Title: Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Perkins Fund for Equity and Excellence
This bill amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to replace the existing Tech Prep program with a new competitive grant program to support career and technical education. Under the program, local educational agencies and their partners may apply for grant funding to support:
Unless granted a waiver, a grant recipient must provide specified matching funds in the fourth and fifth years of the five-year grant.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1004 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1004

To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
to support innovative approaches to career and technical education and 
redesign the high school experience for students by providing students 
 with equitable access to rigorous, engaging, and relevant real world 
 education through partnerships with business and industry and higher 
education that prepare students to graduate from high school and enroll 
into postsecondary education without the need for remediation and with 
     the ability to use knowledge to solve complex problems, think 
   critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and 
                       develop academic mindsets.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 2, 2017

  Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Portman, Ms. Baldwin, Mrs. Capito, Mr. 
 Young, and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read 
 twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
to support innovative approaches to career and technical education and 
redesign the high school experience for students by providing students 
 with equitable access to rigorous, engaging, and relevant real world 
 education through partnerships with business and industry and higher 
education that prepare students to graduate from high school and enroll 
into postsecondary education without the need for remediation and with 
     the ability to use knowledge to solve complex problems, think 
   critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and 
                       develop academic mindsets.

    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 ``Perkins Fund for Equity and 
Excellence''.

SEC. 2. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FUND FOR EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY.

    (a) Career and Technical Education Fund for Excellence and 
Equity.--Section 114(d) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical 
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(d)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(6) Career and technical education fund for excellence 
        and equity.--
                    ``(A) Purpose.--The purpose of this paragraph is to 
                support innovative approaches to career and technical 
                education and redesign the high school experience for 
                students by providing students with equitable access to 
                rigorous, engaging, and relevant real world education 
                through partnerships with business and industry and 
                higher education that prepare students to graduate from 
                high school and enroll into postsecondary education--
                            ``(i) without the need for remediation; and
                            ``(ii) with the ability to use knowledge to 
                        solve complex problems, think critically, 
                        communicate effectively, collaborate with 
                        others, and develop academic mindsets.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as otherwise 
                        provided in section 3 or this subparagraph, the 
                        terms used in this paragraph have the meanings 
                        given the terms in section 8101 of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
                            ``(ii) Career and technical education 
                        program of study.--The term `career and 
                        technical education program of study' means a 
                        coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of high 
                        school and postsecondary academic and technical 
                        courses that--
                                    ``(I) incorporates rigorous, State-
                                identified college and career readiness 
                                standards, including State-identified 
                                career and technical education 
                                standards that address both academic 
                                and technical knowledge and skills that 
                                are aligned with the needs of in-demand 
                                industry sectors or occupations for the 
                                State, region, or local area;
                                    ``(II) supports attainment of 
                                employability and career readiness 
                                skills;
                                    ``(III) progresses in content 
                                specificity (by beginning with all 
                                aspects of an industry or career 
                                cluster and leading to more 
                                occupationally specific instruction and 
                                by preparing students for ongoing 
                                postsecondary career preparation);
                                    ``(IV) incorporates multiple entry 
                                and exit points with portable 
                                demonstrations of technical or career 
                                competency, which may include credit-
                                transfer agreements or industry-
                                recognized credentials; and
                                    ``(V) culminates in the attainment 
                                of a recognized postsecondary 
                                credential.
                            ``(iii) Certificate.--The term 
                        `certificate' means--
                                    ``(I) an occupation-specific 
                                certificate that--
                                            ``(aa) is aligned with 
                                        State standards of career and 
                                        technical education, or other 
                                        standards developed by a State 
                                        industry sector in an in-demand 
                                        industry sector or occupation;
                                            ``(bb) provides for skills 
                                        that can be assessed; and
                                            ``(cc) identifies clearly 
                                        the specific skills that the 
                                        certificate qualifies the 
                                        receiving candidate to 
                                        demonstrate; or
                                    ``(II) a career pathways program 
                                certificate that is based on quality 
                                program standards and provides for 
                                individual assessments of skill 
                                attainment and college and career 
                                readiness.
