An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of amendment No. 7 printed in House Report 102-838 which would, among other things, require that 25% of the education assistance provided to local school districts be used to finance "school choice" programs, including financial assistance for private schools. The substitute would authorize $700 million ($100 million less than the bill) for state and local school reform activities, and restrict the use of such funding to three specific areas: New American Schools, merit schools, and site-based management that emphasizes alternative certification.