[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4872-S4874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2153. Mr. REID (for Mr. King (for himself and Mrs. Capito))
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2089
submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs. Murray) to the bill S.
1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to ensure that every child achieves; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:
On page 630, between lines 4 and 5, insert the following:
[[Page S4873]]
``PART J--DIGITAL LEARNING EQUITY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
``SEC. 5911. PURPOSES.
``The purpose of this part is to support the development,
implementation, and evaluation of innovative strategies and
methods to improve out-of-school access to digital learning
resources for eligible students in order to--
``(1) increase student participation in the classroom,
including the ability to complete homework assignments and
participate in innovative digital learning models;
``(2) improve student access to postsecondary education and
workforce opportunities by increasing the ability of students
to apply for employment, postsecondary education, and
financial aid opportunities;
``(3) increase the education technology and digital
learning resources options available to educators to support
student learning by ensuring methods and resources used
during the school day remain accessible during out-of-school
hours;
``(4) increase student, educator, and parent engagement by
facilitating greater communication and connection between
school and home; and
``(5) increase the identification and dissemination of
strategies to support students lacking out-of-school access
to digital learning resources and the Internet, including
underserved student populations and students in rural and
remote geographic areas.
``SEC. 5912. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Access technology.--The term `access technology'
means any service or device that provides out-of-school
Internet access as its primary function and does not include
a computer device.
``(2) Digital learning.--The term `digital learning' means
an educational practice that effectively uses technology to
strengthen a student's learning experience within and outside
of the classroom and at home, including--
``(A) interactive learning resources that engage students
in academic content;
``(B) access to online databases and primary source
documents;
``(C) the use of data, data analytics, and information to
personalize learning and provide targeted supplementary
instruction;
``(D) student collaboration with content experts, peers,
and educators;
``(E) digital learning content, video, software, or
simulations;
``(F) access to online courses; and
``(G) other resources that may be developed, as the
Secretary may determine.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means
any of the following entities that serve a high-need school:
``(A) A local educational agency.
``(B) A State educational agency.
``(C) An educational service agency.
``(D) A consortium of State educational agencies, local
educational agencies, or educational service agencies.
``(E) An Indian tribe or Indian organization.
``(F) A State educational agency, local educational agency,
educational service agency, Indian tribe, or Indian
organization, in partnership with--
``(i) a nonprofit foundation, corporation, institution, or
association;
``(ii) a business;
``(iii) an after-school program or summer program;
``(iv) a library;
``(v) a community learning center; or
``(vi) other community or social services organizations, as
the Secretary may determine.
``(4) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means
a student who lacks out-of-school Internet access and attends
a high-need school serviced by an eligible entity.
``(5) High-need school.--The term `high-need school' means
a school served by an eligible entity that--
``(A) has a high percentage of students aged 5 through 17
who--
``(i) are in poverty, as counted in the most recent census
data approved by the Secretary;
``(ii) are eligible for a free or reduced priced lunch
under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
``(iii) are in families receiving assistance under the
State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or
``(iv) are eligible to receive medical assistance under the
Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
``(B) has a high percentage of students who lack out-of-
school Internet access;
``(C) is in need of improvement and or is among the State's
persistently lowest achieving schools; or
``(D) has significant gaps in achievement among the
categories of students, as defined in section 1111(b)(3)(A).
``(6) Out-of-school internet access.--The term `out-of-
school Internet access' means a service provided to an
eligible student for out-of-school use by wire or radio that
provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data
from all or substantially all Internet endpoints, including
any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the
operation of the communications service, with a speed and
capacity sufficient to enable the use of digital learning
resources, but excluding--
``(A) dial-up Internet access service; or
``(B) Internet access service that is restricted by monthly
data caps set lower than 1 gigabyte.
``SEC. 5913. DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities, subject to meeting the application
requirements in subsection (e), to develop, implement, and
evaluate innovative strategies to increase out-of-school
Internet access for eligible students.
``(b) Demonstration Period.--Each eligible entity, in
accordance with the application requirements in subsection
(e), shall propose to the Secretary the period of time over
which it desires to exercise demonstration authority, except
that such period shall not exceed 2 years.
``(c) Rural Areas.--From the amounts appropriated under
section 5915 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve
not less than 35 percent for grants to eligible entities that
propose to carry out the activities described in subsection
(e)(1) in rural areas, as described in section
6211(b)(1)(A)(ii). The Secretary shall reduce the amount
described in this subsection if the Secretary does not
receive a sufficient number of applications that propose to
carry out the activities described in subsection (e)(1) in
rural areas that meet the requirements of subsection (e).
``(d) Matching Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that is a State
educational agency or includes a State educational agency,
that receives a grant under this section shall provide
matching funds, from non-Federal sources (which may be
provided in cash or in-kind), in an amount equal to 10
percent of the amount of grant funds provided to the eligible
entity to carry out the activities supported by the grant.
``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching
requirement under paragraph (1) for an eligible entity that
demonstrates that such requirement imposes an undue financial
hardship.
``(e) Application.--To receive a grant under this section,
an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary
may reasonably require and containing the following:
``(1) A description of how the entity will--
``(A) increase student access to digital learning
opportunities outside of the school day, which may include
providing access technology for eligible students;
``(B) integrate the out-of-school use of the access
technology into the school's educational curriculum and
objectives;
``(C) provide eligible students with the necessary training
in digital literacy to ensure appropriate and effective use
of the digital learning resources and access technology;
``(D) ensure parents, educators, and students are informed
of appropriate use of the digital learning resources and
access technology; and
``(E) have in place a policy that meets the same
requirements as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
section 9551.
``(2) A description of the eligible students who will be
served, disaggregated by--
``(A) the categories of students, as defined in section
1111(b)(3)(A); and
``(B) homeless students and children or youth in foster
care.
``(3) In the case of an eligible entity that wishes to
award subgrants to local educational agencies or local
educational agencies in partnership with the entities
described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section
5912(3)--
``(A) a description of how the eligible entity will award
such subgrants; and
``(B) an assurance that the eligible entity consulted with
appropriate staff of participating local educational agencies
and the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F)
of section 5912(3), as applicable, in the development of the
eligible entity's application under this subsection.
``(4) A description of the process, activities, and
measures that the eligible entity will use to evaluate the
impact and effectiveness of the grant funds awarded under
this part for eligible students, including measures of
changes in--
``(A) the percentage of students who lack access to out-of-
school Internet access;
``(B) student participation in the classroom, including the
ability to complete homework and take part in innovative
learning models;
``(C) student engagement, through such measures as
attendance rates and chronic absenteeism;
``(D) student access to postsecondary education and
workforce opportunities, including the ability to apply for
employment, postsecondary education, and student financial
aid programs; and
``(E) any other valid and reliable indicators of student,
educator, or parent engagement or participation, as
determined by the eligible entity.
``(5) A description of the way in which the eligible entity
will solicit and collect meaningful feedback from
participating students, educators, parents, and school
administrators on the effectiveness of the demonstration
program.
``(6) A description of how the eligible entity will procure
the access technology and out-of-school Internet access
necessary to carry out the demonstration program, including
whether the entity will utilize bulk purchasing or other
strategies that make efficient use of program funds.
[[Page S4874]]
``(7) If the applicant is a State educational agency or
includes a State educational agency, an assurance that the
applicant will provide matching funds as required under
subsection (d).
``(f) Use of Funds.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant
under this part shall use the funds awarded to develop,
implement, and evaluate strategies and methods used to
increase student access to digital learning resources at home
through such practices as--
``(1) providing a targeted distribution of access
technology to eligible students;
``(2) educating and training students, parents, and
educators about the appropriate use of access technology
outside of the classroom; and
``(3) evaluating the effectiveness of the strategies and
methods used under this part, through such means as student,
educator, and parent surveys.
``(g) Restriction.--Funds awarded under this part shall
only be used to promote out-of-school access to digital
learning resources for eligible students and shall not be
used to address the networking needs of an entity that is
eligible to receive support under the E-rate program.
``(h) Reservation for Support and Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section may reserve not more than 8 percent
of the grant amount for each fiscal year to provide technical
support to participating schools and for the purposes of
conducting the evaluation described in section 5914.
``(2) Evaluation.--Not less than 50 percent of any amount
reserved under paragraph (1) shall be used for the purposes
of conducting the evaluation described in section 5914.
``(i) National Activities.--From the amounts appropriated
under section 5915, the Secretary may reserve not more than 1
percent for national activities to provide technical
assistance and support grantees.
``SEC. 5914. EVALUATION.
``(a) In General.--Consistent with the criteria outlined in
paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 5913(e), the Secretary
shall establish an evaluation template through which an
eligible entity will record and submit the outcomes and
participant feedback associated with the program carried out
under this part.
``(b) Submission; Deadline.--Not later than 90 days after
the termination of an eligible entity's demonstration
authority under this part, the eligible entity shall submit
to the Secretary the results of the evaluation.
``(c) Prohibition.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit an eligible entity from recording and
submitting additional data or indicators associated with the
success of the program executed under the demonstration
authority.
``SEC. 5915. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
part such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2016 through 2021.''.
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