[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2084

 To include community partners and intermediaries in the planning and 
  delivery of education and related programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 7, 2017

Mr. Whitehouse introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To include community partners and intermediaries in the planning and 
  delivery of education and related programs, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Community 
Partnerships in Education Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
    TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO THE CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL 
                         EDUCATION ACT OF 2006

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Attainment of 21st century skills.
Sec. 103. Inclusion of community partners and intermediary 
                            organizations in State and local plans.
Sec. 104. Evaluations.
        TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. TRIO programs.
Sec. 203. GEAR UP.
Sec. 204. Maintenance and expansion of existing programs.

    TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO THE CARL D. PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL 
                         EDUCATION ACT OF 2006

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (18) and 
        paragraphs (19) through (34) as paragraphs (10) through (19) 
        and paragraphs (21) through (36), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(9) Community partner.--The term `community partner' 
        means a nonprofit organization that has expertise in the 
        planning and delivery of education, career training, and 
        related programs, in forging coordination and cooperation 
        between educators and other members of the community, in 
        training educators and other deliverers of educational 
        services, or in development and implementation of data systems 
        that measure the progress of students, schools and institutions 
        of higher education, and programs.''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (19) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) the following new paragraph:
            ``(20) Intermediary organization.--The term `intermediary 
        organization' means a nonprofit organization that has expertise 
        in training, forging public-private partnerships, systems 
        development, capacity-building, improving scalability, and 
        evaluation.''.

SEC. 102. ATTAINMENT OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS.

    (a) Accountability.--Section 113(b)(2)(C) of the Carl D. Perkins 
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2323(b)(2)(C)) is 
amended by inserting ``attainment of 21st century skills (such as 
critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration) 
and'' after ``such as''.
    (b) Local and State Reports.--Section 113 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
2323) is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(4)(C)(ii)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subclause (II), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after subclause (II) the following 
                new subclause:
                                    ``(III) describe the progress of 
                                career and technical education students 
                                served by the eligible recipient in 
                                attaining 21st century skills (such as 
                                critical thinking, problem-solving, 
                                communication, and collaboration).''; 
                                and
            (2) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) describe the progress of career and technical 
                education students of the State in attaining 21st 
                century skills (such as critical thinking, problem-
                solving, communication, and collaboration).''.

SEC. 103. INCLUSION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND INTERMEDIARY 
              ORGANIZATIONS IN STATE AND LOCAL PLANS.

    (a) State Plan.--Section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A)(ix), by striking ``including 
        parent and community organizations'' and inserting ``including 
        parent and intermediary organizations and community partners'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon; and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iv) the following 
                new clauses:
                            ``(v) are carried out in partnership with 
                        one or more community partners, including 
                        through joint planning and implementation, 
                        shared professional development designed to 
                        improve the effectiveness of eligible recipient 
                        and community partner staff, development and 
                        implementation of shared data systems that 
                        support program improvement and the improvement 
                        of program outcomes, and the alignment and 
                        coordination of eligible recipient and 
                        community partner goals, activities, and 
                        training; and
                            ``(vi) are carried out with the involvement 
                        of one or more intermediary organizations that 
                        will assist the eligible applicants by training 
                        staff, providing technical assistance that is 
                        designed to ensure continuous improvement, 
                        helping to ensure accountability for results, 
                        and helping to ensure that program funds flow 
                        quickly and effectively to effective service 
                        providers and activities;''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (G), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the 
                following:
                    ``(H) may be provided by a community partner or an 
                intermediary organization;''.
    (b) Local Plan.--Section 134(b) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``community partners, 
        intermediary organizations,'' after ``labor organizations,'';
            (2) in paragraph (11), by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
        a semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new 
        paragraphs:
            ``(13) describe the data-sharing agreement or agreements 
        that the eligible recipient agency has entered into with other 
        agencies and organizations so as to provide for shared access 
        to information on student progress and success (consistent with 
        the requirements of subpart 4 of part C of the General 
        Education Provisions Act), integrated planning and joint review 
        of the data, and coordinated adjustments in program strategies 
        and activities in response to changes in student needs or to 
        new challenges;
            ``(14) describe how the eligible recipient will carry out 
        its program under this part in partnership with one or more 
        community partners, including through joint planning and 
        implementation, shared professional development designed to 
        improve the effectiveness of eligible recipient and community 
        partner staff, development and implementation of shared data 
        systems that support program improvement and the improvement of 
        program outcomes, and the alignment and coordination of 
        eligible recipient and community partner goals, activities, and 
        training; and
            ``(15) a description of how the eligible recipient will 
        carry out its program under this part with the involvement of 
        one or more intermediary organizations that will assist the 
        eligible entity by training staff, providing technical 
        assistance that is designed to ensure continuous improvement, 
        helping to ensure accountability for results, and helping to 
        ensure that program funds flow quickly and effectively to 
        effective service providers and activities.''.
    (c) Local Use of Funds.--Section 135(b) of the Carl D. Perkins 
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``development programs 
        that'' and inserting ``development programs, which may be 
        provided by community partners or intermediary organizations, 
        that'';
            (2) in paragraph (8), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(10) development and implementation of data-sharing 
        agreements between the eligible recipient and other agencies 
        and organizations that provide for shared access to information 
        on student progress and success (consistent with the 
        requirements of subpart 4 of part C of the General Education 
        Provisions Act), integrated planning and joint review of the 
        data, and coordinated adjustments in program strategies and 
        activities in response to changes in student needs or to new 
        challenges.''.

SEC. 104. EVALUATIONS.

    Section 114(d)(2)(B) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324) is amended--
            (1) in clause (vi), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (vii), by striking the period and inserting a 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by inserting after clause (vii) the following new 
        clauses:
                            ``(viii) whether and how eligible 
                        recipients are involving community partners and 
                        intermediary organizations in their activities 
                        carried out under part C, and the impact of 
                        that involvement; and
                            ``(ix) the implementation of the data-
                        sharing agreements entered into under section 
                        135(b)(10), and the impact of that 
                        implementation.''.

        TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(g) Community Partner.--For purposes of this title, the term 
`community partner' means a nonprofit organization that has expertise 
in the planning and delivery of education, career training, and related 
programs, in forging coordination and cooperation between educators and 
other members of the community, in training educators and other 
deliverers of educational services, or in development and 
implementation of data systems that measure the progress of students, 
schools and institutions of higher education, and programs.
    ``(h) Intermediary Organization.--For purposes of this title, the 
term `intermediary organization' means a nonprofit organization that 
has expertise in training, forging public-private partnerships, systems 
development, capacity-building, improving scalability, evaluation, and 
development and implementation of data systems that measure the 
progress of students, schools and other educational institutions, and 
programs.''.

SEC. 202. TRIO PROGRAMS.

    Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``For the purposes described'' and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--For the purposes described''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Community partners and intermediary 
                organizations.--An entity described in subparagraph (A) 
                receiving a grant or entering into a contract under 
                this chapter shall, to the extent practicable, carry 
                out the grant or contract--
                            ``(i) with one or more community partners, 
                        including through joint planning and 
                        implementation, shared professional development 
                        designed to improve the effectiveness of such 
                        eligible entity and community partner staff, 
                        development and implementation of shared data 
                        systems that support the improvement of the 
                        operations and outcomes of the program carried 
                        out with such grant or contract, and the 
                        alignment and coordination of such eligible 
                        entity and community partner goals, activities, 
                        and training; and
                            ``(ii) with the involvement of one or more 
                        intermediary organizations that will assist 
                        such eligible entity by training staff, 
                        providing technical assistance that is designed 
                        to ensure continuous improvement, helping to 
                        ensure accountability for results, and helping 
                        to ensure that the grant or contract funds flow 
                        quickly and effectively to effective service 
                        providers and activities.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(6), by adding at the end the 
        following: ``The Secretary shall encourage entities receiving 
        grants or entering into contracts under this chapter to enter 
        into data-sharing agreements with other agencies and 
        organizations so as to provide for shared access to information 
        on student progress and success (consistent with the 
        requirements of subpart 4 of part C of the General Education 
        Provisions Act), integrated planning and review of the data, 
        and coordinated adjustments in program strategies and 
        activities in response to changes in student needs or to new 
        challenges.''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (v) and (vi) 
                        as clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after clause (iv) the 
                        following new clause:
                            ``(v) student acquisition of 21st century 
                        skills (such as critical thinking, problem-
                        solving, communication, and collaboration);''; 
                        and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), and 
                        (vii) as clauses (vi), (vii), and (viii), 
                        respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after clause (iv) the 
                        following new clause:
                            ``(v) student acquisition of 21st century 
                        skills (such as critical thinking, problem-
                        solving, communication, and collaboration);''.

SEC. 203. GEAR UP.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--Section 404A(c)(2) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21(c)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i); 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) one or more community partners; 
                        and''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``intermediary 
        organizations,'' after ``subpart 4,''.
    (b) Requirements.--Section 404B(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the 
        margins of such subparagraphs accordingly;
            (2) by striking ``Each eligible entity'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Data sharing.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this chapter shall, to the extent feasible, enter into 
        data-sharing agreements with other organizations or agencies so 
        as to provide for shared access to information on student 
        progress and success (consistent with the requirements of 
        subpart 4 of part C of the General Education Provisions Act), 
        integrated planning and joint review of the data, and 
        coordinated adjustments in program strategies and activities in 
        response to changes in student needs or to new challenges.''.
    (c) Applications.--Section 404C(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (I);
            (2) by striking the period and inserting ``; and'' at the 
        end of subparagraph (J); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(K) describe, in the case of an eligible entity 
                described in section 404A(c)(2), how the entities 
                included in the partnership will engage in--
                            ``(i) joint planning and implementation;
                            ``(ii) shared professional development 
                        designed to improve the effectiveness of 
                        school, community partner, and other staff;
                            ``(iii) development and implementation of 
                        shared data systems that support program 
                        improvement and the improvement of program 
                        outcomes; and
                            ``(iv) the alignment and coordination of 
                        local educational agency, school, community 
                        partner, and other partnership member goals, 
                        activities, and training.''.
    (d) Activities.--Section 404D(a)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) at the discretion of the eligible entity, 
                acquire 21st century skills (such as critical thinking, 
                problem-solving, communication, and collaboration).''.

SEC. 204. MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.

    (a) Program Authority.--Section 418A(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070d-2(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Community partners and intermediary organizations.--
        Each such program shall be implemented--
                    ``(A) in partnership with one or more community 
                partners, including through joint planning and 
                implementation, shared professional development 
                designed to improve the effectiveness of, as 
                applicable, school, institution of higher education, 
                nonprofit organization, and community partner staff, 
                development and implementation of shared data systems 
                that support program improvement and the improvement of 
                program outcomes, and the alignment and coordination 
                of, as applicable, school, institution of higher 
                education, nonprofit organization, and community 
                partner goals, activities, and training; and
                    ``(B) with the involvement of one or more 
                intermediary organizations that assist the grantee by 
                training staff, providing technical assistance that is 
                designed to ensure continuous improvement, helping to 
                ensure accountability for results, and helping to 
                ensure that program funds flow quickly and effectively 
                to effective service providers and activities.
            ``(3) Data sharing.--Each such program shall include the 
        implementation of one or more data-sharing agreements between 
        the grantee and other organizations or agencies that provide 
        for shared access to information on student progress and 
        success (consistent with the requirements of subpart 4 of part 
        C of the General Education Provisions Act), integrated planning 
        and joint review of the data, and coordinated adjustments in 
        program strategies and activities in response to changes in 
        student needs or to new challenges.''.
    (b) Services Provided.--Section 418A(b) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070d-2(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (8);
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) activities designed to ensure that participants 
        acquire 21st century skills (such as critical thinking, 
        problem-solving, communication, and collaboration); and''.
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