,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afjf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ah1 #bjae ,mr4 ,king 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,capito7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to support the development1 implementation1 and evaluation of innovative strategies and methods to increase out-of-school access to digital learning resources for eligible students in order to increase student and educator engagement and disseminate evidence-based strategies to relevant stakeholders and the public4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,digital ,learning ,equity ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,digital learning equity ,title ,,iv of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaja et seq47 is amended at the end by adding the following3 ,d ,digital learning equity demonstration program #ddja4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this part is to support the development1 implementation1 and evaluation of innovative strategies and methods to improve out-of-school access to digital learning resources for eligible students in order to-- 7#a7 increase student participation in the classroom1 including the ability to complete homework assignments and participate in innovative digital learning models2 7#b7 improve student access to postsecondary education and workforce opportunities by increasing the ability of students to apply for employment1 postsecondary education1 and financial aid opportunities2 7#c7 increase the education technology and digital learning resources options available to educators to support student learning by ensuring methods and resources used during the school day remain accessible during out-of-school hours2 7#d7 increase student1 educator1 and parent engagement by facilitating greater communication and connection between school and home2 and 7#e7 increase the identification and dissemination of strategies to support students lacking out-of-school access to digital learning resources and the ,internet1 including underserved student populations and students in rural and remote geographic areas4 #ddjb4 ,definitions ,in this part3 7#a7 ,access technology ,the term access technology means any service or device that provides out-of-school ,internet access as its primary function and does not include a computer device4 7#b7 ,digital learning ,the term digital learning means an educational practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student's learning experience within and outside of the classroom and at home1 including-- 7,a7 interactive learning resources that engage students in academic content2 7,b7 access to online databases and primary source documents2 7,c7 the use of data1 data analytics1 and information to personalize learning and provide targeted supplementary instruction2 7,d7 student collaboration with content experts1 peers1 and educators2 7,e7 digital learning content1 video1 software1 or simulations2 7,f7 access to online courses2 and 7,g7 other resources that may be developed1 as the ,secretary may determine4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means any of the following entities that serve a high-need school3 7,a7 ,a local educational agency4 7,b7 ,a ,state educational agency4 7,c7 ,an educational service agency4 7,d7 ,a consortium of ,state educational agencies1 local educational agencies1 or educational service agencies4 7,e7 ,an ,indian tribe or ,indian organization4 7,f7 ,a ,state educational agency1 local educational agency1 educational service agency1 ,indian tribe1 or ,indian organization1 in partnership with-- 7i7 a nonprofit foundation1 corporation1 institution1 or association2 7ii7 a business2 7iii7 an after-school program or summer program2 7iv7 a library2 7v7 a community learning center2 or 7vi7 other community or social services organizations1 as the ,secretary may determine4 7#d7 ,eligible student ,the term eligible student means a student who lacks out-of-school access to digital learning resources and attends a high-need school serviced by an eligible entity4 7#e7 ,high-need school ,the term high-need school means a school served by an eligible entity that-- 7,a7 has a high concentration of students aged #e through #ag who-- 7i7 are in poverty1 as counted in the most recent census data approved by the ,secretary2 7ii7 are eligible for a free or reduced priced lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq472 7iii7 are in families receiving assistance under the ,state program funded under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 or 7iv7 are eligible to receive medical assistance under the ,medicaid program under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq472 7,b7 has a high percentage of students who lack out-of-school ,internet access2 7,c7 is in need of improvement and or is among the ,state's persistently lowest achieving schools2 or 7,d7 has significant gaps in achievement among the categories of students described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii74 7#f7 ,out-of-school internet access ,the term out-of-school ,internet access means a service provided to an eligible student for out-of-school use by wire or radio that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all ,internet endpoints1 including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service1 with a speed and capacity sufficient to facilitate digital learning1 but excluding-- 7,a7 dial-up ,internet access service2 or 7,b7 ,internet access service that is restricted by monthly data caps set lower than #a gigabyte4 #ddjc4 ,demonstration grant program authorized 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities1 subject to meeting the application requirements in subsection 7e71 to develop1 implement1 and evaluate innovative strategies to increase out-of-school ,internet access for eligible students4 7b7 ,demonstration period ,each eligible entity1 in accordance with the application requirements in subsection 7e71 shall propose to the ,secretary the period of time over which it desires to exercise demonstration authority1 except that such period shall not exceed #b years4 7c7 ,rural areas ,from the amounts appropriated under section #ddje for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall reserve not less than #cj percent for grants to eligible entities that propose to carry out the activities described in subsection 7e77#a7 in rural areas1 as described in section #fbaa7;b77#a77;,a77ii74 ,the ,secretary shall reduce the amount described in this subsection if the ,secretary does not receive a sufficient number of applications that propose to carry out the activities described in subsection 7e77#a7 in rural areas that meet the requirements of subsection 7e74 7d7 ,matching funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that is a ,state educational agency or includes a ,state educational agency1 that receives a grant under this section shall provide matching funds1 from non-,federal sources 7which may be provided in cash or in-kind71 in an amount equal to #aj percent of the amount of grant funds provided to the eligible entity to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 7#b7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive the matching requirement under paragraph 7#a7 for an eligible entity that demonstrates that such requirement imposes an undue financial hardship4 7e7 ,application ,to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may reasonably require and containing the following3 7#a7 ,a description of how the entity will-- 7,a7 increase student access to digital learning opportunities outside of the school day1 which may include providing access technology for eligible students2 7,b7 integrate the out-of-school use of the access technology into the school's educational curriculum and objectives2 7,c7 provide eligible students with necessary training in digital literacy to ensure appropriate and effective use of the digital learning resources and access technology2 7,d7 ensure parents1 educators1 and students are informed of appropriate use of the digital learning resources and access technology2 7,e7 have in place a policy that meets the same requirements as described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of section #bdda7;a74 7#b7 ,a description of the eligible students who will be served1 disaggregated by-- 7,a7 the categories of students described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii72 and 7,b7 homeless students and children or youth in foster care4 7#c7 ,in the case of an eligible entity that wishes to award subgrants to local educational agencies or local educational agencies in partnership with the entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,f7 of section #ddjb7c7-- 7,a7 a description of how the eligible entity will award such subgrants2 and 7,b7 an assurance that the eligible entity consulted with appropriate staff of participating local educational agencies and the entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,f7 of section #ddjb7c71 as applicable1 in the development of the eligible entity's application under this subsection4 7#d7 ,a description of the process1 activities1 and performance measures that the eligible entity will use to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the grant funds awarded under this part for eligible students1 including measures of changes in-- 7,a7 the percentage of students who lack access to out-of-school ,internet access2 7,b7 student participation in the classroom1 including the ability to complete homework and take part in innovative learning models2 7,c7 student engagement1 through such measures as attendance rates and chronic absenteeism2 7,d7 student access to postsecondary education and workforce opportunities1 including the ability to apply for employment1 postsecondary education1 and student financial aid programs2 and 7,e7 any other valid and reliable indicators of student1 educator1 or parent engagement or participation1 as determined by the eligible entity4 7#e7 ,a description of the way in which the eligible entity will solicit and collect meaningful feedback from participating students1 educators1 parents1 and school administrators on the effectiveness of the demonstration program4 7#f7 ,a description of how the eligible entity will procure the access technology and out-of-school ,internet access necessary to carry out the demonstration program1 including whether the entity will utilize bulk purchasing or other strategies that make efficient use of program funds4 7#g7 ,if the applicant is a ,state educational agency or includes a ,state educational agency1 an assurance that the applicant will provide matching funds as required under subsection 7d74 7f7 ,use of funds ,each eligible entity receiving a grant under this part shall use the funds awarded to develop1 implement1 and evaluate strategies and methods used to increase student access to digital learning resources at home through such practices as-- 7#a7 providing a targeted distribution of access technology to eligible students2 7#b7 educating and training students1 parents1 and educators about the appropriate use of access technology outside of the classroom2 and 7#c7 evaluating the effectiveness of the strategies and methods used under this part1 through such means as student1 educator1 and parent surveys4 7g7 ,restriction ,funds awarded under this part shall only be used to promote out-of-school access to digital learning resources for eligible students and shall not be used to address the networking needs of an entity that is eligible to receive support under the ,e-rate program4 7h7 ,reservation for support and evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may reserve not more than #h percent of the grant amount for each fiscal year to provide technical support to participating schools and for the purposes of conducting the evaluation described in section #ddjd4 7#b7 ,evaluation ,not less than #ej percent of any amount reserved under paragraph 7#a7 shall be used for the purposes of conducting the evaluation described in section #ddjd4 7i7 ,national activities ,from the amounts appropriated under section #ddje1 the ,secretary may reserve not more than #a percent for national activities to provide technical assistance and support grantees4 #ddjd4 ,evaluation 7a7 ,in general ,consistent with the criteria outlined in paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e7 of section #ddjc7;e71 the ,secretary shall establish an evaluation template through which an eligible entity will record and submit the outcomes and participant feedback associated with the program carried out under this part4 7b7 ,submission2 deadline ,not later than #ij days after the termination of an eligible entity's demonstration authority under this part1 the eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary the results of the evaluation4 7c7 ,prohibition ,nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an eligible entity from recording and submitting additional data or indicators associated with the success of the program executed under the demonstration authority4 #ddje4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years #bjaf through #bjba4 4 #c4 ,report on student home access to digital learning resources 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 in consultation with relevant ,federal agencies1 shall complete a national study on the educational trends and behaviors associated with access to digital learning resources outside of the classroom1 which shall include analysis of extant data and new surveys about students and teachers that provide-- 7#a7 a description of the various locations from which students access the ,internet and digital learning resources outside of the classroom1 including through an after-school or summer program1 a library1 and at home2 7#b7 a description of the various devices and technology through which students access the ,internet and digital learning resources outside of the classroom1 including through a computer or mobile device2 7#c7 data associated with the number of students who lack out-of-school ,internet access1 disaggregated by-- 7,a7 the categories of students described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#b77;,c77v77,,ii772 7,b7 homeless students and children or youth in foster care2 and 7,c7 students in geographically diverse areas1 including urban1 suburban1 and rural areas2 7#d7 data associated with the causes for a student lacking home ,internet access2 7#e7 data associated with the proportion of educators who assign homework or implement innovative learning models that require or are substantially augmented by a student having out-of-school ,internet access and the frequency of the need for such access2 7#f7 a description of the learning behaviors associated with students who lack home ,internet access1 including-- 7,a7 student participation in the classroom1 including the ability to complete homework and participate in innovative learning models2 7,b7 student engagement1 through such measures as attendance rates and chronic absenteeism2 and 7,c7 a student's ability to apply for employment1 postsecondary education1 and financial aid programs2 7#g7 an analysis of the how a student's lack of home ,internet access impacts the instructional practice of educators1 including-- 7,a7 the extent to which educators alter instructional methods1 resources1 homework assignments1 and curriculum in order to accommodate differing levels of out-of-school ,internet access2 and 7,b7 strategies employed by educators1 school leaders1 and administrators to address the differing levels of out-of-school ,internet access among students2 and 7#h7 a description of the ways in which ,state educational agencies1 local educational agencies1 schools1 and other entities have developed effective means to provide students with ,internet access outside of the school day1 including partnerships developed4 7b7 ,public dissemination ,the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences shall widely disseminate the findings of the study under this section-- 7#a7 in a timely fashion2 7#b7 in a form that is understandable1 easily accessible1 and publicly available and usable1 or adaptable for use in1 the improvement of educational practice2 7#c7 through electronic transfer and other means1 such as posting1 as available1 to the website of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 or the ,department of ,education2 and 7#d7 to all ,state educational agencies and other recipients of funds under part ,d of title ,,iv of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife4