School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program to fund additional school social workers and retain school social workers already employed in high-need local educational agencies. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act 2. School Social Workers Grants Subpart 2 of part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding after section 5421 ( 20 U.S.C. 7245 5422. Grants for School Social Workers (a) Grants authorized (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to high-need local educational agencies to enable such agencies to retain school social workers employed by such agencies or to hire additional school social workers. (2) Duration A grant awarded under this section shall be awarded for a period not to exceed 4 years. (3) Supplementation of funds Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, or local funds used for hiring and retaining school social workers. (b) Use of funds (1) A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant to retain school social workers employed by such agencies or to hire additional school social workers providing services described in subsection (d)(2). (2) A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section may use such grant for any of the following purposes: (A) To reimburse school social workers for travel expenses incurred during home visits and other school-related trips. (B) To reimburse school social workers for any additional expenses incurred in rendering the services described in subsection (d)(2). (c) Applications (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a high-need local educational agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (2) Contents Each application submitted for a grant under this section shall contain a description of the duties and responsibilities of school social workers providing services to students through such grant in accordance with subsection (d). (d) Duties and responsibilities of school social worker Any school social worker providing services to students through a grant funded under this section shall— (1) identify the highest-need students (as such term is defined by the Secretary) in each school such social worker serves and target services provided at the school to such students; and (2) provide to students in each school in which a school social worker serves, social work services, including— (A) counseling and crisis intervention; (B) case management activities to coordinate the delivery of and access to the appropriate social work services to highest-need students; (C) addressing of social, emotional, and mental health needs to ensure better school participation and better outcomes; (D) providing assistance to teachers to design behavioral interventions; (E) working with students, families, schools, and communities to promote attendance and address the causes of poor attendance, such as homelessness, lack of transportation, illness, phobia, or parents who have negative impressions of school; (F) home visits to meet the family of students in need of social work services in the home environment; (G) connecting students and families to the social welfare, child welfare, and community resource systems; and (H) other services the Secretary determines are necessary to carry out this section. (e) Grant Renewal (1) In general Grants awarded under this section may be renewed for additional periods having the same duration as the original grant period. (2) Continuing eligibility To be eligible for renewal under this paragraph of a grant, a high-need local educational agency shall submit to the Secretary, for each renewal, a report on the progress of such recipient in retaining and hiring school social workers. Such report shall include— (A) a description of the staffing expansion of school social workers funded through the grant received under this section; and (B) a description of the work such social workers performed to target high-need populations (as determined by the Secretary). (f) Technical assistance (1) In general The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to high-need local educational agencies, including such agencies that do not have adequate staff, in applying for grants under this section. (2) Extension of application period The Secretary shall extend any application period for a grant under this section for any high-need local educational agency that— (A) submits to the Secretary a written notification of the intent to apply for a grant under this section before requesting technical assistance under paragraph (1); and (B) after submitting the notification under subparagraph (A) requests such technical assistance. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) The term high-need local educational agency (2) The term school social worker (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. .

Summary: School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education to award renewable grants to high-need local educational agencies to retain or hire additional school social workers. Grantees may use the funds to reimburse school social workers for expenses they incur in rendering services. Grant-funded social workers must target their services to the highest-need students. Grant funds may not be used to supplant other funds used for hiring and retaining school social workers.