To facilitate the transition from military schools to civilian schools of dependents of members of the Armed Forces.

SA 4381. Mr. CHAMBLISS (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, and Mr. Roberts) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 178, between lines 10 and 11, insert the following:

(c) Transition of Military Dependents From Military to Civilian Schools.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Education shall work collaboratively to ease the transition of dependents of members of the Armed Forces from attendance in Department of Defense dependent schools to civilian schools in systems operated by local educational agencies.

(2) Utilization of existing resources.--In working with the Secretary of Education under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense may utilize funds authorized to be appropriated for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities to share expertise and experience of the Department of Defense Education Activity with local educational agencies as dependents of members of the Armed Forces make the transition from attendance at Department of Defense dependent schools to attendance at civilian schools in systems operated by such local educational agencies, including such transitions resulting from defense base closure and realignment, global rebasing, and force restructuring.

(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:

(A) The term “expertise and experience”, with respect to the Department of Defense Education Activity, means resources of such activity relating to--

(i) academic strategies which result in high scores on national standardized tests;

(ii) curriculum development consultation and materials;

(iii) teacher training resources and materials;

(iv) access to virtual and distance learning technology capabilities and related applications for teachers; and

(v) such other services as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate for the achievement of an educational standard comparable to the standard maintained in the Department of Defense dependent schools.

(B) The term “local educational agency” has the meaning given that term in section 8013(9) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7713(9)).

(4) Expiration.--The authority of the Secretary of the Defense under this subsection shall expire on September 30, 2011.