Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999

Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program. (Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have in place approved challenging content standards, challenging performance measures, and aligned assessments or have made substantial progress towards having an approved plan under ESEA title I; (2) hold local educational agencies (LEAs) accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe how: (1) the educational flexibility plan is consistent with the State's comprehensive reform plan or is coordinated with State educational content and student performance standards under specified ESEA provisions; and (2) the SEA will evaluate student performance in schools and LEAs affected by the waivers. Requires local applications to describe specific goals for each school year for each LEA or school affected by the waivers. Requires State and local applications to assure that wide-spread public notice and opportunity for comment will be given. Prohibits State approval of a local waiver application unless: (1) the LEA or school has developed an applicable local reform plan; and (2) the waiver will help in meeting the LEA's or school's educational goals, particularly those relating to school and student performance. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 2000 through 2004. Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under the Educational and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs. Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the mandate to serve eligible school attendance areas in rank order under specified provisions of ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children. Provides for continuing eligibility of any State educational agency (SEA) that has been granted waiver authority under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and a provision referring to such program under the Department of Education Appropriations Act. Sets forth accountability requirements. Requires States to conduct annual performance reviews. Requires the Secretary, in deciding whether to extend the authority of an SEA to issue waivers, to review the progress of the SEA, LEA, or school affected by the waiver or authority toward the desired results described in its application. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress biennially on the education flexibility partnership program. (Sec. 6) Amends the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999 (DEAA) to allow LEAs to use specified funds to carry out part B (Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities) activities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (such funds are currently earmarked for reducing class size in elementary and secondary schools by hiring additional highly qualified teachers, through: (1) recruiting, hiring, and training certified regular and special education teachers and teachers of special needs children; (2) testing new teachers; and (3) providing professional development to teachers). Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to design class size reduction or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded. (Sec. 7) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop dropout prevention or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded. (Sec. 8) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA. (Sec. 9) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop afterschool or other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded. (Sec. 10) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA. (Sec. 11) Expresses a finding of the Congress that LEAs and schools would have flexibility in their budgets to develop programs to reduce social promotion and establish school accountability procedures, or develop other appropriate programs, if part B of IDEA were fully funded. (Sec. 12) Amends IDEA to allow a school to place a child with a disability in an alternative educational setting for up to 45 days if the child possesses a weapon at school or a school function or on school premises (thus expanding current law which covers carrying a weapon to school or to a school function). (Sec. 13) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out part B activities under IDEA.

Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program. (Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have in place approved challenging content standards, challenging performance measures, and aligned assessments or have developed and implemented content standards and interim assessments and made substantial progress toward developing and implementing performance standards and final aligned assessments, and toward having LEAs in the State produce profiles; (2) hold local educational agencies (LEAs) accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe specific educational objectives and the process for measuring LEA progress in meeting specific goals. Requires State and local applications to assure that wide-spread public notice and opportunity for comment will be given. Prohibits State approval of a local waiver application unless: (1) the LEA or school has developed an applicable local reform plan; (2) the waiver will help in meeting the LEA's or school's educational goals; and (3) the SEA is satisfied that the underlying purposes of the statutory requirements of each program or Act for which a waiver is granted continue to be met. Requires the SEA to terminate the waiver for an LEA or school if there is a statistically significant decrease in level of performance in achieving described objectives, with certain exceptions. Requires States to submit performance data and the Secretary to review such performance. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make each State report available to the Congress and the public; and (2) report to the Congress on the impact of the educational flexibility program on performance objectives. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 1999 through 2004. Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under the Educational and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs. Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the selection of schools to participate in ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children. Allows an SEA to grant waivers to allow schools to participate in such programs if the percentage of children from low-income families in the attendance area of such school or who actually attend such school is within five percentage points of the lowest percentage of such children for any school in the LEA that meets specified ESEA requirements. Provides that this Act shall not apply to any State educational agency (SEA) that has been granted waiver authority under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and a provision referring to such program under the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996, except with respect to that SEA's application for extension of such authority. Sets forth accountability requirements, including criteria for evaluating extension requests by Ed-Flex Partnership States and by existing Ed-Flex programs. Requires the Secretary, in deciding whether to extend the authority of an SEA to issue waivers, to review the progress of the SEA, LEA, or school affected by the waiver or authority toward the objectives and desired results described in its application. Makes this Act effective from the date of its enactment until the subsequent enactment date of an Act that reauthorizes ESEA in its entirety.

Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program. (Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have in place approved challenging content and student performance standards, and aligned assessments, or have made substantial progress towards having an approved plan under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA); (2) hold local educational agencies (LEAs) accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for providing technical assistance and taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe: (1) the State requirements to be waived; (2) clear educational objectives to be met; (3) how the educational flexibility plan is consistent with the State's comprehensive reform plan or is coordinated with State educational content and student performance standards under specified ESEA provisions; and (4) how the SEA will evaluate student performance in schools and LEAs affected by the waivers. Requires local applications to describe specific, measurable goals for each school year for each LEA or school affected by the waivers. Prohibits State approval of a local waiver application unless: (1) the LEA or school has developed an applicable local reform plan; and (2) the waiver will help in meeting the LEA's or school's educational goals, particularly those relating to school and student performance. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has: (1) been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans; and (2) improved student performance. Sets forth program oversight and annual reporting responsibilities of SEAs and the Secretary, including a performance review of SEAs by the Secretary to determine if their waiver program authority should be renewed after the first three years. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 2000 through 2004. Requires State and local applications to assure that wide-spread public notice and opportunity for comment will be given. Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under ESEA: (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs. Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the mandate to serve eligible school attendance areas in rank order under specified provisions of ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children. Provides that this Act shall not apply to any SEA that has been granted waiver authority under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and a provision referring to such program under the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996, except with respect to that SEA's application for extension of such authority. (Sec. 5) Amends the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1999 to allow an LEA that has a class size in grades one through three of 18 or fewer children to use funds made available for class-size reduction for professional development without entering into a consortium. (Sec. 6) Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to allow a school to place a child with a disability in an alternative educational setting for up to 45 days if the child possesses a weapon at school or a school function or on school premises (thus expanding current law which covers carrying a weapon to school or to a school function).

Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program. (Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have approved challenging content standards, challenging performance measures, and aligned assessments in place or have developed and implemented content standards and interim assessments and made substantial progress toward developing and implementing performance standards and final aligned assessments, and toward having local educational agencies (LEAs) in the State produce profiles; (2) hold LEAs accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe specific educational objectives and the process for measuring LEA progress in meeting specific goals. Requires State and local applications to assure that wide-spread public notice and opportunity for comment will be given. Requires the SEA to terminate the waiver for an LEA or school if there is a statistically significant decrease in level of performance in achieving described objectives, with certain exceptions. Requires States to submit performance data and the Secretary to review such performance. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 1999 through 2004. Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs. Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the selection of schools to participate in ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children. Allows an SEA to grant waivers to allow schools to participate in such programs if the percentage of children from low-income families in the attendance area of such school or who actually attend such school is within five percentage points of the lowest percentage of such children for any school in the LEA that meets specified ESEA requirements. Provides that this Act shall not apply to any SEA that has been granted waiver authority under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and a provision referring to such program under the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996, except with respect to that SEA's application for extension of such authority. Sets forth accountability requirements, including criteria for evaluating extension requests by Ed-Flex Partnership States and by existing Ed-Flex programs. Requires the Secretary, in deciding whether to extend the authority of an SEA to issue waivers, to review the progress of the SEA, LEA, or school affected by the waiver or authority toward the objectives and desired results described in its application. Makes this Act effective from the date of its enactment until the subsequent enactment date of an Act that reauthorizes ESEA in its entirety.

Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to allow all States to participate in the Education Flexibility Partnership (Ed-Flex Partnership) program. (Sec. 4) Requires Ed-Flex Partnership States to: (1) have approved challenging content standards, challenging performance measures, and aligned assessments in place or have developed and implemented content standards and interim assessments and made substantial progress toward developing and implementing performance standards and final aligned assessments, and toward having local educational agencies (LEAs) in the State produce profiles; (2) hold LEAs accountable for meeting the educational goals submitted in their local applications for waivers, and for taking corrective actions if they have not met such goals; and (3) waive State educational requirements while holding LEAs or schools affected by such waivers accountable for student performance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) State educational agency (SEA) applications and approval by the Secretary; and (2) local applications and approval and monitoring by SEAs. Requires State applications to describe specific educational objectives and the process for measuring LEA progress in meeting specific goals. Requires States to submit performance data and the Secretary to review such performance. Limits Federal waivers to five years, unless the Secretary extends such period upon determining that such waiver authority has been effective in enabling such SEAs or affected LEAs or schools to carry out local reform plans. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out the Ed-Flex Partnership program for FY 2000 through 2004. Includes as statutory or regulatory requirements that may be waived under this Act those of programs under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998, and of the following programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA): (1) title I Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards; (2) part B State and Local Activities under the title II Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program; (3) subpart 2 State and Local Programs for School Technology Resources (with specified exceptions), under part A Technology Education for All Students, of title III Technology for Education; (4) title IV Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities; (5) title VI Innovative Education Program Strategies; and (6) the part C Emergency Immigrant Education Program under title VII Bilingual Education, Language Enhancement, and Language Acquisition Programs. Prohibits waivers for specified types of requirements, including the selection of schools to participate in ESEA title I part A programs for disadvantaged children. Allows an SEA to grant waivers to allow schools to participate in such programs if the percentage of children from low-income families in the attendance area of such school or who actually attend such school is within five percentage points of the lowest percentage of such children for any school in the LEA that meets specified ESEA requirements. Provides that this Act shall not affect the authority of any SEA under the Ed-Flex Demonstration program of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Sets forth accountability requirements. Requires the Secretary, in deciding whether to extend the authority of an SEA to issue waivers, to review the progress of the SEA, LEA, or school affected by the waiver or authority toward the objectives and desired results described in its application.