,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cjhi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #d1 #bjai,mr4 ,grijalva 7for himself and ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to provide grants to ,states to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in secondary school and postsecondary endeavors1 to improve ,state and local educational agency policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades1 to develop and implement effective middle grades models for struggling students1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,success in the ,middle ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,research shows that ,federal funding for students in middle school and high school1 particularly grades #f through #ab1 is significantly lower than funding for elementary and postsecondary students4 7#b7 ,international comparisons indicate that students in the ,united ,states do not start out behind students of other nations in mathematics and science1 but that they fall behind by the end of the middle grades4 7#c7 ,approximately #fe percent of students in grade #h read below the proficient level on the #bjag ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress4 ,a little over one-third of students in grade #h in the ,united ,states1 and approximately #e percent of such students who are ,english learners1 can read with proficiency1 according to the #bjag ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress4 7#d7 ,in mathematics1 #cg percent of students in grade #h show skills at or above the proficient level on the #bjag ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress4 ,however1 the percentage of students in grade #d at or above the proficient level on such ,assessment was #dj percent4 ,in grade #h1 the gaps between the average mathematics scores of ,white and ,black students and between ,white and ,hispanic students were approximately as wide in #bjag as in #bjae4 7#e7 ,by grade #f1 a student who attends school less than #hj percent of the time1 receives unsatisfactory marks for mild but sustained misbehavior1 or who fails ,english or mathematics1 has only a #aj to #bj percent chance of graduating on time4 ,without effective interventions and proper supports1 these students are at risk of subsequent failure in secondary school1 or of dropping out4 7#f7 ,approximately #ee percent of students in grades #e through #ab are engaged in the learning process1 while #bh percent are unengaged or mentally checked out and #ag percent are actively disengaged and feel negatively about school1 according to a #bjac ,gallup ,student ,poll4 ,additionally1 #ed percent of students are hopeful1 while #cb percent feel stuck and #ad percent feel discouraged1 about their future success at school and beyond4 7#g7 ,student transitions from elementary school to the middle grades and to secondary school are often complicated by poor curriculum alignment1 inadequate counseling services1 and unsatisfactory sharing of student performance and academic achievement data between grades4 7#h7 ,middle grades improvement strategies should be tailored based on a variety of performance indicators and data1 so that-- 7,a7 educators can create and implement successful school improvement strategies to address the needs of the middle grades2 and 7,b7 teachers can provide effective instruction and adequate assistance to meet the needs of at-risk students4 7#i7 ,middle grade teachers face unique challenges due to the increased individual subject matter focus of the curriculum combined with the physical1 intellectual1 and emotional changes faced by early adolescents transitioning from elementary school to high school4 7#aj7 ,combining measures of academic achievement and motivation1 social engagement1 and self-regulation--the behavioral domains essential for success across the school and work continuum--provides a more holistic picture of students1 including their likelihood of enrolling in an institution of higher education following high school graduation4 ,this information1 available in middle school1 allows for early identification of and intervention with students who may be less likely to complete secondary school and attend an institution of higher education4 7#aa7 ,appropriate academic accommodations1 age-appropriate discipline1 access to assistive technology1 and evidence-based interventions must be used with students with disabilities1 particularly in the middle grades1 as-- 7,a7 the dropout rate for learning disabled students is nearly #c times the dropout rate of all students2 7,b7 more than half of young adults with learning disabilities have been involved in the justice system2 and 7,c7 students with disabilities have a graduation rate nearly #bj percentage points lower than the graduation rate for general education students4 7#ab7 ,local educational agencies and ,state educational agencies often do not have the capacity to provide support for school improvement strategies4 ,successful models do exist for turning around low-performing middle grades1 and ,federal support should be provided to increase the capacity to apply promising practices based on evidence from successful schools4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,esea definitions ,the terms educational service agency1 elementary school1 ,english learner1 evidence-based1 local educational agency1 outlying area1 high school1 secondary school1 and ,state educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,chronic absenteeism ,the term chronic absenteeism means the percentage of individual students missing #aj percent1 or more1 of the days of school in a school year4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means a partnership that includes-- 7,a7 not less than #a eligible local educational agency2 and 7,b7 7i7 an institution of higher education2 7ii7 an educational service agency2 or 7iii7 a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in high-quality middle grades intervention4 7#d7 ,eligible local educational agency ,the term eligible local educational agency means a local educational agency that serves not less than #a eligible school4 7#e7 ,eligible school ,the term eligible school means an elementary school or secondary school that contains not less than #b successive grades of grades #e through #h and for which-- 7,a7 a high proportion of the middle grades students attending such school will attend a secondary school with a graduation rate of #fg percent or less2 7,b7 more than #be percent of the students who finish grade #f at such school1 or the earliest middle grade level at the school1 exhibit #a or more of the key risk factors and early risk identification signs1 including-- 7i7 student attendance below #ij percent2 7ii7 a failing grade in a mathematics or reading or language arts course2 7iii7 #b failing grades in any courses2 and 7iv7 out-of-school suspension or other evidence of at-risk behavior2 or 7,c7 more than #ej percent of the middle grades students attending such school do not perform at a proficient level on ,state student academic assessments required under section #aaaa7;b77#b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#b77 in mathematics or reading or language arts4 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#g7 ,middle grades ,the term middle grades means any of grades #e through #h4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#i7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the #ej ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 and the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico4 7#aj7 ,student with a disability ,the term student with a disability means a student who is a child with a disability1 as defined in section #fjb of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adja74 ,i ,middle grades improvement #aja4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this title are to-- 7#a7 develop middle grade students' social1 emotional1 and academic competencies and deep content knowledge to ensure they are equipped to think critically1 solve problems1 communicate effectively1 collaborate with others1 and be self-directed so that they can enter high school on-track and graduate from high school on time and ready for postsecondary and career pathways2 7#b7 provide student and teacher supports for middle grades education1 including funding and curricula1 that align with the student and teacher supports provided for elementary school and secondary school grades within and across local educational agencies2 7#c7 provide resources to ,state educational agencies and local educational agencies to collaboratively develop and implement middle grade improvement plans in order to deliver evidence-based support and technical assistance to schools serving middle grade students2 7#d7 provide resources for schools serving middle grade students to develop positive learning communities where educators and students feel engaged1 and share high expectations of student success1 as exhibited by mutual respect1 fair discipline approaches1 and rigorous academic curriculum2 and 7#e7 increase the capacity of ,states and local educational agencies to develop effective1 sustainable1 and replicable school improvement programs and models and evidence-based or1 when available1 scientifically valid student interventions for implementation by schools serving students in the middle grades4 #ajb4 ,formula grants to state educational agencies for middle grades improvement 7a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated under section #ajg1 the ,secretary shall make grants under this title for a fiscal year to each ,state educational agency for which the ,secretary has approved an application in an amount equal to the allotment determined for such agency under subsection 7c7 for such fiscal year4 7b7 ,reservations ,from the total amount made available to carry out this title for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary-- 7#a7 shall reserve not more than #a percent for the ,secretary of the ,interior 7on behalf of the ,bureau of ,indian ,education7 and the outlying areas for activities carried out in accordance with this section2 7#b7 shall reserve #a percent to evaluate the effectiveness of this title in achieving the purposes of this title and ensuring that results are peer-reviewed and widely disseminated1 which may include hiring an outside evaluator2 and 7#c7 shall reserve #b percent for technical assistance and dissemination of best practices in middle grades education to ,states and local educational agencies4 7c7 ,amount of ,state allotments 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 of the total amount made available to carry out this title for a fiscal year and not reserved under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall allot such amount among the ,states in proportion to the number of children1 aged #e to #ag1 who reside within the ,state and are from families with incomes below the poverty level for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available1 compared to the number of such individuals who reside in all such ,states for that fiscal year1 determined in accordance with section #aabd7;c77#a77;,a7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fccc7;c77#a77;,a774 7#b7 ,minimum allotments ,no ,state educational agency shall receive an allotment under this subsection for a fiscal year that is less than #a_/b of #a percent of the amount made available to carry out this title for such fiscal year4 7d7 ,special rule ,for any fiscal year for which the funds appropriated to carry out this title are less than #ejj1jjj1jjj1 the ,secretary is authorized to award grants to ,state educational agencies1 on a competitive basis1 rather than as allotments described in this section1 to enable such agencies to award subgrants under section #ajd on a competitive basis4 7e7 ,reallotment 7#a7 ,failure to apply2 application not approved ,if any ,state educational agency does not apply for an allotment under this title for a fiscal year1 or if the application from the ,state educational agency is not approved1 the ,secretary shall reallot the amount of the ,state's allotment to the remaining ,states in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,unused funds ,the ,secretary may reallot any amount of an allotment to a ,state if the ,secretary determines that the ,state will be unable to use such amount within #b years of such allotment4 ,such reallotments shall be made on the same basis as allotments are made under subsection 7c74 7f7 ,application ,in order to receive an allotment under