SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Since almost 90 percent of the fastest grow-
ing and best paying jobs now require some postsec-
ondary education, a secondary school diploma and 
the skills to succeed in higher education and the 
modern workplace are essential. 
(2) Only 1⁄3 of all high school students in the 
United States graduate in 4 years prepared for a 4- 
year institution of higher education. Another 1⁄3 
graduate, but without the skills and qualifications 
necessary for success in higher education or the 
workplace, and the rest will not graduate from high 
school in 4 years, if at all. 
(3) Dropouts from the class of 2006 will cost 
the United States more than $309,000,000,000 in 
reduced earnings. 
(4) The Nation’s failure to meet the increasing 
demand for skilled workers means that American 
companies cannot fill a large number of jobs. 
Eighty-one percent of American manufacturing com-
panies report experiencing a moderate to severe 
shortage of qualified workers. 
(5) International competition has made edu-
cation a national security issue. For example, the 
United States currently runs a $30,000,000,000 ad-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:05 Oct 09, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
vanced technology trade deficit with China. Many 
other countries are developing the technology, infra-
structure, and knowledge base to export quality 
products with inexpensive labor. The education sys-
tem of the United States should support critical 
thinking, creativity, and innovative approaches to 
new opportunities, which are commodities that can-
not be outsourced. 
(6) As the bar for success continues to be 
raised, the responsibility to engender these attributes 
with progressive programs and original models lies 
squarely with the education system. It is imperative 
that the United States develop and implement new, 
innovative approaches to fully prepare every student 
for the 21st century. 
(7) Realigning the education system to meet 
new, demanding requirements and face intensifying 
competition requires effective, systemic reform. Iden-
tifying effective, replicable models that achieve this 
goal is a critical step towards enhancing the pros-
pects of all students entering the modern workforce. 
SEC. 3. SECONDARY SCHOOL INNOVATION FUND. 
(a) SECONDARY SCHOOL INNOVATION FUND.—Title 
I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
(1) by redesignating part I as part J; and 
(2) by inserting after section 1830 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘PART I—SECONDARY SCHOOL INNOVATION 
FUND 
‘‘SEC. 1851. PURPOSES. 
‘‘The purposes of this part are— 
‘‘(1) to improve the achievement of at-risk sec-
ondary school students and prepare such students 
for higher education and the workforce; 
‘‘(2) to create evidence-based, replicable models 
of innovation in secondary schools at the State and 
local level; and 
‘‘(3) to support partnerships to create and in-
form innovation at the State and local level to im-
prove learning outcomes and transitions for sec-
ondary school students. 
‘‘SEC. 1852. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this part: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘eligi-
ble partnership’ means a partnership that includes— 
‘‘(A) not less than 1— 
‘‘(i) State educational agency; or 
‘‘(ii) local educational agency that is 
eligible for assistance under part A; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(B) not less than 1— 
‘‘(i) institution of higher education; 
‘‘(ii) nonprofit organization; 
‘‘(iii) community-based organization; 
‘‘(iv) business; or 
‘‘(v) school development organization 
or intermediary. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
SCHOOL.—The term ‘eligible 
school’ means a public secondary school served by a 
local educational agency that is eligible for assist-
ance under part A. 
‘‘(3) HIGH
SCHOOL.—The term ‘high school’ 
means a public school, including a public charter 
high school, that provides education in any grade be-
ginning with grade 9 and ending with grade 12, as 
determined under State law. 
‘‘(4) MIDDLE
SCHOOL.—The term ‘middle 
school’ means a public school, including a public 
charter middle school, that provides middle edu-
cation in any grade beginning with grade 5 and end-
ing with grade 8, as determined under State law. 
‘‘(5) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘sec-
ondary school’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 9101. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 1853. SECONDARY SCHOOL INNOVATION FUND. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS.— 
The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable 
the eligible partnerships to pay the Federal share of 
the costs of implementing innovative strategies de-
scribed in subsection (f) to improve the achievement 
of at-risk students in secondary schools. 
‘‘(2) SUBGRANTS TO ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS.—An 
eligible partnership that receives a grant under this 
part may use the grant funds to award a subgrant 
to an eligible school to enable the eligible school to 
implement innovative strategies described in sub-
section (f) to improve the achievement of at-risk stu-
dents at the eligible school. 
‘‘(b) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall 
reserve 5 percent of the amounts appropriated under this 
part for a fiscal year for the evaluation described in sub-
section (h). 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible partnership de-
siring a grant under this part shall submit an appli-
cation to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The application described in 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) a description of the eligible partner-
ship, the partners forming the eligible partner-
ship, and the roles and responsibilities of each 
partner, and a demonstration of each partner’s 
capacity to support the outlined roles and re-
sponsibilities; 
‘‘(B) a description of how funds will be 
used to improve the achievement of at-risk stu-
dents in secondary schools; 
‘‘(C) a description of how the activities 
funded by the grant will be innovative, sys-
temic, evidence-based, and replicable; 
‘‘(D) a description of each subgrant the el-
igible partnership will award to an eligible 
school, including a description of the eligible 
school; and 
‘‘(E) a description of how the eligible part-
nership will measure and report improvement 
using the data collected under subsection (g) 
and additional indicators of improvement pro-
posed by the partnership, such as student at-
tendance or participation, credit accumulation 
rates, core course failure rates, college enroll-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
cent of the costs of the activities assisted under the 
grant. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal 
share shall be not less than 25 percent of the costs 
of the activities assisted under the grant, of which 
not more than 10 percent of the costs of the activi-
ties assisted under the grant may be provided in- 
kind, fairly evaluated. 
