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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 178 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 178

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize a connecting education and emerging professions demonstration 
                             grant program.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2009

 Mr. Feingold introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
authorize a connecting education and emerging professions demonstration 
                             grant program.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Connecting Education and Emerging 
Professions Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The majority of secondary school students in the United 
        States receive some career-related instruction before 
        graduation, and about half of secondary school students have a 
        strong career-related component to their educational programs.
            (2) A gap still remains between what students are learning 
        in school and the knowledge required to succeed in the current 
        labor market.
            (3) Employers in various economic sectors, including 
        technology, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and 
        others, report difficulty in identifying qualified candidates 
        for skilled positions.
            (4) A survey of more than 400 employers nationwide found 
        that nearly half were dissatisfied with the overall preparation 
        of secondary school graduates.
            (5) Almost 40 percent of secondary school graduates report 
        feeling unprepared for the workplace or postsecondary 
        education.
            (6) In order for companies in the United States to be 
        competitive in a global economy, the United States must have a 
        highly skilled workforce.
            (7) Adequate preparation on the secondary school level can 
        help prepare students to enter high-demand fields in need of 
        skilled workers.
            (8) Collaboration between businesses, industries, and 
        education leaders can help determine how best to prepare 
        students for workforce success.
            (9) Career-related experiences during secondary education, 
        such as apprenticeships, are associated with positive labor 
        market outcomes for students.
            (10) The United States has a secondary school graduation 
        rate of 70 percent, and approximately one-third of students 
        entering secondary school will not graduate on time.
            (11) Minority and low socioeconomic status students have 
        significantly lower secondary school graduation rates.
            (12) Disengagement from classroom instruction contributes 
        to student decisions to drop out of school.
            (13) Studies indicate a link between career-oriented models 
        of secondary education, secondary school dropout rate 
        reduction, and higher earning potential for secondary school 
        graduates.
            (14) Studies suggest that academic lessons taught in a work 
        context or an applied manner can improve some students' ability 
        to comprehend and retain information.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) foster improved collaboration among secondary schools, 
        State, regional, and local businesses, institutions of higher 
        education, industry, workforce development organizations, labor 
        organizations, and other nonprofit community organizations to 
        identify emerging industry pathways, as well as the academic 
        skills necessary to improve student success in the workforce or 
        postsecondary education;
            (2) address industry and postsecondary education needs for 
        a prepared and skilled workforce;
            (3) improve the potential for economic and employment 
        growth in covered communities; and
            (4) help address the dropout crisis in the United States by 
        involving students in a collaborative curriculum or program 
        development process related to emerging industry pathways to 
        improve student engagement and attendance in secondary school.

SEC. 3. CONNECTING EDUCATION AND EMERGING PROFESSIONS DEMONSTRATION 
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization.--Part D of title V of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

      ``Subpart 22--Connecting Education and Emerging Professions 
                      Demonstration Grant Program

``SEC. 5621. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
            ``(1) Covered community.--The term `covered community' 
        means a town, city, community, region, or State that has--
                    ``(A) experienced a significant percentage job loss 
                in the 5 years prior to the date of enactment of this 
                subpart or is projected to experience a significant 
                percentage job loss within 5 years after the date of 
                enactment of this subpart; or
                    ``(B) an unemployment rate that has increased in 
                the 12 months prior to the date of enactment of this 
                subpart.
            ``(2) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
        partnership' means a partnership that includes--
                    ``(A) a State educational agency, a consortium of 
                local educational agencies, or a local educational 
                agency that collaborates with--
                            ``(i) a State, regional, or local business, 
                        including a small business, that serves a 
                        covered community in which a qualifying school 
                        is located; or
                            ``(ii) a regional workforce investment 
                        board that serves a covered community in which 
                        a qualifying school is located; and
                    ``(B) at least one of the following entities:
                            ``(i) An institution of higher education 
                        that provides a 4-year program of instruction.
                            ``(ii) An accredited community college.
                            ``(iii) An accredited career or technical 
                        school or college.
                            ``(iv) A tribal college or university.
                            ``(v) A nonprofit community organization.
                            ``(vi) A labor organization.
            ``(3) Emerging industry pathways.--The term `emerging 
        industry pathways' means industry careers that--
                    ``(A) are estimated to increase in the number of 
                job opportunities in a covered community within the 5 
                to 7 years after the date of enactment of this subpart;
                    ``(B) require new academic skill sets because of 
                new technology or innovation in the field;
                    ``(C) are important to the growth of the State 
                economy, regional economy, or local area's economy; and
                    ``(D) may include--
                            ``(i) green industries;
                            ``(ii) healthcare industries;
                            ``(iii) advanced manufacturing industries; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) programs of study, as described in 
                        section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins 
                        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
            ``(4) Qualifying school.--The term `qualifying school' 
        means a secondary school that--
                    ``(A) serves students not less than 30 percent of 
                whom are eligible for the school lunch program under 
                the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or 
                meet an equivalent indicator of poverty established by 
                the Secretary;
                    ``(B) has a graduation rate that is lower than the 
                State average; and
                    ``(C) is located in a covered community.
            ``(5) School- and work-based curriculum or program.--The 
        term `school- and work-based curriculum or program' means a 
        curriculum or program that incorporates a combination of 
        school-based instruction and work-based learning opportunities, 
        including internships, work experience programs, 
        apprenticeships, service learning programs, mentorship 
        opportunities, job shadowing, and other career and technical 
        education programs, in an emerging industry pathway.
            ``(6) Tribal college or university.--The term `tribal 
        college or university' means an educational institution that 
        is--
                    ``(A) a tribal college or university, as defined in 
                section 2(a) of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
                Universities Assistance Act of 1978; or
                    ``(B) one of the 1994 Institutions, as defined in 
                section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
                Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note).