this title1 a ,state educational agency shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require1 including a ,state middle grades improvement plan described in section #ajc7;a77#d74 7g7 ,peer review and selection ,the ,secretary-- 7#a7 shall establish a peer-review process to assist in the review and approval of proposed ,state applications2 7#b7 shall appoint individuals to participate in the peer-review process who are educators and experts in identifying1 evaluating1 and implementing effective education programs and practices 7including in the areas of teaching and learning1 educational standards and assessments1 school improvement1 school climate1 rates of suspension and expulsion1 and academic and behavioral supports for middle grades students1 and in addressing the needs of students with disabilities and ,english learners in the middle grades71 which individuals may include recognized exemplary middle grades teachers and middle grades principals who have been recognized at the ,state or national level for exemplary work or contributions to the field2 7#c7 shall ensure that ,state educational agencies are given the opportunity to receive timely feedback1 and to interact with peer-review panels1 in person or via electronic communication1 on issues that need clarification during the peer-review process2 7#d7 shall approve an application submitted under this title not later than #abj days after the date of submission of the application unless the ,secretary determines that the application does not meet the requirements of this title2 7#e7 may not decline to approve an application from a ,state educational agency before-- 7,a7 offering the ,state educational agency an opportunity to revise the application2 7,b7 providing the ,state educational agency with technical assistance in order to submit a successful application2 and 7,c7 providing an opportunity for a hearing to the ,state educational agency2 and 7#f7 shall direct the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,education to-- 7,a7 review final determinations reached by the ,secretary to approve or deny ,state applications2 7,b7 analyze the consistency of the process used by peer-review panels in reviewing and recommending to the ,secretary approval or denial of such ,state applications2 and 7,c7 report the findings of this review and analysis to ,congress4 #ajc4 ,state ,plan2 ,authorized ,activities 7a7 ,mandatory ,activities 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to prepare and implement the needs analysis and middle grades improvement plan1 as described in paragraphs 7#c7 and 7#d71 of such agency2 7,b7 to make subgrants to eligible local educational agencies or eligible entities under section #ajd2 and 7,c7 to assist eligible local educational agencies and eligible entities1 when determined necessary by the ,state educational agency or at the request of an eligible local educational agency or eligible entity1 in designing a comprehensive schoolwide improvement plan and carrying out the activities under section #ajd4 7#b7 ,funds for subgrants ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall use not less than #ij percent of the grant funds to make subgrants to eligible local educational agencies or eligible entities under section #ajd4 7#c7 ,middle grades need assessment 7,a7 ,comprehensive assessment 7i7 ,in general ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall conduct a comprehensive needs assessment that analyzes how to strengthen the programs1 practices1 and policies of the ,state to target support for students in the middle grades to improve positive student outcomes that prepare students for high school1 postsecondary1 and career success4 7ii7 ,contracting ability ,a ,state educational agency receiving a grant under this title may enter into a contract1 or similar formal agreement1 to work with entities such as national and regional comprehensive centers 7as described in section #bjc of the ,educational ,technical ,assistance ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ifjb771 institutions of higher education1 or nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in high-quality middle grades reform to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment4 7,b7 ,preparation of assessment ,in preparing the assessment under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,state educational agency shall examine policies and practices of the ,state1 and of local educational agencies within the ,state1 affecting1 with respect to middle grades-- 7i7 curriculum alignment1 assessment1 and instruction2 7ii7 the ,state system of annual meaningful differentiation1 as described under section #aaaa7;c77#d77;,c7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#d77;,c772 7iii7 teacher and school leader preparation1 quality1 experience1 and equitable distribution2 7iv7 interventions both in-school and out-of-school that support student learning2 7v7 student engagement activities2 7vi7 disproportionate use of exclusionary disciplinary practices1 including in-school and out-of-school suspensions2 7vii7 family and community engagement in education2 7viii7 equitable distribution of resources2 and 7ix7 student and academic support services1 such as effective school library programs and school counseling on the transition to secondary school and planning for entry into postsecondary education and the workforce4 7#d7 ,middle grades improvement plan 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall develop a middle grades improvement plan that-- 7i7 shall be a statewide plan to improve student academic achievement in the middle grades1 based on the needs assessment described in paragraph 7#c72 and 7ii7 describes what students are required to know and do to successfully-- 7,i7 complete the middle grades2 7,,ii7 develop the competencies of-- 7aa7 the ability to acquire and use deep content knowledge to solve problems2 7bb7 critical thinking2 7cc7 effective communication2 7dd7 self-direction2 and 7ee7 the ability to collaborate2 and 7,,iii7 make a successful transition to academically rigorous secondary school coursework that prepares students to graduate from secondary school ready for higher education and a career4 7,b7 ,plan components ,a middle grades improvement plan described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall also describe how the ,state educational agency will do each of the following3 7i7 7,i7 ,align ,state standards and assessments for middle grades education with ,state standards and assessments for secondary schools and prepare students to take challenging secondary school courses and successfully engage in postsecondary education4 7,,ii7 ,coordinate1 where applicable1 with the activities carried out through grants under section #fbja7;c77#a7 of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ihga7;c77#a77 for alignment of ,p-#af education1 as defined in section #fbja7;b7 of such ,act4 7,,iii7 ,support the transition from elementary school to the middle grades through programs that promote successful social1 emotional1 and cognitive development4 7ii7 ,provide professional development to school leaders1 teachers1 and other school personnel in-- 7,i7 addressing the needs of diverse learners1 including students with disabilities and ,english learners2 7,,ii7 using challenging and relevant research-based best practices and curricula2 7,,iii7 using data to inform instruction2 and 7,,iv7 increasing student engagement and social and emotional learning competencies4 7iii7 ,identify and disseminate information on effective schools and instructional strategies for middle grades students based on high-quality research4 7iv7 ,identify and provide support for students most at risk of not graduating from secondary school1 including ,english learners1 students with disabilities1 and low-income students4 7v7 ,provide technical assistance to eligible entities to develop and implement their early warning indicator and intervention systems1 as described in section #ajd7;d77#b77;,d74 7vi7 ,define a set of school performance indicators that shall be used1 in addition to the indicators used to identify schools for comprehensive support and improvement under section #aaaa7;c77#d77;,d77i7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#d77;,d77i771 to evaluate school performance and guide the school improvement process1 such as-- 7,i7 student attendance and chronic absenteeism2 7,,ii7 earned on-time promotion rates from grade to grade2 7,,iii7 percentage of students failing a mathematics1 reading or language arts1 or science course1 or failing #b or more of any courses2 7,,iv7 teacher preparation1 experience1 effectiveness1 and attendance measures2 7,v7 in-school and out-of-school suspension or other measurable evidence of at-risk behavior1 including any disparities in rates among subgroups of students1 as defined in section #aaaa7;c77#b77 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#b772 7,,vi7 data collected by the ,civil ,rights ,data ,collection survey conducted by the ,office of ,civil ,rights of the ,department of ,education2 and 7,,vii7 additional indicators proposed by the ,state educational agency and approved by the ,secretary1 based upon any peer-review evaluation of indicators conducted under section #ajb7;b77#b74 7vii7 ,ensure that such plan is coordinated with ,state activities to turn around schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement under section #aaaa7;c77#d77;,d77i7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#d77;,d77i771 including ,state activities to improve secondary schools and elementary schools4 7viii7 ,ensure that such plan includes specific provisions to improve family and community engagement in education in the middle grades4 7b7 ,permissible activities ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title may use the grant funds to-- 7#a7 develop and encourage collaborations among researchers at institutions of higher education1 ,state educational agencies1 educational service agencies1 local educational agencies1 and nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in high-quality middle grade interventions1 to expand the use of effective practices in the middle grades and to improve middle grade education2 7#b7 develop and facilitate collaboration among institutions of higher education1 nonprofit organizations1 and other stakeholders involved in teacher and school leader preparation to improve the quality and delivery of preservice and in-service middle grades teacher and school leader preparation to ensure new and existing middle grade educators are prepared for the specific and unique needs of middle grades students2 7#c7 support local educational agencies in implementing effective middle grades practices1 models1 and programs that-- 7,a7 are evidence-based2 and 7,b7 lead to improved student academic achievement2 7#d7 support collaborative communities of middle grades teachers1 administrators1 school librarians1 and researchers in creating and sustaining informational databases to disseminate results from rigorous research on effective practices and programs for middle grades education2 and 7#e7 increase middle grades student and academic support services1 such as-- 7,a7 effective school library programs2 and 7,b7 school counseling on the transition to secondary school1 such as summer bridge programs and student mentors1 and planning for entry into postsecondary education and the workforce4 #ajd4 ,competitive subgrants to improve low-performing middle grades 7a7 ,in general ,a ,state educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall make competitive subgrants to eligible local educational agencies and eligible entities to enable the eligible local educational agencies and eligible entities to improve low-performing middle grades in schools served by the agencies or entities4 7b7 ,priorities ,in making subgrants under subsection 7a71 a ,state educational agency shall give priority to eligible local educational agencies or eligible entities based on-- 7#a7 the respective populations of children described in section #ajb7;c77#a7 served by the eligible local educational agencies that are participating in the subgrant application process2 and 7#b7 the respective populations of children served by the participating eligible local educational agencies who attend eligible schools4 7c7 ,application ,an eligible local educational agency or eligible entity that desires to receive a subgrant under subsection 7a7 shall submit an application to the ,state educational agency at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,state