[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1990 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1990

  To expand the role of public schools to provide community services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             March 25 (legislative day, February 22), 1994

Mr. Jeffords (for himself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To expand the role of public schools to provide community services.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Community Learning 
Centers Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) a local public school often serves as a center for the 
        delivery of education and human services for all members of a 
        community;
            (2) public schools, primarily in rural and inner city 
        communities, should collaborate with other public and nonprofit 
        agencies and organizations, local businesses, educational 
        entities (such as vocational and adult education programs, 
        school-to-work programs, community colleges, and universities), 
        recreational, cultural, and other community and human service 
        entities, for the purpose of meeting the needs of, and 
        expanding the opportunities available to, the residents of the 
        communities served by such schools;
            (3) by using school facilities, equipment, and resources, 
        communities can promote a more efficient use of public 
        education facilities, especially in rural and inner city areas 
        where limited financial resources have enhanced the necessity 
        for local public schools to become social service centers;
            (4) the high technology, global economy of the 21st century 
        will require lifelong learning to keep America's workforce 
        competitive and successful, and local public schools should 
        provide centers for lifelong learning and educational 
        opportunities for individuals of all ages; and
            (5) community schools enable the entire community to 
        develop an education strategy that addresses the educational 
        needs of all members of local communities.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) Grants by the Secretary.--The Secretary is authorized, in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act, to award grants to rural 
and inner city public schools, or consortia thereof, to enable such 
schools or consortia to plan, implement, or to expand projects that 
benefit the educational, health, social service, cultural, and 
recreational needs of a rural or inner city community.
    (b) Amount.--The Secretary shall not award a grant under this Act 
in any fiscal year in an amount less than $20,000.
    (c) Grant Period.--The Secretary shall award grants under this Act 
for a period not to exceed 3 years.
    (d) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this Act, the 
Secretary shall assure an equitable distribution of assistance among 
the States, among urban and rural areas of the United States, and among 
urban and rural areas of a State.

SEC. 4. APPLICATION REQUIRED.

    (a) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, 
a school or consortium shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably prescribe. 
Each such application shall include--
            (1) a comprehensive local plan that enables such school or 
        consortium to serve as a center for the delivery of education 
        and human services for members of a community;
            (2) an evaluation of the needs, available resources, and 
        goals and objectives for the proposed project in order to 
        determine which activities will be undertaken to address such 
        needs;
            (3) a description of the proposed project, including--
                    (A) a description of the mechanism that will be 
                used to disseminate information in a manner that is 
                understandable and accessible to the community;
                    (B) identification of Federal, State, and local 
                programs to be merged or coordinated so that public 
                resources may be maximized;
                    (C) a description of the collaborative efforts to 
                be undertaken by community-based organizations, related 
                public agencies, businesses, or other appropriate 
                organizations;
                    (D) a description of how the school or consortium 
                will act as a delivery center for existing and new 
                services; and
                    (E) an assurance that the school or consortium will 
                establish a facility utilization policy that 
                specifically states--
                            (i) the rules and regulations applicable to 
                        building and equipment use; and
                            (ii) supervision guidelines.
    (b) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to applications 
describing projects that offer a broad selection of services.

SEC. 5. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Grants awarded under this Act may be used to plan, 
implement, or expand community learning centers which include not less 
than 4 of the following activities:
            (1) Literacy education programs.
            (2) Senior citizen programs.
            (3) Children's day care services.
            (4) Integrated education, health, social service, 
        recreational, or cultural programs.
            (5) Summer and weekend school programs that are coordinated 
        with summer recreation programs.
            (6) Nutrition programs.
            (7) Expanded library service hours to serve community 
        needs.
            (8) Telecommunications and technology education programs 
        for individuals of all ages.
            (9) Parenting skills education programs.
            (10) Support and training for child day care providers.
            (11) Employment counseling, training, and placement.
            (12) Services for individuals who leave school before 
        graduating from high school, regardless of the age of such 
        individual.
            (13) Services for individuals who are either physically or 
        mentally challenged.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this Act--
            (1) the term ``community learning center'' means an entity 
        within a public school building that--
                    (A) provides educational, recreational, health, and 
                social service programs for residents of all ages 
                within a local community; and
                    (B) is operated by a local educational agency in 
                conjunction with local governmental agencies, 
                businesses, vocational education programs, community 
                colleges, and cultural, recreational, and other 
                community and human service entities;
            (2) the term ``local educational agency'' has the same 
        meaning given to such term in section 1471 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 
1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
1996 through 2000, to carry out this Act.

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