DIPLOMA Act

To strengthen student achievement and graduation rates and prepare young people for college, careers, and citizenship through innovative partnerships that meet the comprehensive needs of children and youth. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement Act DIPLOMA Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Purposes. Sec. 4. Definitions. Sec. 5. Demonstration program authorized; allotment to States. Sec. 6. State child and youth strategy. Sec. 7. Coordinating body; State applications. Sec. 8. State use of funds. Sec. 9. Local consortium application; local child and youth strategy. Sec. 10. Local use of funds. Sec. 11. Construction. Sec. 12. Accountability and transparency. Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The future strength of the Nation’s democracy, as well as the Nation's economy, is dependent upon the investments made in children and youth today. (2) Evidence demonstrates that effective partnerships among schools and communities increase student achievement by addressing the academic needs of students as well as the challenges the students face outside the classroom. For example: (A) Chicago Public Schools leads the Nation’s largest community school initiative and found that nearly half of the students in community schools had increased math and reading grades, and that between 2001 and 2006, community schools had greater gains in math and reading than regular Chicago public schools. (B) In a massive study of Chicago public schools, sociologist Anthony Bryk demonstrates that in schools where grassroots organizations forge strong connections with their schools, trust levels are greater, the school environment is civil, and parent involvement is greater. (C) Cincinnati Community Learning Centers, an initiative started in 2001, brings a number of organizations (such as the YMCA, the United Way, and the University of Cincinnati) to schools, where a School Based Resource Coordinator develops and facilitates community-based partnerships and resources that are responsive to the needs of the school and community. In Cincinnati, graduation rates increased from 51 percent in 2000 to 83 percent in 2009, the achievement gap between African-American students and White students decreased from 14.5 percent in 2003 to 4.3 percent in 2009, and Cincinnati is the first urban district in Ohio to receive an effective (D) In Wisconsin, where partnerships are required for grant programs, non-traditional partners have proven to be instrumental for smaller communities to enrich after school programs. Those might include local trucking companies, the Grange, Farm Bureau, small retailers, and retirees. (E) Union City (New Jersey) school district proves that by breaking down institutional silos (F) Molly Stark Elementary School in Bennington, Vermont, is a full-service community school of about 400 students from kindergarten through 5th grade that exemplifies the spirit of community involvement. People of all ages, backgrounds and experiences learn and work together as neighbors to improve student learning. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, the school offers on-site pediatric, psychological, dental, pre-school, outreach, nutrition, counseling, after school and summer school programs that level the playing field for all students, particularly the roughly 60 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. (G) Harmon Johnson Elementary School in Sacramento, California, has a student population with 97 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and 69 percent as English Language Learners. This community school encourages 21st century learning, and saw an API increase by 45 points in the last year. The school offers many resources to address students’ social, emotional, and physical needs, including a health and wellness center, access to 9 mental health therapists and a state-of-the-art dental program that were all developed with strong parent collaboration. (H) By meeting the comprehensive needs of students, Communities In Schools, a national dropout prevention organization, demonstrates that 78 percent of participating students improved their attendance, 89 percent had fewer behavior incidents, 80 percent improved their academic performance, and 78 percent of eligible seniors graduated from high school. (3) According to a 2013 report by the National Equity and Excellence Commission, to ensure that every child receives what he or she needs to succeed in school, we require a systemic means of cutting through the red tape that ties up funding streams and personnel. Governance reforms must ensure coordination and cooperation across federal, state and local agencies. Communities, tribes, states and the federal government must work together. (4) Approximately only 75 percent of 9th graders graduate from high school 4 years later. Of students who graduate from high school, 2 out of 3 (67 percent) enroll in a 2- or 4-year college in the fall after completing high school. Only about half (58 percent) of first-time, full-time college freshmen seeking a 4-year degree receive a bachelor’s degree within 6 years or less. (5) Over the past 4 decades, the United States has slipped from being first in the world in high school and college graduation rates to 21st and 14th, respectively, putting the Nation at a growing competitive disadvantage with other countries. (6) Research shows that the holistic needs of students must be met in order to strengthen student achievement. One analysis of 16 factors influencing student achievement found that over half of the factors identified were present in the lives of students outside of the classroom. (7) Research from the Government