[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 765 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 765
To establish a grant program to improve high school graduation rates
and prepare students for college and work.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 6, 2007
Mr. Burr (for himself and Mr. Bingaman) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program to improve high school graduation rates
and prepare students for college and work.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Graduate for a
Better Future Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents to this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Program authorized.
Sec. 6. Reporting and accountability.
Sec. 7. Evaluation and report.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The high school graduation rate for the class of 2003
was only 70 percent nationwide. Thus, almost \1/3\ of American
students who enter high school in 9th grade drop out of school
and never receive a high school diploma.
(2) Large disparities exist in the high school graduation
rates among various subgroups of students. Although the high
school graduation rate for white students was 78 percent in
2003, the rate for African American students was only 55
percent, and the rate for Hispanic students was only 53
percent.
(3) For students in approximately 2,000 high schools across
the United States, the chance of graduating from high school is
less than 60 percent.
(4) In 2003, 3,500,000 Americans ages 16 to 25 did not have
a high school diploma and were not enrolled in school.
(5) To retain its competitive edge in the world economy, it
is essential that America's youth be prepared for the jobs of
today and for the jobs of the future. Such jobs increasingly
require a post-secondary education.
(6) Individuals without a high school diploma experience
higher rates of unemployment, incarceration, living in poverty,
and receiving public assistance than individuals with at least
a high school diploma.
(7) Over his or her lifetime, an individual without a high
school diploma will earn approximately $1,100,000 less than an
individual with a bachelor's degree, $1,500,000 less than an
individual with a master's degree, and $2,400,000 less than an
individual with a doctoral degree.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to create models of excellence for academically
rigorous high schools, including early college high schools, in
order to prepare all students for college and work;
(2) to raise high school graduation rates and college-going
rates;
(3) to reduce college remediation rates;
(4) to create a seamless curriculum between high school and
college;
(5) to improve teaching and curricula to make high school
more rigorous and relevant;
(6) to improve instruction and access to supports for
struggling high school students;
(7) to improve communication between parents, students, and
schools; and
(8) to create, implement, and utilize early warning systems
to help identify students at risk of dropping out of high
school, especially systems that monitor student absenteeism.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
(1) Advanced placement or international baccalaureate
course.--The term ``Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate course'' means a course of college-level
instruction provided to middle school or secondary school
students, terminating in an examination administered by the
College Board or the International Baccalaureate Organization.
(2) College-going rate.--The term ``college-going rate''
means the percentage of high school graduates who enroll at an
institution of higher education in the school year immediately
following graduation from high school.
(3) Dual credit courses.--The term ``dual credit course''
means a college course that--
(A) may be taken at a high school or at an
institution of higher education;
(B) is taught by--
(i) college faculty; or
(ii) high school faculty with credentials
that the eligible entity determines are
appropriate; and
(C) the successful completion of which can earn
high school academic credit as well as college academic
credit.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State educational agency;
(B) a national, regional, or statewide nonprofit
organization with expertise and experience in working
with local educational agencies and high schools to
raise high school academic achievement, high school
graduation rates, and college-going rates; or
(C) a partnership consisting of a State educational
agency and an entity described in subparagraph (B).
(5) Eligible local educational agency.--The term ``eligible
local educational agency'' means a local educational agency
with a high school graduation rate of 60 percent or less--
(A) in the aggregate; or
(B) applicable to 2 or more of the following
subgroups of high school students served by the local
educational agency:
(i) Economically disadvantaged students.
(ii) Students from major racial or ethnic
groups.
(6) High school.--The term ``high school'' means a
nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a
public charter high school, that provides high school
education, as determined under State law.
(7) High school graduation rate.--The term ``high school
graduation rate'' means the percentage of students who graduate
from high school with a regular diploma in the standard number
of years as measured by a valid and reliable measure of high
school graduation rates, such as the averaged freshman
graduation rate.
(8) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(9) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(10) Parent.--The term ``parent'' has the meaning given the
term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965.
(11) Rigorous secondary school program of study.--The term
``rigorous secondary school program of study'' means a rigorous
secondary school program of study recognized as such by the
Secretary for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i) of
section 401A(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1070a-1(c)(3)).
(12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(13) State educational agency.--The term ``State
educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in section
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(14) Student with a disability.--The term ``student with a
disability'' means a child with a disability, as defined in
section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(20 U.S.C. 1401).
SEC. 5. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 8 for a
fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable eligible entities to
award subgrants to eligible local educational agencies for the
authorized activities described in subsection (d).
(b) Duration.--
(1) Grants.--The Secretary may award grants under this Act
(other than a planning grant under subsection (c)(3)) for a
period of not more than 6 years.
(2) Subgrants.--An eligible entity may award subgrants
under this Act for a period of not more than 5 years.
(c) Eligible Entity Authorized Activities.--
(1) Distribution.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this Act--
(A) shall reserve not more than 15 percent of the
grant funds to carry out the activities described in
paragraphs (2) through (5); and
(B) shall use not less than 85 percent of the grant
funds to award subgrants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible local educational agencies to enable the
eligible local educational agencies to carry out the
authorized activities described in subsection (d).
(2) State level planning and administration.--An eligible
entity that receives a grant under this Act may use the grant
funds reserved under paragraph (1)(A) for planning and
administration, including--
(A) evaluating applications from eligible local
educational agencies;
(B) administering the distribution of subgrants to
eligible local educational agencies; and
(C) assessing and evaluating, on a regular basis,
eligible local educational agency activities carried
out under this Act, including regularly evaluating the
academic rigor of courses at high schools in the State
that receive funding under this Act.
(3) Local educational agency planning grants.--
(A) In general.--From amounts reserved under
paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity may award a
planning grant to an eligible local educational agency.
(B) Amount.--An eligible entity shall award each
planning grant under this paragraph in the amount of
$10,000.
(C) Duration and use of planning grant funds.--Each
planning grant shall be--
(i) awarded for a period of 1 year;
(ii) nonrenewable; and
(iii) used to plan and apply for a subgrant
awarded under paragraph (1)(B).
(4) Technical assistance for local educational agencies.--
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act may use
the grant funds reserved under paragraph (1)(A) for technical
assistance, including--
(A) assisting eligible local educational agencies
in accomplishing the tasks required to implement a
program under this Act;
(B) implementing a program of professional
development for teachers and administrators, in high
schools that receive funding under this Act, that
prepares teachers and administrators to implement the
authorized activities described in subsection (d); and
(C) assisting eligible local educational agencies
in designing a program to be assisted under this Act.
(5) Reporting.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this Act may use the grant funds reserved under paragraph
(1)(A) for annually providing the Secretary with a report on
the implementation of this section as required under section 6.
(d) Eligible Local Educational Agency Authorized Activities.--Each
eligible local educational agency receiving a subgrant under this Act,
shall use the subgrant funds to carry out each of the following
activities:
(1) To implement a college-preparatory curriculum for all
students in a high school served by the eligible local
educational agency under this Act (and for students with
disabilities in accordance with the individualized education
program of the student) that is, at a minimum, aligned with a
rigorous secondary school program of study.
(2) To implement accelerated academic catch-up programs,
for students who enter high school not meeting proficient
levels of academic achievement in mathematics, reading or
language arts, or science, that enable such students to meet
the proficient levels of achievement and remain on track to
graduate from high school on time with a regular high school
diploma.
(3) To implement an early warning system to quickly
identify students at risk of dropping out of high school,
including systems that track student absenteeism.
(4) To implement a system of student and classroom progress
monitoring, which may include the adoption and use of
diagnostic or formative assessments that--
(A) measure student academic progress in the core
academic areas; and
(B) may identify areas in which students need
additional academic assistance and support.
(5) To implement a comprehensive college guidance program
that--
(A) will ensure that all students in a high school
served by the eligible local educational agency under
this Act, and their parents, are regularly notified
throughout the students' time in high school, of high
school graduation requirements and college entrance
requirements; and
(B) provides guidance and assistance to students in
applying to an institution of higher education and in
applying for Federal financial aid assistance and other
State, local, and private financial aid assistance and
scholarships.
(6) To implement a program that offers, all students in a
high school served by the eligible local educational agency
under this Act, opportunities for work-based and experiential
learning experiences, such as job-shadowing, internships, and
community service.
(7) To implement a program that ensures that all students
in a high school served by the eligible local educational
agency under this Act, have access to and enroll in courses in
which the students may earn college credit for courses taken
while in high school, such as a dual credit course, or an
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course.
(8) To implement a program of student advisement in which
all students in a high school served by the eligible local
educational agency under this Act are assigned and have regular
meetings with an academic teacher advisor.
(9) To implement a program of teacher professional
development and institutional leadership that includes use of
diagnostic and formative assessments to identify student and
teacher needs, to assess classroom practice, and to improve
classroom instruction.
(e) Applications.--
(1) Eligible entity.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant
under this Act shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each
application shall--
(A) include a description of how subgrants made by
the eligible entity under this Act will meet the
requirements described in subsection (d);
(B) include a description of the peer review
process the eligible entity shall use to evaluate
applications from eligible local educational agencies;
(C) contain an assurance that the eligible entity,
and any eligible local educational agencies receiving a
subgrant from that eligible entity, will, if requested,
participate in the independent evaluation under section
7(1);
(D) describe how the eligible entity will use grant
funds received under this section;
(E) describe how the eligible entity will assist
eligible local educational agencies that receive
planning grant funds or subgrant funds under this Act
in securing any necessary waivers from the State
educational agency that may be required to carry out
the requirements of this Act, such as waivers with
respect to budgeting, school structure, staffing, and
flexible use of resources and time; and
(F) describe how the eligible entity will assess
and evaluate, on a regular basis, eligible local
educational agency activities carried out under this
Act, including regularly evaluating the academic rigor
of courses at high schools in the State that receive
funding under this Act.
