[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 22 (Thursday, February 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1511-S1514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Wellstone, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 372. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 to strengthen the involvement of parents in the education of their 
children, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Parent Act, 
which seeks to increase parental involvement in the educational lives 
of their children.
  Research, experience, and reason tell us that providing parents with 
opportunities to play active roles in their children's schools empowers 
them to help their children excel. When parents are actively involved 
in their child's education, not only does their own child go further, 
but their child's school also improves to the benefit of all students. 
Indeed, as I have witnessed in Rhode Island, and I am sure my 
colleagues can attest to this in their states, our best schools are not 
simply those with the finest teachers and principals, but those which 
strive to engage parents in the education of their children.
  Research shows that regardless of economic, ethnic, or cultural 
background, parental involvement is a major factor in determining a 
child's academic success. Parental involvement contributes to better 
grades and test scores, higher homework completion rates, better 
attendance, and greater discipline. Further, when parental involvement 
is a school priority, schools have fewer failing students, achieve 
better reputations in the community, and show improvements in staff 
morale.
  In 1999, the American Association of School Administrators conducted 
a nationwide survey and found that 96 percent of parents believe that 
parental involvement is critical for a student to succeed in school and 
that 84 percent believe in parent involvement so strongly that they are 
willing to require such involvement. Further, a recent National PTA 
survey revealed that 91 percent of parents recognize that it is 
extremely important for parents to be involved in their children's 
school. Unfortunately, even as we extol the virtue of parental 
involvement, we must recognize that reality falls far short of that 
goal. The National PTA survey also found that roughly half the parents 
surveyed felt they were inadequately informed about ways in which they 
could participate in schools, or even gain access to basic information 
about their children's studies and their children's teachers. There are 
also other obstacles to greater parental involvement, such as working 
parents who find it difficult to get to schools and be involved or 
parents who have had negative schooling experiences and are wary of 
entering schools to participate in their children's education.
  With more than 90 percent of parents believing that parental 
involvement is critical to a child's academic achievement and less than 
50 percent of parents believing that their schools adequately involve 
them in their children's education, the reauthorization of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA provides an opportunity to 
help bring schools and parents together, and to ensure parents have the 
tools to become meaningfully and effectively involved in their 
children's education. While the ESEA currently contains parental 
involvement provisions, they mainly apply to Title I schools and 
students, and have not been fully implemented.
  That is why I am pleased to be joined by Senators Wellstone and 
Murray and Representative Lynn Woolsey in the other body in introducing 
the Parent Act. This legislation would amend the ESEA to bolster 
existing, and add new, parental involvement provisions.
  The Parent Act requires that all schools implement effective, 
research-based parental involvement best practices, and it provides 
technical assistance to schools that are having problems implementing 
parental involvement programs. My bill also seeks to improve parental 
access to information about their children's education and a school's 
parental involvement policies; ensure that professional development 
activities provide training to teachers and administrators on how to 
foster relationships with parents and encourage parental involvement; 
utilize technology to expand efforts to connect schools and teachers 
with parents; and promote parental involvement in drug and violence 
prevention programs. Further, the bill requires each local district to 
make available to parents an annual report card which explains how a 
school is performing with respect to student achievement, teacher 
qualification, class size, school safety, drop-out rates, the actions 
the school is taking to involve parents in school activities and 
decision making, and other school performance indicators.
  The Parent Act also offers $500 million for school districts, with 
strict accountability measures, to supplement and support recognized 
and proven initiatives that improve student achievement through 
parental involvement. Currently, section 1118 of Title I requires 
districts to develop written parental involvement policies and requires 
schools to develop school-parent compacts, hold annual meetings for 
parents at schools, and involve parents in school review and 
improvement policies and plans. Local districts are required to spend 1 
percent of their Title I allotment for this purpose, unless that 1 
percent amounts to less than $5,000. In Rhode Island, however, in only 
9 of the 34 districts that receive Title I funds is this amount above 
$5,000, and this situation is similar across the nation. In fact, the 
Final Report of the National Assessment of Title I found that a quarter 
of Title I schools do not have required school-parent compacts, more 
than four years after they were required. As Secretary Paige stated at 
his confirmation hearing, ``increased assistance will be needed'' to 
enhance parental involvement.
  Last Congress, during the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
Committee debate on ESEA, many provisions of the Parent Act were added 
to S. 2, the ESEA reauthorization bill. But S. 2 did not go far enough 
to ensure the parental involvement provisions of ESEA are actually 
implemented. The accountability provisions of the Parent Act and its 
grant resources are essential to making sure all of the elements for 
effective parental involvement are in place.
  To succeed in the endeavor of increasing parental involvement, we 
must depend on parents, teachers, and school administrators throughout 
the country to work collaboratively to implement effective programs. 
However, federal leadership is needed to provide schools, teachers, and 
parents with the tools required for this task.
  The bottom line of federal support for education is to increase 
student