Accountability Office found that students who change schools less frequently are more likely to perform at grade level and less likely to repeat a grade than their less stable peers. (8) In research by Teachers College, Columbia University, studies in psychology, health, and education feature school connectedness (9) We know from successful experiences that hundreds of thousands of arts, cultural, service, sports, colleges and other youth organizations, as well as civic and faith-based groups want to partner with schools and educators to reinforce learning, but far too often, neither the school nor the community know how to effectively connect with each other. (10) In order for the United States to compete in a global economy, the copartnering efforts of government, social services, business, arts, home, community-based organizations, and philanthropy need to concentrate their efforts where they are most needed: in our schools. (11) Research from Johns Hopkins University shows that access to summer learning opportunities leads to significant student learning gains not experienced by students who cannot access summer learning opportunities. (12) A study of summer learning programs in California found that students experienced improved academic skills, school attendance, relationships with peers and adults, and positive work habits after attending summer learning programs. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to create engaging learning experiences that— (A) strengthen academic achievement, build civic capacity, and provide a continuum of supports and opportunities for children, youth, and their families; and (B) prepare young people for college, careers, and citizenship through results-focused partnerships at all levels that mobilize and coordinate school and community resources; (2) to ensure the academic, physical, social, emotional, health, mental health, and civic development of disadvantaged youth and thereby strengthen their families and communities; (3) to engage and support parents, care givers, and families in their role as first educators of their children; (4) to promote community and family engagement in the academic and developmental needs of children and youth; (5) to leverage and integrate the human and financial assets of local communities, schools, State governments, the Federal Government, and the natural assets of communities— (A) toward better results for children, youth, and families; and (B) for sustained civic capacity; and (6) to develop school improvement strategies that incorporate approaches that meet the comprehensive needs of children and youth, such as full service community schools, community-based, integrated student services, and related approaches. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Community-based, integrated student services The term community-based, integrated student services (2) Community engagement in education (A) In general The term community engagement in education (B) Inclusions The term includes effective community engagement in an ongoing process to develop a welcoming school and school system, mobilize the community’s assets to support student achievement and growth, engage those individuals and stakeholders who traditionally have not participated, improve working relationships, and deepen the commitment to student success. (3) Family engagement in education The term family engagement in education (4) Full service community school The term full service community school (A) participates in a community-based effort to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations, specialized instructional support personnel employed by the school or the local educational agency, and public and private partnerships; and (B) provides access to such services to students, families, and the community, such as access during the school year (including before- and after-school hours), and during the summer. (5) Local consortium The term local consortium (A) shall include— (i) a local educational agency; and (ii) not less than one other community partner that is independent of the local educational agency; and (B) may include a broad array of community partners, including— (i) a community-based organization; (ii) a child and youth serving organization or agency; (iii) an institution of higher education; (iv) a foundation; (v) a business; (vi) a teacher organization; (vii) an organization representing education professionals; (viii) a local government, including a government agency serving children and youth, such as a child welfare and juvenile justice agency; (ix) an organization representing students; and (x) an organization representing parents; and (C) may include representatives from multiple jurisdictions. (6) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (7) Outlying area The term outlying area 20 U.S.C. 7801 (8) Persistently lowest-achieving school The term persistently lowest-achieving school (9) Secretary The term Secretary (10) Specialized instructional support personnel The term specialized instructional support personnel 20 U.S.C. 1401 (11) Specialized instructional support services The term specialized instructional support services (12) State The term State (13) Chronically absent The term chronically absent (14) Digital learning The term digital learning 5. Demonstration program authorized; allotment to States (a) Formula grants authorized (1) In general From the amounts appropriated under section 13, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, under subsection (c) or (d), to States having applications approved under section 7(b) to enable the States to award subgrants to local consortia to leverage and integrate human