(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall develop a system of validating effective programs and promising practices for dissemination through the National Diffusion Network. Such system may include exemplary programs funded through any office of the Department, the National Science Foundation, or other Federal agencies and shall be coordinated, aligned with, and administered by, the Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination established under section 941(b) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994. (2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to identifying, validating, and disseminating effective schoolwide projects, programs addressing the needs of high poverty schools, and programs with the capacity to offer high-quality, sustained technical assistance. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement Office of Reform Assistance and Dissemination shall also administer a grant program for the purpose of dissemination and the provision of technical assistance regarding such system. (3) PRIORITY OF SERVICES.-The National Diffusion Network State Facilitators shall give priority in providing the services described in this section to (A) schoolwide program under section 1114; and (B) local educational agencies and Bureau-funded schools with the highest percentages or numbers of children in poverty. SEC. 13202. [20 U.S.C. 8652] AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. For the purpose of carrying out this part, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years. PART C-EISENHOWER REGIONAL MATHE- MATICS AND SCIENCE SEC. 13301. [20 U.S.C. 8671] PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. (a) IN GENERAL. (1) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.-The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, is authorized to award grants or contracts to eligible entities to enable such entities to establish and operate regional mathematics and science education consortia for the purpose of (A) disseminating exemplary mathematics and science education instructional materials; and (B) providing technical assistance for the implementation of teaching methods and assessment tools for use by elementary and secondary school students, teachers and administrators. (2) NUMBER.-The Secretary, in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall award at least one grant or contract to an eligible entity in each region. (3) SPECIAL RULE.-In any fiscal year, if the amount made available pursuant to section 13308 is less than $4,500,000, then the Secretary may waive the provisions of paragraph (2) and award grants or contracts of sufficient size, scope, and quality to carry out this section. (4) DESIGNATION.-Each regional consortium assisted under this section shall be known as an "Eisenhower regional consortium". (b) GRANT TERM AND REVIEW.-Grants or contracts under this part shall be awarded for a period of not more than five years and shall be reviewed before the end of the 30-month period beginning on the date the grant or contract is awarded. Grants or contracts under this part shall be awarded before the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of an Act making appropriations to carry out this part. (c) AMOUNT.-In awarding grants or contracts under this part, the Secretary shall ensure that there is a relatively equal distribution of the funds made available among the regions, except that the Secretary may award additional funds to a regional consortium on the basis of population and geographical conditions of the region being served. SEC. 13302. [20 U.S.C. 8672] USE OF FUNDS. Funds provided under this part may be used by a regional consortium, under the direction of a regional board established under section 13304, to— (1) work cooperatively with the other regional consortia, the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Science and Mathematics Education established under section 2102(b) and federally funded technical assistance providers to more effectively accomplish the activities described in this section; (2) assist, train and provide technical assistance to classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators to identify, implement, assess or adapt the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in section 13301(a)(1); (3) provide for the training of classroom teachers to enable such teachers to instruct other teachers, administrators, and educators in the use of the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in section 13301(a)(1) in the classroom; (4) when necessary, provide financial assistance to enable teachers and other educators to attend and participate in the activities of the regional consortium; (5) implement programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education; (6) assist State and local educational agencies in identifying science equipment needs and help such agencies or consortia thereof assess the need for and desirability of regional mathematics and science academies; (7) develop and disseminate early childhood education mathematics and science instructional materials; (8) disseminate information regarding informal mathematics and science education activities and programs offered by Federal agencies and private or public agencies and institutions within the region; (9) collect data on activities assisted under this part in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of the regional consortia; (10) identify exemplary teaching practices and materials from within the region and communicate such practices and materials to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education; (11) communicate, on a regular basis, with entities within the region who are delivering services to students and teachers of mathematics and science; (12) assist in the development and evaluation of State and regional plans and activities that hold promise of bringing about systemic reform in student performance in mathematics and science; and (13) increase the use of informal education entities (such as science technology centers, museums, libraries, Saturday academies, and 4H programs) for educational purposes to expand student knowledge and understanding. SEC. 13303. [20 U.S.C. 8673] APPLICATION AND REVIEW. (a) IN GENERAL.