Signed Legislation: Every Student Succeeds Act (Part 9)

The Every Student Succeeds Act has been posted in 14 parts

Links to each post: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

PART C--EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS

SEC. 4301. CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Part C of title IV (20 U.S.C. 7221 et seq.), as redesignated by section 4001, is amended--

(1) by striking sections 4301 through 4305, as redesignated by section 4001, and inserting the following:

`SEC. 4301. PURPOSE.

Follow the 1461

Like us on Facebook!

`It is the purpose of this part to--

`(1) improve the United States education system and education opportunities for all people in the United States by supporting innovation in public education in public school settings that prepare students to compete and contribute to the global economy and a stronger Nation;

`(2) provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools;

`(3) increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students across the United States;

`(4) evaluate the impact of charter schools on student achievement, families, and communities, and share best practices between charter schools and other public schools;

`(5) encourage States to provide support to charter schools for facilities financing in an amount more nearly commensurate to the amount States typically provide for traditional public schools;

`(6) expand opportunities for children with disabilities, English learners, and other traditionally underserved students to attend charter schools and meet the challenging State academic standards;

`(7) support efforts to strengthen the charter school authorizing process to improve performance management, including transparency, oversight and monitoring (including financial audits), and evaluation of such schools; and

`(8) support quality, accountability, and transparency in the operational performance of all authorized public chartering agencies, including State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and other authorizing entities.

`SEC. 4302. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

`(a) In General- The Secretary may carry out a charter school program that supports charter schools that serve early childhood, elementary school, or secondary school students by--

`(1) supporting the startup of new charter schools, the replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools;

`(2) assisting charter schools in accessing credit to acquire and renovate facilities for school use; and

`(3) carrying out national activities to support--

`(A) the activities described in paragraph (1);

`(B) the dissemination of best practices of charter schools for all schools;

`(C) the evaluation of the impact of the charter school program under this part on schools participating in such program; and

`(D) stronger charter school authorizing practices.

`(b) Funding Allotment- From the amount made available under section 4311 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall--

`(1) reserve 12.5 percent to support charter school facilities assistance under section 4304;

`(2) reserve 22.5 percent to carry out national activities under section 4305; and

`(3) use the remaining amount after the reservations under paragraphs (1) and (2) to carry out section 4303.

`(c) Prior Grants and Subgrants- The recipient of a grant or subgrant under part B of title V (as such part was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act) shall continue to receive funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of such grant or subgrant.

`SEC. 4303. GRANTS TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS.

`(a) State Entity Defined- For purposes of this section, the term `State entity' means--

`(1) a State educational agency;

`(2) a State charter school board;

`(3) a Governor of a State; or

`(4) a charter school support organization.

`(b) Program Authorized- From the amount available under section 4302(b)(3), the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to State entities having applications approved under subsection (f) to enable such entities to--

`(1) award subgrants to eligible applicants to enable eligible applicants to--

`(A) open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools;

`(B) open and prepare for the operation of replicated high-quality charter schools; or

`(C) expand high-quality charter schools; and

`(2) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1), and work with authorized public chartering agencies in the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools.

`(c) State Entity Uses of Funds-

`(1) IN GENERAL- A State entity receiving a grant under this section shall--

`(A) use not less than 90 percent of the grant funds to award subgrants to eligible applicants, in accordance with the quality charter school program described in the State entity's application pursuant to subsection (f), for the purposes described in subsection (b)(1);

`(B) reserve not less than 7 percent of such funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(2); and

`(C) reserve not more than 3 percent of such funds for administrative costs, which may include technical assistance.

`(2) CONTRACTS AND GRANTS- A State entity may use a grant received under this section to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(2) directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

`(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION-

`(A) USE OF LOTTERY- Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the Secretary from awarding grants to State entities, or prohibit State entities from awarding subgrants to eligible applicants, that use a weighted lottery to give slightly better chances for admission to all, or a subset of, educationally disadvantaged students if--

`(i) the use of weighted lotteries in favor of such students is not prohibited by State law, and such State law is consistent with laws described in section 4310(2)(G); and

`(ii) such weighted lotteries are not used for the purpose of creating schools exclusively to serve a particular subset of students.

`(B) STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS- Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit schools from specializing in providing specific services for students with a demonstrated need for such services, such as students who need specialized instruction in reading, spelling, or writing.

`(d) Program Periods; Peer Review; Distribution of Subgrants; Waivers-

`(1) PROGRAM PERIODS-

`(A) GRANTS- A grant awarded by the Secretary to a State entity under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years.

`(B) SUBGRANTS- A subgrant awarded by a State entity under this section shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, of which an eligible applicant may use not more than 18 months for planning and program design.

`(2) PEER REVIEW- The Secretary, and each State entity awarding subgrants under this section, shall use a peer-review process to review applications for assistance under this section.

`(3) GRANT AWARDS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary--

`(i) shall for each fiscal year for which funds are appropriated under section 4311--

`(I) award not less than 3 grants under this section; and

`(II) fully obligate the first 2 years of funds appropriated for the purpose of awarding grants under this section in the first fiscal year for which such grants are awarded; and

`(ii) prior to the start of the third year of the grant period and each succeeding year of each grant awarded under this section to a State entity--

`(I) shall review--

`(aa) whether the State entity is using the grant funds for the agreed upon uses of funds; and

`(bb) whether the full amount of the grant will be needed for the remainder of the grant period; and

`(II) may, as determined necessary based on that review, terminate or reduce the amount of the grant and reallocate the remaining grant funds to other State entities--

`(aa) by using such funds to award grants under this section to other State entities; or

`(bb) in a fiscal year in which the amount of such remaining funds is insufficient to award grants under item (aa), in accordance with subparagraph (B).

`(B) REMAINING FUNDING- For a fiscal year for which there are remaining grant funds under this paragraph, but the amount of such funds is insufficient to award a grant to a State entity under this section, the Secretary shall use such remaining grants funds--

`(i) to supplement funding for grants under section 4305(a)(2), but not to supplant--

`(I) the funds reserved under section 4305(a)(2); and

`(II) funds otherwise reserved under section 4302(b)(2) to carry out national activities under section 4305;

`(ii) to award grants to State entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(1) for the next fiscal year; or

`(iii) to award one year of a grant under subsection (b)(1) to a high-scoring State entity, in an amount at or above the minimum amount the State entity needs to be successful for such year.

`(4) DIVERSITY OF PROJECTS- Each State entity awarding subgrants under this section shall award subgrants in a manner that, to the extent practicable and applicable, ensures that such subgrants--

`(A) are distributed throughout different areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas; and

`(B) will assist charter schools representing a variety of educational approaches.

