Neighborhood Schools Improvement Act

Summary

Better Education for All Students Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title VIII, Better Education for all Students, to improve education for all students in the Nation through grants to States to restructure education systems at State and local levels. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make such grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to enable States to reform and improve the quality of education. Requires SEAs to use such grants to: (1) develop an educational reform plan, including goals and innovations in curricular frameworks, materials, and assessment tools; and (2) implement reforms and a plan to improve the education system within the State. Sets forth application requirements. Requires SEA grant applications to cover a five-year period, and to contain specified assurances, descriptions, and other provisions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) approve applications and amendments that meet such requirements and that are of sufficient quality to meet specified objectives; and (2) give notice, technical assistance, and opportunity for a hearing before any final disapproval. Requires each State program assisted under this Act to establish a panel coordinated by the chief State school officer to develop a statewide reform plan. Sets forth requirements for various officials and entities to be represented on such panel. Sets forth requirements for State plan contents and plan development and approval procedures. Requires States with approved plans to use funds (allotted by the Secretary under this Act, and State and private funds contributed to make up the total cost of a State program) to: (1) develop and implement State goals, curricular frameworks, and assessment tools; (2) technical assistance (including information dissemination) to local educational agencies (LEAs) to carry out local plans; (3) specified authorized activities for LEAs, as appropriate; and (4) evaluation, reporting, and data collection. Requires the SEA, from the allotted program funds and within four years, to make subgrants to LEAs, provided that: (1) such SEA has a formal process for doing so; (2) one LEA in each congressional district shall receive a subgrant; and (3) the LEA with the greatest number of disadvantaged children in the State shall receive a subgrant. Requires that funds available under this Act be used to carry out the plan in a manner which ensures that all children, and especially those identified through the assessment process as not achieving satisfactorily, are afforded ample opportunity to reach local, State, and national goals. Sets forth requirements for content, development, and approval of local plans. Requires local plans to assure: (1) broad-based community participation in plan development; and (2) ongoing evaluation of plan effectiveness, including annual review and making necessary changes. Requires local plans to propose district-wide reform which includes: (1) developing a curriculum to implement the State's frameworks; (2) setting local goals; (3) identifying or developing instructional materials; (4) providing teacher and administrator training; and (5) identifying assessment instruments to measure progress toward meeting State and local goals. Requires LEAs to use such subgrant funds for district-wide reform, consistent with State and local plans. Sets forth a list of authorized activities. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act of FY 1992 through 2002, but prohibits any such appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994 unless the aggregate appropriation for all elementary and secondary programs which received funding in the previous fiscal year is at least equal to the appropriation for such preceding fiscal year, adjusted for inflation. Authorizes the Secretary, from such appropriation for this Act, to make annual grants to States with approved applications based upon the formula for State allotments under the chapter 1 program for education of disadvantaged children (under part A of chapter 1 of title I of ESEA). Provides for a gradually declining Federal share (from 100 percent in the first year to 33 percent in the fifth and any succeeding year) of total program costs. Requires the remaining program cost to be paid by the State from a combination of State and private sector funds. Limits the amount which may be reserved for administrative costs. Requires annual progress reports by States to the Secretary, including progress toward State goals and plans and description of proposed activities for the succeeding year. Directs the Secretary to evaluate a representative sample of such State and local reform efforts over the course of the ten-year authorization, to assess their effectiveness in improving educational performance outcomes of all children, including an examination of such activities' effects on disadvantaged students. Authorizes reservation of a portion of funds for such evaluation. Declares that nothing in this Act shall supersede State law.

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Documents

4 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 7 November 1991

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 12 September 1991

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