§9801. Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) A well-educated population is essential to retaining America's competitiveness in the global economy.

(2) The United States needs to build on and expand the impact of existing programs by taking additional, well-coordinated steps to ensure that all students are able to obtain the knowledge the students need to obtain postsecondary education and participate successfully in the workforce or the Armed Forces.

(3) The next steps must be informed by independent information on the effectiveness of current programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and critical foreign language education, and by identification of best practices that can be replicated.

(4) Teacher preparation and elementary school and secondary school programs and activities must be aligned with the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

(5) The ever increasing knowledge and skill demands of the 21st century require that secondary school preparation and requirements be better aligned with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce, and States need better data systems to track educational achievement from prekindergarten through baccalaureate degrees.

( Pub. L. 110–69, title VI, §6001, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 625 .)

References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27 , which is classified generally to chapter 70 (§6301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219 , which is classified principally to chapter 28 (§1001 et seq.) of this title and part C (§2751 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 34 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.

Short Title

Pub. L. 110–69, §1, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 572 , provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'America COMPETES Act' or the 'America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act'."

Accountability and Transparency of Activities Authorized by Pub. L. 110–69

Pub. L. 110–69, title VIII, §8008, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 718 , provided that:

"(a) Prohibited Use of Funds.-A grant or contract funded by amounts authorized by this Act [see Tables for classification] may not be used for the purpose of defraying the costs of a banquet or conference that is not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded. A directly and programmatically related banquet or conference includes a banquet or conference held in connection with planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes related to a project funded by the grant or contract. Records of the total costs related to, and justifications for, all banquets and conferences shall be reported to the appropriate Department, Administration, or Foundation. Not later than 60 days after receipt of such records, the appropriate Department, Administration, or Foundation shall make the records available to the public.

"(b) Conflict of Interest Statement.-Any person awarded a grant or contract funded by amounts authorized by this Act shall submit a statement to the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator, or the Director, as appropriate, certifying that no funds derived from the grant or contract will be made available through a subcontract or in any other manner to another person who has a financial interest or other conflict of interest in the person awarded the grant or contract, unless such conflict is previously disclosed and approved in the process of entering into a contract or awarding a grant. Not later than 60 days after receipt of the certification, the appropriate Secretary, Administrator, or Director shall make all documents received that relate to the certification available to the public.

"(c) Application to Federal Grants and Contracts.-Subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 9, 2007].

"(d) Exception.-Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to grants or contracts authorized under sections 6201 and 6203 [20 U.S.C. 9851, 9853]."