SEC. 2. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education shall 
establish and administer a national recognition program 
to be known as the ‘‘National Classified School Employees 
of the Year Awards’’. The purpose of the program shall 
be to recognize and promote the commitment and excel-
lence exhibited by employees within certain occupational 
specialties in public schools who provide exemplary service 
to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education. 
(b) OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The occupational specialties 
referred to in subsection (a) are the following: 
(A) Paraprofessionals. 
(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) NUMBER OF AWARDS.—Prior to March 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 an employee 
from each occupational specialty described in para-
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graph (1) to receive an award under the recognition 
program. 
(c) SELECTION PROCESS.— 
(1) NOMINATION PROCESS.—Not later than No-
vember 1 of each year (beginning with the first cal-
endar year that begins after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act), the Secretary shall solicit nomina-
tions from each occupational specialty described in 
subsection (b)(1) from the chief State school officer 
of each State. The chief State school officer of each 
State shall consider nominations submitted by the 
following: 
(A) Local educational agencies. 
(B) School administrators. 
(C) Professional associations. 
(D) Labor unions. 
(E) Any other group determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
(2) DEMONSTRATION.—Each nomination shall 
be submitted to the Secretary by a chief State school 
officer in such manner as the Secretary may require 
and shall contain, at a minimum, demonstrations of 
excellence in the following areas: 
(A) Work performance. 
(B) School and community involvement. 
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(C) Leadership and commitment. 
(D) Local support. 
(E) Enhancement of classified school em-
ployees’ image in the community and schools. 
(F) Any other area of superior perform-
ance, such as health and safety promotion or ef-
ficient use of energy or other resources. 
(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-
onstrations made in the areas described in such 
paragraph. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—The terms used in this Act shall 
have the meaning given such terms in section 9101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801). 
Æ 
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