,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cfib  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #aj1         
#bjac,mr4 ,loebsack introduc$ ! foll[+  
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,education & ! ,work=ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to 
au?orize a competitive grant program to 
implem5t & evaluate digital le>n+ 9     
rural locales4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,s*ools ( ! ,future
 ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,! ,congress f9ds !  
foll[+3 7#a7 ,digital le>n+ te*nology   
holds ! promise ( trans=m+ rural        
education by remov+ b>ri]s ( di/ance &  
increas+ s*ool capacity4  7#b7 ,:ile _m 
l>ge urban local educational ag5cies are
 at ! =efront ( implem5t+ new digital   
le>n+ innovations1 x is (t5 h>d] =      
small] & m rural local educational      
ag5cies to access ^! tools4 ,small]     
local educational ag5cies ) less        
capacity may also f9d x m difficult to  
provide ! tra9+ ne$$ to effectively     
implem5t new digital le>n+ te*nologies4 
7#c7 ,despite ! pot5tial ( digital le>n+

 9 rural areas1 ^! advancem5ts risk     
bypass+ rural areas )\t support = _!    
implem5tation4 ,r ?an hav+ s*ools &     
local educational ag5cies apply digital 
le>n+ innovations design$ = urban       
environm5ts to rural areas1 x is        
important t digital le>n+ te*nologies be
 develop$ & implem5t$ 9 ways t reflect !
 unique ne$s ( rural areas4  7#d7       
,digital le>n+ is rapidly exp&+1 & new  
tools = improv+ tea*+ & le>n+ are be+   
develop$ e day4 ,a gr[+ dem& = digital  
le>n+ tools & products has made rigor\s 
evaluation ( _! effectiv5ess increas+ly 
important1 z ?is in=mation w\ld all[    
s*ool & local educational ag5cy lead]s  
to make in=m$ *oices ab\t h[ be/ to use 
^! tools to improve /ud5t a*ievem5t &   
educational outcomes4  7#e7             
,high-quality digital le>n+ increases   
/ud5t access to c\rses t may n h be5    
available to /ud5ts 9 rural communities1
 increas+ _! college & c>e] read9ess4   
#c4 ,program au?oriz$  7a7 ,grants to   
eligible p>tn]%ips ,f ! am\nts          

appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is ,act1 !     
,secret>y ( ,education is au?oriz$ to   
aw>d grants1 on a competitive basis1 to 
eligible p>tn]%ips to c>ry out !        
activities describ$ 9 section #f4  7b7  
,duration ( grant ,a grant "u subsection
 7a7 %all be aw>d$ = n less ?an a #c-ye>
 & n long] ?an a #e-ye> p]iod4  7c7     
,fiscal ,ag5t ,if an eligible p>tn]%ip  
receives a grant "u ?is ,act1 a s*ool   
p>tn] 9 ! p>tn]%ip %all s]ve z ! fiscal 
ag5t = ! p>tn]%ip4  #d4 ,application ,an
 eligible p>tn]%ip desir+ a grant "u ?is
 ,act %all submit an application to !   
,secret>y at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 &     
conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y may 
require1 :i* %all include ! foll[+3 7#a7
 ,a description ( ! eligible p>tn]%ip1  
includ+ ! "n ( ea* ( ! p>tn]s & _!      
respective roles & responsibilities4    
7#b7 ,a description ( ! te*nology-bas$  
le>n+ practice1 tool1 /rategy1 or c\rse 
t ! eligible p>tn]%ip proposes to       
develop or implem5t us+ ! grant funds4  
7#c7 ,an assurance t all tea*]s ( record

 hold ! relevant lic5se & are o!rwise   
qualifi$ to implem5t any te*nology-bas$ 
practice1 tool1 /rategy1 or c\rse us+ ! 
grant funds4  7#d7 ,an assurance t all  
/ud5ts 9 a class or s*ool implem5t+ a   
practice1 tool1 /rategy or c\rse us+ !  
grant funds w h access to any equipm5t  
necess>y to p>ticipate on a full &      
equitable basis4  7#e7 ,an assurance t !
 propos$ uses ( sm>tphones1 laptops1    
tablets1 or o!r devices susceptible to  
inappropriate use h ! in=m$ cons5t (    
p>5ts or gu>dians & are n inconsi/5t )  
any policies ( ! local educational ag5cy
 on ! use ( su* devices4  7#f7          
,in=mation relevant to ! selection      
crit]ia "u section #e7;c74  7#g7 ,a     
description ( ! evaluation to be        
und]tak5 by ! eligible p>tn]%ip1        
includ+-- 7,a7 h[ ! s*ool p>tn] & !     
evaluation p>tn] w "w toge!r to implem5t
 ! practice1 tool1 /rategy1 or c\rse 9  
su* a way t p]mits ! use ( a rigor\s1   
indep5d5t evaluation design t meets !   
/&>ds ( ! ,:at ,works ,cle>+h\se ( !    

