Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/170

 108 STAT. 144 PUBLIC LAW 103-227—MAR. 31, 1994 (2) ELEMENTS ADDRESSED.— The voluntary national opportunity-to-leam standards certified by the Council shall address— (A) the quality and availability to all students of curricula, instructional materials, and technologies, including distance learning; (B) the capability of teachers to provide high-quality instruction to meet diverse learning needs in each content area to all students; (C) the extent to which teachers, principals, and administrators have ready and continuing access to professional development, including the best knowledge about teaching, learning, and school improvement; (D) the extent to which curriculum, instructional practices, and assessments are aligned to voluntary national content standards; (E) the extent to which school facilities provide a safe and seciu*e environment for learning and instruction and have the requisite libraries, laboratories, and other resources necessary to provide an opportunity-to-leam; (F) the extent to which schools utilize policies, curricula, and instructional practices which ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of gender; and (G) other factors that the Council deems appropriate to ensure that all students receive a fair opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills described in the voluntary national content standards and the voluntary national student performance standards certified by the Council. (3) ADDITIONAL DUTIES. —In carrying out this subsection, the Council shall— (A) identify what other countries with rigorous content standards do to— (i) provide their children with opportunities to learn; (ii) prepare their teachers; and (iii) provide continuing professional development opportunities for their teachers; and (B) develop criteria to be used for certifying the voluntary national opportunity-to-leam standards and State opportunity-to-leam standards and, before applying such criteria, forward such criteria to the Groals Panel for review, except that the Goals Panel shall have the option of disapproving such criteria by a two-thirds majority vote of the full membership of the Goals Panel not later than 90 days after receipt of such criteria. (4) RECOMMENDATIONS AND COORDINATION.— The Council shall assist in the development of the volimtary national opportunity-to-leam standards developed by each consortium under section 219 by— (A) making recommendations to the Secretary regarding priorities and selection criteria for each grant awarded under section 219; and (B) coordinating with each consortium receiving awards under section 219 to ensure that the opportunity-to-leam standards the consortium develops are appropriate for the needs of all students, are of high quality, and are consistent

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