Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 2780 / Introduced in House
I
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2780
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2013
Mrs. Lowey (for
herself and Mr. Reichert) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign
Affairs
A BILL
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide
assistance for developing countries to promote quality basic education and to
establish the achievement of quality universal basic education in all
developing countries as an objective of United States foreign assistance
policy, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Education for All Act of
2013.
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1) Throughout the
world, an alarming number of children and youth are not receiving a basic
education. According to the Global Monitoring Report, approximately 57,000,000
children of primary school age are not in school and tens of millions drop out
of school annually. Globally, progress is slowing, and if current trends
continue, there could be as many as 72,000,000 children of primary school age
out of school in 2015. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, the number of primary age
children out of school has remained at approximately 30,000,000 over the past
five years. Additionally, there were an estimated 69,000,000 adolescents not
enrolled in school in 2011 and an estimated 122,000,000 youth (15 to 24 years
old) who could not read and write in 2010, needing a second chance to acquire
even basic literacy and numeracy skills.
(2) Of the
approximately 57,000,000 children of primary school age and 69,000,000
adolescents of lower secondary school age who were not in school in 2011, 53
percent were girls. The proportion of out-of-school primary age girls is
highest in Arab states, Central Asia, South and West Asia, and sub-Saharan
Africa. Over half of the world’s out-of-school children live in sub-Saharan
Africa, and more than 28,000,000 live in countries affected by conflict. A
significant number of such children have been orphaned or otherwise negatively
affected by HIV/AIDS, while others have been victims of child labor or human
trafficking. Of the estimated 120,000,000 to 150,000,000 children with
disabilities under the age of 18 around the world, an estimated 98 percent of
children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school.
Without access to quality education, such children will not have the skills to
contribute to reconstruction and stabilization of their countries.
(3) The final report
of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
(hereafter in this section referred to as the Report) concluded
that education that teaches tolerance, the dignity and value of each
individual, and respect for different beliefs must be a key element in any
global strategy to eliminate terrorism. The Center for Strategic and
International Studies’ Commission on Smart Power determined that
education is the best hope of turning young people away from violence
and extremism.
(4) The vision for
educational opportunity described in the Report to all developing countries,
including countries affected by armed conflict, is critical to achieve the
Education for All Goals and prevent the rise of violent extremism
worldwide.
(5) The Report
concluded that the United States Government must offer an example of moral
leadership in the world and offer parents and their children a vision of the
future that emphasizes individual educational and economic opportunity.
(6) The Report noted
that the United Nations has rightly equated literacy as freedom,
and while gains have been made in Arab states in reducing the out-of-school
population, an estimated 25 percent of the adult population in the Arab states,
or 50,286,000 people, lack basic literacy or numeracy skills needed in everyday
life.
(7) The Report
concluded that ensuring educational opportunity is essential to the efforts of
the United States to defeat global terrorism.
(8) At the World
Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2000, the United States joined more
than 180 other countries in committing to the 6 Education For All goals,
including quality universal basic education.
(9) Since the World
Education Forum in 2000, the number of children out of school has decreased at
an average approximate rate of more than 4,090,000 children per year. Despite
this progress, the goal of achieving quality universal basic education will not
be met, and 72,000,000 children may still be out of school by 2015, while
millions of children in school are not acquiring foundational skills in
literacy and numeracy.
(10) In fiscal year
2012, the United States Agency for International Development’s bilateral
assistance helped to deliver a quality basic education to approximately
23,000,000 learners enrolled in United States Government-supported primary and
secondary schools around the world. USAID has expertise in a number of key
areas, including teacher training, reaching marginalized groups and quality
measurement and has provided technical assistance to governments in order to
create sustainable educational systems.
(11) Basic education
is fundamental to development. No country has reached sustained economic growth
without achieving near universal primary education. Quality education reduces
poverty and inequity, lays the foundation for sound governance, civic
participation, and strong institutions, and equips people with the knowledge,
skills, and self-reliance they need to increase income and expand opportunities
for employment.
(12) Investing in
girls’ education and skills building programs not only delivers substantial
returns in educational attainment but also empowers girls to address conditions
of poverty, low status, and social norms by increasing women’s and household
incomes, delaying the start of sexual activity, reducing infant mortality,
increasing women’s political participation, spurring economic growth, and
delaying marriage.
(13) Education can
help to protect children in conflict situations from physical harm,
exploitation, and sexual abuse, as well as to avoid the recruitment of children
into armed groups and gangs, and promote good governance and poverty reduction.
