1.This Act may be cited as
the The Annual National Classified
School Employee of the Year Award Act
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Classified school
employees provide valuable service to public schools in the United
States.
(2)Classified school
employees provide essential services, such as transportation, facilities
maintenance and operations, food service, safety, and health care.
(3)Classified school
employees play a vital role in providing for the welfare and safety of
students.
(4)Classified school
employees strive for excellence in all areas of service to the education
community.
(5)Exemplary
classified school employees should be recognized for their outstanding
contributions to quality education in the United States.
3.Definition of
classified school employeeIn
this Act:
(1)Classified
school employeeThe term
classified school employee means a public employee of a State or
of any political subdivision of a State, who works in any grade from
prekindergarten through higher education in any of the following 9 occupational
specialties:
(A)Paraprofessional
services.
(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)The terms used in this Act have the meaning given the
terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
4.Recognition
program established
(a)The Secretary of Education shall establish a national
recognition program to be known as the National Classified School
Employee of the Year Award program
. The purpose of the program shall be
to recognize and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by classified
school employees in public schools who provide exemplary service to students in
pre-kindergarten through higher education.
(b)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 National Classified School
Employee Award program shall recommend to the Secretary a classified school
employee to receive the National Classified School Employee Award for the
year.
(c)
(1)
(A)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 of classified school employees in
public schools from the occupational specialties described in section 3(1) from
the chief State school officer of each State.
(B)In order for individuals in a State to be eligible to
receive recognition under this section, the chief State school officer of the
State shall consider nominations submitted by the following:
(i)Local educational
agencies.
(ii)School
administrators.
(iii)Professional
associations.
(iv)Labor
organizations.
(v)Educational
service agencies.
(vi)Any other group
determined appropriate by the National Classified School Employee Award
program.
(2)Each
chief State school officer of a State who desires individuals in the State to
receive recognition under this section shall submit the nominations described
in paragraph (1) to the Secretary in such manner as may be required by the
National Classified School Employee Award program. Each such nomination 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
National Classified School Employee Award program 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.