educational agency may reasonably require1 including-- 7#a7 a middle grade improvement plan described in subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 a description of how activities described in such plan will be complementary to1 and coordinated with1 school improvement activities for elementary schools and secondary schools that serve the same students within the participating local educational agency4 7d7 ,middle grades improvement plan ,an eligible local educational agency or eligible entity that desires to receive a subgrant under subsection 7a7 shall develop a comprehensive middle grades improvement plan for the middle grades that shall-- 7#a7 describe how activities described in such plan will be coordinated with activities specified in schoolwide program plans under section #aaad of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcad72 7#b7 describe how the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity will-- 7,a7 identify eligible schools2 7,b7 ensure that funds go to eligible schools with the highest percent of low-income students first1 based on the eligible schools' populations of children described in section #ajb7;c77#a72 7,c7 use funds to close achievement gaps and improve the academic achievement of all students1 including ,english learners and students with disabilities1 in eligible schools2 7,d7 implement an early warning indicator and intervention system to alert schools when students begin to exhibit outcomes or behaviors that indicate the student is at increased risk for low academic achievement or is unlikely to progress to secondary school graduation1 and to create a system of evidence-based interventions to be used by schools to effectively intervene1 by-- 7i7 identifying and analyzing1 such as through the use of longitudinal data of past cohorts of students1 the academic and behavioral indicators in the middle grades that most reliably predict dropping out of secondary school1 such as attendance1 chronic absenteeism1 behavior measures 7including suspensions1 officer referrals1 or conduct marks71 academic performance in core courses1 and earned on-time promotion from grade-to-grade1 and other relevant indicator of student academic performance as included in schoolwide program plans under section #aaad of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcad72 7ii7 analyzing student progress and performance on the indicators identified under clause 7i7 to guide decision making2 7iii7 analyzing academic indicators to determine whether students are on track to graduate on time1 and developing appropriate evidence-based intervention2 and 7iv7 identifying or developing a mechanism for regularly collecting and reporting-- 7,i7 student-level data on the indicators identified under clause 7i72 7,,ii7 student-level progress and performance1 as described in clause 7ii72 7,,iii7 student-level data on the indicators described in clause 7iii72 and 7,,iv7 information about the impact of interventions on student outcomes and progress2 7,e7 increase academic rigor and foster student engagement to ensure students are entering secondary school prepared for success in a rigorous college- and career-ready curriculum1 including a description of how such readiness will be measured2 7,f7 implement a systemic transition plan for all students and encourage collaboration among elementary grades1 middle grades1 and secondary school grades to support the successful transition between grades2 7,g7 increase community and family engagement in education in the middle grades to support student success2 and 7,h7 provide evidence that the strategies1 programs1 supports1 and instructional practices proposed under the middle grades improvement plan are new and have not been implemented before by the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity2 and 7#c7 provide evidence of an ongoing commitment to sustain the plan for a period of not less than #d years4 7e7 ,review and selection of subgrants ,in making subgrants under subsection 7a71 the ,state educational agency shall-- 7#a7 establish a peer-review process to assist in the review and approval of applications under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 appoint individuals to participate in the peer-review process who are educators and experts in identifying1 evaluating1 and implementing effective education programs and practices1 including-- 7,a7 experts-- 7i7 in areas of teaching and learning1 educational standards and assessments1 and school improvement2 7ii7 in addressing the needs of students with disabilities and ,english learners in the middle grades2 and 7iii7 in the academic and behavioral supports for middle grades students2 and 7,b7 recognized exemplary middle grades teachers and principals who have been recognized at the ,state or national level for exemplary work or contributions to the field4 7f7 ,revision of subgrants ,if a ,state educational agency1 using the peer-review process described in subsection 7e71 determines that an application for a grant under subsection 7a7 does not meet the requirements of this title1 the ,state educational agency shall notify the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity of such determination and the reasons for such determination1 and offer-- 7#a7 the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity an opportunity to revise and resubmit the application2 and 7#b7 technical assistance to the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity1 by the ,state educational agency or a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in high-quality middle grades interventions1 to revise the application4 7g7 ,mandatory uses of funds ,an eligible local educational agency or eligible entity that receives a subgrant under subsection 7a7 shall carry out the following3 7#a7 ,align the curricula for grades kindergarten through #ab for schools within the local educational agency to improve transitions from elementary grades to middle grades to secondary school grades4 7#b7 ,in each eligible school served by the eligible local educational agency receiving or participating in the subgrant3 7,a7 ,align the curricula for all grade levels within eligible schools to improve grade to grade transitions4 7,b7 ,implement evidence-based instructional strategies1 programs1 and learning environments that meet the needs of all students and ensure that school leaders and teachers receive professional development on the use of these strategies4 7,c7 ,provide professional development for school leaders1 teachers1 specialized instructional support personnel1 school librarians1 and other school staff on the developmental stages of adolescents in the middle grades and how to deal with those stages appropriately in an educational setting4 7,d7 ,implement organizational practices and school schedules that allow for effective leadership1 collaborative staff participation1 professional development1 effective teacher instructional teaming1 and parent and community involvement4 7,e7 ,create a more personalized and engaging learning environment for middle grades students by developing a personal academic plan for each student and assigning not less than #a adult who has received the appropriate training to monitor1 evaluate1 and support the progress of each individual student attending the eligible school4 7,f7 ,provide all students1 and the students' families1 with information about1 and assistance with1 the requirements for secondary school graduation1 admission to an institution of higher education1 and career success4 7,g7 ,utilize data from an early warning indicator and intervention system described in subsection 7d77#b77;,d7 to identify struggling students and assist the students as the students transition from elementary school to middle grades to secondary school4 7,h7 ,implement academic supports1 such as effective school library programs1 and effective and coordinated additional assistance programs to ensure that students have a strong foundation in reading1 writing1 mathematics1 and science skills4 7,i7 ,develop and use effective1 age- and level-appropriate1 formative assessments to inform instruction4 7,j7 ,provide integrated student support services1 such as access to student health services1 mental health and trauma-informed care1 and individualized school counseling1 to address the comprehensive needs of students attending eligible schools4 7h7 ,permissible uses of funds ,an eligible local educational agency or eligible entity that receives a subgrant under subsection 7a7 may use the subgrant funds to carry out the following3 7#a7 ,implement extended learning opportunities in core academic areas1 including more instructional time in literacy1 mathematics1 science1 history1 and civics in addition to opportunities for language instruction and understanding other cultures and the arts4 7#b7 ,provide evidence-based professional development activities with specific benchmarks to enable teachers and other school staff to appropriately monitor academic and behavioral progress of1 and modify curricula and implement accommodations and assistive technology services for1 students with disabilities1 consistent with the students' individualized education programs under section #fad7;d7 of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adad7;d774 7#c7 ,employ and use instructional coaches1 including literacy1 mathematics1 and ,english learner coaches4 7#d7 ,provide professional development for content-area teachers and school librarians on working effectively with ,english learners and students with disabilities1 as well as professional development for ,english as a second language educators1 bilingual educators1 and special education personnel4 7#e7 ,provide professional development in areas that support improving school climate and increasing student engagement such as culturally responsive pedagogy1 restorative justice programs1 social and emotional learning1 response to intervention1 and positive behavior intervention support4 7#f7 ,encourage and facilitate the sharing of data among elementary grades1 middle grades1 secondary school grades1 institutions of higher education1 and other postsecondary educational institutions4 7#g7 ,create collaborative study groups composed of principals or middle grades teachers1 or both1 among eligible schools within the eligible local educational agency receiving or participating in the subgrant1 or between such eligible local educational agency and another local educational agency1 with a focus on developing and sharing methods to increase student learning and academic achievement4 7#h7 ,incorporate as school quality and student success indicators into the ,state system of annual meaningful differentiation1 as described under section #aaaa7;c77#d77;,c7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#d77;,c771 for middle grades schools that feed into secondary schools1 rates of first-year secondary school attendance1 retention1 and achievement to the accountability system of each middle grades school that feeds into the secondary school4 7i7 ,non-,recipient planning subgrants 7#a7 ,in general ,in addition to the subgrants described in subsection 7a71 a ,state educational agency may 7without regard to the preceding provisions of this section7 make planning subgrants1 and provide technical assistance1 to eligible local educational agencies and eligible entities that have not received a subgrant under subsection 7a7 to assist the local educational agencies and eligible entities in meeting the requirements of subsections 7c7 and 7d74 7#b7 ,amount and duration ,each subgrant under this subsection shall be in an amount of not more than #ajj1jjj and shall be for a period of not more than #a year in duration4 #aje4 ,duration of grants2 supplement not supplant 7a7 ,duration of grants 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 grants under this title and subgrants under section #ajd7;a7 may not exceed #c years in duration4 7#b7 ,renewals 7,a7 ,in general ,grants under this title and subgrants under section #ajd7;a7 may be renewed in #b-year increments4 7,b7 ,conditions ,in order to be eligible to have a grant or subgrant renewed under this paragraph1 the grant or subgrant recipient shall demonstrate1 to the satisfaction of the granting entity1 that-- 7i7 the recipient has complied with the terms of the grant or subgrant1 including by undertaking all required activities2 and 7ii7 during the period of the grant or subgrant1 there has been significant progress in-- 7,i7 student academic achievement2 and 7,,ii7 positively impacting other key risk