Counseling for Career Choice Act

Summary: Counseling for Career Choice Act Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive establishment grants to states to develop and implement comprehensive school career counseling programs that provide students with effective postsecondary education planning and career guidance services.  Requires each program to be aligned with a statewide counseling framework that: (1) encompasses grades 6 through 12 and postsecondary education; and (2) is developed in consultation with, or exists with the support of, at least five stakeholders that include at least one business or industry and at least one local educational agency (LEA) or secondary school. Requires establishment grant funds to be used to:  train and hire school counselors; identify regional workforce trends and postsecondary options available in the state; establish, improve, or coordinate postsecondary opportunities; recommend curricular improvements to better align curricula with workforce trends and available postsecondary opportunities; establish partnerships with American Job Centers; and leverage the resources and emerging technologies being developed by stakeholders to support the counseling framework.  Allows states to carry out program activities directly or through competitive subgrants to LEAs, or consortia consisting of an LEA, and one or more LEAs, educational service agencies, tribal organizations, postsecondary institutions, or nonprofit organizations with expertise in counseling or career and technical education. Directs the Secretary to reserve at least 10%, but no more than 20%, of the amount appropriated for this Act's counseling program to award competitive capacity-building grants to states that do not receive an establishment grant.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Counseling for Career Choice Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.

    Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                 ``Part E--Counseling for Career Choice

``SEC. 5701. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means--
                    ``(A) a junior or community college (as defined in 
                section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1058(f)));
                    ``(B) a 4-year public institution of higher 
                education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that awards a 
                significant number of degrees and certificates, as 
                determined by the Secretary, that are not--
                            ``(i) baccalaureate degrees (or an 
                        equivalent); or
                            ``(ii) master's, professional, or other 
                        advanced degrees; or
                    ``(C) an area career and technical education school 
                (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
                and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)).
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a local educational agency, including an 
                educational service agency; or
                    ``(B) a consortium that must consist of one local 
                educational agency in combination with one or more 
                local educational agencies, educational service 
                agencies, non-profit organizations with demonstrated 
                expertise in counseling or career and technical 
                education, postsecondary institutions, or tribal 
                organizations.
            ``(3) Local workforce investment board.--The term `local 
        workforce investment board' means a local workforce investment 
        board established under section 117 of the Workforce Investment 
        Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2832).
            ``(4) School counselor.--The term `school counselor' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 5421.
            ``(5) Stakeholders.--The term `stakeholders' includes local 
        educational agencies, school counselors, secondary schools, 
        institutions of higher education (including community 
        colleges), eligible agencies as defined under section 203 of 
        the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (20 U.S.C. 9202), 
        the State workforce investment board, the State agency 
        responsible for labor market information, other applicable 
        State agencies as determined by the Secretary, local workforce 
        investment boards, area career and technical education schools 
        (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006), local businesses and 
        industries, organizations offering apprenticeship programs, 
        tribal organizations, labor organizations, programs leading to 
        post-secondary credentials, including industry-recognized 
        credentials, other programs for career and technical education 
        (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302)), and any 
        other organizations, individuals or persons that the Secretary 
        determines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this part.
            ``(6) Statewide counseling framework.--The term `statewide 
        counseling framework' means a framework that encompasses grades 
        6 through 12 and postsecondary education and that includes 
        information on career awareness, skills assessment, skills 
        training, student interest surveys, postsecondary education 
        entrance requirements, secondary school graduation 
        requirements, high school equivalency, adult education programs 
        and services, financial aid, institutions of higher education, 
        community colleges, programs leading to industry-recognized 
        credentials, career and technical education programs, 
        internships, dual enrollment programs, apprenticeships, and 
        professional development opportunities or career development 
        training for school counselors.
            ``(7) State workforce investment board.--The term `State 
        workforce investment board' means a State workforce investment 
        board established under section 111 of the Workforce Investment 
        Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2821).
            ``(8) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            ``(9) Industry recognized credential.--The term `industry-
        recognized,' used with respect to a credential, means a 
        credential that--
                    ``(A) is sought or accepted by employers within the 
                industry or sector involved as a recognized, preferred, 
                or required credential for recruitment, screening, 
                hiring, retention or advancement purposes; and
                    ``(B) where appropriate, is endorsed by a 
                nationally recognized trade association or organization 
                representing a significant part of the industry or 
                sector.

``SEC. 5702. ESTABLISHMENT AND CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Establishment Grants.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated to 
        carry out this part and not reserved by the Secretary under 
        subsection (b), the Secretary shall award establishment grants, 
        on a competitive basis, to State educational agencies to enable 
        the State educational agencies to carry out the activities 
        described in section 5704.
            ``(2) Duration; extension.--
                    ``(A) Duration.--Each establishment grant under 
                this subsection shall be for a period of not more than 
                2 years.
                    ``(B) Amount.--Each grant shall be of an amount not 
                less than $2,000,000 and not more than $5,000,000.
                    ``(C) Extension.--The Secretary may extend a grant 
                awarded under this subsection for additional 3-year 
                periods if the State educational agency--
                            ``(i) is achieving the intended outcomes of 
                        the grant;
                            ``(ii) shows continued engagement with 
                        stakeholders; and
                            ``(iii) has established a statewide 
                        counseling framework.
    ``(b) State Capacity-Building Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall reserve not less 
        than 10 percent and not more than 20 percent of the amounts 
        appropriated to carry out this part for any fiscal year to 
        award capacity-building grants, on a competitive basis, to 
        State educational agencies that do not receive an establishment 
        grant under subsection (a) for such year.
            ``(2) Activities.--A State educational agency that receives 
        a capacity-building grant under this subsection shall use grant 
        funds to carry out 1 or more of the activities from the State 
        educational agency's application under section 5703 that the 
        Secretary determines is an acceptable use of funds.

