,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cfib ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aj1 #bjac,mr4 ,loebsack introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to authorize a competitive grant program to implement and evaluate digital learning in rural locales4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,schools of the ,future ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,digital learning technology holds the promise of transforming rural education by removing barriers of distance and increasing school capacity4 7#b7 ,while many large urban local educational agencies are at the forefront of implementing new digital learning innovations1 it is often harder for smaller and more rural local educational agencies to access these tools4 ,smaller local educational agencies with less capacity may also find it more difficult to provide the training needed to effectively implement new digital learning technologies4 7#c7 ,despite the potential of digital learning in rural areas1 these advancements risk bypassing rural areas without support for their implementation4 ,rather than having schools and local educational agencies apply digital learning innovations designed for urban environments to rural areas1 it is important that digital learning technologies be developed and implemented in ways that reflect the unique needs of rural areas4 7#d7 ,digital learning is rapidly expanding1 and new tools for improving teaching and learning are being developed every day4 ,a growing demand for digital learning tools and products has made rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness increasingly important1 as this information would allow school and local educational agency leaders to make informed choices about how best to use these tools to improve student achievement and educational outcomes4 7#e7 ,high-quality digital learning increases student access to courses that may not have been available to students in rural communities1 increasing their college and career readiness4 #c4 ,program authorized 7a7 ,grants to eligible partnerships ,from the amounts appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education is authorized to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible partnerships to carry out the activities described in section #f4 7b7 ,duration of grant ,a grant under subsection 7a7 shall be awarded for not less than a #c-year and not longer than a #e-year period4 7c7 ,fiscal ,agent ,if an eligible partnership receives a grant under this ,act1 a school partner in the partnership shall serve as the fiscal agent for the partnership4 #d4 ,application ,an eligible partnership desiring a grant under this ,act shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 which shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the eligible partnership1 including the name of each of the partners and their respective roles and responsibilities4 7#b7 ,a description of the technology-based learning practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course that the eligible partnership proposes to develop or implement using the grant funds4 7#c7 ,an assurance that all teachers of record hold the relevant license and are otherwise qualified to implement any technology-based practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course using the grant funds4 7#d7 ,an assurance that all students in a class or school implementing a practice1 tool1 strategy or course using the grant funds will have access to any equipment necessary to participate on a full and equitable basis4 7#e7 ,an assurance that the proposed uses of smartphones1 laptops1 tablets1 or other devices susceptible to inappropriate use have the informed consent of parents or guardians and are not inconsistent with any policies of the local educational agency on the use of such devices4 7#f7 ,information relevant to the selection criteria under section #e7;c74 7#g7 ,a description of the evaluation to be undertaken by the eligible partnership1 including-- 7,a7 how the school partner and the evaluation partner will work together to implement the practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course in such a way that permits the use of a rigorous1 independent evaluation design that meets the standards of the ,what ,works ,clearinghouse of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences2 and 7,b7 a description of the evaluation design that meets such standards1 which will be used to measure any significant effects on the outcomes described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 of section #g7;a74 7#h7 ,an estimate of the number of students to be reached through the grant and evidence of its capacity to reach the proposed number of students during the course of the grant4 7#i7 ,an assurance that the school partner in the eligible partnership will ensure that each school to be served by the grant under this ,act is designated with a school locale code of ,fringe ,rural1 ,distant ,rural1 or ,remote ,rural1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#aj7 ,any other information the ,secretary may require4 #e4 ,application review and award basis 7a7 ,peer ,review ,the ,secretary shall use a peer review process to review applications for grants under this ,act4 ,the ,secretary shall appoint individuals to the peer review process who have relevant expertise in digital learning1 research and evaluation1 standards quality and alignment1 and rural education4 7b7 ,award ,basis ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall ensure1 to the extent practicable1 diversity in the type of activities funded under the grants4 7c7 ,selection ,criteria ,in evaluating an eligible partnership's application for a grant under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7#a7 the need for the proposed technology-based learning practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course2 7#b7 the quality of the design of the proposed practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course2 7#c7 the strength of the existing research evidence with respect to such practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course2 7#d7 the experience of the eligible partnership2 and 7#e7 the quality of the evaluation proposed by the eligible partnership4 #f4 ,use of funds 7a7 ,required use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act shall use such funds to implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning practices1 strategies1 tools1 or courses1 including the practices1 strategies1 tools1 or courses identified under paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#f74 7#b7 ,tools and courses designed to personalize the learning experience ,technology-based tools and courses identified under this paragraph include the following types of tools and courses designed to personalize the learning experience3 7,a7 ,technology-based personalized instructional systems4 7,b7 ,adaptive software1 games1 or tools1 that can be used to personalize learning4 7,c7 ,computer-based tutoring courses to help struggling students4 7,d7 ,games1 digital tools1 and smartphone or tablet applications to improve students' engagement1 focus1 and time on task4 7,e7 ,other tools and courses designed to personalize the learning experience4 7#c7 ,practices and strategies designed to aid and inform instruction ,technology-based practices and strategies identified under this paragraph include the following types of practices and strategies designed to aid and inform instruction3 7,a7 ,adaptive software1 games1 or tools that