                            ``(iv) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible 
                        entity' means a local educational agency, or a 
                        consortium of local educational agencies--
                                    ``(I) in partnership with--
                                            ``(aa) one or more 
                                        institutions of higher 
                                        education;
                                            ``(bb) one or more 
                                        employers, or a consortium of 
                                        employers; and
                                            ``(cc) a qualified 
                                        intermediary, which may include 
                                        a local workforce development 
                                        board, established under 
                                        section 107 of the Workforce 
                                        Innovation and Opportunity Act; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) that may be in partnership 
                                with--
                                            ``(aa) one or more 
                                        additional external partners; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) the eligible agency.
                            ``(v) In-demand industry sector or 
                        occupation.--The term `in-demand industry 
                        sector or occupation' has the meaning given the 
                        term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation 
                        and Opportunity Act.
                            ``(vi) Integrated course.--The term 
                        `integrated course' means a course offered by a 
                        high school for credit toward a regular high 
                        school diploma that combines instruction in 
                        core academic subjects with career and 
                        technical education that, where applicable, is 
                        fully aligned with the State's challenging 
                        State academic standards required under section 
                        1111(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965.
                            ``(vii) Qualified intermediary.--The term 
                        `qualified intermediary' means an entity that 
                        demonstrates expertise to build, connect, 
                        sustain, and measure partnerships with entities 
                        such as employers, schools, community-based 
                        organizations, postsecondary institutions, 
                        social service organizations, economic 
                        development organizations, and workforce 
                        systems to broker services, resources, and 
                        supports to youth and the organizations and 
                        systems that are designed to serve youth, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) connecting employers to 
                                classrooms;
                                    ``(II) assisting in the design and 
                                implementation of career and technical 
                                education programs of study;
                                    ``(III) assisting in the 
                                development of curricula and 
                                assessments;
                                    ``(IV) delivering professional 
                                development; and
                                    ``(V) connecting students to 
                                internships and other work-based 
                                learning opportunities.
                            ``(viii) Recognized postsecondary 
                        credential.--The term `recognized postsecondary 
                        credential' has the meaning given the term in 
                        section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act.
                    ``(C) Grants authorized.--
                            ``(i) Reservation.--From the total amount 
                        of funds available under subparagraph (L) for a 
                        fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve--
                                    ``(I) not more than 5 percent for 
                                national activities, which the 
                                Secretary shall use for technical 
                                assistance, including the development 
                                of State career readiness indicators, 
                                data collection and dissemination, and 
                                evaluation and reporting activities; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) not less than 5 percent for 
                                the Bureau of Indian Education for 
                                activities consistent with the purpose 
                                of this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Grants.--From the total amount of 
                        funds available under subparagraph (L) for a 
                        fiscal year and not reserved under clause (i), 
                        the Secretary shall award grants on a 
                        competitive basis to eligible entities, based 
                        on the quality of the applications submitted 
                        under subparagraph (H), to implement activities 
                        described under subparagraph (I).
                    ``(D) Grant duration.--Grants awarded under this 
                paragraph shall be for a period of 5 years, conditional 
                after 3 years of satisfactory progress on the 
                performance indicators described in subparagraph 
                (J)(ii), as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(E) Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
                paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to 
                applications from eligible entities that--
                            ``(i) will serve the greatest percentage of 
                        students in poverty based on--
                                    ``(I) the poverty rate of the 
                                geographic area to be served under the 
                                grant according to the most recent 
                                census;
                                    ``(II) the number and percentage of 
                                students from low-income families, 
                                adjusted for cost-of-living; and
                                    ``(III) the median income level of 
                                the geographic area to be served under 
                                the grant according to the most recent 
                                census;
                            ``(ii) include a process for measuring 
                        career-readiness for the purposes described 
                        under subparagraph (J)(iii)(I);
                            ``(iii) propose a strategy to enroll 
                        participating students in--
                                    ``(I) multiple integrated courses 
                                per academic year; and
                                    ``(II) a progression of integrated 
                                courses with enhanced rigor from 9th 
                                through the 12th grade;
                            ``(iv) provide students with paid 
                        internships or other paid work-based learning 
                        experiences; and
                            ``(v) include partnerships with employers 
                        from an in-demand industry sector or 
                        occupation.
