[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4729-S4730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 2198. A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 to give the Department of Education the authority 
to award competitive grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, 
or support school-based mentoring programs to assist at-risk students 
in middle school and high school in developing cognitive and social-
emotional skills to prepare them for success in high school, 
postsecondary education, and the workforce; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2198

       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 ``Mentoring to Succeed Act of 
     2021''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to make assistance available for 
     school-based mentoring programs for at-risk students in order 
     to--
       (1) establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring 
     programs;
       (2) assist at-risk students in middle school and high 
     school in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills; 
     and
       (3) prepare such at-risk students for success in high 
     school, postsecondary education, and the workforce.

     SEC. 3. SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM.

       Part C of title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
     Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 136. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING 
                   PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) At-risk student.--The term `at-risk student' means a 
     student who--
       ``(A) is failing academically or at risk of dropping out of 
     school;
       ``(B) is pregnant or a parent;
       ``(C) is a gang member;
       ``(D) is a child or youth in foster care or a youth who has 
     been emancipated from foster care, but is still enrolled in 
     high school;
       ``(E) is or has recently been a homeless child or youth;
       ``(F) is chronically absent;
       ``(G) has changed schools 3 or more times in the past 6 
     months;
       ``(H) has come in contact with the juvenile justice system 
     in the past;
       ``(I) has a history of multiple suspensions or disciplinary 
     actions;
       ``(J) is an English learner;
       ``(K) has one or both parents incarcerated;
       ``(L) has experienced one or more adverse childhood 
     experiences, traumatic events, or toxic stressors, as 
     assessed through an evidence-based screening;
       ``(M) lives in a high-poverty area with a high rate of 
     community violence;
       ``(N) has a disability; or
       ``(O) shows signs of alcohol or drug misuse or abuse or has 
     a parent or guardian who is struggling with substance abuse.
       ``(2) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning 
     given the term for purposes of section 602(3) of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1401(3)).
       ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'--
       ``(A) means a high-need local educational agency, high-need 
     school, or local government entity; and
       ``(B) may include a partnership between an entity described 
     in subparagraph (A) and a nonprofit, community-based, or 
     faith-based organization, or institution of higher education.
       ``(4) English learner.--The term `English learner' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
       ``(5) Foster care.--The term `foster care' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 1355.20 of title 45, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.
       ``(6) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
     need local educational agency' means a local educational 
     agency that serves at least one high-need school.
       ``(7) High-need school.--The term `high-need school' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 2211(b) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     6631(b)).
       ``(8) Homeless children and youths.--The term `homeless 
     children and youths' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11434a).
       ``(9) School-based mentoring.--The term `school-based 
     mentoring' means a structured, managed, evidenced-based 
     program conducted in partnership with teachers, 
     administrators, school psychologists, school social workers 
     or counselors, and other school staff, in which at-risk 
     students are appropriately matched with screened and trained 
     professional or volunteer mentors who provide guidance, 
     support, and encouragement, involving meetings, group-based 
     sessions, and educational and workforce-related activities on 
     a regular basis to prepare at-risk students for success in 
     high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce.
       ``(b) School-based Mentoring Competitive Grant Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants on a 
     competitive basis to eligible entities to establish, expand, 
     or support school-based mentoring programs that--
       ``(A) are designed to assist at-risk students in high-need 
     schools in developing cognitive skills and promoting social-
     emotional learning to prepare them for success in high 
     school, postsecondary education, and the workforce by linking 
     them with mentors who--
       ``(i) have received mentor training, including on trauma-
     informed practices, youth engagement, cultural competency, 
     and social-emotional learning; and
       ``(ii) have been screened using appropriate reference 
     checks and criminal background checks;
       ``(B) provide coaching and technical assistance to mentors 
     in each such mentoring program;
       ``(C) seek to--
       ``(i) improve the academic achievement of at-risk students;
       ``(ii) reduce dropout rates and absenteeism and improve 
     school engagement of at-risk students and their families;

[[Page S4730]]

       ``(iii) reduce juvenile justice involvement of at-risk 
     students;
       ``(iv) foster positive relationships between at-risk 
     students and their peers, teachers, other adults, and family 
     members;
       ``(v) develop the workforce readiness skills of at-risk 
     students by exploring paths to employment, including 
     encouraging students with disabilities to explore transition 
     services; and
       ``(vi) increase the participation of at-risk students in 
     community service activities; and
       ``(D) encourage at-risk students to set goals and plan for 
     their futures, including making plans and identifying goals 
     for postsecondary education and the workforce.
       ``(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
     this section for a period not to exceed 5 years.
       ``(3) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, 
     an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application that includes--
       ``(A) a needs assessment that includes baseline data on the 
     measures described in paragraph (6)(A)(ii); and
       ``(B) a plan to meet the requirements of paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to applicants that--
       ``(A) serve children and youth with the greatest need 
     living in high-poverty, high-crime areas, or rural areas, or 
     who attend schools with high rates of community violence;
       ``(B) provide at-risk students with opportunities for 
     postsecondary education preparation and career development, 
     including--
       ``(i) job training, professional development, work 
     shadowing, internships, networking, resume writing and 
     review, interview preparation, transition services for 
     students with disabilities, application assistance and visits 
     to institutions of higher education, and leadership 
     development through community service; and
       ``(ii) partnerships with the private sector and local 
     businesses to provide internship and career exploration 
     activities and resources; and
       ``(C) seek to provide match lengths between at-risk 
     students and mentors for at least 1 academic year.
       ``(5) Use of funds.--An eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under this section may use such funds to--
       ``(A) develop and carry out regular training for mentors, 
     including on--
       ``(i) the impact of adverse childhood experiences;
       ``(ii) trauma-informed practices and interventions;
       ``(iii) supporting homeless children and youths;
       ``(iv) supporting children and youth in foster care or 
     youth who have been emancipated from foster care, but are 
     still enrolled in high school;
       ``(v) cultural competency;
       ``(vi) meeting all appropriate privacy and confidentiality 
     requirements for students, including students in foster care;
       ``(vii) working in coordination with a public school 
     system;
       ``(viii) positive youth development and engagement 
     practices; and
       ``(ix) disability inclusion practices to ensure access and 
     participation by students with disabilities;
       ``(B) recruit, screen, match, and train mentors;
       ``(C) hire staff to perform or support the objectives of 
     the school-based mentoring program;
       ``(D) provide inclusive and accessible youth engagement 
     activities, such as--
       ``(i) enrichment field trips to cultural destinations; and
       ``(ii) career awareness activities, including job site 
     visits, informational interviews, resume writing, interview 
     preparation, and networking; and
       ``(iii) academic or postsecondary education preparation 
     activities, including trade or vocational school visits, 
     visits to institutions of higher education, and assistance in 
     applying to institutions of higher education; and
       ``(E) conduct program evaluation, including by acquiring 
     and analyzing the data described under paragraph (6).
       ``(6) Reporting requirements.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the end of 
     each academic year during the grant period, an eligible 
     entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to 
     the Secretary a report that includes--
       ``(i) the number of students who participated in the 
     school-based mentoring program that was funded in whole or in 
     part with the grant funds;
       ``(ii) data on the academic achievement, dropout rates, 
     truancy, absenteeism, outcomes of arrests for violent crime, 
     summer employment, and postsecondary education enrollment of 
     students in the program;
       ``(iii) the number of group sessions and number of one-to-
     one contacts between students in the program and their 
     mentors;
       ``(iv) the average attendance of students enrolled in the 
     program;
       ``(v) the number of students with disabilities connected to 
     transition services;
       ``(vi) data on social-emotional development of students as 
     assessed with a validated social-emotional assessment tool; 
     and
       ``(vii) any other information that the Secretary may 
     require to evaluate the success of the school-based mentoring 
     program.
       ``(B) Student privacy.--An eligible entity shall ensure 
     that the report submitted under subparagraph (A) is prepared 
     in a manner that protects the privacy rights of each student 
     in accordance with section 444 of the General Education 
     Provisions Act (commonly referred to as the `Family 
     Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974') (20 U.S.C. 
     1232g).
       ``(7) Mentoring resources and community service 
     coordination.--
       ``(A) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall work with 
     the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
     to--
       ``(i) refer grantees under this section to the National 
     Mentoring Resource Center to obtain resources on best 
     practices and research related to mentoring and to request 
     no-cost training and technical assistance; and
       ``(ii) provide grantees under this section with information 
     regarding transitional services for at-risk students 
     returning from correctional facilities and transition 
     services for students with disabilities.
       ``(B) Coordination.--The Secretary shall, to the extent 
     possible, coordinate with the Corporation for National and 
     Community Service, including through entering into an 
     interagency agreement or a memorandum of understanding, to 
     support mentoring and community service-related activities 
     for at-risk students.
       ``(c) Authorization of Funds.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.''.

     SEC. 4. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES STUDY ON SCHOOL-BASED 
                   MENTORING PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education, acting through 
     the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall 
     conduct a study to--
       (1) identify successful school-based mentoring programs and 
     effective strategies for administering and monitoring such 
     programs;
       (2) evaluate the role of mentors in promoting cognitive 
     development and social-emotional learning to enhance academic 
     achievement and to improve workforce readiness; and
       (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under 
     section 136 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
     Education Act of 2006, as added by section 3, on student 
     academic outcomes and youth career development.
       (b) Timing.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, acting 
     through the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, 
     shall submit the results of the study to the appropriate 
     congressional committees.

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