 
 CHAPTER 70--STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                                 SCHOOLS
 
    SUBCHAPTER I--HELPING DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN MEET HIGH STANDARDS
 
 Part A--Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies
 
                  subpart 1--basic program requirements
 
Sec. 6320. Professional development


(a) Program requirements

                           (1) In general

        Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this 
    part shall provide high-quality professional development that will 
    improve the teaching of the academic subjects, consistent with the 
    State content standards, in order to enable all children to meet the 
    State's student performance standards.

                         (2) Program design

        Such professional development activities shall be designed by 
    principals, teachers, and other school staff in schools receiving 
    assistance under this part.

(b) Professional development activities

                       (1) Required activities

        Such professional development activities shall--
            (A) support instructional practices that are geared to 
        challenging State content standards and create a school 
        environment conducive to high achievement in the academic 
        subjects;
            (B) support local educational agency plans under section 
        6312 of this title and school plans under section 6314 of this 
        title;
            (C) draw on resources available under this part, title III 
        \1\ of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, subchapter II of 
        this chapter, and from other sources;
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    \1\ See References in Text note below.
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            (D) where appropriate, as determined by the local 
        educational agency, include strategies for developing curricula 
        and teaching methods that integrate academic and vocational 
        instruction (including applied learning and team teaching 
        strategies); and
            (E) include strategies for identifying and eliminating 
        gender and racial bias in instructional materials, methods, and 
        practices.

                       (2) Optional activities

        Such professional development activities may include--
            (A) instruction in the use of assessments;
            (B) instruction in ways that teachers, principals, pupil 
        services personnel, and school administrators may work more 
        effectively with parents;
            (C) the forming of partnerships with institutions of higher 
        education to establish school-based teacher training programs 
        that provide prospective teachers and novice teachers with an 
        opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced teachers 
        and college faculty;
            (D) instruction in the use of technology;
            (E) the creation of career ladder programs for 
        paraprofessionals (assisting teachers under this part) to obtain 
        the education necessary for such paraprofessionals to become 
        licensed and certified teachers;
            (F) instruction in ways to teach special needs children;
            (G) instruction in gender-equitable education methods, 
        techniques, and practices;
            (H) joint professional development activities involving 
        programs under this part, Head Start, Even Start, or State-run 
        preschool program personnel; and
            (I) instruction in experiential-based teaching methods such 
        as service learning.

(c) Program participation

    Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this part 
is encouraged to design professional development programs so that--
        (1) all school staff in schools participating in a schoolwide 
    program under section 6314 of this title can participate in 
    professional development activities; and
        (2) all school staff in targeted assistance schools may 
    participate in professional development activities if such 
    participation will result in better addressing the needs of students 
    served under this part.

(d) Parental participation

    Parents may participate in professional development activities under 
this part if the school determines that parental participation is 
appropriate.

(e) Consortia

    In carrying out such professional development programs, local 
educational agencies may provide services through consortia arrangements 
with other local educational agencies, educational service agencies or 
other local consortia, institutions of higher education, or other public 
or private institutions or organizations.

(f) Effective teaching strategies

    Knowledge of effective teaching strategies that is gained through 
professional development activities under this section may be shared 
with teachers who are not participating in targeted assistance programs 
under this part.

(g) Combinations of funds

    Funds provided under this part that are used for professional 
development purposes may be combined with funds provided under 
subchapter II of this chapter, title III \1\ of the Goals 2000: Educate 
America Act, and other sources.

(h) State review

                           (1) In general

        The State educational agency shall review the local educational 
    agency's plan under section 6312(b) of this title to determine if 
    such agency's professional development activities--
            (A) are tied to challenging State student content and 
        student performance standards;
            (B) reflect research on teaching and learning where 
        possible;
            (C) are designed to have a positive impact on the teacher's 
        performance in the classroom;
            (D) contribute to continuous improvement in the classroom or 
        throughout the school;
            (E) include methods to teach children with special needs;
            (F) are developed with the extensive participation of 
        teachers; and
            (G) include gender-equitable education methods, techniques, 
        and practices.

                      (2) Technical assistance

        If a local educational agency's plan for professional 
    development does not include the activities described in paragraph 
    (1), the State educational agency shall provide technical assistance 
    to such local educational agencies to enable such agencies to make 
    progress toward inclusion of such activities in the local 
    educational agency's professional development activities.

                          (3) Special rule

        No State educational agency shall require a school or a local 
    educational agency to expend a specific amount of funds for 
    professional development activities under this part, except that 
    this paragraph shall not apply with respect to requirements under 
    section 6317(d)(6) of this title.

(i) Instructional aides

                           (1) In general

        If a local educational agency uses funds received under this 
    part to employ instructional aides, the local educational agency 
    shall ensure that such aides--
            (A) possess the knowledge and skills sufficient to assist 
        participating children in meeting the educational goals of this 
        part;
            (B) have a secondary school diploma, or its recognized 
        equivalent, or earn either within two years of employment, 
        except that a local educational agency may employ an 
        instructional aide that does not meet the requirement of this 
        subparagraph if such aide possesses proficiency in a language 
        other than English that is needed to enhance the participation 
        of children in programs under this part; and
            (C) are under the direct supervision of a teacher who has 
        primary responsibility for providing instructional services to 
        eligible children.

                     (2) Inclusion in activities

        Each local educational agency receiving funds under this part, 
    when feasible, shall include instructional aides in professional 
    development activities.

(Pub. L. 89-10, title I, Sec. 1119, as added Pub. L. 103-382, title I, 
Sec. 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3555.)

                       References in Text

    The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, referred to in subsecs. 
(b)(1)(C) and (g), is Pub. L. 103-227, Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 125 
(except titles V and IX), as amended. Title III of the Act was 
classified generally to subchapter III (Sec. 5881 et seq.) of chapter 68 
of this title and was repealed by Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, 
Sec. 1000(a)(4) [title III, Sec. 310(i)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 
1501A-265. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see 
Short Title note set out under section 5801 of this title and Tables.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 6311, 6312, 6314, 6315 of 
this title.