and financial assets at all levels in order to— (A) ensure the academic, physical, social, emotional, and civic development of disadvantaged youth; and (B) strengthen the families and communities of the disadvantaged youth and achieve the results developed pursuant to section 6(c)(1). (2) Duration The Secretary shall award a grant under this subsection for a period of 5 years. (3) Renewal The Secretary may renew a grant under this subsection for a period of 5 years. (b) Reservation From the funds appropriated under section 13 for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve— (1) not more than 2 percent for national activities, which the Secretary may carry out directly or through grants and contracts, such as— (A) providing training technical assistance to local consortia and organizations partnering with local consortia to carry out services under this Act; or (B) conducting the national evaluation pursuant to section 12(a)(3); and (2) not more than 1 percent for payments to the outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to be allotted in accordance with their respective needs for assistance under this Act, as determined by the Secretary, to enable the outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to carry out the purposes of this Act. (c) State allotments (1) Determination From the funds appropriated under section 13 for any fiscal year that are equal to or greater than $200,000,000 which remain after the Secretary makes the reservations under subsection (b), the Secretary shall allot to each State for the fiscal year an amount that bears the same relationship to the remainder as the amount the State received under subpart 2 of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6331 et seq. ½ (2) Reallotment of unused funds If a State does not receive an allotment under this Act for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the State's allotment to the remaining States in accordance with this section. (d) Competitive grants authorized (1) In general For any year for which the amount appropriated under section 13 is less than $200,000,000, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to local consortia to enable the local consortia to carry out local strategies in accordance with sections 9 and 10. (2) Targeted local consortia The Secretary shall only award a grant to a local consortium under this subsection if the local consortium submits an application that proposes— (A) to serve children and youth in schools or communities with the highest proportions of students from low-income families; and (B) to provide a comprehensive continuum of services, including not less than 1 service from each of not less than 3 categories of services described in paragraphs (3) through (11) of section 10(b), which proposal— (i) shall be submitted by a local consortium comprised of a broad representation of stakeholders and decisionmakers in the community, including a multitude of community partners described in section 4(5)(B); or (ii) shall demonstrate the capacity for successful implementation through a history of successful collaboration and effectiveness in strengthening outcomes for children and youth. (3) Accountability and transparency The Secretary shall apply those provisions of section 12 that the Secretary determines applicable to local consortia receiving funds under this subsection. 6. State child and youth strategy (a) In general A State that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to develop and implement a State child and youth strategy (hereafter in this Act referred to as the State strategy (b) Strategy requirements The State strategy— (1) shall be developed by the Governor of the State and the State educational agency; (2) shall include the components described in subsection (c); and (3) may include other components as the Governor determines necessary to strengthen results for children and youth. (c) Required Components The State strategy components required under subsection (b) are the following: (1) State results framework The State strategy shall contain comprehensive, research-based annual goals and aligned quantifiable indicators demonstrating continuous improvement with respect to youth, particularly disadvantaged youth, that shall serve as targets for each year with respect to which the State strategy applies. The goals shall include the following: (A) Children are ready for school. (B) Students are engaged and achieving in school. (C) Students are physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally healthy. (D) Schools and neighborhoods are safe and provide a positive climate for learning. (E) Families and communities are supportive and engaged in their children’s education as equal partners. (F) Graduates are ready for postsecondary education and 21st-century careers. (G) Students are contributing to their communities. (H) Students are not chronically absent. (2) Needs and assets assessment The State strategy shall contain an assessment of the children’s needs, and of assets within the State that can be mobilized, coordinated, and integrated to achieve the State strategy's goals, which may include data collected by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (3) State child and youth plan The State strategy shall include a description of the State’s plan to achieve the goals described in paragraph (1) for young people from birth through the transition to adulthood, including the following: (A) Leverage and integration A description of how funds received under this Act will be coordinated and integrated with other Federal and State funds in order to achieve the goals developed pursuant to paragraph (1). (B) Elimination of