Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs to assist at-risk middle school students with the transition from middle school to high school. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act 2. Transition-to-Success Mentoring Program (a) Authorization of Appropriations Section 1002(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6553 (d) Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities described in part D, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. . (b) Transition-to-Success Mentoring Program Part D of title I of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 6421 et seq. 4 Transition-to-Success Mentoring Program 1441. Transition-to-Success Mentoring Program (a) In general From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring programs to assist eligible students with the transition from middle school to high school. (b) Application To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Uses of funds (1) Required uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish a mentoring program, or to expand or provide technical support to an existing mentoring program, in all middle schools served by the entity, under which each eligible student is assigned to a success coach who— (A) creates a plan for success for the student that— (i) is created with the student, mentor, relevant school staff (such as a teacher or school counselor), and parents of the student; (ii) includes, for each academic year, the student’s academic, personal, college, and career exploration goals, and a strategy on how to accomplish such goals; (iii) identifies the student’s strengths, areas for improvement, and academic progress; and (iv) includes a plan to educate and support the student’s college or career exploration goals; (B) enters into a signed, written agreement with the parents of the student that describes how the parents should assist the student in carrying out the plan for success; (C) meets with the student at least once per month to— (i) assist the student in achieving the goals under the plan for success; (ii) identify the student’s academic areas for improvement; (iii) connect the student with the tools and resources necessary to help improve the student’s potential for academic success; (iv) ensure the student’s successful transition from middle school to high school by identifying opportunities to help the student develop a positive attitude toward school, improve classroom behavior, complete coursework, and socialize with peers; and (v) in the case of a student with behavioral issues, assist the student in behavior management techniques; (D) at least monthly, meets with the student and the parents, teachers, or counselors of the student to— (i) evaluate the student’s progress in achieving the goals under the plan for the current academic year; and (ii) revise or establish new goals for the next academic year; and (E) assists the student in exploring higher education and career exposure opportunities. (2) Authorized uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use such funds to— (A) develop and carry out a training program for success coaches; (B) pay for costs related to success coach and mentee participation in the program; (C) hire staff to perform or support the program objectives; (D) recruit, screen, and match new success coaches; and (E) provide activities or programming with the purpose of engaging and connecting the student to the school community. (d) Grant Duration A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 5 years. (e) Reporting requirements (1) Eligible entities An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary, at the end of each academic year during the grant period, a report that includes— (A) the number of students who participated in the school-based mentoring program that was funded in whole or in part with the grant funds under this section; (B) data on the academic achievement of such students; (C) the number of contact hours between such students and their success coaches; and (D) any other information that the Secretary may require to evaluate the success of the school-based mentoring program. (2) Secretary (A) Interim report At the end of the third fiscal year for which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an interim report on the success of the school-based mentoring programs funded under this section that includes the information received under paragraph (1). (B) Final report At the end of the fifth fiscal year for which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report on the success of the school-based mentoring programs funded under this section that includes the information received under paragraph (1). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) At-risk The term at-risk 20 U.S.C. 6472 (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a local educational agency that— (i) receives, or is eligible to receive, funds under part A of this title; or (ii) is a high-need local educational agency; or (B) a partnership between a local educational agency described in subparagraph (A) and a nonprofit, community-based organization. (3) Eligible student The term eligible student (A) is enrolled in a middle school served by an eligible entity; and (B) is an at-risk student. (4) High-need local educational agency The term high-need local educational agency (5) High-need school The term high-need school (6) Middle school The term middle school (7) Parent The term parent 20 U.S.C. 7801 (8) School-based mentoring The term school-based mentoring (A) are closely coordinated with a school by involving teachers, counselors, and other school staff who may identify and refer students for mentoring services; and (B) assist at-risk students in improving academic achievement and attitudes toward school and reducing disciplinary referrals. (9) Success coach The term success coach (A) is— (i) an employee or volunteer of a local educational agency in which a mentoring program receiving support under this section is being carried out; or (ii) a volunteer or employee from a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteers for mentoring programs in secondary schools; and (B) prior to becoming a success coach— (i) received training from an eligible entity, which, at a minimum, was 2 hours in length and covered the roles and responsibilities of a success coach; and (ii) underwent a screening by an eligible entity that included— (I) appropriate job reference checks; (II) child and domestic abuse record checks; and (III) criminal background checks. . 3. Table of contents The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. Subpart 4—Transition-to-Success Mentoring Program Sec. 1441. Transition-to-success mentoring program. .

Summary: Transition-to-Success Mentoring Act This bill permanently reauthorizes educational programs that assist at-risk middle school students. It also establishes a transition-to-success mentoring program requiring the Department of Education to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) to provide school-based mentoring programs to assist at-risk students in transitioning from middle to high school.