PUBLIC LAW 104-134—APR. 26, 1996 110 STAT. 1321-256 an application to the Secretary that is consistent with the provisions of this Act and shall notify the State educational I agency of such application in accordance with paragraph (1). The Secretary may establish a deadline for the submission of such applications. "(3) AWARD BASIS.— The Secretary may use the student enrollment of a local educational agency or other factors as a basis for awarding grants under this subsection." SEC. 705. ALTERNATIVE TO SECRETARIAL APPROVAL OF STATE PLANS. (a) STATE IMPROVEMENT PLANS.— Section 306(n) of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5886(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(4) ALTERNATIVE SUBMISSION.— "(A) IN GENERAL.— Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, any State educational agency that wishes to receive an allotment under this title after the first year such State educational agency receives such an allotment may, in lieu of submitting its State improvement plan for approval by the Secretary under this subsection and section 305(c)(2), or submitting major amendments to the Secretary under subsection (p), provide the Secretary, as part of an application under section 305(c) or as an amendment to a previously approved application— "(i) an assurance, from the Governor and the chief State school officer of the State, that— "(I) the State has a plan that meets the requirements of this section and that is widely available throughout the State; and "(II) any amendments the State makes to the plan will meet the requirements of this section; and "(ii) the State's benchmarks of improved student performance and of progress in implementing the plan, and the timelines against which the State's progress in carrying out the plan can be measured. "(B) ANNUAI. REPORT. —Any State educational agency that chooses to use the alternative method described in paragraph (1) shall annually report to the public summary information on the use of funds under this title by the State and local educational agencies in the State, as well as the State's progress toward meeting the benchmarks and timelines described in subparagraph (A)(ii).". (b) STATE APPLICATIONS.— Section 305(c)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 5885(c)(2)) is amended by inserting "except in the case of a State educational agency submitting the information described in section 306(n)(4)," before "include". (c) SECRETARY'S REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS. —Section 307(b)(1) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 5887(b)(1)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking "or" after the semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking "and" after the semicolon and inserting "or"; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: "(C) the State educational agency has submitted the information described in section 306(n)(4); and".
�
