[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3459 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3459

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize a connecting education and emerging professions demonstration 
                             grant program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 9, 2008

 Mr. Feingold introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize a connecting education and emerging professions demonstration 
                             grant program.

    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 ``Connecting Education and Emerging 
Professions Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The majority of secondary school students in the United 
        States receive some career-related instruction before 
        graduation, and about half of secondary school students have a 
        strong career-related component to their educational programs.
            (2) A gap still remains between what students are learning 
        in school and the knowledge required to succeed in the current 
        labor market.
            (3) Employers in various economic sectors, including 
        technology, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and 
        others, report difficulty in identifying qualified candidates 
        for skilled positions.
            (4) A survey of more than 400 employers nationwide found 
        that nearly half were dissatisfied with the overall preparation 
        of secondary school graduates.
            (5) Almost 40 percent of secondary school graduates report 
        feeling unprepared for the workplace or postsecondary 
        education.
            (6) In order for companies in the United States to be 
        competitive in a global economy, the United States must have a 
        highly skilled workforce.
            (7) Adequate preparation on the secondary school level can 
        help prepare students to enter high-demand fields in need of 
        skilled workers.
            (8) Collaboration between businesses, industries, and 
        education leaders can help determine how best to prepare 
        students for workforce success.
            (9) Career-related experiences, such as apprenticeships 
        during secondary education are associated with positive labor 
        market outcomes for students.
            (10) The United States has a secondary school graduation 
        rate of 70 percent, and approximately one-third of students 
        entering secondary school will not graduate on time.
            (11) Minority and low socioeconomic status students have 
        significantly lower graduation rates.
            (12) Disengagement from classroom instruction contributes 
        to student decisions to drop out of school.
            (13) Studies indicate a link between career-oriented models 
        of secondary education, dropout rate reduction, and higher 
        earning potential for graduates.
            (14) Studies suggest that academic lessons taught in a work 
        context or an applied manner can improve some students' ability 
        to comprehend and retain information.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) foster improved collaboration among secondary schools, 
        State, regional, and local businesses, institutions of higher 
        education, industry, or workforce development organizations, 
        labor organizations, and other nonprofit community 
        organizations to identify emerging industry pathways, as well 
        as the academic skills necessary to improve student success in 
        the workforce or postsecondary education;
            (2) address industry and postsecondary education needs for 
        a prepared and skilled workforce;
            (3) improve the potential for economic and employment 
        growth in covered communities; and
            (4) help address the dropout crisis in the United States by 
        involving students in a collaborative curriculum or program 
        development process related to emerging industry pathways to 
        improve student engagement and attendance in secondary school.

SEC. 3. CONNECTING EDUCATION AND EMERGING PROFESSIONS DEMONSTRATION 
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization.--Part D of title V of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

      ``Subpart 22--Connecting Education and Emerging Professions 
                      Demonstration Grant Program

``SEC. 5621. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
            ``(1) Covered community.--The term `covered community' 
        means a town, city, community, region, or State that has--
                    ``(A) experienced a significant percentage job loss 
                in the 5 years prior to the date of enactment of this 
                subpart or is projected to experience a significant 
                percentage job loss within 5 years after the date of 
                enactment of this subpart; or
                    ``(B) an unemployment rate that has increased in 
                the 12 months prior to the date of enactment of this 
                subpart.
            ``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
        partnership' means a State educational agency, a consortium of 
        local educational agencies, a local educational agency that 
        collaborates with State, regional, or local businesses, 
        including small businesses, that serve a covered community in 
        which qualifying schools are located, or a regional workforce 
        investment board that serves a covered community in which 
        qualifying schools are located, and at least 1 of the following 
        entities:
                    ``(A) An institution of higher education that 
                provides a 4-year program of instruction.
                    ``(B) An accredited community college.
                    ``(C) An accredited career or technical school or 
                college.
                    ``(D) A tribal college or university.
                    ``(E) A nonprofit community organization.
                    ``(F) A labor organization.
            ``(3) Emerging industry pathways.--The term `emerging 
        industry pathways' means industry careers that--
                    ``(A) are estimated to increase in the number of 
                job opportunities in a covered community within the 5 
                to 7 years after the date of enactment of this subpart;
                    ``(B) require new academic skill sets because of 
                new technology or innovation in the field;
                    ``(C) are important to the growth of the State, 
                region, or local area's economy; and
                    ``(D) may include--
                            ``(i) green industries;
                            ``(ii) healthcare industries;
                            ``(iii) advanced manufacturing industries; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) programs of study, as described in 
                        section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins 
                        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
            ``(4) Qualifying school.--The term `qualifying school' 
        means a secondary school that--
                    ``(A) serves students not less than 30 percent of 
                whom are eligible for the school lunch program under 
                the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or an 
                equivalent indicator of poverty established by the 
                Secretary;
                    ``(B) has a graduation rate that is lower than the 
                State average; and
                    ``(C) is located in a covered community.
            ``(5) School- and work-based curriculum or program.--The 
        term `school- and work-based curriculum or program' means a 
        curriculum or program that incorporates a combination of 
        school-based instruction and work-based learning opportunities, 
        including internships, work experience programs, 
        apprenticeships, service learning programs, mentorship 
        opportunities, job shadowing, and other career and technical 
        education programs, in an emerging industry pathway.

``SEC. 5622. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out an 
emerging professions and educational improvement demonstration project, 
by awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships.
    ``(b) Program Periods.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this subpart for periods of not more than 5 years, of which the 
        eligible partnership shall use--
                    ``(A) not more than 18 months for assessing 
                emerging industry pathways, assessing the academic 
                skills needed for success in such pathways, and 
                developing a school- and work-based curriculum or 
                program to teach such academic skills necessary for 
                success in an emerging industry pathway;
                    ``(B) not more than 48 months for implementing the 
                new emerging industry pathways school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program in qualifying schools; and
                    ``(C) not more than 12 months to disseminate best 
                practices to other State educational agencies, local 
                educational agencies, or schools.
            ``(2) Overlap.--The Secretary may award grant periods under 
        this subpart that overlap.
    ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subpart, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships that--
            ``(1) serve qualifying schools in which 50 percent or more 
        of the students are eligible for the school lunch program under 
        the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or an 
        equivalent indicator of poverty established by the Secretary;
            ``(2) serve qualifying schools the majority of which have 
        dropout rates in the top 25 percent statewide;
            ``(3) pledge to serve the students most at-risk of dropping 
        out within qualifying schools;
            ``(4) develop school- and work-based curricula and programs 
        serving green industries, health care industries, and advanced 
        manufacturing industries; or
            ``(5) have a demonstrated record of success in forming 
        collaborative partnerships with businesses, workforce 
        development boards, institutions of higher education, local 
        community and technical colleges, tribal colleges, labor 
        organizations, and other nonprofit community organizations.

``SEC. 5623. APPLICATIONS.

    ``An eligible partnership that desires to receive a grant under 
this subpart shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including--
            ``(1) a description of the eligible partnership, including 
        the responsibilities of each partner and how each partner will 
        meet its responsibilities;
            ``(2) a description of the statewide, regional, or local 
        emerging industry pathways and labor market needs to be filled;
            ``(3) a description of how members of the eligible 
        partnership will collaborate with each other and interested 
        community stakeholders to assess the emerging industry pathways 
        in the State, region, or local area;
            ``(4) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        engage students from qualifying schools to be served in the 
        design and implementation of the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program;
            ``(5) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        use the assessment of emerging industry pathways to establish a 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program to teach academic 
        and industry skills needed for success in such emerging 
        industries and how these skills will be aligned with existing 
        challenging State academic content standards;
            ``(6) a description of how teachers, parents or guardians, 
        and school guidance counselors will be consulted by the 
        eligible partnership in the development of the school- and 
        work-based curriculum or program developed under this subpart;
            ``(7) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        ensure that teachers and instructors have the necessary 
        training and preparation to teach the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program developed under this subpart;
            ``(8) a description of how the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program developed under this subpart will improve 
        the academic achievement, student attendance, and secondary 
        school completion of at-risk students and such students' 
        readiness to enter into a career in an emerging industry or 
        pursue postsecondary education;
            ``(9) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        design a school- and work-based curriculum or program that 
        meets the unique academic and career development needs of 
        students to be served by the curriculum or program;
            ``(10) a description of how the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program will support statewide, regional, or 
        local emerging industries;
            ``(11) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        measure and report improvement in academic and student 
        engagement outcomes among students who participate in the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program developed under 
        this subpart;
            ``(12) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        seek to leverage other sources of Federal, State, and local 
        funding to support the development and implementation of the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program;
            ``(13) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        work to create, use, and evaluate individual learning plans and 
        career portfolios for students served under this subpart;
            ``(14) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        coordinate such curriculum or program with programs funded 
        under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
        2006; and
            ``(15) a description of how the eligible partnership plans 
        to sustain and expand such school- and work-based curriculum or 
        program after the Federal grant period ends.

``SEC. 5624. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Selection.--In awarding grants under this subpart, the 
Secretary shall--
            ``(1) consider the information submitted by the eligible 
        partnerships under section 5623;
            ``(2) prioritize applications in accordance with section 
        5622(c); and
            ``(3) select eligible partnerships that submit applications 
        in compliance with section 5623.
    ``(b) Award Amounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary 
        shall award each grant in an amount of not more than $5,000,000 
        for a period of not more than 5 years.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--An eligible partnership that receives 
        a grant under this subpart shall use--
                    ``(A) not more than 35 percent of the grant funds 
                for designing the emerging industry pathways school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program; and
                    ``(B) not less than 65 percent of the grant funds 
                for implementing the emerging industry pathways school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program in qualifying 
                schools.
    ``(c) Funding To Implement Curricula or Programs.--The Secretary 
may not award grant funds under subsection (b)(2)(B) to implement the 
emerging industry pathways school- and work-based curriculum or program 
until the Secretary certifies that the eligible partnership is in 
compliance with the following:
            ``(1) The eligible partnership has engaged in a 
        collaborative process involving educators and school 
        administrators, including curriculum experts, as well as 
        representatives from local businesses and industry to assess 
        emerging industry demands and the academic knowledge and skills 
        needed to meet those demands.
            ``(2) The school- and work-based curriculum or program 
        developed by the eligible partnership is aligned with 
        challenging State academic content standards.
            ``(3) The eligible partnership has consulted with and 
        involved students in qualifying schools in the collaboration 
        process and design of the school- and work-based curriculum or 
        program.
            ``(4) The eligible partnership has received a commitment 
        from at least 1 qualifying school agreeing to implement the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program in the qualifying 
        school.
            ``(5) The school- and work-based curriculum or program will 
        help prepare students for both direct entry into a career in 
        emerging industries and success in postsecondary education.
            ``(6) The eligible partnership has established a plan to 
        promote the school- and work-based curriculum or program among 
        qualifying schools, businesses, parental groups, and community 
        organizations.
    ``(d) Eligible Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) Planning phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the planning phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Establishing collaborative working groups 
                consisting of educators, school administrators, 
                representatives of local or regional businesses, 
                postsecondary education representatives, 
                representatives from labor organizations, and 
                representatives from nonprofit organizations.
                    ``(B) Identifying emerging industry pathways at the 
                State, regional, or local level.
                    ``(C) Identifying the academic and skill gaps that 
                need to be addressed to promote success in the emerging 
                industry pathways identified in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(D) Developing a school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program to teach and integrate the 
                academic and work-based skills, including soft skills, 
                that are needed for success in emerging industry 
                pathways and postsecondary education.
                    ``(E) Creating a comprehensive set of academic and 
                industry skills to be taught across multiple emerging 
                industry pathways.
                    ``(F) Aligning the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program with challenging State academic 
                content standards.
                    ``(G) Establishing professional development 
                opportunities for educators, business partners, school 
                counselors, and others who will be implementing the 
                school- and work-based curriculum or program.
                    ``(H) Collaborating with multistate regions to 
                develop and identify a school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program that addresses regional emerging 
                industry pathways.
            ``(2) Implementing phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the implementing phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Integrating the emerging industry pathways 
                school- and work-based curriculum or program into 
                classroom- or work-based instruction.
                    ``(B) Providing professional development 
                opportunities designed around the school- and work-
                based curriculum or program for educators, business 
                partners, and others.
                    ``(C) Identifying and creating school- and work-
                based learning curricula or programs for students in 
                such emerging industry pathways.
                    ``(D) Promoting the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program among school guidance counselors.
                    ``(E) Working with pupil services staff to develop 
                opportunities for career exploration among emerging 
                industry pathways business partners.
                    ``(F) Conducting ongoing evaluations of the school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program, including 
                assessing whether participating students report 
                increased engagement in learning, increased school 
                attendance, and improved success upon entry into the 
                workforce or postsecondary education.
                    ``(G) Purchasing resources, including textbooks, 
                reference materials, assessments, labs, computers, and 
                software, for use in the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program.
            ``(3) Dissemination phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the dissemination phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Evaluating, cataloging, and disseminating 
                best practices from the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program.
                    ``(B) Disseminating the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program to--
                            ``(i) the National Research Center for 
                        Career and Technical Education;
                            ``(ii) State, regional, and local 
                        professional education organizations; and
                            ``(iii) institutions of higher education.
    ``(e) Matching Contributions.--An eligible partnership that 
receives a grant under this subpart shall provide, from non-Federal 
sources, matching funds, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, to 
carry out the activities supported by the grant, in an amount for which 
the--
            ``(1) first year of the grant award shall be equal to 5 
        percent of the amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(2) second such year shall be equal to 10 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(3) third such year shall be equal to 15 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(4) fourth such year shall be equal to 20 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year; and
            ``(5) fifth such year shall be equal to 25 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year.
    ``(f) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Grant funds awarded under this 
subpart shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, 
State, and local funds available to implement secondary school 
education programs or career and technical education programs.

``SEC. 5625. EVALUATION AND REPORTS.

    ``(a) Annual Reports.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
grant under this subpart shall submit an annual report to the Secretary 
during the grant period detailing how the eligible partnership is using 
the grant funds under this subpart, including--
            ``(1) how the State educational agency or local educational 
        agency that is a member of the partnership collaborated with 
        local businesses, workforce boards, institutions of higher 
        education, and community organizations to assess emerging 
        industry pathways;
            ``(2) how the eligible partnership has consulted with and 
        involved students in qualifying schools in the design and 
        implementation of the emerging industry pathways school- and 
        work-based curriculum or program;
            ``(3) the effectiveness of the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program on improving student engagement, 
        attendance, graduation rates, and preparation for and placement 
        in a career in an emerging industry or in postsecondary 
        education;
            ``(4) how the eligible partnership has improved its 
        capacity to respond to new workforce development priorities and 
        create educational opportunities that address such new 
        workforce development priorities; and
            ``(5) any other information the Secretary may reasonably 
        require.
    ``(b) Final Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
        grant under this subpart shall, at the end of the grant period, 
        collect and prepare a report on the following information:
                    ``(A) The number and percentage of students served 
                by the eligible partnership who--
                            ``(i) graduated from secondary school with 
                        a regular high school diploma in the standard 
                        number of years;
                            ``(ii) entered into a job in an emerging 
                        industry; and
                            ``(iii) enrolled in a postsecondary 
                        institution.
                    ``(B) The emerging industry pathways school- and 
                work-based curriculum or program and the--
                            ``(i) successes of such curriculum or 
                        program, including placement rates of students 
                        in work or postsecondary education and trends 
                        in graduation rates in qualifying schools 
                        utilizing the school- and work-based 
                        curriculum;
                            ``(ii) areas of improvement for the school- 
                        and work-based curriculum or program;
                            ``(iii) lessons learned from the 
                        implementation of the school- and work-based 
                        curriculum or program in secondary schools; and
                            ``(iv) plans to replicate the school- and 
                        work-based curriculum or program in other 
                        schools or examples of successful replication 
                        of the curriculum or program.
            ``(2) Submission of reports.--A report prepared under 
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Secretary of Education 
        and the National Research Center for Career and Technical 
        Education.
    ``(c) Federal Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 6 years after 
the date of enactment of this subpart, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) develop and execute a plan for evaluating the 
        emerging industry pathways school- and work-based curricula or 
        programs assisted under this subpart; and
            ``(2) submit a report to Congress--
                    ``(A) detailing aggregate data on--
                            ``(i) the categories of activities for 
                        which eligible partnerships used grant funds 
                        under this subpart;
                            ``(ii) the impact of the grants on--
                                    ``(I) student engagement, 
                                attendance, and completion of secondary 
                                school; and
                                    ``(II) the postsecondary placement 
                                of students in high-quality emerging 
                                industry careers or postsecondary 
                                education; and
                            ``(iii) promising strategies for improving 
                        student engagement, attendance, and completion 
                        of secondary school through engaging curricula 
                        or programs; and
                    ``(B) that includes any recommendations for 
                improvements that can be made to the grant program 
                under this subpart.

``SEC. 5626. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated to and available 
for Program Administration with the Departmental Management account in 
the Department of Education for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, 
there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2009 through 2012, respectively, to carry out this subpart.
    ``(b) Set Aside for Evaluation.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a) for a fiscal year, 2 percent shall be set aside for such 
fiscal year for the Federal evaluation required under section 
5625(c).''.
    (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:

      ``subpart 22--connecting education and emerging professions 
                      demonstration grant program

``Sec. 5621. Definitions.
``Sec. 5622. Program authorized.
``Sec. 5623. Applications.
``Sec. 5624. Program administration.
``Sec. 5625. Evaluation and reports.
``Sec. 5626. Authorization of appropriations.''.
                                 <all>