Strengthen Families, Strengthen Education Act

Summary: Strengthen Families, Strengthen Education Act - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow employees covered by such Act to take up to four hours during any 30-day period, and up to 24 hours during any 12-month period, of parental involvement leave to participate in or attend academic, school-sponsored activities attended by their children. 
Amends Federal civil service law to apply the same parental involvement leave allowance to Federal employees.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthen Families, Strengthen 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT LEAVE FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Leave Requirement.--Section 102(a) of the Family and Medical 
Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(3) Entitlement to parental involvement leave.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to section 103(f), an 
                eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of 4 
                hours of leave during any 30-day period, and a total of 
                24 hours of leave during any 12-month period, to 
                participate in or attend an activity that--
                            ``(i) is sponsored by a school; and
                            ``(ii) relates to an academic program that 
                        is sponsored by the school and is attended by a 
                        son or daughter of the employee.
                    ``(B) Relationship to family and medical leave.--
                The amount of leave taken by an eligible employee under 
                this paragraph during a 12-month period shall be 
                subtracted from the amount of leave available to the 
                employee under paragraph (1) for such 12-month period.
                    ``(C) Definition.--As used in this paragraph, the 
                term `school' means an elementary school or secondary 
                school (as such terms are defined in section 14101 of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 8801)) and a Head Start program assisted under 
                the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).''.
    (b) Schedule.--Section 102(b)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(b)(1)) 
is amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: 
``Leave under subsection (a)(3) may be taken intermittently or on a 
reduced leave schedule.''.
    (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 102(d)(2)(A) of such Act 
(29 U.S.C. 2612(d)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting before the period the 
following: ``, or for leave provided under subsection (a)(3) for any 
part of the 24-hour period of such leave under such subsection''.
    (d) Notice.--Section 102(e)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2612(e)(1)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ``In any case in which 
an employee requests leave under subsection (a)(3), the employee shall 
provide the employer with not less than 7 days' notice, before the date 
the leave is to begin, of the employee's intention to take leave under 
such subsection.''.
    (e) Certification.--Section 103 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 2613) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Certification for Parental Involvement Leave.--An employer 
may require that a request for leave under section 102(a)(3) be 
supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as 
the Secretary may by regulation prescribe.''.

SEC. 3. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT LEAVE FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Leave Requirement.--Section 6382(a) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3)(A) Subject to section 6383(f), an employee shall be entitled 
to a total of 4 hours of leave during any 30-day period, and a total of 
24 hours of leave during any 12-month period, to participate in or 
attend an activity that--
            ``(i) is sponsored by a school; and
            ``(ii) relates to an academic program that is sponsored by 
        the school and is attended by a son or daughter of the 
        employee.
    ``(B) The amount of leave taken by an employee under this paragraph 
during a 12-month period shall be subtracted from the amount of leave 
available to the employee under paragraph (1) for such 12-month period.
    ``(C) As used in this paragraph, the term `school' means an 
elementary school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in 
section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 8801)) and a Head Start program assisted under the Head Start 
Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).''.
    (b) Schedule.--Section 6382(b)(1) of such title is amended by 
inserting after the second sentence the following: ``Leave under 
subsection (a)(3) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave 
schedule.''.
    (c) Substitution of Paid Leave.--Section 6382(d) of such title is 
amended by inserting before ``, except'' the following: ``, or for 
leave provided under subsection (a)(3) any of the employee's accrued or 
accumulated annual leave under subchapter I for any part of the 24-hour 
period of such leave under such subsection''.
    (d) Notice.--Section 6382(e)(1) of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ``In any case in which an employee requests 
leave under subsection (a)(3), the employee shall provide the employing 
agency with not less than 7 days' notice, before the date the leave is 
to begin, of the employee's intention to take leave under such 
subsection.''.
    (e) Certification.--Section 6383 of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(f) An employing agency may require that a request for leave 
under section 6382(a)(3) be supported by a certification issued at such 
time and in such manner as the Office of Personnel Management may by 
regulation prescribe.''.