[[Page S1512]]

achievement. Parental involvement is essential to ensuring that our 
students succeed. This legislation is strongly supported by the 
National PTA, and I urge my colleagues to join Senators Wellstone and 
Murray, Representative Woolsey, and me in supporting the Parent Act, 
and working for its inclusion in the ESEA reauthorization.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 372

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Parent Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, 
     the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Parents are the first and most influential educators of 
     their children.
       (2) The Federal Government must provide leadership, 
     technical assistance, and financial support to States and 
     local educational agencies, as partners, in helping the 
     agencies implement successful and effective parental 
     involvement policies and programs that lead to improved 
     student achievement.
       (3) State and local education officials, as well as 
     teachers, principals, and other staff at the school level, 
     must work as partners with the parents of the children they 
     serve.
       (4) Research has documented that, regardless of the 
     economic, ethnic, or cultural background of the family, 
     parental involvement in a child's education is a major factor 
     in determining success in school.
       (5) Parental involvement in a child's education contributes 
     to positive outcomes such as improved grades and test scores, 
     higher expectations for student achievement, better school 
     attendance, improved homework completion rates, decreased 
     violence and substance abuse, and higher rates of graduation 
     and enrollment in postsecondary education.
       (6) Numerous education laws now require meaningful parental 
     involvement, including title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the 
     Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), the 
     Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and 
     elements of these laws should be extended to other Federal 
     education programs.

     SEC. 4. BASIC PROGRAMS.

       (a) State Plan.--Section 1111 (20 U.S.C. 6311) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``and technical 
     assistance under section 1117'' and inserting ``, technical 
     assistance under section 1117, and parental involvement under 
     section 1118'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
     subsections (e) through (h), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Parental Involvement.--Each State plan shall 
     demonstrate that the State has identified or developed 
     effective research-based best practices designed to foster 
     meaningful parental involvement. Such best practices shall--
       ``(1) be disseminated to all schools and local educational 
     agencies in the State;
       ``(2) be implemented in all schools in the State; and
       ``(3) address the full range of parental involvement 
     activities required under section 1118.''.
       (b) Local Educational Agency Plans.--Section 1112 (20 
     U.S.C. 6312) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), 
     and (9) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) 
     respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) a description of the strategy the local educational 
     agency will use to implement effective parental involvement 
     in accordance with section 1118;'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) as 
     subparagraphs (E) through (I); and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) work in consultation with schools as the schools 
     develop and implement their plans or activities under 
     sections 1118 and 1119;''; and
       (3) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting before the period 
     the following: ``and if such agency's parental involvement 
     activities are in accordance with section 1118''.
       (c) Schoolwide Programs.--Section 1114 (20 U.S.C. 6314) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by inserting after 
     ``involvement'' the following: ``in accordance with section 
     1118''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(iv), by inserting after 
     ``results'' the following: ``in a language the family can 
     understand''.
       (d) Targeted Assistance.--Section 1115(c)(1)(H) (20 U.S.C. 
     6315(c)(1)(H)) is amended by inserting after ``involvement'' 
     the following: ``in accordance with section 1118''.
       (e) Assessments.--Section 1116 (20 U.S.C. 6317) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
     (4) and (5), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) review the effectiveness of the actions and 
     activities the schools are carrying out under this part with 
     respect to the parental involvement programs described in 
     section 1118, the professional development activities 
     described in section 1119, and other activities assisted 
     under this Act;'';
       (2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting after ``elements of 
     student performance problems'' the following: ``, that 
     addresses school problems, if any, in implementing the 
     parental involvement requirements in section 1118 and the 
     professional development requirements in section 1119,'';
       (3) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); 
     and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) annually review the effectiveness of the action or 
     activities carried out under this part by each local 
     educational agency receiving funds under this part with 
     respect to parental involvement, professional development, 
     and other activities assisted under this Act; and''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)(5)(i)--
       (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(III) address problems, if any, in implementing the 
     parental involvement requirements described in section 1118 
     and the professional development provisions described in 
     section 1119; and''.

