Teachers and Parents at the Table Act
Bill: H.R.5667 | Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. (D-NY)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Teachers and Parents at the Table Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish (1) a Teacher Advisory Committee to monitor the implementation and impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the elementary and secondary education law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act; and (2) a Parents and Families Advisory Committee to monitor the effects and implementation of the ESSA on children and families and to review and analyze the implementation of various family engagement activities.

To establish a Teacher Advisory Committee and a Parents and Families 
                          Advisory Committee.

    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 ``Teachers and Parents at the Table 
Act''.

SEC. 2. TEACHER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Expert teachers offer an important resource to 
        policymakers as they can bring their expertise and perspective 
        from the classroom to inform policy so that positive outcomes 
        for all students will be maximized.
            (2) State Teachers of the Year represent a valuable 
        resource with a body of expert knowledge and skill about 
        instructional practice, 21st century learning, and school 
        functioning that can be infused into policymaking to promote 
        better outcomes for elementary and secondary students.
            (3) State Teachers of the Year have been selected by their 
        communities and States as models of their profession and 
        represent every State in the Nation and every discipline and 
        grade level.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee, to be known as the Teacher Advisory Committee (referred to 
in this section as the ``Committee'').
    (c) Duty.--The duty of the Committee shall be to bring the 
perspective of expert teachers to policymakers, including officials at 
the Department of Education, the Committee on Education and Labor of 
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and monitor the implementation and 
impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95). The 
Committee shall make policy recommendations on given sets of topics to 
improve elementary and secondary education.
    (d) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The membership of the Committee shall 
        consist of not more than 10 teachers employed in a public 
        elementary school and not more than 10 teachers employed in a 
        public secondary school who--
                    (A) are past or present finalists or State Teachers 
                of the Year, or are nominated from organizations 
                representing teachers, including organizations 
                representing predominantly Black, Latin, and Asian 
                educators, and have demonstrated similar evidence of 
                expertise;
                    (B) have experience working with educational policy 
                or research;
                    (C) have a demonstrated history of holding teacher 
                leadership roles among other teachers and school 
                leaders; and
                    (D) have submitted an application to the Secretary 
                to serve on the Committee.
            (2) List; appointment.--The Secretary shall compile a list 
        of teachers submitting applications under paragraph (1)(D). The 
        members of the Committee shall be appointed sequentially as 
        follows, except that no appointer may appoint more than two 
        public elementary and two public secondary school teachers:
                    (A) The Secretary shall appoint 4 teachers from the 
                list.
                    (B) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                4 teachers from the list.
                    (C) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                4 teachers from the list.
                    (D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                shall appoint 4 teachers from the list.
                    (E) The minority leader of the House of 
                Representatives shall appoint 4 teachers from the list.
            (3) Special requirements.--
                    (A) Finalists or state teachers of the year.--Not 
                less than half of the members of the Committee shall be 
                past or present finalists or State Teachers of the 
                Year.
                    (B) Representation requirement.--The members of the 
                Committee shall represent a diverse selection of 
                members of the teaching workforce. The committee shall 
                include members--
                            (i) working in a diversity of geographic 
                        regions, including urban, suburban, and rural 
                        areas across the country;
                            (ii) holding a variety of specializations, 
                        such as special education teachers, teachers of 
                        English learners, and those who work with high-
                        ability learners; and
                            (iii) serving a diverse variety of student 
                        populations, including--
                                    (I) economically disadvantaged 
                                students;
                                    (II) students from major racial and 
                                ethnic groups;
                                    (III) children with disabilities;
                                    (IV) English learners;
                                    (V) students who are members of an 
                                Indian tribe or tribal organization, as 
                                defined in section 4 of the Indian 
                                Self-Determination and Education 
                                Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b);
                                    (VI) students who identify as 
                                lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
                                youth;
                                    (VII) migrant students;
                                    (VIII) children in foster care; and
                                    (IX) homeless children and youths.
            (4) Term.--Each member of the Committee shall serve on the 
        Committee for a 3-year term.
