I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 269
To provide for a role models academy demonstration program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mrs. ROUKEMA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To provide for a role models academy demonstration
program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Role Models Academy Demonstration Act’’.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish a Role Models Academy that—
(1) serves as a model, residential, military style
magnet school for at-risk youth from around the Na-
tion who cease to attend secondary school before
graduation from secondary school; and
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(2) will foster a student’s growth and develop-
ment by providing a residential, controlled environ-
ment conducive for developing leadership skills, self-
discipline, citizenship, and academic and vocational
excellence in a structured living and learning envi-
ronment.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purpose of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Academy’’ means the academy
established under section 3;
(2) the term ‘‘former member of the Armed
Forces’’ means any individual who was discharged or
released from service in the Armed Forces under
honorable conditions;
(3) the term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the
meaning given that term in section 14101 of the El-
ementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801);
(4) the term ‘‘secondary school’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 14101 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801); and
(5) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Education.
SEC. 2. OBJECTIVES.
The objectives of this Act are as follows:
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(1) To provide a comprehensive, coherent, inte-
grated, high quality, cost-effective, residential, edu-
cation and vocational training academy for the Na-
tion’s at-risk youth, designed to meet the entrance
demands of colleges and universities and the needs
of employers.
(2) To establish a comprehensive, national part-
nership investment model among the Federal Gov-
ernment, States, corporate America, and colleges
and universities.
(3) To provide for community partnerships
among local community leaders, businesses, and
churches to provide mentoring to Academy students.
(4) To provide for a community partnership be-
tween the Academy and the local school system
under which model Academy students will serve as
mentors to at-risk youth who are attending school to
provide such in-school at-risk youth with valuable in-
struction and insights regarding—
(A) the prevention of drug use and crime;
(B) self-restraint; and
(C) conflict resolution skills.
(5) To provide Academy students with—
(A) the tools to become productive citizens;
(B) learning skills;
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(C) traditional, moral, ethical, and family
values;
(D) work ethics;
(E) motivation;
(F) self-confidence; and
(G) pride.
(6) To provide employment opportunities at the
Academy for former members of the Armed Forces
and participants in the program assisted under sec-
tion 1151 of title 10, United States Code (Troops to
Teachers Program).
(7) To make the Academy available, upon dem-
onstration of success, for expansion or duplication
throughout every State, through block grant funding
or other means.
SEC. 3. ACADEMY ESTABLISHED.
The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration pro-
gram under which the Secretary establishes a four-year,
residential, military style academy—
(1) that shall offer at-risk youth secondary
school coursework and vocational training, and that
may offer precollegiate coursework;
(2) that focuses on the education and vocational
training of youth at risk of delinquency or dropping
out of secondary school;
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(3) whose teachers are primarily composed of
former members of the Armed Forces or partici-
pants in the program assisted under section 1151 of
title 10, United States Code (Troops to Teachers
Program), if such former members or participants
are qualified and trained to teach at the Academy;
(4) that operates a mentoring program that—
(A) utilizes mentors from all sectors of so-
ciety to serve as role models for Academy stu-
dents;
(B) provides, to the greatest extent pos-
sible, one-to-one mentoring relationships be-
tween mentors and Academy students; and
(C) involves mentors providing academic
tutoring, advice, career counseling, and role
models;
(5) that may contain a Junior Reserve Officers’
Training Corps unit established in accordance with
section 2031 of title 10, United States Code;
(6) that is housed on the site of any military in-
stallation closed pursuant to a base closure law; and
(7) if the Secretary determines that the Acad-
emy is effective, that serves as a model for similar
military style academies throughout the United
States.
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SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION.
There are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000
for fiscal year 1996 and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the fiscal years 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000
to carry out this Act.
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