The bill provides $1,130,500,000 for Federal impact aid programs in fiscal year 2002, an increase of $137,198,000 above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation and the same as the budget request. This account supports payments to school districts affected by Federal activities. Impact Aid represents a federal responsibility to local schools educating children whose families are connected with the military or who live on Indian land.

Basic support payments

The bill includes $982,500,000 for basic support payments to local educational agencies, an increase of $100,500,000 above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation and the budget request. Basic support payments compensate school districts for lost tax revenue and are made on behalf of Federally-connected children such as children of members of the uniformed services who live on Federal property.

Payments for children with disabilities

The Committee recommends $50,000,000 for payments on behalf of Federally-connected children with disabilities, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 appropriation. These payments compensate school districts for the increased costs of serving Federally-connected children with disabilities.

Facilities maintenance

The Committee recommends $8,000,000 for facilities maintenance, the same as both the fiscal year 2001 amount and the budget request. These capital payments are authorized for maintenance of certain facilities owned by the Department of Education.

Construction

The Committee recommends $35,000,000 for the construction program, an increase of $22,198,000 above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation and $115,000,000 below the budget request. This program provides grants to eligible locally owned school districts for building and renovating school facilities.

Payments for Federal property

The bill provides $55,000,000 for payments related to Federal property, an increase of $14,500,000 above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation and the budget request. Funds are awarded to school districts to compensate for lost tax revenue as the result of Federal acquisition of real property since 1938.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

The bill includes $7,673,084,000 for school improvement programs. This amount is $1,833,386,000 more than the comparable fiscal year 2001 appropriation and $1,284,290,000 above the budget request for comparable programs. This appropriation account includes programs authorized under titles II, IV, V, VII and IX of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as reauthorized by the House; title VIII of the Higher Education Act and title IV-A of the Civil Rights Act.

State Grants for Improving Teacher Quality

The bill includes $3,175,000,000 for state grants for improving teacher quality, which is $575,000,000 above the budget request. This new program consolidates the Eisenhower professional development program and the class size reduction program. States are authorized to retain 5 percent of funds for state activities, including reforming teacher certification, re-certification or licensure requirements; expanding, establish or improving alternative routes to state certification; carrying out programs that include support during the initial teaching and leadership experience, such as mentoring programs; assisting school districts in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified and effective teachers and principals; reforming tenure systems; and developing professional development programs for principals.

States send funding to the local level by formula and by competitive grant. Among other things, local uses of funds include initiatives to assist recruitment of principals and fully qualified teachers; initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers and principals; programs designed to improve the quality of the teacher force; teacher opportunity payments; professional development activities; teacher advancement initiatives and hiring fully qualified teachers in order to reduce class size.

States must also award between 15 and 20 percent of funds on a competitive basis to eligible partnerships for math and science programs.

Transition to Teaching/Troops to Teachers

The bill includes $50,000,000 for transition to teaching/troops to teachers, $20,000,000 above the budget request. This program was not funded as a separate line item in fiscal year 2001; however, $34,000,000 was provided for this purpose through other Departmental programs. This program is designed to assist eligible members of the armed forces to obtain certification or licensure as elementary and secondary school teachers, or vocational or technical teachers. The transition to teachers program is based on the model of the troops to teachers program and would address the need of high-need school districts for highly qualified teachers.

Eisenhower Professional Development: State grants and national programs

The bill does not include funding for the Eisenhower professional development programs. These programs have been consolidated into the state grants for improving teacher quality program by H.R. 1, as described above. The Eisenhower professional development state grant program was funded at $485,000,000 in fiscal year 2001. National programs were funded at $41,000,000 in fiscal year 2001.

Innovative Education Program Strategies State Grants

The Committee recommends $385,000,000 for State grants under Innovative Education Program Strategies, the same as the fiscal year 2001 level. The President did not request funding for this program. This program provides funding to State and local educational agencies for obtaining technology and training in technology related to the implementation of school based reform; acquiring and using educational materials; improving educational services for disadvantaged students; combating illiteracy among children and adults; addressing the educational needs of gifted and talented children; and implementing school improvement and parental involvement activities under ESEA Title I.

Class size reduction

The bill does not include funding for the class size reduction program. This program has been consolidated into the state grants for improving teacher quality program by H.R. 1, as described above. The class size reduction program was funded at $1,623,000,000 in fiscal year 2001.

