,i  #aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #ccfi  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,july #bi1 #bjae ,mr4
 ,loebsack introduced the following     
bill2 which was referred to the         
,committee on ,education and the        
,workforce1 and in addition to the      
,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a   
period to be subsequently determined by 
the ,speaker1 in each case for          
consideration of such provisions as fall
 within the jurisdiction of the         
committee concerned  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
establish an ,office of ,rural          
,education ,policy in the ,department of
 ,education1 make other modifications to
 ,federal law to improve rural schools1 
and for other purposes4  #a4 ,short     
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,restructuring ,underutilized ,resources
 for ,advancing ,learning ,act or the   
,,rural ,act4  #b4 ,findings and        
purposes  7a7 ,findings ,the ,congress  
finds the following3  7#a7 ,rural       
schools have unique challenges and      

benefits4  7#b7 ,more than #cc percent  
of regular elementary and secondary     
public schools nationwide are in        
locations classified as rural4 ,as of   
the #bjaj-bjaa school year1 more than   
#bj percent of public school students   
were enrolled in rural school districts4
  7#c7 ,in rural areas of the ,united   
,states1 #f1ajj1jjj children live in    
poverty4  7#d7 ,among children living in
 rural areas1 #bd percent live in       
poverty1 compared to #bj percent among  
nonrural children4  7#e7 ,rural schools 
have fewer financial resources than     
non-rural schools1 largely as a result  
of diminished local property tax bases  
and inequitable distributions of ,state 
funds4  7#f7 ,there is a substantial pay
 gap for teachers and administrators in 
rural school districts4 ,rural teachers 
and administrators in the ,u4,s4 earn   
about #aj1jjj less than their           
counterparts in nonrural schools4  7#g7 
,rural schools have difficulty          
recruiting and retaining teachers4 ,a   

recent survey of rural school           
superintendents suggests low salaries   
combined with social and geographic     
isolation are the primary factors       
responsible for difficulties recruiting 
and retaining teachers4  7#h7 ,digital  
learning technology holds the promise of
 transforming rural education by        
removing barriers of distance and       
increasing school capacity4  7#i7 ,while
 many large urban local education       
agencies are at the forefront of        
implementing new digital learning       
innovations1 it is often harder for     
smaller and more rural local education  
agencies to access these tools4 ,smaller
 local education agencies with less     
capacity may also find it more difficult
 to provide the training needed to      
effectively implement new digital       
learning technologies4  7#aj7 ,low      
literacy rates among parents in poor    
rural communities affect the early      
language development and educational    
aspirations of children4  7#aa7         

,investing in after-school programs     
helps children in rural communities     
break out of the cycle of poverty and   
creates opportunities for at-risk youth4
  7#ab7 ,in areas in which resources are
 limited1 after-school programs are     
often the only source of supplemental   
enrichment in literacy1 nutrition       
education1 technology1 and preparation  
for college and entrance exams4  7#ac7  
,children attending rural schools have  
the lowest median per-student funding   
for after-school programs under the     
#bast ,century ,community ,learning     
,center ,program under part ,b of title 
,,iv of the ,elementary and ,secondary  
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#gaga et seq471 as compared to children 
attending urban and suburban schools4   
7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act
 are-- 7#a7 to establish an ,office of  
,rural ,education ,policy in the        
,department of ,education2  7#b7 to     
provide input to the ,secretary of      
,education regarding the impact of      

proposed changes in law1 regulations1   
policies1 rules1 and budgets on rural   
schools and communities2  7#c7 to       
provide a tax incentive to individuals  
teaching in elementary and secondary    
schools located in rural or high        
unemployment areas and to individuals   
who achieve certification from the      
,national ,board for ,professional      
,teaching ,standards2  7#d7 to support  
the expansion of the use of digital     
learning through competitive grants to  
partnerships to implement and evaluate  
the results of technology-based learning
 practices1 strategies1 tools1 or       
programs at rural schools2 and  7#e7 to 
enhance after-school programs in rural  
areas by helping communities establish  
after-school programs and improve       
existing programs by over-coming        
barriers to service4  ,i ,incentives to 
,educate ,american ,children  #aja4     
,refundable tax credit for educators and
 school leaders in elementary and       
secondary schools located in high       

