II 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3645 

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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 26, 2010 

Mrs. MURRAY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND FINDINGS. 

4 (a) DEFINITIONS.— 

5 (1) CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.—In this 

6 Act, the term ‘‘classified school employee’’ means an 

7 employee working in any grade from pre-kinderVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:16 Jul 27, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3645.IS S3645

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1 garten through higher education, in any of the fol2 lowing nine occupational specialities: 

3 (A) Paraprofessionals. 

4 (B) Clerical and administrative services. 

5 (C) Transportation services. 

6 (D) Food and nutrition services. 

7 (E) Custodial and maintenance services. 

8 (F) Security services. 

9 (G) Health and student services. 

10 (H) Technical services. 

11 (I) Skilled trades. 

12 (2) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in 

13 this Act have the meaning given the terms in section 

14 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

15 Act 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

16 (b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 

17 (1) Classified school employees provide valuable 

18 service to public schools in the United States. 

19 (2) Classified school employees provide essential 

20 services, such as transportation, facilities mainte21 nance and operations, food service, safety, and 

22 health care. 

23 (3) Classified school employees play a vital role 

24 in providing for the welfare and safety of students. 


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1 (4) Classified school employees strive for excel2 lence in all areas of service to the education commu3 nity. 

4 (5) Exemplary classified school employees 

5 should be recognized for their outstanding contribu6 tions to quality education in the United States. 

7 SEC. 2. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 

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

9 establish and administer a national recognition program 

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

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

12 be to recognize and promote the commitment and excel13 lence exhibited by employees within certain occupational 

14 specialties in public schools who provide exemplary service 

15 to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education. 

16 (b) OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The occupational specialties 

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

19 (A) Paraprofessionals. 

20 (B) Clerical and administrative services. 

21 (C) Transportation services. 

22 (D) Food and nutrition services. 

23 (E) Custodial and maintenance services. 

24 (F) Security services. 

25 (G) Health and student services. 


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1 (H) Technical services. 

2 (I) Skilled trades. 

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

4 of each year (beginning with the second calendar 

5 year that begins after the date of the enactment of 

6 this Act), the Secretary shall select an employee 

7 from each occupational specialty described in para8 graph (1) to receive an award under the recognition 

9 program. 

10 (c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 

11 (1) NOMINATION PROCESS.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than Novem13 ber 1 of each year (beginning with the first cal14 endar year that begins after the date of the en15 actment of this Act), the Secretary shall solicit 

16 nominations from each occupational specialty 

17 described in subsection (b)(1) from the chief 

18 State school officer of each State. 

19 (B) NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS.—In order 

20 for individuals in a State to be eligible to re21 ceive recognition under this section, the chief 

22 State school officer of the State shall consider 

23 nominations submitted by the following: 

24 (i) Local educational agencies. 

25 (ii) School administrators. 


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1 (iii) Professional associations. 

2 (iv) Labor unions. 

3 (v) Any other group determined ap4 propriate by the Secretary. 

5 (2) DEMONSTRATION.—Each chief State school 

6 officer of a State who desires individuals in the 

7 State to receive recognition under this section shall 

8 submit the nominations described in paragraph (1) 

9 to the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary 

10 may require. Each such nomination shall contain, at 

11 a minimum, demonstrations of excellence in the fol12 lowing areas: 

13 (A) Work performance. 

14 (B) School and community involvement. 

15 (C) Leadership and commitment. 

16 (D) Local support. 

17 (E) Enhancement of classified school em18 ployees’ image in the community and schools. 

19 (F) Any other area of superior perform20 ance, such as health and safety promotion or ef21 ficient use of energy or other resources. 

22 (3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall develop 

23 uniform national guidelines for evaluating nomina24 tions submitted under paragraph (2) in order to se25 lect the most deserving nominees based on the demVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:16 Jul 27, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3645.IS S3645

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1 onstrations made in the areas described in such 

2 paragraph. 

Æ 


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