,in/itute ( ,education ,sci5ces2 &  7,b7
 a description ( ! evaluation design t  
meets su* /&>ds1 :i* w be us$ to measure
 any significant effects on ! outcomes  
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 (  
section #g7;a74  7#h7 ,an e/imate ( !   
numb] ( /ud5ts to be rea*$ ?r\gh ! grant
 & evid5ce ( its capacity to rea* !     
propos$ numb] ( /ud5ts dur+ ! c\rse ( ! 
grant4  7#i7 ,an assurance t ! s*ool    
p>tn] 9 ! eligible p>tn]%ip w ensure t  
ea* s*ool to be s]v$ by ! grant "u ?is  
,act is designat$ ) a s*ool locale code 
( ,fr+e ,rural1 ,di/ant ,rural1 or      
,remote ,rural1 z det]m9$ by !          
,secret>y4  7#aj7 ,any o!r in=mation !  
,secret>y may require4  #e4 ,application
 review & aw>d basis  7a7 ,pe] ,review  
,! ,secret>y %all use a pe] review      
process to review applications = grants 
"u ?is ,act4 ,! ,secret>y %all appo9t   
individuals to ! pe] review process :o h
 relevant exp]tise 9 digital le>n+1     
rese>* & evaluation1 /&>ds quality &    
alignm5t1 & rural education4  7b7 ,aw>d 

,basis ,9 aw>d+ grants "u ?is ,act1 !   
,secret>y %all ensure1 to ! ext5t       
practicable1 div]sity 9 ! type (        
activities fund$ "u ! grants4  7c7      
,selection ,crit]ia ,9 evaluat+ an      
eligible p>tn]%ip's application = a     
grant "u ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all     
consid]-- 7#a7 ! ne$ = ! propos$        
te*nology-bas$ le>n+ practice1 tool1    
/rategy1 or c\rse2  7#b7 ! quality ( !  
design ( ! propos$ practice1 tool1      
/rategy1 or c\rse2  7#c7 ! /r5g? ( !    
exi/+ rese>* evid5ce ) respect to su*   
practice1 tool1 /rategy1 or c\rse2  7#d7
 ! exp]i5ce ( ! eligible p>tn]%ip2 &    
7#e7 ! quality ( ! evaluation propos$ by
 ! eligible p>tn]%ip4  #f4 ,use ( funds 
7a7 ,requir$ use ( funds  7#a7 ,9 g5]al 
,an eligible p>tn]%ip receiv+ a grant "u
 ?is ,act %all use su* funds to implem5t
 & evaluate ! results ( te*nology-bas$  
le>n+ practices1 /rategies1 tools1 or   
c\rses1 includ+ ! practices1 /rategies1 
tools1 or c\rses id5tifi$ "u p>agraphs  
7#b7 ?r\gh 7#f74  7#b7 ,tools & c\rses  

design$ to p]sonalize ! le>n+ exp]i5ce  
,te*nology-bas$ tools & c\rses id5tifi$ 
"u ?is p>agraph include ! foll[+ types (
 tools & c\rses design$ to p]sonalize ! 
le>n+ exp]i5ce3 7,a7 ,te*nology-bas$    
p]sonaliz$ in/ructional sy/ems4  7,b7   
,adaptive s(tw>e1 games1 or tools1 t c  
be us$ to p]sonalize le>n+4  7,c7       
,comput]-bas$ tutor+ c\rses to help     
/ruggl+ /ud5ts4  7,d7 ,games1 digital   
tools1 & sm>tphone or tablet            
applications to improve /ud5ts'         
engagem5t1 focus1 & "t on task4  7,e7   
,o!r tools & c\rses design$ to          
p]sonalize ! le>n+ exp]i5ce4  7#c7      
,practices & /rategies design$ to aid & 
in=m in/ruction ,te*nology-bas$         
practices & /rategies id5tifi$ "u ?is   
p>agraph include ! foll[+ types (       
practices & /rategies design$ to aid &  
in=m in/ruction3 7,a7 ,adaptive s(tw>e1 
games1 or tools t c be us$ = ! purpose (
 =mative assessm5t4  7,b7 ,web res\rces 
t provide tea*]s & _! /ud5ts access to  
in/ructional & curricul> mat]ials t     