poverty or rural areas  7a7 ,in general 
,subpart ,c of part ,,iv of subchapter  
,a of chapter #a of the ,internal       
,revenue ,code of #aihf is amended by   
inserting after section #cf;,b the      
following new section3  #cf;,c4 ,tax    
credit for educators and school leaders 
in elementary and secondary schools     
located in high poverty or rural areas  
7a7 ,allowance of credit ,in the case of
 an eligible teacher or school leader1  
there shall be allowed as a credit      
against the tax imposed by this subtitle
 for the taxable year an amount equal to
 the applicable amount for the eligible 
academic year ending during such taxable
 year4  7b7 ,applicable amount ,for     
purposes of this section-- 7#a7         
,teachers in schools in rural areas or  
schools with high poverty  7,a7 ,in     
general ,in the case of an eligible     
teacher who performs services in a      
public kindergarten or a public         
elementary or secondary school described
 in subparagraph 7,b7 during the        

eligible academic year1 the applicable  
amount is #a1jjj4  7,b7 ,school         
described ,a public kindergarten or a   
public elementary or secondary school is
 described in this subparagraph if--    
7i7 at least #ge percent of the students
 attending such kindergarten or school  
receive free or reduced-cost lunches    
under the school lunch program          
established under the ,richard ,b4      
,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act1 
or  7ii7 such kindergarten or school is 
designated with a school locale code of 
#cb1 #cc1 #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as          
determined by the ,secretary of         
,education4  7#b7 ,certified teachers   
,in the case of an eligible teacher who 
is described in paragraph 7#a7 and who  
is certified by the ,national ,board for
 ,professional ,teaching ,standards for 
the eligible academic year1 paragraph   
7#a77;,a7 shall be applied by           
substituting #b1jjj for #a1jjj4  7#c7   
,eligible school leaders in schools in  
rural areas ,in the case of an eligible 

school leader who serves in a public    
kindergarten or a public elementary or  
secondary school described in paragraph 
7#a77;,b77ii71 paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall
 be applied by substituting #b1jjj for  
#a1jjj4  7c7 ,eligible teacher ,for     
purposes of this section1 the term      
eligible teacher means1 for any eligible
 academic year1 an individual who is a  
kindergarten through grade #ab classroom
 teacher or instructor in a public      
kindergarten or a public elementary or  
secondary school on a full-time basis   
for such eligible academic year4  7d7   
,eligible school leader ,for purposes of
 this section1 the term eligible school 
leader means1 for any eligible academic 
year1 an individual who1 on a full-time 
basis for such eligible academic year1  
is a kindergarten through grade #ab     
principal or assistant principal in a   
public kindergarten or a public         
elementary or is a school superintendent
 or other administrator employed by a   
local educational agency4  7e7          

,additional definitions ,for purposes of
 this section-- 7#a7 ,elementary and    
secondary schools2 local educational    
agency ,the terms elementary school1    
secondary school1 and local educational 
agency have the respective meanings     
given such terms by section #iaja of the
 ,elementary and ,secondary ,education  
,act of #aife4  7#b7 ,eligible academic 
year ,the term eligible academic year   
means any academic year ending in a     
taxable year beginning after ,december  
#ca1 #bjae4  4  7b7 ,conforming         
amendments  7#a7 ,paragraph 7#b7 of     
section #acbd7;b7 of title #ca1 ,united 
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting 1
 #cf;,c after #cf;,b4  7#b7 ,the table  
of sections for subpart ,c of part ,,iv 
of subchapter ,a of chapter #a of the   
,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf is    
amended by inserting after the item     
relating to section #cf;,b the following
 new item3  ,sec4 #cf;,c4 ,tax credit   
for educators and school leaders in     
elementary and secondary schools located

 in high poverty or rural areas4  4  7c7
 ,effective date ,the amendments made by
 this section shall apply to academic   
years ending in taxable years beginning 
after ,december #ca1 #bjae4  ,,ii       
,office of ,rural ,education ,policy    
#bja4 ,establishment of ,office of      
,rural ,education ,policy  7a7 ,in      
general ,title ,,ii of the ,department  
of ,education ,organization ,act 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #cdaa et seq47 is amended by  
adding at the end the following3  #bba4 
,office of ,rural ,education ,policy    
7a7 ,in general ,there shall be1 in the 
,office of ,elementary and ,secondary   
,education of the ,department1 an       
,office of ,rural ,education ,policy    
7referred to in this section as the     
,office74  7b7 ,director2 duties  7#a7  
,in general ,the ,office shall be headed
 by a ,director1 who shall advise the   
,secretary on the characteristics and   
needs of rural schools and the effects  
of current policies and proposed        
statutory1 regulatory1 administrative1  

