•• g^^fy PUBLIC LAW 107-110-^AN. 8, 2002 115 STAT. 1823 "(2) SLIDING SCALE.— The amount of a match under paragraph (1) shall be established based on a sliding scale that takes into account— "(A) the poverty of the population to be targeted by the eligible entity; and "(B) the ability of the eligible entity to obtain funding for the match. "(3) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.— The Secretary shall permit eligible entities to match funds in whole or in part with inkind contributions. " (4) CONSIDERATION.— Notwithstanding this subsection, the Secretary in making awards under this section shall not consider the ability of an eligible entity to match funds. "Subpart 4—Smaller Learning Communities "SEC. 5441. SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIES. 20 USC 7249. "(a) GRANT AUTHORITY. —The Secretary is authorized to award grants to local educational agencies to enable the agencies to create a smaller learning community or communities. "(b) APPLICATION. —Each local educational agency desiring a grant under this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall include descriptions of the following: "(1) Strategies and methods the local educational agency will use to create the smaller learning community or communities. "(2) Curriculum and instructional practices, including any particular themes or emphases, to be used in the smaller learning environment. "(3) The extent of involvement of teachers and other school personnel in investigating, designing, implementing, and sustaining the smaller learning community or communities. "(4) The process to be used for involving students, parents, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of the smaller learning community or communities. "(5) Any cooperation or collaboration among community agencies, organizations, businesses, and others to develop or implement a plan to create the smaller learning community or communities. "(6) The training and professional development activities that will be offered to teachers and others involved in the activities assisted under this subpart. "(7) The objectives of the activities assisted under this subpart, including a description of how such activities will better enable all students to reach challenging State academic content standards and State student academic achievement standards. "(8) The methods by which the local educational agency will assess progress in meeting the objectives described in paragraph (7). "(9) If the smaller learning community or communities exist as a school-within-a -school, the relationship, including governance and administration, of the smaller learning community to the remainder of the school.
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