                    ``(F) Matching requirement.--Each eligible entity 
                awarded a grant under this paragraph shall provide, 
                from non-Federal sources, an amount (which may be 
                provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out the 
                activities supported by the grant--
                            ``(i) in year 4 of the grant, equal to 25 
                        percent of the amount of the grant; and
                            ``(ii) in year 5 of the grant, equal to 50 
                        percent of the amount of the grant.
                    ``(G) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching 
                requirement described under subparagraph (F) based on a 
                determination that the eligible entity is unable to 
                provide the matching funds due to inadequate financial 
                resources.
                    ``(H) Application.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An eligible entity that 
                        seeks a grant under this paragraph shall submit 
                        an application to the Secretary at such time, 
                        in such manner, and containing such information 
                        as the Secretary may reasonably require.
                            ``(ii) Contents.--Each application 
                        submitted under clause (i) shall include, at a 
                        minimum, a description of the following:
                                    ``(I) The integrated courses that 
                                will be offered to students in at least 
                                one core academic subject per student 
                                enrolled in a participating school, per 
                                year, in courses that meet college and 
                                university admissions requirements, as 
                                validated by the Secretary based on 
                                evidence submitted by the eligible 
                                entity.
                                    ``(II) Articulation and placement 
                                agreements between participating local 
                                educational agencies and institutions 
                                of higher education for at least one 
                                career and technical education program 
                                of study aligned with an in-demand 
                                industry sector or occupation that 
                                ensures that student completion of such 
                                program of study results in either a 
                                recognized postsecondary credential or 
                                academic credit toward a recognized 
                                postsecondary credential.
                                    ``(III) The role of employer 
                                partnerships under the grant, including 
                                how such partnerships will be utilized 
                                to--
                                            ``(aa) provide students 
                                        with a continuum of work-based 
                                        learning experiences, including 
                                        opportunities such as career 
                                        exploration, job shadowing, 
                                        pre-apprenticeship programs, 
                                        mentoring, internships, school-
                                        based enterprises, and virtual 
                                        work-based learning 
                                        opportunities;
                                            ``(bb) engage employers in 
                                        program design, curriculum 
                                        development, program 
                                        evaluation, and assessments of 
                                        student work; and
                                            ``(cc) provide educators 
                                        with externship opportunities.
                                    ``(IV) The integrated student 
                                supports that will be made available to 
                                address the comprehensive needs of 
                                students, which may include--
                                            ``(aa) accelerated and 
                                        targeted instruction for 
                                        historically underserved 
                                        students served under this Act 
                                        who require additional support 
                                        in order to meet proficiency 
                                        requirements in core academic 
                                        or technical subjects;
                                            ``(bb) universal and 
                                        individualized academic and 
                                        non-academic, college and 
                                        career guidance and counseling, 
                                        beginning in middle school that 
                                        includes the development of 
                                        individual development plans 
                                        for each student and is 
                                        reviewed at regular intervals 
                                        throughout the school year and 
                                        annually;
                                            ``(cc) a system of timely, 
                                        consistent, and structured 
                                        student supports that include 
                                        an assessment of academic and 
                                        career and technical coursework 
                                        needed for high school 
                                        completion and successful 
                                        postsecondary education 
                                        transition, work-based learning 
                                        experiences, the development of 
                                        career objectives, and college 
                                        planning, including financial 
                                        planning; and
                                            ``(dd) a community-based 
                                        approach that provides 
                                        wraparound academic, social and 
                                        emotional, and health supports 
                                        to improve overall youth 
                                        development.