and budgetary changes on ,state         
educational agencies1 and local         
educational agencies1 that serve schools
 with a locale code of #cb1 #cc1 #da1   
#db1 or #dc1 as determined by the       
,secretary4  7#b7 ,additional duties of 
the ,director ,in addition to advising  
the ,secretary with respect to the      
matters described in paragraph 7#a71 the
 ,director of the ,office of ,rural     
,education ,policy 7referred to in this 
section as the ,director71 through the  
,office1 shall--  7,a7 establish and    
maintain a clearinghouse for collecting 
and disseminating information on-- 7i7  
teacher and principal recruitment and   
retention at rural elementary schools   
and rural secondary schools2  7ii7      
access to1 and implementation and use   
of1 technology and distance learning at 
such schools2  7iii7 rigorous coursework
 delivery through distance learning at  
such schools2  7iv7 student achievement 
at such schools1 including the          
achievement of low-income and minority  

students2  7v7 innovative approaches in 
rural education to increase student     
achievement2  7vi7 higher education and 
career readiness and secondary school   
completion of students enrolled in such 
schools2  7vii7 access to1 and quality  
of1 early childhood development for     
children located in rural areas2  7viii7
 access to1 or partnerships with1       
community-based organizations in rural  
areas2  7ix7 the availability of        
professional development opportunities  
for rural teachers and principals2  7x7 
the availability of ,federal and other  
grants and assistance that are          
specifically geared or applicable to    
rural schools2 and  7xi7 the financing  
of such schools2  7,b7 identify         
innovative research and demonstration   
projects on topics of importance to     
rural elementary schools and rural      
secondary schools1 including gaps in    
such research1 and recommend such topics
 for study by the ,institute of         
,education ,sciences and other research 

agencies2  7,c7 coordinate the          
activities within the ,department that  
relate to rural education2  7,d7 provide
 information to the ,secretary and      
others in the ,department with respect  
to the activities of other ,federal     
departments and agencies that relate to 
rural education1 including activities   
relating to rural housing1 rural        
agricultural services1 rural            
transportation1 rural economic          
development1 rural career and technical 
training1 rural health care1 rural      
disability services1 and rural mental   
health2  7,e7 coordinate with the       
,bureau of ,indian ,education1 the      
,bureau of ,indian ,affairs1 the        
,department of the ,interior1 and the   
schools administered by such agencies   
regarding rural education2  7,f7        
provide1 directly or through grants1    
cooperative agreements1 or contracts1   
technical assistance and other          
activities as necessary to support      
activities related to improving         

education in rural areas2 and  7,g7     
produce an annual report on the         
condition of rural education that is    
delivered to the members of the         
,education and the ,workforce ,committee
 of the ,house of ,representatives and  
the ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and    
,pensions ,committee of the ,senate and 
published on the ,department's ,web     
site4  7c7 ,impact analyses of rules and
 regulations on rural schools  7#a7     
,proposed rulemaking ,whenever the      
,secretary publishes a general notice of
 proposed rulemaking for any rule or    
regulation that may have a significant  
impact on ,state educational agencies or
 local educational agencies serving     
schools with a locale code of #cb1 #cc1 
#da1 #db1 or #dc1 as determined by the  
,secretary1 the ,secretary 7acting      
through the ,director7 shall prepare and
 make available for public comment an   
initial regulatory impact analysis4     
,such analysis shall describe the impact
 of the proposed rule or regulation on  

such ,state educational agencies and    
local educational agencies and shall set
 forth1 with respect to such agencies1  
the matters required under section #fjc 
of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 to  
be set forth with respect to small      
entities4 ,the initial regulatory impact
 analysis 7or a summary7 shall be       
published in the ,federal ,register at  
the time of the publication of general  
notice of proposed rulemaking for the   
rule or regulation4  7#b7 ,final rule   
,whenever the ,secretary promulgates a  
final version of a rule or regulation   
with respect to which an initial        
regulatory impact analysis is required  
by paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary       
7acting through the ,director7 shall    
prepare a final regulatory impact       
analysis with respect to the final      
version of such rule or regulation4     
,such analysis shall set forth1 with    
respect to ,state educational agencies  
and local educational agencies serving  
schools with a locale code of #cb1 #cc1 

#da1 #db1 or #dc1 as determined by the  
,secretary1 the matters required under  
section #fjd of title #e1 ,united       
,states ,code1 to be set forth with     
respect to small entities4 ,the         
,secretary shall make copies of the     
final regulatory impact analysis        
available to the public and shall       
publish1 in the ,federal ,register at   
the time of publication of the final    
version of the rule or regulation1 a    
statement describing how a member of the
 public may obtain a copy of such       
analysis4  7#c7 ,regulatory flexibility 
analysis ,if a regulatory flexibility   
analysis is required by chapter #f of   
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 for a  
rule or regulation to which this        
subsection applies1 such analysis shall 
specifically address the impact of the  
rule or regulation on ,state educational
 agencies and local educational agencies
 serving schools with a locale code of  
#cb1 #cc1 #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as          
determined by the ,secretary4  4  7b7   

,effective date ,section #bba7;c7 of the
 ,department of ,education ,organization
 ,act1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall
 apply to regulations proposed more than
 #cj days after the date of the         
enactment of this ,act4  ,,iii          
,assistance to ,rural ,schools for      
,implementing and ,evaluating ,digital  
,learning  #cja4 ,program authorized    
7a7 ,grants to eligible partnerships    
,from the amounts appropriated to carry 
out this title1 the ,secretary of       
,education is authorized to award       
grants1 on a competitive basis1 to      
eligible partnerships to carry out the  
activities described in section #cjd4   
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 title1 a school partner
 in the partnership shall serve as the  
fiscal agent for the partnership4  #cjb4
 ,application ,an eligible partnership  

desiring a grant under this title 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 #cjc7;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 #cje7;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 ,any     
other information the ,secretary may    
require4  #cjc4 ,application review and 
award basis  7a7 ,peer review ,the      
,secretary shall use a peer review      
process to review applications for      
grants under this title4 ,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 title1 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      
title1 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  7d7 ,dedicated funding for
 fringe rural1 distant rural1 and remote
 rural schools ,not less than #ej       
percent of the grant funds awarded under
 this title shall be awarded to eligible
 partnerships that provides assurances  
that the school partners in the eligible
 partnership will ensure that each      
school to be served by the grant is     
designated with a school locale code of 
#cb1 #cc1 #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as          
determined by the ,secretary4  #cjd4    
,use of funds  7a7 ,required use of     
funds  7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible    

partnership receiving a grant under this
 title 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       
approved by the applicable local        
educational agency or ,state educational
 agency that provide students with      
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 title may  
use grant funds to--  7#a7 develop or   
implement 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  
7c7 ,supplementation ,an eligible       
partnership that receives a grant under 
this title shall use the grant funds to 
supplement1 not supplant1 the work of   
teachers with students1 and may not use 
such funds to reduce staffing levels for
 the school partners in the eligible    
partnership4  7d7 ,teacher of record    
,for each student in a class or school  
implementing a practice1 tool1 strategy1
 or course using grant funds provided   
under this title1 there shall be a      
teacher of record1 holding the relevant 
certification or license1 and otherwise 
qualified to implement any digitally    
based practice1 tool1 strategy or course
 using the grant funds4 ,an eligible    
partnership shall use grant funds       

provided under this title1 and shall    
determine the extent and nature of      
pedagogical uses of digital tools1 in a 
manner that is consistent with the      
judgments of teachers of record about   
what is developmentally appropriate for 
students4  #cje4 ,data collection and   
evaluation  7a7 ,in general ,each       
eligible partnership receiving a grant  
under this title 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 growth in 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 title 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   
#cjf4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 
,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     
title1 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#b7 ,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#c7 ,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 title1 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#d7 ,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#e7 ,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#f7 ,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#g7 ,secretary ,the    
term ,secretary means the ,secretary of 
,education4  ,,iv ,elementary and       
,secondary ,education ,act ,amendments  