Additionally, every additional year of schooling for males can reduce their
risk of becoming involved in conflict by 20 percent.
(14) In front line
states, education remains a significant challenge. Of the 57,000,000 children
of primary school age who are out of school, 28,000,000, or 42 percent, are in
conflict-affected poor countries. In Yemen, nearly 80 percent of girls are
unlikely to enroll in school, and in Afghanistan, girls average only 4 years of
schooling.
(15) Multilateral
mechanisms have been proven to marshal critical resources to reach global
development challenges. Funds that are transparent, increase partnership and
coordination among governments, private sector, and civil society, support
national plans, are monitored for results, and hold all stakeholders
accountable have been effective at providing resources to reach global
challenges.
3.
Assistance to
achieve quality universal basic education
(a)
In
general
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 105 the
following new section:
105A.
Assistance to
achieve quality universal basic education
(a)
Purpose
It
is the purpose of this section to ensure that United States resources and
leadership are utilized in a way to best ensure a successful international
effort to provide all children with a quality basic education in order to
achieve the goal of quality universal basic education agreed to at the World
Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal, in 2000.
(b)
Policy
It
is the policy of the United States to work with other countries and
international and local civil society organizations in order to achieve quality
universal basic education by—
(1) assisting
developing countries to provide all children with a quality basic education,
including through strengthening host countries’ educational systems;
(2) assisting
nongovernmental and multilateral organizations working in developing countries
to provide all children with a quality basic education; and
(3) promoting
education as the foundation for communities’ development, including integrating
entrepreneurial and leadership training, disaster preparedness, conflict and
violence prevention and mitigation, disease prevention and treatment, economic
growth and agricultural activities, early childhood development, and democracy
promotion into holistic assistance programs.
(c)
Principles
In
developing the policy referred to in subsection (b), the United States shall be
guided by the following principles:
(1)
United states
resources
To lead a global commitment to achieving quality
universal basic education in developing countries, including in countries
affected by or emerging from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, the United
States shall commit sufficient resources for education in developing countries
to equitably expand access to quality educational opportunity and inspire
confidence in such countries that efforts to reform education will receive
adequate assistance.
(2)
Integrated
bilateral and multilateral approach to sustainable
development
United States assistance shall integrate bilateral
and multilateral assistance modalities within the strategy developed pursuant
to subsection (e), to be directly responsive to host country needs, capacity,
and commitment, and lead to sustainable development. The United States shall
engage on a multilateral basis in a manner that leverages overall impact and
best reinforces United States bilateral aid efforts, which are central to
United States efforts in basic education. Bilateral and multilateral assistance
should be undertaken in close partnership with nongovernmental organizations
and other development partners, including women-led groups.
(3)
United states
assistance to multilateral education initiatives
The United
States shall support multilateral coordination and financing education
initiatives, including the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). United
States assistance shall build upon its comparative advantages and proficiencies
in basic education programs, while leveraging the efforts of existing
country-level development partnerships. Multilateral mechanisms should be
aligned with globally established aid effectiveness principles,
including—
(A) alignment with
recipient country priorities, education plans, and planning processes;
(B) governance shared
by donors, developing country governments, and civil society;
(C) coordination among
governments, multilateral organizations, private sector, and civil
society;
(D) mutual
accountability between donors and recipients for achieving measurable results
in access and quality;
(E) transparency with
respect to financing, policy decisions, and impact; and
(F) sufficient,
predictable resources disbursed in a timely manner.
(4)
Other major
donors
The United States Government should encourage other donors
to contribute commensurate amounts to support quality universal basic
education, through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and to coordinate
their efforts with recipient countries, private entities, and other donors, in
line with the principles of the Paris Declaration.
(5)
Private sector
and nongovernmental participation and contributions
United States
efforts shall include explicit strategies to encourage and integrate
contributions of strategic direction and financial resources from local and
international private sector and civil society organizations, including
organizations that represent teachers, students, and parents, interested in
supporting quality universal basic education efforts.
(6)
School access,
quality, and completion
United States assistance for basic
education in developing countries shall seek—
(A) to expand access
to quality schools and teachers for all children, particularly marginalized and
vulnerable groups, including girls, children affected by or emerging from armed
conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in remote
or rural areas, including those that lack access to safe water and sanitation,
religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, orphans and children
impacted by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, married adolescents and victims of
trafficking;
(B) to promote gender
equity; and
(C) to improve the
quality of education, including foundational skills in literacy and numeracy,
critical thinking, and civic education in order to increase the number of
children completing and benefitting from a basic education.
