Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 121.djvu/685

 121 STAT. 664

PUBLIC LAW 110–69—AUG. 9, 2007

Subtitle C—Foreign Language Partnership Program 20 USC 9861.

SEC. 6301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The United States faces a shortage of skilled professionals with higher levels of proficiency in foreign languages and area knowledge critical to the Nation’s security. (2) Given the Nation’s economic competitiveness interests, it is crucial that our Nation expand the number of Americans who are able to function effectively in the environments in which critical foreign languages are spoken. (3) Students’ ability to become proficient in foreign languages can be addressed by starting language learning at a younger age and expanding opportunities for continuous foreign language education from elementary school through postsecondary education. (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subtitle is to significantly increase— (1) the opportunities to study critical foreign languages and the context in which the critical foreign languages are spoken; and (2) the number of American students who achieve the highest level of proficiency in critical foreign languages. 20 USC 9862.

SEC. 6302. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle: (1) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘eligible recipient’’ means an entity mutually agreed upon by a partnership that shall receive grant funds under this subtitle on behalf of the partnership for use in carrying out the activities assisted under this subtitle. (2) PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘partnership’’ means a partnership that— (A) shall include— (i) an institution of higher education; and (ii) 1 or more local educational agencies; and (B) may include 1 or more entities that support the purposes of this subtitle. (3) SUPERIOR LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY.—The term ‘‘superior level of proficiency’’ means level 3, the professional working level, as measured by the Federal Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) or by other generally recognized measures of superior standards. 20 USC 9863.

SEC. 6303. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible recipients to enable partnerships served by the eligible recipients to establish articulated programs of study in critical foreign languages that will enable students to advance successfully from elementary school through postsecondary education and achieve higher levels of proficiency in a critical foreign language. (2) DURATION.—A grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, of which 2 years

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