Edward M. Kennedy: “the modifications--so the membership has an understanding--deal with the new section 504 that allow local partnerships…”

“the modifications--so the membership has an understanding--deal with the new section 504 that allow local partnerships to consolidate their Federal funds from programs listed in the waiver section of the act, except more in chapter 1, for schoolwide activities for schools in high-poverty areas. We followed a similar procedure in our Goals 2000 legislation. Language that required States to provide, in their grant applications, evidence that relevant State agencies and the private sector support and agree with State development and implementation grant proposals was removed. Instead, the ``review considerations'' language was strengthened to require that Secretaries give priority to applications that show the highest level of collaboration in the development and implementation of the State plan and the highest levels of concurrence with the proposed plans by appropriate State agencies and the private sector. We will have an opportunity to elaborate on that during the course of the debate. Then the partnerships applying for the State subgrants must show how they intend to get the employers involved in the development and implementation of the school-to-work programs. Those are basically the changes. There is a modification also by Senator Gregg with regard to allowing clergy to participate in the development of the process when States determine what geographical areas will be served by the school-to-work programs.”