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[DOCID: f:h573ih.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 573
To provide grants to State educational agencies and local educational
agencies for the provision of classroom-related technology training for
elementary and secondary school teachers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2001
Mrs. Capps introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide grants to State educational agencies and local educational
agencies for the provision of classroom-related technology training for
elementary and secondary school teachers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Teacher Technology Training Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Between 1994 and 2005, more than 1,000,000 new computer
scientists and engineers, system analysts, and computer
programmers will be required in the United States.
(2) Today's elementary school and secondary school students
need effective computer training in schools so that the
students can effectively compete in tomorrow's job market.
(3) More schools are using computers than ever before
creating a greater need for teachers to utilize computer
equipment effectively in a classroom setting.
(4) In just 3 years, the percentage of public schools with
Internet access increased from 35 percent in the fall of 1994
to 78 percent in the fall of 1997, with 98 percent of all
schools owning computers.
(5) The need for teachers who have knowledge and mastery of
computer skills in the classroom is great.
(6) Schools need increased funding to serve the computer
and technology needs of their rapidly growing student
populations.
(7) Only 23 percent of elementary school and secondary
school teachers feel qualified in using computers and related
technology, according to the Department of Education.
SEC. 3 DEFINITIONS.
The terms used in this Act have the meanings given the terms in
section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to
State educational agencies to enable the State educational agencies to
award grants to local educational agencies for the provision of
classroom-related technology training for licensed or certified
elementary school or secondary school teachers.
(b) Need Basis.--Each State educational agency that receives a
grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to award grants to local
educational agencies in the State on the basis of the local educational
agencies' demonstrated need for strengthening teacher training in the
use of technology in instruction.
(c) Duration.--A grant made under this Act shall be awarded for a
period not to exceed 5 years.
SEC. 5. GRANT AWARD.
(a) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
Act--
(1) a State educational agency shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time and in such form as the Secretary
may require; and
(2) a local educational agency shall submit an application
to the State educational agency at such time and in such form
as the State educational agency may require.
(b) Number.--A State educational agency shall award not less than
one grant under this Act to a local educational agency in the State
that meets the criteria for the grant award that are established by the
Secretary. If the amount appropriated under section 8 for a fiscal year
is $50,000,000 or greater, the Secretary shall award one grant to each
State educational agency that applies and serves one of the 50 States
of the United States.
SEC. 6. USES OF FUNDS.
A local educational agency that receives a grant under this Act may
use the grant funds to strengthen instruction and learning, provide
professional development, and pay the costs of training, related to the
use of technologies in instruction. A local educational agency that
receives a grant under this Act may use the grant funds to provide
training by local educational agency personnel on school premises.
SEC. 7. EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the Secretary first
awards grants under this Act, the Secretary shall evaluate the
technology training programs for teachers developed by local
educational agencies under this Act.
(b) Dissemination of Results.--The Secretary shall collect
information related to the evaluation and make available to the public
upon request the results of the evaluation.
(c) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary may use not more than 2
percent of the total amount appropriated under section 8 for fiscal
year 2000 to conduct the evaluation under subsection (a).
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and
2006.
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