enforced through a private cause of action.

     SEC. 513. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title--
       (1) the term ``locality'' means--
       (A) a unit of general purpose local government, such as a 
     city, township, or village; or
       (B) a local educational agency; and
       (2) the term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the 
     District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

                        TITLE VI--TAX PROVISIONS

     SEC. 601. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOLS.

       (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of 
     chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to 
     nonrefundable personal credits) is amended by inserting after 
     section 25A the following:

     ``SEC. 25B. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOLS.

       ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, 
     there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by 
     this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the 
     qualified charitable contributions of the taxpayer for the 
     taxable year.
       ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) 
     for any taxable year shall not exceed $500 ($250, in the case 
     of a married individual filing a separate return).
       ``(c) Qualified Charitable Contribution.--For purposes of 
     this section--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified charitable 
     contribution' means, with respect to any taxable year, the 
     amount allowable as a deduction under section 170 (determined 
     without regard to subsection (e)(1)) for cash contributions 
     to a school.
       ``(2) School.--The term `school' means any school which 
     provides elementary education or secondary education (through 
     grade 12), as determined under State law.
       ``(d) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be 
     allowed under this chapter for any contribution for which 
     credit is allowed under this section.
       ``(e) Election To Have Credit Not Apply.--A taxpayer may 
     elect to have this section not apply for any taxable year.''
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
     A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 25A 
     the following:

``Sec. 25B. Credit for contributions to schools.''
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     1998.

     SEC. 602. INCREASE IN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FOR EDUCATION 
                   INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 530(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 (defining education individual 
     retirement account) is amended by striking ``$500'' and 
     inserting ``$1,000''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4973(e)(1)(A) of such 
     Code is amended by striking ``$500'' and inserting 
     ``$1,000''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     1998.

              TITLE VII--DEVELOPING BETTER EDUCATION TOOLS

     SEC. 701. EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Limited data exists regarding Native American, Asian 
     American and many other minority students.
       (2) The limited data available regarding these students 
     demonstrates potentially severe educational problems among 
     Native American students and a decline in performance among 
     Asian American students.
       (b) Study and Data.--The Comptroller General shall conduct 
     a study and collect data regarding the education of minority 
     students, including Native American students, Asian American 
     students, and all other students who are often combined in 
     statistical data under the category of other, in order to 
     provide more extensive and reliable data regarding the 
     students and to improve the academic preparation of the 
     students.
       (c) Matters Studied.--The study referred to in subsection 
     (a) shall examine and compile information regarding--
       (1) the environment of the students;
       (2) the academic achievement scores in reading, 
     mathematics, and science of the students;
       (3) the postsecondary education of the students;
       (4) the environment and education of the members of the 
     students' families; and
       (5) the parental involvement in the education of the 
     students.
       (d) Recommendations.--The Comptroller General shall develop 
     recommendations regarding the development and implementation 
     of strategies to meet the unique educational needs of the 
     students described in subsection (a).
       (e) Report.--
       (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall prepare a 
     report regarding the matters studied, the information 
     collected, and the

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     recommendations developed under this section.
       (2) Distribution.--The Comptroller General shall distribute 
     the report described in paragraph (1) to each local 
     educational agency and State educational agency in the United 
     States, the Secretary, and Congress.
       (f) Funding.--The Secretary shall make available to the 
     Comptroller General, from any funds available to the 
     Secretary for salaries and expenses at the Department of 
     Education, such sums as the Comptroller General determines 
     necessary to carry out this section.

     SEC. 702. TEACHER TRAINING.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that too often inexperienced 
     elementary school and secondary school teachers or teachers 
     with low levels of education are found in schools 
     predominately serving low-income students.
       (b) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study 
     to determine whether requiring teacher training in a specific 
     subject matter or at least a minor degree in a subject matter 
     (such as mathematics, science, or English results in improved 
     student performance.

     SEC. 703. PUTTING THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the individual States should evaluate their teachers on 
     the basis of demonstrated ability, including tests of subject 
     matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill;
       (2) States in conjunction with the various local education 
     agencies should develop their own methods of testing their 
     teachers and other instructional staff with respect to the 
     specific subjects taught by the teachers and staff, and 
     should administer the test every 4 years to individual 
     teachers;
       (3) each local educational agency should give serious 
     consideration to using a portion of the funds made available 
     under section 101 to develop and implement a method for 
     evaluating each individual teacher's ability to provide the 
     appropriate instruction in the classroom; and
       (4) each local educational agency is encouraged to give 
     consideration to providing monetary rewards to teachers by 
     developing a compensation system that supports teachers who 
     become increasingly expert in a subject area, are proficient 
     in meeting the needs of students and schools, and demonstrate 
     high levels of performance measured against professional 
     teaching standards, and that will encourage teachers to 
     continue to learn needed skills and broaden the teachers' 
     expertise, thereby enhancing education for all students.

                    TITLE VIII--EMPOWERING STUDENTS

     SEC. 801. EMPOWERING STUDENTS.

       The Secretary, not later than October 1, 2004, shall 
     gradually reduce the sum of the costs for employees and 
     administrative expenses at the Department of Education as of 
     the date of enactment of this Act incrementally each year 
     until the sum of the costs for employees and administrative 
     costs are reduced by 35 percent.

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