(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. For purposes of this part: (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 (2) be accessible to all States, local educational agencies, schools, community-based organizations and others who are recipients of funds under this Act. TITLE XIV-GENERAL PROVISIONS PART A-DEFINITIONS SEC. 14101. [20 U.S.C. 8801] DEFINITIONS. Except as otherwise provided, for the purposes of this Act, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE. (A) Except as provided otherwise by State law or this paragraph, the term "average daily attendance" means (i) the aggregate number of days of attendance of all students during a school year; divided by (ii) the number of days school is in session during such school year. (B) The Secretary shall permit the conversion of average daily membership (or other similar data) to average daily attendance for local educational agencies in States that provide State aid to local educational agencies on the basis of average daily membership or such other data. (C) If the local educational agency in which a child resides makes a tuition or other payment for the free public education of the child in a school located in another school district, the Secretary shall, for purposes of this Act (i) consider the child to be in attendance at a school of the agency making such payment; and (ii) not consider the child to be in attendance at a school of the agency receiving such payment. (D) If a local educational agency makes a tuition payment to a private school or to a public school of another local educational agency for a child with disabilities, as defined in section 602(a)(1) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Secretary shall, for the purposes of this Act, consider such child to be in attendance at a school of the agency making such payment. (2) AVERAGE PER-PUPIL EXPENDITURE.—The term "average per-pupil expenditure" means, in the case of a State or of the United States (A) without regard to the source of funds (i) the aggregate current expenditures, during the third fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made (or, if satisfactory data for that year are not available, during the most recent preceding fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available) of all local educational agencies in the State or, in the case of the United States for all States (which, for the purpose of this paragraph, means the 50 States and the District of Columbia); plus (ii) any direct current expenditures by the State for the operation of such agencies; divided by (B) the aggregate number of children in average daily attendance to whom such agencies provided free public education during such preceding year. (3) CHILD. The term "child" means any person within the age limits for which the State provides free public education. (4) COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION.-The term "community-based organization" means a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that (A) is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and (B) provides educational or related services to individuals in the community. (5) CONSOLIDATED LOCAL APPLICATION.-The term "consolidated local application" means an application submitted by a local educational agency pursuant to section 14302. (6) CONSOLIDATED LOCAL PLAN.-The term "consolidated local plan" means a plan submitted by a local educational agency pursuant to section 14302. (7) CONSOLIDATED STATE APPLICATION.-The term "consolidated State application" means an application submitted by a State educational agency pursuant to section 14302. (8) CONSOLIDATED STATE PLAN.-The term "consolidated State plan" means a plan submitted by a State educational agency pursuant to section 14302. (9) COUNTY.-The term "county" means one of the divisions of a State used by the Secretary of Commerce in compiling and reporting data regarding counties. (10) COVERED PROGRAM. The term "covered program" means each of the programs authorized by— (A) part A of title I; (B) part C of title I; (C) title II (other than section 2103 and part C); (E) part A of title IV (other than section 4114); and (11) The term "current expenditures" means expenditures for free public education (A) including expenditures for administration, instruction, attendance and health services, pupil transportation services, operation and maintenance of plant, fixed charges, and net expenditures to cover deficits for food services and student body activities; but (B) not including expenditures for community services, capital outlay, and debt service, or any expenditures made from funds received under title I and title VI. (12) DEPARTMENT.-The term "Department" means the Department of Education. (13) EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY.-The term “educational service agency" means a regional public multiservice agency authorized by State statute to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local educational agencies. (14) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.-The term "elementary school" means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school that provides elementary education, as determined under State law. (15) FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION.-The term "free public education" means education that is provided— |