School renovation

The bill does not include funding for the school renovation grants to states. This program was funded at $1,200,000,000 in fiscal year 2001, but has not been reauthorized in the House bill. The budget did not request funding for it.

Education technology

The bill includes $1,000,000,000 for Education Technology. This amount is $182,904,000 above the budget request and $152,404,000 above the comparable fiscal year 2001 appropriations for federal education technology programs that have been consolidated under H.R. 1. Funding for education technology programs was previously provided under the Education Reform account.

A variety of technology programs, including the technology literacy challenge fund, technology innovation challenge grants, regional technology in education consortia, teacher training in technology, community-based technology centers, technology leadership activities, and star schools, were previously funded by the Committee through a separate account. As a result of reauthorization, these federal technology programs are being streamlined into a single performance-based technology grant program to states. Under this program, states would be required to direct ninety-five percent of the funds to school districts for increasing access to technology, especially for high-need schools; improving and expanding teacher professional development in technology; and promoting innovative state and local initiatives using technology to increase academic achievement.

The Secretary is encouraged to examine the rapidly-growing use of hand-held computer technology. Handheld computing is rapidly becoming more affordable, enhancing the cost effectiveness of this approach, especially when coupled with wireless technology.

The Committee continues to support interactive, computer natural learning programs that are already being used to deliver textbook materials and integrate technology into elementary and secondary pre-algebra and algebra classrooms.

Ready to Learn, Ready to Teach

The bill includes $16,000,000 for the Ready to Learn/Ready to Teach program, the same as the 2001 amount for Ready to Learn Television. The President's budget did not request funding for this program. Funding for the Ready to Learn program was previously provided under the Education Reform account.

The Ready to Learn Television program and the Telecommunications Demonstration Project for Mathematics have been combined under a new program called Ready to Learn, Ready to Teach under H.R. 1 as passed by the House. Program objectives include the development and distribution of educational and instructional video programming for preschool and elementary school children and their parents and developing digital content and a national telecommunications program to improve the teaching of core academic subjects.

21st century community learning centers

The bill provides $1,000,000,000 for 21st century community learning centers, $154,386,000 above the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 level. Funding for this program was previously provided under the Education Reform account.

This program is being reauthorized as a formula grant to states. Ninety-five percent of funds would be distributed on a competitive basis from the state to local school districts, community-based organizations and other public entities and private organizations. Grantees must target students who attend low-performing schools. Funds may be used for before and after school activities that advance student academic achievement including remedial education and academic enrichment activities; math, science, arts, music, entrepreneurial and technology education; tutoring and mentoring; recreational activities; and expanded library service hours. The Committee encourages grantees to include activities which promote student self-esteem, with a goal of reducing the incidence of teen pregnancy, by working with young people to develop stronger perceptions of themselves and to become active participants in their communities.

Small, safe, and successful high schools

The bill provides $200,000,000 for small, safe and successful high schools. This is an increase of $75,000,000 over the fiscal year 2001 level. The Administration did not request funding for this program. Funding for this program was previously provided under the Education Reform account.

These funds shall be used only for activities related to the redesign of large high schools enrolling 1,000 or more students. The Committee directs that fiscal year 2002 funds for Smaller Learning Communities be used for both one-year planning, as well as three-year implementation, grants and allocated giving consideration to the number of applications received for each type of grant, the quality of those applications, and the applicants' demonstrated need for assistance. In addition, the Committee directs the Department to submit prior to December 31, 2001, a plan describing how the Smaller Learning Communities Program will be administered within the Department and the planned allocation of funds for evaluation, technical assistance, outreach, school networks, and peer review. Further, the Committee expects the Department to consult with the Committee on the fiscal year 2002 program guidance for the Smaller Learning Communities Program, and to continue outreach and technical assistance activities during fiscal year 2002 to help ensure that school districts are aware that smaller schools and smaller learning communities are effective, research-based strategies to improve student safety, morale, retention, and academic achievement.

Safe and drug-free schools and communities

The Committee recommends $644,250,000 for the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. This funding level is the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 level.

