Findings and purposes

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)Throughout the United States, there are pressing unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs. (2)Americans desire to affirm common responsibilities and shared values, and join together in positive experiences, that transcend race, religion, gender, age, ability, region, income, and education. (3)Americans of all ages can improve their communities and become more engaged citizens through service to their communities. (4)When children and other youth participate in service activities and see that they are able to improve the lives of others, the youth are better able to control their own lives in a positive way, avoiding risky behaviors, strengthening their community connections, and becoming more engaged in their own education. (5)When youth service is tied to learning objectives, that service is shown to decrease alienation and behavior problems, and increase knowledge of community needs, commitment to an ethic of service, and understanding of politics and morality. (6)When service is tied to what students are learning in school, the students make gains on achievement tests, complete their homework more often, and increase their attendance and grade point averages. (7)Service-learning has been shown to reduce the achievement gap in schools. (8)Students who engage in service-learning improve their communication skills, increase their awareness of career possibilities, have a deeper understanding of social and economic issues that face the Nation, and develop more positive workplace attitudes, giving the students skills to be strong leaders. (9)82 percent of students who participated in service-learning programs say their feelings about attending high school became more positive as a result of service-learning. (10)77 percent of students who participated in service-learning programs and 66 percent of at-risk students who did not participate in service-learning programs, say that service-learning had or would have had a big effect on motivating them to work hard. (11)According to youth who have dropped out of school, providing service-learning tops the list of ways schools can improve. (12)Service-learning gives students the opportunity to apply curricular knowledge and skills while serving the community. (13)Research shows that for every dollar spent on a service-learning project, $4 worth of service is provided to the community involved. (14)65 percent of all students find service-learning appealing but only 30 percent of schools provide service-learning projects. In those schools, only 16 percent of students are currently aware that service-learning projects are available to them. 83 percent of all students say they would enroll in service-learning projects if their schools had them. (15)Research demonstrates that to provide enough time for students to become deeply involved in service and for service projects to have a meaningful impact on student's lives, projects should be of ample duration, typically at least a semester, and include sufficient service hours, typically at least 70 hours. (b)

Purpose

The purposes of this Act are— (1)to offer youth the chance to spend a semester in service to their communities for academic credit in their junior or senior year of high school; (2)to teach civic participation skills to youth and help youth see themselves as resources and leaders for their communities; (3)to encourage youth, regardless of income or ability, to engage in community service; (4)to provide tangible benefits to the communities in which Semester of Service programs are performed; and (5)to enhance the social-emotional and academic development of youth participants.

Semester of service programs

Title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511 et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating subtitles F, G, H, and I as subtitles G, H, I, and J, respectively; (2)by redesignating sections 160 through 166 as sections 159A through 159G, respectively; and (3)by inserting after subtitle E the following:

Semester of service programs

161.

Definitions

In this subtitle: (1)

Eligible agency

The term eligible agency means a local educational agency, or a nonprofit organization working in partnership with a local educational agency. (2)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means an individual school (including a designee of a school), or a nonprofit organization working in partnership with a school. (3)

Eligible youth

The term eligible youth means a youth who will be enrolled in the junior or senior year of high school during the youth's participation for a semester of service referred to in section 163(f). (4)

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). (5)

Youth participant

The term youth participant means a youth who is enrolled in the junior or senior year of high school and is a participant in a project carried out under this subtitle.

162.

Grants to eligible agencies

(a)

Grants

(1)

In general

The Chief Executive Officer shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible agencies to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out community service programs, to support service-learning projects, including the district-level activities described in subsection (d). (2)

Periods of grants

The Chief Executive Officer shall award the grants for periods of 3 years. The Chief Executive Officer may renew the grants for not more than 2 additional periods of 3 years. (3)

Grant amount

The Chief Executive Officer shall award such a grant to an eligible agency for a program in an amount not greater than the sum of— (A)the product obtained by multiplying $50 and a number equal to the number of eligible youth who will provide service under the program, as specified in the application described in subsection (b); and (B)an amount equal to 20 percent of the product determined under subparagraph (A), for school district-level activities. (b)

Application

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section for a community service program, an eligible agency shall submit an application to the Chief Executive Officer at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Chief Executive Officer may require, including information that— (1)describes the procedures and criteria the eligible agency will use for reviewing applications and awarding subgrants on a competitive basis under section 163 to eligible entities for service-learning projects, including how the eligible agency will— (A)ensure the classroom-based instruction component of service-learning projects is aligned with applicable State academic content standards; and (B)ensure service-learning project activities are tied to, where available, State service-learning standards; (2)describes the procedures and criteria the eligible agency will use to evaluate eligible entities' service-learning projects including, at a minimum, a description of the objectives and benchmarks the eligible agency will use to evaluate such projects; and (3)describes the steps the eligible agency will take to ensure that the service-learning projects funded will implement effective strategies, which steps shall include providing eligible entities with ongoing technical assistance, professional development, and training. (c)

Applicant review

(1)

Selection criteria

The Chief Executive Officer shall evaluate applications for grants under this section based on the quality, innovation, replicability, and sustainability of the programs proposed by the applicants. (2)

Review panels

The Chief Executive Officer shall employ review panels consisting of experts in the fields of service-learning, youth development, and education, and of youth seeking to be youth participants, in reviewing the applications. (3)

Notification of applicants

If the Chief Executive Officer rejects an application submitted under this section, the Chief Executive Officer shall promptly notify the applicant of the reasons for the rejection of the application. (4)

Resubmission and reconsideration

The Chief Executive Officer shall provide an applicant notified of rejection with a reasonable opportunity to revise and resubmit the application. At the request of the applicant, the Chief Executive Officer shall provide technical assistance to the applicant as part of the resubmission process. The Chief Executive Officer shall promptly reconsider an application resubmitted under this paragraph. (5)

Priority

In making grants under this section, the Chief Executive Officer shall give priority to eligible agencies that propose to give subgrants under this subtitle to eligible entities for schools that receive funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.). (d)

Selection of district recipients

In awarding grants under this section, the Chief Executive Officer shall ensure that programs are funded in a variety of geographic areas, including urban and rural areas. (e)

School district-level activities

An eligible agency that receives a grant under this section may reserve up to the amount described in subsection (a)(3)(B) from the grant funds, for school district-level activities— (1)which shall include— (A)conducting outreach and dissemination of program-related information to ensure the broadest possible involvement of eligible entities and eligible youth in the program carried out under this subtitle; (B)providing technical assistance and professional development and training for personnel, to eligible entities that receive subgrants under section 163; and (C)conducting an evaluation of the projects carried out by eligible entities within the school district, submitting the results of the evaluation to the Chief Executive Officer, and widely disseminating the results locally; and (2)which may include— (A)hiring staff to administer the program carried out under this subtitle in the school district involved; and (B)using the results of the evaluation to compile information on best practices for such projects. (f)

Federal share

(1)

In general

The Federal share attributable to this subtitle of the cost of carrying out a program for which a grant is made under this section may not exceed— (A)90 percent of the total cost of the program for the first year for which the program receives assistance under this subpart; (B)80 percent of the total cost of the program for the second such year; (C)70 percent of the total cost of the program for the third such year; and (D)50 percent of the total cost of the program, for each such year thereafter. (2)

Calculation

In providing for the remaining share of the cost of carrying out such a program, each recipient of a grant under this subtitle— (A)shall provide for such share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services; and (B)may provide for such share through State or local sources, both public and private, or Federal sources (other than funds made available under the national service laws). (3)

Waiver

The Chief Executive Officer may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) in whole or in part with respect to any such program in any fiscal year if the Chief Executive Officer determines that such waiver would be equitable due to a lack of available financial resources at the State or local level.

163.

Subgrants to eligible entities

(a)

Subgrants

(1)

In general

An eligible agency that receives a grant under section 162 shall use the grant funds to award subgrants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to pay for the cost of carrying out service-learning projects. (2)

Periods of subgrants

The eligible agency shall award the subgrants for periods of 3 years. Subject to subsection (c), the eligible agency may renew the subgrants for additional periods of 3 years. (3)

Amounts of subgrants

The eligible agency shall award such a subgrant to an eligible entity for a project in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying $50 and a number equal to the number of eligible youth who will provide service under the project, as specified in the application described in subsection (b). (b)

Application

To be eligible to receive a subgrant under this section for a project, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the eligible agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the eligible agency may require, including information that— (1)describes the manner in which the entity will— (A)recruit and engage eligible youth, including students with disabilities and English language learners, as applicable; (B)engage a variety of entities and individuals, such as youth organizations, elected officials, civic groups, nonprofit organizations, media partners, and other entities within the community, including participants in any other project carried out under the national service laws, to work with the entity to provide field opportunities as part of the project; (C)recruit service sponsors for field activities carried out through the project, including nonprofit organizations, businesses, youth organizations, institutions of higher education, and entities that carry out national service programs under the national service laws; (D)(i)ensure that the youth participants in the project engage in service-learning for a minimum of 70 hours over a minimum of 12 weeks; and (ii)ensure that at least 24 hours of the minimum 70 hours are spent participating in field-based activities; (E)ensure that project activities are tied to, where available, State service-learning standards; (F)provide a weekly classroom-based instruction component of the project, integrated into the regular curriculum of the school involved and aligned with applicable State academic content standards; (G)ensure that youth participants will receive academic credit, for the time spent in the classroom and in the field for the project, equivalent to the academic credit for any class of equivalent length and with an equivalent time commitment; (H)involve youth participants in the project in the design and planning of the project; (I)promote leadership development and build an ethic of civic responsibility among the youth participants; (J)provide training, which may include life skills, financial education, and employment training, in addition to training concerning the specific community service to be provided through the project, for the youth participants; (K)provide team-oriented, adult-supervised experiences through the project; (L)ensure youth participants engage in reflection and evaluation; and (M)provide opportunities for youth participants to demonstrate their successes and teach other youth; (2)describes how the eligible entity will annually establish benchmarks for academic, social, and behavioral objectives, and annually conduct an evaluation to measure progress toward the benchmarks; and (3)provides an assurance that the eligible entity will annually make the results of such evaluation available to the eligible agency. (c)

Continued eligibility

To be eligible to receive funds under this section for a second or subsequent year of a subgrant period, an eligible entity shall demonstrate that the entity has met the benchmarks for the objectives described in subsection (b)(2). (d)

Permissible uses of funds

The eligible entity may use the subgrant funds to pay for— (1)developing or acquiring service-learning curricula for the project, to be integrated into academic programs, including making accommodations for students with disabilities and English language learners; (2)establishing objectives and benchmarks, conducting evaluations, and making evaluation results available; (3)conducting outreach and dissemination of project-related information to ensure the broadest possible involvement of eligible youth and community partners in the project; (4)carrying out basic implementation of the service-learning project, including the purchase or rental of materials needed to complete the field or classroom component of the service-learning involved; (5)carrying out planning activities at the start of each semester in which the project is carried out; (6)providing supplemental pay to staff who administer the project; and (7)recognition and awards. (e)

Service

(1)

Eligible service categories

The eligible entity may use the subgrant funds to carry out a service-learning project that meets unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs and that includes a classroom-based instruction component aligned with applicable State academic content standards, and project activities tied to, where available, State service-learning standards. (2)

Ineligible service categories

The eligible entity may not use the subgrant funds for service prohibited under section 132(a). (f)

Participation

Youth participants may participate in service-learning projects under this subtitle for not more than 2 semesters of service, as defined by the Chief Executive Officer.

164.

Indian tribes and territories

The Chief Executive Officer shall reserve not more than 3 percent of the funds appropriated under section 501(a)(4) for a fiscal year, for grants made on a competitive basis to Indian tribes, organizations serving Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 625 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3057k)), the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Chief Executive Officer shall issue regulations specifying how an entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out a program under this subtitle.

165.

National quality and outreach activities

The Chief Executive Officer shall reserve not more than 4 percent of the funds appropriated under section 501(a)(4) for a fiscal year and use the reserved funds, either directly or through grants and contracts to organizations with experience in semester-based service-learning programs, to— (1)provide technical assistance and training to recipients of grants and subgrants under this subtitle; (2)conduct outreach and dissemination of program-related information to ensure the broadest possible involvement of eligible agencies, eligible entities, organizations, and eligible youth in programs under this subtitle; and (3)carry out other activities designed to improve the quality of programs under this subtitle.

166.

National evaluation

(a)

Reservation

The Chief Executive Officer shall reserve not more than the greater of $500,000 or 1 percent of the funds appropriated under section 501(a)(4) for a fiscal year— (1)to arrange for an independent evaluation of eligible agency programs carried out under this subtitle, to be conducted in the third year of each grant period in which the programs are implemented; and (2)to ensure that the results of the evaluation are widely disseminated. (b)

Report

The Chief Executive Officer shall annually submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, a report concerning the results of the evaluations conducted under subsection (a). Such reports shall also contain information on the models and best practices and any other findings or recommendations developed by the Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluations.

167.

Construction

An individual participating in service in a program described in this subtitle shall not be considered to be an employee engaged in employment for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).