`(5) WAIVERS- The Secretary may waive any statutory or regulatory requirement over which the Secretary exercises administrative authority, except any such requirement relating to the elements of a charter school described in section 4310(2), if--

`(A) the waiver is requested in an approved application under this section; and

`(B) the Secretary determines that granting such waiver will promote the purpose of this part.

`(e) Limitations-

`(1) GRANTS- No State entity may receive a grant under this section for use in a State in which a State entity is currently using a grant received under this section.

`(2) SUBGRANTS- An eligible applicant may not receive more than 1 subgrant under this section for each individual charter school for a 5-year period, unless the eligible applicant demonstrates to the State entity that such individual charter school has at least 3 years of improved educational results for students enrolled in such charter school with respect to the elements described in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of section 4310(8).

`(f) Applications- A State entity desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the following:

`(1) DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM- A description of the State entity's objectives in running a quality charter school program under this section and how the objectives of the program will be carried out, including--

`(A) a description of how the State entity will--

`(i) support the opening of charter schools through the startup of new charter schools and, if applicable, the replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools (including the proposed number of new charter schools to be opened, high-quality charter schools to be opened as a result of the replication of a high-quality charter school, or high-quality charter schools to be expanded under the State entity's program);

`(ii) inform eligible charter schools, developers, and authorized public chartering agencies of the availability of funds under the program;

`(iii) work with eligible applicants to ensure that the eligible applicants access all Federal funds that such applicants are eligible to receive, and help the charter schools supported by the applicants and the students attending those charter schools--

`(I) participate in the Federal programs in which the schools and students are eligible to participate;

`(II) receive the commensurate share of Federal funds the schools and students are eligible to receive under such programs; and

`(III) meet the needs of students served under such programs, including students with disabilities and English learners;

`(iv) ensure that authorized public chartering agencies, in collaboration with surrounding local educational agencies where applicable, establish clear plans and procedures to assist students enrolled in a charter school that closes or loses its charter to attend other high-quality schools;

`(v) in the case of a State entity that is not a State educational agency--

`(I) work with the State educational agency and charter schools in the State to maximize charter school participation in Federal and State programs for which charter schools are eligible; and

`(II) work with the State educational agency to operate the State entity's program under this section, if applicable;

`(vi) ensure that each eligible applicant that receives a subgrant under the State entity's program--

`(I) is using funds provided under this section for one of the activities described in subsection (b)(1); and

`(II) is prepared to continue to operate charter schools funded under this section in a manner consistent with the eligible applicant's application for such subgrant once the subgrant funds under this section are no longer available;

`(vii) support--

`(I) charter schools in local educational agencies with a significant number of schools identified by the State for comprehensive support and improvement under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i); and

`(II) the use of charter schools to improve struggling schools, or to turn around struggling schools;

`(viii) work with charter schools on--

`(I) recruitment and enrollment practices to promote inclusion of all students, including by eliminating any barriers to enrollment for educationally disadvantaged students (who include foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth); and

`(II) supporting all students once they are enrolled to promote retention, including by reducing the overuse of discipline practices that remove students from the classroom;

`(ix) share best and promising practices between charter schools and other public schools;

`(x) ensure that charter schools receiving funds under the State entity's program meet the educational needs of their students, including children with disabilities and English learners;

`(xi) support efforts to increase charter school quality initiatives, including meeting the quality authorizing elements described in paragraph (2)(D);

`(xii)(I) in the case of a State entity not described in subclause (II), a description of how the State entity will provide oversight of authorizing activity, including how the State will help ensure better authorizing, such as by establishing authorizing standards that may include approving, monitoring, and re-approving or revoking the authority of an authorized public chartering agency based on the performance of the charter schools authorized by such agency in the areas of student achievement, student safety, financial and operational management, and compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations; and

`(II) in the case of a State entity described in subsection (a)(4), a description of how the State entity will work with the State to support the State's system of technical assistance and oversight, as described in subclause (I), of the authorizing activity of authorized public chartering agencies; and

`(xiii) work with eligible applicants receiving a subgrant under the State entity's program to support the opening of new charter schools or charter school models described in clause (i) that are high schools;

`(B) a description of the extent to which the State entity--

`(i) is able to meet and carry out the priorities described in subsection (g)(2);

`(ii) is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive statewide system to support the opening of new charter schools and, if applicable, the replication of high-quality charter schools, and the expansion of high-quality charter schools; and

`(iii) is working to develop or strengthen a cohesive strategy to encourage collaboration between charter schools and local educational agencies on the sharing of best practices;

`(C) a description of how the State entity will award subgrants, on a competitive basis, including--

`(i) a description of the application each eligible applicant desiring to receive a subgrant will be required to submit, which application shall include--

`(I) a description of the roles and responsibilities of eligible applicants, partner organizations, and charter management organizations, including the administrative and contractual roles and responsibilities of such partners;

`(II) a description of the quality controls agreed to between the eligible applicant and the authorized public chartering agency involved, such as a contract or performance agreement, how a school's performance in the State's accountability system and impact on student achievement (which may include student academic growth) will be one of the most important factors for renewal or revocation of the school's charter, and how the State entity and the authorized public chartering agency involved will reserve the right to revoke or not renew a school's charter based on financial, structural, or operational factors involving the management of the school;

`(III) a description of how the autonomy and flexibility granted to a charter school is consistent with the definition of a charter school in section 4310;

`(IV) a description of how the eligible applicant will solicit and consider input from parents and other members of the community on the implementation and operation of each charter school that will receive funds under the State entity's program;

`(V) a description of the eligible applicant's planned activities and expenditures of subgrant funds to support the activities described in subsection (b)(1), and how the eligible applicant will maintain financial sustainability after the end of the subgrant period; and

`(VI) a description of how the eligible applicant will support the use of effective parent, family, and community engagement strategies to operate each charter school that will receive funds under the State entity's program; and

`(ii) a description of how the State entity will review applications from eligible applicants;

`(D) in the case of a State entity that partners with an outside organization to carry out the State entity's quality charter school program, in whole or in part, a description of the roles and responsibilities of the partner;

`(E) a description of how the State entity will ensure that each charter school receiving funds under the State entity's program has considered and planned for the transportation needs of the school's students;

`(F) a description of how the State in which the State entity is located addresses charter schools in the State's open meetings and open records laws; and

`(G) a description of how the State entity will support diverse charter school models, including models that serve rural communities.

`(2) ASSURANCES- Assurances that--

`(A) each charter school receiving funds through the State entity's program will have a high degree of autonomy over budget and operations, including autonomy over personnel decisions;

`(B) the State entity will support charter schools in meeting the educational needs of their students, as described in paragraph (1)(A)(x);

`(C) the State entity will ensure that the authorized public chartering agency of any charter school that receives funds under the State entity's program adequately monitors each charter school under the authority of such agency in recruiting, enrolling, retaining, and meeting the needs of all students, including children with disabilities and English learners;

`(D) the State entity will provide adequate technical assistance to eligible applicants to meet the objectives described in clause (viii) of paragraph (1)(A) and subparagraph (B) of this paragraph;

`(E) the State entity will promote quality authorizing, consistent with State law, such as through providing technical assistance to support each authorized public chartering agency in the State to improve such agency's ability to monitor the charter schools authorized by the agency, including by--

`(i) assessing annual performance data of the schools, including, as appropriate, graduation rates, student academic growth, and rates of student attrition;

`(ii) reviewing the schools' independent, annual audits of financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and ensuring that any such audits are publically reported; and

`(iii) holding charter schools accountable to the academic, financial, and operational quality controls agreed to between the charter school and the authorized public chartering agency involved, such as through renewal, non-renewal, or revocation of the school's charter;

`(F) the State entity will work to ensure that charter schools are included with the traditional public schools in decisionmaking about the public school system in the State; and

`(G) the State entity will ensure that each charter school receiving funds under the State entity's program makes publicly available, consistent with the dissemination requirements of the annual State report card under section 1111(h), including on the website of the school, information to help parents make informed decisions about the education options available to their children, including--

`(i) information on the educational program;

`(ii) student support services;

`(iii) parent contract requirements (as applicable), including any financial obligations or fees;

`(iv) enrollment criteria (as applicable); and

`(v) annual performance and enrollment data for each of the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2), except that such disaggregation of performance and enrollment data shall not be required in a case in which the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield statically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student.

`(3) REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS- Information about waivers, including--

`(A) a request and justification for waivers of any Federal statutory or regulatory provisions that the State entity believes are necessary for the successful operation of the charter schools that will receive funds under the State entity's program under this section or, in the case of a State entity defined in subsection (a)(4), a description of how the State entity will work with the State to request such necessary waivers, where applicable; and

`(B) a description of any State or local rules, generally applicable to public schools, that will be waived, or otherwise not apply to such schools.

`(g) Selection Criteria; Priority-

`(1) SELECTION CRITERIA- The Secretary shall award grants to State entities under this section on the basis of the quality of the applications submitted under subsection (f), after taking into consideration--

`(A) the degree of flexibility afforded by the State's charter school law and how the State entity will work to maximize the flexibility provided to charter schools under such law;

`(B) the ambitiousness of the State entity's objectives for the quality charter school program carried out under this section;

`(C) the likelihood that the eligible applicants receiving subgrants under the program will meet those objectives and improve educational results for students;

`(D) the State entity's plan to--

`(i) adequately monitor the eligible applicants receiving subgrants under the State entity's program;

`(ii) work with the authorized public chartering agencies involved to avoid duplication of work for the charter schools and authorized public chartering agencies; and

`(iii) provide technical assistance and support for--

`(I) the eligible applicants receiving subgrants under the State entity's program; and

`(II) quality authorizing efforts in the State; and

`(E) the State entity's plan to solicit and consider input from parents and other members of the community on the implementation and operation of charter schools in the State.

`(2) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to a State entity to the extent that the entity meets the following criteria:

`(A) The State entity is located in a State that--

`(i) allows at least one entity that is not a local educational agency to be an authorized public chartering agency for developers seeking to open a charter school in the State; or

`(ii) in the case of a State in which local educational agencies are the only authorized public chartering agencies, the State has an appeals process for the denial of an application for a charter school.

`(B) The State entity is located in a State that ensures equitable financing, as compared to traditional public schools, for charter schools and students in a prompt manner.

`(C) The State entity is located in a State that provides charter schools one or more of the following:

`(i) Funding for facilities.

`(ii) Assistance with facilities acquisition.

`(iii) Access to public facilities.

`(iv) The ability to share in bonds or mill levies.

`(v) The right of first refusal to purchase public school buildings.

`(vi) Low- or no-cost leasing privileges.

`(D) The State entity is located in a State that uses best practices from charter schools to help improve struggling schools and local educational agencies.

`(E) The State entity supports charter schools that serve at-risk students through activities such as dropout prevention, dropout recovery, or comprehensive career counseling services.

`(F) The State entity has taken steps to ensure that all authorizing public chartering agencies implement best practices for charter school authorizing.

`(h) Local Uses of Funds- An eligible applicant receiving a subgrant under this section shall use such funds to support the activities described in subsection (b)(1), which shall include one or more of the following activities:

`(1) Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel, including through paying the costs associated with--

`(A) providing professional development; and

`(B) hiring and compensating, during the eligible applicant's planning period specified in the application for subgrant funds that is required under this section, one or more of the following:

`(i) Teachers.

`(ii) School leaders.

`(iii) Specialized instructional support personnel.

`(2) Acquiring supplies, training, equipment (including technology), and educational materials (including developing and acquiring instructional materials).

`(3) Carrying out necessary renovations to ensure that a new school building complies with applicable statutes and regulations, and minor facilities repairs (excluding construction).

`(4) Providing one-time, startup costs associated with providing transportation to students to and from the charter school.

`(5) Carrying out community engagement activities, which may include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.

`(6) Providing for other appropriate, non-sustained costs related to the activities described in subsection (b)(1) when such costs cannot be met from other sources.

`(i) Reporting Requirements- Each State entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, at the end of the third year of the 5-year grant period (or at the end of the second year of the grant period if the grant is less than 5 years), and at the end of such grant period, a report that includes the following:

`(1) The number of students served by each subgrant awarded under this section and, if applicable, the number of new students served during each year of the period of the subgrant.

`(2) A description of how the State entity met the objectives of the quality charter school program described in the State entity's application under subsection (f), including--

`(A) how the State entity met the objective of sharing best and promising practices described in subsection (f)(1)(A)(ix) in areas such as instruction, professional development, curricula development, and operations between charter schools and other public schools; and

`(B) if known, the extent to which such practices were adopted and implemented by such other public schools.

`(3) The number and amount of subgrants awarded under this section to carry out activities described in each of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (b)(1).

`(4) A description of--

`(A) how the State entity complied with, and ensured that eligible applicants complied with, the assurances included in the State entity's application; and

`(B) how the State entity worked with authorized public chartering agencies, and how the agencies worked with the management company or leadership of the schools that received subgrant funds under this section, if applicable.

`SEC. 4304. FACILITIES FINANCING ASSISTANCE.

`(a) Grants to Eligible Entities-

`(1) IN GENERAL- From the amount reserved under section 4302(b)(1), the Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent to award, on a competitive basis, not less than 3 grants to eligible entities that have the highest-quality applications approved under subsection (d), after considering the diversity of such applications, to demonstrate innovative methods of helping charter schools to address the cost of acquiring, constructing, and renovating facilities by enhancing the availability of loans or bond financing.

`(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED- For the purposes of this section, the term `eligible entity' means--

`(A) a public entity, such as a State or local governmental entity;

`(B) a private nonprofit entity; or

`(C) a consortium of entities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

`(b) Grantee Selection- The Secretary shall evaluate each application submitted under subsection (d), and shall determine whether the application is sufficient to merit approval.

`(c) Grant Characteristics- Grants under subsection (a) shall be of sufficient size, scope, and quality so as to ensure an effective demonstration of an innovative means of enhancing credit for the financing of charter school acquisition, construction, or renovation.

`(d) Applications-

`(1) IN GENERAL- An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form as the Secretary may reasonably require.

`(2) CONTENTS- An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain--

`(A) a statement identifying the activities that the eligible entity proposes to carry out with funds received under subsection (a), including how the eligible entity will determine which charter schools will receive assistance, and how much and what types of assistance charter schools will receive;

`(B) a description of the involvement of charter schools in the application's development and the design of the proposed activities;

`(C) a description of the eligible entity's expertise in capital market financing;

`(D) a description of how the proposed activities will leverage the maximum amount of private-sector financing capital relative to the amount of government funding used and otherwise enhance credit available to charter schools, including how the eligible entity will offer a combination of rates and terms more favorable than the rates and terms that a charter school could receive without assistance from the eligible entity under this section;

`(E) a description of how the eligible entity possesses sufficient expertise in education to evaluate the likelihood of success of a charter school program for which facilities financing is sought; and

`(F) in the case of an application submitted by a State governmental entity, a description of the actions that the eligible entity has taken, or will take, to ensure that charter schools within the State receive the funding that charter schools need to have adequate facilities.

`(e) Charter School Objectives- An eligible entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall use the funds deposited in the reserve account established under subsection (f) to assist one or more charter schools to access private-sector capital to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

`(1) The acquisition (by purchase, lease, donation, or otherwise) of an interest (including an interest held by a third party for the benefit of a charter school) in improved or unimproved real property that is necessary to commence or continue the operation of a charter school.

`(2) The construction of new facilities, or the renovation, repair, or alteration of existing facilities, necessary to commence or continue the operation of a charter school.

`(3) The predevelopment costs required to assess sites for purposes of paragraph (1) or (2) and that are necessary to commence or continue the operation of a charter school.

`(f) Reserve Account-

`(1) USE OF FUNDS- To assist charter schools in accomplishing the objectives described in subsection (e), an eligible entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall, in accordance with State and local law, directly or indirectly, alone or in collaboration with others, deposit the funds received under subsection (a) (other than funds used for administrative costs in accordance with subsection (g)) in a reserve account established and maintained by the eligible entity for this purpose. Amounts deposited in such account shall be used by the eligible entity for one or more of the following purposes:

`(A) Guaranteeing, insuring, and reinsuring bonds, notes, evidences of debt, loans, and interests therein, the proceeds of which are used for an objective described in subsection (e).

`(B) Guaranteeing and insuring leases of personal and real property for an objective described in subsection (e).

`(C) Facilitating financing by identifying potential lending sources, encouraging private lending, and other similar activities that directly promote lending to, or for the benefit of, charter schools.

`(D) Facilitating the issuance of bonds by charter schools, or by other public entities for the benefit of charter schools, by providing technical, administrative, and other appropriate assistance (including the recruitment of bond counsel, underwriters, and potential investors and the consolidation of multiple charter school projects within a single bond issue).

`(2) INVESTMENT- Funds received under subsection (a) and deposited in the reserve account established under paragraph (1) shall be invested in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States or a State, or in other similarly low-risk securities.

`(3) REINVESTMENT OF EARNINGS- Any earnings on funds received under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the reserve account established under paragraph (1) and used in accordance with this subsection.

`(g) Limitation on Administrative Costs- An eligible entity may use not more than 2.5 percent of the funds received under subsection (a) for the administrative costs of carrying out its responsibilities under this section (excluding subsection (k)).

`(h) Audits and Reports-

`(1) FINANCIAL RECORD MAINTENANCE AND AUDIT- The financial records of each eligible entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be subject to an annual audit by an independent public accountant.

`(2) REPORTS-

`(A) GRANTEE ANNUAL REPORTS- Each eligible entity receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report of the entity's operations and activities under this section (excluding subsection (k)).

`(B) CONTENTS- Each annual report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include--

`(i) a copy of the most recent financial statements, and any accompanying opinion on such statements, prepared by the independent public accountant reviewing the financial records of the eligible entity;

`(ii) a copy of any report made on an audit of the financial records of the eligible entity that was conducted under paragraph (1) during the reporting period;

`(iii) an evaluation by the eligible entity of the effectiveness of its use of the Federal funds provided under subsection (a) in leveraging private funds;

`(iv) a listing and description of the charter schools served during the reporting period, including the amount of funds used by each school, the type of project facilitated by the grant, and the type of assistance provided to the charter schools;

`(v) a description of the activities carried out by the eligible entity to assist charter schools in meeting the objectives set forth in subsection (e); and

`(vi) a description of the characteristics of lenders and other financial institutions participating in the activities carried out by the eligible entity under this section (excluding subsection (k)) during the reporting period.

`(C) SECRETARIAL REPORT- The Secretary shall review the reports submitted under subparagraph (A) and shall provide a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the activities conducted under this section (excluding subsection (k)).

`(i) No Full Faith and Credit for Grantee Obligation- No financial obligation of an eligible entity entered into pursuant to this section (such as an obligation under a guarantee, bond, note, evidence of debt, or loan) shall be an obligation of, or guaranteed in any respect by, the United States. The full faith and credit of the United States is not pledged to the payment of funds that may be required to be paid under any obligation made by an eligible entity pursuant to any provision of this section.

`(j) Recovery of Funds-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in accordance with chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code, shall collect--

`(A) all of the funds in a reserve account established by an eligible entity under subsection (f)(1) if the Secretary determines, not earlier than 2 years after the date on which the eligible entity first received funds under subsection (a), that the eligible entity has failed to make substantial progress in carrying out the purposes described in subsection (f)(1); or

`(B) all or a portion of the funds in a reserve account established by an eligible entity under subsection (f)(1) if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity has permanently ceased to use all or a portion of the funds in such account to accomplish any purpose described in subsection (f)(1).