``SEC. 5622. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 5626, 
the Secretary shall establish and carry out an emerging professions and 
educational improvement demonstration project, by awarding grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible partnerships.
    ``(b) Program Periods.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this subpart for periods of not more than 5 years, of which the 
        eligible partnership shall use--
                    ``(A) not more than 18 months for assessing 
                emerging industry pathways, assessing the academic 
                skills needed for success in such pathways, and 
                designing a school- and work-based curriculum or 
                program to teach such academic skills necessary for 
                success in an emerging industry pathway;
                    ``(B) not more than 48 months for implementing the 
                new emerging industry pathways school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program in qualifying schools; and
                    ``(C) not more than 12 months to disseminate best 
                practices to other State educational agencies, local 
                educational agencies, or schools.
            ``(2) Overlap.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant 
        under this subpart may carry out subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) 
        concurrently.
    ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subpart, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships that--
            ``(1) serve qualifying schools in which 50 percent or more 
        of the students are eligible for the school lunch program under 
        the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or meet an 
        equivalent indicator of poverty established by the Secretary;
            ``(2) serve qualifying schools the majority of which have 
        secondary school dropout rates in the top 25 percent statewide;
            ``(3) pledge to serve the students most at-risk of dropping 
        out of qualifying schools;
            ``(4) develop school- and work-based curricula or programs 
        serving green industries, health care industries, and advanced 
        manufacturing industries; or
            ``(5) have a demonstrated record of success in forming 
        collaborative partnerships with businesses, workforce 
        development boards, institutions of higher education, local 
        community and technical colleges, tribal colleges or 
        universities, labor organizations, and other nonprofit 
        community organizations.

``SEC. 5623. APPLICATIONS.

    ``An eligible partnership that desires to receive a grant under 
this subpart shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including--
            ``(1) a description of the eligible partnership, including 
        the responsibilities of each partner and how each partner will 
        meet its responsibilities;
            ``(2) a description of the statewide, regional, or local 
        emerging industry pathways and labor market needs to be filled;
            ``(3) a description of how members of the eligible 
        partnership will collaborate with each other and interested 
        community stakeholders to assess the emerging industry pathways 
        in the State, region, or local area;
            ``(4) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        engage students from qualifying schools to be served in the 
        design and implementation of the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program;
            ``(5) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        use the assessment of emerging industry pathways to establish a 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program to teach academic 
        and industry skills needed for success in such emerging 
        industries and how these skills will be aligned with existing 
        challenging State academic content standards;
            ``(6) a description of how teachers, parents or guardians, 
        and school guidance counselors will be consulted by the 
        eligible partnership in the development of the school- and 
        work-based curriculum or program developed under this subpart;
            ``(7) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        ensure that teachers and instructors have the necessary 
        training and preparation to teach the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program developed under this subpart;
            ``(8) a description of how the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program developed under this subpart will improve 
        the academic achievement, student attendance, and secondary 
        school completion of at-risk students and such students' 
        readiness to enter into a career in an emerging industry or 
        pursue postsecondary education;
            ``(9) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        design a school- and work-based curriculum or program that 
        meets the unique academic and career development needs of 
        students to be served by the curriculum or program;
            ``(10) a description of how the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program will support statewide, regional, or 
        local emerging industries;
            ``(11) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        measure and report improvement in academic and student 
        engagement outcomes among students who participate in the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program developed under 
        this subpart;
            ``(12) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        seek to leverage other sources of Federal, State, and local 
        funding to support the development and implementation of the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program;
            ``(13) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        work to create, use, and evaluate individual learning plans and 
        career portfolios for students served under this subpart;
            ``(14) a description of how the eligible partnership will 
        coordinate such curriculum or program with programs funded 
        under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
        2006; and
            ``(15) a description of how the eligible partnership plans 
        to sustain and expand such school- and work-based curriculum or 
        program after the Federal grant period ends.