    (e) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee shall submit to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate and the Secretary 2 reports per year 
        on the monitoring carried out under subsection (c).
            (2) Contents of report.--The reports submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall provide the perspective of members of the 
        Committee, and information collected from surveys of teachers 
        in the networks represented on the Committee, on not more than 
        3 topics per year determined by the Committee in consultation 
        with policymakers, including officials at the Department of 
        Education, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate. Such topics might include--
                    (A) testing and assessment;
                    (B) the equitable distribution of teachers between 
                low-poverty and high-poverty schools;
                    (C) the diversity of the teaching workforce;
                    (D) implementation and impact of the Every Student 
                Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95) in rural and urban 
                public schools;
                    (E) school resource equity, including per-pupil 
                expenditures of Federal, State, and local funds;
                    (F) fostering a positive school climate through the 
                implementation of evidence-based practices that promote 
                safe and supportive learning environments for all 
                students; and
                    (G) other topics of relevance determined by the 
                Committee in consultation with policymakers and members 
                of other Department school and family engagement 
                fellowships (such as the School Ambassadors Program).
    (f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--The provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall apply to the Committee.
    (g) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Committee may be 
        compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
        rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the 
        actual performance of the duties of the Committee.
            (2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or 
        regular places of business in the performance of services for 
        the Committees, members of the Committee shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
        of title 5, United States Code.
    (h) Additional Requirements.--The following additional requirements 
shall apply to the Committee:
            (1) The Committee shall meet in person at least once per 
        year for deliberation.
            (2) The Committee shall be available for consultation with 
        officials at the Department of Education, the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
        Senate regarding the contents of the reports submitted under 
        subsection (e).
    (i) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``State Teacher of the Year'' means any person 
        who has been recognized as a State Teacher of the Year by the 
        Council of Chief State School Officers.
            (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.
    (j) Authorization of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated to, and 
available at the discretion of, the Secretary for programmatic and 
administrative expenditures for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, a total 
of $500,000 shall be used to establish and carry out the functions of 
the Committee established under this section.

SEC. 3. PARENTS AND FAMILIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Parents and families have a major influence on their 
        children's achievement in public school and throughout life.
            (2) Parents and family members offer an important resource 
        to policymakers as they provide a unique perspective as 
        consumers of our Nation's public schools.
            (3) All parents and family members--regardless of income, 
        education, or cultural background--are critical in their 
        child's learning and development and want their child to reach 
        their fullest potential.
            (4) Parental engagement improves school culture and 
        community well-being, as well as drive improvements in student 
        outcomes.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
committee, to be known as the Parents and Families Advisory Committee 
(referred to in this section as the ``Committee'').
    (c) Duties and Focus.--The duty of the Committee shall be to 
monitor the effects and implementation of the Every Student Success Act 
(Public Law 114-95) on children and families, and review and analyze 
implementation of State and local parent and family engagement 
policies, school-parent compacts, and other family engagement 
activities described in section 1116 and part E of title IV of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318; 20 
U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
    (d) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The membership of the Committee shall 
        consist of 10 parents or family members of children enrolled in 
        a public elementary school and 10 parents or family members of 
        children enrolled in a public secondary school who--
                    (A) have a demonstrated history of parental 
                involvement and family engagement in public schools; 
                and
                    (B) have submitted an application to the Secretary 
                to serve on the Committee.
            (2) List; appointment.--The Secretary shall compile a list 
        of parents and family members submitting applications under 
        paragraph (1)(B). The members of the Committee shall be 
        appointed sequentially as follows:
                    (A) The Secretary shall appoint 4 parents or family 
                members from the list.
                    (B) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                4 parents or family members from the list.
                    (C) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint 
                4 parents or family members from the list.
                    (D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives 
                shall appoint 4 parents or family members from the 
                list.
                    (E) The minority leader of the House of 
                Representatives shall appoint 4 parents or family 
                members from the list.
