Putting America's Children First Act of 1998

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Educational Facilities Improvement Title II: Reducing Class Size Title III: Charter Schools Title IV: Scholarships Title V: Voluntary National Tests Title VI: A+ Accounts for Public and Private Schools Title VII: Dollars to the Classroom Putting America's Children First Act of 1998 - Title I: Educational Facilities Improvement - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) title XII (School Facilities Infrastructure Improvement) to establish an educational facilities construction and renovation bond subsidy program. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Education to use such bond subsidy program funds to pay up to 50 percent, according to a sliding scale based on need, of the interest costs applicable to any State or local bond for construction or renovation of educational facilities in local areas. Provides for: (1) mandatory direct grants to local bond authorities for up to 100 local areas with the highest numbers of school age children whose families do not exceed 100 percent of the poverty line (plus an optional 25 additional local areas with extraordinary construction or renovation needs); and (2) mandatory grants to States for Sta…