Keep Students in School Act of 2016

To establish a grant program to assist local educational agencies in improving student retention and engagement and providing resources and support to families of at-risk children, and for other purposes. 1. Short Title This Act may be cited as the Keep Students in School Act of 2016 2. Grant Program (a) Program Authorized (1) In General The Secretary of Education shall establish a program under which grants are awarded to local educational agencies to enable the local educational agencies to carry out the activities under subsection (c). (2) Duration and Renewal A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of 5 years and may not be renewed. (b) Application A local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (c) Use of Funds A local educational agency that receives a grant under this section may only use the grant funds to carry out one or more of the following: (1) Attendance Program Establish an attendance program that enables— (A) each elementary school and secondary school served by the local educational agency to collect and maintain attendance records electronically; (B) each such school to share the data collected under subparagraph (A) with the local educational agency and other elementary schools and secondary schools served by the local educational agency; and (C) the local educational agency to use the data collected under subparagraph (A) to inform attendance intervention strategies. (2) After-School Programs and Recreational Activities Improve student engagement by funding after-school programs and recreational activities. (3) Teacher Training and Development Program Establish a teacher training and development program that focuses on issues relating to racial inequality and poverty. (4) Student Retention and Engagement Policy In the case of a local educational agency that has a zero tolerance policy, making such policy more compatible with the goals of student retention and engagement. (5) Student Absence Policy Establish a policy that requires each elementary school and secondary school served by the local educational agency— (A) to make personal phone calls to the parents of an at-risk child the same day that such child’s absence is noted; and (B) when needed, and if possible, to provide parents of at-risk children with an interpreter and a translation of written communications. (6) Youth Violence Prevention Collaborate with local agencies and social workers that focus on youth violence prevention to address issues facing at-risk children. (7) Resources and Support for Parents of At-Risk Children Provide parents of at-risk children with resources and support, including— (A) providing school counseling services for parents and their at-risk children; and (B) collaborating with other organizations in the community to facilitate access to resources and support, including fulfilling any needs with respect to at-risk children created by budget deficits. (8) Mentoring Program Establish or expand a mentoring program under which— (A) a community volunteer who— (i) attends a secondary school is paired with an at-risk child who attends an elementary school; or (ii) has obtained at least a high school diploma, or its equivalent, is paired with an at-risk child who attends either an elementary school or a secondary school; and (B) such community volunteer meets with the at-risk child for at least 5 hours each week that school is in session to provide homework assistance and encourage attendance. (9) Licensed Clinical Social Workers Provide at least one licensed social worker for elementary schools and one licensed social worker for high schools served by the local educational agency. 3. Technical Assistance The Secretary shall provide technical assistance, upon request, to local educational agencies receiving a grant under section 2 to implement the goals of such section. 4. Task Force on Addressing Hardships of Disadvantaged Youth (a) In General Not later than December 31, 2017, the Secretary shall enter a memorandum of understanding with other appropriate heads of Federal agencies regarding the establishment of a task force to develop a comprehensive work plan to address the hardships that disadvantaged youth may face in attending elementary school and secondary school and attaining academic success, including the following: (1) Home Environment Factors Hardships within the home, including domestic violence and drug or alcohol abuse in the home. (2) Economic Factors Economic hardships, including poverty, single-parent homes, frequent housing mobility, parents who work multiple jobs, lack of adequate transportation to school, lack of affordable childcare, and working students. (3) School Environment Factors Hardships within the academic environment, including overcrowded classrooms, discriminatory attitudes of teachers and administrators, hostility from other students, lack of flexibility regarding the cultural or learning needs of the student, and inconsistent procedures for dealing with truancy. (4) Personal Characteristics Factors Personal hardships, including learning difficulties, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues. (b) Duties The task force shall— (1) coordinate interagency efforts to address the hardships described in subsection (a); (2) assess the effectiveness of Federal programs aimed at addressing such hardships; (3) develop a comprehensive work plan that identifies and implements improvements to the Federal programs assessed under paragraph (2) by— (A) eliminating ineffective programs; (B) redirecting resources; and (C) consolidating the efforts of successful programs; and (4) incorporate positive youth development practices into the work plan developed under paragraph (3). (c) Reports (1) Preliminary Report Not later than 3 years after the date on which the task force is established under this section, the task force shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a preliminary report that shall include— (A) the assessment conducted under subsection (b)(2); and (B) the work plan developed under subsection (b)(3). (2) Progress Report Not later than 3 years after the date on which the task force submits the preliminary report under paragraph (1), the task force shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report regarding the progress and effectiveness of implementing the work plan developed under subsection (b)(3). (3) Final Report Not later than 3 years after the date on which the task force submits the progress report under paragraph (2), the task force shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a final report including— (A) the results of implementing the work plan developed under subsection (b)(3); and (B) recommendations on the practices that individual elementary schools and secondary schools should implement to further remove the hardships that disadvantaged youth may face. 5. Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2028 to carry out this Act. 6. Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) At-Risk Children The term at-risk children (A) are subject to grade retention; (B) have poor academic performance; (C) have a high rate of absenteeism; (D) have behavioral problems; or (E) are subject to frequent housing mobility. (2) Community Volunteer The term community volunteer (A) has passed a background check conducted in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary and with applicable State and local laws; or (B) in the event that the individual has failed the background check conducted under subparagraph (A)— (i) has maintained a record free of criminal infractions for the 5 most recent calendar years; (ii) has provided at least 2 character references; (iii) has had no history of violence against children or animals; (iv) has passed a drug test; and (v) has been approved for purposes of the mentoring program under section 2(c)(8) by the local police department. (3) Disadvantaged Youth The term disadvantaged youth (A) whose family receives assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (B) whose family has an income below the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) (C) who have a history of trauma or abuse, including substance abuse, in the home. (4) ESEA Terms The terms local educational agency parent elementary school secondary school Secretary 20 U.S.C. 7801

Summary: Keep Students in School Act of 2016 This bill establishes a grant program through which the Department of Education (ED) shall assist local educational agencies in carrying out one or more of the following activities: establishing an attendance program; funding after-school programs and recreational activities; establishing a teacher training and development program that focuses on issues relating to racial inequality and poverty; if applicable, making a zero tolerance policy more compatible with the goals of student retention and engagement; establishing a student absence policy with respect to at-risk children; collaborating with local agencies and social workers to address issues facing at-risk children; providing parents of at-risk children with resources and support; establishing or expanding a mentoring program; or providing schools with licensed social workers. ED shall provide technical assistance to grantees upon request. In addition, ED shall establish a task force to develop a comprehensive work plan to address the hardships that disadvantaged youth may face in attending school and attaining academic success. The task force shall: (1) coordinate interagency efforts to address such hardships, (2) assess the effectiveness of federal programs aimed at addressing those hardships, and (3) develop a plan that implements improvements to such federal programs and incorporates positive youth development practices.