            (3) Representation requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--The members of the Committee shall 
                represent geographically diverse areas, including 
                urban, suburban, and rural areas across the country, 
                and a diversity of students, and shall include at least 
                one parent or family member representing each of the 
                following student groups:
                            (i) Economically disadvantaged students.
                            (ii) Students from major racial and ethnic 
                        groups.
                            (iii) Children with disabilities.
                            (iv) English learners.
                            (v) Students who are members of an Indian 
                        tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 
                        section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
                        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
                            (vi) Students who identify as lesbian, gay, 
                        bisexual, and transgender youth.
                            (vii) Migrant students.
                            (viii) Children in foster care.
                            (ix) Homeless children and youths.
                    (B) Special consideration.--Consideration should 
                also be given to representation of students' gender 
                identity, migrant status, and residence in rural or 
                urban areas in the appointment of members of the 
                Committee.
            (4) Advisors.--If requested by the Committee, the Secretary 
        may provide access to 5 research advisors to the Committee, 
        such as researchers, practitioners or representatives from 
        national nonprofit organizations with expertise in family 
        engagement in education, to provide evidence-based information 
        and materials.
            (5) Term.--Each member of the Committee shall serve on the 
        Committee for a 3-year term.
    (e) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee shall submit to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate and the Secretary on an annual basis 
        a report and policy recommendations on the monitoring and 
        analysis carried out under subsection (c).
            (2) Contents of report.--The report submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall provide the perspective of parents and 
        families on not more than 3 topics per year determined by the 
        Committee. Such topics may include the following:
                    (A) The effects of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) on 
                parental involvement and family engagement in 
                education, including public schools and classrooms.
                    (B) Direction for State education agencies and 
                local education agencies for implementing written 
                family engagement policies under section 1116 and part 
                E of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318; 20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
                    (C) Recommendations for strengthening family 
                engagement policy and implementation in order to meet 
                the goals of section 1116 and part E of title IV of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6318; 20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
                    (D) Recommendations for fostering a positive school 
                climate that promotes safe and supportive learning 
                environments for all students, including the reduction 
                of use of exclusionary practices and implementation of 
                evidence-based approaches and interventions.
                    (E) Recommendations for improving State- and 
                district-level report cards, including that they are 
                developed by and understandable to parents.
    (f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--The provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall apply to the Committee.
    (g) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Committee may be 
        compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
        rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the 
        actual performance of the duties of the Committee.
            (2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or 
        regular places of business in the performance of services for 
        the Committees, members of the Committee shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
        of title 5, United States Code.
    (h) Additional Requirements.--The following additional requirements 
shall apply to the Committee:
            (1) The Committee shall meet in person at least once per 
        year for deliberation.
            (2) The Committee shall be available for consultation with 
        officials at the Department of Education and the Committee on 
        Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
        Senate regarding the contents of the reports submitted under 
        subsection (e).
    (i) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``family engagement'' means a shared 
        responsibility of families and public schools for student 
        success--
                    (A) in which schools and community-based 
                organizations are committed to reaching out to engage 
                families in meaningful ways and families are committed 
                actively to support their children's learning and 
                development;
                    (B) that is continuous from birth through young 
                adulthood; and
                    (C) that reinforces learning that takes place in 
                the home, school, and community.
            (2) The term ``parental involvement'' means the 
        participation of parents or family members in regular, two-way, 
        and meaningful communication involving student academic 
        learning and other public school activities, including 
        ensuring--
                    (A) that parents or family members play an integral 
                role in assisting their child's learning;
                    (B) that parents or family members are encouraged 
                to be actively involved in their child's education at 
                school;
                    (C) that parents or family members are full 
                partners in their child's education and are included, 
                as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory 
                committees to assist in the education of their child; 
                and
                    (D) the carrying out of other activities, such as 
                those described in section 1116 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318).
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.
    (j) Authorization of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated to, and 
available at the discretion of, the Secretary for programmatic and 
administrative expenditures for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, a total 
of $500,000 shall be used to establish and carry out the functions of 
the Committee established under this section.
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