``SEC. 5624. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Selection.--In awarding grants under this subpart, the 
Secretary shall--
            ``(1) consider the information submitted by the eligible 
        partnerships under section 5623;
            ``(2) prioritize applications in accordance with section 
        5622(c); and
            ``(3) select eligible partnerships that submit applications 
        in compliance with section 5623.
    ``(b) Award Amounts.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary 
        shall award each grant under this subpart in an amount of not 
        more than $5,000,000.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--An eligible partnership that receives 
        a grant under this subpart shall use--
                    ``(A) not more than 35 percent of the grant funds 
                for designing the emerging industry pathways school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program; and
                    ``(B) not less than 65 percent of the grant funds 
                for implementing the emerging industry pathways school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program in qualifying 
                schools.
    ``(c) Funding To Implement Curricula or Programs.--The Secretary 
may not award grant funds under subsection (b)(2)(B) to implement the 
emerging industry pathways school- and work-based curriculum or program 
until the Secretary certifies that the eligible partnership is in 
compliance with the following:
            ``(1) The eligible partnership has engaged in a 
        collaborative process involving educators and school 
        administrators, including curriculum experts, as well as 
        representatives from local businesses and industry to assess 
        emerging industry demands and the academic knowledge and skills 
        needed to meet those demands.
            ``(2) The school- and work-based curriculum or program 
        developed by the eligible partnership is aligned with 
        challenging State academic content standards.
            ``(3) The eligible partnership has consulted with and 
        involved students in qualifying schools in the collaboration 
        process and design of the school- and work-based curriculum or 
        program.
            ``(4) The eligible partnership has received a commitment 
        from at least one qualifying school agreeing to implement the 
        school- and work-based curriculum or program in the qualifying 
        school.
            ``(5) The school- and work-based curriculum or program will 
        help prepare students for both direct entry into a career in 
        emerging industries and success in postsecondary education.
            ``(6) The eligible partnership has established a plan to 
        promote the school- and work-based curriculum or program among 
        qualifying schools, businesses, parental groups, and community 
        organizations.
    ``(d) Eligible Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) Planning phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the designing phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Establishing collaborative working groups 
                consisting of educators, school administrators, 
                representatives of local or regional businesses, 
                postsecondary education representatives, 
                representatives from labor organizations, and 
                representatives from nonprofit organizations.
                    ``(B) Identifying emerging industry pathways at the 
                State, regional, or local level.
                    ``(C) Identifying the academic and skill gaps that 
                need to be addressed to promote success in the emerging 
                industry pathways identified in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(D) Developing a school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program to teach and integrate the 
                academic and work-based skills, including soft skills, 
                that are needed for success in emerging industry 
                pathways and postsecondary education.
                    ``(E) Creating a comprehensive set of academic and 
                industry skills to be taught across multiple emerging 
                industry pathways.
                    ``(F) Aligning the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program with challenging State academic 
                content standards.
                    ``(G) Establishing professional development 
                opportunities for educators, business partners, school 
                counselors, and others who will be implementing the 
                school- and work-based curriculum or program.
                    ``(H) Collaborating with multistate regions to 
                develop and identify a school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program that addresses regional emerging 
                industry pathways.
            ``(2) Implementing phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the implementing phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Integrating the emerging industry pathways 
                school- and work-based curriculum or program into 
                classroom- or work-based instruction.
                    ``(B) Providing professional development 
                opportunities designed around the school- and work-
                based curriculum or program for educators, business 
                partners, and others.
                    ``(C) Identifying and creating school- and work-
                based learning curricula or programs for students in 
                such emerging industry pathways.
                    ``(D) Promoting the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program among school guidance counselors.
                    ``(E) Working with pupil services staff to develop 
                opportunities for career exploration among emerging 
                industry pathways business partners.
                    ``(F) Conducting ongoing evaluations of the school- 
                and work-based curriculum or program, including 
                assessing whether participating students report 
                increased engagement in learning, increased school 
                attendance, and improved success upon entry into the 
                workforce or postsecondary education.
                    ``(G) Purchasing resources, including textbooks, 
                reference materials, assessments, labs, computers, and 
                software, for use in the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program.
            ``(3) Dissemination phase.--An eligible partnership that 
        receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds 
        in the dissemination phase for the following:
                    ``(A) Evaluating, cataloging, and disseminating 
                best practices from the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program.
                    ``(B) Disseminating the school- and work-based 
                curriculum or program to--
                            ``(i) the National Research Center for 
                        Career and Technical Education;
                            ``(ii) State, regional, and local 
                        professional education organizations; and
                            ``(iii) institutions of higher education.
    ``(e) Matching Contributions.--An eligible partnership that 
receives a grant under this subpart shall provide, from non-Federal 
sources, matching funds, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, to 
carry out the activities supported by the grant, in an amount equal 
to--
            ``(1) for the first year of the grant, 5 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(2) for the second year of the grant, 10 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(3) for the third year of the grant, 15 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year;
            ``(4) for the fourth year of the grant, 20 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year; and
            ``(5) for the fifth year of the grant, 25 percent of the 
        amount of the grant for such year.
    ``(f) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Grant funds awarded under this 
subpart shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, 
State, and local funds available to implement secondary school 
education programs or career and technical education programs.