#dja4 ,outreach and technical assistance
 for rural local educational agencies   
7a7 ,in general ,subpart #b of part ,e  
of title ,,ix of the ,elementary and    
,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj
 ,u4,s4,c4 #gija et seq47 is amended by 
adding at the end the following3  #iecg4
 ,outreach and technical assistance for 
rural local educational agencies  7a7   
,outreach ,the ,secretary shall engage  
in outreach to rural local educational  
agencies regarding opportunities to     
apply for competitive grant programs    
under this ,act4  7b7 ,technical        
assistance ,if requested to do so1 the  
,secretary shall provide technical      
assistance to rural local educational   
agencies with locale codes #cb1 #cc1    
#da1 #db1 or #dc1 or an educational     
service agency representing rural local 
educational agencies with locale codes  
#cb1 #cc1 #da1 #db1 or #dc on           
applications or pre-applications for any
 competitive grant program under this   
,act4 ,no rural local educational agency

 or education service agency shall be   
required to request technical assistance
 or include any technical assistance    
provided by the ,secretary in any       
application4  4  7b7 ,conforming        
amendment ,the table of contents for    
such ,act is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section #iecf the  
following3  ,sec4 #iecg4 ,outreach and  
technical assistance for rural local    
educational agencies4  4  #djb4 ,rural  
consolidated plan ,section #icje of the 
,elementary and ,secondary ,education   
,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghde7 is  
amended by adding at the end the        
following3  7e7 ,rural consolidated plan
  7#a7 ,in ,general ,two or more        
eligible local educational agencies1 a  
consortium of eligible local education  
service agencies1 or an education       
service agency on behalf of eligible    
local educational agencies may submit   
plans or applications for one or more   
covered programs to the ,state          
educational agency on a consolidated    

basis1 if each eligible local           
educational agency impacted elects to   
participate in the joint application or 
elects to allow the educational service 
agency to apply on its behalf4  7#b7    
,eligible local educational agency ,for 
the purposes of this subsection1 the    
term eligible local educational agency  
means a local educational agency that is
 an eligible local educational agency   
under part ,b of title ,,vi4  4  ,v     
,expanded ,learning ,opportunities      
#eja4 ,expanded learning opportunities  
,subtitle ,d of the ,consolidated ,farm 
and ,rural ,development ,act is amended 
by inserting after section #cfe 7#g     
,u4,s4,c4 #bjjh7 the following3  #cff4  
,expanded learning opportunities  7a7   
,purpose ,the purpose of this section is
 to enhance expanded learning time      
opportunities in rural areas by helping 
communities--  7#a7 to establish        
expanded learning time opportunities1   
including after-school programs2 and    
7#b7 to improve existing programs by    

overcoming barriers to service4  7b7    
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,eligible entity ,the term eligible     
entity means a local educational agency 
7as such term is defined in section     
#iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary 
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ghja771 educational service agency1    
community-based organization1 another   
public or private entity1 or a          
consortium of #b or more such agencies1 
organizations1 or entities4  7#b7       
,expanded learning time ,the term       
expanded learning time means using a    
longer school day1 week1 or year        
schedule to significantly increase the  
total number of school hours1 in order  
to include additional time for--  7,a7  
instruction and enrichment in core      
academic subjects1 other academic       
subjects1 and other activities that     
contribute to a well-rounded education2 
and  7,b7 instructional and support     
staff to collaborate1 plan1 and engage  
in professional development 7including  

professional development on family and  
community engagement7 within and across 
grades and subjects4  7#c7 ,rural area  
,the term rural area means an area that 
is served by an elementary or secondary 
school that is designated with a school 
locale code of #cb1 #cc1 #da1 #db1 or   
#dc1 as determined by the ,secretary of 
,education4  7c7 ,grants  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary shall make      
grants to eligible entities to improve1 
expand1 or establish expanded learning  
time programs1 and afterschool programs 
7taking place during non-school hours71 
in rural areas4  7#b7 ,requirement ,each
 grant under this section shall be in an
 amount of not less than #be1jjj4  7d7  
,duration  7#a7 ,term of grant ,the term
 of a grant under this section may not  
be for less than #c years4  7#b7        
,renewal ,the ,secretary may renew a    
grant under this section for a period of
 not less than #c years1 based on the   
performance of the eligible entity      
during the previous grant term4  7e7    

