text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``A Better Chance to Learn Act of 
  1993''.
  
  SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
  
      It is the purpose of this Act to encourage and assist local school 
  districts and communities to develop, expand, or operate innovative 
  home-based parent and early childhood education programs in an effort 
  to--
              (1) empower parents to be the primary educators of their 
          children;
              (2) provide children with school-readiness skills;
              (3) develop positive attitudes toward education on the part 
          of parents and children; and
              (4) enhance the role of parents in the transition of their 
          children from preschool to kindergarten.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      As used in this Act:
              (1) Community-based organizations.--The term ``community-
          based organizations'' means private nonprofit organizations 
          that are located within a community and that are not affiliated 
          with any specific religion.
              (2) Developmentally appropriate.--The term 
          ``developmentally appropriate'' as applied to a home-based 
          program implemented by parents means those activities for the 
          general population of 3- to 5-year-old children that are 
          meaningful to parents and that will result in successful 
          parent-child interactions.
              (3) Home-based.--The term ``home-based'' means that the 
          program provides parent and early childhood education services 
          in the private residence of the child receiving such services.
              (4) Limited or unsuccessful formal schooling.--The term 
          ``limited or unsuccessful formal schooling'' means the--
                      (A) completion of high school with low achievement 
                  during enrollment;
                      (B) noncompletion of high school with low 
                  achievement during enrollment; or
                      (C) lack of a general education degree.
              (5) Local educational agencies.--The term ``local 
          educational agencies'' has the meaning given to the term 
          ``local educational agency'' by section 1471(12) of the 
          Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
          2891).
              (6) Near poor families.--The term ``near poor families'' 
          means families that have an income that is approximately 130 
          percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of 
          Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with 
          section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 
          U.S.C. 9902(2)).
              (7) Parent education.--The term ``parent education'' 
          includes parent support activities, the provision of resource 
          materials on child development and parent and child learning 
          activities, private and group educational guidance, individual 
          and group learning experiences for the parent and child, and 
          other activities that enable the parent to improve learning in 
          the home.
              (8) Working poor families.--The term ``working poor 
          families'' means families that--
                      (A) have family members--
                              (i) who are working; or
                              (ii) who were looking for work during at 
                          least the last 6 months of the year prior to 
                          the year in which a grantee determines such 
                          families' eligibility for services under this 
                          Act; and
                      (B) earn an income not in excess of 150 percent of 
                  the poverty line as described in paragraph (5).
              (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Education.
  
  SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
  local educational agencies and community-based organizations to pay the 
  Federal share of the cost of the activities described in section 5.
      (b) Grant Allocations.--The Secretary shall award--
              (1) 50 percent of the total grants awarded under this 
          section to applicants that are establishing new home-based 
          parent and early childhood education programs; and
              (2) 50 percent of the total grants awarded under this 
          section to applicants that are operating or expanding existing 
          home-based parent and early childhood education programs.
      (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
  shall give priority to an applicant that describes in an application 
  submitted under section 6 that such applicant's program targets--
              (1) working poor families or near poor families that do not 
          qualify for assistance under the early childhood programs under 
          the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or chapter 1 of 
          title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
          (20 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.);
              (2) families that qualify for assistance under the Federal 
          programs described in paragraph (1), but that are not served by 
          such programs; or
              (3) parents who have limited or unsuccessful formal 
          schooling.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
  
      A grantee may use funds received under this Act for establishing, 
  operating or expanding home-based parent and early childhood education 
  programs.
  
  SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY.
  
      To be eligible for a grant under this Act, an entity, as described 
  in section 4(a), shall prepare and submit an application to the 
  Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
  information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
  
  SEC. 7. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
  
      A grantee under this Act shall conduct a home-based parent and 
  early childhood education program that--
              (1) enhances parents' awareness of their strengths and 
          potential as the primary educators of their children;
              (2) provides support, training and developmentally 
          appropriate educational materials that are necessary for 
          parents to implement a school-readiness, home instruction 
          program for their children;
              (3) conducts group meetings with parents to provide support 
          activities related to parenting skills and other topics of 
          interest to participating parents; and
              (4) to the maximum extent possible, provides opportunities 
          for field trips to local sites of educational and cultural 
          benefit.
  
  SEC. 8. ELIGIBLE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
  
      (a) In General.--To be eligible to participate in a parent and 
  early childhood service program conducted under this Act, an individual 
  shall be a parent with one or more children who are age 3, 4, or 5.
      (b) Special Rules.--
              (1) Participation.--No school system or parents shall be 
          required to participate in programs funded under this Act.
              (2) Program actions.--A program receiving grant funds under 
          this Act may not take action that infringes on the right of 
          parents to direct the education of their children.
  
  SEC. 9. PAYMENTS AND FEDERAL SHARE.
  
      (a) Federal Share.--The Federal share described in section 4(a) 
  shall be 80 percent.
      (b) Non-Federal Share.--
              (1) In general.--A grantee under this Act shall make 
          available non-Federal contributions toward the cost of carrying 
          out the program established, operated, or expanded with amounts 
          received under the grant in an amount equal to at least 20 
          percent of the amount of funds provided under the grant.
              (2) In kind contributions.--The non-Federal contributions 
          described in paragraph (1) may be in cash or in kind fairly 
          evaluated, including planned equipment or services.
  
  SEC. 10. SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.
  
      Funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of this Act shall be 
  used to supplement and not supplant other local public funds expended 
  to provide services for individuals eligible to participate in a 
  program under this Act.
  
  SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
  $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may be necessary for 
  each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998.
target: A Better Chance to Learn Act of 1993 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to pay 80 percent of the cost of home-based parent and early childhood education programs. 
  Allocates one-half of such grants to new programs and one-half to existing programs.  Gives priority to programs that target:  (1) early childhood program assistance under the Head Start Act or chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (2) families that qualify for such assistance, but are not served by such programs; or (3) parents who have limited or unsuccessful formal schooling.  Makes an individual eligible to participate if he or she is a parent with one or more children age three, four, or five.  Sets forth application and other program requirements. 
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Better Chance to Learn Act of 1993