Title: AHEAD Act
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
Affordable Housing for Educational Achievement Demonstration Act or the AHEAD Act
This bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to community partnerships for demonstration projects to provide educational and housing support for children.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3011 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3011

To authorize demonstration projects to improve educational and housing 
                         outcomes for children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 10, 2019

  Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize demonstration projects to improve educational and housing 
                         outcomes for 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 ``Affordable Housing for Educational 
Achievement Demonstration Act'' or the ``AHEAD Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To provide incentives for local educational agencies to 
        partner with public housing agencies or tribally designated 
        housing entities, and community-based or social service 
        organizations to improve outcomes for children and youth from 
        low-income families, including students experiencing 
        homelessness and students at risk of experiencing homelessness.
            (2) To connect children and families with resources to 
        reduce and prevent child, youth, and family homelessness and 
        increase housing and educational stability.
            (3) To support and evaluate innovative ideas in the areas 
        of educational success and housing stability, in order to 
        develop evidence-based practices.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Early childhood education program.--The term ``early 
        childhood education program'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1003).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership that--
                    (A) shall include--
                            (i) a local educational agency or tribal 
                        educational agency, which shall be designated 
                        as the lead agency;
                            (ii) a public housing agency or tribally 
                        designated housing entity; and
                            (iii) a community-based or social service 
                        organization; and
                    (B) may include--
                            (i) a housing developer or property owner;
                            (ii) an early childhood education program;
                            (iii) a community development financial 
                        institution or State housing finance agency;
                            (iv) a program that provides shelter to 
                        unaccompanied youth who are homeless, which may 
                        include a program established or supported 
                        under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 5701 et seq.);
                            (v) a local transportation authority;
                            (vi) an institution of higher education, as 
                        described in section 101 of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
                            (vii) a child welfare agency;
                            (viii) a public health agency;
                            (ix) a domestic violence organization;
                            (x) an owner of a property with a project-
                        based rental assistance contract under section 
                        8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (2 
                        U.S.C. 1437f); and
                            (xi) other community partners.
            (3) Homeless children and youths.--The term ``homeless 
        children and youths'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11434a).
            (4) Local collaborative applicant.--The term ``local 
        collaborative applicant'' means an entity described in section 
        401(3) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11360(3)) that serves the geographic area covered by an 
        eligible entity.
            (5) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (6) Public housing agency.--The term ``public housing 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a).
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (8) Tribal educational agency.--The term ``tribal 
        educational agency'' means the agency, department, or 
        instrumentality of an Indian tribe that is primarily 
        responsible for supporting tribal students' elementary and 
        secondary education.
            (9) Tribally designated housing entity.--The term 
        ``tribally designated housing entity'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 4(22) of the Native American Housing 
        Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
        4103(22)).
            (10) Unaccompanied youth.--The term ``unaccompanied youth'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 725 of the McKinney-
        Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--From the funds authorized under section 11(a) and 
not reserved under section 11(b), the Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall award on a competitive basis--
            (1) planning grants to eligible entities to enable such 
        eligible entities to prepare to conduct a demonstration project 
        as described in section 7(a); and
            (2) implementation grants to eligible entities (which shall 
        include eligible entities that received a planning grant under 
        paragraph (1) and eligible entities that demonstrate that they 
        have completed the activities described in section 7(a)) to 
        enable such eligible entities to conduct a demonstration 
        project as described in section 7(b).
    (b) Duration of Grants.--
            (1) Planning grants.--A planning grant awarded under this 
        section shall be for a term of not more than 2 years.
            (2) Implementation grants.--An implementation grant awarded 
        under this section shall be for a term of not more than 5 
        years.
    (c) Minimum Awards.--
            (1) Planning grants.--The amount of a planning grant 
        awarded under this section shall be for not less than $150,000.
            (2) Implementation grants.--The amount of an implementation 
        grant awarded under this section shall be for not less than 
        $250,000.
    (d) Tribal Communities.--Not less than 2 planning grants and 2 
implementation grants shall be awarded under this section to an 
eligible entity that includes a tribally designated housing entity or a 
tribal educational agency.
    (e) Geographic Diversity.--In awarding planning grants and 
implementation grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure 
representation from all geographic regions of the United States.

