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HR 3545 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants for the support of full-service community schools, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

September 9, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. HOYER (for himself, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. DELAURO, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. MASSA, Mr. SARBANES, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. ELLSWORTH, Mr. SIRES, Ms. MARKEY of Colorado, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. HIMES, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. STARK, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. HONDA, Mr. TONKO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. HARE, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. LUJAN, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. OLVER, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. SCHAUER, and Mr. RUSH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants for the support of full-service community schools, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Full-Service Community Schools Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Providing support for the planning, implementation, and operation of full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Improving the coordination, availability, and effectiveness of services for children and families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Enabling principals and teachers to complement and enrich efforts to help all children reach proficiency in reading and math by 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Ensuring that children come to school ready to learn every day.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Enabling families to participate in the education of their children.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Enabling more efficient use of Federal, State, local, and private sector resources that serve children and families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Facilitating the coordination of programs operated by community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and State, local, and tribal governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Engaging students as resources to their communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Engaging the business community and other community organizations as partners in the development of full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

For purposes of this Act, the term ‘full-service community school’ means a public elementary or secondary school that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) participates in a community-based effort to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) provides access to such services to students, families, and the community.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. LOCAL PROGRAMS.

(a) Grants- The Secretary of Education (in this Act referred to as the ‘Secretary’) may award grants to eligible entities to assist public elementary or secondary schools to function as full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Use of Funds- Grants awarded under this section shall be used to coordinate not less than 3 qualified existing services and provide not less than 2 qualified additional services at 1 or more public elementary or secondary schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Application- To seek a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall require that each such application include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A description of the eligible entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A list of partner entities that will assist the eligible entity to coordinate and provide qualified services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A memorandum of understanding between the eligible entity and all partner entities describing the role the partner entities will assume.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) A description of the capacity of the eligible entity to coordinate and provide qualified services at a full-service community school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) A comprehensive plan that includes descriptions of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The student, family, and school community to be served, including information about the demographic characteristics and needs of students, families, and community residents, the number of families and students to be served, and the frequency of services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Yearly measurable performance goals for the program, including an increase in the percentage of families and students targeted for services each year of the program and improved outcomes for students and families, particularly student academic achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Performance measures to monitor progress toward attainment of the goals established under subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Qualified services, existing and additional, to be coordinated and provided by the eligible entity and its partner entities, including an explanation of why these services have been selected, and how they respond to specified needs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) Plans to ensure that each site has full-time coordination of qualified services at each full-service community school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) Planning, coordination, management, and oversight of qualified services at each school to be served, including the role of the school principal, partner entities, parents, and members of the community.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) Funding sources for qualified services to be coordinated and provided at each school to be served, whether such funding is derived from grants under this section or from other Federal, State, local, or private sources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) Plans for professional development for personnel managing, or coordinating or delivering qualified services at, the schools to be served.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) Plans for joint utilization and maintenance of school facilities by the eligible entity and its partner entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) How the eligible entity and its partners will focus services on schools eligible for a schoolwide program under section 1114 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) Plans for periodic evaluation based upon attainment of the performance measures described in subparagraph (C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(L) How the provision and coordination of qualified services is expected to improve student academic achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(M) How the qualified services will meet the principles of effectiveness described in subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) A plan for sustainability.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Principles of Effectiveness-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- For a program developed pursuant to this section to meet principles of effectiveness, such program shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) be based upon an assessment of objective data regarding the need for the establishment of a full-service community school and qualified services at each school to be served and in the community involved;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) be based upon an established set of performance measures aimed at ensuring the availability and effectiveness of high-quality services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) if appropriate, be based upon scientifically based research that provides evidence that the qualified services involved will help students meet State and local student academic achievement standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Priority- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) will serve 2 or more full-service community schools eligible for a school-wide program under section 1114 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6314);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) demonstrate a record of effectiveness in coordinating multiple qualified services;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) will serve more than 1 full-service community school as part of a community- or district-wide strategy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) will be connected to a school and community partnership group that brings together key stakeholders across sectors, such as the local educational agency, parents and neighborhood residents, youth, local government, institutions of higher education, teacher unions, community-based organizations, business and civic groups, and others to improve results for students and their families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Grant Period- Each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years and may be renewed at the discretion of the Secretary based on demonstrated effectiveness in meeting performance goals and measure as described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (c)(5).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Minimum Amount- The Secretary may not award a grant to an eligible entity under this section in an amount that is less than $75,000 for each year of the 5-year grant period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The term ‘additional services’ means services directly funded under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The term ‘eligible entity’ means a consortium of a local educational agency and 1 or more community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, or other public or private entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The term ‘existing services’ means services already being financed by Federal, State, local or private sources, or volunteer activities being supported by civic, business, faith-based, social, and other similar organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The term ‘qualified services’ means any of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Early childhood education.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Remedial education activities and enrichment activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Programs under the Head Start Act, including Early Head Start programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy, including the Reading First, Early Reading First, and William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy programs authorized in part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6361 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) Mentoring and other youth development programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) Parent leadership development activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) Parenting education activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(H) Child care services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(I) Community service and service learning opportunities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(J) Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(K) Job training and career counseling services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(L) Nutrition services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(M) Primary health and dental care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(N) Mental health counseling services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(O) Adult education, including instruction in English as a second language.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(P) Other services consistent with this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. STATE PROGRAMS.

