(F) 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, and disadvantaged students.

SEC. 10104. [20 U.S.C. 8004] PROMOTING SCHOLAR-ATHLETE COMPETI

TIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary is authorized to award a grant to a nonprofit organization to reimburse such organizations for the costs of conducting scholar-athlete games to be held in 1995.

(b) PRIORITY.-In awarding the grant under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to a nonprofit organization that—

(1) is described in section 501(c)(3) of, and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and is affiliated with a university capable of hosting a large educational, cultural, and athletic event that will serve as a national model;

(2) has the capability and experience in administering federally funded scholar-athlete games;

(3) has the ability to provide matching funds, on a dollarfor-dollar basis, from foundations and the private sector for the purpose of conducting a scholar-athlete program;

(4) has the organizational structure and capability to administer a model scholar-athlete program in the summer of 1995;

(5) has the organizational structure and expertise to replicate the scholar-athlete program in various venues throughout the United States in 1996 and thereafter, as well as replicate such program internationally; and

(6) has plans for conducting scholar-athlete games after 1995 without Federal assistance.

SEC. 10105. [20 U.S.C. 8005] SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES.

(a) IN GENERAL.-Each local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. Each such application shall describe

(1) strategies and methods the applicant will use to create the smaller learning community or communities;

(2) curriculum and instructional practices, including any particular themes or emphases, to be used in the learning environment;

(3) the extent of involvement of teachers and other school personnel in investigating, designing, implementing and sustaining the smaller learning community or communities;

(4) the process to be used for involving students, parents and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of the smaller learning community or communities;

(5) any cooperation or collaboration among community agencies, organizations, businesses, and others to develop or implement a plan to create the smaller learning community or communities;

(6) the training and professional development activities that will be offered to teachers and others involved in the activities assisted under this part;

(7) the goals and objectives of the activities assisted under this part, including a description of how such activities will better enable all students to reach challenging State content standards and State student performance standards;

(8) the methods by which the applicant will assess progress in meeting such goals and objectives;

(9) if the smaller learning community or communities exist as a school-within-a-school, the relationship, including governance and administration, of the smaller learning community to the rest of the school;

(10) a description of the administrative and managerial relationship between the local educational agency and the smaller learning community or communities, including how such agency will demonstrate a commitment to the continuity of the smaller learning community or communities, including the continuity of student and teacher assignment to a particular learning community;

(11) how the applicant will coordinate or use funds provided under this part with other funds provided under this Act or other Federal laws;

(12) grade levels or ages of students who will participate in the smaller learning community or communities; and

(13) the method of placing students in the smaller learning community or communities, such that students are not placed according to ability, performance or any other measure, so that students are placed at random or by their own choice, not pursuant to testing or other judgments.

(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.-Funds under this section may be used—

(1) to study the feasibility of creating the smaller learning community or communities as well as effective and innovative organizational and instructional strategies that will be used in the smaller learning community or communities;

(2) to research, develop and implement strategies for creating the smaller learning community or communities, as well as effective and innovative changes in curriculum and instruction, geared to high State content standards and State student performance standards;

(3) to provide professional development for school staff in innovative teaching methods that challenge and engage students to be used in the smaller learning community or communities; and

(4) to develop and implement strategies to include parents, business representatives, local institutions of higher education,

community-based organizations, and other community members in the smaller learning communities, as facilitators of activities that enable teachers to participate in professional development activities, as well as to provide links between students and their community.

SEC. 10106. [20 U.S.C. 8006] NATIONAL STUDENT AND PARENT MOCK ELECTION.

(a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary is authorized to award grants to national nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations that work to promote voter participation in American elections to enable such organizations to carry out voter education activities for students and their parents. Such activities shall

(1) be limited to simulated national elections that permit participation by students and parents from all 50 States in the United States; and

(2) consist of

(A) school forums and local cable call-in shows on the national issues to be voted upon in an "issue forum";

(B) speeches and debates before students and parents by local candidates or stand-ins for such candidates;

(C) quiz team competitions, mock press conferences and speechwriting competitions;

(D) weekly meetings to follow the course of the campaign; or

(E) school and neighborhood campaigns to increase voter turnout, including newsletters, posters, telephone chains, and transportation.

(b) REQUIREMENT.-Each organization receiving a grant under this section shall present awards to outstanding student and parent mock election projects.

SEC. 10107. [20 U.S.C. 8007] MODEL PROJECTS.

(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.-The Secretary is authorized to award grants to cultural institutions to enable such institutions to develop and expand model projects of outreach activities for at-risk children in the communities served by such institutions, including activities which integrate such institution's cultural programming with other disciplines, including environmental, mathematics, and science programs.

(b) PRIORITY. In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give priority to activities that are part of an overall State, local, and private commitment, seek to improve learning for at-risk youth, and are substantially funded by State, local, or private funds.

PART B-GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN

SEC. 10201. [20 U.S.C. 8031] SHORT TITLE.

This part may be cited as the "Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 1994".

SEC. 10202. [20 U.S.C. 8032] FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds and declares that—

(1) all students can learn to high standards and must develop their talents and realize their potential if the United States is to prosper;

(2) gifted and talented students are a national resource vital to the future of the Nation and its security and wellbeing;

(3) too often schools fail to challenge students to do their best work, and students who are not challenged will not learn to challenging State content standards and challenging State student performance standards, fully develop their talents, and realize their potential;

(4) unless the special abilities of gifted and talented students are recognized and developed during such students' elementary and secondary school years, much of such students' special potential for contributing to the national interest is likely to be lost;

(5) gifted and talented students from economically disadvantaged families and areas, and students of limited-English proficiency are at greatest risk of being unrecognized and of not being provided adequate or appropriate educational services;

(6) State and local educational agencies and private nonprofit schools often lack the necessary specialized resources to plan and implement effective programs for the early identification of gifted and talented students and for the provision of educational services and programs appropriate to their special needs;

(7) the Federal Government can best carry out the limited but essential role of stimulating research and development and personnel training and providing a national focal point of information and technical assistance that is necessary to ensure that the Nation's schools are able to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students, and thereby serve a profound national interest; and

(8) the experience and knowledge gained in developing and implementing programs for gifted and talented students can and should be used as a basis to—

(A) develop a rich and challenging curriculum for all students; and

(B) provide all students with important and challenging subject matter to study and encourage the habits of hard work. (b) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.-It is the purpose of this part(1) to provide financial assistance to State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public and private agencies and organizations, to initiate a coordinated program of research, demonstration projects, personnel training, and similar activities designed to build a nationwide capability in elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students;

(2) to encourage the development of rich and challenging curricula for all students through the appropriate application and adaptation of materials and instructional methods developed under this part; and

(3) to supplement and make more effective the expenditure of State and local funds, for the education of gifted and talented students.

SEC. 10203. [20 U.S.C. 8033] CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit a recipient of funds under this part from serving gifted and talented students simultaneously with students with similar educational needs, in the same educational settings where appropriate.

SEC. 10204. [20 U.S.C. 8034] AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-From the sums appropriated under section 10207 in any fiscal year the Secretary (after consultation with experts in the field of the education of gifted and talented students) shall make grants to or enter into contracts with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or other public agencies and private agencies and organizations (including Indian tribes and Indian organizations (as such terms are defined by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) and Native Hawaiian organizations) to assist such agencies, institutions, and organizations which submit applications in carrying out programs or projects authorized by this part that are designed to meet the educational needs of gifted and talented students, including the training of personnel in the education of gifted and talented students and in the use, where appropriate, of gifted and talented services, materials, and methods for all students.

(2) APPLICATION.-Each entity desiring assistance under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Each such application shall describe how

(A) the proposed gifted and talented services, materials, and methods can be adapted, if appropriate, for use by all students; and

(B) the proposed programs can be evaluated.

(b) USES OF FUNDS.-Programs and projects assisted under this section may include

(1) professional development (including fellowships) for personnel (including leadership personnel) involved in the education of gifted and talented students;

(2) establishment and operation of model projects and exemplary programs for serving gifted and talented students, including innovative methods for identifying and educating students who may not be served by traditional gifted and talented programs, summer programs, mentoring programs, service learning programs, and cooperative programs involving business, industry, and education;

(3) training of personnel and parents involved in gifted and talented programs with respect to the impact of gender role socialization on the educational needs of gifted and talented children and in gender equitable education methods, techniques and practices;