(7)
Coordination
within the united states government
The United States Government,
led by the United States Agency for International Development, shall support
improved coordination and collaboration among all departments and agencies of
the United States Government involved in providing assistance for basic
education to developing countries to ensure efficient and effective use of the
resources, including efforts to provide a continuity of assistance for basic
education in humanitarian and other emergency situations.
(8)
Support for
communities of learning
The United States shall support the
coordination of development assistance for the holistic development of
communities, and where appropriate, utilize schools as the foundation for
communities’ development and integrate assistance programs, including health
and development programs, nutrition and school feeding programs, sanitation and
hygiene education, adult literacy, leadership development, prevention of
school-related violence, entrepreneurial training, agricultural extension work,
civic education, and housing programs.
(9)
Coordination
with national education plans and economic development
programs
United States assistance for basic education in
developing countries shall be provided in collaboration and coordination with,
where possible, national education plans, to reduce poverty and spur sustained
economic growth, including through the promotion of the value of education and
increasing community and family awareness of the positive impact of education.
The United States shall seek to encourage developing countries to utilize
schools as platforms for the development of communities. Such assistance should
support programs and activities that are appropriate for and meet the needs of
the local and indigenous cultures and carry out programs and activities through
implementation by country-based civil society organizations that support
national education plans.
(10)
Measuring
outcomes
United States assistance for basic education in
developing countries shall include sufficient resources for monitoring and
evaluating the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs.
(d)
Definitions
In
this section:
(1)
Appropriate
congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional
committees means—
(A) the Committee on
Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on
Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(2)
HIV/AIDS
The
term HIV/AIDS has the meaning given that term in section
104A(h).
(3)
Basic
education
The term basic education—
(A) means an
education, generally consisting of completion of 9–10 years of schooling,
including efforts to improve early childhood development, primary education,
secondary education, literacy and numeracy training, and life-skills training
that prepares an individual to be an active, productive member of society and
the workforce; and
(B) includes efforts
to facilitate and support the activities described in subparagraph (A),
including efforts to—
(i) build the
institutional capacity of a country to manage basic education systems and
measure results;
(ii) construct and
rehabilitate schools;
(iii) train quality
teachers;
(iv) increase parent
and community involvement in schools;
(v) provide learning
materials; and
(vi) develop
curricula.
(4)
Global
partnership for education
The term Global Partnership for
Education means the organization formally known as the Fast-Track
Initiative launched in 2002 to mobilize donor resources and accelerate progress
toward the achievement of Education for All, an international commitment to
bring the benefits of basic education to every individual.
(5)
National
education plan
The term national education plan
means a comprehensive national education plan that—
(A) may be developed
in accordance with the provisions of the Global Partnership for Education;
and
(B) includes explicit,
credible strategies informed by effective practices and standards to achieve
quality universal basic education, including strategies to—
(i) address key
constraints to achieving universal basic education in the areas of access,
policy, data, capacity, gender equity, learning, sustainability of efforts, and
financing; and
(ii) coordinate
priorities within the elements of basic education, such as early childhood
development, primary education, and secondary education (delivered in formal
and non-formal settings), and training in literacy, numeracy, and other basic
skills, including life and leadership skills, for adults and out-of-school
youth, and priorities between basic education, workforce development, and
higher education.
(6)
Psychosocial
support
The term psychosocial support has the
meaning given that term in section 135 (relating to assistance for orphans and
other vulnerable children).
(7)
Relevant
executive branch agencies and officials
The term relevant
executive branch agencies and officials means—
(A) the Department of
State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department
of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, the
Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the
Department of Defense;
(B) the Chief
Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Coordinator of
United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally, the National
Security Advisor, the Director of the Peace Corps, and the National Economic
Advisor; and
(C) any other
department, agency, or official of the United States Government that
participates in activities to promote quality universal basic education
pursuant to the authorities of such department, agency, or official or pursuant
to this Act.
(8)
INEE minimum
standards
The term INEE Minimum Standards refers to
standards for education developed by the Inter-Agency Network on Education in
Emergencies designed for use in emergency response, emergency preparedness, and
in humanitarian advocacy, and applicable in a wide range of situations,
including natural disasters and armed conflicts.