State barriers to coordination and integration A description of how funds received under this Act will be used to identify and eliminate State barriers to the coordination and integration of programs, initiatives, and funding streams to achieve the goals developed pursuant to paragraph (1). (C) Community engagement in education A description of the State's plan to increase community engagement in the academic and developmental needs of children and youth. (D) Family engagement in education A description of the State's plan to increase family engagement in the academic and developmental needs of children and youth. (d) Existing plans, strategies, and assessments Existing plans, strategies, needs assessments, or assets assessments may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section if such existing plans, strategies, needs assessments, or assets assessments include the information required by this section, or can be modified to do so, and are submitted to the Secretary with such modifications. 7. Coordinating body; State applications (a) Coordinating body (1) In general In order for a State to be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, the Governor of the State shall designate or establish a coordinating body for student learning and development that shall— (A) administer funds provided under this Act; (B) facilitate communication between the public and the Governor pertaining to issues impacting children and youth from birth through the transition to adulthood, including issues pertaining to service coordination and integration; (C) identify and eliminate State barriers to the coordination and integration of programs, initiatives, and funding streams, and facilitate coordination and collaboration among State agencies serving children and youth; (D) strengthen the capacity of State and local organizations to achieve positive outcomes for children and youth through training, technical assistance, professional development, and other means; (E) assist the Governor in developing and carrying out the State strategy; and (F) coordinate the submission of the State application under subsection (b). (2) Designation of coordinating body The Governor may designate an existing agency, Children's Cabinet, P–20 Council, child and youth development partnership, or other organization as the coordinating body for student learning and development described in paragraph (1) if the agency, cabinet, council, partnership, or organization— (A) performs duties similar to the duties described in paragraph (1); or (B) if the duties of the agency, cabinet, council, partnership, or organization can be modified to include the duties described in paragraph (1). (b) State application (1) In general Each State desiring a grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents Each application submitted under this subsection shall include the following: (A) State strategy A description of how the State will develop the State strategy. (B) Grants to local consortia A description of how subgrants to local consortia will be awarded pursuant to section 8 and how the subgrants will facilitate community planning and effective service coordination, integration, and provision at the local level to achieve the goals developed by the State pursuant to section 6(c)(1) within the context of local needs and priorities. (C) Capacity building A description of how grant funds received under this Act will be used to build State and local capacity through training, technical assistance, and professional development. (D) Accountability for results A description of the State's plans to adhere to the accountability and transparency requirements described in section 12(b). (3) Revised application Each State desiring to renew a grant under this Act shall submit a revised application to the Secretary every 5 years based on an assessment of the activities conducted under this Act. 8. State use of funds (a) In general From the grant funds made available to a State under this Act for any fiscal year— (1) the State shall use not less than 95 percent to award subgrants to local consortia under subsection (b); (2) the State may use not less than 3 percent for evaluation and capacity building activities, including training, technical assistance, and professional development; and (3) the State may use not more than 2 percent for the administrative costs of carrying out responsibilities under this Act. (b) Subgrants to local consortia (1) In general A State that receives a grant under this Act shall use the portion of the grant funds described in subsection (a)(1) to award subgrants to local consortia. (2) Priority In awarding subgrants to local consortia, a State shall give priority to applications from local consortia— (A) that— (i) propose to serve children and youth in schools designated by the State educational agency as persistently lowest-achievement schools; or (ii) that include at least one persistently lowest-achieving school, as determined by the State; and (B) that propose to provide a comprehensive continuum of services, including not less than 1 service from each of not less than 3 categories of services described in paragraphs (3) through (11) of section 10(b), which proposal— (i) shall be submitted by local consortia comprised of a broad representation of stakeholders and decisionmakers in the community, including a multitude of community partners described in section 4(5)(B); or (ii) shall demonstrate the capacity for successful implementation through a history of successful collaboration and effectiveness in strengthening outcomes for children and youth. (3) Duration of grant Each subgrant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years