1. Short title This Act may be cited as the “ Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act ” or the A PLUS Act . 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To give States and local communities added flexibility to determine how to improve academic achievement and implement education reforms. (2) To reduce the administrative costs and compliance burden of Federal education programs in order to focus Federal resources on improving academic achievement. (3) To ensure that States and communities are accountable to the public for advancing the academic achievement of all students, especially disadvantaged children. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) In general Except as otherwise provided, the terms used in this Act have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.). (2) Accountability The term accountability means that public schools are answerable to parents and other taxpayers for the use of public funds and shall report student progress to parents and taxpayers regularly. (3) Declaration of intent The term declaration of intent means a decision by a State, as determined by State Authorizing Officials or by referendum, to assume full management responsibility for the expenditure of Federal funds for certain eligible programs for the purpose of advancing, on a more comprehensive and effective basis, the educational policy of such State. (4) State The term State has the meaning given such term in section 1122(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6332(e) ). (5) State authorizing officials The term State Authorizing Officials means the State officials who shall authorize the submission of a declaration of intent, and any amendments thereto, on behalf of the State. Such officials shall include not less than 2 of the following: (A) The governor of the State. (B) The highest elected education official of the State, if any. (C) The legislature of the State. (6) State designated officer The term State