`(2) EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY- The Secretary shall not exercise the authority provided in paragraph (1) to collect from any eligible entity any funds that are being properly used to achieve one or more of the purposes described in subsection (f)(1).

`(3) PROCEDURES- The provisions of sections 451, 452, and 458 of the General Education Provisions Act shall apply to the recovery of funds under paragraph (1).

`(4) CONSTRUCTION- This subsection shall not be construed to impair or affect the authority of the Secretary to recover funds under part D of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1234 et seq.).

`(k) Per-Pupil Facilities Aid Program-

`(1) DEFINITION OF PER-PUPIL FACILITIES AID PROGRAM- In this subsection, the term `per-pupil facilities aid program' means a program in which a State makes payments, on a per-pupil basis, to charter schools to provide the schools with financing--

`(A) that is dedicated solely to funding charter school facilities; or

`(B) a portion of which is dedicated for funding charter school facilities.

`(2) GRANTS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- From the amount reserved under section 4302(b)(1) and remaining after the Secretary makes grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to States to pay for the Federal share of the cost of establishing or enhancing, and administering, per-pupil facilities aid programs.

`(B) PERIOD- The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection for periods of not more than 5 years.

`(C) FEDERAL SHARE- The Federal share of the cost described in subparagraph (A) for a per-pupil facilities aid program shall be not more than--

`(i) 90 percent of the cost, for the first fiscal year for which the program receives assistance under this subsection;

`(ii) 80 percent for the second such year;

`(iii) 60 percent for the third such year;

`(iv) 40 percent for the fourth such year; and

`(v) 20 percent for the fifth such year.

`(D) STATE SHARE- A State receiving a grant under this subsection may partner with 1 or more organizations, and such organizations may provide not more than 50 percent of the State share of the cost of establishing or enhancing, and administering, the per-pupil facilities aid program.

`(E) MULTIPLE GRANTS- A State may receive more than 1 grant under this subsection, so long as the amount of total funds provided to charter schools increases with each successive grant.

`(3) USE OF FUNDS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- A State that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds made available through the grant to establish or enhance, and administer, a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools in the State of the applicant.

`(B) EVALUATIONS; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; DISSEMINATION- From the amount made available to a State through a grant under this subsection for a fiscal year, the State may reserve not more than 5 percent to carry out evaluations, to provide technical assistance, and to disseminate information.

`(C) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT- Funds made available under this subsection shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, State and local public funds expended to provide per-pupil facilities aid programs, operations financing programs, or other programs, for charter schools.

`(4) REQUIREMENTS-

`(A) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION- No State may be required to participate in a program carried out under this subsection.

`(B) STATE LAW-

`(i) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State shall establish or enhance, and administer, a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools in the State, that--

`(I) is specified in State law; and

`(II) provides annual financing, on a per-pupil basis, for charter school facilities.

`(ii) SPECIAL RULE- A State that is required under State law to provide its charter schools with access to adequate facility space, but that does not have a per-pupil facilities aid program for charter schools specified in State law, is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the State agrees to use the funds to develop a per-pupil facilities aid program consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

`(5) APPLICATIONS- To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

`SEC. 4305. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

`(a) In General- From the amount reserved under section 4302(b)(2), the Secretary shall--

`(1) use not more than 80 percent of such funds to award grants in accordance with subsection (b);

`(2) use not more than 9 percent of such funds to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible applicants for the purpose of carrying out the activities described in section 4303(h) in a State that did not receive a grant under section 4303; and

`(3) after the uses described in paragraphs (1) and (2), use the remainder of such funds to--

`(A) disseminate technical assistance to--

`(i) State entities in awarding subgrants under section 4303(b)(1); and

`(ii) eligible entities and States receiving grants under section 4304;

`(B) disseminate best practices regarding charter schools; and

`(C) evaluate the impact of the charter school program carried out under this part, including the impact on student achievement.

`(b) Grants for the Replication and Expansion of High-quality Charter Schools-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities having applications approved under paragraph (3) to enable such entities to open and prepare for the operation of one or more replicated high-quality charter schools or to expand one or more high-quality charter schools.

`(2) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY- For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible entity' means a charter management organization.

`(3) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS- An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the following:

`(A) EXISTING CHARTER SCHOOL DATA- For each charter school currently operated or managed by the eligible entity--

`(i) student assessment results for all students and for each subgroup of students described in section 1111(c)(2);

`(ii) attendance and student retention rates for the most recently completed school year and, if applicable, the most recent available 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rates and extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rates; and

`(iii) information on any significant compliance and management issues encountered within the last 3 school years by any school operated or managed by the eligible entity, including in the areas of student safety and finance.

`(B) DESCRIPTIONS- A description of--

`(i) the eligible entity's objectives for implementing a high-quality charter school program with funding under this subsection, including a description of the proposed number of high-quality charter schools the eligible entity proposes to open as a result of the replication of a high-quality charter school or to expand with funding under this subsection;

`(ii) the educational program that the eligible entity will implement in such charter schools, including--

`(I) information on how the program will enable all students to meet the challenging State academic standards;

`(II) the grade levels or ages of students who will be served; and

`(III) the instructional practices that will be used;

`(iii) how the operation of such charter schools will be sustained after the grant under this subsection has ended, which shall include a multi-year financial and operating model for the eligible entity;

`(iv) how the eligible entity will ensure that such charter schools will recruit and enroll students, including children with disabilities, English learners, and other educationally disadvantaged students; and

`(v) any request and justification for any waivers of Federal statutory or regulatory requirements that the eligible entity believes are necessary for the successful operation of such charter schools.

`(C) ASSURANCE- An assurance that the eligible entity has sufficient procedures in effect to ensure timely closure of low-performing or financially mismanaged charter schools and clear plans and procedures in effect for the students in such schools to attend other high-quality schools.

`(4) SELECTION CRITERIA- The Secretary shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this subsection, on the basis of the quality of the applications submitted under paragraph (3), after taking into consideration such factors as--

`(A) the degree to which the eligible entity has demonstrated success in increasing academic achievement for all students and for each of the subgroups of students described in section 1111(c)(2) attending the charter schools the eligible entity operates or manages;

`(B) a determination that the eligible entity has not operated or managed a significant proportion of charter schools that--

`(i) have been closed;

`(ii) have had the school's charter revoked due to problems with statutory or regulatory compliance; or

`(iii) have had the school's affiliation with the eligible entity revoked or terminated, including through voluntary disaffiliation; and

`(C) a determination that the eligible entity has not experienced significant problems with statutory or regulatory compliance that could lead to the revocation of a school's charter.

`(5) PRIORITY- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--

`(A) plan to operate or manage high-quality charter schools with racially and socioeconomically diverse student bodies;

`(B) demonstrate success in working with schools identified by the State for comprehensive support and improvement under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i);

`(C) propose to use funds--

`(i) to expand high-quality charter schools to serve high school students; or

`(ii) to replicate high-quality charter schools to serve high school students; or

`(D) propose to operate or manage high-quality charter schools that focus on dropout recovery and academic reentry.

`(c) Terms and Conditions- Except as otherwise provided, grants awarded under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall have the same terms and conditions as grants awarded to State entities under section 4303.';

(2) in section 4306 (20 U.S.C. 7221e), as redesignated by section 4001, by adding at the end the following:

`(c) New or Significantly Expanding Charter Schools- For purposes of implementing the hold harmless protections in sections 1122(c) and 1125A(g)(3) for a newly opened or significantly expanded charter school under this part, a State educational agency shall calculate a hold-harmless base for the prior year that, as applicable, reflects the new or significantly expanded enrollment of the charter school.';

(3) in section 4308 (20 U.S.C. 7221g), as redesignated by section 4001, by inserting `as quickly as possible and' before `to the extent practicable';

(4) in section 4310 (20 U.S.C. 7221i), as redesignated by section 4001--

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `subpart' and inserting `part';

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (2), (5), and (6), respectively;

(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (1), and moving such paragraph so as to precede paragraph (2), as redesignated by subparagraph (B);

(D) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)--

(i) in subparagraph (G), by striking `, and part B' and inserting `, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly referred to as the `Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'), and part B';

(ii) by striking subparagraph (H) and inserting the following:

`(H) is a school to which parents choose to send their children, and that--

`(i) admits students on the basis of a lottery, consistent with section 4303(c)(3)(A), if more students apply for admission than can be accommodated; or

`(ii) in the case of a school that has an affiliated charter school (such as a school that is part of the same network of schools), automatically enrolls students who are enrolled in the immediate prior grade level of the affiliated charter school and, for any additional student openings or student openings created through regular attrition in student enrollment in the affiliated charter school and the enrolling school, admits students on the basis of a lottery as described in clause (i);';

(iii) by striking subparagraph (I) and inserting the following:

`(I) agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit requirements as do other elementary schools and secondary schools in the State, unless such State audit requirements are waived by the State;';

(iv) in subparagraph (K), by striking `and' at the end;

(v) in subparagraph (L), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(vi) by adding at the end the following:

`(M) may serve students in early childhood education programs or postsecondary students.';

(E) by inserting after paragraph (2), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), the following:

`(3) CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION- The term `charter management organization' means a nonprofit organization that operates or manages a network of charter schools linked by centralized support, operations, and oversight.

`(4) CHARTER SCHOOL SUPPORT ORGANIZATION- The term `charter school support organization' means a nonprofit, nongovernmental entity that is not an authorized public chartering agency and provides, on a statewide basis--

`(A) assistance to developers during the planning, program design, and initial implementation of a charter school; and

`(B) technical assistance to operating charter schools.';

(F) in paragraph (6)(B), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by striking `under section 5203(d)(3)'; and

(G) by adding at the end the following:

`(7) EXPAND- The term `expand', when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, means to significantly increase enrollment or add one or more grades to the high-quality charter school.

`(8) HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL- The term `high-quality charter school' means a charter school that--

`(A) shows evidence of strong academic results, which may include strong student academic growth, as determined by a State;

`(B) has no significant issues in the areas of student safety, financial and operational management, or statutory or regulatory compliance;

`(C) has demonstrated success in significantly increasing student academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for all students served by the charter school; and

`(D) has demonstrated success in increasing student academic achievement, including graduation rates where applicable, for each of the subgroups of students, as defined in section 1111(c)(2), except that such demonstration is not required in a case in which the number of students in a group is insufficient to yield statistically reliable information or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student.

`(9) REPLICATE- The term `replicate', when used with respect to a high-quality charter school, means to open a new charter school, or a new campus of a high-quality charter school, based on the educational model of an existing high-quality charter school, under an existing charter or an additional charter, if permitted or required by State law.'; and

(5) by striking section 4311 (20 U.S.C. 7221j), as redesignated by section 4001, and inserting the following:

`SEC. 4311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part--

`(1) $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;

`(2) $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;

`(3) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and

`(4) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.'.

PART D--MAGNET SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE

SEC. 4401. MAGNET SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE.

Part D of title IV (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), as amended by section 4001(b)(3), is further amended--

(1) in section 4401--

(A) in subsection (a)(2)--

(i) by striking `2,000,000' and inserting `2,500,000'; and

(ii) by striking `65' and inserting `69'; and

(B) in subsection (b)--

(i) in paragraph (2)--

(I) by striking `and implementation' and inserting `, implementation, and expansion'; and

(II) by striking `content standards and student academic achievement standards' and inserting `standards';

(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking `and design' and inserting `, design, and expansion';

(iii) in paragraph (4), by striking `vocational' and inserting `career'; and

(iv) in paragraph (6), by striking `productive';

(2) in section 4405(b)--

(A) in paragraph (1)--

(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting `any available evidence on, or if such evidence is not available, a rationale, based on current research, for' before `how the proposed magnet school programs';

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting `, including any evidence, or if such evidence is not available, a rationale based on current research findings, to support such description' before the semicolon;

(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and

(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

`(D) how the applicant will assess, monitor, and evaluate the impact of the activities funded under this part on student achievement and integration;'; and

(B) in paragraph (2)--

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking `section 5301(b)' and inserting `section 4401(b)'; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking `highly qualified' and inserting `effective';

(3) in section 4406, by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:

`(2) propose to--

`(A) carry out a new, evidence-based magnet school program;

`(B) significantly revise an existing magnet school program, using evidence-based methods and practices, as available; or

`(C) replicate an existing magnet school program that has a demonstrated record of success in increasing student academic achievement and reducing isolation of minority groups;

`(3) propose to select students to attend magnet school programs by methods such as lottery, rather than through academic examination; and

`(4) propose to increase racial integration by taking into account socioeconomic diversity in designing and implementing magnet school programs.';

(4) in section 4407--

(A) in subsection (a)--

(i) in paragraph (3), by striking `highly qualified' and inserting `effective';

(ii) in paragraph (6), by striking `and' at the end;

(iii) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and

(iv) by adding at the end the following:

`(8) to enable the local educational agency, or consortium of such agencies, or other organizations partnered with such agency or consortium, to establish, expand, or strengthen inter-district and regional magnet programs; and

`(9) notwithstanding section 426 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1228), to provide transportation to and from the magnet school, provided that--

`(A) such transportation is sustainable beyond the grant period; and

`(B) the costs of providing transportation do not represent a significant portion of the grant funds received by the eligible local educational agency under this part .'; and

(B) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

`(b) Special Rule- Grant funds under this part may be used for activities described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) only if the activities are directly related to improving student academic achievement based on the challenging State academic standards or directly related to improving student reading skills or knowledge of mathematics, science, history, geography, English, foreign languages, art, or music, or to improving career, technical, and professional skills.';

(5) in section 4408--

(A) in subsection (a), by striking `3' and inserting `5';

(B) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

`(c) Amount- No grant awarded under this part to a local educational agency, or a consortium of such agencies, shall be for more than $15,000,000 for the grant period described in subsection (a).'; and

(C) in subsection (d), by striking `July' and inserting `June';

(6) in section 4409--

(A) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

`(a) Authorization- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part the following amounts:

`(1) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.

`(2) $96,820,000 for fiscal year 2018.

`(3) $102,387,150 for fiscal year 2019.

`(4) $108,530,379 for fiscal year 2020.'.

(B) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(C) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

`(b) Reservation for Technical Assistance- The Secretary may reserve not more than 1 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (a) for any fiscal year to provide technical assistance and share best practices with respect to magnet school programs assisted under this part.'.

PART E--FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SEC. 4501. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

Title IV (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), as amended by section 4001, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

`PART E--FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS

`SEC. 4501. PURPOSES.

`The purposes of this part are the following:

`(1) To provide financial support to organizations to provide technical assistance and training to State educational agencies and local educational agencies in the implementation and enhancement of systemic and effective family engagement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvements in student development and academic achievement.

`(2) To assist State educational agencies, local educational agencies, community-based organizations, schools, and educators in strengthening partnerships among parents, teachers, school leaders, administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the educational needs of children and fostering greater parental engagement.

`(3) To support State educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools, educators, and parents in developing and strengthening the relationship between parents and their children's school in order to further the developmental progress of children.

`(4) To coordinate activities funded under this part with parent involvement initiatives funded under section 1116 and other provisions of this Act.

`(5) To assist the Secretary, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies in the coordination and integration of Federal, State, and local services and programs to engage families in education.

`SEC. 4502. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

`(a) Statewide Family Engagement Centers- From the amount appropriated under section 4506 and not reserved under subsection (d), the Secretary is authorized to award grants for each fiscal year to statewide organizations (or consortia of such organizations), to establish statewide family engagement centers that--

`(1) carry out parent education, and family engagement in education, programs; or

`(2) provide comprehensive training and technical assistance to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools identified by State educational agencies and local educational agencies, organizations that support family-school partnerships, and other organizations that carry out such programs.

`(b) Minimum Award- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that a grant is awarded for a statewide family engagement center in an amount not less than $500,000.

`(c) Matching Funds for Grant Renewal- Each organization or consortium receiving assistance under this part shall demonstrate that, for each fiscal year after the first fiscal year for which the organization or consortium is receiving such assistance, a portion of the services provided by the organization or consortium is supported through non-Federal contributions, which may be in cash or in-kind.

`(d) Technical Assistance- The Secretary shall reserve not more than 2 percent of the funds appropriated under section 4506 to carry out this part to provide technical assistance, by competitive grant or contract, for the establishment, development, and coordination of statewide family engagement centers.

`SEC. 4503. APPLICATIONS.

`(a) Submissions- Each statewide organization, or a consortium of such organizations, that desires a grant under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, which shall include the information described in subsection (b).

`(b) Contents- Each application submitted under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following:

`(1) A description of the applicant's approach to family engagement in education.

`(2) A description of how the State educational agency and any partner organization will support the statewide family engagement center that will be operated by the applicant including a description of the State educational agency and any partner organization's commitment of such support.

`(3) A description of the applicant's plan for building a statewide infrastructure for family engagement in education, that includes--

`(A) management and governance;

`(B) statewide leadership; or

`(C) systemic services for family engagement in education.

`(4) A description of the applicant's demonstrated experience in providing training, information, and support to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools, educators, parents, and organizations on family engagement in education policies and practices that are effective for parents (including low-income parents) and families, parents of English learners, minorities, students with disabilities, homeless children and youth, children and youth in foster care, and migrant students, including evaluation results, reporting, or other data exhibiting such demonstrated experience.

`(5) A description of the steps the applicant will take to target services to low-income students and parents.

`(6) An assurance that the applicant will--

`(A) establish a special advisory committee, the membership of which includes--

`(i) parents, who shall constitute a majority of the members of the special advisory committee;

`(ii) representatives of education professionals with expertise in improving services for disadvantaged children;

`(iii) representatives of local elementary schools and secondary schools, including students;

`(iv) representatives of the business community; and

`(v) representatives of State educational agencies and local educational agencies;

`(B) use not less than 65 percent of the funds received under this part in each fiscal year to serve local educational agencies, schools, and community-based organizations that serve high concentrations of disadvantaged students, including students who are English learners, minorities, students with disabilities, homeless children and youth, children and youth in foster care, and migrant students;

`(C) operate a statewide family engagement center of sufficient size, scope, and quality to ensure that the center is adequate to serve the State educational agency, local educational agencies, and community-based organizations;

`(D) ensure that the statewide family engagement center will retain staff with the requisite training and experience to serve parents in the State;

`(E) serve urban, suburban, and rural local educational agencies and schools;

`(F) work with--

`(i) other statewide family engagement centers assisted under this part; and

`(ii) parent training and information centers and community parent resource centers assisted under sections 671 and 672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1471; 1472);

`(G) use not less than 30 percent of the funds received under this part for each fiscal year to establish or expand technical assistance for evidence-based parent education programs;

`(H) provide assistance to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and community-based organizations that support family members in supporting student academic achievement;

`(I) work with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, schools, educators, and parents to determine parental needs and the best means for delivery of services to address such needs;

`(J) conduct sufficient outreach to assist parents, including parents who the applicant may have a difficult time engaging with a school or local educational agency; and

`(K) conduct outreach to low-income students and parents, including low-income students and parents who are not proficient in English.

`(7) An assurance that the applicant will conduct training programs in the community to improve adult literacy, including financial literacy.

