Education for a Competitive America Act

(Measure indefinitely postponed in Senate)

Education for a Competitive America Act - Title I: Education for Economic Security - Education for Economic Security Reauthorization Act - Amends the Education for Economic Security Act to extend through FY 1993 the authorization of appropriations under title II of such Act for financial assistance from the Secretary of Education to State and local educational agencies and to institutions of higher education to improve the skills of teachers and instruction in mathematics, science, computer learning, and foreign languages.

Extends through FY 1993 the authorization of appropriations under title III of the Act for the National Science Foundation program for partnerships in education for mathematics, science, and engineering to improve the quality of instruction, furnish additional support for research, student scholarships, and faculty exchange programs, and encourage educational partnerships among business, higher education, and elementary and secondary schools.

Star Schools Program Assistance Act - Amends the Education for Economic Security Act to add a title establishing a star schools program.

Empowers the Secretary of Education to make demonstration grants of up to a fiscal year maximum of $20,000,000 per grant to eligible telecommunications partnerships for the development, construction, and acquisition of telecommunications facilities and equipment and for technical assistance.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1992, subject to fiscal year limitations.

Mandates that at least 50 percent of funds under this Act for any fiscal year be used for the cost of facilities, equipment, teacher training or retraining, technical assistance, or programming for certain local educational agencies.

Sets forth eligibility criteria to identify eligible telecommunications partnerships, which must be organized on a statewide or multistate regional basis and be either: (1) a public agency or corporation established to provide education-related telecommunications networks to certain educational or health institutions or to industries; or (2) a partnership that will provide a telecommunications network and whose membership includes combinations of certain specified educational entities (especially elementary and secondary schools eligible for funds under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or such eligible schools operated by the Department of the Interior for Indian children) or public or private organizations experienced with telecommunications.

Authorizes eligible partnerships to submit a grant application: (1) describing the telecommunications facilities, equipment, and technical assistance for which aid is being sought; (2) demonstrating that the services offered will increase the availability of courses of instruction in mathematics, science, and foreign languages; (3) describing teacher training policies to be implemented to ensure the effective use of the relevant facilities; (4) providing assurances that the financial interest of the United States in the telecommunications facilities and equipment will be protected for their useful life; (5) assuring that a significant portion of the facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming will be made available within local educational agencies having a high percentage of educationally deprived students; (6) describing how traditionally underserved students will participate in the benefits of such technology; and (7) containing other assurances and information as required by the Secretary.

Directs the Secretary, in approving applications, to assure an equitable geographic distribution of grants and to give priority to certain applicants, including those partnerships that: (1) have the capacity to serve the broadest range of targeted institutions; (2) have substantial academic and teaching capabilities; (3) will serve a multistate area; and (4) demonstrate strength in mathematics, science, and foreign language resources which by distribution through the partnership will offer new educational opportunities, especially to traditionally underserved populations and to areas with limited access to such resources; and (5) will meet the needs of individuals traditionally excluded from careers in mathematics and science because of discrimination, inaccessibility, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Requires each grantee to report to the Secretary concerning courses and materials to be transmitted by satellite to educational institutions and teacher training centers and to specify the locus and time of such transmissions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) compile and prepare for dissemination a listing and description of the courses and materials submitted by each grantee; and (2) distribute such list to all State educational agencies.

Authorizes the Office of Technology Assessment, upon request, to: (1) conduct a thorough evaluation of the use of the telecommunications system supported by the grants awarded under this Act, and report to the Congress on such evaluation; and (2) study and evaluate the cost of designing, building, and launching a satellite for educational purposes, including an analysis of potential users' ability to repay such costs. Requires a report to the Congress if such study indicates that potential users would be able to repay such costs within ten years.

Title II: Foreign Language Assistance - Part A: Foreign Language Assistance - Foreign Language Assistance Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies to fund model programs, designed and operated by local educational agencies, for the improvement and expansion of foreign language study for children who reside within their school districts. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount of such grants based on State population. Sets forth provisions relating to the availability of such funds. Sets forth grant application requirements for State educational agencies, including provisions for periodic student proficiency evaluation. Provides for program participation by private school children.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993 to carry out this title.

Part B: Presidential Award for Languages - Authorizes the President to make Presidential Awards for Teaching Excellence in Foreign Lanugages to elementary and secondary school teachers of foreign languages who have demonstrated outstanding qualifications in the field of teaching foreign languages. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993 for such awards.

Title III: Education for Disadvantaged Children - Part A: Secondary School Basic Skills Achievement Program - Secondary School Basic Skills Improvement Act of 1987 - Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 to provide assistance to local educational agencies with high concentrations of low-income children to improve the achievement of educationally deprived children enrolled in secondary schools. Sets forth the authorized uses of such funds. Requires local educational agencies to include in applications for such funds a plan of operation as specified by this Act. Describes the process for the award of grants by State educational agencies to local agencies.

