No Child Left Inside Act of 2013 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to states and, through them, competitive subgrants to eligible partnerships to support the implementation of state environmental literacy plans that include environmental education standards and teacher training.
Includes in the eligible partnerships a local educational agency (LEA) and at least one institution of higher education, another LEA, an elementary or secondary school, or a government or nonprofit entity experienced in environmental literacy.
Requires use of the subgrants for one or more of the following activities:
Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to eligible partnerships for one or more of the following activities:
Amends part B (Mathematics and Science Partnerships) of title II of the ESEA to: (1) include nonprofit environmental education organizations and government science, environmental, or natural resource management agencies among the entities eligible to participate in part B partnerships; and (2) allow the use of part B funds to train teachers to use environmental education to enhance student understanding of science and mathematics.
Amends part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers) of title IV of the ESEA to include environmental literacy activities among the before and after school activities that such program funds at community learning centers.
Directs the Secretary to:
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2702 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2702
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding
improving environmental literacy to better prepare students for
postsecondary education and careers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2013
Mr. Sarbanes (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Bonamici, Mrs. Capps,
Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Farr, Mr. Grijalva,
Mr. Huffman, Mr. Holt, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. McCollum, Mr.
McGovern, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Polis, and Mr.
Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding
improving environmental literacy to better prepare students for
postsecondary education and careers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``No Child Left
Inside Act of 2013''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. References.
Sec. 4. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
Sec. 101. Environmental literacy.
TITLE II--PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Sec. 201. Amendments to title II, part B.
Sec. 202. Amendments to title IV, part B.
TITLE III--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
Sec. 301. Availability of other environmental literacy information.
Sec. 302. Federal interagency coordination on environmental literacy.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that:
(1) Children and young adults are increasingly disconnected
from the natural world around them, spending less time outside
playing, exploring, and learning.
(2) Play and learning in nature is important to the
intellectual, social, and physical development of youth.
(3) Environmental education, as part of the formal
prekindergarten through grade 12 school curriculum, provides
opportunities for youth to get outside and learn about the
natural world, has positive impacts on student achievement in
all subjects and especially in science, reading, mathematics,
and social studies, and improves critical thinking skills,
enthusiasm for learning, stewardship, and healthy lifestyles.
(4) By many indicators, the United States is falling behind
other nations in preparing students with the educational tools
necessary to compete for the growing opportunities in the
sciences, including environmental, natural resource, and
energy-related careers.
(5) Reports by boards of the National Science Foundation,
the National Environmental Education Advisory Council, and the
National Council for Science and the Environment, among others,
have called for a systemic approach to environmental education
in the formal education system to improve the environmental
literacy of youth and better prepare students for college and
the 21st century workforce.
(6) Forty-eight States have developed, or are in the
process of developing, environmental literacy plans to
effectively integrate environmental education into the
prekindergarten through grade 12 curriculum and ensure that
students graduate from high school environmentally literate. At
the same time, most states are aligning curricula with the
Common Core State Standards.
(7) Support from the Department of Education is needed to
help State and local educational agencies, and the partners of
such agencies, implement environmental literacy plans and
advance State curriculum frameworks for environmental and
natural resource education that meets new State academic
content and student achievement standards and aligns with the
Next Generation Science Framework.
(8) Federal science and natural resource agencies have
important resources, including Federal lands and laboratories,
content experts, data, and programs that can inform and support
State and local environmental literacy policies and
programming.
SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out subpart 22 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014 and each of
the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
(b) Distribution.--With respect to any amount appropriated under
subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
(1) not less than 70 percent of such amount shall be used
to carry out section 5622 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 for such fiscal year; and
(2) not more than 30 percent of such amount shall be used
to carry out section 5623 of such Act for such fiscal year.
TITLE I--ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
SEC. 101. ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY.
Part D of title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``Subpart 22--Environmental Literacy
``SEC. 5621. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subpart:
``(1) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible
partnership' means a partnership that includes a local
educational agency and not less than 1 of the following
partners:
``(A) A teacher preparation program at an
institution of higher education.
``(B) The environmental or life sciences department
of an institution of higher education.
``(C) Another local educational agency, a public
charter school, a public elementary school or secondary
school, or a consortium of such schools.
``(D) A Federal, State, regional, or local
environmental or natural resource management agency, or
parks and recreation department, that has demonstrated
effectiveness, expertise, and experience in the field
of environmental literacy, including the professional
development of teachers.
``(E) A nonprofit organization that has
demonstrated effectiveness, expertise, and experience
in the field of environmental literacy, including the
professional development of teachers.
``(2) Environmental literacy.--The term `environmental
literacy' means a fundamental understanding of ecological
principles, the systems of the natural world, and the
relationships and interactions between natural and man-made
environments.
``(3) Environmental literacy plan.--The term `environmental
literacy plan' means a plan developed, approved, or sponsored
by the State educational agency in consultation with State
environmental agencies, State environmental education
associations, and State natural resource agencies, and with
input from the public, that:
``(A) Prepares students to understand ecological
principles, the systems of the natural world, and the
relationships and interactions between natural and man-
made environments.
``(B) Provides field and hands-on experiences as
part of the regular school curriculum and creates
programs that contribute to healthy lifestyles through
outdoor recreation and sound nutrition.
``(C) Provides environmental service learning
opportunities.
``(D) Provides targeted professional development
opportunities for teachers that improves the
teachers'--
``(i) environmental and natural resource
content knowledge; and
``(ii) pedagogical skills in teaching about
the environment, including the use of--
``(I) interdisciplinary, field-
based, and research-based learning; and
``(II) science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics content
knowledge and tools.
``(E) Describes the measures the State will use to
assess the environmental literacy of students,
including--
``(i) relevant State academic content
standards and content areas regarding
environmental education, and courses or
subjects where environmental education
instruction will be integrated throughout the
prekindergarten through grade 12 curriculum;
and
``(ii) a description of the relationship of
the plan to the secondary school graduation
requirements of the State.
``(F) Describes how the State educational agency
will implement the plan, in partnership with non-
governmental organizations, Federal agencies, State
environmental agencies, State environmental education
associations, State natural resource agencies, and
local educational agencies, including how the State
educational agency will secure funding and other
necessary support.
``(G) Is periodically updated by the State
educational agency not less often than every 5 years.
``(4) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
need local educational agency' means a local educational
agency--
``(A) for which not less than 20 percent of the
children served by the agency are children from low-
income families;
``(B) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children
from low-income families;
``(C) that meets the eligibility requirements for
funding under section 6211(b); or
``(D) that meets the eligibility requirements for
funding under section 6221(b).
``SEC. 5622. GRANTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLANS.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated for this
section, the Secretary shall award grants to States to enable the
States to award subgrants, on a competitive basis, to eligible
partnerships to support the implementation of the State environmental
literacy plan.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--A State that desires a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application under this subsection
shall--
``(A) include the State's environmental literacy
plan and information on the status of implementation of
such plan;
``(B) describe how funds received under this
subsection will assist the State in furthering the
implementation of the State's environmental literacy
plan;
``(C) describe the process the State will use to
make subgrants to eligible partnerships; and
``(D) describe the process the State will use to
evaluate the impact of the activities assisted under
this subpart.
``(c) Peer Review.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) establish a peer review process to assist in the
review of grant applications under this section;
``(2) appoint individuals to the peer review process who--
``(A) are representative of parents, teachers,
State educational agencies, State environmental
agencies, State natural resource agencies, local
educational agencies, and nongovernmental
organizations; and
``(B) are familiar with national environmental
issues and the health and educational needs of
students; and
``(3) include, in the peer review process, appropriate
representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Department
of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and other appropriate Federal agencies, to
provide environmental expertise and background for evaluation
of the State environmental literacy plan.
``(d) Administrative Expenses.--A State receiving a grant under
this subsection may use not more than 2.5 percent of the grant funds
for administrative expenses.
``(e) State Educational Agency Report.--
``(1) In general.--Each State receiving a grant under this
subpart shall prepare and submit an annual report to the
Secretary containing information about--
``(A) the implementation of the environmental
literacy plan; and
``(B) the grant activities supported under this
subpart.
``(2) Report requirements.--The report required by this
section shall be--
``(A) in the form specified by the Secretary;
``(B) based on the State's ongoing evaluation
activities; and
``(C) made readily available to the public.
``(f) Subgrants Authorized.--
``(1) Subgrants to eligible partnerships.--From amounts
made available to a State educational agency under subsection
(a), the State educational agency shall award subgrants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible partnerships serving the State,
to enable the eligible partnerships to carry out the authorized
activities described in subsection (h).
``(2) Duration.--The State educational agency shall award
each subgrant under this section for a period of not more than
3 years.
``(3) Priority.--In making subgrants under this section, a
State shall give priority to eligible partnerships that include
a high-need local educational agency.
``(4) Supplement, not supplant.--Funds provided to an
eligible partnership under this section shall be used to
supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be
used for activities authorized under this section.
``(g) Application Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership desiring a
subgrant under this section shall submit an application to the
State educational agency, at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the State educational agency
may require.
