20 USC CHAPTER 70, SUBCHAPTER X, Part J: Urban and Rural Education Assistance

From Title 20—EDUCATIONCHAPTER 70—STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLSSUBCHAPTER X—PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Part J—Urban and Rural Education Assistance

§8271. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Demonstration grants

(1) In general

There are authorized to be appropriated $125,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years, to carry out subparts 1 and 2 of this part (other than section 8295 of this title).

(2) Reservation for subpart 1

The Secretary shall reserve 50 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) to carry out subpart 1 of this part.

(3) Reservation for subpart 2

The Secretary shall reserve 50 percent of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) to carry out subpart 2 of this part (other than section 8295 of this title).

(b) Higher education grants

There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years to carry out section 8295 of this title.

(c) Federal funds to supplement not supplant non-Federal funds

An eligible local educational agency may use funds received under this part only to supplement and, to the extent practicable, increase the level of funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from non-Federal sources for the education of students participating in activities assisted under this part, and in no such case may such funds be used to supplant funds from non-Federal sources.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10951, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3847.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8297 of this title.

§8272. Definitions

Except as otherwise provided, for the purposes of this part:

(1) Central city

The term "central city" has the same meaning used by the Bureau of the Census.

(2) Metropolitan statistical area

The term "metropolitan statistical area" has the same meaning used by the Bureau of the Census.

(3) Poverty level

The term "poverty level" means the criteria of poverty used by the Bureau of the Census in compiling the most recent decennial census.

(4) Rural eligible local educational agency

The term "rural eligible local educational agency" means a local educational agency—

(A)(i) in which at least 15 percent of the children enrolled in the schools served by such agency are eligible to be counted under part A of subchapter I of this chapter; and

(ii) which is not in a metropolitan statistical area; or

(B) in which the total enrollment in the schools served by such agency is less than 2,500 students and that does not serve schools located in a metropolitan statistical area.

(5) Urban eligible local educational agency

The term "urban eligible local educational agency" means a local educational agency that—

(A) serves the largest central city in a State;

(B) enrolls more than 30,000 students and serves a central city with a population of at least 200,000 in a metropolitan statistical area; or

(C) enrolls between 25,000 and 30,000 students and serves a central city with a population of at least 140,000 in a metropolitan statistical area.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10952, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3847.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8297 of this title.

subpart 1—urban education demonstration grants

Subpart Referred to in Other Sections

This subpart is referred to in section 8271 of this title.

§8281. Findings

The Congress finds that—

(1) the ability of the Nation's major urban public school systems to meet the Nation's educational goals will determine the country's economic competitiveness and academic standing in the world community;

(2) the quality of public education in the Nation's major urban areas has a direct effect on the economic development of the Nation's inner-cities;

(3) the success of urban public schools in boosting the achievement of its minority youth attending such schools will determine the ability of the Nation to close the gap between the "haves and the have-nots" in society;

(4) the cost to America's businesses to provide remedial education to high school graduates is approximately $21,000,000,000 per year;

(5) approximately one-third of the Nation's workforce will be members of minority groups by the year 2000;

(6) urban schools enroll a disproportionately large share of the Nation's poor and "at-risk" youth;

(7) urban schools enroll approximately one-third of the Nation's poor, 40 percent of the Nation's African American children, and 30 percent of the Nation's Hispanic youth;

(8) nearly 20 percent of the Nation's limited-English-proficient children and 15 percent of the Nation's disabled youth are enrolled in urban public schools;

(9) the academic performance of students in the average inner-city public school system is below that of students in most other kinds of school systems;

(10) urban public school systems have higher dropout rates, more problems with health care, and less parental participation than other kinds of school systems;

(11) urban preschoolers have one-half the access to early childhood development programs as do other children;

(12) shortages of teachers in urban public school systems are 2.5 times greater than such shortages in other kinds of school systems;

(13) declining numbers of urban minority high school graduates are pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities;

(14) urban public school systems have greater problems with teenage pregnancy, discipline, drug abuse, and gangs than do other kinds of school systems;

(15) 75 percent of urban public school buildings are over 25 years old, 33 percent of such buildings are over 50 years old, and such buildings are often in serious disrepair and create poor and demoralizing working and learning conditions;

(16) solving the challenges facing our Nation's urban schools will require the concerted and collaborative efforts of all levels of government and all sectors of the community;

(17) Federal and State funding of urban public schools has not adequately reflected need; and

(18) Federal funding that is well-targeted, flexible, and accountable would contribute significantly to addressing the comprehensive needs of inner-city public schools.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10961, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3848.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8283 of this title.