are-- 7i7 align$ ) high-quality /&>ds2 &
  7ii7 design$ to prep>e /ud5ts =       
college & a c>e]1 su* z a repository (  
prim>y hi/orical s\rces = use 9 hi/ory &
 civics c\rses or examples (            
developm5tally appropriate sci5ce       
exp]im5ts4  7,c7 ,onl9e pr(essional     
developm5t opportunities1 tea*] m5tor+  
opportunities1 & pr(essional le>n+      
communities4  7,d7 ,tools or web        
res\rces design$ to address specific    
in/ructional problems4  7,e7 ,o!r       
practices & /rategies design$ to        
p]sonalize ! le>n+ exp]i5ce4  7#d7      
,tools1 c\rses1 & /rategies design$ to  
improve ! a*ievem5t ( /ud5ts ) specific 
educational ne$s ,te*nology-bas$ tools1 
c\rses1 & /rategies id5tifi$ "u ?is     
p>agraph include ! foll[+ types ( tools1
 c\rses1 & /rategies design$ to meet !  
ne$s ( /ud5ts ) specific educational    
ne$s3 7,a7 ,digital tools specifically  
design$ to meet ! ne$s ( /ud5ts ) a     
p>ticul> disability4  7,b7 ,onl9e c\rses
 t give /ud5ts :o are n on track to     

graduate or h already dropp$ out ( s*ool
 ! opportunity = accel]at$ cr$it        
recov]y4  7,c7 ,language in/ruction     
c\rses1 games1 or s(tw>e design$ to meet
 ! ne$s ( ,engli% language le>n]s4  7,d7
 ,o!r tools1 c\rses1 & /rategies design$
 to p]sonalize ! le>n+ exp]i5ce4  7#e7  
,tools1 c\rses1 & /rategies design$ to  
help /ud5ts develop #ba/ ,c5tury skills 
,te*nology-bas$ tools1 c\rses1 &        
/rategies id5tifi$ "u ?is p>agraph      
include pe]-to-pe] virtual le>n+        
opportunities to be us$ = ! purposes (  
project-bas$ le>n+1 deep] le>n+1 &      
collaborative le>n+1 & o!r tools1       
c\rses1 & /rategies design$ to help     
/ud5ts develop #ba/ c5tury skills1 su* z
 ! ability to ?9k critically & solve    
problems1 be effective communicators1   
collaborate ) o!rs1 & le>n to create &  
innovate4  7#f7 ,te*nology-bas$ or onl9e
 c\rses t all[ /ud5ts to take c\rses t  
!y w\ld n o!rwise h access to           
,te*nology-bas$ or onl9e c\rses id5tifi$
 "u ?is p>agraph include c\rses or      

collections ( c\rses t provide /ud5ts   
access to c\rses t !y w\ld n o!rwise h  
access to1 su* z ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,an     
onl9e repository ( elective c\rses4     
7,b7 ,onl9e or s(tw>e-bas$ c\rses 9     
=eign languages1 especially 9 languages 
id5tifi$ z critical or 9 s*ools :]e a   
tea*] is n available to tea* ! language 
or c\rse level a /ud5t requires4  7,c7  
,onl9e advanc$ or college-level c\rses t
 c be tak5 = cr$it4  7b7 ,au?oriz$ use (
 funds ,an eligible p>tn]%ip receiv+ a  
grant "u ?is ,act may use grant funds   
to-- 7#a7 develop ! te*nology =         
te*nology-bas$ le>n+ /rategies1         
practices1 c\rses1 or tools to be c>ri$ 
out "u ! grant2  7#b7 pur*ase h>dw>e or 
s(tw>e ne$$ to c>ry out su* /rategies1  
practices1 c\rses1 or tools "u ! grant1 
except t su* pur*ases may n exce$ #ej   
p]c5t ( total grant funds2  7#c7 address
 ! p>ticul> ne$s ( /ud5t subgr\ps1      
includ+ /ud5ts ) disabilities &         
,engli%-language le>n]s2  7#d7 provide  
te*nology-bas$ pr(essional developm5t or

 pr(essional developm5t on h[ to        
maximize ! utility ( te*nology2 &  7#e7 
address issues ( co/ & capacity 9 rural 
areas & %ortage subjects4  #g4 ,data    
collection & evaluation  7a7 ,9 g5]al   
,ea* eligible p>tn]%ip receiv+ a grant  
"u ?is ,act %all require its evaluation 
p>tn] to complete an indep5d5t1         
compreh5sive1 well-design$1 &           
well-implem5t$ evaluation t meets !     
/&>ds ( ! ,:at ,works ,cle>+h\se aft] ! 
?ird ye> ( implem5tation ( ! grant to   
measure ! effect ( ! practice1 tool1    
/rategy1 or c\rse on-- 7#a7 /ud5t       
a*ievem5t1 z measur$ by high quality    
assessm5ts t provide objective1 valid1  
reliable measures ( /ud5t academic gr[? 
& in=mation on :e!r a /ud5t is on-track 
to graduate ready = college & c>e]2     
7#b7 co/s & sav+s to ! s*ool p>tn]2 &   
7#c7 at lea/ "o ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,/ud5t 
a*ievem5t gaps4  7,b7 ,graduation &     
drop\t rates4  7,c7 ,college enrollm5t4 
7,d7 ,college p]si/5ce4  7,e7 ,college  
completion4  7,f7 ,placem5t 9 a         

