[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2377 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2377

  To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an 
awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system 
 employees providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through 
                           higher education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2009

Ms. Titus (for herself and Ms. Woolsey) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an 
awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system 
 employees providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through 
                           higher education.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The term ``classified school employee'' refers to 
        employees working in pre-kindergarten through higher education, 
        in the following nine job families:
                    (A) Paraprofessionals.
                    (B) Clerical services.
                    (C) Custodial and maintenance services.
                    (D) Transportation services.
                    (E) Food services.
                    (F) Skilled trades.
                    (G) Health and student services.
                    (H) Security services.
                    (I) Technical services.
            (2) Classified school employees provide valuable service to 
        public schools in the United States.
            (3) Classified school employees provide essential services, 
        such as transportation, facilities maintenance and operations, 
        food service, safety, and health care.
            (4) Classified school employees play a vital role in 
        providing for the welfare and safety of students.
            (5) Classified school employees strive for excellence in 
        all areas of service to the education community.
            (6) Exemplary classified school employees should be 
        recognized for their outstanding contributions to quality 
        education in the United States.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish and 
administer a national recognition program to be known as the ``National 
Classified School Employees of the Year Awards''. The purpose of the 
program shall be to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence 
exhibited by employees within certain occupational specialties in 
public schools who provide exemplary service to students in pre-
kindergarten through higher education.
    (b) Occupational Specialties.--
            (1) In general.--The occupational specialties referred to 
        in subsection (a) are the following:
                    (A) Paraprofessionals.
                    (B) Clerical and administrative services.
                    (C) Transportation services.
                    (D) Food and nutrition services.
                    (E) Custodial and maintenance services.
                    (F) Security services.
                    (G) Health and student services.
                    (H) Technical services.
                    (I) Skilled trades.
            (2) Number of awards.--Prior to March 31 of each year 
        (beginning with the second calendar year that begins after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act), the Secretary shall select 
        an employee from each occupational specialty described in 
        paragraph (1) to receive an award under the recognition 
        program.
    (c) Selection Process.--
            (1) Nomination process.--Not later than November 1 of each 
        year (beginning with the first calendar year that begins after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act), the Secretary shall 
        solicit nominations from each occupational specialty described 
        in subsection (b)(1) from the chief State school officer of 
        each State. The chief State school officer of each State shall 
        consider nominations submitted by the following:
                    (A) Local educational agencies.
                    (B) School administrators.
                    (C) Professional associations.
                    (D) Labor unions.
                    (E) Any other group determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            (2) Demonstration.--Each nomination shall be submitted to 
        the Secretary by a chief State school officer in such manner as 
        the Secretary may require and shall contain, at a minimum, 
        demonstrations of excellence in the following areas:
                    (A) Work performance.
                    (B) School and community involvement.
                    (C) Leadership and commitment.
                    (D) Local support.
                    (E) Enhancement of classified school employees' 
                image in the community and schools.
                    (F) Any other area of superior performance, such as 
                health and safety promotion or efficient use of energy 
                or other resources.
            (3) Selection.--The Secretary shall develop uniform 
        national guidelines for evaluating nominations submitted under 
        paragraph (2) in order to select the most deserving nominees 
        based on the demonstrations made in the areas described in such 
        paragraph.
    (d) Definitions.--The terms used in this Act shall have the meaning 
given such terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
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