I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4186

To provide demonstration grants to local governmental agencies and

community-based organizations for mentor programs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 13, 1994

Miss COLLINS of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred

to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To provide demonstration grants to local governmental agencies and community-based organizations for mentor

programs.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. PURPOSES.

4 The purpose of this Act is to award demonstration

5 grants—

6 (1) to provide role models for encouraging at7 risk youth to become responsible citizens;

8 (2) to build a sense of community in distressed

9 urban areas;
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1 (3) to improve academic and social performance

2 of at-risk youth and encourage educational achieve3 ment;

4 (4) to improve individual self-concept and

5 multicultural knowledge of history in an effort to in6 still a positive self-image;

7 (5) to strengthen family relationships; and

8 (6) to encourage at-risk youth to resolve con9 flicts without violence.

10 SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, after consultation

12 with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is au13 thorized to award grants to eligible entities that serve at14 risk students with not less than half of such grants award15 ed to such entities that serve primarily minority youth.

16 (b) AWARD BASIS.—The Secretary shall award

17 grants under this Act on a competitive basis.

18 (c) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT.—A grant made under

19 this section shall be distributed to a grantee in 1 or more

20 annual installments during a period not to exceed 3 years.

21 (d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this Act,

22 the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that

23 have developed broad-based community support.
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1 SEC. 3. APPLICATION.

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—To request a grant under this

3 Act, a designated representative of an eligible entity shall

4 submit an application to the Secretary in such form and

5 containing such information as the Secretary may reason6 ably require.

7 (b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Each application

8 submitted under subsection (a) shall include assurances

9 that the eligible entity shall—

10 (1) establish a mentorship program that in11 cludes—

12 (A) participation from adult role models

13 who have made a commitment to serve as a

14 mentor during and after school, including the

15 period between school years; and

16 (B) programs conducted by mentors re17 garding such topics as culture, values, conflict

18 resolution, and the importance of family, edu19 cation, and community;

20 (2) provide tutors to work with students and

21 mentors;

22 (3) describe how activities will take place in the

23 community and community members will be in24 volved;

25 (4) describe activities that develop family rela26 tionship skills;
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1 (5) require that students who participate in a

2 mentor program establish written goals, including

3 educational and behavioral goals; and

4 (6) require parental consent for children to par5 ticipate in mentoring programs.

6 SEC. 4. EVALUATION.

7 The Secretary shall evaluate the demonstration pro8 gram assisted under this Act and shall report annually to

9 the Congress regarding the overall effectiveness of such

10 program, including recommendations for improving the

11 program.

12 SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

13 For the purposes of this Act—

14 (1) the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a local gov15 ernmental agency, a nonprofit community-based or16 ganization, or a consortia of such nonprofit agencies

17 and organizations in communities in which—

18 (A) a high percentage of residents are

19 members of low-income families with children;

20 and

21 (B) there is unemployment, pervasive pov22 erty, and general economic distress;

23 (2) the term ‘‘at-risk youth’’ means a youth at

24 risk of educational failure, including failure to com-
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1 plete graduation requirements or involvement in de2 linquent activities;

3 (3) the term ‘‘mentor’’ means an individual who

4 works with an at-risk youth on a one-to-one basis,

5 establishing a supportive relationship with the youth

6 and providing the youth with academic assistance

7 and exposure to new experiences that enhance the

8 youth’s ability to become a responsible citizen; and

9 (4) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

10 of Education.

11 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

12 There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000

13 for fiscal year 1994 and $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal

14 years 1995 and 1996 to carry out this Act.

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