[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 269 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 269

      To provide for a role models academy demonstration program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 1997

 Mrs. Roukema introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To provide for a role models academy demonstration program.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Role Models 
Academy Demonstration Act''.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a Role Models 
Academy that--
            (1) serves as a model, residential, military style magnet 
        school for at-risk youth from around the Nation who cease to 
        attend secondary school before graduation from secondary 
        school; and
            (2) will foster a student's growth and development by 
        providing a residential, controlled environment conducive for 
        developing leadership skills, self-discipline, citizenship, and 
        academic and vocational excellence in a structured living and 
        learning environment.
    (c) Definitions.--For the purpose of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Academy'' means the academy established 
        under section 3;
            (2) the term ``former member of the Armed Forces'' means 
        any individual who was discharged or released from service in 
        the Armed Forces under honorable conditions;
            (3) the term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801);
            (4) the term ``secondary school'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801); and
            (5) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.

SEC. 2. OBJECTIVES.

    The objectives of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To provide a comprehensive, coherent, integrated, high 
        quality, cost-effective, residential, education and vocational 
        training academy for the Nation's at-risk youth, designed to 
        meet the entrance demands of colleges and universities and the 
        needs of employers.
            (2) To establish a comprehensive, national partnership 
        investment model among the Federal Government, States, 
        corporate America, and colleges and universities.
            (3) To provide for community partnerships among local 
        community leaders, businesses, and churches to provide 
        mentoring to Academy students.
            (4) To provide for a community partnership between the 
        Academy and the local school system under which model Academy 
        students will serve as mentors to at-risk youth who are 
        attending school to provide such in-school at-risk youth with 
        valuable instruction and insights regarding--
                    (A) the prevention of drug use and crime;
                    (B) self-restraint; and
                    (C) conflict resolution skills.
            (5) To provide Academy students with--
                    (A) the tools to become productive citizens;
                    (B) learning skills;
                    (C) traditional, moral, ethical, and family values;
                    (D) work ethics;
                    (E) motivation;
                    (F) self-confidence; and
                    (G) pride.
            (6) To provide employment opportunities at the Academy for 
        former members of the Armed Forces and participants in the 
        program assisted under section 1151 of title 10, United States 
        Code (Troops to Teachers Program).
            (7) To make the Academy available, upon demonstration of 
        success, for expansion or duplication throughout every State, 
        through block grant funding or other means.

SEC. 3. ACADEMY ESTABLISHED.

    The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration program under which 
the Secretary establishes a four-year, residential, military style 
academy--
            (1) that shall offer at-risk youth secondary school 
        coursework and vocational training, and that may offer 
        precollegiate coursework;
            (2) that focuses on the education and vocational training 
        of youth at risk of delinquency or dropping out of secondary 
        school;
            (3) whose teachers are primarily composed of former members 
        of the Armed Forces or participants in the program assisted 
        under section 1151 of title 10, United States Code (Troops to 
        Teachers Program), if such former members or participants are 
        qualified and trained to teach at the Academy;
            (4) that operates a mentoring program that--
                    (A) utilizes mentors from all sectors of society to 
                serve as role models for Academy students;
                    (B) provides, to the greatest extent possible, one-
                to-one mentoring relationships between mentors and 
                Academy students; and
                    (C) involves mentors providing academic tutoring, 
                advice, career counseling, and role models;
            (5) that may contain a Junior Reserve Officers' Training 
        Corps unit established in accordance with section 2031 of title 
        10, United States Code;
            (6) that is housed on the site of any military installation 
        closed pursuant to a base closure law; and
            (7) if the Secretary determines that the Academy is 
        effective, that serves as a model for similar military style 
        academies throughout the United States.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 
1996 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 to carry out this Act.
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