       (f) State Assistance.--Section 1117 (20 U.S.C. 6318) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``parental 
     involvement,'' after ``including''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(C)--
       (i) by inserting ``parents,'' after ``including''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``parental involvement programs,'' after 
     ``successful''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Parental involvement.--Each State shall collect and 
     disseminate effective parental involvement practices to local 
     educational agencies and schools. Such practices shall--
       ``(A) be based on the most current research on effective 
     parental involvement that fosters achievement to high 
     standards for all children; and
       ``(B) be geared toward lowering barriers to greater 
     participation in school planning, review, and improvement 
     experienced by parents.''.
       (g) Parental Involvement.--Section 1118 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting before the 
     semicolon the following: ``activities that will lead to 
     improved student achievement for all students'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(3)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B)(i) The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
     local educational agencies to enable the local educational 
     agencies to supplement the implementation of the provisions 
     of this section and to allow for the expansion of other 
     recognized and proven initiatives and policies to improve 
     student achievement through the involvement of parents.
       ``(ii)(I) Each local educational agency desiring a grant 
     under this subparagraph shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(II) Each application submitted under subclause (I) shall 
     describe the activities to be undertaken using funds received 
     under this subparagraph and shall set forth the process by 
     which the local educational agency will annually evaluate the 
     effectiveness of the agency's activities in improving student 
     achievement and increasing parental involvement.
       ``(iii) Each grant under this subparagraph shall be awarded 
     for a 5-year period.
       ``(iv) The Secretary shall conduct a review of the 
     activities carried out by each local educational agency using 
     funds received under this subparagraph, to determine whether 
     the local educational agency demonstrates improvement in 
     student achievement and an increase in parental involvement.
       ``(v) The Secretary shall terminate grants to a local 
     educational agency under this subparagraph after the fourth 
     year if the Secretary determines that the evaluations 
     conducted by such agency and the reviews conducted by the 
     Secretary show no improvement in the local educational 
     agency's student achievement and no increase in such agency's 
     parental involvement.
       ``(vi) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     this subparagraph $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such 
     sums

[[Page S1513]]

     as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years, of which the Secretary may reserve not more than .20 
     percent to carry out the reviews described in clause (iv).''; 
     and
       (C) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
     ``and granted under subparagraph (B)'' after ``subparagraph 
     (A)'';
       (3) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the last 
     sentence the following: ``Parents shall be notified of the 
     policy in the language most familiar to the parents.'';
       (4) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``participating parents'' 
     and inserting ``all parents of children served by the school 
     or agency, as appropriate,''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) materials or training using technology to foster 
     parental involvement;'';
       (5) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``Such local educational agencies and schools may use 
     information, technical assistance, and other support from the 
     parental information and resource centers to create parent 
     resource centers in schools.''; and
       (6) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) State Review.--The State educational agency shall 
     review the local educational agency's parental involvement 
     policies and practices to determine if such policies and 
     practices meet the requirements of section 1118 and are 
     meaningful and targeted to improve home and school 
     communication, student achievement, and parental involvement 
     in school planning, review, and improvement.''.

     SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Purposes.--Section 2002(2) (20 U.S.C. 6602(2)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) incorporates training in effective practices in order 
     to encourage and offer opportunities to get parents involved 
     in their child's education in ways that will foster student 
     achievement and well-being; and
       ``(H) includes special training for teachers and 
     administrators to develop the skills necessary to work most 
     effectively with parents.''.
       (b) Authorized Activities.--Section 2102(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6622(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(15) the development and dissemination of model programs 
     that teach teachers and administrators how best to work with 
     parents and how to encourage the parent's involvement in the 
     full range of parental involvement activities described in 
     section 1118.''.
       (c) State Applications.--Section 2205(b)(2) (20 U.S.C. 
     6645(b)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as subparagraph (P); 
     and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the following:
       ``(O) describe how the State will train teachers to foster 
     relationships with parents and encourage parents to become 
     collaborators with schools in their children's education; 
     and''.
       (d) State-Level Activities.--Section 2207 (20 U.S.C. 6647) 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs 
     (13) and (14), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
       ``(12) providing professional development programs that 
     enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel 
     to effectively communicate with and involve parents in the 
     education process to support school planning, review, 
     improvement, and classroom instruction, and to work 
     effectively with parent volunteers;''.
       (e) Local Plan and Application for Improving Teaching and 
     Learning.--Section 2208 (20 U.S.C. 6648) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``parents,'' after 
     ``administrators,''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) and (J) as 
     subparagraphs (J) and (K), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
       ``(I) describe the specific professional development 
     strategies that will be implemented to improve parental 
     involvement in education and how such agency will be held 
     accountable for implementing such strategies.''.
       (f) Local Allocation.--Section 2210(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 
     6650(b)(3)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (P) and (Q) as 
     subparagraphs (Q) and (R), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the following:
       ``(P) professional development activities designed to 
     enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel 
     to communicate with parents regarding student achievement on 
     assessments;''.

     SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION.

       (a) Findings.--Section 3111 (20 U.S.C. 6811) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``and by facilitating 
     mentor relationships,'' after ``by means of 
     telecommunications,'';
       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (3) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(16) access to education technology and teachers trained 
     in how to incorporate the technology into their instruction 
     leads to improved student achievement, motivation, and school 
     attendance;
       ``(17) the use of technology in education can enhance the 
     educational opportunities schools can offer students with 
     special needs; and
       ``(18) the introduction of education technology increases 
     parental involvement, which has been shown to improve student 
     achievement.''.
       (b) Statement of Purpose.--Section 3112 (20 U.S.C. 6812) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding after paragraph (12), the following:
       ``(13) development and support for technology and 
     technology programming that will enhance and facilitate 
     meaningful parental involvement.''.
       (c) National Long-Range Technology Plan.--Section 
     3121(c)(4) (20 U.S.C. 6831(c)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(G) increased parental involvement in schools through the 
     use of technology;''.
       (d) Federal Leadership.--Section 3122(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6832(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (15), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph (17); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following:
       ``(16) the development, demonstration, and evaluation of 
     model technology programs designed to improve parental 
     involvement; and''.
       (e) Local Uses of Funds.--Section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) utilizing technology to develop or expand efforts to 
     connect schools and teachers with parents to promote 
     meaningful parental involvement and foster increased 
     communication about curriculum, assignments, and assessments; 
     and
       ``(8) providing support to help parents understand the 
     technology being applied in their child's education so that 
     parents are able to reinforce their child's learning.''.
       (f) Local Applications.--Section 3135 (20 U.S.C. 6845) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(D)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) a description of how parents will be informed of 
     the use of technologies so that the parents are able to 
     reinforce at home the instruction their child receives at 
     school;'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) improve parental involvement in schools;'';
       (3) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) describe how the local educational agency will 
     effectively use technology to promote parental involvement 
     and increase communication with parents.''.
       (g) National Challenge Grants.--Section 3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 
     6846(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) the project will enhance parental involvement by 
     providing parents the information needed to more fully 
     participate in their child's learning.''.

     SEC. 7. DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

       (a) State Applications.--Section 4112 (20 U.S.C. 7112) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including how the 
     agency will receive input from parents regarding the use of 
     such funds'' after ``4113(b)''; and
       (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``, and how such review 
     will include input from parents'' after ``4115''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) a specific description of how input from parents will 
     be sought regarding the use of funds under section 
     4114(a).''.
       (b) Evaluation and Reporting.--Section 4117 (20 U.S.C. 
     7117) is amended--

[[Page S1514]]

       (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) on the State's efforts to inform parents of, and 
     include parents in, violence and drug prevention efforts.''; 
     and
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking 
     the period and inserting ``and a description of how parents 
     were informed of, and participated in, violence and drug 
     prevention efforts.''.

     SEC. 8. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM STRATEGIES.

       (a) Definition.--Section 6003 (20 U.S.C. 7303) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``children, and (3)'' and inserting 
     ``children, (3) adopting meaningful parental involvement 
     policies and practices, and (4)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(F) A climate that promotes meaningful parental 
     involvement in the classroom and in site-based activities.''.
       (b) State Applications.--Section 6202(a) (20 U.S.C. 
     7332(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(8) provides information on the parental involvement 
     policies and practices promoted by the State.''.
       (c) Targeted Uses of Funds.--Section 6301(b) (20 U.S.C. 
     7351(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
       ``(10) programs to promote the meaningful involvement of 
     parents.''.
       (d) Local Applications.--Section 6303(a)(1)(A) (20 U.S.C. 
     7353(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, including parental 
     involvement,'' before ``designed''.

     SEC. 9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) Definition.--Section 14101 (20 U.S.C. 8801) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (24) through (30) as 
     paragraphs (25) through (31), respectfully; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (23) the following:
       ``(24) Parental involvement.--The term `parental 
     involvement', when used with respect to a school, means--
       ``(A) the school engages parents in regular, two-way, and 
     meaningful communication;
       ``(B) parenting skills are promoted and supported at the 
     school;
       ``(C) parents play an integral role in assisting student 
     learning;
       ``(D) parents are welcome in the school;
       ``(E) parents are included in decision-making and advisory 
     committees at the school; and
       ``(F) parents are included in other activities described in 
     section 1118.''.
       (b) Parental Involvement.--Title XIV (20 U.S.C. 8801 et 
     seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                     ``PART H--PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

     ``SEC. 14901. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

       ``(a) State Parental Involvement Plan.--In order to receive 
     Federal funding for any program authorized under this Act, a 
     State educational agency shall (as part of a consolidated 
     application, or other State plan or application submitted 
     under this Act) submit to the Secretary--
       ``(1) a description of the agency's parental involvement 
     policies, consistent with section 1118, including specific 
     details about--
       ``(A) how Federal funds will be used to implement such 
     policies; and
       ``(B) successful research-based practices in schools 
     throughout the State; and
       ``(2) a description of how such policies will be evaluated 
     with respect to increased parental involvement in the schools 
     throughout the State.
       ``(b) Parental Review of State Parental Involvement Plan.--
     Prior to making the submission described in subsection (a), a 
     State educational agency shall involve parents in the 
     development of the policies described in such subsection by--
       ``(1) providing public notice of the policies in a manner 
     and language understandable to parents;
       ``(2) providing the opportunity for parents and other 
     interested individuals to comment on the policies; and
       ``(3) including the comments received with the submission.
       ``(c) Language Applicability.--Each State educational 
     agency and local educational agency that is required to 
     establish a parental involvement plan or policy under a 
     program assisted under this Act shall make available, to the 
     parents of children eligible to participate in the program, 
     the plan or policy in the language most familiar to the 
     parents and in an easily understandable manner.
       ``(d) Report Cards.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each local educational agency that 
     receives assistance under this Act shall prepare and make 
     available to parents an annual report card that puts into 
     context various factors that affect student performance, such 
     as the socioeconomic status of families in the school 
     attendance area, the level of student mobility, and the 
     availability of other student support services, and includes, 
     at a minimum--
       ``(A) student achievement information as demonstrated by 
     how students within schools served by the local educational 
     agency perform on tests;
       ``(B) other measurements of student achievement;
       ``(C) teacher qualifications;
       ``(D) class size;
       ``(E) school safety;
       ``(F) dropout rates;
       ``(G) actions being taken by schools served by the local 
     educational agency to involve parents in school activities 
     and decision making; and
       ``(H) information concerning whether schools served by the 
     local educational agency have been identified for school 
     improvement, and if so, what technical assistance, supports, 
     and resources have been provided to help the schools improve 
     student achievement.
       ``(2) Student data.--Student data in each report card under 
     paragraph (1) shall contain disaggregated results for the 
     following categories:
       ``(A) Gender.
       ``(B) Racial and ethnic group.
       ``(C) Migrant status.
       ``(D) Students with disabilities, as compared with students 
     who are not disabled.
       ``(E) Economically disadvantaged students, as compared with 
     students who are not economically disadvantaged.
       ``(F) Students with limited English proficiency, as 
     compared with students who are proficient in English.
       ``(3) Format.--School report cards under this subsection 
     shall--
       ``(A) be in a format that--
       ``(i) is informative to the parents and the public;
       ``(ii) is easily understandable; and
       ``(iii) is in the language most familiar to the parents; 
     and
       ``(B) provide a clear description of statistical data.
       ``(4) Other information.--A local educational agency may 
     include in the agency's report card under this subsection any 
     other appropriate information.
       ``(5) Public dissemination.--Beginning in the 2002-2003 
     school year, the local educational agency shall publicly 
     report the information described in paragraph (1) through 
     such means as posting on the Internet, distribution to the 
     media, and through public agencies.
       ``(6) Privacy.--Information collected under this section 
     shall be collected and disseminated in a manner that protects 
     the privacy of individuals.''.
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