``SEC. 5625. EVALUATION AND REPORTS.

    ``(a) Annual Reports.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
grant under this subpart shall submit an annual report to the Secretary 
during the grant period detailing how the eligible partnership is using 
the grant funds under this subpart, including--
            ``(1) how the State educational agency or local educational 
        agency that is a member of the eligible partnership 
        collaborated with local businesses, workforce boards, 
        institutions of higher education, and community organizations 
        to assess emerging industry pathways;
            ``(2) how the eligible partnership has consulted with and 
        involved students in qualifying schools in the design and 
        implementation of the emerging industry pathways school- and 
        work-based curriculum or program;
            ``(3) the effectiveness of the school- and work-based 
        curriculum or program with respect to improving--
                    ``(A) student engagement;
                    ``(B) attendance;
                    ``(C) secondary school graduation rates; and
                    ``(D) preparation for and placement in a career in 
                an emerging industry or in postsecondary education;
            ``(4) how the eligible partnership has improved its 
        capacity to respond to new workforce development priorities and 
        create educational opportunities that address such new 
        workforce development priorities; and
            ``(5) any other information the Secretary may reasonably 
        require.
    ``(b) Final Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
        grant under this subpart shall, at the end of the grant period, 
        collect and prepare a report on the following information:
                    ``(A) The number and percentage of students served 
                by the eligible partnership who--
                            ``(i) graduated from secondary school with 
                        a regular secondary school diploma in the 
                        standard number of years;
                            ``(ii) entered into a job in an emerging 
                        industry; and
                            ``(iii) enrolled in a postsecondary 
                        institution.
                    ``(B) The emerging industry pathways school- and 
                work-based curriculum or program and the--
                            ``(i) successes of such curriculum or 
                        program, including placement rates of students 
                        in work or postsecondary education and trends 
                        in secondary school graduation rates in 
                        qualifying schools utilizing the school- and 
                        work-based curriculum or program;
                            ``(ii) areas of improvement for the school- 
                        and work-based curriculum or program;
                            ``(iii) lessons learned from the 
                        implementation of the school- and work-based 
                        curriculum or program in secondary schools; and
                            ``(iv) plans to replicate the school- and 
                        work-based curriculum or program in other 
                        schools or examples of successful replication 
                        of the curriculum or program.
            ``(2) Submission of reports.--A report prepared under 
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Secretary and the 
        National Research Center for Career and Technical Education.
    ``(c) Federal Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 6 years after 
the date of enactment of this subpart, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) develop and execute a plan for evaluating the 
        emerging industry pathways school- and work-based curricula or 
        programs assisted under this subpart; and
            ``(2) submit a report to Congress--
                    ``(A) detailing aggregate data on--
                            ``(i) the categories of activities for 
                        which eligible partnerships used grant funds 
                        under this subpart;
                            ``(ii) the impact of the grants on--
                                    ``(I) student engagement, 
                                attendance, and completion of secondary 
                                school; and
                                    ``(II) the postsecondary placement 
                                of students in high-quality emerging 
                                industry careers or postsecondary 
                                education; and
                            ``(iii) promising strategies for improving 
                        student engagement, attendance, and completion 
                        of secondary school through engaging curricula 
                        or programs; and
                    ``(B) that includes any recommendations for 
                improvements that can be made to the grant program 
                under this subpart.

``SEC. 5626. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--From the amounts appropriated to and available 
for Program Administration within the Departmental Management account 
in the Department of Education for each of fiscal years 2010 through 
2013, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2010 through 2013, respectively, to carry out this 
subpart.
    ``(b) Set Aside for Evaluation.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a) for a fiscal year, 2 percent shall be set aside for such 
fiscal year for the Federal evaluation required under section 
5625(c).''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5618 the following:

      ``subpart 22--connecting education and emerging professions 
                      demonstration grant program

``Sec. 5621. Definitions.
``Sec. 5622. Program authorized.
``Sec. 5623. Applications.
``Sec. 5624. Program administration.
``Sec. 5625. Evaluation and reports.
``Sec. 5626. Authorization of appropriations.''.
                                 <all>
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