(a) Grants- The Secretary may award grants to State collaboratives to support the development of full-service community school programs in accordance with this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Use of Funds- Grants awarded under this section shall be used only for the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Planning, coordinating, and expanding the development of full-service community schools in the State, particularly schools in high-poverty local educational agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Providing technical assistance and training for full-service community schools, including professional development for personnel and creation of data collection and evaluation systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Collecting, evaluating, and reporting data about the progress of full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Evaluating the impact of State and Federal policies and guidelines on the ability of eligible entities to integrate Federal and State programs at full-service community schools, and taking action to make necessary changes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Application- To seek a grant under this section, a State collaborative shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall require that each such application include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A list of all governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that will participate as members of the State collaborative.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A description of the expertise of each member of the State collaborative--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in coordinating Federal and State programs across multiple agencies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in working with and developing the capacity of full-service community schools; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in working with high-poverty schools and local educational agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) A comprehensive plan describing how the grant will be used to plan, coordinate, and expand the delivery of services at full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) A comprehensive accountability plan that will be used to demonstrate effectiveness, including the measurable performance goals of the program and performance measures to monitor progress and assess services’ impact on students and families and academic achievement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) An explanation of how the State collaborative will provide technical assistance and training, including professional development, for full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) An explanation of how the State will collect and evaluate information on full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Grant Period- Each grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Minimum Amount- The Secretary may not award a grant to a State collaborative under this section in an amount that is less than $500,000 for each year of the 5-year grant period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Definitions- For purposes of this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The term ‘State’ includes the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The term ‘State collaborative’ means a collaborative of a State educational agency and not less than 2 other governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and families.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

(a) Establishment- There is hereby established an advisory committee to be known as the ‘Full-Service Community Schools Advisory Committee’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Advisory Committee’).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Duties- Subject to subsection (c), the Advisory Committee shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) consult with the Secretary on the development and implementation of programs under this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) identify strategies to improve the coordination of Federal programs in support of full-service community schools; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) issue an annual report to the Congress on efforts under this Act, including a description of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the results of local and national evaluation of such efforts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the scope of services being coordinated under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Consultation- In carrying out its duties under this section, the Advisory Committee shall consult annually with eligible entities awarded grants under section 4, State collaboratives awarded grants under section 5, and other entities with expertise in operating full-service community schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Members- The Advisory Committee shall consist of 5 members as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Secretary of Education (or the Secretary’s delegate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Attorney General of the United States (or the Attorney General’s delegate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The Secretary of Agriculture (or the Secretary’s delegate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or the Secretary’s delegate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Secretary of Labor (or the Secretary’s delegate).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Technical Assistance- The Secretary, directly or through grants, shall provide such technical assistance as may be appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Evaluations by Secretary- The Secretary shall conduct evaluations on the effectiveness of grants under sections 4 and 5 in achieving the purposes of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Evaluations by Grantees- The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant under this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to conduct periodic evaluations of the progress achieved with the grant toward achieving the purposes of this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to use such evaluations to refine and improve activities conducted with the grant and the performance measures for such activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to make the results of such evaluations publicly available, including by providing public notice of such availability.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Supplement, Not Supplant- Funds made available to a grantee under this Act may be used only to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds that would otherwise be available to carry out the activities assisted under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Matching Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant under this Act to provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in an amount determined under paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT OF MATCH-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) SLIDING SCALE- Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall determine the amount of matching funds to be required of a grantee under this subsection based on a sliding fee scale that takes into account--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the relative poverty of the population to be targeted by the grantee; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) the ability of the grantee to obtain such matching funds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) MAXIMUM AMOUNT- The Secretary may not require any grantee under this section to provide matching funds in an amount that exceeds the amount of the grant award.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS- The Secretary shall permit grantees under this section to match funds in whole or in part with in-kind contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) CONSIDERATION- Notwithstanding this subsection, the Secretary shall not consider an applicant’s ability to match funds when determining which applicants will receive grants under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Special Rule- Entities receiving funds under this Act shall comply with all existing Federal statutes that prohibit discrimination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Allocation- Of the amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for each fiscal year--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) 75 percent shall be for section 4;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) 20 percent shall be for section 5; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) of the remaining 5 percent, not less than $500,000 shall be for technical assistance under section 7(a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink