or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(b) STAR SCHOOL AWARD APPLICATIONS.-Each application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall

(1) describe how the proposed project will assist in achieving the National Education Goals, how such project will assist all students to have an opportunity to learn to challenging State standards, how such project will assist State and local educational reform efforts, and how such project will contribute to creating a high quality system of lifelong learning;

(2) describe the telecommunications facilities and equipment and technical assistance for which assistance is sought, which may include

(A) the design, development, construction, acquisition, maintenance and operation of State or multistate educational telecommunications networks and technology resource centers;

(B) microwave, fiber optics, cable, and satellite transmission equipment or any combination thereof;

(C) reception facilities;

(D) satellite time;

(E) production facilities;

(F) other telecommunications equipment capable of serving a wide geographic area;

(G) the provision of training services to instructors who will be using the facilities and equipment for which assistance is sought, including training in using such facilities and equipment and training in integrating programs into the classroom curriculum; and

(H) the development of educational and related programming for use on a telecommunications network;

(3) in the case of an application for assistance for instructional programming, describe the types of programming which will be developed to enhance instruction and training and provide assurances that such programming will be designed in consultation with professionals (including classroom teachers) who are experts in the applicable subject matter and grade level;

(4) describe how the eligible entity has engaged in sufficient survey and analysis of the area to be served to ensure that the services offered by the eligible entity will increase the availability of courses of instruction in English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, arts, history, geography, or other disciplines;

(5) describe the professional development policies for teachers and other school personnel to be implemented to ensure the effective use of the telecommunications facilities and equipment for which assistance is sought;

(6) describe the manner in which historically underserved students (such as students from low-income families, limited English proficient students, students with disabilities, or students who have low literacy skills) and their families, will participate in the benefits of the telecommunications facilities,

equipment, technical assistance, and programming assisted under this part;

(7) describe how existing telecommunications equipment, facilities, and services, where available, will be used;

(8) provide assurances that the financial interest of the United States in the telecommunications facilities and equipment will be protected for the useful life of such facilities and equipment;

(9) provide assurances that a significant portion of any facilities and equipment, technical assistance, and programming for which assistance is sought for elementary and secondary schools will be made available to schools or local educational agencies that have a high number or percentage of children eligible to be counted under part A of title I;

(10) provide assurances that the applicant will use the funds provided under this part to supplement and not supplant funds otherwise available for the purposes of this part;

(11) if any member of the consortia receives assistance under subpart 3 of part A, describe how funds received under this part will be coordinated with funds received for educational technology in the classroom under such section;

(12) describe the activities or services for which assistance is sought, such as

(A) providing facilities, equipment, training services, and technical assistance;

(B) making programs accessible to students with disabilities through mechanisms such as closed captioning and descriptive video services;

(C) linking networks around issues of national importance (such as elections) or to provide information about employment opportunities, job training, or student and other social service programs;

(D) sharing curriculum resources between networks and development of program guides which demonstrate cooperative, cross-network listing of programs for specific curriculum areas;

(E) providing teacher and student support services including classroom and training support materials which permit student and teacher involvement in the live interactive distance learning telecasts;

(F) incorporating community resources such as libraries and museums into instructional programs;

(G) providing professional development for teachers, including, as appropriate, training to early childhood development and Head Start teachers and staff and vocational education teachers and staff, and adult and family educators;

(H) providing programs for adults to maximize the use of telecommunications facilities and equipment;

(I) providing teacher training on proposed or established voluntary national content standards in mathematics and science and other disciplines as such standards are developed; and

(J) providing parent education programs during and after the regular school day which reinforce a student's course of study and actively involve parents in the learning process;

(13) describe how the proposed project as a whole will be financed and how arrangements for future financing will be developed before the project expires;

(14) provide an assurance that a significant portion of any facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming for which assistance is sought for elementary and secondary schools will be made available to schools in local educational agencies that have a high percentage of children counted for the purpose of part A of title I;

(15) provide an assurance that the applicant will provide such information and cooperate in any evaluation that the Secretary may conduct under this part; and

(16) include such additional assurances as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(c) PRIORITIES.-The Secretary, in approving applications for grants authorized under section 3204, shall give priority to applications describing projects that

(1) propose high-quality plans to assist in achieving one or more of the National Education Goals, will provide instruction consistent with State content standards, or will otherwise provide significant and specific assistance to States and local educational agencies undertaking systemic education reform;

(2) will provide services to programs serving adults, especially parents, with low levels of literacy;

(3) will serve schools with significant numbers of children counted for the purposes of part A of title I;

(4) ensure that the eligible entity will

(A) serve the broadest range of institutions, programs providing instruction outside of the school setting, programs serving adults, especially parents, with low levels of literacy, institutions of higher education, teacher training centers, research institutes, and private industry;

(B) have substantial academic and teaching capabilities, including the capability of training, retraining, and inservice upgrading of teaching skills and the capability to provide professional development;

(C) provide a comprehensive range of courses for educators to teach instructional strategies for students with different skill levels;

(D) provide training to participating educators in ways to integrate telecommunications courses into existing school curriculum;

(E) provide instruction for students, teachers, and parents;

(F) serve a multistate area; and

(G) give priority to the provision of equipment and linkages to isolated areas; and

(5) involve a telecommunications entity (such as a satellite, cable, telephone, computer, or public or private television sta

tions) participating in the eligible entity and donating equipment or in-kind services for telecommunications linkages.

(d) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.-In approving applications for grants authorized under section 3204, the Secretary shall, to the extent feasible, ensure an equitable geographic distribution of services provided under this part.

SEC. 3207. [20 U.S.C. 6897] LEADERSHIP AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES. (a) RESERVATION.-From the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 3204(c)(1) in each fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than 5 percent of such amount for national leadership, evaluation, and peer review activities.

(b) METHOD OF FUNDING.-The Secretary may fund the activities described in subsection (a) directly or through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

(c) USES OF FUNDS.

(1) LEADERSHIP.-Funds reserved for leadership activities under subsection (a) may be used for

(A) disseminating information, including lists and descriptions of services available from grant recipients under this part; and

(B) other activities designed to enhance the quality of distance learning activities nationwide.

(2) EVALUATION.-Funds reserved for evaluation activities under subsection (a) may be used to conduct independent evaluations of the activities assisted under this part and of distance learning in general, including

(A) analyses of distance learning efforts, including such efforts that are assisted under this part and such efforts that are not assisted under this part; and

(B) comparisons of the effects, including student outcomes, of different technologies in distance learning efforts.

(3) PEER REVIEW.-Funds reserved for peer review activities under subsection (a) may be used for peer review of― (A) applications for grants under this part; and (B) activities assisted under this part.

SEC. 3208. [20 U.S.C. 6898] DEFINITIONS.

As used in this part

(1) the term "educational institution" means an institution of higher education, a local educational agency, or a State educational agency;

(2) the term "instructional programming" means courses of instruction and training courses for elementary and secondary students, teachers, and others, and materials for use in such instruction and training that have been prepared in audio and visual form on tape, disc, film, or live, and presented by means of telecommunications devices; and

(3) the term "public broadcasting entity" has the same meaning given such term in section 397 of the Communications Act of 1934.

SEC. 3209. [20 U.S.C. 6899] ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. (a) CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-In order to be eligible to receive a grant under section 3204 for a second 3-year grant period an eligible entity shall demonstrate in the application submitted pursuant to section 3206 that such partnership shall

(A) continue to provide services in the subject areas and geographic areas assisted with funds received under this part for the previous 5-year grant period; and

(B) use all grant funds received under this part for the second 3-year grant period to provide expanded services by

(i) increasing the number of students, schools or school districts served by the courses of instruction assisted under this part in the previous fiscal year;

(ii) providing new courses of instruction; and

(iii) serving new populations of underserved individuals, such as children or adults who are disadvantaged, have limited-English proficiency, are individuals with disabilities, are illiterate, or lack secondary school diplomas or their recognized equivalent.

(2) SPECIAL RULE.-Grant funds received pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used to supplement and not supplant services provided by the grant recipient under this part in the previous fiscal year.

(b) FEDERAL ACTIVITIES.-The Secretary may assist grant recipients under section 3204 in acquiring satellite time, where appropriate, as economically as possible.

SEC. 3210. [20 U.S.C. 6900] OTHER ASSISTANCE. (a) SPECIAL STATEWIDE NETWORK.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary, through the Office of Educational Technology, may provide assistance to a statewide telecommunications network under this subsection if such

network

(A) provides 2-way full motion interactive video and audio communications;

(B) links together public colleges and universities and secondary schools throughout the State; and

(C) meets any other requirements determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(2) STATE CONTRIBUTION.-A statewide telecommunications network assisted under paragraph (1) shall contribute, either directly or through private contributions, non-Federal funds equal to not less than 50 percent of the cost of such network. (b) SPECIAL LOCAL NETWORK.

(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary may provide assistance, on a competitive basis, to a local educational agency or consortium thereof to enable such agency or consortium to establish a high technology demonstration program.

(2) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.-A high technology demonstration program assisted under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) include 2-way full motion interactive video, audio and text communications;

(B) link together elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities;