I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 276 
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring 
School Employees (RISE) Award Program recognizing excellence exhib-
ited by classified school employees providing services to students in 
prekindergarten through high school. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2019 
Ms. TITUS (for herself, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 
Mr. KHANNA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LARSEN
of Washington, Mr. 
GARAMENDI, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. 
SCHIFF, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 
YARMUTH, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mrs. LEE of Nevada, and Mr. 
CARBAJAL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recog-
nizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Pro-
gram recognizing excellence exhibited by classified school 
employees providing services to students in prekinder-
garten through high school. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognizing Achieve-
ment in Classified School Employees Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Classified school employees provide valuable 
service in the United States. 
(2) Classified school employees provide essential 
services, such as transportation, facilities mainte-
nance and operations, food service, safety, and 
health care. 
(3) Classified school employees play a vital role 
in providing for the welfare and safety of students. 
(4) Classified school employees strive for excel-
lence in all areas of service to the education commu-
nity. 
(5) Exemplary classified school employees 
should be recognized for their outstanding contribu-
tions to quality education in the United States. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.—The term 
‘‘classified school employee’’ means an employee of a 
State or of any political subdivision of a State, or an 
employee of a nonprofit entity, who works in any 
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grade from prekindergarten through high school in 
any of the following occupational specialties: 
(A) 
Paraprofessional, 
including 
paraeducator services. 
(B) Clerical and administrative services. 
(C) Transportation services. 
(D) Food and nutrition services. 
(E) Custodial and maintenance services. 
(F) Security services. 
(G) Health and student services. 
(H) Technical services. 
(I) Skilled trades. 
(2) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in 
this Act have the meanings given the terms in sec-
tion 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
SEC. 4. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 
establish a national recognition program to be known as 
the ‘‘Recognizing Inspiring School Employees Award Pro-
gram’’ or the ‘‘award program’’. The purpose of the award 
program shall be to recognize and promote the commit-
ment and excellence exhibited by classified school employ-
ees who provide exemplary service to students in pre-
kindergarten through high school. 
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(b) AWARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Prior to May 31 of each 
year (beginning with the second calendar year that 
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act), 
the Secretary shall select a classified school em-
ployee to receive the Recognizing Inspiring School 
Employees Award for the year. 
(2) NON-MONETARY VALUE.—The award and 
recognition provided under this Act shall have no 
monetary value. 
(c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 
(1) NOMINATION PROCESS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than Novem-
ber 1 of each year (beginning with the first cal-
endar year that begins after the date of the en-
actment of this Act), the Secretary shall solicit 
nominations of classified school employees from 
the occupational specialties described in section 
3(1) from the Governor of each State. 
(B) NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS.—In order 
for individuals in a State to be eligible to re-
ceive recognition under this section, the Gov-
ernor of the State shall consider nominations 
submitted by the following: 
(i) Local educational agencies. 
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(ii) School administrators. 
(iii) Professional associations. 
(iv) Labor organizations. 
(v) Educational service agencies. 
(vi) Nonprofit entities. 
(vii) Parents and students. 
(viii) Any other group determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary. 
(2) DEMONSTRATION.—Each Governor of a 
State who desires individuals in the State to receive 
recognition under this section shall submit the nomi-
nations described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary 
in such manner as may be required by the Secretary. 
Each such nomination shall contain, at a minimum, 
demonstrations of excellence in the following areas: 
(A) Work performance. 
(B) School and community involvement. 
(C) Leadership and commitment. 
(D) Local support. 
(E) Enhancement of classified school em-
ployees’ image in the community and schools. 
(3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall develop 
uniform national guidelines for evaluating nomina-
tions submitted under paragraph (2) in order to se-
lect the most deserving nominees based on the dem-
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onstrations made in the areas described in such 
paragraph. 
Æ 
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