                                    ``(V) The accelerated and 
                                differentiated learning opportunities 
                                supported by evidence-based strategies 
                                for special populations, including 
                                students underrepresented in the fields 
                                of science, technology, engineering, 
                                and mathematics, English learners, 
                                students with disabilities, Native 
                                students, pregnant and parenting 
                                students, foster youth, court-involved 
                                youth, and homeless youth.
                                    ``(VI) The roles and 
                                responsibilities of each partner within 
                                the eligible entity, including--
                                            ``(aa) a description of 
                                        which partner will serve as the 
                                        fiscal agent and why that 
                                        entity is best qualified to 
                                        serve in this capacity; and
                                            ``(bb) a description of the 
                                        role of the qualified 
                                        intermediary, including how 
                                        such entity will coordinate 
                                        activities between the 
                                        participating local educational 
                                        agencies, institutions of 
                                        higher education, employers, 
                                        and other local partners, as 
                                        appropriate, and how it will 
                                        provide resources and services 
                                        aligned with the activities 
                                        included within the application 
                                        described under this section, 
                                        including technical assistance, 
                                        professional development, and 
                                        coordinating internships and 
                                        work-based learning 
                                        opportunities.
                                    ``(VII) An assurance that the 
                                activities under this grant are 
                                coordinated and aligned, as 
                                appropriate, with the State plan under 
                                section 122 of the State in which the 
                                entity is located.
                    ``(I) Allowable activities.--An eligible entity 
                receiving a grant under this paragraph may use grant 
                funds to implement the following:
                            ``(i) Career and technical education 
                        programs of study, including relevant work-
                        based learning opportunities, aligned to 
                        postsecondary education training, degrees, and 
                        certificates.
                            ``(ii) Dual or concurrent enrollment 
                        programs and early college high school programs 
                        that provide equitable access to high-quality, 
                        credit bearing community college courses, and 
                        programs that accelerate and facilitate the 
                        completion of a recognized postsecondary 
                        credential.
                            ``(iii) Evidence-based transitional support 
                        strategies for students who have yet to meet 
                        postsecondary education eligibility 
                        requirements or who require remediation in 
                        mathematics or English in order to progress to 
                        credit-bearing and degree-applicable 
                        coursework.
                            ``(iv) Teacher and leader experiential and 
                        information-gathering site visits for the 
                        purpose of effectively implementing the 
                        activities under the grant.
                            ``(v) Supporting professional development 
                        of educators and business partners, which may 
                        include--
                                    ``(I) integrated professional 
                                development between core academic 
                                teachers and teachers of career and 
                                technical education;
                                    ``(II) allocating time for 
                                integrated curriculum design and 
                                development;
                                    ``(III) evidence-based delivery 
                                models of professional development that 
                                are structured to improve the quality 
                                of course delivery for career and 
                                technical education and core subject 
                                integration;
                                    ``(IV) evidence-based strategies 
                                that effectively prepare teachers, 
                                counselors, principals, and service 
                                providers, including through 
                                professional development with a focus 
                                on equity, that addresses the needs of 
                                historically underserved students;
                                    ``(V) structured inter-disciplinary 
                                collaboration and common planning time 
                                built into a school's master schedule;
                                    ``(VI) teacher and leader 
                                externship programs developed in 
                                partnership with business or industry 
                                and local postsecondary education 
                                institutions;
                                    ``(VII) cross-credentialing to 
                                provide teachers with both an academic 
                                single-subject credential and a career 
                                and technical education credential; and
                                    ``(VIII) outreach and recruitment 
                                efforts that diversify and ensure 
                                equitable student access to pathways 
                                and career and technical education 
                                programs of study.