``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall include--
``(A) a description of teacher professional
development needs, with respect to the teaching and
learning of environmental content;
``(B) an explanation of how the activities to be
carried out by the eligible partnership are expected to
improve student academic achievement and strengthen the
quality of environmental instruction;
``(C) a description of how the activities to be
carried out by the eligible partnership--
``(i) will be aligned with challenging
State academic content standards and student
academic achievement standards in environmental
education, to the extent such standards exist,
and with the State's environmental literacy
plan; and
``(ii) will advance the teaching of
interdisciplinary courses that integrate the
study of natural, social, and economic systems
and that include strong field components in
which students have the opportunity to directly
experience nature through outdoor environmental
learning;
``(D) a description of how the activities to be
carried out by the eligible partnership will ensure
that teachers are trained in the use of field-based or
service learning to enable the teachers--
``(i) to use the local environment and
community as a resource; and
``(ii) to improve student understanding of
the environment and increase academic
achievement;
``(E) a description of--
``(i) how the eligible partnership will
carry out the authorized activities described
in subsection (h); and
``(ii) the eligible partnership's
evaluation and accountability plan described in
subsection (i); and
``(F) a description of how the eligible partnership
will continue the activities funded under this section
after the grant period has expired.
``(h) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership shall use the
subgrant funds provided under this section for 1 or more of the
following activities related to elementary schools or secondary
schools:
``(1) Providing targeted, job-embedded professional
development opportunities for teachers that improve the
environmental content knowledge and pedagogical skills in
teaching about the environment of such teachers, including in
the use of--
``(A) interdisciplinary, research-based, and field-
based learning; and
``(B) technology in the classroom.
``(2) Establishing and operating environmental education
summer workshops or institutes, including follow-up
professional development, for elementary and secondary school
teachers, and preschool teachers, as appropriate, to improve
pedagogical skills and content knowledge for the teaching of
environmental education.
``(3) Developing or redesigning more rigorous environmental
education curricula that--
``(A) are aligned with challenging State academic
content standards in environmental education, to the
extent such standards exist, and with the State
environmental literacy plan; and
``(B) advance the teaching of interdisciplinary
courses that integrate the study of natural, social,
and economic systems and that include strong field
components.
``(4) Designing programs to prepare teachers at a school to
provide mentoring and professional development to other
teachers at such school to improve teacher environmental
education content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
``(5) Establishing and operating programs to bring teachers
and students into contact with working professionals in
environmental fields to deepen such teachers' knowledge of
environmental content and research practices.
``(6) Creating initiatives that seek to incorporate
environmental education within teacher training programs or
accreditation standards consistent with the State environmental
literacy plan.
``(7) Promoting the integration of outdoor environmental
education lessons into the regular school curriculum and
schedule in order to further the knowledge and professional
development of teachers and help students directly experience
nature.
``(i) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership receiving a
subgrant under this section shall develop an evaluation and
accountability plan for activities assisted under this section
that includes rigorous objectives that measure the impact of
the activities.
``(2) Contents.--The plan developed under paragraph (1)
shall include measurable objectives to increase the number of
teachers who participate in environmental education content-
based professional development activities.
``(j) Report by Eligible Partnerships.--Each eligible partnership
receiving a subgrant under this section shall report annually, for each
year of the subgrant, to the State educational agency regarding the
eligible partnership's progress in meeting the objectives described in
the accountability plan of the eligible partnership under subsection
(i).
``SEC. 5623. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP BUILD
NATIONAL CAPACITY.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to strengthen environmental education as an integral
part of the elementary school and secondary school curriculum;
and
``(2) to disseminate information about best practices and
resources available to support environmental literacy programs.
``(b) Grant Program Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to
enable the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of
the costs of activities under this section.
``(2) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be for
a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years.
``(3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships that
include a high-need local educational agency.
``(c) Applications.--Each eligible partnership desiring a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application that
contains--
``(1) a plan to initiate, expand, or improve environmental
education programs in order to make progress toward meeting--
``(A) challenging State academic content standards
and student academic achievement standards in
environmental education, to the extent such standards
exist; and
``(B) academic standards that are aligned with the
State's environmental literacy plan; and
``(2) an evaluation and accountability plan for activities
assisted under this section that includes rigorous objectives
that measure the impact of activities funded under this
section.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grant funds made available under this section
shall be used for 1 or more of the following:
``(1) Developing and implementing State curriculum
frameworks for environmental education that meet--
``(A) challenging State academic content standards
and student academic achievement standards for
environmental education, to the extent such standards
exist; and
``(B) academic standards that are aligned with the
State's environmental literacy plan under section 5622.
``(2) Replicating or disseminating information about proven
and tested model environmental education programs that--
``(A) use the environment as an integrating theme
or content throughout the curriculum; or
``(B) provide integrated, interdisciplinary
instruction about natural, social, and economic systems
along with field experience that provides students with
opportunities to directly experience nature in ways
designed to improve students' overall academic
performance, personal health (including addressing
child obesity issues), and understanding of nature.
``(3) Developing and implementing new approaches to
advancing environmental education, and to advancing the
adoption and use of environmental education content standards,
at the State and local levels.
