[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5527-S5528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 882. A bill to improve academic and social outcomes for students 
by providing productive activities during after school hours; to the 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


           the after school education and safety act of 1997

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the After School 
Education and Safety Act of 1997. This bill creates after school 
enrichment programs for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school-
aged students. Today's youth face far greater social risks than did 
their parents and grandparents. According to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 are most at risk of 
committing violent acts and being victims of violent crimes between 3 
p.m. and 6 p.m.--a time when they are not in school.
  My bill will help schools expand their capacity to address the needs 
of school-aged children between these critical hours. Since juvenile 
crime peeks at the close of the schoolday--we need to give children a 
safe and supervised place where they can use those hours to their best 
advantage. Education is a key component of success. This bill seeks to 
increase the academic success of students while working to improve 
their intellectual, social, physical, and cultural skills. For older 
students, programs will be available to prepare them for work force 
participation.
  Schools receiving grants under the act must provide at least two of 
the following programs: Mentoring, academic assistance, recreational 
activities, or technology training. It is critical that we work with 
our Nation's children during their school years to create strong 
foundations in academics, technology, and other fields which will carry 
them into adulthood.
  Schools will be able to work within their communities to design 
programs that meet the needs of the area. Activities authorized by the 
bill are to take place in a school building or another public facility 
designated by the school.
  Mr. President, the best investment we can make in this country is in 
our children. I urge my colleagues to review this legislation and join 
me in making after school a safe time for our Nation's children.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be included 
in the Record.

[[Page S5528]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 882

       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 ``After School Education and 
     Safety Act of 1997''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to improve academic and social 
     outcomes for students by providing productive activities 
     during after school hours.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Today's youth face far greater social risks than did 
     their parents and grandparents.
       (2) Students spend more of their waking hours alone, 
     without supervision, companionship, or activity than the 
     students spend in school.
       (3) Law enforcement statistics show that youth who are ages 
     12 through 17 are most at risk of committing violent acts and 
     being victims of violent acts between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
       (4) Greater numbers of students are failing in school and 
     the consequences of academic failure are more dire in 1997 
     than ever before.

     SEC. 4. GOALS.

       The goals of this Act are as follows:
       (1) To increase the academic success of students.
       (2) To improve the intellectual, social, physical, and 
     cultural skills of students.
       (3) To promote safe and healthy environments for students.
       (4) To prepare students for workforce participation.
       (5) To provide alternatives to drug, alcohol, tobacco, and 
     gang activity.

     SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) School.--The term ``school'' means a public 
     kindergarten, or a public elementary school or secondary 
     school, as defined in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Education.

     SEC. 6. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

       The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program under 
     which the Secretary awards grants to schools to enable the 
     schools to carry out the activities described in section 
     7(a).

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES; REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Authorized Activities.--
       (1) Required.--Each school receiving a grant under this Act 
     shall carry out at least 2 of the following activities:
       (A) Mentoring programs.
       (B) Academic assistance.
       (C) Recreational activities.
       (D) Technology training.
       (2) Permissive.--Each school receiving a grant under this 
     Act may carry out any of the following activities:
       (A) Drug, alcohol, and gang, prevention activities.
       (B) Health and nutrition counseling.
       (C) Job skills preparation activities.
       (b) Time.--A school shall provide the activities described 
     in subsection (a) only after regular school hours during the 
     school year.
       (c) Special rule.--Each school receiving a grant under this 
     Act shall carry out activities described in subsection (a) in 
     a manner that reflects the specific needs of the population, 
     students, and community to be served.
       (d) Location.--A school shall carry out the activities 
     described in subsection (a) in a school building or other 
     public facility designated by the school.
       (e) Administration.--In carrying out the activities 
     described in subsection (a), a school is encouraged--
       (1) to request volunteers from the business and academic 
     communities to serve as mentors or to assist in other ways;
       (2) to request donations of computer equipment; and
       (3) to work with State and local park and recreation 
     agencies so that activities that are described in subsection 
     (a) and carried out prior to the date of enactment of this 
     Act are not duplicated by activities assisted under this Act.

     SEC. 8 APPLICATIONS.

       Each school desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
     require. Each such application shall--
       (1) identify how the goals set forth in section 4 shall be 
     met by the activities assisted under this Act;
       (2) provide evidence of collaborative efforts by students, 
     parents, teachers, site administrators, and community members 
     in the planning and administration of the activities;
       (3) contain a description of how the activities will be 
     administered;
       (4) demonstrate how the activities will utilize or 
     cooperate with publicly or privately funded programs in order 
     to avoid duplication of activities in the community to be 
     served;
       (5) contain a description of the funding sources and in-
     kind contributions that will support the activities; and
       (6) contain a plan for obtaining non-Federal funding for 
     the activities.

     SEC. 9 AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     ACt $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 
     2002.
                                 ______