and shall be renewable based on progress toward achieving the results described in section 9(b)(2)(A). (c) Planning grants A State that receives a grant under this Act may award planning grants to local consortia to enable the local consortia to develop the local strategy described in section 9(b). Such planning grants shall be for a duration of— (1) not more than 6 months and in an amount of not more than $50,000; or (2) not more than 1 year and in an amount of not more than $100,000. (d) Supplement, not supplant A State that receives a grant under this Act shall use the grant funds to supplement, not supplant, Federal and non-Federal funds available to support child and youth services. (e) Allocation to rural areas (1) In general A State that receives grant funding under this Act for a fiscal year shall use the grant funds to award an amount, in the aggregate, of subgrant funding under section 8 to rural local consortia in the State that is not less than the amount that bears the same relation to the amount of the grant funding as the amount received by local educational agencies serving rural local consortia in the State under subpart 2 of part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6331 et seq. (2) Rural local consortium In this subsection the term rural local consortium 9. Local consortium application; local child and youth strategy (a) Local consortium application (1) In general A local consortium that desires a subgrant under section 8 shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State may require. (2) Contents An application submitted under this section shall include— (A) a description of the local consortium, including which public or nonprofit entity participating in the local consortium shall serve as the fiscal agent for the local consortium; (B) the local child and youth strategy (hereafter in this Act referred to as local strategy (C) a description of how the local strategy will be coordinated with the local educational agency plan required under section 1112 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 6312 (b) Local strategy (1) In general The local strategy— (A) shall be developed by the local consortium; (B) shall include the components described in paragraph (2); and (C) may include such other components as the local consortium determines necessary to strengthen outcomes for young people from birth through the transition to adulthood. (2) Components The local strategy components required under paragraph (1)(B) are the following: (A) Local results framework Comprehensive, research-based goals and aligned quantifiable indicators for the goals, with respect to youth, particularly disadvantaged youth, that shall serve as targets for the year with respect to which the local strategy applies. The goals shall include the following: (i) Children are ready for school. (ii) Students are engaged and achieving in school. (iii) Students are physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally healthy. (iv) Schools and neighborhoods are safe and provide a positive climate for learning. (v) Families are supportive and engaged in their children’s education. (vi) Students are ready for postsecondary education and 21st-century careers. (vii) Students are contributing to their communities. (B) Assets assessment An assessment of potential resources, services, and opportunities available within or near the community that children and youth, their families, and resources in the community may be able to access in order to meet the needs identified under subparagraph (C), to help achieve the goals and indicators under subparagraph (A), and to support students to achieve the challenging State student academic achievement standards, including the variety of services that can be integrated— (i) into a community school site; and (ii) through the presence of specialized student support personnel and local educational agency liaisons for homeless children and youth designated pursuant to section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) (C) Needs assessment An analysis of the comprehensive needs of the students served by the local consortium, their families, and the community that— (i) includes input from students, parents, and community members; (ii) assesses the academic, physical, social, emotional, health, mental health, and civic needs of students and their families; and (iii) may impact students’ ability to meet the challenging State student academic achievement standards. (D) Service integration and provision A plan to coordinate and integrate services and provide services in order to meet the needs identified under subparagraph (C) and achieve the results and aligned quantifiable indicators described in subparagraph (A), including— (i) a description of the services administered by members of the local consortium that are funded through grants provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. (ii) if applicable, a description of the coordination among services provided by community-based organizations and services provided by specialized instructional support personnel serving local educational agencies participating in the local consortium. (E) Community engagement in education A plan to increase community engagement in academic and developmental needs of children and youth. (F) Family engagement in education A plan to increase family engagement in the academic and developmental needs of children and youth. (3) Existing plans, strategies, and assessments Existing plans, strategies, needs assessments, or assets assessments may be used to satisfy the requirements of this section if such existing plans, strategies, needs assessments, or assets assessments include the information required by this section, or can be modified to do so, and are submitted to the Secretary with such modifications. 