Requires local educational agencies to evaluate their programs and report to the State educational agency at least biennially. Requires the State agency to make a public report of such programs at least biennially and to collect data on the race, age, and gender of children served by such programs.

Provides for improving programs which show a decline in achievement of children served under such programs.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988.

Part B: Improvement of Chapter 1 Programs - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to change the allocation formula for the current education for disadvantaged children program as such formula affects small States.

Title IV: Educational Partnerships - Educational Partnerships Act of 1987 - Declares that the purpose of this title is to encourage the creation of educational partnerships between public schools and the private sector in order to apply the resources of the private and nonprofit sectors of the community, particularly business concerns and community-based organizations, to the needs of educational institutions in that community designed to encourage excellence in education.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to educational partnerships to pay the Federal share of costs of the model cooperative programs for authorized activities. Includes among such authorized activities: (1) projects which serve educationally disadvantaged and gifted and talented students; (2) projects designed to enrich secondary school students' career awareness; (3) projects for foreign language instruction; (4) special training for staff to facilitate public school/private sector cooperation; (5) academic internship programs; and (6) projects to provide tutoring by private sector personnel.

Sets forth application requirements and the Federal share of such activities.

Directs the Secretary annually to evaluate grants made under this title.

Directs the Secretary to disseminate to State and local educational agencies and other participants in the eligible partnerships any information relating to the activities assisted under this title.

Title V: Training Technology Transfer - Training Technology Transfer Act of 1987 - Establishes the Office of Training Technology Transfer in the Department of Education.

Provides that the Director of the Office shall be appointed by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor. Sets forth provisions relating to staffing and staff compensation.

Requires the Director to compile and maintain a current and comprehensive inventory of all training technology developed by or under the supervision of Federal agencies.

Defines "training technology" as computer software which is developed by a Federal agency to train its employees and which may be transferred to or converted for use by a commercial user or a public interest user. Includes under such definition software for computer-based instructional systems, interactive video disc systems, microcomputer training devices, audiovisual devices, and programmed learning kits, and associated manuals and devices integrally related to the software program.

Requires the Director, in compiling such inventory, to: (1) consult with and fully utilize the resources of all Federal agencies engaged in the collection and dissemination of information concerning training technology; and (2) request the participation and cooperation of entities in the legislative and judicial branches.

Requires the Director to disseminate the inventory and its revisions widely and on a regular basis to give all potential users of training technology ample notice of its development by Federal agencies. Requires the Director to use all interagency and intergovernmental communications mechanisms and to encourage the participation of independent private sector organizations.

Requires the Director to develop and distribute detailed instructions and procedures for securing copies, and rights thereto, of training technology listed in such inventory and guidelines for cooperative agreements between commercial users and public interest users under specified provisions of this title.

Defines "public interest user" as: (1) any Federal agency which uses or intends to use the training technology of another Federal agency; and (2) any nonprofit entity which uses or intends to use the training technology of a Federal agency and which provides job training, vocational education, or other education services (including public school systems, vocational schools, private preparatory schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, private industry councils, community-based organizations, and State and local government agencies).

Requires the Director to advise and consult with any prospective public interest user of training technology listed in the inventory and assist such user in securing the transfer of such technology from the Federal agency which developed it. Requires the Director to encourage such user to obtain such technology by working with the Training Technology Transfer Officer of such agency. Requires the Director, if an agency has not established procedures for the transfer of training technology, to negotiate the transfer of such technology upon application by such user.

Authorizes the Director to enter into contracts with institutions of higher education and qualified private sector business concerns for the conversion of training technology in order to adapt such technology to the requirements of a public interest user.

Requires the Director to advise and consult with any prospective commercial user of a training technology listed in the inventory. Authorizes the Director to sell or lease such technology, including exclusive or nonexclusive rights in patents or copyrights, to a commercial user on a cost reimbursable basis.

Authorizes the Director to waive, or negotiate reductions of, such purchase prices or other favorable terms for commercial users who agree to enter into cooperative agreements with public interest users or user groups. Requires such agreements to be acceptable to the Director and to provide for a conversion of the training technology, without charge, by the commercial user to meet the specific needs of the public interest user or user group.

Requires the Director, in negotiating such terms for the sale or lease of training technology, to give preferential consideration to cooperative agreements which: (1) will result in enhancing the employment potential and potential earnings of the maximum number of individuals; (2) encourage and promote multiple uses of training technology converted by users with similar training needs; and (3) provide beneficial uses of training technology for small businesses.

Requires any training technology converted under such a cooperative agreement to be: (1) listed in the inventory; and (2) available for transfer to any other public interest user.

