HR 3324 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish the First Tee Life Skills Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

August 2, 2007

Mr. CLYBURN (for himself and Mr. MCKEON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish the First Tee Life Skills Program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as `The First Tee in Character Education Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FIRST TEE LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM.

Subpart 3 of part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7247) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 5432. FIRST TEE LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM.

`(a) Grants Authorized-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) GENERAL AUTHORITY- In accordance with this section, the Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to design and implement youth development programs for the purpose of carrying out efforts to impact the lives of young people of all backgrounds by giving an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as confidence, perseverance, and judgment through sports such as golf and character education by providing learning facilities and educational programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- In this section, the term `eligible entity' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a State educational agency;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a local educational agency or consortium of local educational agencies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) a nonprofit organization or entity, including an institution of higher education; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) a local educational agency in partnership with one or more entities described in subparagraph (C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications from eligible entities that enhance and expand the delivery of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a Life Skills Experience Program, to enable children to learn valuable lessons about--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) the importance of maintaining a positive attitude;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) how to define and set goals from the golf course to everyday life;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a National School Program, to establish a lifelong interest in golf by engaging children in a structured golf curriculum taught during physical education classes, while positively impacting their lives and helping to ensure the vitality of the game; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) such other initiatives as the Secretary finds appropriate to expand access to the First Tee program by minorities and historically underrepresented populations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United States and among eligible entities located in urban, rural, and suburban areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) DURATION- A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Contracts Under Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) EVALUATION- An eligible entity receiving assistance under this section may contract with outside sources, including institutions of higher education and private and nonprofit organizations, for the purposes of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) evaluating the program for which the assistance is made available;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) measuring the integration of such program into the curriculum and teaching methods of schools where the program is carried out; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) measuring the success of such program in fostering the elements of character selected by the recipient.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MATERIALS AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT- An eligible entity may contract with outside sources, including institutions of higher education and private and nonprofit organizations, for assistance in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) developing curricula, materials, teacher training, and other activities related to character education; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) integrating character education into the curricula and teaching methods of schools where the program is carried out.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Use of Funds by Recipients- Of the total funds received in any fiscal year under this section by an eligible entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) not more than 3 percent of such funds may be used for administrative purposes; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the remainder of such funds may be used for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the preparation or purchase of materials, and teacher training;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) providing assistance to local educational agencies, schools, non-profits, or institutions of higher education; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) technical assistance and evaluation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Application-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) REQUIRED INFORMATION- Each application for a grant under this section shall include (together with any other information that the Secretary may require) information that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) describes any partnerships or collaborative efforts among the organizations and entities of the eligible entity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) describes the activities that will be carried out with the grant funds, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) how parents, students, students with disabilities (including those with mental or physical disabilities), and other members of the community, including members of private and nonprofit organizations, will be involved in the design and implementation of the program and how the eligible entity will work with the larger community to increase the reach and promise of the program;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) curriculum and instructional practices that will be used or developed; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) methods of teacher training and parent education that will be used or developed;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) in the case of an eligible entity that is a State educational agency, describes how the State educational agency--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) will provide technical and professional assistance to its local educational agency partners in the development and implementation of character education programs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) will assist other interested local educational agencies that are not members of the original partnership in designing and establishing character education programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) describes how the eligible entity will evaluate the success of its program based on the objectives described in subsection (a); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) assures that the eligible entity annually will provide to the Secretary such information as may be required to determine the effectiveness of the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Selection of Recipients-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) SELECTION CRITERIA- Selection of an eligible entity shall be made on the basis of the quality of the application submitted, taking into consideration such factors as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the extent to which the program fosters character in students and the potential for improved student academic achievement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the extent and ongoing nature of parental, student, and community involvement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) the quality of the plan for measuring and assessing success; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) the likelihood that the objectives of the program will be achieved.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Participation by Private School Children and Teachers- Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide, to the extent feasible and appropriate, for the participation in programs and activities under this section of students and teachers in private elementary schools and secondary schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Reporting and Evaluation- Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary two reports containing a comprehensive evaluation of the program under this section. The first report shall be submitted not later than the end of the second year of the program, and the second report shall be submitted not later than one year after the completion of the grant period. Each report shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) describe the progress in delivering the programs described in subsection (a)(3);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) describe the research, development, dissemination, evaluation, and technical assistance carried out under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) describe its impact on students, students with disabilities (including those with mental or physical disabilities), teachers, administrators, parents, and others.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink