I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2371 
To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that enact 
State laws that will make school attendance compulsory through the 
age of 17. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2015 
Ms. EDWARDS (for herself, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 
VARGAS, and Mr. DELANEY) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to 
States that enact State laws that will make school at-
tendance compulsory through the age of 17. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Broadening Opportuni-
ties Through Education Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATES WITH COMPULSORY 
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE THROUGH THE AGE 
OF 17. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts ap-
propriated to carry out this Act and not later than 90 
days after such amounts are appropriated, the Secretary 
of Education shall award grants, on a competitive basis, 
to States with approved applications under subsection (b) 
to assist such States in improving secondary school pro-
grams. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this Act, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require, which shall 
include— 
(1) a description of the State law that the State 
has enacted that makes school attendance in the 
State compulsory through the age of 17 (except in 
cases of individuals who complete the secondary 
school graduation requirements of the State prior to 
attaining such age or individuals that meet any 
other exemptions to such State law), including a de-
scription of any exemptions to such State law; and 
(2) a description of how the State will use the 
grant to carry out or improve secondary school pro-
grams in the State. 
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(c) USES OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a grant 
under this Act shall use such grant to improve secondary 
school programs in the State, such as by— 
(1) establishing or expanding work-based pro-
grams that integrate academic and career-based 
skills through career and technical training, linked 
learning pathways, school-registered apprenticeships, 
and other career-training programs; 
(2) implementing an early warning indicator 
system to help high schools, and their feeder middle 
schools, to identify struggling students and create a 
system of evidence-based interventions; 
(3) providing evidence-based grade and school 
transition programs and supports, including through 
curricula alignment; 
(4) personalizing the school experience and in-
creasing student engagement by providing service- 
learning, experiential, and work-based and other 
learning opportunities; 
(5) providing extended-learning opportunities, 
by the school day, week, or year to increase the total 
number of school hours to include additional time 
for instruction in academic subjects and enrichment; 
or 
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(6) increasing student supports through activi-
ties such as student advisories, school counseling op-
portunities, and one-to-one mentoring. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this Act: 
(1) ESEA 
TERMS.—The terms ‘‘secondary 
school’’ and ‘‘State’’ have the meanings given the 
terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
Æ 
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