`(c) Priority- In awarding grants for activities described in this part, the Secretary shall give priority to statewide family engagement centers that will use funds under section 4504 for evidence-based activities, which, for the purposes of this part is defined as activities meeting the requirements of section 8101(21)(A)(i).

`SEC. 4504. USES OF FUNDS.

`(a) In General- Each statewide organization or consortium receiving a grant under this part shall use the grant funds, based on the needs determined under section 4503(b)(6)(I), to provide training and technical assistance to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and organizations that support family-school partnerships, and activities, services, and training for local educational agencies, school leaders, educators, and parents--

`(1) to assist parents in participating effectively in their children's education and to help their children meet challenging State academic standards, such as by assisting parents--

`(A) to engage in activities that will improve student academic achievement, including understanding how parents can support learning in the classroom with activities at home and in after school and extracurricular programs;

`(B) to communicate effectively with their children, teachers, school leaders, counselors, administrators, and other school personnel;

`(C) to become active participants in the development, implementation, and review of school-parent compacts, family engagement in education policies, and school planning and improvement;

`(D) to participate in the design and provision of assistance to students who are not making academic progress;

`(E) to participate in State and local decisionmaking;

`(F) to train other parents; and

`(G) in learning and using technology applied in their children's education;

`(2) to develop and implement, in partnership with the State educational agency, statewide family engagement in education policy and systemic initiatives that will provide for a continuum of services to remove barriers for family engagement in education and support school reform efforts; and

`(3) to develop and implement parental involvement policies under this Act.

`(b) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a statewide family engagement center from--

`(1) having its employees or agents meet with a parent at a site that is not on school grounds; or

`(2) working with another agency that serves children.

`(c) Parental Rights- Notwithstanding any other provision of this section--

`(1) no person (including a parent who educates a child at home, a public school parent, or a private school parent) shall be required to participate in any program of parent education or developmental screening under this section; and

`(2) no program or center assisted under this section shall take any action that infringes in any manner on the right of parents to direct the education of their children.

`SEC. 4505. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN INDIAN SCHOOLS.

`The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall establish, or enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, local tribes, tribal organizations, or Indian nonprofit parent organizations to establish and operate family engagement centers.

`SEC. 4506. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020.'.'.

PART F--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

SEC. 4601. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Title IV (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), as amended by the previous provisions of this title, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

`PART F--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES

`SEC. 4601. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS.

`(a) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part--

`(1) $200,741,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018; and

`(2) $220,741,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

`(b) Reservations- From the amounts appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall--

`(1) reserve $5,000,000 to carry out activities authorized under subpart 3; and

`(2) from the amounts remaining after the reservation under paragraph (1)--

`(A) carry out activities authorized under subpart 1 using--

`(i) 36 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018; and

`(ii) 42 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020;

`(B) carry out activities authorized under subpart 2 using--

`(i) 36 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018; and

`(ii) 32 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020; and

`(C) to carry out activities authorized under subpart 4--

`(i) 28 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018; and

`(ii) 26 percent of such remainder for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

`Subpart 1--Education Innovation and Research

`SEC. 4611. GRANTS FOR EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH.

`(a) Program Authorized-

`(1) IN GENERAL- From funds reserved under section 4601(b)(2)(A), the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to--

`(A) create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students; and

`(B) rigorously evaluate such innovations, in accordance with subsection (e).

`(2) DESCRIPTION OF GRANTS- The grants described in paragraph (1) shall include--

`(A) early-phase grants to fund the development, implementation, and feasibility testing of a program, which prior research suggests has promise, for the purpose of determining whether the program can successfully improve student achievement or attainment for high-need students;

`(B) mid-phase grants to fund implementation and a rigorous evaluation of a program that has been successfully implemented under an early-phase grant described in subparagraph (A) or other effort meeting similar criteria, for the purpose of measuring the program's impact and cost effectiveness, if possible using existing administrative data; and

`(C) expansion grants to fund implementation and a rigorous replication evaluation of a program that has been found to produce sizable, important impacts under a mid-phase grant described in subparagraph (B) or other effort meeting similar criteria, for the purposes of--

`(i) determining whether such impacts can be successfully reproduced and sustained over time; and

`(ii) identifying the conditions in which the program is most effective.

`(b) Eligible Entity- In this subpart, the term `eligible entity' means any of the following:

`(1) A local educational agency.

`(2) A State educational agency.

`(3) The Bureau of Indian Education.

`(4) A consortium of State educational agencies or local educational agencies.

`(5) A nonprofit organization.

`(6) A State educational agency, a local educational agency, a consortium described in paragraph (4), or the Bureau of Indian Education, in partnership with--

`(A) a nonprofit organization;

`(B) a business;

`(C) an educational service agency; or

`(D) an institution of higher education.

`(c) Rural Areas-

`(1) IN GENERAL- In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 25 percent of the funds made available for any fiscal year are awarded for programs that meet both of the following requirements:

`(A) The grantee is--

`(i) a local educational agency with an urban-centric district locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;

`(ii) a consortium of such local educational agencies;

`(iii) an educational service agency or a nonprofit organization in partnership with such a local educational agency; or

`(iv) a grantee described in clause (i) or (ii) in partnership with a State educational agency.

`(B) A majority of the schools to be served by the program are designated with a locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43, or a combination of such codes, as determined by the Secretary.

`(2) EXCEPTION- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of funds made available under such paragraph if the Secretary does not receive a sufficient number of applications of sufficient quality.

`(d) Matching Funds- In order to receive a grant under subsection (a), an eligible entity shall demonstrate that the eligible entity will provide matching funds, in cash or through in-kind contributions, from Federal, State, local, or private sources in an amount equal to 10 percent of the funds provided under such grant, except that the Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement, on a case-by-case basis, upon a showing of exceptional circumstances, such as--

`(1) the difficulty of raising matching funds for a program to serve a rural area;

`(2) the difficulty of raising matching funds in areas with a concentration of local educational agencies or schools with a high percentage of students aged 5 through 17--

`(A) who are in poverty, as counted in the most recent census data approved by the Secretary;

`(B) who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);

`(C) whose families receive 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

`(D) who are eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program; and

`(3) the difficulty of raising funds on tribal land.

`(e) Evaluation- Each recipient of a grant under this section shall conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the program carried out under such grant.

`(f) Technical Assistance- The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent of the funds appropriated under section 4601(b)(2)(A) for each fiscal year to--

`(1) provide technical assistance for eligibility entities, which may include pre-application workshops, web-based seminars, and evaluation support; and

`(2) to disseminate best practices.

               <<           >>Continue Reading>>

Join the conversation in the comments!
Read the 1461 Comment Guidelines.

1461 reaches over 1.5 Million People!