§8282. Purpose

It is the purpose of this subpart to provide financial assistance to—

(1) assist urban public schools in meeting the National Education Goals;

(2) improve the educational and social well-being of urban public school children;

(3) close the achievement gap between urban and nonurban public school children, while improving the achievement level of all children nationally;

(4) conduct coordinated research on urban public education problems, solutions, and promising practices;

(5) improve the Nation's global economic and educational competitiveness by improving the Nation's urban schools; and

(6) encourage community, parental, and business collaboration in the improvement of urban schools.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10962, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3849.)

§8283. Urban school grants

(a) Authority

The Secretary is authorized to make grants to eligible local educational agencies serving an urban area or State educational agencies in the case where the State educational agency is the local educational agency for activities designed to assist in local school improvement efforts and school reform, and to assist the schools of such agencies in meeting the National Education Goals.

(b) Authorized activities

Funds under this section may be used to—

(1) increase the academic achievement of urban public school children to at least the national average, such as—

(A) effective public schools programs;

(B) tutoring, mentoring, and other activities to improve academic achievement directly;

(C) activities designed to increase the participation of minority and female students in entry level and advanced courses in mathematics and science;

(D) supplementary academic instruction;

(E) efforts to improve problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills;

(F) programs to increase student motivation for learning; and

(G) efforts to lengthen the school day or school year, or to reduce class sizes;

(2) ensure the readiness of all urban public school children for school, such as—

(A) full workday, full calendar-year comprehensive early childhood development programs;

(B) parenting classes and parent involvement activities;

(D) efforts to integrate developmentally appropriate prekindergarten services into the overall public school program;

(E) upgrading the qualifications of early childhood education staff and standards for programs;

(F) collaborative efforts with health and social service agencies to provide comprehensive services and to facilitate the transition from home to school;

(G) establishment of comprehensive child care centers in public secondary schools for students who are parents and their children; and

(H) augmenting early childhood development programs to meet the special educational and cultural needs of limited-English-proficient preschool children;

(3) increase the graduation rates of urban public school students to at least the national average, such as—

(A) dropout prevention activities and support services for public school students at-risk of dropping out of school;

(B) reentry, outreach, and support activities to recruit students who have dropped out of school to return to school;

(D) efforts to provide individualized student support, such as mentoring programs;

(E) collaborative activities between schools, parents, community groups, agencies, and institutions of higher education aimed at preventing individuals from dropping out of school;

(F) programs to increase student attendance; and

(G) alternative programs for students, especially bilingual and special education students, who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out of school;

(4) prepare urban public school students to enter higher education, pursue careers, and exercise their responsibilities as citizens, such as—

(A) activities designed to increase the number and percentages of students, particularly minority students, enrolling in postsecondary educational institutions after graduation from public secondary schools;

(B) in-school youth employment, vocational education, and career education programs that improve the transition from school to work;

(C) activities designed in collaboration with colleges and universities to assist urban public school graduates in completing higher education;

(D) efforts to increase voter registration among eligible public secondary school students;

(E) activities designed to promote community service and volunteerism among students, parents, teachers, and the community; and

(F) civic education and other programs designed to enhance responsible citizenship and understanding of the political process;

(5) recruit and retain qualified teachers, such as—

(A) school-based management projects and activities;

(B) programs designed to test efforts to increase the professionalization of teachers or to bring teachers up to national voluntary standards;

(D) efforts to recruit and retain teachers, particularly minority teachers, specializing in critical shortage areas, including early childhood teachers, mathematics and science teachers, and special education and bilingual teachers;

(E) upgrading the skills of teacher aides and paraprofessionals to permit such individuals to become certified teachers;

(F) activities specifically designed to increase the number of minority teachers in urban schools;

(G) incentives for teachers to work in inner-city public schools; and

(H) collaborative activities with urban universities to revise and upgrade teacher training programs;

(6) provide for ongoing staff development to increase the professional capacities of the teaching staff and the skills of teacher aides and paraprofessionals;

