§ 6303a. Whole-school reform strategy

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 2015

   Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2016

   Pub. L. 114–113 div. H title III · 129 Stat. 2242

   Enacted · 20 U.S.C. § 6303a

   (Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title III, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2627.)

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   (Pub. L. 114–113, div. H, title III, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2627.)

   Enacted provision · exact public law
   TITLE III DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Education for the Disadvantaged   For carrying out title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (referred to in this Act as “ESEA”) and section 418A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (referred to in this Act as “HEA”), $16,016,790,000, of which $5,127,006,000 shall become available on July 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, and of which $10,841,177,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, for academic year 2016–2017: Provided, That $6,459,401,000 shall be for basic grants under section 1124 of the ESEA: Provided further, That up to $3,984,000 of these funds shall be available to the Secretary of Education (referred to in this title as “Secretary”) on October 1, 2015, to obtain annually updated local educational agency-level census poverty data from the Bureau of the Census: Provided further, That $1,362,301,000 shall be for concentration grants under section 1124A of the ESEA: Provided further, That $3,544,050,000 shall be for targeted grants under section 1125 of the ESEA: Provided further, That $3,544,050,000 shall be for education finance incentive grants under section 1125A of the ESEA: Provided further, That funds available under sections 1124, 1124A, 1125 and 1125A of the ESEA may be used to provide homeless children and youths with services not ordinarily provided to other students under those sections, including supporting the liaison designated pursuant to section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and providing transportation pursuant to section 722(g)(1)(J)(iii) of such Act: Provided further, That $450,000,000 shall be available for school improvement grants under section 1003(g) of the ESEA, which shall be allocated by the Secretary through the formula described in section 1003(g)(2) and shall be used consistent with the requirements of section 1003(g), except that State and local educational agencies may use such funds to serve any school eligible to receive assistance under part A of title I that has not made adequate yearly progress for at least 2 years or is in the State’s lowest quintile of performance based on proficiency rates and, in the case of secondary schools, priority shall be given to those schools with graduation rates below 60 percent: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 1003(g)(5)(C) of the ESEA, the Secretary may permit a State educational agency to establish an award period of up to 5 years for each participating local educational agency: Provided further, That funds available for school improvement grants for fiscal year 2014 and thereafter may be used by a local educational agency to implement a whole-school reform strategy for a school using an evidence-based strategy that ensures whole-school reform is undertaken in partnership with a strategy developer offering a whole-school reform program that is based on at least a moderate level of evidence that the program will have a statistically significant effect on student outcomes, including at least one well-designed and well-implemented experimental or quasi-experimental study: Provided further, That funds available for school improvement grants may be used by a local educational agency to implement an alternative State-determined school improvement strategy that has been established by a State educational agency with the approval of the Secretary: Provided further, That a local educational agency that is determined to be eligible for services under subpart 1 or 2 of part B of title VI of the ESEA may modify not more than one element of a school improvement grant model: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 1003(g)(5)(A), each State educational agency may establish a maximum subgrant size of not more than $2,000,000 for each participating school applicable to such funds: Provided further, That the Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the funds available for section 1003(g) of the ESEA to carry out activities to build State and local educational agency capacity to implement effectively the school improvement grants program: Provided further, That $190,000,000 shall be available under section 1502 of the ESEA for a comprehensive literacy development and education program to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing, for students from birth through grade 12, including limited-English-proficient students and students with disabilities, of which one-half of 1 percent shall be reserved for the Secretary of the Interior for such a program at schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, one-half of 1 percent shall be reserved for grants to the outlying areas for such a program, up to 5 percent may be reserved for national activities, and the remainder shall be used to award competitive grants to State educational agencies for such a program, of which a State educational agency may reserve up to 5 percent for State leadership activities, including technical assistance and training, data collection, reporting, and administration, and shall subgrant not less than 95 percent to local educational agencies or, in the case of early literacy, to local educational agencies or other nonprofit providers of early childhood education that partner with a public or private nonprofit organization or agency with a demonstrated record of effectiveness in improving the early literacy development of children from birth through kindergarten entry and in providing professional development in early literacy, giving priority to such agencies or other entities serving greater numbers or percentages of disadvantaged children: Provided further, That the State educational agency shall ensure that at least 15 percent of the subgranted funds are used to serve children from birth through age 5, 40 percent are used to serve students in