``(e) Eligible Partnership Report.--In order to continue receiving
grant funds under this section after the first year of a multiyear
grant under this section, the eligible partnership shall submit to the
Secretary an annual report that--
``(1) describes the activities assisted under this section
that were conducted during the preceding year;
``(2) demonstrates that progress has been made in helping
schools to meet the State academic standards for environmental
education described in subsection (d)(3); and
``(3) describes the results of the eligible partnership's
evaluation and accountability plan.
``(f) Administrative Provisions.--
``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of a grant under
this section shall not exceed--
``(A) 90 percent of the total costs of the
activities assisted under the grant for the first year
for which the program receives assistance under this
section; and
``(B) 75 percent of such costs for each of the
second and third years.
``(2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 7.5 percent
of the grant funds made available to an eligible partnership
under this section for any fiscal year may be used for
administrative expenses.
``(3) Availability of funds.--Amounts made available to the
Secretary to carry out this section shall remain available
until expended.
``(g) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other
Federal, State, or local funds available for environmental education
activities.
``SEC. 5624. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the No
Child Left Inside Act of 2013 and every 2 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that--
``(1) describes the programs assisted under this subpart;
``(2) documents the success of such programs in improving
national and State environmental education capacity; and
``(3) makes such recommendations as the Secretary
determines appropriate for the continuation and improvement of
the programs assisted under this subpart.''.
TITLE II--PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE II, PART B.
(1) Section 2201(b)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 6661(b)(1)(B)) is
amended--
(A) in clause (iii) by striking ``or'';
(B) in clause (iv) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) a Federal, State, regional, or local
science, environmental, or natural resource
management agency or a nonprofit environmental
education organization that has demonstrated
effectiveness in improving the quality of
mathematics and science instruction.''.
(2) Section 2202 (20 U.S.C. 6662) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting ``,
including any State environmental literacy plan
described in section 5621(a),'' after ``reform
activities''; and
(B) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the
following:
``(11) Professional development in the use of field-based
or service learning to enable teachers--
``(A) to use the local environment and community as
a resource; and
``(B) to enhance student understanding of
mathematics and science through environmental
education.''.
SEC. 202. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE IV, PART B.
(1) Section 4201(b)(1)(A) (20 U.S.C. 7171(b)(1)(A)) is
amended by inserting ``environmental literacy,'' after
``technology''.
(2) Section 4205(a) (20 U.S.C. 7175(a)) is amended--
(A) by inserting the following after paragraph (3):
``(4) environmental literacy activities;''; and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (12) as
paragraphs (5) through (13), respectively.
TITLE III--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
SEC. 301. AVAILABILITY OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY INFORMATION.
(a) Nondepartmental Environmental Literacy Assistance Programs.--
The Secretary of Education shall request that all Federal departments
and agencies provide information on any environmental literacy
assistance program operated, sponsored, or supported by such Federal
department or agency, including information about the application
procedures, financial terms and conditions, and other relevant
information for each program, and each Federal department or agency
shall promptly respond to surveys or other requests from the Secretary
of Education for the information described in this subsection.
(b) Public Information.--The Secretary of Education shall ensure
that not later than 90 days after the Secretary of Education receives
the information required under subsection (a), the eligibility
requirements, application procedures, financial terms and conditions,
and other relevant information for each nondepartmental environmental
literacy assistance program are searchable and accessible through the
Department of Education's website and cross-referenced with the United
States Green Ribbon School application information, in a manner that is
simple and understandable for school districts and communities.
SEC. 302. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall coordinate
environmental literacy activities between the Department of Education,
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior,
and the Department of Commerce, including by carrying out the
activities described in subsection (b).
(b) Coordination Activities.--In coordinating environmental
literacy activities, the Secretary of Education shall--
(1) assess current Federal environmental education
programs, goals, and budget items across agencies;
(2) assess environment-based science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (referred to as ``eSTEM'')
achievement to demonstrate that learning about and in the
environment is an effective strategy for increasing engagement
in learning and academic achievement in STEM subject areas; and
(3) produce adaptable environmental literacy plan
guidelines and identify coordinated resources across Federal
agencies that States and local educational agencies can follow
as States and local educational agencies work to develop
environmental literacy plans and programs of their own.
(c) Advisory Panel.--The Secretary of Education shall appoint an
advisory panel of stakeholders, including representatives from State
educational agencies, local educational agencies, businesses, and
nonprofit organizations that are engaged in local environmental
literacy efforts representing the geographic, economic, and cultural
diversity of the country, who shall meet quarterly to advise and
support interagency planning and assessment regarding environmental
literacy activities.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,
the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce shall
prepare and submit a joint report to Congress containing information
about the coordination of environmental literacy activities between
Federal agencies.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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