consolidation of certain federally operated education programs

consolidation of certain federally operated education programs Sec. 402. (a) (1) The Act of July 26, 1954 (Public Law 531. Eighty-third Congress) is amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “That this Act may be cited as the “Special Projects Act”. “purpose “Sec. 2. It is the purpose of this Act to authorize the Commissioner of Education (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Commissioner’) to carry out special projects— “(1) to experiment with new educational and administrative methods, techniques, and practices; “(2) to meet special or unique educational needs or problems; and “(3) to place special emphasis on national education priorities. “contracting authority “Sec. 3. (a) The Commissioner is authorized, during the period beginning July 1, 1975, and ending June 30, 1978, to make contracts with public and private agencies, organizations, associations, institutions, and with individuals in order to carry out the purposes of this Act as set forth in section 2. 88 Stat. 545 “(b) In exercising his authority under this section, the Commissioner shall comply with such priorities and preferences as may be expressly provided by law, with respect to this section. “appropriations “Sec. 4. (a) (1) In order to enable the Commissioner to make contracts under section 3, there is authorized, subject to subsection (b), to be appropriated to the Office of Education $200,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1976, and each of the two succeeding fiscal years. “(2) Sums appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, unless enacted in express limitation of this paragraph, remain available until expended. “(b) (1) Not later than February 1 of each year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate a plan in accordance with which the Commissioner has determined to expend funds to be appropriated for the succeeding fiscal year. Such plan shall be accompanied by a report, describing each contract made during the calendar year preceding that fiscal year under the authority of this Act involving an expenditure in excess of $100,000. “(2) (A) The funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year shall be expended in accordance with the plan submitted for that year pursuant to paragraph (1), unless prior to sixty days after the submission of such plan, either the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of the Senate adopts a resolution disapproving such plan. “(B) If either or both such committees adopts a resolution of disapproval as provided in subparagraph (A), the Commissioner shall, not later than fifteen days after the adoption of any such resolution, submit a new plan in accordance with paragraph (1) and subparagraph (A).”. (2) The title of such Act of July 24, 1954, is amended to read as follows: “An Act to authorize special projects, surveys, and studies by the Office of Education.”. (b) (1) In carrying out his functions under section 3 of the Special Projects Act, the Commissioner shall reserve not less than 50 per centum of the sums appropriated pursuant to section 4 of such Act for the purposes given preference under paragraph (3) of this subsection and apportioned in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection. With respect to the funds to which this paragraph applies, the Commissioner’s authority under such section 3 shall include authority to make grants as well as contracts. (2) Except as is otherwise provided with respect to section 409, the Commissioner shall apportion an amount for each of the purposes set forth in paragraph (3) which bears the same ratio to the sums reserved pursuant to paragraph (1) as the amount permitted to be expended for each such purpose bears to the aggregate of the amounts permitted to be expended for all such purposes. (3) The sums reserved pursuant, to paragraph (1) shall be expended for programs otherwise authorized by an applicable statute and described in the following subparagraphs: Education for the Use of the Metric System of Measurement (A) A program to encourage educational agencies and institutions to prepare students to use the metric system of measurement, as provided in section 403. 88 Stat. 546 Gifted and Talented Children (B) A program for the education of gifted and talented children through grants to the States for such purpose, as provided in section 404 (except subsection (f) thereof). Community Schools (C) A program of grants to local educational agencies to assist them in planning, establishing, expanding, and operating community education programs, as provided in section 405. Career Education (D) A program to assess, and to encourage establishment and operation of, career education programs, as provided in section 406. Consumers’ Education (E) A program of grants and contracts designed to provide consumer education to the public, as provided in section 811 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Women’s Equity in Education (F) A program of grants and contracts designed to provide educational equity for women in the United States, as provided in section 408. Arts in Education Programs (G) A program of grants and contracts designed to assist and encourage the use of the arts in elementary and secondary school programs as provided in section 409. (4) No appropriation may be made for any fiscal year for the purposes of section 811 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or sections 403, 404, 405, 406, 408, and 409 of this Act during which funds are available for the purposes of such sections under the provisions of this subsection. (c) (1) The amendments made by subsection (a) and the provisions of subsection (b) shall be effective on and after July 1, 1975. (2) Effective July 1, 1975, title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended— (i) by striking out section 305(d); (ii) ii) by striking out section 306; and (iii) by striking out section 307(c). (3) Effective July 1, 1975, section 809 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, is repealed.