liv+-wage job4  7,g7 ,enhanc$ tea*] or  
pr9cipal effectiv5ess z measur$ by      
valid1 reliable1 & multiple measures (  
/ud5t a*ievem5t & o!r appropriate       
measures4  7b7 ,evaluation ,! ,secret>y 
%all-- 7#a7 act+ ?r\gh ! ,director ( !  
,in/itute ( ,education ,sci5ces-- 7,a7  
evaluate ! implem5tation & impact ( !   
activities support$ "u ! grant program  
au?oriz$ "u ?is section2 &  7,b7 id5tify
 be/ practices2 &  7#b7 dissem9ate1 9   
consultation ) ! regional educational   
laboratories e/abli%$ "u "p ,d ( !      
,education ,sci5ces ,re=m ,act ( #bjjb &
 compreh5sive c5t]s e/abli%$ "u !       
,educational ,te*nical ,assi/ance ,act (
 #bjjb1 rese>* on be/ practices 9 s*ool 
lead]%ip4  7c7 ,implem5tation evaluation
 ,an evaluation p>tn] may use funds "u  
?is ,act to c>ry out an implem5tation   
evaluation design$ to provide in=mation 
t may be useful = s*ools1 local         
educational ag5cies1 ,/ates1 consortia (
 s*ools1 & *>t] s*ool networks seek+ to 
implem5t simil> practices1 tools1       

/rategies1 or c\rses 9 ! future4  7d7   
,publication ( results ,^u completion ( 
an evaluation describ$ 9 subsection 7a71
 7b71 or 7c7 ! evaluation p>tn] %all--  
7#a7 submit a report ( ! results ( !    
evaluation to ! ,secret>y2 &  7#b7 make 
publicly available su* results4  #h4    
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible 
p>tn]%ip ,! t]m eligible p>tn]%ip means 
a p>tn]%ip t includes a s*ool p>tn] & n 
less ?an #a-- 7,a7 digital le>n+ p>tn]1 
except t 9 a case 9 :i* a s*ool p>tn] or
 evaluation p>tn] demon/rates exp]tise 9
 digital le>n+ to ! ,secret>y2 &  7,b7  
evaluation p>tn]4  7#b7 ,s*ool p>tn] ,! 
t]m s*ool p>tn] means a-- 7,a7 local    
educational ag5cy2  7,b7 a *>t] s*ool   
network t does n include virtual s*ools2
  7,c7 a consortium ( public elem5t>y   
s*ools or second>y s*ools2  7,d7 a      
regional educational s]vice ag5cy or    
simil> regional educational s]vice      
provid]2 or  7,e7 a consortium ( !      
entities describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7   
?r\gh 7,d74  7#c7 ,digital ,le>n+ p>tn] 

,! t]m digital le>n+ p>tn] means an     
organization ) exp]tise 9 ! te*nology   
requir$ to develop or implem5t ! digital
 le>n+ practices1 tools1 /rategies1 or  
c\rses propos$ by ! s*ool p>tn] ) :i* ! 
digital le>n+ p>tn] w p>tn] or has      
p>tn]$ "u ?is ,act1 su* z-- 7,a7 an     
in/itution ( high] education2  7,b7 a   
nonpr(it organization2 or  7,c7 an      
organization ) s*ool developm5t or      
turn>\nd exp]i5ce4  7#d7 ,evaluation    
p>tn] ,! t]m evaluation p>tn] means a   
p>tn] t has ! exp]tise & ability to c>ry
 out ! evaluation ( a grant receiv$ "u  
?is ,act1 su* z-- 7,a7 an in/itution (  
high] education2  7,b7 a nonpr(it       
organization ) exp]tise 9 evaluation2 or
  7,c7 an evaluation firm4  7#e7        
,in/itution ( high] education ,! t]m    
in/itution ( high] education has ! mean+
 giv5 ! t]m 9 section #ajb ( ! ,high]   
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajjb74  7#f7 ,local educational ag5cy  
,! t]m local educational ag5cy has !    
mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section #iaja ( !    

,elem5t>y & ,second>y ,education ,act ( 
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74  7#g7      
,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means !      
,secret>y ( ,education4