,uses ,as a condition of the receipt of 
a grant under this section1 an eligible 
entity shall use the grant to fund      
projects and activities described in    
subsection 7c71 including               
transportation1 professional            
development1 training1 recruitment and  
retention of staff1 staff compensation  
for additional hours worked1 increasing 
access to technology1 and planning4  7f7
 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary may use not
 more than #a percent of the funds under
 this section-- 7#a7 to conduct         
evaluations of the effectiveness of     
programs and activities assisted under  
subsection 7c72 and  7#b7 to disseminate
 the results of those evaluations for   
the purpose of refining1 improving1 and 
strengthening programs4  7g7 ,outreach1 
training1 and technical assistance ,the 
,secretary may use not more than #c     
percent of the funds made available to  
carry out this section--  7#a7 to       
conduct outreach1 including bidders'    
conferences1 to ensure widespread       

knowledge of the availability of        
resources described in subsection 7c72  
7#b7 to disseminate information on best 
practices and successful program models 
for serving children and youth in rural 
areas2 and  7#c7 to provide capacity    
building1 training1 and technical       
assistance to after-school programs and 
providers in rural areas4  7h7          
,application  7#a7 ,in general ,to be   
considered for a grant under this       
section1 each eligible entity shall     
submit to the ,secretary an application 
at such time1 in such manner1 and       
accompanied by such information as the  
,secretary may require4  7#b7 ,contents 
,an application submitted pursuant to   
paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a   
description of the expanded learning    
time program to be funded1 including--  
7i7 an assurance that the program will  
take place in a safe and easily         
accessible facility2  7ii7 a description
 of how children and youth participating
 in the program will travel safely      

between the program site and home2      
7iii7 a description of how the eligible 
entity will disseminate information     
about the program1 including the        
location of the program1 to the         
community in a manner that is           
understandable and accessible2  7iv7    
7,i7 a description of the services to be
 provided to children and youth1 which  
may include a broad array of activities1
 such as--  7aa7 academic enrichment and
 youth development activities2  7bb7    
drug and violence prevention programs2  
7cc7 counseling programs2  7dd7 art1    
music1 physical fitness1 and            
recreational programs2  7ee7 technology 
education programs2  7ff7 character     
education programs2 and  7gg7           
service-learning programs2  7,,ii7 the  
roles and responsibilities of the       
partners in providing the services2 and 
7,,iii7 how the services enhance an     
existing expanded learning time program2
 and  7v7 an assurance that the program 
will provide a nutritious snack or meal 

that meets nutrition standards          
established by the ,secretary2  7,b7 an 
assurance that the proposed program was 
developed1 and will be carried out1 in  
active collaboration with the schools   
the students attend2  7,c7 an assurance 
that funds provided under this section  
will be used to increase the level of   
,state1 local1 and other non-,federal   
funds that would1 in the absence of     
funds under this section1 be made       
available for programs and activities   
authorized under this section1 and in no
 case supplant ,federal1 ,state1 local1 
or non-,federal funds2  7,d7 a          
description of the partnership between a
 local educational agency1 a            
community-based organization1 or another
 public entity or private entity1 if    
applicable2 and  7,e7 such additional   
assurances as the ,secretary determines 
to be necessary to ensure compliance    
with this section4  7i7 ,priority ,the  
,secretary shall give priority to       
applications that-- 7#a7 propose        

partnerships between #b or more eligible
 entities2 or  7#b7 propose that a      
majority of the students participating  
in the expanded learning time program   
are eligible for free or reduced price  
school meals under the ,richard ,b4     
,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq47 and       
section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act
 of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74  7j7   
,construction ,nothing in this ,act     
shall be construed to alter or otherwise
 affect the rights1 remedies1 and       
procedures afforded to employees of a   
school or local educational agency under
 ,federal1 ,state1 or local laws        
7including applicable regulations or    
court orders as well as requirements    
that school districts negotiate and meet
 and confer in good faith7 or under the 
terms of collective bargaining          
agreements1 memoranda of understanding1 
or other agreements between such        
employers and their employees4  7k7     
,authorization of ,appropriations ,there

 are authorized to be appropriated to   
carry out this section-- 7#a7           
#be1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjaf2  7#b7
 #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjag2 and 
7#c7 such sums as are necessary for each
 of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbj4  4