(e)
Development and
implementation of a comprehensive united states strategy on education for
all
(1)
Strategy
required
The President shall develop a comprehensive integrated
strategy of the United States to promote quality universal basic education that
will—
(A) seek to equitably
expand access to basic education for all children, particularly marginalized
and vulnerable groups, including girls, children affected by or emerging from
armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities, children in
remote or rural areas, religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples,
orphans and children impacted by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, and victims of
trafficking, as well as to promote gender equity; and
(B) improve the
quality of basic education, particularly as reflected in measurable learning
outcomes, as appropriate.
(2)
Elements
The
strategy required by paragraph (1) shall be formulated and implemented in
consideration of the principles set forth in subsection (c) and shall—
(A) include specific
objectives, indicators, including indicators to measure learning outcomes, and
approaches to increase access and quality of basic education in developing
countries;
(B) seek to build
capacity within developing countries for basic education programs in order to
make progress toward the goal of achieving sustainable development;
(C) outline how the
United States Government will ensure a transition and continuity of educational
activities in countries affected by or emerging from armed conflict or
humanitarian crises;
(D) assign priorities
to relevant executive branch agencies and officials;
(E) improve
coordination and reduce duplication among relevant executive branch agencies
and officials, foreign donor governments, and international organizations at
the global and country levels;
(F) project general
levels of resources needed to achieve the stated objectives;
(G) utilize public
private partnerships, where appropriate, in order to leverage resources;
(H) target the
activities of the United States to leverage contributions from other bilateral
donors to provide quality universal basic education;
(I) support efforts to
reduce the adverse impact of HIV/AIDS on education systems, including by
equipping teachers with skills needed for HIV/AIDS prevention and support for
persons with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS;
(J) promote gender
equity and improve educational opportunities for women and girls, and strive to
ensure safe schools, equal access, workforce opportunities, leadership role
development, and the preservation of dignity and respect;
(K) support local
actors to review curricula, textbooks, and educational materials, with the goal
of incorporating content on peace, human rights, civic education and respect
for diversity;
(L) work with
governments of conflict-affected states and governments assisting in preventing
or limiting conflict to limit the effects of conflict on students, teachers,
and schools and to promote and fund inclusive, good-quality education; to
establish respect for schools as sanctuaries or zones of peace; to develop
mechanisms to protect threatened students, teachers, and education personnel;
and to develop ways to rapidly reconstruct, repair, and resupply attacked
educational institutions and to support the continuation of education in
alternative places or via alternative methods;
(M) adopt a
Communities of Learning approach that integrates, where
appropriate and to the extent practicable, school and educational programs with
health and development programs, nutrition and school feeding programs,
sanitation and hygiene education, adult literacy, leadership development,
prevention of school-related violence, entrepreneurial training, agricultural
extension work, civic education, and housing programs; and
(N) best utilize
United States capabilities in the areas of technical assistance and
training.
(3)
Global
development strategy
The strategy required by paragraph (1)
should be included in any overall United States global development
strategy.
(4)
Requirement to
consult
In developing the strategy required by paragraph (1), the
President shall consult with—
(A) the appropriate
congressional committees;
(B) relevant executive
branch agencies and officials; and
(C) nongovernmental
organizations, including organizations representing students, teachers, and
parents, and other development partners and individuals who are involved in the
promotion and implementation of education assistance programs in developing
countries.
(5)
Public
comment
The President shall provide an opportunity for public
comment on the strategy required by paragraph (1), including comments on how to
operationalize the strategy through a country specific planning process.
(6)
Annual
report
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of
the Education for All Act of 2013, the President shall transmit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report setting forth the strategy
required by paragraph (1) and make the report available to the public.
(f)
Assistance To
develop and implement national education plans
(1)
Assistance
authorized
The President is authorized to provide funds and other
assistance to assist foreign countries to create the policies, processes, and
infrastructure to develop and implement national education plans, including
both interim and comprehensive plans, to allow all children of such countries
to access and complete a quality basic education.
(2)
Priority and
other requirements
In providing assistance under this subsection,
the President shall give priority to foreign countries in which there is the
greatest need and opportunity to expand universal access and to improve the
quality of basic education, and in which the assistance can produce a
substantial, measurable impact on children and educational systems. Priority
should also be considered in countries where there are chronically underserved
and marginalized populations that must be reached in order to achieve universal
basic education.
(3)
Activities
supported
Assistance provided under this subsection may be used
to support efforts to expand access and to improve the quality of basic
education, including efforts—
(A) to ensure an
adequate supply of trained quality teachers and to build systems to provide
continuing support, training, and professional development for all
educators;
(B) to support the
design and implementation of effective, relevant curricula;
(C) to assist
education authorities to improve education management practices and systems,
including through promoting community participation in school
management;
(D) to promote the
development and effective use of systems for monitoring and evaluating
student-learning outcomes;
(E) to provide
adequate infrastructure;
(F) to eliminate fees
for educational services, including fees for tuition, uniforms, and materials
as part of a comprehensive education financing plan;
(G) to identify and
replicate successful interventions that improve access to and quality of
education;
(H) to build systems
to ensure continuing information collection, monitoring, and evaluation of
education services and financing;
(I) to ensure that
schools are not incubators for violent extremism;
(J) to provide human
rights, gender equity, and conflict-resolution education;
(K) to promote
programs that teach civic education, critical thinking, leadership and life
skills;
(L) to take steps to
make schools safe and secure places where children and youth, including girls
and women, can learn without fear of violence, harassment, or exploitation,
including—
(i) promoting efforts
to establish and enforce strong laws and policies against school-related
violence;
(ii) supporting
efforts to train all teachers and school administrators on school-related
violence;
(iii) working to
ensure the safety of students during their travel to and from schools and on
school grounds;
(iv) improving school
infrastructure to increase safety, such as by constructing separate latrines
for boys and girls;
(v) carrying out
programs for school and community participation on the unacceptability of
violence;
(vi) providing
counseling and support systems for students affected by school-related
violence;
(vii) conducting
national and baseline surveys to collect data on school-related violence,
including against women and girls; and
(viii) providing
programs that enable schools to continue providing education for the most poor
or marginalized children, particularly adolescent girls, which includes
flexible learning opportunities, accelerated and second chance classes, and
opportunities that support leadership development;
(M) to work with
communities to achieve equity in schools and address gender norms to build
support for girls’ education;
(N) to support other
initiatives that have demonstrated success in increasing access, improving
learning outcomes, and increasing educational opportunities for the most
disadvantaged populations, including girls, children affected by or emerging
from armed conflict or humanitarian crises, children with disabilities,
children in remote or rural areas, religious or ethnic minorities, indigenous
peoples, orphans and children impacted by HIV/AIDS, child laborers, and victims
of trafficking; and
(O) to carry out other
activities to support the Global Partnership for Education.
(4)
Additional
activities supported for countries affected by conflict or
crises
In addition to the activities supported under paragraph
(3), assistance provided under this subsection under the headings
Development Assistance and Economic Support Funds
to foreign countries or those parts of the territories of foreign countries
that are affected by or emerging from armed conflict, humanitarian crises, or
other emergency situations may be used to support efforts—
(A) to ensure a
continuity of educational activities for all children as an essential
humanitarian need and that all relevant executive branch agencies and officials
collaborate and coordinate to help provide this continuity;
(B) to ensure that
education assistance of the United States Government to countries in emergency
settings, including countries affected by or emerging from armed conflict or
humanitarian crises, shall be informed by the Minimum Standards of the
Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE Minimum
Standards);
(C) wherever possible,
to reestablish formal or provide support for formal and informal education
services, or to complement services that are available to ensure that children
are able to continue their education and to protect children from physical
harm, psychological and social distress, recruitment into armed groups, family
separation, and abuses related to their displacement;
(D) to promote the
creation of out-of-school programs and flexible-hour schooling in areas in
which security prevents students from attending regular schools;
(E) to provide safe
spaces, especially for girls, with such facilities providing access to water,
sanitation, health-related education, psychosocial support, and landmine
awareness;
(F) to provide
assistance for temporary and permanent education facility construction and
minor rehabilitation and equipping of educational structures;
(G) to provide
essential educational services and materials that assist in building systems to
support, train, and provide professional development for educators;
(H) to build national
capacity to coordinate and manage education in emergency response and
recovery;
(I) to promote efforts
to ensure the reintegration of teachers and students in conflict, whether
refugees or internally displaced, into educational systems, including regional
approaches where appropriate to coordinate and recognize the educational
efforts of these teachers and students and other school systems; and
(J) to promote efforts
to ensure safe passage to and from school, designate schools as conflict-free
zones respected by all parties, and adopt and support community-owned
protective measures to reduce the incidence of attack on education by local
actors, armed groups and armed forces.
