[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4581-S4584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
        Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
        Menendez, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. 
        Durbin):
  S. 866. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 regarding environmental education, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the No Child Left 
Inside Act of 2009, which will provide new support for environmental 
education in our Nation's classrooms. I thank Senators Collins, Cardin, 
Dodd, Durbin, Gillibrand, Kerry, Lautenberg, Lincoln, Menendez, Murray, 
Sanders, and Whitehouse for agreeing to be original cosponsors of this 
bill. Given the major environmental challenges we face today, teaching 
our young people about their natural world should be a priority, and 
this legislation is an important first step.
  For more than three decades, environmental education has been a 
growing part of effective instruction in America's schools. Responding 
to the need to improve student achievement and prepare students for the 
21st century economy, many schools throughout the Nation now offer some 
form of environmental education.
  Yet, environmental education is facing a significant challenge. Many 
schools are being forced to scale back or eliminate environmental 
programs. Fewer and fewer students are able to take part in related 
classroom instruction and field investigations, however effective or 
popular. State and local administrators, teachers, and environmental 
educators point to two factors behind this recent and disturbing shift: 
the unintended consequences of the No Child Left Behind Act and a lack 
of funding for these critical programs.
  The legislation that I am introducing today would address these two 
concerns. First, it would provide a new professional development 
initiative to ensure that teachers possess the content knowledge and 
pedagogical skills to effectively teach environmental education in the 
classroom, including the use of innovative interdisciplinary and field-
based learning strategies. Second, the bill would create incentives, 
through new funding, for states to develop a peer-reviewed 
comprehensive statewide environmental literacy plan to make sure 
prekindergarten, elementary, and secondary school students have a solid 
understanding of our planet and its natural resources. Lastly, the No 
Child Left Inside Act provides support for school districts to 
initiate, expand, or improve their environmental education curriculum, 
and for rigorous national studies to be conducted regarding the 
effectiveness of environmental education on improving student academic 
achievement and behavior. This legislation has broad support among 
national and state environmental groups and educational groups.
  The American public recognizes that the environment is already one of 
the dominant issues of the 21st century. In 2003, a National Science 
Foundation panel noted that ``in the coming decades, the public will 
more frequently be called upon to understand complex environmental 
issues, assess risk, evaluate proposed environmental plans and 
understand how individual decisions affect the environment at local and 
global scales. Creating a scientifically informed citizenry requires a 
concerted, systemic approach to environmental education . . .'' In the 
private sector, business leaders also increasingly believe that an 
environmentally literate workforce is critical to their long-term 
success. They recognize that better, more efficient environmental 
practices improve the bottom line and help position their companies for 
the future.
  Climate change, conservation of precious natural resources, 
maintaining clean air and water, and other environmental challenges are 
pressing and complex issues that influence human health, economic 
development, and national security. A federal study released earlier 
this month found that students participating in environmental air 
quality education programs took action that resulted in improved air 
quality in their communities. The study concludes by recommending 
increased support for environmental education programs. Finding 
widespread agreement about the specific steps we need to take to solve 
these problems is difficult. Environmental education will help ensure 
that our Nation's children have the knowledge and skills necessary to 
address these critical issues. In short, the environment should be an 
important part of the curriculum in our schools.
  I know my constituents in Rhode Island, as well as the residents of 
other States, want their children to be environmentally literate and 
have a connection with the natural world. In Rhode Island, 
organizations such as the Rhode Island Environmental Education 
Association, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Save the Bay, the Nature 
Conservancy, and the Audubon Society as well as countless schools, 
teachers, and other groups across the country, reach out to children 
each and every day to offer educational and outdoor experiences that 
these children may never otherwise have, helping to inspire them to 
learn. Despite these extraordinary efforts, environmental education 
remains out of reach for too many kids. I am proud to sponsor this 
important legislation. I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
enact the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 866

       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.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``No Child 
     Left Inside Act of 2009''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References.
Sec. 3. Authorization of appropriations.

                 TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS

Sec. 101. Development, approval, and implementation of State 
              environmental literacy plans.

    TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL 
                       DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Environmental education professional development grant 
              programs.

TITLE III--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL 
                                CAPACITY

Sec. 301. Environmental education grant program to help build national 
              capacity.

     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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out section 5622(g) and part E of title II of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, $100,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2010 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.

[[Page S4582]]

       (b) Distribution.--With respect to any amount appropriated 
     under subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
       (1) not more than 70 percent of such amount shall be used 
     to carry out section 5622(g) of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 for such fiscal year; and
       (2) not less than 30 percent of such amount shall be used 
     to carry out part E of title II of such Act for such fiscal 
     year.

