After School Education and Safety Act of 1997

Summary: After School Education and Safety Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award after-school education and safety program grants to schools to carry out at least two of the following activities:  (1) mentoring programs; (2) academic assistance; (3) recreational activities; and (4) technology training.  Allows each school also to carry out any of the following activities:  (1) drug, alcohol, and gang prevention activities; (2) health and nutrition counseling; and (3) job skills preparation activities. 
Requires the school to provide such grant-assisted activities:  (1) only after regular school hours during the school year; (2) in a manner that reflects the specific needs of the population, students, and community to be served; and (3) in a school building or other public facility designated by the school. 
Authorizes appropriations.

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.