‘‘(f) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible partnership receiv-
ing a grant under this part, or an eligible school receiving 
a subgrant under this part, shall use grant or subgrant 
funds, respectively, to carry out 1 or more of the following 
activities: 
‘‘(1) Creating multiple pathways, including the 
creation of new public schools, that offer students a 
range of educational options designed to meet the 
students’ needs and interests and to lead to a sec-
ondary school diploma consistent with readiness for 
postsecondary education and the workforce, which 
pathways may include— 
‘‘(A) alternative public schools that— 
‘‘(i) use innovative strategies such as 
flexible hours; 
‘‘(ii) provide competency-based in-
struction and performance-based assess-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
ment to improve educational outcomes for 
various populations of overaged and under-
credited students or dropouts, such as— 
‘‘(I) students not making suffi-
cient progress to graduate with a reg-
ular secondary school diploma in the 
standard number of years; 
‘‘(II) students who need to work 
to support themselves or their fami-
lies; 
‘‘(III) pregnant and parenting 
teens; and 
‘‘(IV) students returning from 
the juvenile justice system; 
‘‘(B) career and technical education pro-
grams; 
‘‘(C) career academies; 
‘‘(D) early college and dual enrollment 
learning opportunities; and 
‘‘(E) creating more personalized and en-
gaging learning environments for secondary 
school students, such as— 
‘‘(i) establishing smaller learning com-
munities; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(ii) creating student advisories and 
developing peer engagement strategies in 
which students lead guidance activities, 
mentoring, or tutoring efforts; 
‘‘(iii) involving students and parents 
in the development of individualized stu-
dent plans for secondary school success 
and graduation and postsecondary transi-
tion; 
‘‘(iv) creating mechanisms for in-
creased student participation in school im-
provement efforts and in decisions affect-
ing the students’ own learning; and 
‘‘(v) creating new opportunities to bet-
ter utilize the grade 11 and grade 12 years 
and creating better connectivity to postsec-
ondary education. 
‘‘(2) Creating expanded learning time opportu-
nities, which may include— 
‘‘(A) establishing a mandatory expanded 
day, for all students transitioning into the first 
year of high school, for academic catch-up and 
enrichment; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(B) providing arts or service learning op-
portunities with community-based cultural and 
civic organizations; and 
‘‘(C) providing higher education and work- 
based exposure, experience, and credit-bearing 
learning opportunities in partnership with post-
secondary institutions and the workforce. 
‘‘(3) Improving student transitions from middle 
school to high school and ensuring successful entry 
into high school, which may include— 
‘‘(A) establishing summer transition pro-
grams 
for 
secondary 
school 
students 
transitioning from middle school to high school 
to ensure the students’ connection to the stu-
dents’ new high school and to orient the stu-
dents to the study skills and social skills nec-
essary for success in the high school; 
‘‘(B) providing for the sharing of data be-
tween high schools and feeder middle schools; 
‘‘(C) establishing quick response and recov-
ery programs in high school for secondary 
school students transitioning into the students’ 
first year of high school so that such students 
do not become truant or fall too far behind in 
academics; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(D) increasing the level of student sup-
ports, including academic and social-emotional 
supports, especially for struggling students; and 
‘‘(E) aligning academic standards, cur-
ricula, and assessments between middle and 
high schools. 
‘‘(4) Improving student transitions from sec-
ondary school to postsecondary education and the 
workforce, which may include— 
‘‘(A) providing for the sharing of data be-
tween secondary schools and institutions of 
higher education; 
‘‘(B) enabling dual enrollment and credit- 
bearing learning opportunities; 
‘‘(C) establishing one or more early college 
secondary schools that offer students a sec-
ondary school diploma and not more than 2 
years of college credit within a 4- or 5-year pro-
gram; 
‘‘(D) providing enhanced higher education 
and financial aid counseling; and 
‘‘(E) aligning the academic standards of 
secondary school with the academic standards 
of postsecondary education and the require-
ments and expectations of the workforce. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS
‘‘(5) Increasing the autonomy and flexibility of 
secondary schools, which may include— 
‘‘(A) establishing a process whereby exist-
ing schools can apply for flexibility in such 
areas as scheduling, curricula, budgeting, and 
governance; and 
‘‘(B) starting new small public secondary 
schools that are guaranteed such autonomies. 
‘‘(6) Improving learning opportunities for sec-
ondary school students in rural schools, including 
through the use of distance-learning opportunities 
and other technology-based tools. 
‘‘(7) Redesigning a middle school— 
‘‘(A) to prevent student disengagement 
and improve achievement; and 
‘‘(B) to better respond to early warning 
signs that students are at risk of dropping out 
of school, such as poor attendance, poor behav-
ior, or course failure. 
‘‘(8) Improving teaching and increasing aca-
demic rigor at the secondary school level, which may 
include— 
‘‘(A) improving the alignment of academic 
standards with the requirements and expecta-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:12 Oct 06, 2007
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3763.IH
H3763
cnoel on PRODPC60 with BILLS