``SEC. 5703. APPLICATION.

    ``A State educational agency desiring a grant under this part shall 
submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. The application shall 
include--
            ``(1)(A) a description of a proposed statewide counseling 
        framework that is developed in consultation with not less than 
        5 stakeholders, of which at least 1 stakeholder shall be a 
        local business or industry or statewide industry organization 
        and 1 stakeholder shall be a local educational agency or 
        secondary school;
            ``(B) a detailed plan to implement a statewide counseling 
        framework that is developed in consultation with not less than 
        5 stakeholders, of which at least 1 stakeholder shall be a 
        local business or industry or statewide industry organization 
        and 1 shall be a local educational agency or secondary school; 
        or
            ``(C) evidence of an existing statewide counseling 
        framework and implementation plan supported by not less than 5 
        stakeholders, of which at least 1 stakeholder shall be a local 
        business or industry or statewide industry organization and 1 
        shall be a local educational agency or secondary school; and
            ``(2) a description of how the State educational agency 
        will award subgrants and ensure that the activities described 
        in section 5704 are carried out.

``SEC. 5704. ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--A State educational agency receiving an 
establishment grant under section 5702(a) shall use grant funds to--
            ``(1) develop and implement comprehensive school career 
        counseling programs that align with the statewide counseling 
        framework proposed or described in the State educational 
        agency's application;
            ``(2) identify and assess school counseling activities and 
        postsecondary options available within the State, and outside 
        the State as applicable;
            ``(3) hire additional school counselors to effectively 
        serve more students in postsecondary education and adult 
        education planning and career guidance activities, where 
        applicable;
            ``(4) identify regional workforce trends in collaboration 
        with entities at the State and regional level with expertise in 
        identifying such trends, such as State workforce investment 
        boards, local workforce investment boards, regional economic 
        development organizations, or State employment agencies;
            ``(5) train school counselors effectively to provide 
        students with current and relevant workforce information, 
        financial aid assistance, personal counseling, and academic 
        advising relevant to students' individual career and 
        postsecondary education goals;
            ``(6) develop and implement a process and infrastructure 
        for school counselors and school counselor programs to access 
        the statewide counseling framework and information regarding 
        the regional workforce trends identified in paragraph (4);
            ``(7) develop and implement professional development or 
        career development training certification programs for 
        counselors and other educators involved in preparing students 
        for postsecondary opportunities;
            ``(8) develop a searchable method by which counseling 
        professional development opportunities from around the State 
        are collected, maintained, and disseminated to school 
        counselors;
            ``(9) establish, improve, or coordinate postsecondary 
        opportunities, which may include individual career planning, 
        personalized learning plans, registered apprenticeships, 
        internships, dual enrollment programs, programs leading to 
        industry-recognized credentials (including programs at a 
        secondary school), 2-year degree programs, 4-year degree 
        programs, and other applicable postsecondary opportunities;
            ``(10) provide recommendations and improve a local 
        educational agency's and other education service program 
        providers to out of school youth and adults curricula to better 
        align with workforce trends and available postsecondary 
        opportunities;
            ``(11) conduct other activities pertaining to the 
        administration of the statewide framework;
            ``(12) establish partnerships with American Job Centers, 
        which may include co-locating an American Job Center in a high 
        school, transporting students to local American Job Centers, or 
        having American Job Center career counselors and business 
        liaisons assist school counselors in hosting job fairs, career 
        days, or other such similar tasks; and
            ``(13) leverage resources and emerging technologies that 
        are being developed by stakeholders to support the counseling 
        framework.
    ``(b) Subgrants.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State educational agency that receives 
        an establishment grant may carry out the activities described 
        in subsection (a) directly or through awarding subgrants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible 
        entities to carry out any of the activities.
            ``(2) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a 
        subgrant under this subsection shall submit an application to 
        the State educational agency at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the State educational agency may 
        reasonably require, including a description of the 
        comprehensive school counseling program for participating 
        schools and students that the eligible entity proposes to 
        develop and implement using subgrant funds.
    ``(c) Hiring of Personnel.--An eligible entity that receives an 
establishment grant under section 5702(a) may use grant funds to hire 
additional school personnel to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (a).

``SEC. 5705. SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.

    ``Funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement, 
and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds available to 
carry out the activities supported under this part.

``SEC. 5706. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    ``Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the 
Counseling for Career Choice Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the 
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the progress made by the eligible entities 
receiving grants under this part in implementing grant activities.

``SEC. 5707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 and $40,000,000 for each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years.''.