1.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.
2.Recognition program established
(a)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)
(1)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)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)
(1)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)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)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)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).
Passed the House of
Representatives March 15, 2010.
Lorraine C. Miller,
Clerk.