Extracurricular Programs for Indian Children Act of 2015

To provide grants to eligible entities to develop and maintain or improve and expand before school, afterschool, and summer school programs for Indian and Alaska Native students, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Extracurricular Programs for Indian Children Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds that: (1) The United States has a distinct legal, treaty, and trust obligation to provide for the education, healthcare, safety, social welfare, and other needs of Native children. (2) Native children are the most at-risk population in the United States, confronting serious disparities in education, health, and safety, with 37 percent of Native children living in poverty. (3) Teens who do not participate in those programs are nearly 3 times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and more likely to drink alcohol. 22.9 percent of Native children aged 12 and older report alcohol use, 16 percent report substance dependence or abuse, 35.8 percent report tobacco use, and 12.5 percent report illicit drug use. (4) Protective factors against youth suicide include opportunities to participate in and contribute to school and/or community projects/activities. Suicide is the second leading cause of death of Native youth aged 15 through 24 at a rate of 2.5 percent—this is twice the national rate of non-Native youth of the same age. (5) Nationally, American Indian and Alaska Native students have the lowest college enrollment rates. At-risk youth who have a mentor are more likely to pursue higher education after high school in a four-year, two-year, or vocational program than their at-risk peers who do not have a mentor. (45 percent compared to 29 percent). (6) Students who are engaged in extracurricular (afterschool and summer learning) activities have better attendance records, higher levels of academic achievement, and more interest in pursuing higher education after graduation. 3. Purpose (a) In general The purpose of this Act is to establish a grant program for Indian tribes and eligible tribal entities for extracurricular programs— (1) to support and encourage the educational and cultural growth of Indian and Alaska Native students; (2) to provide access to mentors and resources that promote emotional and mental resilience in Native youth; (3) to ensure Native children receive consistent access to nutritional meals; and (4) to increase the availability of safe and useable educational infrastructures in Native communities and on tribal land. (b) Purpose of grants The funds awarded under the grant program established under section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (as added by section 4(a)) shall be used for— (1) culturally appropriate before school, afterschool, and summer school programs that include activities designed to reinforce and complement the academic program of participating students, such as— (A) development and extracurricular activities; and (B) programs relating to— (i) substance abuse and violence prevention; (ii) counseling; (iii) physical fitness and wellness; (iv) Native culture and language; (v) agriculture and nutrition; (vi) technology education; and (vii) character education; (2) funds to build or upgrade facilities for before school, afterschool, and summer school programs; and (3) access to federally funded meal programs. 4. Before school, afterschool, and summer school grant program for Indian and Alaska Native students (a) Grant program The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended by inserting after section 365 ( 7 U.S.C. 2008 366. Before school, afterschool, and summer school grant program for Indian and Alaska Native students (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity (A) In general The term eligible entity (B) List of entities An entity described in this subparagraph is 1 of the following: (i) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b (ii) A local educational agency (as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (iii) A private accredited elementary or secondary school (as those terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (iv) A Regional Corporation (as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1602 (v) A school operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (vi) A Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) (vii) A tribal education agency. (viii) A tribal nonprofit organization. (ix) A tribally controlled school (as defined in section 5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 ( 25 U.S.C. 2511 (x) A consortium of any of the entities in clauses (i) through (ix). (2) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Grant program (1) In general The Secretary shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities to develop and maintain or improve and expand before school, afterschool, and summer school programs for Indian and Alaska Native students. (2) Grant period A grant made under this section shall be for a period of not less than 3 and not more than 5 years. (3) Minimum grant amount The minimum amount of a grant under this section shall be $50,000 per eligible entity per fiscal year. (c) Application (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents At a minimum, an application for a grant under this section shall describe— (A) the before school, afterschool, or summer school activities to be funded with the grant; (B) community needs, available resources, and the activities of the proposed program that address the needs of the community; (C) the number and age ranges of children to be served by the proposed program; (D) an assurance that participation in the program will be free of cost; and (E) the demonstrated experience or potential for success of the eligible entity in providing educational, cultural, and related activities that complement and enhance academic performance, achievement, and development of Indian or Alaska Native students. (d) Authorized activities (1) In general An eligible entity may only use a grant awarded under this section to carry out an activity described in this subsection. (2) Before school, afterschool, and summer school programs An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this section to carry out before school, afterschool, and summer school activities that advance or improve student academic achievement and well-being, including— (A) remedial education activities and academic enrichment programs, including programs that provide academic assistance to students to enhance academic achievement; (B) mathematics and science education activities; (C) arts and music education activities; (D) entrepreneurial education programs; (E) tutoring services (including services provided by senior citizen volunteers) and mentoring programs; (F) Native language programs; (G) Native cultural programs; (H) physical fitness and wellness activities; (I) telecommunications and technology education programs; (J) programs that promote parental involvement and family literacy; (K) programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled from school so as to allow those students to improve academic achievement; (L) substance abuse and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, and character education programs; (M) child and adolescent health and mental health services; (N) leadership and youth development activities; (O) job skills development programs; (P) agriculture and nutrition services; and (Q) transportation services. (3) Facilities (A) In general An eligible entity may use a grant awarded under this section— (i) to build facilities for youth centers; or (ii) to upgrade existing facilities. (B) Other uses A facility built or upgraded with funds awarded under this section may be used for educational and community purposes not described in paragraph (2) at times when the facility is not being used for activities described in that paragraph. (4) Limitation on use An eligible entity may use not more than 5 percent of grant funds for grant administration costs. (e) Funding (1) Authorization of Appropriations (A) Programming There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants for authorized activities described in subsection (d)(2)— (i) for fiscal year 2016, $2,000,000; (ii) for fiscal year 2017, $4,000,000; (iii) for fiscal year 2018, $6,000,000; (iv) for fiscal year 2019, $8,000,000; and (v) for fiscal year 2020, $10,000,000. (B) Facility construction and rehabilitation There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants for authorized activities described in subsection (d)(3) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. (2) Unused funds Any funds made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year that are not used for that fiscal year shall be available to the Secretary to make grants in accordance with this section for the subsequent fiscal year. (f) Reporting and Evaluation (1) Reports to the Secretary Each grantee shall annually submit to the Secretary a report in such form and manner as the Secretary may require. (2) Annual Grant Program Evaluation (A) In general The Secretary shall annually— (i) compile and analyze the reports submitted under paragraph (1); and (ii) conduct an evaluation of the educational outcomes and social impacts of the grant program described in this section. (B) Dissemination Not later than 180 days after the date the Secretary receives the last report for a year described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall disseminate the annual evaluation described in subparagraph (A) to— (i) the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the House of Representatives; (ii) the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives; (iii) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and (iv) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate. . (b) Eligibility for federally funded meal programs (1) School lunch program Section 12(d)(4)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(4)(B) (A) by striking includes, in the case includes— (i) in the case ; (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (ii) notwithstanding section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 . (2) Summer food service program for children Section 13(a)(1)(D) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(D) (A) by striking or residential residential (B) by inserting or an eligible entity (as defined in section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act), camp, (3) Child and Adult Care Food Program Section 17(a)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1766(a)(2) (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) an eligible entity (as defined in section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act). . (4) School Breakfast Program Section 15(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 42 U.S.C. 1784(3) (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking , and (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking Labor). Labor); and (C) an eligible entity (as defined in section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act).

Summary: Extracurricular Programs for Indian Children Act of 2015 This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants for before-school, after-school, and summer school programs for Indian and Alaska Native students. Entities eligible for grants include Indian tribes, local educational agencies with more than 10% Indian or Alaska Native students, schools within Indian reservations, tribal colleges and universities, and tribal nonprofit organizations. Grants may be used for activities that advance or improve student academic achievement and well-being, including education activities, Native language and culture programs, physical fitness activities, programs that promote parental involvement, substance abuse and violence prevention programs, health and mental health services, and transportation services. The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to make entities that are eligible for the grants in this Act eligible for the school lunch program, summer food service program for children, child and adult care food program, and school breakfast program.