article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Access to High Standards Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) far too many students are not being provided sufficient academic preparation in secondary school, which results in limited employment opportunities, college dropout rates of over 25 percent for the first year of college, and remediation for almost one-third of incoming college freshmen; (2) there is a growing consensus that raising academic standards, establishing high academic expectations, and showing concrete results are at the core of improving public education; (3) modeling academic standards on the well-known program of advanced placement courses is an approach that many education leaders and almost half of all States have endorsed; (4) advanced placement programs already are providing 30 different college-level courses, serving almost 60 percent of all secondary schools, reaching over 1,000,000 students (of whom 80 percent attend public schools, 55 percent are females, and 30 percent are minorities), and providing test scores that are accepted for college credit at over 3,000 colleges and universities, every university in Germany, France, and Austria, and most institutions in Canada and the United Kingdom; (5) 24 States are now funding programs to increase participation in advanced placement programs, including 19 States that provide funds for advanced placement teacher professional development, 3 States that require that all public secondary schools offer advanced placement courses, 10 States that pay the fees for advanced placement tests for some or all students, and 4 States that require that their public universities grant uniform academic credit for scores of 3 or better on advanced placement tests; and (6) the State programs described in paragraph (5) have shown the responsiveness of schools and students to such programs, raised the academic standards for both students participating in such programs and other children taught by teachers who are involved in advanced placement courses, and shown tremendous success in increasing enrollment, achievement, and minority participation in advanced placement programs. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to encourage more of the 600,000 students who take advanced placement courses but do not take advanced placement exams each year to demonstrate their achievements through taking the exams; (2) to build on the many benefits of advanced placement programs for students, which benefits may include the acquisition of skills that are important to many employers, Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) scores that are 100 points above the national averages, and the achievement of better grades in secondary school and in college than the grades of students who have not participated in the programs; (3) to support State and local efforts to raise academic standards through advanced placement programs, and thus further increase the number of students who participate and succeed in advanced placement programs; (4) to increase the availability and broaden the range of schools that have advanced placement programs, which programs are still often distributed unevenly among regions, States, and even secondary schools within the same school district, while also increasing and diversifying student participation in the programs; (5) to build on the State programs described in subsection (a)(5) and demonstrate that larger and more diverse groups of students can participate and succeed in advanced placement programs; (6) to provide greater access to advanced placement courses for low-income and other disadvantaged students; and (7) to provide access to advanced placement courses for secondary school juniors at schools that do not offer advanced placement programs, increase the rate of secondary school juniors and seniors who participate in advanced placement courses to 25 percent of the secondary school student population, and increase the numbers of students who receive advanced placement test scores for which college academic credit is awarded. SEC. 3. ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS. (a) Grants Authorized.-- (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under the authority of subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (c). (2) Duration and payments.-- (A) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this section for a period of 3 years. (B) Payments.--The Secretary shall make grant payments under this section on an annual basis. (3) Definition of eligible entity.--In this section, the term ``eligible entity'' means a State educational agency, or a local educational agency, in the State. (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities submitting applications under subsection (d) that demonstrate-- (1) a pervasive need for access to advanced placement incentive programs; (2) the involvement of business and community organizations in the activities to be assisted; (3) the availability of matching funds from State or local sources to pay for the cost of activities to be assisted; (4) a focus on developing or expanding advanced placement programs and participation in the core academic areas of English, mathematics, and science; and (5)(A) in the case of an eligible entity that is a State educational agency, the State educational agency carries out programs in the State that target-- (i) local educational agencies serving schools with a high concentration of low-income students; or (ii) schools with a high concentration of low- income students; or (B) in the case of an eligible entity that is a local educational agency, the local educational agency serves schools with a high concentration of low-income students. (c) Authorized Activities.--An eligible entity may use grant funds under this section to expand access for low-income individuals to advanced placement incentive programs that involve-- (1) teacher training; (2) preadvanced placement course development; (3) curriculum coordination and articulation between grade levels that prepares students for advanced placement courses; (4) curriculum development; (5) books and supplies; and (6) any other activity directly related to expanding access to and participation in advanced placement incentive programs particularly for low-income individuals. (d) Application.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Data Collection and Reporting.-- (1) Data collection.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall annually report to the Secretary-- (A) the number of students taking advanced placement courses who are served by the eligible entity; (B) the number of advanced placement tests taken by students served by the eligible entity; (C) the scores on the advanced placement tests; and (D) demographic information regarding individuals taking the advanced placement courses and tests disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, English proficiency status, and socioeconomic status. (2) Report.