factors such as attendance1 chronic absenteeism1 and on-time promotion4 7b7 ,federal funds ,to supplement1 not supplant1 non-,federal funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state educational agency1 eligible local educational agency1 or eligible entity shall use ,federal funds received under this title only to supplement the funds that would1 in the absence of such ,federal funds1 be made available from non-,federal sources for the education of students participating in programs assisted under this title1 and not to supplant such funds4 7#b7 ,special rule ,nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize an officer1 employee1 or contractor of the ,federal ,government to mandate1 direct1 limit1 or control a ,state1 local educational agency1 or school's specific instructional content1 academic achievement standards and assessments1 curriculum1 or program of instruction4 #ajf4 ,evaluation and reporting 7a7 ,evaluation ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for the period of the grant1 each ,state educational agency receiving a grant under this title shall-- 7#a7 conduct an evaluation of the ,state's progress regarding the impact of the changes made to the policies and practices of the ,state in accordance with this title1 including-- 7,a7 a description of the specific changes made1 or in the process of being made1 to policies and practices as a result of the grant2 7,b7 a discussion of any barriers hindering the identified changes in policies and practices1 and implementation strategies to overcome such barriers2 7,c7 evidence of the impact of changes to policies and practices on behavior and actions at the local educational agency and school level2 and 7,d7 evidence of the impact of the changes to ,state and local policies and practices on improving measurable learning gains by middle grades students2 7#b7 use the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#a7 to adjust the policies and practices of the ,state as necessary to achieve the purposes of this title2 and 7#c7 submit the results of the evaluation to the ,secretary4 7b7 ,availability ,the ,secretary shall make the results of each ,state educational agency's evaluation under subsection 7a7 available to other ,states and local educational agencies4 7c7 ,local educational agency reporting ,on an annual basis1 each eligible local educational agency and eligible entity receiving a subgrant under section #ajd7;a7 shall report to the ,state educational agency and to the public on-- 7#a7 the performance on the school performance indicators 7as described in section #ajc7;a77#d77;,b77vi77 for each eligible school served by the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity1 in the aggregate and disaggregated by each of the subgroups of students1 as defined in section #aaaa7;c77#b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#b772 and 7#b7 the use of funds by the eligible local educational agency or eligible entity and each such school4 7d7 ,state educational agency reporting ,on an annual basis1 each ,state educational agency receiving grant funds under this title shall report to the ,secretary and to the public on-- 7#a7 the performance of eligible schools in the ,state1 based on the school performance indicators described in section #ajc7;a77#d77;,b77vi71 in the aggregate and disaggregated by each of the subgroups of students1 as defined in section #aaaa7;c77#b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;c77#b772 and 7#b7 the use of such funds by each eligible school1 eligible entity1 and eligible local educational agency in the ,state receiving such funds4 7e7 ,report to ,congress ,every #b years1 the ,secretary shall report to the public and to ,congress-- 7#a7 a summary of the ,state educational agency reports under subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 the use of funds by each ,state educational agency under this title4 #ajg4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title-- 7#a7 #ejj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj2 7#b7 #ebe1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba2 7#c7 #eej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb2 7#d7 #fjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbc2 and 7#e7 #fej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbd4 ,,ii ,research recommendations #bja4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this title is to facilitate the generation1 dissemination1 and application of research needed to identify and implement effective practices that lead to continual student learning and high academic achievement in the middle grades4 #bjb4 ,study on promising practices 7a7 ,study on promising practices 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall study and identify promising practices for the improvement of middle grades education4 ,the ,secretary may contract with an independent third party1 such as a nonprofit organization1 nongovernmental organization1 or institution of higher education to satisfy this requirement4 7#b7 ,content of study ,the study described in paragraph 7#a7 shall identify promising practices currently being implemented for the improvement of middle grades education4 ,the study shall be conducted in an open and transparent way that provides interim information to the public about criteria being used to identify-- 7,a7 such promising practices2 7,b7 the practices that are being considered2 and 7,c7 the kind of evidence needed to document effectiveness4 7#c7 ,report ,the contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall require that the independent third party submit to the ,secretary1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a final report regarding the study conducted under this section not later than #a year after the date of the commencement of the contract4 7#d7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall make public and post on the website of the ,department of ,education the findings of the study conducted under this subsection4 7b7 ,synthesis study of effective teaching and learning in middle grades 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall enter into a contract with the ,national ,academies to review existing research on middle grades education1 and on factors that might lead to increased effectiveness