(2) Eligible local educational agency.--Each eligible local
educational agency desiring a subgrant under this section shall
submit an application to the eligible entity at such time and
in such manner as the eligible entity may require. Each
application shall--
(A) include a description of each high school that
will receive funding from the eligible local
educational agency under this Act, including such high
school graduation, academic achievement, demographic,
and socioeconomic data as the eligible entity may
request;
(B) contain an assurance that academic merit tests
will not be used to determine student enrollment in
each such high school;
(C) contain a description of specific outreach and
recruitment efforts at each such high school that will
be undertaken for student populations historically
underrepresented at institutions of higher education;
(D) contain an assurance that a college-preparatory
curriculum will be offered to all students at each such
high school (and to students with disabilities in
accordance with the individualized education program of
the student), that is, at a minimum, aligned with a
rigorous secondary school program of study;
(E) include a comprehensive description of how
curriculum at each such high school will be developed,
structured, and delivered;
(F) include clearly delineated benchmarks for
improved student academic achievement, high school
graduation rates, and college-going rates at each such
high school;
(G) include a description of assessments that will
be used at each such high school, including assessments
for school accountability purposes and student progress
monitoring purposes;
(H) contain a comprehensive plan for professional
development at each such high school that includes
intended changes in teaching practices that will result
in improved student academic achievement, high school
graduation rates, and college-going rates;
(I) include a detailed description of work-based
and experiential learning experiences that will be
offered for all students at each such high school, such
as job shadowing, internships, and community service;
(J) contain an assurance that all students at each
such high school will be assigned and have regular
access to an academic teacher advisor;
(K) contain an assurance that the eligible local
educational agency will grant each such high school any
necessary waivers from local educational agency
policies and rules that may be required to carry out
the requirements of this Act, such as waivers with
respect to budgeting, school structure, staffing, and
flexible use of resources and time;
(L) include a plan that details how programs
assisted under this Act will be sustained after the end
of subgrant funding under this Act;
(M) in the case of dual credit courses and early
college high schools, contain formal agreements between
the eligible local educational agency and institutions
of higher education that detail shared responsibility
for each such high school and students at the high
school;
(N) include a description of school staffing
considerations and how teachers will be selected for
each such high school;
(O) include a detailed plan of the college
awareness program at each such high school that
addresses applying for admission to an institution of
higher education and applying for financial aid; and
(P) contain an assurance that the eligible local
educational agency will report to the eligible entity
all data necessary for the eligible entity's report
under section 6.
(f) Matching Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), each eligible
entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide,
toward the cost of the activities assisted under the grant,
from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 100 percent of the
amount of the grant.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the
matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal
year for an eligible entity if the Secretary determines that
applying the matching requirement to such eligible entity would
result in serious hardship or an inability to carry out the
authorized activities described in subsection (c).
(3) Supplement not supplant.--Grant funds provided under
this Act shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other
Federal and State funds available to carry out the activities
described in subsection (d).
SEC. 6. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Collection of Data.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant
under this Act shall collect and report annually to the Secretary such
information on the results of the activities assisted under the grant
as the Secretary may reasonably require, including information on--
(1) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and graduate from high school on
time with a regular high school diploma;
(2) the number and percentage of students, at each grade
level, in the State who are assisted under this Act and meet or
exceed State reading or language arts, mathematics, or science
standards, as measured by State academic assessments required
under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3));
(3) the number and percentage of students, at each grade
level, in the State who are assisted under this Act and are on
track to graduate from high school on time and with a regular
high school diploma;
(4) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and participate in work-based and
experiential learning experiences, such as job shadowing,
internships, community service, and descriptive information on
the types of experiences in which such students participated;
(5) the number and percentage of students, in grades 11 and
12, in the State who are assisted under this Act and enrolled
in not less than 2 of the following:
(A) a dual credit course; or
(B) an Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate course;
(6) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and receive a passing grade or
higher for a dual credit course, or an Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate course;
(7) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and apply to an institution of
higher education while still in high school;
(8) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and are accepted to an institution
of higher education while still in high school;
(9) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and enroll in an institution of
higher education in the school year immediately following the
students' high school graduation;
(10) the number and percentage of students in the State who
are assisted under this Act and enrolled in remedial
mathematics or English courses during their freshman year at an
institution of higher education;
(11) the number and percentage of students, in grade 10, in
the State who are assisted under this Act and take the PSAT;
and
(12) the number and percentage of students, in grades 11
and 12, in the State who are assisted under this Act and take
the SAT or ACT, and the students' mean scores on such
assessments.
(b) Reporting of Data.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant
under this section shall report the information required under
subsection (a) disaggregated in the same manner as information is
disaggregated under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1111(b)(1)(C)(i)).
SEC. 7. EVALUATION AND REPORT.
From the amount appropriated for any fiscal year under section 8,
the Secretary shall reserve such sums as may be necessary--
(1) to conduct an independent evaluation, by grant or by
contract, of the program carried out under this Act, which
shall include an assessment of the impact of the program on
high school graduation rates, college-going rates, and student
academic achievement; and
(2) to prepare and submit a report on the results of the
evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.
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