§8332. National Writing Project

(a) Authorization

The Secretary is authorized to make a grant to the National Writing Project (hereafter in this section referred to as the "grantee"), a nonprofit educational organization which has as its primary purpose the improvement of the quality of student writing and learning, and the teaching of writing as a learning process in the Nation's classrooms-

(1) to support and promote the establishment of teacher training programs, including the dissemination of effective practices and research findings regarding the teaching of writing and administrative activities;

(2) to support classroom research on effective teaching practice and to document student performance;

(3) to coordinate activities assisted under this section with activities assisted under subchapter II of this chapter; and

(4) to pay the Federal share of the cost of such programs.

(b) Requirements of grant

The grant shall provide that-

(1) the grantee will enter into contracts with institutions of higher education or other nonprofit educational providers (hereafter in this section referred to as "contractors") under which the contractors will agree to establish, operate, and provide the non-Federal share of the cost of teacher training programs in effective approaches and processes for the teaching of writing;

(2) funds made available by the Secretary to the grantee pursuant to any contract entered into under this section will be used to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and operating teacher training programs as provided in paragraph (1); and

(3) the grantee will meet such other conditions and standards as the Secretary determines to be necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this section and will provide such technical assistance as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(c) Teacher training programs

The teacher training programs authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall-

(1) be conducted during the school year and during the summer months;

(2) train teachers who teach grades kindergarten through college;

(3) select teachers to become members of a National Writing Project teacher network whose members will conduct writing workshops for other teachers in the area served by each National Writing Project site; and

(4) encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate in such teacher training programs.

(d) Federal share

(1) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3) and for purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the term "Federal share" means, with respect to the costs of teacher training programs authorized in subsection (a) of this section, 50 percent of such costs to the contractor.

(2) Waiver

The Secretary may waive the provisions of paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis if the National Advisory Board described in subsection (f) of this section determines, on the basis of financial need, that such waiver is necessary.

(3) Maximum

The Federal share of the costs of teacher training programs conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may not exceed $40,000 for any one contractor, or $200,000 for a statewide program administered by any one contractor in at least five sites throughout the State.

(e) Classroom teacher grants

(1) In general

The National Writing Project may reserve an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of this section to make grants, on a competitive basis, to elementary and secondary school teachers to pay the Federal share of the cost of enabling such teachers to-

(A) conduct classroom research;

(B) publish models of student writing;

(C) conduct research regarding effective practices to improve the teaching of writing; and

(D) conduct other activities to improve the teaching and uses of writing.

(2) Supplement and not supplant

Grants awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used to supplement and not supplant State and local funds available for the purposes set forth in paragraph (1).

(3) Maximum grant amount

Each grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed $2,000.

(4) Federal share

For the purpose of this subsection the term "Federal share" means, with respect to the costs of activities assisted under this subsection, 50 percent of such costs to the elementary or secondary school teacher.

(f) National Advisory Board

(1) Establishment

The National Writing Project shall establish and operate a National Advisory Board.

(2) Composition

The National Advisory Board established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall consist of-

(A) national educational leaders;

(B) leaders in the field of writing; and

(C) such other individuals as the National Writing Project deems necessary.

(3) Duties

The National Advisory Board established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall-

(A) advise the National Writing Project on national issues related to student writing and the teaching of writing;

(B) review the activities and programs of the National Writing Project; and

(C) support the continued development of the National Writing Project.

(g) Evaluation

(1) In general

The Secretary shall conduct an independent evaluation by grant or contract of the teacher training programs administered pursuant to this chapter in accordance with section 8941 of this title. Such evaluation shall specify the amount of funds expended by the National Writing Project and each contractor receiving assistance under this section for administrative costs. The results of such evaluation shall be made available to the appropriate committees of the Congress.

(2) Funding limitation

The Secretary shall reserve not more than $150,000 from the total amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (i) of this section for fiscal year 1994 and the four succeeding fiscal years to conduct the evaluation described in paragraph (1).

(h) Application review

(1) Review Board

The National Writing Project shall establish and operate a National Review Board that shall consist of-

(A) leaders in the field of research in writing; and

(B) such other individuals as the National Writing Project deems necessary.

(2) Duties

The National Review Board shall-

(A) review all applications for assistance under this subsection; and

(B) recommend applications for assistance under this subsection for funding by the National Writing Project.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for the grant to the National Writing Project, $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years, to carry out the provisions of this section.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10992, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3861 .)

Termination of Advisory Boards

Advisory boards established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a board established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such board is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a board established by Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 3(2) and 14 of Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770 , 776, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.