(7) decrease the use of drugs and alcohol among urban public school students and enhance the physical and emotional health of such students, such as—

(A) activities designed to improve the self-esteem and self-worth of urban public school students;

(B) the provision of health care services and other social services and the coordination of such services with other health care providers;

(D) activities that begin in the early grades and are designed to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and smoking among students and teachers;

(E) collaborative activities with other agencies, businesses, and community groups to discourage the advertisement and glorification of drugs and alcohol;

(F) efforts to enhance health education and nutrition education; and

(G) alternative public schools, and schools-within-schools programs, including bilingual and special education programs for public school students with special needs; or

(8) plan, develop, operate, or expand programs and activities that are designed to assist urban public schools in meeting the National Education Goals, including—

(A) training of teachers and other educational personnel in subject areas, or in instructional technology and methods that will improve the delivery of services in urban settings and assist in the achievement of the National Education Goals, including staff development efforts that emphasize multicultural and gender and disability bias-free curricula;

(B) coordination and collaboration with other municipal agencies, child care organizations, universities, or the private sector;

(C) parental involvement and outreach efforts and other activities designed to enhance parental encouragement of student learning;

(D) pupil services and other support services that contribute to progress in achieving National Education Goals;

(E) efforts to acquire and improve access to educational technology;

(F) assist the schools most in need of services by replicating successful efforts of other urban local educational agencies and expanding successful programs within the eligible agency; or

(G) efforts to improve and strengthen the curriculum and coordinate services across grade levels.

(c) Applications

(1) In general

An eligible local educational agency desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, consistent with this section.

(2) Duration

An application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) may be for a period of not more than five years.

(d) Payments

The Secretary shall make an award only to urban eligible local educational agencies that—

(1) comply with the provisions of section 10966; ¹ and

(2) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the data submitted pursuant to section 8281 ² of this title shows progress toward meeting National Education Goals.

(e) Administrative costs

Not more than five percent of any award made under this subpart may be used for administrative costs.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10963, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3849.)

References in Text

Section 10966, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), meaning section 10966 of Pub. L. 89–10, could not be translated because Pub. L. 89–10 does not contain a section 10966.

¹ See References in Text note below.

² So in original. Section 8281 relates to findings, not to submission of data.

§8284. Special rules

(a) Special consideration

In making awards under this subpart, the Secretary shall give special consideration to urban eligible local educational agencies in which there is—

(1) low achievement;

(2) high poverty; and

(3) racial isolation.

(b) Flexibility

Each urban eligible local educational agency shall have the flexibility to serve homeless children, children in schools undergoing desegregation, immigrants, migrants, or other highly mobile populations within the program assisted under this subpart.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10964, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3852.)

subpart 2—rural education initiative

Codification

Subpart 2 of part J of title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, comprising this subpart, was originally added to Pub. L. 89–10, title X, by Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3852. Subpart 2 is shown herein, however, as having been added by Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-89, without reference to Pub. L. 103–382 because of the extensive revision of subpart 2 by Pub. L. 106–554.

Subpart Referred to in Other Sections

This subpart is referred to in section 8271 of this title.

§8291. Purpose

It is the purpose of this subpart to address the unique needs of rural school districts that frequently—

(1) lack the personnel and resources needed to compete for Federal competitive grants; and

(2) receive formula allocations in amounts too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10972, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-89.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8291, Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10971, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3852, set out findings, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

A prior section 10972 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 8292 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

Short Title

For short title of this subpart as the "Rural Education Achievement Program", see section 10971 of Pub. L. 89–10, as added by Pub. L. 106–554, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

§8292. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart $62,500,000 for fiscal year 2001.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10973, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-89.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8292, Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10972, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3853, related to the purpose of this subpart, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

A prior section 10973 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 8293 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

§8293. Formula grant program authorized

(a) Alternative uses

(1) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible local educational agency may use the applicable funding, that the agency is eligible to receive from the State educational agency for a fiscal year, to carry out local activities authorized in part A of subchapter I of this chapter, section 6650(b) of this title, section 6844 of this title, or section 7116 of this title.

(2) Notification

An eligible local educational agency shall notify the State educational agency of the local educational agency's intention to use the applicable funding in accordance with paragraph (1) not later than a date that is established by the State educational agency for the notification.