kindergarten through grade 5, and 40 percent are used to serve students in middle and high school including an equitable distribution of funds between middle and high schools: Provided further, That eligible entities receiving subgrants from State educational agencies shall use such funds for services and activities that have the characteristics of effective literacy instruction through professional development, screening and assessment, targeted interventions for students reading below grade level and other research-based methods of improving classroom instruction and practice: Provided further, That $44,623,000 shall be for carrying out section 418A of the HEA. Impact Aid   For carrying out programs of financial assistance to federally affected schools authorized by title VIII of the ESEA, $1,305,603,000, of which $1,168,233,000 shall be for basic support payments under section 8003(b), $48,316,000 shall be for payments for children with disabilities under section 8003(d), $17,406,000 shall be for construction under section 8007(a), $66,813,000 shall be for Federal property payments under section 8002, and $4,835,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for facilities maintenance under section 8008: Provided, That for purposes of computing the amount of a payment for an eligible local educational agency under section 8003(a) for school year 2015–2016, children enrolled in a school of such agency that would otherwise be eligible for payment under section 8003(a)(1)(B) of such Act, but due to the deployment of both parents or legal guardians, or a parent or legal guardian having sole custody of such children, or due to the death of a military parent or legal guardian while on active duty (so long as such children reside on Federal property as described in section 8003(a)(1)(B)), are no longer eligible under such section, shall be considered as eligible students under such section, provided such students remain in average daily attendance at a school in the same local educational agency they attended prior to their change in eligibility status. School Improvement Programs   For carrying out school improvement activities authorized by parts A and B of title II, part B of title IV, parts A and B of title VI, and parts B and C of title VII of the ESEA; the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002; the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003; and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, $4,433,629,000, of which $2,611,619,000 shall become available on July 1, 2016, and remain available through September 30, 2017, and of which $1,681,441,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, for academic year 2016–2017: Provided, That funds made available to carry out part B of title VII of the ESEA may be used for construction, renovation, and modernization of any elementary school, secondary school, or structure related to an elementary school or secondary school, run by the Department of Education of the State of Hawaii, that serves a predominantly Native Hawaiian student body: Provided further, That funds made available to carry out part C of title VII of the ESEA shall be awarded on a competitive basis, and also may be used for construction: Provided further, That $51,445,000 shall be available to carry out section 203 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002 and the Secretary shall make such arrangements as determined to be necessary to ensure that the Bureau of Indian Education has access to services provided under this section: Provided further, That $16,699,000 shall be available to carry out the Supplemental Education Grants program for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands: Provided further, That the Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the amount referred to in the previous proviso to provide technical assistance in the implementation of these grants: Provided further, That up to 4.0 percent of the funds for subpart 1 of part A of title II of the ESEA shall be reserved by the Secretary for competitive awards for teacher or principal recruitment and training or professional enhancement activities, including for civic education instruction, to national not-for-profit organizations, of which up to 8 percent may only be used for research, dissemination, evaluation, and technical assistance for competitive awards carried out under this proviso: Provided further, That $152,717,000 shall be to carry out part B of title II of the ESEA: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act shall be used to allow 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative funding for expanded learning time unless these activities provide enrichment and engaging academic activities for students at least 300 additional program hours before, during, or after the traditional school day and supplements but does not supplant school day requirements. Indian Education   For expenses necessary to carry out, to the extent not otherwise provided, title VII, part A of the ESEA, $143,939,000. Innovation and Improvement   For carrying out activities authorized by part G of title I, subpart 5 of part A and parts C and D of title II, parts B, C, and D of title V of the ESEA, and section 14007 of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as amended, $1,181,226,000: Provided, That up to $120,000,000 shall be available through December 31, 2016 for section 14007 of division A of Public Law 111–5, and up to 5 percent of such funds may be used for technical assistance and the evaluation of activities carried out under such section: Provided further, That the education facilities clearinghouse established through a competitive process in fiscal year 2013 may collect and disseminate information on effective educational practices and the latest research on the planning, design, financing, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of safe, healthy, high-performance public facilities for early learning programs, kindergarten through grade 12, and higher education: Provided further, That $230,000,000 of the funds for subpart 1 of part D of title V of the ESEA shall be for competitive grants to local educational agencies, including charter schools that are local educational agencies, or States, or partnerships of: (1) a local educational agency, a State, or both; and (2) at least one nonprofit organization to develop and implement performance-based compensation systems for teachers, principals, and other personnel in high-need schools: Provided further, That such performance-based compensation systems must consider gains in student academic achievement as well as classroom evaluations conducted multiple times during each school year among other factors and provide educators with incentives to take on additional responsibilities and leadership roles: Provided further, That recipients of such grants shall demonstrate that such performance-based compensation systems are developed with the input of teachers and school leaders in the schools and local educational agencies to be served by the grant: Provided further, That recipients of such grants may use such funds to develop or improve systems and tools (which may be developed and used for the entire local educational agency or only for schools served under the grant) that would enhance the quality and success of the compensation system, such as high- quality teacher evaluations and tools to measure growth in student achievement: Provided further, That applications for such grants shall include a plan to sustain financially the activities conducted and systems developed under the grant once the grant period has expired: Provided further, That up to 5 percent of such funds for competitive grants shall be available for technical assistance, training, peer review of applications, program outreach, and evaluation activities: Provided further, That $250,000,000 of the funds for part D of title V of the ESEA shall be available through December 31, 2016 for carrying out, in accordance with the applicable requirements of part D of title V of the ESEA, a preschool development grants program: Provided further, That the Secretary, jointly with the Secretary of HHS, shall make competitive awards to States for activities that build the capacity within the State to develop, enhance, or expand high-quality preschool programs, including comprehensive services and family engagement, for preschool-aged children from families at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line: Provided further, That each State may subgrant a portion of such grant funds to local educational agencies and other early learning providers (including, but not limited to, Head Start programs and licensed child care providers), or consortia thereof, for the implementation of high-quality preschool programs for children from families at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line: Provided further, That subgrantees that are local educational agencies shall form strong partnerships with early learning providers and that subgrantees that are early learning providers shall form strong partnerships with local educational agencies, in order to carry out the requirements of the subgrant: Provided further, That up to 3 percent of such funds for preschool development grants shall be available for technical assistance, evaluation, and other national activities related to such grants: Provided further, That $10,000,000 of funds available under part D of title V of the ESEA shall be for the Full-Service Community Schools program: Provided further, That of the funds available for part B of title V of the ESEA, the Secretary shall use up to $10,000,000 to carry out activities under section 5205(b) and shall use not less than $16,000,000 for subpart 2: Provided further, That of the funds available for subpart 1 of part B of title V of the ESEA, and notwithstanding section 5205(a), the Secretary shall reserve up to $100,000,000 to make multiple awards to non-profit charter management organizations and other entities that are not for-profit entities for the replication and expansion of successful charter school models and shall reserve not less than $11,000,000 to carry out the activities described in section 5205(a), including improving quality and oversight of charter schools and providing technical assistance and grants to authorized public chartering agencies in order to increase the number of high-performing charter schools: Provided further, That funds available for part B of title V of the ESEA may be used for grants that support preschool education in charter schools: Provided further, That each application submitted pursuant to section 5203(a) shall describe a plan to monitor and hold accountable authorized public chartering agencies through such activities as providing technical assistance or establishing a professional development program, which may include evaluation, planning, training, and systems development for staff of authorized public chartering agencies to improve the capacity of such agencies in the State to authorize, monitor, and hold accountable charter schools: Provided further, That each application submitted pursuant to section 5203(a) shall contain assurances that State law, regulations, or other policies require that: (1) each authorized charter school in the State operate under a legally binding charter or performance contract between itself and the school’s authorized public chartering agency that describes the rights and responsibilities of the school and the public chartering agency; conduct annual, timely, and independent audits of the school’s financial statements that are filed with the school’s authorized public chartering agency; and demonstrate improved student academic achievement; and (2) authorized public chartering agencies use increases in student academic achievement for all groups of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA as one of the most important factors when determining to renew or revoke a school’s charter. Safe Schools and Citizenship Education   For carrying out activities authorized by part A of title IV and subparts 1, 2, and 10 of part D of title V of the ESEA, $244,815,000: Provided, That $75,000,000 shall be available for subpart 2 of part A of title IV, of which up to $5,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for the Project School Emergency Response to Violence (“Project SERV”) program to provide education-related services to local educational agencies and institutions of higher education in which the learning environment has been disrupted due to a violent or traumatic crisis: Provided further, That $73,254,000 shall be available through December 31, 2016 for Promise Neighborhoods. English Language Acquisition   For carrying out part A of title III of the ESEA, $737,400,000, which shall become available on July 