Safe and drug-free schools and communities: State grants

The Committee bill includes $527,250,000 for the State grants program, $20,362,000 below the budget request and $88,000,000 above the fiscal year 2001 level. The program supports State formula grants for comprehensive, integrated approaches to drug and violence prevention. Local educational agencies must use their funds to implement a drug and violence prevention program for students and employees. The Committee notes that the Department released a list of `promising and exemplary' safe and drug free schools program models, as identified by an expert panel, on January 18, 2001. This list has subsequently caused some confusion within communities. The Committee notes that funding for local programs under the Safe and Drug Free Schools program is not restricted to models appearing on this list. The Committee encourages the Department of clarify this matter with applicants.

Safe and drug-free schools and communities: national programs

For the national programs under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, the bill provides $117,000,000, $38,000,000 below the fiscal year 2001 amount and $20,362,000 above the budget request. Under this program, the Secretary of Education administers a variety of activities to prevent the illegal use of drugs and violence among, and promote safety and discipline for, students at all educational levels, preschool through postsecondary. Within the amount provided for national programs, the Committee has included $68,150,000 for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. These funds will enable the Department to make new awards in fiscal year 2002 and to continue its participation, along with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice, in this interagency initiative to help communities adopt comprehensive and coordinated strategies to improve school safety.

Safe and drug-free schools and communities: coordinator initiative

The bill does not include funding for the coordinator initiative. This program was funded at $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2001, but has not been reauthorized as a separate line item in H.R. 1 as passed by the House. The budget did not request funding for it.

Choice and Innovation State grants

The bill does not include $471,500,000 for this new program requested by the Administration. This program has not been authorized. Activities proposed to be funded by this program are funded in other programs throughout this bill.

State assessments

The bill includes $400,000,000 for state assessments, $80,000,000 above the budget request. This is a new program which will provide states funding to develop annual assessments and to carry out activities related to ensuring accountability for results in the state's schools and school districts.

Reform and Innovation Fund

The bill does not include funding for the reform and innovation fund. This is a new program for which the Administration requested $40,000,000. The program would reward states that make significant progress in academic achievement for students. The primary indicators of state academic programs will be the state assessments. However, since states are not required to have their assessments in place until the 2004-2005 school year, no state will qualify for a reward in fiscal year 2002 and funding in this fiscal year is not necessary.

Inexpensive book distribution (reading is fundamental)

The bill provides $23,000,000 for the inexpensive book distribution program, the same as the fiscal year 2001 appropriation. The Administration did not request funding for this program. This program makes an award to Reading is Fundamental, Inc., to buy inexpensive books, offer them through local community programs to children from low-income families, and motivate children to read. Federal funds provide for up to 75 percent of the costs of the books.

Arts in education

The bill provides $30,000,000 for the arts in education program. This is $2,000,000 above fiscal year 2001 and $30,000,000 above the budget request. This program supports arts programs in elementary and secondary education and supports demonstration programs for the involvement of disabled persons in the arts. Within the amount provided in the bill, the Committee intends that the following allocations be made: $7,000,000 for the Very Special Arts, $6,000,000 for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts arts education programs; $4,000,000 for activities authorized under subpart 2 of the Arts in Education program; and $2,000,000 for model professional development programs for music educators.

Magnet schools assistance

The bill includes $110,000,000 for the magnet schools assistance program, the same as the budget request and the same as the fiscal year 2001 level. The Committee directs the Secretary, when allocating these funds, to give priority for funding to the highest-quality applications remaining from the previous year's competition before funding applications approved in a new competition. The committee includes no funds for a new competition for magnet schools innovative programs.

The magnet schools assistance program awards competitive grants to local educational agencies for use in establishing or operating magnet schools that are part of a desegregation plan approved by a court or by the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. A magnet school is defined by the statute as `a school or education center that offers a special curriculum capable of attracting substantial numbers of students of different racial backgrounds.' A funding priority is given to local educational agencies that have not participated during the most recent funding cycle.

Education for homeless children and youth

For the education of homeless children and youth program, the Committee recommends $50,000,000. This level is $15,000,000 above the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 appropriation. Grants are allocated to States in proportion to the total that each State receives under the title I program. For local grants, at least 50 percent must be used for direct services to homeless children and youth, including tutoring or remedial or other educational services.

Women's educational equity

The bill includes $3,000,000 for Women's Educational Equity. This program was funded at $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2001. The Administration did not request funding for it. This program supports projects, technical assistance and dissemination activities to promote educational equity for girls and women including those who suffer multiple discrimination based on gender and race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, or age.

Training and advisory services

The bill includes $7,334,000 for training and advisory services authorized by title IV-A of the Civil Rights Act. This amount is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 amount. Title IV-A authorizes technical assistance and training services for local educational agencies to address problems associated with desegregation on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. Competitive awards are made to civil rights units within State educational agencies and to regional desegregation assistance centers. The Department awards 3-year grants to regional equity assistance centers (EACs) located in each of the 10 Department of Education regions. The EACs provide services to school districts upon request. Typical activities include disseminating information on successful education practices and legal requirements related to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, and national origin in educational programs; training designed to develop educators' skills in specific areas, such as the identification of race and sex bias in instructional materials; increasing the skills of educational personnel in dealing with race-based confrontations such as hate crimes; and providing technical assistance in the identification and selection of appropriate educational programs to meet the needs of limited English proficient students.

Ellender fellowships/Close-Up

The bill provides $1,500,000 for Ellender fellowships, the same as the fiscal year 2001 level and $1,500,000 above the budget request. The Ellender fellowship program makes an award to the Close-Up Foundation of Washington, D.C. This organization provides fellowships to students from low income families and their teachers to enable them to participate with other students and teachers for a week of seminars on government and meetings with representatives of the three branches of the Federal government.

Education for native Hawaiians

The Committee recommends $28,000,000 for education for Native Hawaiians, the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 amount. A number of programs limited to Native Hawaiians are supported with these funds, including a model curriculum project, family-based education centers, postsecondary education fellowships, gifted and talented education projects, and special education projects for disabled pupils.

Alaska native education equity

The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for the Alaska native education equity program, the same as both the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 amount. These funds are used to develop supplemental educational programs to benefit Alaska natives.

Rural Education

The bill includes $200,000,000 for a new program to provide rural school districts with resources. The budget did not request funding for this program.

A school district would be eligible to receive services if the total number of students in average daily attendance at all the schools in the district is less than 600, and all the schools served by the district are designated by the Secretary of Education to be in a rural area. Funds would be allocated by formula to states and could be used for teacher recruitment and retention; teacher professional development; education technology; parental involvement activities; or programs to improve student academic achievement. The budget did not request funding for this program.

Character Education

The bill includes $25,000,000 for character education programs. The President's budget requested $25,000,000 for these activities under a separate program. Comparable fiscal year 2001 funding for this activity was $7,800,000. Funds would be used for grants to states, school districts or a consortia of such agencies for the design and implementation of character education programs that can be integrated in state academic content standards and carried out in conjunction with other educational reform efforts.

Mentoring programs

The bill includes $30,000,000 for a new mentoring program which would provide competitive grants to school districts to promote mentoring programs for children with the greatest need. The budget did not request funding for this program.

For the last two years the Committee has provided project funding for school-based mentoring, which has resulted in the establishment of 40,000 new one-to-one, school-based mentoring relationships in the United States. The Committee supports this type of effort to serve more at-risk children.

Charter schools

The Committee recommends $200,000,000 for support of charter schools, the same as the budget request and $10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2001 amount. Charter schools are developed and administered by individuals or groups of individuals, which may include teachers, administrators, and parents. These groups enter into charters for operation of their schools, which must be granted exemptions from State and local rules that limit flexibility in school operation and management. Under this program, grants are made to State educational agencies in States that have charter school laws; the State educational agencies will in turn make sub-grants to authorized public chartering agencies in partnerships with developers of charter schools.

Charter schools homestead fund

The bill does not include $175,000,000 for this new program requested by the Administration. This program has not been authorized.

Comprehensive regional assistance centers

The Committee recommends $28,000,000 for comprehensive regional assistance centers, the same as the fiscal year 2001 amount and the budget request. These funds are intended to continue the existing centers for an additional year. This program supports 15 comprehensive regional technical assistance centers for improving ESEA programs.

Advanced placement test fee program

The Committee recommends $22,000,000 for advanced placement fees. This recommendation is the same as the budget request and the fiscal year 2001 amount. The advanced placement test fee program awards grants to States to enable them to cover part or all of the cost of advanced placement test fees of low-income students who are enrolled in advanced placement classes and plan to take the advanced placement test. This program also supports competitive grants to states for programs that encourage greater participation by low-income students in advanced placement courses.

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