--The Secretary shall annually compile the information received from each eligible entity under paragraph (1) and report to Congress regarding the information. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. SEC. 4. ON-LINE ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES. (a) Grants Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under subsection (f) the Secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies to enable the local educational agencies to provide students with on-line advanced placement courses. (b) Contracts.--A local educational agency that receives a grant under this section may enter into a contract with a nonprofit or for- profit organization to provide the on-line advanced placement courses, including contracting for necessary support services. (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section the Secretary shall give priority to local educational agencies that-- (1) serve high concentrations of low-income students; (2) serve rural areas; and (3) the Secretary determines would not have access to on- line advanced placement courses without assistance provided under this section. (d) Uses.--Grant funds provided under this section may be used to purchase the on-line curriculum, to train teachers with respect to the use of on-line curriculum, or to purchase course materials. (e) Applications.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT. (a) Dissemination of Advanced Placement Information.--Each institution of higher education receiving Federal funds for research or for programs assisted under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)-- (1) shall distribute to secondary school counselors or advanced placement coordinators in the State information with respect to the amount and type of academic credit provided to students at the institution of higher education for advanced placement test scores; and (2) shall standardize, not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the form and manner in which the information described in paragraph (1) is disseminated by the various departments, offices, or other divisions of the institution of higher education. (b) State and Local Initiatives.-- (1) Javits gifted and talented students.--Section 10205(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8035(a)) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(3) to programs and projects for gifted and talented students that build on or otherwise incorporate advanced placement courses and tests.''. (2) Upward bound program.--Section 402C of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-13) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(f) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants under this section to upward bound projects that focus on increasing secondary school student participation and success in advanced placement courses.''. (3) Eisenhower professional development.-- (A) Federal activities.--Section 2101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6621) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in awarding grants and entering into contracts and cooperative agreements under this part to activities that involve training in advanced placement instruction.''. (B) State and local activities.--Section 2207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6647) is amended-- (i) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (ii) in paragraph (13), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: ``(14) providing professional development activities involving training in advanced placement instruction.''. (4) Technology.-- (A) Star schools.--Section 3204 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6894) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(i) Advanced Placement Instruction.--Each eligible entity receiving funds under this part is encouraged to deliver advanced placement instruction to underserved communities.''. (B) Education technology grants.--Subpart 2 of part A of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6841 et seq.) is amended-- (i) in section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844)-- (I) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (II) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (III) by adding at the end the following: ``(7) providing education technology for advanced placement instruction.''; and (ii) in section 3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 6846(c))-- (I) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (II) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (III) by adding at the end the following: ``(6) the project will use education technology for advanced placement instruction.''. SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Advanced placement incentive program.--The term ``advanced placement incentive program'' means a program that provides advanced placement activities and services to low- income individuals. (2) Advanced placement test.--The term ``advanced placement test'' means an advanced placement test administered by the College Board or approved by the Secretary. (3) High concentration of low-income students.--The term ``high concentration of low-income students'', used with respect to a State educational agency, local educational agency or school, means an agency or school, as the case may be, that serves a student population 40 percent or more of whom are from families with incomes below the poverty level, as determined in the same manner as the determination is made under section 1124(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(2)). (4) Low-income individual.--The term ``low-income individual'' means a low-income individual (as defined in section 402A(g)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11(g)(2)) who is academically prepared to successfully take an advanced placement test as determined by a school teacher or advanced placement coordinator taking into consideration factors such as enrollment and performance in an advanced placement course or superior academic ability. (5) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). (6) Local educational agency; secondary school; and state educational agency.--The terms ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801). (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education. (8) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
summary: Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to make AP programs a priority for Javits Gifted and Talented Students, Upward Bound, Eisenhower professional development, Star Schools, and education technology grants. Requires each institution of higher learning receiving HEA assistance to distribute to secondary school counselors or AP coordinators in the State information on academic credit given to students at the institution for AP test scores.