and enhanced innovation in middle grades education4 7#b7 ,content of study ,the study described in paragraph 7#a7 shall review research on education programs1 practices1 and policies and research on the cognitive1 social1 and emotional development of children in the middle grades age range1 in order to provide an enriched understanding of the factors that might lead to the development of innovative and effective middle grades programs1 practices1 and policies4 ,the study shall focus on-- 7,a7 the areas of curriculum1 instruction1 and assessment 7including additional supports for students who are below grade level in reading1 writing1 mathematics1 and science1 and the identification of students with disabilities7 to better prepare all students for subsequent success in secondary school1 postsecondary education1 and cognitively challenging employment2 7,b7 the quality of 7including experience1 certification1 and demonstrated effectiveness71 and supports for1 the teacher workforce2 7,c7 aspects of student behavioral and social development1 and of social interactions within schools that affect the learning of academic content2 7,d7 the ways in which schools and local educational agencies are organized and operated that may be linked to student outcomes2 7,e7 how development and use of early warning indicator and intervention systems can reduce risk factors for dropping out of school and low academic achievement2 and 7,f7 identification of areas where further research and evaluation may be needed on these topics to further the development of effective middle grades practices4 7#c7 ,report ,the contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall require that the ,national ,academies submit to the ,secretary1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a final report regarding the study conducted under this subsection not later than #b years after the date of commencement of the contract4 7#d7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall make public and post on the website of the ,department of ,education the findings of the study conducted under this subsection4 7c7 ,other activities ,the ,secretary shall carry out each of the following3 7#a7 ,create a national clearinghouse1 in coordination with entities such as the ,what ,works ,clearinghouse of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 for research in best practices in the middle grades and in the approaches that successfully take those best practices to scale in schools and local educational agencies4 7#b7 ,create a national middle grades database accessible to educational researchers1 practitioners1 and policymakers that identifies factors at the school1 classroom1 and system level that facilitate or impede student academic achievement in the middle grades4 7#c7 ,require the ,institute of ,education ,sciences to develop a strand of field-initiated and scientifically valid research designed to enhance performance of schools serving middle grades students1 and of middle grades students who are most at risk of educational failure1 which may be coordinated with the regional educational laboratories established under section #agd of the ,education ,sciences ,reform ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iefd71 institutions of higher education1 agencies recognized for their research work that has been published in peer-reviewed journals1 and organizations that have such regional educational laboratories4 ,such research shall target specific issues such as-- 7,a7 effective practices for instruction and assessment in mathematics1 science1 technology1 and literacy2 7,b7 effective practices for developing in students the competencies of-- 7i7 the ability to acquire and use deep content knowledge to solve problems2 7ii7 critical thinking2 7iii7 effective communication2 7iv7 self-direction2 and 7v7 the ability to collaborate2 7,c7 academic interventions for adolescent ,english learners2 7,d7 school improvement programs and strategies for closing the academic achievement gap between the different groups described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,b77xi7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;b77#b77;,b77xi771 and for decreasing rates of suspension and expulsion2 7,e7 evidence-based or1 when available1 scientifically valid professional development planning targeted to improve pedagogy and student academic achievement and student engagement2 and 7,f7 the effects of decreased class size or increased instructional and support staff4 7#d7 ,strengthen the work of the existing national research and development centers under section #acc7;c7 of the ,education ,sciences ,reform ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iecc7;c771 as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 by adding an educational research and development center dedicated to addressing-- 7,a7 curricular1 instructional1 and assessment issues pertinent to the middle grades 7such as mathematics1 science1 technological fluency1 and the needs of ,english learners and students with disabilities72 7,b7 comprehensive reforms for low-performing middle grades2 and 7,c7 other topics pertinent to improving the academic achievement of middle grades students4 7#e7 ,provide grants to nonprofit organizations1 for-profit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and others to partner with ,state educational agencies and local educational agencies to develop1 adapt1 or replicate effective models for turning around low-performing schools serving middle grades students4 #bjc4 ,authorization of appropriations2 reservations 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj1 which amount shall remain available for obligation through fiscal year #bjbd4 7b7 ,reservations ,from the total amount made available to carry out this title1 the ,secretary shall reserve-- 7#a7 #b4e percent for the studies described in subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #bjb2 7#b7 #e percent for the clearinghouse described in section #bjb7;c77#a72 7#c7 #e percent for the database described in section #bjb7;c77#b72 7#d7 #db4e percent for the activities described in section #bjb7;c77#c72 7#e7 #ae percent for the activities described in section #bjb7;c77#d72 and 7#f7 #cj percent for the activities described in section #bjb7;c77#e74