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, except that 6.5 percent of such amount shall be available on October 1, 2015, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, to carry out activities under section 3111(c)(1)(C): Provided, That the Secretary shall use estimates of the American Community Survey child counts for the most recent 3-year period available to calculate allocations under such part. Special Education   For carrying out the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004, $12,976,858,000, of which $3,456,259,000 shall become available on July 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, and of which $9,283,383,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, for academic year 2016–2017: Provided, That the amount for section 611(b)(2) of the IDEA shall be equal to the lesser of the amount available for that activity during fiscal year 2015, increased by the amount of inflation as specified in section 619(d)(2)(B) of the IDEA, or the percent change in the funds appropriated under section 611(i) of the IDEA, but not less than the amount for that activity during fiscal year 2015: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, without regard to section 611(d) of the IDEA, distribute to all other States (as that term is defined in section 611(g)(2)), subject to the third proviso, any amount by which a State’s allocation under section 611(d), from funds appropriated under this heading, is reduced under section 612(a)(18)(B), according to the following: 85 percent on the basis of the States’ relative populations of children aged 3 through 21 who are of the same age as children with disabilities for whom the State ensures the availability of a free appropriate public education under this part, and 15 percent to States on the basis of the States’ relative populations of those children who are living in poverty: Provided further, That the Secretary may not distribute any funds under the previous proviso to any State whose reduction in allocation from funds appropriated under this heading made funds available for such a distribution: Provided further, That the States shall allocate such funds distributed under the second proviso to local educational agencies in accordance with section 611(f): Provided further, That the amount by which a State’s allocation under section 611(d) of the IDEA is reduced under section 612(a)(18)(B) and the amounts distributed to States under the previous provisos in fiscal year 2012 or any subsequent year shall not be considered in calculating the awards under section 611(d) for fiscal year 2013 or for any subsequent fiscal years: Provided further, That, notwithstanding the provision in section 612(a)(18)(B) regarding the fiscal year in which a State’s allocation under section 611(d) is reduced for failure to comply with the requirement of section 612(a)(18)(A), the Secretary may apply the reduction specified in section 612(a)(18)(B) over a period of consecutive fiscal years, not to exceed five, until the entire reduction is applied: Provided further, That the Secretary may, in any fiscal year in which a State’s allocation under section 611 is reduced in accordance with section 612(a)(18)(B), reduce the amount a State may reserve under section 611(e)(1) by an amount that bears the same relation to the maximum amount described in that paragraph as the reduction under section 612(a)(18)(B) bears to the total allocation the State would have received in that fiscal year under section 611(d) in the absence of the reduction: Provided further, That the Secretary shall either reduce the allocation of funds under section 611 for any fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the State fails to comply with the requirement of section 612(a)(18)(A) as authorized by section 612(a)(18)(B), or seek to recover funds under section 452 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1234a): Provided further, That the funds reserved under 611(c) of the IDEA may be used to provide technical assistance to States to improve the capacity of the States to meet the data collection requirements of sections 616 and 618 and to administer and carry out other services and activities to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use under parts B and C of the IDEA: Provided further, That the level of effort a local educational agency must meet under section 613(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the IDEA, in the year after it fails to maintain effort is the level of effort that would have been required in the absence of that failure and not the LEA’s reduced level of expenditures: Provided further, That the Secretary may use funds made available for the State Personnel Development Grants program under part D, subpart 1 of IDEA to evaluate program performance under such subpart. Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research   For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Helen Keller National Center Act, $3,529,605,000, of which $3,391,770,000 shall be for grants for vocational rehabilitation services under title I of the Rehabilitation Act: Provided, That the Secretary may use amounts provided in this Act that remain available subsequent to the reallotment of funds to States pursuant to section 110(b) of the Rehabilitation Act for innovative activities aimed at improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities as defined in section 7(20)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act, including activities aimed at improving the education and post-school outcomes of children receiving Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) and their families that may result in long-term improvement in the SSI child recipient’s economic status and self-sufficiency: Provided further, That States may award subgrants for a portion of the funds to other public and private, nonprofit entities: Provided further, That any funds made available subsequent to reallotment for innovative activities aimed at improving the outcomes of individuals with disabilities shall remain available until September 30, 2017. Special Institutions for Persons With Disabilities american printing house for the blind   For carrying out the Act of March 3, 1879, $25,431,000. national technical institute for the deaf   For the National Technical Institute for the Deaf under titles I and II of the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986, $70,016,000: Provided, That from the total amount available, the Institute may at its discretion use funds for the endowment program as authorized under section 207 of such Act. gallaudet university   For the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Model Secondary School for the Deaf, and the partial support of Gallaudet University under titles I and II of the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986, $121,275,000: Provided, That from the total amount available, the University may at its discretion use funds for the endowment program as authorized under section 207 of such Act. Career, Technical, and Adult Education   For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (“AEFLA”), $1,720,686,000, of which $929,686,000 shall become available on July 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017, and of which $791,000,000 shall become available on October 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017: Provided, That of the amounts made available for AEFLA, $13,712,000 shall be for national leadership activities under section 242. Student Financial Assistance   For carrying out subparts 1, 3, and 10 of part A, and part C of title IV of the HEA, $24,198,210,000, which shall remain available through September 30, 2017.  The maximum Pell Grant for which a student shall be eligible during award year 2016–2017 shall be $4,860. Student Aid Administration   For Federal administrative expenses to carry out part D of title I, and subparts 1, 3, 9, and 10 of part A, and parts B, C, D, and E of title IV of the HEA, and subpart 1 of part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act, $1,551,854,000, to remain available through September 30, 2017: Provided, That the Secretary shall, no later than March 1, 2016, allocate new student loan borrower accounts to eligible student loan servicers on the basis of their performance compared to all loan servicers utilizing established common metrics, and on the basis of the capacity of each servicer to process new and existing accounts. Higher Education   For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, titles II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII of the HEA, the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, and section 117 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, $1,982,185,000: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this Act to carry out title VI of the HEA and section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 may be used to support visits and study in foreign countries by individuals who are participating in advanced foreign language training and international studies in areas that are vital to United States national security and who plan to apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries in the fields of government, the professions, or international development: Provided further, That of the funds referred to in the preceding proviso up to 1 percent may be used for program evaluation, national outreach, and information dissemination activities: Provided further, That up to 1.5 percent of the funds made available under chapter 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the HEA may be used for evaluation. Howard University   For partial support of Howard University, $221,821,000, of which not less than $3,405,000 shall be for a matching endowment grant pursuant to the Howard University Endowment Act and shall remain available until expended. College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program   For Federal administrative expenses to carry out activities related to existing facility loans pursuant to section 121 of the HEA, $435,000. Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account   For the cost of guaranteed loans, $20,150,000, as authorized pursuant to part D of title III of the HEA, which shall remain available through September 30, 2017: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to subsidize total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $302,099,000: Provided further, That these funds may be used to support loans to public and private Historically Black Colleges and Universities without regard to the limitations within section 344(a) of the HEA.  In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program entered into pursuant to part D of title III of the HEA, $334,000. Institute of Education Sciences   For carrying out activities authorized by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act, section 208 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002, and section 664 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, $618,015,000, which shall remain available through September 30, 2017: Provided, That funds available to carry out section 208 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act may be used to link Statewide elementary and secondary data systems with early childhood, postsecondary, and workforce data systems, or to further develop such systems: Provided further, That up to $6,000,000 of the funds available to carry out section 208 of the Educational Technical Assistance Act may be used for awards to public or private organizations or agencies to support activities to improve data coordination, quality, and use at the local, State, and national levels: Provided further, That $157,235,000 shall be for carrying out activities authorized by the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act. Departmental Management program administration   For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the Department of Education Organization Act, including rental of conference rooms in the District of Columbia and hire of three passenger motor vehicles, $432,000,000, of which up to $1,000,000, to remain available until expended, may be for relocation of, and renovation of buildings occupied by, Department staff. office for civil rights   For expenses necessary for the Office for Civil Rights, as authorized by section 203 of the Department of Education Organization Act, $107,000,000. office of inspector general   For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector General, as authorized by section 212 of the Department of Education Organization Act, $59,256,000. General Provisions Sec. 301. No funds appropriated in this Act may be used for the transportation of students or teachers (or for the purchase of equipment for such transportation) in order to overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system, or for the transportation of students or teachers (or for the purchase of equipment for such transportation) in order to carry out a plan of racial desegregation of any school or school system. Sec. 302. None of the funds contained in this Act shall be used to require, directly or indirectly, the transportation of any student to a school other than the school which is nearest the student’s home, except for a student requiring special education, to the school offering such special education, in order to comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For the purpose of this section an indirect requirement of transportation of students includes the transportation of students to carry out a plan involving the reorganization of the grade structure of schools, the pairing of schools, or the clustering of schools, or any combination of grade restructuring, pairing, or clustering. The prohibition described in this section does not include the establishment of magnet schools. Sec. 303. No funds appropriated in this Act may be used to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Sec. 304. (transfer of funds) Not to exceed 1 percent of any discretionary funds (pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) which are appropriated for the Department of Education in this Act may be transferred between appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be increased by more than 3 percent by any such transfer: Provided, That the transfer authority granted by this section shall not be used to create any new program or to fund any project or activity for which no funds are provided in this Act: Provided further, That the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate are notified at least 15 days in advance of any transfer. Sec. 305. The Outlying Areas may consolidate funds received under this Act, pursuant to 48 U.S.C. 1469a, under part A of title V of the ESEA. Sec. 306. Section 105(f)(1)(B)(ix) of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921d(f)(1)(B)(ix)) shall be applied by substituting “2016” for “2009”. Sec. 307. The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, may reserve funds under section 9601 of the ESEA (subject to the limitations in subsections (b) and (c) of that section) in order to carry out activities authorized under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of that section with respect to any ESEA program funded in this Act and without respect to the source of funds for those activities: Provided, That high-quality evaluations of ESEA programs shall be prioritized, before using funds for any other evaluation activities: Provided further, That any funds reserved under this section shall be available from July 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017: Provided further, That not later than 10 days prior to the initial obligation of funds reserved under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall submit an evaluation plan to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committees on Appropriations and Education and the Workforce which identifies the source and amount of funds reserved under this section, the impact on program grantees if funds are withheld, the programs to be evaluated with such funds, how ESEA programs will be regularly evaluated, and how findings from evaluations completed under this section will be widely disseminated. Sec. 308. (a) An institution of higher education that maintains an endowment fund supported with funds appropriated for title III or V of the HEA for fiscal year 2016 may use the income from that fund to award scholarships to students, subject to the limitation in section 331(c)(3)(B)(i) of the HEA. The use of such income for such purposes, prior to the enactment of this Act, shall be considered to have been an allowable use of that income, subject to that limitation. (b) Subsection (a) shall be in effect until titles III and V of the HEA are reauthorized. Sec. 309. Section 114(f) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c(f)) is amended by striking “2015” and inserting “2016”. Sec. 310. Section 458(a) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1087h(a)) is amended in paragraph (4) by striking “2014” and inserting “2016”. Sec. 311. Section 428(c)(1) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1078(c)(1)) is amended by striking “95 percent” and inserting “100 percent”. Sec. 312. Notwithstanding section 5(b) of the Every Student Succeeds Act, funds provided in this Act for non-competitive formula grant programs authorized by the ESEA for use during academic year 2016–2017 shall be administered in accordance with the ESEA as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Sec. 313. Career Pathways Programs.— (1) Subsection (d) of section 484 of the HEA 20 USC 1091. is amended by replacing (d)(2) with the following: “(2) Eligible career pathway program.— In this subsection, the term ‘eligible career pathway program’ means a program that combines rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that— “(A) aligns with the skill needs of industries in the economy of the State or regional economy involved; “(B) prepares an individual to be successful in any of a full range of secondary or postsecondary education options, including apprenticeships registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘National Apprenticeship Act’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (referred to individually in this Act as an ‘apprenticeship’, except in section 171); “(C) includes counseling to support an individual in achieving the individual’s education and career goals; “(D) includes, as appropriate, education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster; “(E) organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual in a manner that accelerates the educational and career advancement of the individual to the extent practicable; “(F) enables an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at least 1 recognized postsecondary credential; and “(G) helps an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.” . (2) Subsection (b) of section 401 of the HEA 20 USC 1070a. is amended by striking the addition to (b)(2)(A)(ii) made by subsection 309(b) of division G of Public Law 113–235.   This title may be cited as the “Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2016”.

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