(g)
Annual
report
(1)
In
general
Not later than January 31 of each year, the President
shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
implementation of this section for the prior fiscal year and make the report
available to the public.
(2)
Report
elements
The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include—
(A) a description of
efforts made by relevant executive branch agencies and officials to implement
the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (e), with a particular focus on
the activities carried out under this section;
(B) a description of
the programs established by each foreign country receiving assistance pursuant
to subsection (f) that provides a detailed explanation of the extent to which
the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (e) and the assistance provided
pursuant to subsection (f) are contributing to the goal of quality universal
basic education in the foreign country; and
(C) a description of
the extent to which each foreign country selected to receive assistance
pursuant to subsection (f) meets the priority criteria specified in subsection
(f)(2).
(3)
Data
Where
possible, all data should be disaggregated by sex and age.
(h)
Relationship to
other laws
The President shall exercise the authority provided in
this section in accordance with other applicable law.
(i)
Authorization of
appropriations
To carry out this section, there are authorized to
be appropriated to the President such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year
2014 and each subsequent fiscal
year.
.
(b)
Technical
amendment
Chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by redesignating the
second section 135 (as added by section 5(a) of the Senator Paul Simon Water
for the Poor Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–121; 119 Stat. 2536)) as section
136.
4.
Coordinator of
United States Government actions to provide basic education assistance
(a)
Establishment of
position
(1)
In
general
The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall designate an individual to serve as the
Coordinator of United States Government Actions to Provide Basic Education
Assistance (hereinafter in this section referred to as the
Coordinator).
(2)
Repeal
Effective upon the date on which the
Administrator designates an individual to serve as Coordinator pursuant to
paragraph (1), section 664 (b) and (c) of division J of Public Law 110–161,
section 7064(2) of division F of Public Law 111–117, and section 7034(q)(2) of
Public Law 112–74 are repealed.
(b)
General
authorities
The Coordinator, acting through such nongovernmental
organizations (including organizations representing parents, teachers, and
students, faith-based and community-based organizations) and relevant executive
branch agencies and officials as may be necessary and appropriate to effect the
purposes of this section, is authorized to coordinate the promotion of quality
universal basic education.
(c)
Duties
(1)
In
general
The Coordinator shall have primary responsibility for the
oversight and coordination of all resources and international activities of the
United States Government to promote quality universal basic education under
section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 3(a) of
this Act) or any other provision of law.
(2)
Specific
duties
The duties of the Coordinator shall specifically include
the following:
(A) Ensuring program
and policy coordination among relevant executive branch agencies and officials
and nongovernmental organizations, including coordination of auditing,
monitoring, and evaluation of all such programs.
(B) Ensuring that
relevant executive branch agencies and officials undertake programs primarily
in those areas in which the agencies and officials have the greatest expertise,
technical capabilities, and potential for success.
(C) Ensuring
coordination of activities of relevant executive branch agencies and officials
in the field in order to eliminate duplication.
(D) Pursuing
coordination with other countries and international organizations.
(E) Resolving policy,
program, and funding disputes among relevant executive branch agencies and
officials.
(F) Ensuring due
diligence criteria for all recipients of funds to promote quality universal
basic education under section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any
other provision of law, and all activities carried out with such funds, subject
to the coordination and appropriate monitoring, evaluation, and audits carried
out by the Coordinator necessary to assess the measurable outcomes of such
activities.
(G) Convening
meetings, as appropriate, but at least annually, of relevant executive branch
agencies and officials to evaluate progress in carrying out the United States
strategy developed pursuant to subsection (e) of section 105A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 3(a) of this Act) and recommend
future changes to the strategy based upon such evaluation.
(d)
Definitions
In
this section:
(1)
Basic
education
The term basic education has the meaning
given that term in subsection (d)(3) of section 105A of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (as added by section 3(a) of this Act).
(2)
Relevant
executive branch agencies and officials
The term relevant
executive branch agencies and officials has the meaning given that term
in subsection (d)(7) of section 105A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as
added by section 3(a) of this Act).
(e)
Specification of
resources of coordinator
Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall specify the necessary financial and
personnel resources, including detailees, from funds appropriated pursuant to
the authorization of appropriations under subsection (i) of section 105A of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added by section 3(a) of this Act), that
shall be assigned to and under the direct control of the Coordinator to
establish and maintain the duties and supporting activities assigned to the
Coordinator by this section.