(b) Eligibility

A local educational agency shall be eligible to use the applicable funding in accordance with subsection (a) of this section if—

(1) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the local educational agency is less than 600; and

(2) all of the schools served by the local educational agency are designated with a School Locale Code of 7 or 8, as determined by the Secretary of Education.

(c) Applicable funding

In this section, the term "applicable funding" means funds provided under each of subchapters II, IV, and VI of this chapter, except for funds made available under section 321 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001.

(d) Disbursal

Each State educational agency that receives applicable funding for a fiscal year shall disburse the applicable funding to local educational agencies for alternative uses under this section for the fiscal year at the same time that the State educational agency disburses the applicable funding to local educational agencies that do not intend to use the applicable funding for such alternative uses for the fiscal year.

(e) Supplement not supplant

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant any other State or local education funds.

(f) Special rule

References in Federal law to funds for the provisions of law set forth in subsection (c) of this section may be considered to be references to funds for this section.

(g) Construction

Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to prohibit a local educational agency that enters into cooperative arrangements with other local educational agencies for the provision of special, compensatory, or other education services pursuant to State law or a written agreement from entering into similar arrangements for the use or the coordination of the use of the funds made available under this subpart.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10974, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-89.)

References in Text

Section 321 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001, referred to in subsec. (c), is section §1(a)(1) [title III, §321] of Pub. L 106–554, Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–50, which is not classified to the Code.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8293, Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10973, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3854, authorized rural school grants, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

A prior section 10974 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 8294 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 8294, 8295 of this title.

§8294. Competitive grant program authorized

(a) In general

The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible local educational agencies to enable the local educational agencies to carry out local activities authorized in part A of subchapter I of this chapter, section 6650(b) of this title, section 6844 of this title, or section 7116 of this title.

(b) Eligibility

A local educational agency shall be eligible to receive a grant under this section if—

(1) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the local educational agency is less than 600; and

(2) all of the schools served by the local educational agency are designated with a School Locale Code of 7 or 8, as determined by the Secretary of Education.

(c) Amount

(1) In general

The Secretary shall award a grant to a local educational agency under this section for a fiscal year in an amount equal to the amount determined under paragraph (2) for the fiscal year minus the total amount received under the provisions of law described under section 8293(c) of this title for the fiscal year.

(2) Determination

The amount referred to in paragraph (1) is equal to $100 multiplied by the total number of students in excess of 50 students that are in average daily attendance at the schools served by the local educational agency, plus $20,000, except that the amount may not exceed $60,000.

(3) Census determination

(A) In general

Each local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall determine for each year the number of kindergarten through grade 12 students in average daily attendance at the schools served by the local educational agency during the period beginning or ¹ the first day of classes and ending on December 1.

(B) Submission

Each local educational agency shall submit the number described in subparagraph (A) to the Secretary not later than March 1 of each year.

(4) Penalty

If the Secretary determines that a local educational agency has knowingly submitted false information under paragraph (3) for the purpose of gaining additional funds under this section, then the local educational agency shall be fined an amount equal to twice the difference between the amount the local educational agency received under this section, and the correct amount the local educational agency would have received under this section if the agency had submitted accurate information under paragraph (3).

(d) Disbursal

The Secretary shall disburse the funds awarded to a local educational agency under this section for a fiscal year not later than July 1 of that year.

(e) Supplement not supplant

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant any other State or local education funds.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10975, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-90.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8294, Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10974, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3854, related to fund usage, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

A prior section 10975 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 8295 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8295 of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "on".

§8295. Accountability

(a) Academic achievement

(1) In general

Each local educational agency that uses or receives funds under section 8293 or 8294 of this title for a fiscal year shall—

(A) administer an assessment that is used statewide and is consistent with the assessment described in section 6311(b) of this title, to assess the academic achievement of students in the schools served by the local educational agency; or

(B) in the case of a local educational agency for which there is no statewide assessment described in subparagraph (A), administer a test, that is selected by the local educational agency, to assess the academic achievement of students in the schools served by the local educational agency.

(2) Special rule

Each local educational agency that uses or receives funds under section 8293 or 8294 of this title shall use the same assessment or test described in paragraph (1) for each year of participation in the program carried out under such section.