10. Local use of funds (a) Mandatory use of funds A local consortium that receives a subgrant under section 8 shall use the subgrant funds— (1) to integrate multiple private and public services into a comprehensive, coordinated continuum that meets the holistic needs of young people; (2) to implement the comprehensive, coordinated continuum of services described in paragraph (1) through research-based services producing quantifiable results that align with the local results framework described in section 9(b)(2)(A); (3) to address the needs identified in the needs assessment carried out pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(C) by leveraging the assets identified in the assets assessment carried out pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(B); and (4) if applicable, to coordinate efforts with the specialized instructional support personnel serving local educational agencies participating in the local consortium. (b) Permissible use of funds A local consortium that receives a subgrant under section 8 may use the subgrant funds to coordinate, integrate, and enhance existing services, and provide new services, in order to provide young people with research-based, comprehensive services at, or that are connected to, schools, including— (1) community-based, integrated student services; (2) full service community schools; (3) high-quality early childhood learning and development, including— (A) early childhood education; (B) programs under the Head Start Act 42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq. (C) early reading first programs; (D) child care services; (E) early childhood-school transition services; (F) home visiting; (G) parenting education; and (H) services for young children with special needs; (4) academic support services, including— (A) tutoring; (B) extended day programs, afterschool programs, or both such programs, which shall include services provided through 21st Century Community Learning Centers under part B of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 7171 et seq. (C) academic support services for English-language learners; (D) programs for students and parents to learn together, including opportunities in such fields as technology, art, music, and language acquisition; (E) multiple pathways toward attaining a high school diploma and preparing students for college, including— (i) dual enrollment programs; (ii) early college high schools; (iii) strategies for preventing at-risk youth from dropping out of high school; (iv) dropout recovery strategies, including strategies that award credit based on student performance instead of instructional time; and (v) other activities that combine rigorous coursework, personalized learning environments, practical applications, and comprehensive support services; (F) summer enrichment and learning experiences; and (G) services for students with disabilities; (5) health services, including— (A) primary health care; (B) dental care; (C) vision care; (D) speech and hearing care; (E) mental health services; (F) nutrition services; (G) health education; and (H) developmental and habilitation services for young people with special needs; (6) youth development, including— (A) mentoring and other youth development programs, including programs that engage older adults; (B) recreation and physical education; (C) service learning, civic education, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community service opportunities; (D) job training, career counseling, and internship opportunities; (E) career and technical education; (F) college preparation and counseling services; and (G) positive behavioral interventions and supports; (7) social services for students and families, including— (A) family support programs, including housing assistance, counseling, financial education, crisis intervention, and related services; (B) programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled; (C) programs or efforts intended to identify young people without a high school diploma and reengage the young people in school so that the young people may attain a high school diploma; (D) strategies that engage older adults as resources to students and families; and (E) services for homeless students, foster children and youth, students previously under the custody of the juvenile justice system, and students who are pregnant and parenting; (8) parent and adult education programs, including— (A) programs that promote family literacy, including family literacy programs for English-language learners; (B) parent and caregiver leadership and parent and caregiver education activities; (C) translation services; (D) adult education, including instruction in English as a second language, and job training; and (E) citizenship preparation for individuals choosing to become United States citizens; (9) juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, including— (A) youth courts, teen courts, peer juries, and drug courts; and (B) tribal youth programs; (10) specialized instructional support services, including specialized instructional support personnel; (11) service coordination staffing that ensures young people receive comprehensive services to meet the holistic needs of the young people; (12) training, technical assistance, and professional development for school-based and community-based personnel to build capacity and skills to educate English-language learners; (13) training, technical assistance, and professional development for school-based and community-based personnel providing comprehensive services to children and youth; (14) subgrants to nonprofit and other organizations to implement the requirements and allowable services under this section; (15) reasonable program administration and planning associated with the activities required under this section; (16) access to and training on digital learning; and (17) other services consistent with this section. 11. Construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded school or school district employees under Federal, State, or local laws (including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements between such employees and their employers. 12. Accountability and transparency (a) Federal accountability and transparency (1) Annual report On an annual basis, the Secretary shall report to the public, Congress, and the President— (A) the collective progress made by— (i) States in achieving the goals established within the State results frameworks described in section 6(c)(1); and (ii) communities in achieving the goals established within the local results frameworks pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(A); (B) how funds under this Act were used by States and local consortia to improve the lives of children, youth, and families, including— (i) the characteristics of the young people and families served by the activities and services assisted under this Act; (ii) the services and supports provided under this Act; and (iii) outcomes resulting from the activities and services funded under this Act; (C) actions taken pursuant to paragraph (2) regarding misuse or ineffective use of funds; and (D) other information the Secretary determines to be of interest to the public. (2) Correction of deficiencies If the Secretary determines, based on a review of State annual reports, State strategies, State data submissions, evaluations, or other documentation, that a State or entity that receives funds through a grant or contract made under this Act makes insufficient progress toward achieving the goals established within the State results framework pursuant to section 6(c)(1) within 3 years of receiving a grant under section 5(a), or is misusing, ineffectively using, or otherwise not complying with the requirements of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) notify the State of the deficiencies that require correction and request that the State submit a plan to correct the deficiencies; (B) negotiate a plan to correct the deficiencies, and provide appropriate training or technical assistance designed to assist the State in complying with the requirements of this Act; and (C) in the case that the State fails to submit or negotiate a plan to correct the deficiencies or fails to make substantial efforts, within 6 months after the date of the notification described in paragraph (1), to correct the deficiencies and comply with the requirements of this Act— (i) terminate the provision of funds under this Act to the State or entity for the remainder of the period of the grant or contract; and (ii) redistribute the terminated funding in the manner described in section 5(c). (3) Independent ongoing evaluation (A) In general The Secretary shall carry out an ongoing evaluation of the activities conducted under this Act and shall submit the evaluation results to Congress and the public by not later than June of 2018 and June of 2020. (B) Rigorous and independent evaluation The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an entity independent of the Department of Education to carry out the evaluation required under this paragraph. To the extent the Secretary determines feasible, the evaluation shall include large-scale, longitudinal, randomized studies to identify the most effective combinations of academic and nonacademic interventions, including interventions administered by community-based organizations, to achieve improvements in academic and other outcomes for students. (C) Evaluation outcomes (i) In general The evaluation required under this paragraph shall measure the process of developing and implementing effective partnerships among schools, school districts, families, students, and community partners, as well as the impact of activities conducted under this Act, which may include impacts on the following outcomes: (I) Student achievement as measured by assessment data, classroom grades, and other means of measuring student performance. (II) Graduation rates. (III) School readiness. (IV) Numbers of detentions, suspensions, and expulsions. (V) Enrollment in postsecondary education. (VI) The degree of communication between schools and families. (VII) The degree of parental participation in school activities. (VIII) Student health, including mental health and risk factors at birth. (IX) Student civic participation. (X) Attendance. (XI) The number of students and families receiving services. (XII) Other outcome areas as determined by the Secretary in consultation with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, teacher organizations, secondary students, and nonprofit organizations providing services to children and youth. (ii) Disaggregation The outcomes described in clause (i) shall be disaggregated by all subgroups identified in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v) (b) State accountability and transparency (1) Annual report On an annual basis, each State shall report to the public and the Secretary such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including— (A) progress made toward achieving— (i) the goals established within the State results framework pursuant to section 6(c)(1) disaggregated in the same manner as information is disaggregated under subsection (a)(3)(C)(ii); and (ii) the goals established within the local results frameworks pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(A); (B) how funds under this Act were used by States and local consortia to improve the lives of children, youth, and families, including— (i) the characteristics of the young people and families served by the activities and services assisted under this Act; (ii) the services and supports provided under this Act; and (iii) outcomes resulting from the activities and services funded under this Act; (C) information on Federal barriers to effective State and local coordination; (D) the extent of coordination between State departments and agencies providing youth services in place to achieve the goals within the State results framework pursuant to section 6(c)(1); (E) the extent to which the objectives and budgets of State departments and agencies providing child and youth services were consistent with the recommendations of the State strategy for the preceding year; (F) the efficiency and adequacy of State and local programs and policies with respect to child and youth services; (G) actions taken pursuant to paragraph (2) regarding misuse or ineffective use of funds; and (H) other information the State determines to be of interest to the public. (2) Correction of deficiencies If the State determines, based on a review of reports, data submissions, evaluations, or other documentation, that a local consortium or organization that receives funds through a subgrant made under this Act makes insufficient progress toward achieving the goals established within the local results framework pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(A) within 3 years of receiving a subgrant under section 8, or is misusing, ineffectively using, or otherwise not complying with the requirements of this Act, the State shall— (A) notify the local consortium of the deficiencies that require correction and request that the consortium submit a plan to correct the deficiencies; (B) negotiate a plan to correct the deficiencies, and provide appropriate training or technical assistance designed to assist the local consortium in complying with the requirements of this Act; and (C) in the case that the local consortium fails to submit or negotiate a plan to correct the deficiencies or fails to make substantial efforts, within 6 months after the date of the notification described in subparagraph (A), to correct the deficiencies and comply with the requirements of this Act, terminate the provision of funds under this Act to the local consortium or organization for the remainder of the period of the subgrant and redistribute the terminated funding in a manner determined by the State to be in the best interests of the children and youth in such State in accordance with this Act. (c) Local accountability and transparency On an annual basis, each local consortium shall report to the public and the State such information as the State may reasonably require, including— (1) progress made toward achieving the goals established within the local results framework pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(A) disaggregated in the same manner as information is disaggregated under subsection (a)(3)(C)(ii); (2) how funds under this Act were used by the local consortium and subgrant recipients to improve the lives of children, youth, and families, including— (A) the characteristics of the young people and families served by the activities and services assisted under this Act; (B) the services and supports provided under this Act; and (C) outcomes resulting from the activities and services funded under this Act; (3) information on State barriers to effective local coordination; (4) the extent of coordination between local agencies and organizations providing services to achieve the goals within the local results framework pursuant to section 9(b)(2)(A); and (5) other information the local consortium determines to be of interest to the public. 13. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2019.

Summary: Developing Innovative Partnerships and Learning Opportunities that Motivate Achievement Act or the DIPLOMA Act Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award renewable five-year grants to states and, through them, subgrants to local consortia that include a local educational agency and other community partners to: (1) ensure the academic, physical, social, emotional, and civic development of disadvantaged youth; and (2) strengthen their families and communities. Requires each state grantee to develop and implement a state child and youth strategy that assesses children's needs and the assets within the state that can be mobilized, coordinated, and integrated to achieve quantifiable progress toward goals that include ensuring that: children are ready for school; students are engaged and achieving in school; students are physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally healthy; schools and neighborhoods are safe and provide a positive climate for learning; families and communities are supportive and engaged in their children's education as equal partners; students are ready for postsecondary education and 21st Century careers; students are contributing to their communities; and students are not chronically absent. Directs the consortia to develop and implement a local child and youth strategy that integrates multiple private and public services into a comprehensive, coordinated continuum of services directed toward achieving quantifiable progress toward such goals. Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants directly to local consortia if appropriated funds fall below a specified amount.