SELF Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2253 | Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim (D-OH)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Social Emotional Learning for Families Act of 2021 or the SELF Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to local educational agencies to develop, implement, and evaluate teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement.

To establish a competitive grant program to support the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of successful teacher and school leader 
training programs on family engagement that will increase the capacity 
  of teachers and school leaders to work with families to develop and 
   support the social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of 
                               children.

    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 ``Social Emotional Learning for 
Families Act of 2021'' or the ``SELF Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--From amounts appropriated to carry out this 
section, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to local educational agencies to develop, implement, 
and evaluate teacher and school leader training programs on family 
engagement. Local educational agencies may work in partnership with the 
entities described in subsection (e)(3) to carry out such programs. The 
objective of such programs will be to increase the capacity of teacher 
and school leaders to work with families to develop and support the 
social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of children.
    (b) Grant Awards.--
            (1) Maximum grant amount.--The total amount of each grant 
        awarded under this section may not exceed $1,200,000.
            (2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
        be for a period of 5 years, and may be renewed.
            (3) Number of grants.--The Secretary shall award not more 
        than 100 grants under this section.
    (c) Applications.--An application submitted by a local educational 
agency for a grant under this section shall demonstrate--
            (1) the ability to provide laboratory and instructional 
        space for proposed programming;
            (2) a commitment to the development, implementation, and 
        evaluation of successful teacher and school leader training 
        programs on family engagement that will increase the capacity 
        of teachers and school leaders to work with families to develop 
        and support the social and emotional skills, habits, and 
        mindsets of children;
            (3) a plan to ensure that the proposed programs will serve 
        diverse groups, such as underrepresented or economically 
        disadvantaged families; and
            (4) a long-term commitment to the proposed programs to be 
        carried out with the grant, including a plan to continue the 
        actions described in paragraphs (1) through (3) for a period of 
        not less than 5 years.
    (d) Selection.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) give priority to high-need local educational agencies, 
        as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1021); and
            (2) ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
        projects funded under this section are located in diverse 
        geographic regions of the United States.
    (e) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A local educational agency receiving a 
        grant under this section shall use such funds to carry out 
        programs at elementary schools and secondary schools served by 
        the local educational agency that--
                    (A) involve instruction of research-based social 
                and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets through 
                locally relevant materials for teachers and school 
                leaders and families;
                    (B) provide professional development for teachers 
                and school leaders to engage families and support the 
                development of the social and emotional skills, habits, 
                and mindsets of families;
                    (C) provide direct instruction on social emotional 
                learning to families during times when families are 
                available and in places that are convenient and easily 
                accessible;
                    (D) encourage participation of families in the 
                programs offered by the local education agency under 
                this section, including programs supported by partner 
                agencies as described under paragraph (3);
                    (E) are designed to result in improved measurable 
                outcomes related to children, including positive social 
                behavior and academic outcomes; and
                    (F) may be provided virtually or online.
            (2) State educational agencies.--In the case of a local 
        educational agency that is a State educational agency, such 
        entity shall award subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local 
        educational agencies to carry out the program described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) Public-private partnerships.--Each local educational 
        agency awarded a grant under this section may carry out the 
        program funded under the grant in partnership with one or more 
        of the following:
                    (A) Institutions of higher education.
                    (B) Nonprofit organizations.
                    (C) Community-based organizations.
    (f) Annual Report to Congress.--Not later than 4 years after the 
first grant is awarded under this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress and make publicly available, a 
report on activities and results under this section. Such report shall 
describe--
            (1) the total number of grant applications received during 
        the year preceding the report;
            (2) the number and geographic distribution of the grants 
        for such year and for all grants awarded under this section;
            (3) participation of minority-serving institutions;
            (4) participation of underrepresented and economically 
        disadvantaged families;
            (5) overall program outcomes and issues of concern; and
            (6) recommendations for program revisions to achieve the 
        desired program outcome.
    (g) Definitions.--
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local 
        educational agency'', ``parent'', ``professional development'', 
        ``secondary school'', and ``State educational agency'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (3) Instruction.--The term ``instruction'' means activities 
        that--
                    (A) emphasize communication of knowledge concerning 
                social emotional learning in adults and children;
                    (B) provide opportunities to practice social 
                emotional learning through interactive activities 
                between families and their children; and
                    (C) are aligned with and integrated into family 
                involvement and engagement standards that may exist in 
                the applicable State or that may be developed.
            (4) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution of higher education 
        described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1067q).
            (5) Teacher and school leader training programs.--The term 
        ``teacher and school leader training programs'' includes 
        training programs for teachers, principals, school leaders, and 
        other school-based personnel.
            (6) Teachers and school leaders.--The term ``teachers and 
        school leaders'' means teachers, principals, school leaders, 
        and other school-based personnel.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (8) Social emotional learning.--The term ``social emotional 
        learning'' includes--
                    (A) self-awareness, or having a realistic 
                perception of one's own values, interests, and 
                strengths, and being able to recognize one's own 
                emotions;
                    (B) self-management, or how well one manages 
                emotions, impulses, and stress, and is able to 
                establish and achieve goals and exercise self-
                discipline;
                    (C) social awareness, or the ability to take the 
                perspective of and empathize with someone else and to 
                appreciate and respect diversity;
                    (D) relationship skills, or the ability to 
                participate in healthy, cooperative, and caring 
                relationships, and effectively resolve conflicts; and
                    (E) responsible decision making, or the ability to 
                recognize and generate good choices, evaluate the 
                likely consequences of actions, and take responsibility 
                for one's decisions.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $130,000,000, of which not more 
than $10,000,000 may be used by the Secretary for reports and technical 
assistance.
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