[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 978 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 978

  To direct the Secretary of Education to establish an award program 
  recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees 
   providing services to students in prekindergarten through higher 
                               education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 27, 2017

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Education to establish an award program 
  recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees 
   providing services to students in prekindergarten through higher 
                               education.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Recognizing Achievement in 
Classified School Employees Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    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.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Classified school employee.--The 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) Paraeducator 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) Other definitions.--The terms used in this Act have the 
        meaning given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 4. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish a 
national recognition program to be known as the ``Recognizing 
Inspirational School Employees (RISE) 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 prekindergarten through 
higher education.
    (b) Award.--Prior to March 31 of each year (beginning with the 
second calendar year that begins after the date of enactment of this 
Act), the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award 
Program shall recommend to the Secretary a classified school employee 
to receive the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award 
for the year.
    (c) Selection Process.--
            (1) Nomination process.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than November 1 of each 
                year (beginning with the first calendar year that 
                begins after the date of 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) Nomination submissions.--In order for 
                individuals in a State to be eligible to receive 
                recognition under this section, the chief State school 
                officer 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 Recognizing Inspirational School 
                        Employees (RISE) Award Program.
            (2) Demonstration.--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 Recognizing Inspirational School 
        Employees (RISE) 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) Selection.--The Recognizing Inspirational School 
        Employees (RISE) 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.
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