Requires the Director to: (1) study the effectiveness of training technology transfers and conversions under this title; and (2) analyze national needs for methods to convert training technology which are in addition to the method of cooperative agreements between commercial and public interest users. Requires the Director, within three years after the enactment of this title, to report to the Congress on such study and analysis, with the Director's recommendations as to whether the public interest would be served through the establishment of a program of grants to support the conversion of training technology.

Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Director in implementing this title. Requires Federal agency heads to report to the Secretary of Education if they find that their agency cannot cooperate with the Director for reasons of national security or any other reason. Directs the Secretary to report all such findings received during the preceding 12-month period to the Congress by July 1 of each year.

Requires the Director to cooperate with the Federal Software Exchange Center of the National Technical Information Service to facilitate training technology transfer between Federal agencies.

Sets forth administrative provisions.

Establishes the Training Technology Transfer Advisory Board and sets forth provisions relating to Board appointments, compensation, and meetings.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and succeeding fiscal years.

Title VI: Higher Education - Part A: International Business Education Program - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to pay the Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, and operating centers for international business education which: (1) will be national resources for the teaching of improved business techniques, strategies, and methodologies which emphasize the international context in which business is transacted; (2) will provide instruction in critical foreign languages and international fields needed to provide understanding of the cultures and customs of United States trading partners; and (3) will provide research and training in the international aspects of trade, commerce, and other fields of study. Requires such centers to serve as regional resources to businesses proximately located by offering programs and providing research designed to meet the international training needs of such businesses. Describes programs and activities to be conducted by such centers.

Requires institutions, or combinations of such institutions, in order to be eligible for assistance, to establish a Center Advisory Council to conduct extensive planning concerning the scope of the center's activities and programs.

Establishes the schedule for the Federal share of costs for such centers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and for each of the three succeeding fiscal years.

Part B: Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program - Amends the funding requirements of the Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to raise the amount of funding that may be allocated for such program if the annual appropriation for the Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds equals or exceeds a specified amount.

Title VII: Vocational Education - Amends the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act to increase the authorization of appropriations for adult training, retraining, and employment development and for industry-education partnerships for training in high technology occupations. Requires that special consideration be given to individuals who have attained 55 years of age.

Title VIII: National Center for Research and Development in the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth - Directs the Secretary to establish a National Center for Research and Development in the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth through grants to or contracts with one or more institutions of higher education or State educational agencies, or a combination or consortium of such institutions and agencies. Requires the Secretary to appoint a Director for such Center and an advisory committee to advise on the administration of this title.

Requires the Center to conduct: (1) research on methods and techniques for identifying and teaching gifted and talented children and youth; and (2) program evaluations, surveys, and the collection, analysis, and development of information needed to carry out the objectives of this title.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993.

Title IX: Assistance to Address School Dropout Problems - School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Act of 1987 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990 for grants to local educational agencies for demonstration programs of dropout prevention, reentry, information, and identification of at-risk students.

Allots specified percentages of such funds to various categories of LEAs and educational partnerships. Limits the Federal share of project cost to no more than 90 percent in the first fiscal year, 70 percent in the second, and 50 percent in the third.

Sets forth grant application requirements, including plans for dropout information collection and reporting systems.

Sets forth authorized activities for which such grants may be used.

Requires that: (1) at least 30 percent of grant funds be used for dropout prevention activites; (2) at least 30 percent of grant funds be used for dropout reentry persuasion and assistance activities; and (3) not more than ten percent of any grant be used for administrative costs.

Requires that grants be used to supplement other funds.

Requires grant recipients to cooperate with the coordination and dissemination efforts of the National Diffusion Network and State educational agencies.

Sets forth provisions for auditing and withholding payments.

Directs the Secretary to use a specified amount to conduct a one-year study of the nature and extent of the dropout problem.

Title X: Literacy Assistance - Part A: Literacy Corps Assistance - Literacy Corps Assistance Act of 1987 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and any fiscal year thereafter, not to exceed two fiscal years, for literacy corps programs. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education for: (1) the costs of participation in such programs and stipends for student coordinators; and (2) technical assistance, collection and dissemination of information, and evaluation of such programs.

Part B: Workplace Literacy Assistance - Amends the Adult Education Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1988 for the Secretary to make demonstration grants to exemplary education partnerships for workplace literacy to pay the Federal share of the cost of adult education programs which teach literacy skills needed in the workplace.

Part C: Instructional Programs in Technology Education - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 for the Secretary to establish a program of grants to local educational agencies, State educational agencies, consortia of public and private agencies, organizations and institutions, and institutions of higher education for not more than ten demonstration programs in technology education for secondary schools.

Part D: General Provisions - Provides that funds are not authorized for any programs under this title for any fiscal year in which the appropriation for the Adult Education Act is not at least of a specified amount.

Terminates the Literacy Corps Assistance Act of 1987 and its program one year after the appropriation of funds for the second fiscal year of its existence.