                 TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS

     SEC. 101. DEVELOPMENT, APPROVAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS.

       Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

               ``Subpart 22--Environmental Literacy Plans

     ``SEC. 5621. ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

       ``In order for any State educational agency, or a local 
     educational agency served by a State educational agency, to 
     receive grant funds, either directly or through participation 
     in a partnership with a recipient of grant funds, under this 
     subpart or part E of title II, the State educational agency 
     shall meet the requirements regarding an environmental 
     literacy plan under section 5622.

     ``SEC. 5622. STATE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS.

       ``(a) Submission of Plan.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009, a State 
     educational agency subject to the requirements of section 
     5621 shall, in consultation with State environmental agencies 
     and State natural resource agencies, and with input from the 
     public--
       ``(A) submit an environmental literacy plan for 
     prekindergarten through grade 12 to the Secretary for peer 
     review and approval that will ensure that elementary and 
     secondary school students in the State are environmentally 
     literate; and
       ``(B) begin the implementation of such plan in the State.
       ``(2) Existing plans.--A State may satisfy the requirement 
     of paragraph (1)(A) by submitting to the Secretary for peer 
     review an existing State plan that has been developed in 
     cooperation with a State environmental or natural resource 
     management agency, if such plan complies with this section.
       ``(b) Plan Objectives.--A State environmental literacy plan 
     shall meet the following objectives:
       ``(1) Prepare students to understand, analyze, and address 
     the major environmental challenges facing the students' State 
     and the United States.
       ``(2) Provide field experiences as part of the regular 
     school curriculum and create programs that contribute to 
     healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and sound 
     nutrition.
       ``(3) Create opportunities for enhanced and on-going 
     professional development for teachers that improves the 
     teachers'--
       ``(A) environmental subject matter knowledge; and
       ``(B) pedagogical skills in teaching about environmental 
     issues, including the use of--
       ``(i) interdisciplinary, field-based, and research-based 
     learning; and
       ``(ii) innovative technology in the classroom.
       ``(c) Contents of Plan.--A State environmental literacy 
     plan shall include each of the following:
       ``(1) A description of how the State educational agency 
     will measure the environmental literacy of students, 
     including--
       ``(A) relevant State academic content standards and content 
     areas regarding environmental education, and courses or 
     subjects where environmental education instruction will be 
     integrated throughout the prekindergarten to grade 12 
     curriculum; and
       ``(B) a description of the relationship of the plan to the 
     secondary school graduation requirements of the State.
       ``(2) A description of programs for professional 
     development for teachers to improve the teachers'--
       ``(A) environmental subject matter knowledge; and
       ``(B) pedagogical skills in teaching about environmental 
     issues, including the use of --
       ``(i) interdisciplinary, field-based, and research-based 
     learning; and
       ``(ii) innovative technology in the classroom.
       ``(3) A description of how the State educational agency 
     will implement the plan, including securing funding and other 
     necessary support.
       ``(d) Plan Update.--The State environmental literacy plan 
     shall be revised or updated by the State educational agency 
     and submitted to the Secretary not less often than every 5 
     years or as appropriate to reflect plan modifications.
       ``(e) Peer Review and Secretarial Approval.--The Secretary 
     shall--
       ``(1) establish a peer review process to assist in the 
     review of State environmental literacy plans;
       ``(2) appoint individuals to the peer review process who--
       ``(A) are representative of parents, teachers, State 
     educational agencies, State environmental agencies, State 
     natural resource agencies, local educational agencies, and 
     nongovernmental organizations; and
       ``(B) are familiar with national environmental issues and 
     the health and educational needs of students;
       ``(3) include, in the peer review process, appropriate 
     representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department 
     of Interior, Department of Energy, the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to 
     provide environmental expertise and background for evaluation 
     of the State environmental literacy plan;
       ``(4) approve a State environmental literacy plan not later 
     than 120 days after the plan's submission unless the 
     Secretary determines that the State environmental literacy 
     plan does not meet the requirements of this section;
       ``(5) immediately notify the State if the Secretary 
     determines that the State environmental literacy plan does 
     not meet the requirements of this section, and state the 
     reasons for such determination;
       ``(6) not decline to approve a State environmental literacy 
     plan before--
       ``(A) offering the State an opportunity to revise the State 
     environmental literacy plan;
       ``(B) providing technical assistance in order to assist the 
     State to meet the requirements of this section; and
       ``(C) providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing; 
     and
       ``(7) have the authority to decline to approve a State 
     environmental literacy plan for not meeting the requirements 
     of this part, but shall not have the authority to require a 
     State, as a condition of approval of the State environmental 
     literacy plan, to--
       ``(A) include in, or delete from, such State environmental 
     literacy plan 1 or more specific elements of the State 
     academic content standards under section 1111(b)(1); or
       ``(B) use specific academic assessment instruments or 
     items.
       ``(f) State Revisions.--The State educational agency shall 
     have the opportunity to revise a State environmental literacy 
     plan if such revision is necessary to satisfy the 
     requirements of this section.
       ``(g) Grants for Implementation.--
       ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated for 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, through 
     allotments in accordance with the regulations described in 
     paragraph (2), to States to enable the States to award 
     subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational 
     agencies and eligible partnerships (as such term is defined 
     in section 2502) to support the implementation of the State 
     environmental literacy plan.
       ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations implementing the grant program under paragraph 
     (1), which regulations shall include the development of an 
     allotment formula that best achieves the purposes of this 
     subpart.
       ``(3) Administrative expenses.--A State receiving a grant 
     under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of 
     the grant funds for administrative expenses.
       ``(h) Reporting.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after approval of 
     a State environmental literacy plan, and every 2 years 
     thereafter, the State educational agency shall submit to the 
     Secretary a report on the implementation of the State plan.
       ``(2) Report requirements.--The report required by this 
     subsection shall be--
       ``(A) in the form specified by the Secretary;
       ``(B) based on the State's ongoing evaluation activities; 
     and
       ``(C) made readily available to the public.''.

    TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL 
                       DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS

     SEC. 201. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
                   GRANT PROGRAMS.

       Title II (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

   ``PART E--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT 
                                PROGRAMS

     ``SEC. 2501. PURPOSE.

       ``The purpose of this part is to ensure the academic 
     achievement of students in environmental literacy through the 
     professional development of teachers and educators.

     ``SEC. 2502. GRANTS FOR ENHANCING EDUCATION THROUGH 
                   ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

       ``(a) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, 
     the term `eligible partnership' means a partnership that--
       ``(1) shall include a local educational agency; and
       ``(2) may include--
       ``(A) the teacher training department of an institution of 
     higher education;
       ``(B) the environmental department of an institution of 
     higher education;
       ``(C) another local educational agency, a public charter 
     school, a public elementary school or secondary school, or a 
     consortium of such schools;
       ``(D) a Federal, State, regional, or local environmental or 
     natural resource management agency that has demonstrated 
     effectiveness in improving the quality of environmental 
     education teachers; or
       ``(E) a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated 
     effectiveness in improving the quality of environmental 
     education teachers.
       ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
       ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated for 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall award grants, through 
     allotments in accordance with the regulations described in 
     paragraph (2), to States whose State environmental literacy 
     plan has been approved under section 5622, to enable the

[[Page S4583]]

