CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY.

SEC. 305. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY. The Act (20 U.S.C. 4081et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 907 as section 911; and (2) by inserting after section 906 the following new sections: “continuing eligibility “SEC. 907. (a) In General.—In order to be eligible to receive an additional grant under section 903(a)(3) in any fiscal year, an eligible telecommunications partnership shall demonstrate in the application submitted pursuant to section 905 that such partnership will— “(1) continue to provide services in the subject areas and geographic areas assisted with funds received under this title in previous fiscal years; and “(2) use all such grant funds to provide expanded services by— 105 STAT. 503 “(A) increasing the number of students, schools or school districts served by the courses of instruction assisted under this title in previous fiscal years; “(B) providing new courses of instruction; or “(C) serving new populations of underserved individuals, such as children or adults who are disadvantaged, have limited-English proficiency, are disabled, are illiterate, lack high school diplomas or their equivalent. “(b) Special Rules.—Grant funds received pursuant to the application of subsection (a) shall be used to supplement and not supplant services provided by the recipient under this title in previous fiscal years. “evaluation “SEC. 908. (a) In General.—From amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 903(b), the Secretary shall reserve the greater of not more than $500,000 or 5 percent of such appropriations to conduct an independent evaluation by grant, contract or cooperative agreement, of the Star Schools Assistance Program. “(b) Report.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit an interim report on the evaluation described in subsection (a) not later than January 1, 1993 and shall prepare and submit a final report on such evaluation not later than June 1, 1993. “(c) Evaluation.—Such evaluation shall include— “(1) a review of the effectiveness of telecommunications partnerships and programs after Federal funding ceases; “(2) an analysis of non-Federal funding sources, including funds leveraged by Star Schools funds and the permanency of such funding; “(3) an analysis of how Star Schools grantees spend funds appropriated under this Act; “(4) a review of the subject matter, content effectiveness, and success of distance learning through Star Schools program funds, including an in-depth study of student learning outcomes as measured against stated course objectives of distance learn- in courses offered by Star Schools grantees; “(5) a comprehensive review of in-service teacher training programs through Star Schools programming, including the number of teachers trained, time spent in training programs, and a comparison of the effectiveness of such training and conventional teacher training programs; “(6) an analysis of Star School projects that focus on teacher certification and other requirements and the resulting effect on the delivery of instructional programming; “(7) the effects of distance learning on curricula and staffing patterns at participating schools; “(8) the number of students participating in the Star Schools program and an analysis of the socioeconomic characteristics of students participating in Star Schools programs, including a review of the differences and effectiveness of programming and services provided to economically and educationally disadvantaged and minority students; “(9) an analysis of the socioeconomic and geographic characteristics of schools participating in Star Schools projects, including a review of the variety of programming provided to different schools; and 105 STAT. 504 “(10) the impact of dissemination grants under section 910 on the use of technology-based programs in local educational agencies. “federal activities “Sec. 909. The Secretary may assist grant recipients under this title in acquiring satellite time, where appropriate, as economically as possible. “dissemination grants “SEC. 910. (a) In General.—The Secretary shall make grants under this section to telecommunications partnerships funded by the Star Schools Program and to other eligible entities to enable such partnerships and entities to provide dissemination and technical assistance to State and local educational agencies not presently served by telecommunication partnerships. “(b) Special Rule.—The Secretary shall make grants under this section in any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for this title exceeds the amount appropriated for this title in fiscal year 1991 by not less than 10 percent. “(c) Reservation.—In any fiscal year in which the Secretary awards grants under this section in accordance with subsection (b), the Secretary shall reserve not less than 5 percent but not more than 10 percent of the amount appropriated under this title for such fiscal year to award such grants. “(d) Applications.— “(1) In general.—Each telecommunications partnership and other eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. “(2) Contents.—Each application described in paragraph (2) shall contain assurances that the telecommunications partnership or other eligible entity shall provide technical assistance to State and local educational agencies to plan and implement technology-based systems, including— “(A) information regarding successful distance learning resources for States, local educational agencies, and schools; “(B) assistance in connecting users of distance learning, regional educational service centers, colleges and universities, the private sector, and other relevant entities; “(C) assistance and advice in the design and implementation of systems to include needs assessments and technology design; and “(D) support for the identification of possible connections, and cost-sharing arrangements for users of such systems. “(e) Definition.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible entity’ means a federally funded program or an institution of higher education that has demonstrated expertise in educational applications of technology and provides comprehensive technical assistance to educators and policy makers at the local level.”.