(b) State educational agency determination regarding continuing participation

Each State educational agency that receives funding under the provisions of law described in section 8293(c) of this title shall—

(1) after the third year that a local educational agency in the State participates in a program authorized under section 8293 or 8294 of this title and on the basis of the results of the assessments or tests described in subsection (a) of this section, determine whether the students served by the local educational agency participating in the program performed better on the assessments or tests after the third year of the participation than the students performed on the assessments or tests after the first year of the participation;

(2) permit only the local educational agencies that participated in the program and served students that performed better on the assessments or tests, as described in paragraph (1), to continue to participate in the program for an additional period of 3 years; and

(3) prohibit the local educational agencies that participated in the program and served students that did not perform better on the assessments or tests, as described in paragraph (1), from participating in the program, for a period of 3 years from the date of the determination.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10976, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-91.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8295, Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10975, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3857, related to higher education grants, prior to the general amendment of this subpart by Pub. L. 106–554.

§8296. Ratable reductions in case of insufficient appropriations

(a) In general

If the amount appropriated for any fiscal year and made available for grants under this subpart is insufficient to pay the full amount for which all agencies are eligible under this subpart, the Secretary shall ratably reduce each such amount.

(b) Additional amounts

If additional funds become available for making payments under paragraph (1) for such fiscal year, payments that were reduced under subsection (a) of this section shall be increased on the same basis as such payments were reduced.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10977, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-92.)

§8297. Applicability

Sections 8271 and 8272 of this title shall not apply to this subpart.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10978, as added Pub. L. 106–554, §1(a)(1) [title IX, §901], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-92.)

subpart 3—white house conferences

§8311. White House Conference on Urban Education

(a) Authorization to call Conference

(1) In general

The President is authorized to call and conduct a White House Conference on Urban Education (referred to in this section as the "Conference") which shall be held not earlier than November 1, 1995, and not later than October 30, 1996.

(2) Purpose

The purpose of the Conference shall be to—

(A) develop recommendations and strategies for the improvement of urban education;

(B) marshal the forces of the private sector, governmental agencies at all levels, parents, teachers, communities, and education officials to assist urban public schools in achieving National Education Goals; and

(b) Composition of Conference

(1) In general

The Conference shall be comprised of 12 individuals, including—

(A) representatives of urban public school systems, including members of the governing body of local educational agencies, and school superintendents;

(B) representatives of the Congress, the Department of Education, and other Federal agencies;

(D) individuals with special knowledge of and expertise in urban education.

(2) Selection

The President shall select one-third of the participants of the Conference, the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, shall select one-third of such participants, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the minority leader of the House, shall select the remaining one-third of such participants.

(3) Representation

In selecting the participants of the Conference, the President, the majority leader of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall ensure that the participants are as representative of the ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity of cities as is practicable.

(c) Report

(1) In general

Not later than 120 days following the termination of the Conference, a final report of the Conference, containing such findings and recommendations as may be made by the Conference, shall be submitted to the President. The final report shall be made public and, not later than 90 days after receipt by the President, transmitted to the Congress together with a statement of the President containing recommendations for implementing the report.

(2) Publication and distribution

The Conference is authorized to publish and distribute the report described in this section. Copies of the report shall be provided to the Federal depository libraries and made available to local urban public school leaders.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10981, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3857.)

§8312. White House Conference on Rural Education

(a) Authorization to call Conference

(1) In general

The President is authorized to call and conduct a White House Conference on Rural Education (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Conference").

(2) Date

The Conference shall be held not earlier than November 1, 1995, and not later than October 30, 1996.

(3) Purpose

The purposes of the Conference shall be to—

(A) develop recommendations and strategies for the improvement of rural public education;

(B) marshal the forces of the private sector, governmental agencies at all levels, parents, teachers, communities, and education officials to assist rural public schools in achieving National Education Goals, and make recommendations on the roles rural public schools can play to assist with local rural community economic revitalization; and

(b) Composition of Conference

(1) In general

The Conference shall be comprised of—

(A) representatives of eligible public school systems, including members of the governing body of local educational agencies, school superintendents, and classroom teachers;

(B) representatives of the Congress, the Department, and other Federal agencies;

(D) individuals with special knowledge of, and expertise in, rural education, including individuals involved with rural postsecondary education; and

(E) individuals with special knowledge of, and expertise in, rural business.

(2) Selection

(3) Representation

(c) Report

(1) In general

(2) Publication and distribution

(Pub. L. 89–10, title X, §10982, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3858.)