IIB 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2377 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 16, 2010 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 

Labor, and Pensions 

AN ACT 

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited 

by public school system employees providing services to 

students in pre-kindergarten through higher education. 

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


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1 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

2 The Congress finds as follows: 

3 (1) The term ‘‘classified school employee’’ re4 fers to employees working in pre-kindergarten 

5 through higher education, in the following nine job 

6 families: 

7 (A) Paraprofessionals. 

8 (B) Clerical services. 

9 (C) Custodial and maintenance services. 

10 (D) Transportation services. 

11 (E) Food services. 

12 (F) Skilled trades. 

13 (G) Health and student services. 

14 (H) Security services. 

15 (I) Technical services. 

16 (2) Classified school employees provide valuable 

17 service to public schools in the United States. 

18 (3) Classified school employees provide essential 

19 services, such as transportation, facilities mainte20 nance and operations, food service, safety, and 

21 health care. 

22 (4) Classified school employees play a vital role 

23 in providing for the welfare and safety of students. 

24 (5) Classified school employees strive for excel25 lence in all areas of service to the education commu26 nity. 


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1 (6) Exemplary classified school employees 

2 should be recognized for their outstanding contribu3 tions to quality education in the United States. 

4 SEC. 2. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 

6 establish and administer a national recognition program 

7 to be known as the ‘‘National Classified School Employees 

8 of the Year Awards’’. The purpose of the program shall 

9 be to recognize and promote the commitment and excel10 lence exhibited by employees within certain occupational 

11 specialties in public schools who provide exemplary service 

12 to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education. 

13 (b) OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—The occupational specialties 

15 referred to in subsection (a) are the following: 

16 (A) Paraprofessionals. 

17 (B) Clerical and administrative services. 

18 (C) Transportation services. 

19 (D) Food and nutrition services. 

20 (E) Custodial and maintenance services. 

21 (F) Security services. 

22 (G) Health and student services. 

23 (H) Technical services. 

24 (I) Skilled trades. 


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1 (2) NUMBER OF AWARDS.—Prior to March 31 

2 of each year (beginning with the second calendar 

3 year that begins after the date of the enactment of 

4 this Act), the Secretary shall select an employee 

5 from each occupational specialty described in para6 graph (1) to receive an award under the recognition 

7 program. 

8 (c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 

9 (1) NOMINATION PROCESS.—Not later than No10 vember 1 of each year (beginning with the first cal11 endar year that begins after the date of the enact12 ment of this Act), the Secretary shall solicit nomina13 tions from each occupational specialty described in 

14 subsection (b)(1) from the chief State school officer 

15 of each State. The chief State school officer of each 

16 State shall consider nominations submitted by the 

17 following: 

18 (A) Local educational agencies. 

19 (B) School administrators. 

20 (C) Professional associations. 

21 (D) Labor unions. 

22 (E) Any other group determined appro23 priate by the Secretary. 

24 (2) DEMONSTRATION.—Each nomination shall 

25 be submitted to the Secretary by a chief State school 


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1 officer in such manner as the Secretary may require 

2 and shall contain, at a minimum, demonstrations of 

3 excellence in the following areas: 

4 (A) Work performance. 

5 (B) School and community involvement. 

6 (C) Leadership and commitment. 

7 (D) Local support. 

8 (E) Enhancement of classified school em9 ployees’ image in the community and schools. 

10 (F) Any other area of superior perform11 ance, such as health and safety promotion or ef12 ficient use of energy or other resources. 

13 (3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall develop 

14 uniform national guidelines for evaluating nomina15 tions submitted under paragraph (2) in order to se16 lect the most deserving nominees based on the dem17 onstrations made in the areas described in such 

18 paragraph. 

19 (d) DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in this Act shall 

20 have the meaning given such terms in section 9101 of the 


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1 Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965 (20 

2 U.S.C. 7801). 

Passed the House of Representatives March 15, 

2010. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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