Sec. 5. Implementation grants
824 words·~4 min read·
/bill/113/hr/2982/ih/section-5A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall award grants to State educational agencies in accordance with this section to implement computer science education improvements proposed in comprehensive plans that meet the requirements of subsections
(b)and
(c)of section 4. Each State educational agency applying for a grant under this section shall— develop quantifiable benchmarks for the activities supported under such grant, which may include benchmarks for increasing— student knowledge and competency of grade-appropriate computer science concepts; the number of students that take computer science courses; the diversity of students who take computer science courses; the number of students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees; the diversity of students who plan to pursue postsecondary computer science degrees; and the number of teachers who are certified to teach computer science; and submit such quantifiable benchmarks to the Secretary for approval. Grant funds received under this section shall be used by each State educational agency for the development and implementation of— challenging and grade-appropriate academic content standards for computer science; grade-appropriate assessments of computer science learning; programs to increase access to computer science courses for students at low-performing schools and students underrepresented in computing; improved computer science teacher certification requirements and processes; professional development programs for computer science teachers; programs for ensuring that computer science courses at the secondary level are considered an integral part of the curriculum students need to be well prepared for higher education and employment; effective computer science curricula; computer science distance learning programs; and such other activities that strengthen computer science education and that such State educational agency considers appropriate. A State educational agency may use not more than five percent of a grant received under this section for administrative expenses. In performing the activities required under subsection (c), each State educational agency shall partner with institutions of higher education and local educational agencies, and may partner with nonprofit organizations, businesses, and other State educational agencies. Each State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall provide a non-Federal share, in cash or in-kind, of the funding for the activities described in subsection
(c)of not less than 20 percent of the total cost of such activities in any fiscal year. The Secretary may reduce or waive the requirement to provide a non-Federal share under paragraph
(1)for a State educational agency if such State educational agency demonstrates a need for such waiver or reduction due to extreme financial hardship. The Secretary shall award each grant under subsection
(a)for a period of five years. At the end of the 5-year period for a grant, the grant recipient may apply for an additional grant under this section by submitting an updated comprehensive plan that meets the requirements of subsections
(b)and
(c)of section 4. In considering an application for a subsequent grant under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the reports filed under subsection (l). The Secretary shall— award grants for a fiscal year on a competitive basis among State educational agencies that meet the requirements for funding under this section; and give priority to State educational agency proposals that include an emphasis on serving low-performing schools and on increasing participation in computer science by students underrepresented in computing. In allocating grant funds received under this section, a State educational agency shall give priority to proposals that include an emphasis on serving low-performing schools and on increasing participation in computer science by students underrepresented in computing. Funds made available to carry out this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and State funds available to carry out the activities described in this section. Each State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall— measure the progress of such State educational agency in achieving the benchmarks developed under subsection (b)(1); collect data relating to student-related benchmarks developed under subsection (b)(1) in a form that is disaggregated by student race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency status, and low-income status, except that such disaggregation shall not be required when the number of students in a category is insufficient to yield statistically reliable results or the results would reveal personally identifiable information about an individual student; collect such other performance information as the Secretary may reasonably require for the national evaluation conducted under section 6; submit a report to the Secretary addressing each item in paragraphs
(1)through
(3)not later than four years after the date on which the State educational agency receives an initial grant under this section; and not later than two years after the date of the submission of the report required under paragraph (4), and biennially thereafter until the State educational agency no longer receives grant funding under this section, submit to the Secretary an update of such report. The Secretary shall provide guidance to State educational agencies regarding acceptable data sources and methodologies for— establishing performance benchmarks; and measuring progress by State educational agencies receiving grants under this section.