                            ``(vi) Research-based strategies used to 
                        provide additional support and facilitate 
                        accelerated instruction such as extended 
                        learning time opportunities.
                            ``(vii) Paid student internships or other 
                        paid work-based learning experiences.
                            ``(viii) Guidance counseling and other 
                        activities that support student transitions to 
                        postsecondary education.
                    ``(J) Reporting and evaluation.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Each eligible entity 
                        that receives a grant under this paragraph 
                        shall annually, for each year of the grant, 
                        provide a report to the Secretary that includes 
                        a description of outcomes on the indicators 
                        described under clause (ii), disaggregated by 
                        special populations, and the subgroups 
                        described in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
                            ``(ii) Indicators.--Each eligible entity 
                        that receives a grant under this paragraph 
                        shall report on the following indicators:
                                    ``(I) Performance on the 
                                assessments required under section 1111 
                                of the Elementary and Secondary 
                                Education Act, including the number and 
                                percentage of participating students 
                                demonstrating academic growth.
                                    ``(II) The number and percentage of 
                                students graduating with a regular high 
                                school diploma within 4 years, 
                                including disaggregation by diploma 
                                type, and, where available, who meet 
                                any of the following:
                                            ``(aa) Enroll in a 
                                        registered apprenticeship 
                                        program.
                                            ``(bb) Enroll in at least 
                                        one remedial course at an 
                                        institution of higher 
                                        education.
                                            ``(cc) Enroll in a 2-year 
                                        or 4-year institution of higher 
                                        education and persist beyond 
                                        the first year of postsecondary 
                                        education.
                                            ``(dd) Graduate from a 2-
                                        year or 4-year program at an 
                                        institution of higher 
                                        education.
                                            ``(ee) Secure employment 
                                        within 6 months of graduating 
                                        from an institution of higher 
                                        education.
                                    ``(III) The number and percentage 
                                of students receiving--
                                            ``(aa) a recognized 
                                        postsecondary credential or an 
                                        industry-recognized credential 
                                        in in-demand industry sectors 
                                        or occupations while enrolled 
                                        in high school; or
                                            ``(bb) academic credit 
                                        toward recognized postsecondary 
                                        credentials while enrolled in 
                                        high school.
                                    ``(IV) The number and percentage of 
                                students participating in work-based 
                                learning opportunities while enrolled 
                                in high school, including pre-
                                apprenticeship programs, that include 
                                an employer assessment of student 
                                performance.
                            ``(iii) Permissible indicators.--Each 
                        eligible entity that receives a grant under 
                        this paragraph may report on the following 
                        indicators:
                                    ``(I) The number and percentage of 
                                students scoring proficient or advanced 
                                on assessments of career readiness.
                                    ``(II) The number and percentage of 
                                students scoring proficient or advanced 
                                on capstone experiences that are 
                                evaluated by peers, educators, and 
                                employers.
                                    ``(III) The number and percentage 
                                of students who have mentors and 
                                participate in a formal mentoring 
                                program.
                                    ``(IV) Student attendance rates, 
                                including rates of chronic absenteeism.
                                    ``(V) As appropriate, any 
                                indicators described in section 
                                116(b)(2) of the Workforce Innovation 
                                and Opportunity Act.
                    ``(K) Grant or contract for evaluation.--From among 
                funds reserved under subparagraph (C)(i)(I), the 
                Secretary shall award a grant or contract to an entity 
                outside the Department to conduct an evaluation of the 
                activities assisted under this paragraph and their 
                impact as measured by the indicators described under 
                this paragraph. Results from the evaluation shall 
                provide information on effective practices that can be 
                replicated.
                    ``(L) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph such sums as may be necessary.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 114(e) of the Carl D. 
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324(e)) 
is amended by inserting ``, other than paragraph (6) of subsection 
(d),'' after ``this section''.
                                 <all>