(a) Improvement of coordination

(1) In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the States, may make grants to, or enter into contracts with, State educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities to improve the interstate and intrastate coordination among such agencies’ educational programs, including through the establishment or improvement of programs for credit accrual and exchange, available to migratory children.

(2) Duration

Grants under this subsection may be awarded for not more than 5 years.

(b) Student records

(1) Assistance

The Secretary shall assist States in the electronic transfer of student records and in determining the number of migratory children in each State.

(2) Information system

(A) In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the States, shall ensure the linkage of migrant student record systems for the purpose of electronically exchanging, among the States, health and educational information regarding all migratory students eligible under this part. The Secretary shall ensure that such linkage occurs in a cost-effective manner, utilizing systems used by the States prior to, or developed after, December 10, 2015. Such information may include—

(i) immunization records and other health information;

(ii) elementary and secondary academic history (including partial credit), credit accrual, and results from State assessments under section 6311(b)(2) of this title;

(iii) other academic information essential to ensuring that migratory children achieve to the challenging State academic standards; and

(iv) eligibility for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.].

(B) Consultation

The Secretary shall maintain ongoing consultation with the States, local educational agencies, and other migratory student service providers on—

(i) the effectiveness of the system described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii) the ongoing improvement of such system.

(C) Notice and comment

After consulting with the States under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on any new proposed data elements that each State receiving funds under this part shall be required to collect for purposes of electronic transfer of migratory student information and the requirements that States shall meet for immediate electronic access to such information.

(3) No cost for certain transfers

A State educational agency or local educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall make student records available to another State educational agency or local educational agency that requests the records at no cost to the requesting agency, if the request is made in order to meet the needs of a migratory child.

(c) Availability of funds

For the purpose of carrying out this section in any fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than $10,000,000 of the amount appropriated to carry out this part for such year.

(d) Incentive grants

From the amounts made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than $3,000,000 to award grants of not more than $250,000 on a competitive basis to State educational agencies that propose a consortium arrangement with another State or other appropriate entity that the Secretary determines, pursuant to criteria that the Secretary shall establish, will improve the delivery of services to migratory children whose education is interrupted.

(e) Data collection

The Secretary shall direct the National Center for Education Statistics to collect data on migratory children.