     States to award subgrants under subsection (c).
       ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations implementing the grant program under paragraph 
     (1), which regulations shall include the development of an 
     allotment formula that best achieves the purposes of this 
     subpart.
       ``(3) Administrative expenses.--A State receiving a grant 
     under this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of 
     the grant funds for administrative expenses.
       ``(c) Subgrants Authorized.--
       ``(1) Subgrants to eligible partnerships.--From amounts 
     made available to a State educational agency under subsection 
     (b)(1), the State educational agency shall award subgrants, 
     on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships serving the 
     State, to enable the eligible partnerships to carry out the 
     authorized activities described in subsection (e) consistent 
     with the approved State environmental literacy plan.
       ``(2) Duration.--The State educational agency shall award 
     each subgrant under this part for a period of not more than 3 
     years beginning on the date of approval of the State's 
     environmental literacy plan under section 5622.
       ``(3) Supplement, not supplant.--Funds provided to an 
     eligible partnership under this part shall be used to 
     supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be 
     used for activities authorized under this part.
       ``(d) Application Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership desiring a 
     subgrant under this part shall submit an application to the 
     State educational agency, at such time, in such manner, and 
     accompanied by such information as the State educational 
     agency may require.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall include--
       ``(A) the results of a comprehensive assessment of the 
     teacher quality and professional development needs, with 
     respect to the teaching and learning of environmental 
     content;
       ``(B) an explanation of how the activities to be carried 
     out by the eligible partnership are expected to improve 
     student academic achievement and strengthen the quality of 
     environmental instruction;
       ``(C) a description of how the activities to be carried out 
     by the eligible partnership--
       ``(i) will be aligned with challenging State academic 
     content standards and student academic achievement standards 
     in environmental education, to the extent such standards 
     exist, and with the State's environmental literacy plan under 
     section 5622; and
       ``(ii) will advance the teaching of interdisciplinary 
     courses that integrate the study of natural, social, and 
     economic systems and that include strong field components in 
     which students have the opportunity to directly experience 
     nature;
       ``(D) a description of how the activities to be carried out 
     by the eligible partnership will ensure that teachers are 
     trained in the use of field-based or service learning to 
     enable the teachers--
       ``(i) to use the local environment and community as a 
     resource; and
       ``(ii) to enhance student understanding of the environment 
     and academic achievement;
       ``(E) a description of--
       ``(i) how the eligible partnership will carry out the 
     authorized activities described in subsection (e); and
       ``(ii) the eligible partnership's evaluation and 
     accountability plan described in subsection (f); and
       ``(F) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
     continue the activities funded under this part after the 
     grant period has expired.
       ``(e) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership shall 
     use the subgrant funds provided under this part for 1 or more 
     of the following activities related to elementary schools or 
     secondary schools:
       ``(1) Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
     professional development of teachers that improves the 
     environmental subject matter knowledge of such teachers.
       ``(2) Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
     professional development of teachers that improves teachers' 
     pedagogical skills in teaching about the environment and 
     environmental issues, including in the use of--
       ``(A) interdisciplinary, research-based, and field-based 
     learning; and
       ``(B) innovative technology in the classroom.
       ``(3) Establishing and operating environmental education 
     summer workshops or institutes, including follow-up training, 
     for elementary and secondary school teachers to improve their 
     pedagogical skills and subject matter knowledge for the 
     teaching of environmental education.
       ``(4) Developing or redesigning more rigorous environmental 
     education curricula that--
       ``(A) are aligned with challenging State academic content 
     standards in environmental education, to the extent such 
     standards exist, and with the State environmental literacy 
     plan under section 5622; and
       ``(B) advance the teaching of interdisciplinary courses 
     that integrate the study of natural, social, and economic 
     systems and that include strong field components.
       ``(5) Designing programs to prepare teachers at a school to 
     provide mentoring and professional development to other 
     teachers at such school to improve teacher environmental 
     education subject matter and pedagogical skills;
       ``(6) Establishing and operating programs to bring teachers 
     into contact with working professionals in environmental 
     fields to expand such teachers' subject matter knowledge of, 
     and research in, environmental issues.
       ``(7) Creating initiatives that seek to incorporate 
     environmental education within teacher training programs or 
     accreditation standards consistent with the State 
     environmental literacy plan under section 5622.
       ``(8) Promoting outdoor environmental education activities 
     as part of the regular school curriculum and schedule in 
     order to further the knowledge and professional development 
     of teachers and help students directly experience nature.
       ``(f) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership receiving a 
     subgrant under this part shall develop an evaluation and 
     accountability plan for activities assisted under this part 
     that includes rigorous objectives that measure the impact of 
     the activities.
       ``(2) Contents.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) 
     shall include measurable objectives to increase the number of 
     teachers who participate in environmental education content-
     based professional development activities.
       ``(g) Report.--Each eligible partnership receiving a 
     subgrant under this part shall report annually, for each year 
     of the subgrant, to the State educational agency regarding 
     the eligible partnership's progress in meeting the objectives 
     described in the accountability plan of the eligible 
     partnership under subsection (f).''.

TITLE III--ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD NATIONAL 
                                CAPACITY

     SEC. 301. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD 
                   NATIONAL CAPACITY.

       Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) (as amended by 
     section 101) is further amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

          ``Subpart 23--Environmental Education Grant Program

     ``SEC. 5631. PURPOSES.

       ``The purposes of this subpart are--
       ``(1) to prepare children to understand and address major 
     environmental challenges facing the United States; and
       ``(2) to strengthen environmental education as an integral 
     part of the elementary school and secondary school 
     curriculum.

     ``SEC. 5632. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

       ``(a) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, 
     the term `eligible partnership' means a partnership that--
       ``(1) shall include a local educational agency; and
       ``(2) may include--
       ``(A) the teacher training department of an institution of 
     higher education;
       ``(B) the environmental department of an institution of 
     higher education;
       ``(C) another local educational agency, a public charter 
     school, a public elementary school or secondary school, or a 
     consortium of such schools;
       ``(D) a Federal, State, regional, or local environmental or 
     natural resource management agency, or park and recreation 
     department, that has demonstrated effectiveness, expertise, 
     and experience in the development of the institutional, 
     financial, intellectual, or policy resources needed to help 
     the field of environmental education become more effective 
     and widely practiced; and
       ``(E) a nonprofit organization that has demonstrated 
     effectiveness, expertise, and experience in the development 
     of the institutional, financial, intellectual, or policy 
     resources needed to help the field of environmental education 
     become more effective and widely practiced.
       ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
     grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to 
     enable the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of 
     the costs of activities under this subpart.
       ``(2) Duration.--Each grant under this subpart shall be for 
     a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years.

     ``SEC. 5633. APPLICATIONS.

       ``Each eligible partnership desiring a grant under this 
     subpart shall submit to the Secretary an application that 
     contains--
       ``(1) a plan to initiate, expand, or improve environmental 
     education programs in order to make progress toward meeting--
       ``(A) challenging State academic content standards and 
     student academic achievement standards in environmental 
     education, to the extent such standards exist; and
       ``(B) academic standards that are aligned with the State's 
     environmental literacy plan under section 5622; and
       ``(2) an evaluation and accountability plan for activities 
     assisted under this subpart that includes rigorous objectives 
     that measure the impact of activities funded under this 
     subpart.

     ``SEC. 5634. USE OF FUNDS.

       ``Grant funds made available under this subpart shall be 
     used for 1 or more of the following:
       ``(1) Developing and implementing State curriculum 
     frameworks for environmental education that meet--

[[Page S4584]]

       ``(A) challenging State academic content standards and 
     student academic achievement standards for environmental 
     education, to the extent such standards exist; and
       ``(B) academic standards that are aligned with the State's 
     environmental literacy plan under section 5622.
       ``(2) Replicating or disseminating information about proven 
     and tested model environmental education programs that--
       ``(A) use the environment as an integrating theme or 
     content throughout the curriculum; or
       ``(B) provide integrated, interdisciplinary instruction 
     about natural, social, and economic systems along with field 
     experience that provides students with opportunities to 
     directly experience nature in ways designed to improve 
     students' overall academic performance, personal health 
     (including addressing child obesity issues), and 
     understanding of nature.
       ``(3) Developing and implementing new policy approaches to 
     advancing environmental education at the State and national 
     level.
       ``(4) Conducting studies of national significance that--
       ``(A) provide a comprehensive, systematic, and formal 
     assessment of the state of environmental education in the 
     United States;
       ``(B) evaluate the effectiveness of teaching environmental 
     education as a separate subject, and as an integrating 
     concept or theme; or
       ``(C) evaluate the effectiveness of using environmental 
     education-based field-based learning, service learning or 
     outdoor experiential learning in helping improve--
       ``(i) student academic achievement in mathematics, reading 
     or language arts, science, or other core academic subjects;
       ``(ii) student behavior;
       ``(iii) student attendance; and
       ``(iv) secondary school graduation rates.
       ``(5) Executing projects that advance widespread State and 
     local educational agency adoption and use of environmental 
     education content standards.

     ``SEC. 5635. REPORTS.

       ``(a) Eligible Partnership Report.--In order to continue 
     receiving grant funds under this subpart after the first year 
     of a multiyear grant under this subpart, the eligible 
     partnership shall submit to the Secretary an annual report 
     that--
       ``(1) describes the activities assisted under this subpart 
     that were conducted during the preceding year;
       ``(2) demonstrates that progress has been made in helping 
     schools to meet the State academic standards for 
     environmental education described in section 5634(1); and
       ``(3) describes the results of the eligible partnership's 
     evaluation and accountability plan.
       ``(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009 and 
     annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     Congress that--
       ``(1) describes the programs assisted under this subpart;
       ``(2) documents the success of such programs in improving 
     national and State environmental education capacity; and
       ``(3) makes such recommendations as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate for the continuation and improvement 
     of the programs assisted under this subpart.

     ``SEC. 5636. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       ``(a) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant under 
     this subpart shall not exceed--
       ``(1) 90 percent of the total costs of the activities 
     assisted under the grant for the first year for which the 
     program receives assistance under this subpart; and
       ``(2) 75 percent of such costs for each of the second and 
     third years.
       ``(b) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 7.5 percent 
     of the grant funds made available to an eligible partnership 
     under this subpart for any fiscal year may be used for 
     administrative expenses.
       ``(c) Availability of Funds.--Amounts made available to the 
     Secretary to carry out this subpart shall remain available 
     until expended.

     ``SEC. 5637. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.

       ``Funds made available under this subpart shall be used to 
     supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or 
     local funds available for environmental education 
     activities.''.
                                 ______