can be used for the purpose of formative assessment4 7,b7 ,web resources that provide teachers and their students access to instructional and curricular materials that are-- 7i7 aligned with high-quality standards2 and 7ii7 designed to prepare students for college and a career1 such as a repository of primary historical sources for use in history and civics courses or examples of developmentally appropriate science experiments4 7,c7 ,online professional development opportunities1 teacher mentoring opportunities1 and professional learning communities4 7,d7 ,tools or web resources designed to address specific instructional problems4 7,e7 ,other practices and strategies designed to personalize the learning experience4 7#d7 ,tools1 courses1 and strategies designed to improve the achievement of students with specific educational needs ,technology-based tools1 courses1 and strategies identified under this paragraph include the following types of tools1 courses1 and strategies designed to meet the needs of students with specific educational needs3 7,a7 ,digital tools specifically designed to meet the needs of students with a particular disability4 7,b7 ,online courses that give students who are not on track to graduate or have already dropped out of school the opportunity for accelerated credit recovery4 7,c7 ,language instruction courses1 games1 or software designed to meet the needs of ,english language learners4 7,d7 ,other tools1 courses1 and strategies designed to personalize the learning experience4 7#e7 ,tools1 courses1 and strategies designed to help students develop #bast ,century skills ,technology-based tools1 courses1 and strategies identified under this paragraph include peer-to-peer virtual learning opportunities to be used for the purposes of project-based learning1 deeper learning1 and collaborative learning1 and other tools1 courses1 and strategies designed to help students develop #bast century skills1 such as the ability to think critically and solve problems1 be effective communicators1 collaborate with others1 and learn to create and innovate4 7#f7 ,technology-based or online courses that allow students to take courses that they would not otherwise have access to ,technology-based or online courses identified under this paragraph include courses or collections of courses that provide students access to courses that they would not otherwise have access to1 such as the following3 7,a7 ,an online repository of elective courses4 7,b7 ,online or software-based courses in foreign languages1 especially in languages identified as critical or in schools where a teacher is not available to teach the language or course level a student requires4 7,c7 ,online advanced or college-level courses that can be taken for credit4 7b7 ,authorized use of funds ,an eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act may use grant funds to-- 7#a7 develop the technology for technology-based learning strategies1 practices1 courses1 or tools to be carried out under the grant2 7#b7 purchase hardware or software needed to carry out such strategies1 practices1 courses1 or tools under the grant1 except that such purchases may not exceed #ej percent of total grant funds2 7#c7 address the particular needs of student subgroups1 including students with disabilities and ,english-language learners2 7#d7 provide technology-based professional development or professional development on how to maximize the utility of technology2 and 7#e7 address issues of cost and capacity in rural areas and shortage subjects4 #g4 ,data collection and evaluation 7a7 ,in general ,each eligible partnership receiving a grant under this ,act shall require its evaluation partner to complete an independent1 comprehensive1 well-designed1 and well-implemented evaluation that meets the standards of the ,what ,works ,clearinghouse after the third year of implementation of the grant to measure the effect of the practice1 tool1 strategy1 or course on-- 7#a7 student achievement1 as measured by high quality assessments that provide objective1 valid1 reliable measures of student academic growth and information on whether a student is on-track to graduate ready for college and career2 7#b7 costs and savings to the school partner2 and 7#c7 at least one of the following3 7,a7 ,student achievement gaps4 7,b7 ,graduation and dropout rates4 7,c7 ,college enrollment4 7,d7 ,college persistence4 7,e7 ,college completion4 7,f7 ,placement in a living-wage job4 7,g7 ,enhanced teacher or principal effectiveness as measured by valid1 reliable1 and multiple measures of student achievement and other appropriate measures4 7b7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 acting through the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences-- 7,a7 evaluate the implementation and impact of the activities supported under the grant program authorized under this section2 and 7,b7 identify best practices2 and 7#b7 disseminate1 in consultation with the regional educational laboratories established under part ,d of the ,education ,sciences ,reform ,act of #bjjb and comprehensive centers established under the ,educational ,technical ,assistance ,act of #bjjb1 research on best practices in school leadership4 7c7 ,implementation evaluation ,an evaluation partner may use funds under this ,act to carry out an implementation evaluation designed to provide information that may be useful for schools1 local educational agencies1 ,states1 consortia of schools1 and charter school networks seeking to implement similar practices1 tools1 strategies1 or courses in the future4 7d7 ,publication of results ,upon completion of an evaluation described in subsection 7a71 7b71 or 7c7 the evaluation partner shall-- 7#a7 submit a report of the results of the evaluation to the ,secretary2 and 7#b7 make publicly available such results4 #h4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible partnership ,the term eligible partnership means a partnership that includes a school partner and not less than #a-- 7,a7 digital learning partner1 except that in a case in which a school partner or evaluation partner demonstrates expertise in digital learning to the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 evaluation partner4 7#b7 ,school partner ,the term school partner means a-- 7,a7 local educational agency2 7,b7 a charter school network that does not include virtual schools2 7,c7 a consortium of public elementary schools or secondary schools2 7,d7 a regional educational service agency or similar regional educational service provider2 or 7,e7 a consortium of the entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d74 7#c7 ,digital ,learning partner ,the term digital learning partner means an organization with expertise in the technology required to develop or implement the digital learning practices1 tools1 strategies1 or courses proposed by the school partner with which the digital learning partner will partner or has partnered under this ,act1 such as-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education2 7,b7 a nonprofit organization2 or 7,c7 an organization with school development or turnaround experience4 7#d7 ,evaluation partner ,the term evaluation partner means a partner that has the expertise and ability to carry out the evaluation of a grant received under this ,act1 such as-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education2 7,b7 a nonprofit organization with expertise in evaluation2 or 7,c7 an evaluation firm4 7#e7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#f7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4