[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1302 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1302

To amend title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
 to encourage and support parent, family, and community involvement in 
   schools, to provide needed integrated services and comprehensive 
    supports to children, and to ensure that schools are centers of 
  communities, for the ultimate goal of assisting students to stay in 
 school, become successful learners, and improve academic achievement.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 3, 2007

Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Kerry) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
 to encourage and support parent, family, and community involvement in 
   schools, to provide needed integrated services and comprehensive 
    supports to children, and to ensure that schools are centers of 
  communities, for the ultimate goal of assisting students to stay in 
 school, become successful learners, and improve academic achievement.

    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 ``Keeping Parents and Communities 
Engaged Act'' or the ``Keeping PACE Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Research studies consistently show a positive 
        relationship between parental involvement and student 
        achievement. This relationship holds across families of all 
        economic, racial/ethnic, and educational backgrounds and for 
        students of all ages.
            (2) Educators recognize, on the basis of social science and 
        common experience, that effective parental and community 
        involvement is a critical element in children's academic and 
        social development. Poverty, limited English proficiency, and 
        varying cultural expectations are among the biggest barriers to 
        effective parental involvement in schools.
            (3) Schools with effective parent and community involvement 
        activities provide bridges between parents, community-based 
        organizations, and schools to improve communication, 
        information sharing, services, and comprehensive supports for 
        children and families.
            (4) Educational research suggests that student achievement 
        improves in environments where learning is a community value, 
        and where schools have the ability to address a broad range of 
        educational needs for all students, such as in full-service 
        community schools.
            (5) Cross-sector community engagement of businesses, 
        institutions of higher education, philanthropic organizations, 
        school boards, family and care organizations, neighborhood and 
        service organizations, after-school providers, and community-
        based organizations, is essential if schools are to ensure that 
        all children meet college and work-ready standards.
            (6) More than 1,000,000 of the students who enter ninth 
        grade do not receive a high school diploma 4 years later and 
        approximately 7,000 students drop out of school each day, 
        including a significant percentage of students with the 
        potential of high academic achievement.
            (7) Integrated services and comprehensive supports, 
        including after-school and other services, are necessary 
        components of effective, school-based efforts to dramatically 
        affect dropout prevention rates, increase graduation rates, and 
        improve student achievement. In one national study, 98 percent 
        of students receiving such services and supports stayed in 
        school, 89 percent had fewer suspensions, and 85 percent of 
        eligible seniors graduated.

SEC. 3. OUTREACH AND COORDINATION.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

         ``PART E--PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

``SEC. 5700. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to States to 
enable the States to award subgrants--
            ``(1) on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies 
        that receive assistance under part A of title I to enable such 
        agencies to assist public elementary schools and public 
        secondary schools served by such agencies to hire and maintain 
        Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators, pursuant to subpart 
        1;
            ``(2) on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to 
        provide necessary integrated services and comprehensive 
        supports to students and schools, pursuant to subpart 2; and
            ``(3) to eligible entities to create schools as centers of 
        communities, pursuant to subpart 3.
    ``(b) Application.--A State that desires to receive a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
may require, including the following:
            ``(1) A description of the State's need to engage parents 
        and the community in students' education, as described in 
        subpart 1.
            ``(2) A description of the State's need for community-based 
        resources to address student and family needs.
            ``(3) A description of the progress a State is seeking 
        relating to the indicators outlined in section 5707(b).
            ``(4) A description of the State's capacity and resources 
        across multiple State agencies to integrate their existing 
        State and Federal (managed by the State) programs with local 
        educational agencies, schools, and community-based 
        organizations.

``SEC. 5700A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$260,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, of which--
            ``(1) 50 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 1;
            ``(2) 30 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 2; and
            ``(3) 20 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 3.

        ``Subpart 1--Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators

``SEC. 5701. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subpart is to provide support, through 
competitive subgrants, to schools who may work in conjunction with a 
community-based organization, to hire and maintain Parent and Community 
Outreach Coordinators to--
            ``(1) ensure that families and communities participate in 
        the education of their children and become an integral part of 
        the school climate and culture;
            ``(2) enable principals and teachers to complement and 
        enrich efforts to help all children make learning gains, 
        prepare for graduation, and plan for their futures through 
        parent and community involvement activities that include 
        educational, family, and financial planning necessary to make 
        postsecondary education a reality; and
            ``(3) act as a liaison with other coordinators from 
        Federal, State, local, and private programs that serve the 
        school, including community school coordinators, 21st Century 
        Community Learning Centers, school health coordinators, and 
        violence prevention coordinators, as appropriate.

``SEC. 5702. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award 
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies that 
receive assistance under part A of title I to enable such agencies to 
assist public elementary schools and public secondary schools served by 
such agencies to hire and maintain Parent and Community Outreach 
Coordinators.

``SEC. 5703. APPLICATION.

    ``(a) In General.--A local educational agency that desires to 
receive a subgrant under this subpart shall submit an application to 
the State at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the State may require.
    ``(b) Contents.--An application submitted pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
            ``(1) A description of the schools to be assisted by the 
        local educational agency under this subpart.
            ``(2) The current state of family and community engagement 
        in the schools, including a description of the ways in which 
        families and communities are engaged during the school day, 
        before school, and during after school and summer hours.
            ``(3) The particular family and community outreach needs 
        identified by the schools, parents, families, and community-
        based organizations.
            ``(4) A workplan to address the needs identified in 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(5) A description of the desired progress of the local 
        educational agency related to the indicators outlined in 
        section 5707(b).
            ``(6) A description of the capacity of the schools for 
        measuring school-specific outcomes of the work provided by the 
        Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators.
            ``(7) A description of the capacity of the schools for 
        supporting a position of Parent and Community Outreach 
        Coordinator by providing space and adequate resources.
            ``(8) A description of how the activities supported with 
        funds under this subpart will be coordinated with the programs 
        and activities carried out by the local educational agency 
        pursuant to section 1118, including whether such activities 
        will be supported with funds provided under title I.

``SEC. 5704. AWARDING OF SUBGRANTS.

    ``(a) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this subpart, a State 
shall give priority to applications--
            ``(1) proposing to target high-need schools--
                    ``(A) with the highest proportions of students from 
                low-income families; and
                    ``(B) with a large percentage of students who fail 
                to meet the State's challenging student academic 
                achievement standards, as assessed pursuant to section 
                1111(b)(3); and
            ``(2) submitted by local educational agencies describing a 
        partnership structure that delineates how the local educational 
        agency, community-based organizations, local government, 
        institutions of higher education, and other key institutions 
        will come together to support a common vision, defined results, 
        and measures of effectiveness, with clear roles and 
        responsibilities, and a plan for serving multiple schools.
    ``(b) Duration of Subgrant.--Each subgrant awarded under this 
subpart shall be for a period of 5 years.

``SEC. 5705. SCREENING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--A school receiving assistance under this 
subpart shall establish a screening and evaluation committee that shall 
consist of the following members:
            ``(1) The school principal or headmaster.
            ``(2) Two parents of students enrolled at the school.
            ``(3) A teacher who teaches at the school.
            ``(4) One paraprofessional at the school.
            ``(5) Community partners.
            ``(6) The superintendent of the school or a designee of the 
        superintendent.
    ``(b) Hiring.--A school that receives assistance under this subpart 
shall hire, based on the recommendation of the screening and evaluation 
committee, a Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator.
    ``(c) Oversight and Evaluation.--The screening and evaluation 
committee shall prepare and submit an evaluation to the local 
educational agency on an annual basis regarding the performance of the 
Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator based on the indicators of 
effectiveness described in section 5707(b). The local educational 
agency shall submit such report to the Secretary.

``SEC. 5706. PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR.

    ``(a) In General.--A Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator 
hired pursuant to section 5705 shall--
            ``(1) provide leadership in building relationships, 
        bridging gaps, and facilitating the creation of partnerships 
        among school staff, families, and community members; and
            ``(2) provide support and resources--
                    ``(A) to increase participation of family and 
                community members in the school; and
                    ``(B) in support of all children's learning, 
                including those children meeting or exceeding academic 
                achievement standards (as assessed pursuant to section 
                1111(b)(3)).
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--Each Parent and Community Outreach 
Coordinator shall--
            ``(1) implement a family needs and parent involvement 
        assessment at the school that includes goals and suggestions on 
        how to improve family and parental involvement in the school, 
        with particular attention to the needs of low-income families, 
        limited-English proficient families, families living in rural 
        areas, families with children in either the child welfare 
        system or juvenile justice system, families experiencing 
        homelessness, and families whose children may have special 
        development needs;
            ``(2) develop an individual workplan that includes an 
        overall family and parental engagement action plan for the 
        school, which shall include a description of the community 
        resources that will be brought into schools as well as a 
        strategy for connecting students and families with resources 
        available within the community;
            ``(3) establish and maintain consistent, effective, and 
        timely communication with families especially low-income, 
        limited English proficient, and minority families in a variety 
        of ways;
            ``(4) work with the principal or headmaster of the school 
        and school staff to establish an environment in which families 
        feel safe, welcome, and free to voice their opinions;
            ``(5) act as an advocate and liaison to assist parents and 
        school staff to resolve issues at the school and district 
        levels;
            ``(6) work with other Federal, State, local, and private 
        partners to develop and implement activities, programs, and 
        training aimed at assisting families to support student 
        learning needs and postsecondary education planning;
            ``(7) create, organize, strengthen, and support a school 
        parent council (which may include a school parent teacher 
        association) that is representative of the school community;
            ``(8) work with the principal to engage parents in school-
        based decision-making bodies, including recruiting 
        nontraditional parents and providing training and support to 
        parents participating in such an entity;
            ``(9) as appropriate, participate in the school's school 
        improvement process and development of school improvement 
        plans;
            ``(10) take part in ongoing training and professional 
        development which may be provided by community-based 
        organizations and other staff serving at the local educational 
        agency that serves the school;
            ``(11) have the ability to relate to students as a caring 
        adult; and
            ``(12) carry out other duties specifically related to the 
        engagement of families and the community as designated by the 
        principal or headmaster of the school.

``SEC. 5707. EVALUATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator 
shall--
            ``(1) be directly supervised and evaluated by the principal 
        or headmaster of the school on a regular basis; and
            ``(2) be evaluated on an annual basis by the school's 
        screening and evaluation committee established under section 
        5705 in order to determine the effectiveness of the 
        Coordinator.
    ``(b) Effectiveness.--Each screening and evaluation committee shall 
work with the local educational agency and the Parent and Community 
Outreach Coordinator to identify indicators of success related to the 
activities supported under this subpart, and to develop baseline data 
and evaluate progress on such indicators, which may include--
            ``(1) student achievement as measured by assessment data, 
        classroom grades, and participation in programs and services 
        for gifted and talented students;
            ``(2) student attendance rates;
            ``(3) graduation rates;
            ``(4) lower mobility rates;
            ``(5) lower dropout rates;
            ``(6) fewer detentions, suspensions, and expulsions;
            ``(7) postsecondary education attendance;
            ``(8) a school environment in which parents, community 
        members, and all school visitors are greeted with respect and 
        courtesy;
            ``(9) the degree of communication between schools and 
        families, including personal interaction, school visits, home 
        visits, telephone calls, and publications;
            ``(10) the degree of participation in parent-teacher 
        conferences, open houses, family nights, and other school-based 
        activities;
            ``(11) the degree of school-wide awareness and completion 
        of home-school compacts;
            ``(12) the frequency of ongoing workshops, training, and 
        other events that provide families with tools to support their 
        child's learning at home and enable planning for postsecondary 
        education experiences; and
            ``(13) ability to relate to students as a caring adult.
    ``(c) Basis for Evaluations.--In evaluating a Parent and Community 
Outreach Coordinator under this section, the screening and evaluation 
committee shall base such evaluation on case studies, interviews, and 
outcomes based on the indicators described in subsection (b).

``SEC. 5708. REPORT.

    ``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart 
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities 
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this 
subpart.

      ``Subpart 2--Connecting Students to Community Resources and 
                         Comprehensive Supports

``SEC. 5721. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subpart is to provide support, through 
competitive subgrants, to eligible entities to--
            ``(1) improve the coordination, availability, delivery, and 
        effectiveness of integrated services and comprehensive supports 
        for children and families; and
            ``(2) act as a liaison with other organizations in order to 
        assist public schools in providing children and families the 
        integrated services and comprehensive supports needed to 
        improve the learning of children and their ability to plan for 
        postsecondary educational opportunities, such as health, 
        employment, mentor/tutor, and human services, enrichment and 
        accelerated learning opportunities, before and after-school 
        programs, and recreation, and related assistance.

``SEC. 5722. ELIGIBLE ENTITY.

    ``In this subpart, the term `eligible entity' means 1 or more 
community-based organizations in partnership with public schools.

``SEC. 5723. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award 
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to an eligible entity to connect 
integrated services and comprehensive supports to students and families 
in order to enhance student learning and outcomes, by--
            ``(1) conducting an assessment of student and family needs 
        in schools;
            ``(2) assessing the availability and quality of learning 
        opportunities beyond the classroom, including service-learning 
        opportunities;
            ``(3) linking needed integrated services and comprehensive 
        supports to children, their families, and their public schools, 
        and evaluating the impact of such services and supports once 
        the services and supports are provided;
            ``(4) enhancing the social, emotional, intellectual, and 
        physical development of students; and
            ``(5) providing training and support related to integrated 
        services and comprehensive supports for staff, teachers, and, 
        as appropriate, Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators in 
        such public schools.

``SEC. 5724. APPLICATION.

    ``(a) In General.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a 
subgrant under this subpart shall submit an application to the State at 
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
State may require.
    ``(b) Contents.--An application submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include the following:
            ``(1) A description of the public schools to be assisted by 
        the school or community-based organization, their performance 
        with respect to other State performance criteria, and a 
        description of their student populations (including 
        demographics).
            ``(2) A memorandum of understanding between the public 
        school and the community-based organization that explains how 
        they will work to effectively coordinate the provision of 
        integrated services and comprehensive supports to students 
        within the public school (and with after-school and extended 
        day programs and services, if applicable), the objectives that 
        they expect to achieve, the educational research bases that 
        will guide the provision of student integrated services and 
        comprehensive supports in meeting their objectives, and the 
        capacity of the community partner to meet their objectives.
            ``(3) A description of how the community-based organization 
        plans to build and improve on the current state of community 
        involvement to increase support and ownership of the integrated 
        services and comprehensive supports designed to enhance student 
        learning outcomes, including the measures of progress and 
        desired results related to students and families.
            ``(4) The particular student needs to be addressed through 
        integrated services and comprehensive supports and the 
        organizations able to provide integrated services and 
        comprehensive supports to meet those needs, including 
        intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being, and 
        other academic and non-academic needs related to student 
        learning, including planning for college or other postsecondary 
        education options.
            ``(5) A draft work plan regarding the provision of 
        integrated services and comprehensive supports, including a 
        description of--
                    ``(A) the role of the public school principal and 
                staff, including the Parent and Community Outreach 
                Coordinator, if applicable, in the management of the 
                provision of integrated services and comprehensive 
                supports;
                    ``(B) how the community-based organization will 
                efficiently manage and leverage non-Federal resources 
                (which may include in-kind resources) to meet 
                identified student needs;
                    ``(C) plans to track student performance along with 
                integrated services and comprehensive supports provided 
                to students over time, including plans to integrate the 
                community-based organization's data reporting with the 
                public school's data systems;
                    ``(D) criteria by which the eligible entity will 
                evaluate the effectiveness of services and 
                comprehensive supports provided to students, including 
                a description of the proposed measurements used to 
                evaluate the impact of such services and supports on 
                the academic achievement of students; and
                    ``(E) plans to leverage other non-Federal resources 
                (which may include in-kind resources) to support 
                integrated services and comprehensive supports.
            ``(6) Assurances that activities supported with funds under 
        this subpart will be coordinated with the programs and 
        activities carried out by the public school pursuant to section 
        1118.

``SEC. 5725. AWARDING OF SUBGRANTS.

    ``(a) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this subpart, a State 
shall give priority to applications--
            ``(1) proposing integrated services and comprehensive 
        supports to high-need public schools--
                    ``(A) with the highest proportions of students from 
                low-income families; and
                    ``(B) with a large percentage of students who fail 
                to meet the State's challenging student academic 
                achievement standards, as assessed pursuant to section 
                1111(b)(3); and
            ``(2) that include a partnership structure that delineates 
        how such eligible entity will work with other organizations, 
        including local government, institutions of higher education, 
        and other key institutions that will come together to support a 
        common vision, defined results, and measures of effectiveness, 
        with clear roles and responsibilities, and a plan for serving 
        multiple schools.
    ``(b) Duration of Subgrant.--Each subgrant awarded under this 
subpart shall be for a period of 5 years.

``SEC. 5726. REPORT.

    ``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart 
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities 
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this 
subpart.

             ``Subpart 3--Schools as Centers of Communities

``SEC. 5731. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subpart is to provide incentives to schools, 
in conjunction with the applicable local educational agencies, and 
mayors, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and other 
community partners, such as 21st Century Community Learning Centers and 
other after-school providers, to redesign such schools as centers of 
communities that--
            ``(1) encourage the participation of family and community 
        in children's education;
            ``(2) engage students as resources to their communities;
            ``(3) encourage extensive and innovative community use of 
        school facilities, which may include renovation and expansion 
        of existing facilities to coordinate and deliver integrated 
        services and comprehensive supports to families, children, and 
        communities;
            ``(4) assist in keeping school facilities open outside of 
        traditional school hours in order to promote community use of 
        such facilities; and
            ``(5) engage the community in the redesign and planning of 
        such facilities.

``SEC. 5732. DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.

    ``In this subpart, the term `eligible entity' means a consortium of 
a school in conjunction with the applicable local educational agency, a 
mayor, and 1 or more nonprofit organization, for-profit organization, 
or other community partner.

``SEC. 5733. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award 
subgrants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to 
redesign schools to be centers of communities and to incorporate 
community education consistent with the purpose of this subpart.

``SEC. 5734. APPLICATION.

    ``(a) Current School.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a 
subgrant to redesign a school as a center of community under this 
subpart shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the State may require.
    ``(b) Contents.--An application submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include the following:
            ``(1) A needs assessment of the school facility identified 
        for redesign as a center of community, including any 
        renovations or expansions, if necessary, to enable the school 
        to serve as a joint-use school facility.
            ``(2) An assessment of the need to keep the school 
        facilities open outside the traditional school hours, including 
        the needs of the surrounding community and the existing 
        capacity to facilitate a joint-use school facility as a center 
        of community.
            ``(3) A description of the eligible entity applying for the 
        subgrant.
            ``(4) A description of the eligible entity's capacity to 
        provide integrated services and comprehensive supports to an 
        existing school facility to transform it into a center of 
        community school.
            ``(5) A draft workplan of what the eligible entity hopes to 
        achieve at the joint-use school facility, including a 
        description of the integrated services and comprehensive 
        supports that would be available to the school, students, and 
        families through partnership with the eligible entity.
            ``(6) A description of student and family involvement in 
        redesigning the school to become a center of community school.
            ``(7) A memorandum of understanding between the school 
        selected for redesigning and the eligible entity.

``SEC. 5735. MATCHING FUNDS.

    ``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant to redesign an 
existing school facility to incorporate community education under this 
subpart shall provide matching funds, from non-Federal sources, equal 
to 50 percent of the cost of activities under this subpart.

``SEC. 5736. REPORT.

    ``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart 
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities 
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this 
subpart.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5618 the following:

         ``PART E--PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

``Sec. 5700. Grants authorized.
``Sec. 5``subpart 1--parent and community outreach coordinators
``Sec. 5701. Purpose.
``Sec. 5702. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5703. Application.
``Sec. 5704. Awarding of subgrants.
``Sec. 5705. Screening and evaluation committee.
``Sec. 5706. Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator.
``Sec. 5707. Evaluations.
``Sec.``subpart 2--connecting students to community resources and 
                         comprehensive supports
``Sec. 5721. Purpose.
``Sec. 5722. Eligible entity.
``Sec. 5723. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5724. Application.
``Sec. 5725. Awarding of subgrants.
``Sec. 5726. ``subpart 3--schools as centers of communities
``Sec. 5731. Purpose.
``Sec. 5732. Definition of eligible entity.
``Sec. 5733. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5734. Application.
``Sec. 5735. Matching funds.
``Sec. 5736. Report.''.
                                 <all>