-Each eligible entity desiring a grant or contract under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Each such application shall (1) demonstrate that the eligible entity has demonstrated expertise in the fields of mathematics and science education; (2) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall implement and disseminate mathematics and science education instructional materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools through a consortium of the region's mathematics and science education organizations and agencies; (3) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall carry out the functions of the regional consortium; (4) demonstrate that emphasis will be given to programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education; (5) demonstrate that the business community in the region served by the regional consortium will play an integral role in designing and supporting the regional consortium's work; (6) demonstrate that the eligible entity will consider the resources of telecommunications partnerships assisted under the Star Schools Program Assistance Act (as such Act was in effect on the day preceding the date of enactment of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994) in carrying out the provisions of this part, where appropriate; and (7) assure that the entity will conduct its activities and supervise its personnel in a manner that effectively ensures compliance with the copyright laws of the United States under title 17, United States Code. (b) APPROVAL OF APPLICATION. (1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall approve or disapprove applications submitted pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with the criteria and procedures established under paragraph (2). (2) PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA.-The Secretary shall develop procedures and criteria designed to ensure that grants or contracts are competitively awarded on the basis of merit determined under a peer review process. (3) NATIONAL PANEL. (A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a national panel, or to the extent necessary, panels, to submit to the Secretary recommendations for awards of grants or contracts under this part. The Secretary shall appoint the members of such panel or panels. (B) Each panel appointed under subparagraph (A) shall include participation, to the extent feasible, from each region. SEC. 13304. [20 U.S.C. 8674] REGIONAL BOARDS. (a) IN GENERAL.-Each eligible entity receiving a grant or contract under this part shall establish a regional board to oversee the administration and establishment of program priorities for the regional consortium established by such eligible entity. Such regional board shall be broadly representative of the agencies and organizations participating in the regional consortium. (b) PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.-No Federal funds may be used for the establishment or operation of a regional board required by subsection (a), except that at the discretion of a regional board, Federal funds may be used to provide assistance such as travel and accommodations for board members who could not otherwise afford to participate as members of the board. SEC. 13305. [20 U.S.C. 8675] PAYMENTS; FEDERAL SHARE; NON-FEDERAL SHARE. (a) PAYMENTS.-The Secretary shall pay to each eligible entity having an application approved under section 13303 the Federal share of the cost of the activities described in the application. (b) FEDERAL SHARE. For the purpose of subsection (a), the Federal share shall be 80 percent. (c) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.-The non-Federal share of the cost of activities described in the application submitted under section 13303 may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated. At least 10 percent of such non-Federal share shall be from sources other than the Federal Government, or State or local government. SEC. 13306. [20 U.S.C. 8676] EVALUATION. (a) EVALUATION REQUIRED.-The Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement and in accordance with section 14701, shall collect sufficient data on, and evaluate the effectiveness of, the activities of each regional consortium. (b) ASSESSMENT.-The evaluations described in paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the regional consortium in meeting the needs of the schools, teachers, administrators and students in the region. (c) REPORT.-At the end of each grant or contract period, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the effectiveness of the programs conducted at each regional consortium. SEC. 13307. [20 U.S.C. 8677] DEFINITIONS. (1) The term "eligible entity" means (A) a private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness; (B) an institution of higher education; (E) a regional educational laboratory in consortium with the research and development center established under section 931(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994; or (F) any combination of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E), with demonstrated expertise in mathematics and science education. (2) The terms "mathematics" and "science" include the technology education associated with mathematics and science, respectively. (3) The term "region" means a region of the United States served by a regional education laboratory that is supported by the Secretary pursuant to section 405(d)(4)(A)(i) of the General Education Provisions Act (as such section was in existence on the day preceding the date of enactment of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act). (4) The term "regional consortium" means each regional mathematics and science education consortium established pursuant to section 13301. (5) The term "State agency for higher education" means the State board of higher education or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the State supervision of higher education, or, if there is no such officer or agency, an officer or agency designated for the purpose of carrying out this part by the Governor or by State law. SEC. 13308. [20 U.S.C. 8678] AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated $23,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, to carry out this part. PART D-TECHNOLOGY-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SEC. 13401. [20 U.S.C. 8701] TECHNOLOGY-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. The Secretary is authorized to provide a technology-based technical assistance service that will (1) support the administration and implementation of programs under this Act by providing information, including legal and regulatory information, and technical guidance and information, about best practices; and |