(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 postsecondary 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 postsecondary 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 2008 will cost 
the United States more that $319,000,000,000 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) The education system of the United States 
should support critical thinking, creativity, and inno-
vative approaches to problem-solving—all skills that 
cannot easily be outsourced. The Program for Inter-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
national Student Assessment is an international as-
sessment that measures these high-demand skills. 
Unfortunately, when the results on this assessment 
of students from the United States are compared to 
those of students from 27 other countries, many of 
which are economic competitors of the United 
States, the United States students rank 24th in 
problem-solving, 21st in scientific literacy, and 25th 
in mathematical literacy. 
(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. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
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— 
(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 postsecondary 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— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
‘‘(i) State educational agency; or 
‘‘(ii) local educational agency that is 
eligible for assistance under part A; and 
‘‘(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 secondary education, as 
determined under State law, in 1 or more of grades 
9 through 12. 
‘‘(4) MIDDLE
SCHOOL.—The term ‘middle 
school’ means a public school, including a public 
charter middle school, that provides middle or sec-
ondary education, as determined under State law, in 
1 or more of grades 5 through 8. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 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. 
‘‘(3) DURATION OF GRANT PERIOD.—A grant 
awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for not longer 
than a 5-year period. 
‘‘(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-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
cation to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(E) a description of how the eligible part-
nership will measure and report improvement 
using the data collected under subsection (g) 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
21:14 May 05, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2239.IH
H2239
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with BILLS