[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 311 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 311
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
for partnerships in character education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2001
Mr. Domenici (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cleland, Mr.
Frist, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Harkin) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
for partnerships in character education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Strong Character for Strong Schools
Act''.
SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIPS IN CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 10103 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 8003) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 10103. PARTNERSHIPS IN CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to eligible entities for the design and implementation
of character education programs that incorporate the elements
of character described in subsection (d), as well as other
character elements identified by the eligible entities.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State educational agency in partnership
with 1 or more local educational agencies;
``(B) a State educational agency in partnership
with--
``(i) one or more local educational
agencies; and
``(ii) one or more nonprofit organizations
or entities, including institutions of higher
education;
``(C) a local educational agency or consortium of
local educational agencies; or
``(D) a local educational agency in partnership
with another nonprofit organization or entity,
including institutions of higher education.
``(3) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be
awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years, of which the
eligible entity shall not use more than 1 year for planning and
program design.
``(4) Amount of grants for state educational agencies.--
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the amount of
grant made by the Secretary to a State educational agency in a
partnership described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph
(2), that submits an application under subsection (b) and that
meets such requirements as the Secretary may establish under
this section, shall not be less than $500,000.
``(b) Applications.--
``(1) Requirement.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents of application.--Each application submitted
under this section shall include--
``(A) a description of any partnerships or
collaborative efforts among the organizations and
entities of the eligible entity;
``(B) a description of the goals and objectives of
the program proposed by the eligible entity;
``(C) a description of activities that will be
pursued and how those activities will contribute to
meeting the goals and objectives described in
subparagraph (B), including--
``(i) how parents, students (including
students with physical and mental
disabilities), and other members of the
community, including members of private and
nonprofit organizations, will be involved in
the design and implementation of the program
and how the eligible entity will work with the
larger community to increase the reach and
promise of the program;
``(ii) curriculum and instructional
practices that will be used or developed;
``(iii) methods of teacher training and
parent education that will be used or
developed; and
``(iv) how the program will be linked to
other efforts in the schools to improve student
performance;
``(D) in the case of an eligible entity that is a
State educational agency--
``(i) a description of how the State
educational agency will provide technical and
professional assistance to its local
educational agency partners in the development
and implementation of character education
programs; and
``(ii) a description of how the State
educational agency will assist other interested
local educational agencies that are not members
of the original partnership in designing and
establishing character education programs;
``(E) a description of how the eligible entity will
evaluate the success of its program--
``(i) based on the goals and objectives
described in subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) in cooperation with the national
evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection
(c)(2)(B)(iii);
``(F) an assurance that the eligible entity
annually will provide to the Secretary such information
as may be required to determine the effectiveness of
the program; and
``(G) any other information that the Secretary may
require.
``(c) Evaluation and Program Development.--
``(1) Evaluation and reporting.--
``(A) State and local reporting and evaluation.--
Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary a comprehensive
evaluation of the program assisted under this section,
including the impact on students (including students
with physical and mental disabilities), teachers,
administrators, parents, and others--
``(i) by the second year of the program;
and
``(ii) not later than 1 year after
completion of the grant period.
``(B) Contracts for evaluation.--Each eligible
entity receiving a grant under this section may
contract with outside sources, including institutions
of higher education, and private and nonprofit
organizations, for purposes of evaluating its program
and measuring the success of the program toward
fostering in students the elements of character
described in subsection (d).
``(2) National research, dissemination, and evaluation.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to
make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative
agreements with, State or local educational agencies,
institutions of higher education, tribal organizations,
or other public or private agencies or organizations to
carry out research, development, dissemination,
technical assistance, and evaluation activities that
support or inform State and local character education
programs. The Secretary shall reserve not more than 5
percent of the funds made available under this section
to carry out this paragraph.
``(B) Uses.--Funds made available under
subparagraph (A) may be used--
``(i) to conduct research and development
activities that focus on matters such as--
``(I) the effectiveness of
instructional models for all students,
including students with physical and
mental disabilities;
``(II) materials and curricula that
can be used by programs in character
education;
``(III) models of professional
development in character education; and
``(IV) the development of measures
of effectiveness for character
education programs which may include
the factors described in paragraph (3);
``(ii) to provide technical assistance to
State and local programs, particularly on
matters of program evaluation;
``(iii) to conduct a national evaluation of
State and local programs receiving funding
under this section; and
``(iv) to compile and disseminate, through
various approaches (such as a national
clearinghouse)--
``(I) information on model
character education programs;
``(II) character education
materials and curricula;
``(III) research findings in the
area of character education and
character development; and
``(IV) any other information that
will be useful to character education
program participants, educators,
parents, administrators, and others
nationwide.
``(C) Priority.--In carrying out national
activities under this paragraph related to development,
dissemination, and technical assistance, the Secretary
shall seek to enter into partnerships with national,
nonprofit character education organizations with
expertise and successful experience in implementing
local character education programs that have had an
effective impact on schools, students (including
students with disabilities), and teachers.
``(3) Factors.--Factors which may be considered in
evaluating the success of programs funded under this section
may include--
``(A) discipline issues;
``(B) student performance;
``(C) participation in extracurricular activities;
``(D) parental and community involvement;
``(E) faculty and administration involvement;
``(F) student and staff morale; and
``(G) overall improvements in school climate for
all students, including students with physical and
mental disabilities.
``(d) Elements of Character.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring funding
under this section shall develop character education programs
that incorporate the following elements of character:
``(A) Caring.
``(B) Civic virtue and citizenship.
``(C) Justice and fairness.
``(D) Respect.
``(E) Responsibility.
``(F) Trustworthiness.
``(G) Any other elements deemed appropriate by the
members of the eligible entity.
``(2) Additional elements of character.--An eligible entity
participating under this section may, after consultation with
schools and communities served by the eligible entity, define
additional elements of character that the eligible entity
determines to be important to the schools and communities
served by the eligible entity.
``(e) Use of Funds by State Educational Agency Recipients.--Of the
total funds received in any fiscal year under this section by an
eligible entity that is a State educational agency--
``(1) not more than 10 percent of such funds may be used
for administrative purposes; and
``(2) the remainder of such funds may be used for--
``(A) collaborative initiatives with and between
local educational agencies and schools;
``(B) the preparation or purchase of materials, and
teacher training;
``(C) grants to local educational agencies,
schools, or institutions of higher education; and
``(D) technical assistance and evaluation.
``(f) Selection of Grantees.--
``(1) Criteria.--The Secretary shall select, through peer
review, eligible entities to receive grants under this section
on the basis of the quality of the applications submitted under
subsection (b), taking into consideration such factors as--
``(A) the quality of the activities proposed to be
conducted;
``(B) the extent to which the program fosters in
students the elements of character described in
subsection (d) and the potential for improved student
performance;
``(C) the extent and ongoing nature of parental,
student, and community involvement;
``(D) the quality of the plan for measuring and
assessing success; and
``(E) the likelihood that the goals of the program
will be realistically achieved.
``(2) Diversity of projects.--The Secretary shall approve
applications under this section in a manner that ensures, to
the extent practicable, that programs assisted under this
section--
``(A) serve different areas of the Nation,
including urban, suburban, and rural areas; and
``(B) serve schools that serve minorities, Native
Americans, students of limited-English proficiency,
disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.
``(g) Participation by Private School Children and Teachers.--
Grantees under this section shall provide, to the extent feasible and
appropriate, for the participation of students and teachers in private
elementary and secondary schools in programs and activities under this
section.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for fiscal year
2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding
fiscal years.''.
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