H. R. 276 
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE FIRST SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen 
An Act 
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School 
Employees (RISE) Award Program recognizing excellence exhibited by classified 
school employees providing services to students in prekindergarten through high 
school. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognizing Achievement 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 maintenance 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 excellence in all 
areas of service to the education community. 
(5) Exemplary classified school employees should be recog-
nized for their outstanding contributions 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 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.
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(2) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in this Act have 
the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education 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 Program’’ or the ‘‘award pro-
gram’’. The purpose of the award program shall be to recognize 
and promote the commitment and excellence exhibited by classified 
school employees who provide exemplary service to students in 
prekindergarten through high school. 
(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 employee to receive the Recognizing Inspiring School 
Employees Award for the year. 
(2) NON-MONETARY VALUE.—The award and recognition pro-
vided under this Act shall have no monetary value. 
(c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 
(1) NOMINATION PROCESS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 1 of each 
year (beginning with the first calendar year that begins 
after the date of the enactment 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 receive recognition under this 
section, the Governor of the State shall consider nomina-
tions submitted by the following: 
(i) Local educational agencies. 
(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 appropriate 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 nominations 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 employees’ image 
in the community and schools. 
(3) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall develop uniform 
national guidelines for evaluating nominations submitted under 
paragraph (2) in order to select the most deserving nominees
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based on the demonstrations made in the areas described in 
such paragraph. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.