SEC. 5. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Planning Grant.--An eligible entity that desires a planning 
grant shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. 
Such application shall include--
            (1) a comprehensive needs assessment, including information 
        about--
                    (A) the number and percentage of homeless children 
                and youths enrolled in schools served by, and the 
                socioeconomic and racial demographics of, the local 
                educational agency that is a partner in the eligible 
                entity;
                    (B) the number and percentage of students who were 
                chronically absent and the number and percentage of 
                students who were suspended from schools served by the 
                local educational agency that is a partner in the 
                eligible entity, disaggregated by homeless status, race 
                and ethnicity, income status, disability status, and 
                English language learner status, except in the case 
                that such disaggregation would result in revealing 
                personally identifiable information; and
                    (C) the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 
                (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) and 
                results from academic assessments described under 
                section 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)) for 
                students served by the local educational agency that is 
                a partner in the eligible entity, disaggregated by 
                homeless status, race and ethnicity, income status, 
                disability status, and English language learner status, 
                except in the case that such disaggregation would 
                result in revealing personally identifiable 
                information;
            (2) a description of how the eligible entity will--
                    (A) conduct sufficient stakeholder outreach within 
                the community, including through public hearings and 
                engagement with students, parents, teachers, and 
                principals and other school leaders, in order to inform 
                the development of the memorandum of understanding 
                described in subparagraph (B) and the activities 
                carried out through the demonstration project described 
                in subsection (b)(3)(B); and
                    (B) develop the memorandum of understanding 
                described in section 7(a)(1);
            (3) a description of the goals of the demonstration 
        project, which shall include improving outcomes and creating 
        educational and housing stability for children from low-income 
        families;
            (4) a description of the target population to be served 
        using grant funds, which may include homeless children and 
        youths, unaccompanied youths, children or youths living in 
        public or subsidized housing, or children that face other risk 
        factors;
            (5) an assurance that each local educational agency that is 
        a partner in the eligible entity will meet the applicable 
        requirements of paragraphs (3) and (6) of section 722(g) of the 
        McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g) (3) 
        and (6));
            (6) a description, including a timeline and a budget, of 
        how the eligible entity plans to spend planning grant funds 
        consistent with section 7(a); and
            (7) a description of how the eligible entity will improve 
        the identification of children and youth experiencing 
        homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.
    (b) Implementation Grant.--An eligible entity that desires an 
implementation grant to conduct a demonstration project shall submit an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such application 
shall include--
            (1) a description of how the eligible entity used funds 
        under section 7(a), if such entity received a planning grant 
        under subsection (a);
            (2) a memorandum of understanding between all partners of 
        the eligible entity, which includes the information described 
        in section 7(a)(1);
            (3) a description of--
                    (A) the goals described in subsection (a)(3), 
                updated as necessary to reflect the results of the 
                planning period, if applicable;
                    (B) the activities the eligible entity plans to 
                conduct, in accordance with section 7(b), including any 
                evidence-based practices to promote housing and 
                educational stability if the eligible entity chooses to 
                use such evidence-based practices;
                    (C) how the eligible entity conducted stakeholder 
                outreach described in subsection (a)(2)(A) that 
                informed the demonstration project; and
                    (D) the outcomes for children that the eligible 
                entity plans to achieve, including how the eligible 
                entity will collect data in accordance with section 8;
            (4) a description, including a timeline and a budget, of 
        how the eligible entity plans to spend grant funds consistent 
        with section 7(b);
            (5) an assurance that the eligible entity will provide 
        State, local, or private matching funds in an amount equal to 
        not less than 10 percent of the amount of funds awarded under 
        the grant, which may be provided in cash or in-kind, to support 
        the demonstration project, except if the Secretary grants a 
        waiver of such requirement upon the petition of the eligible 
        entity due to the eligible entity demonstrating financial need;
            (6) a description of how the eligible entity will 
        coordinate services with those provided by--
                    (A) the State educational agency, the State 
                Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and 
                Youths, other local educational agencies, and the local 
                educational agencies' homeless liaisons;
                    (B) the public and private child health and welfare 
                systems and Federal housing, early childhood, 
                education, juvenile justice, and child health and 
                welfare programs, such as--
                            (i) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 5701 et seq.); and
                            (ii) programs authorized under the Head 
                        Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), the Child 
                        Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
                        (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), and the Elementary 
                        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        6301 et seq.); and
                    (C) the local collaborative applicant; and
            (7) an assurance that the eligible entity will participate 
        in the evaluation described in section 8(a).

SEC. 6. SELECTION CRITERIA.

    In selecting among applications to receive grants under this Act, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall take 
into account--
            (1) the potential of each eligible entity to plan and carry 
        out a demonstration project that meets the goals described in 
        section 5(a)(3);
            (2) the relative performance of the public housing agency 
        that is a partner in the eligible entity, as measured by the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development Public Housing 
        Assessment System;
            (3) the capacity of the eligible entity to share relevant 
        data between partner entities, as described in the memorandum 
        of understanding under section 7(a)(1);
            (4) the evidence-based practices--
                    (A) the eligible entity will investigate under a 
                planning grant; and
                    (B) to promote housing and educational stability if 
                the eligible entity chooses to use such evidence-based 
                practices under an implementation grant; and
            (5) the degree to which the eligible entity has conducted 
        sufficient outreach described in section 5(a)(2)(A) within the 
        community to be served by the implementation grant.

SEC. 7. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) Planning Grants.--An eligible entity that receives a planning 
grant under section 4(a)(1) shall use the grant funds--
            (1) to develop a memorandum of understanding (which may be 
        an existing or amended memorandum of understanding) between all 
        partners of the eligible entity describing the demonstration 
        project that the eligible entity plans to conduct, including--
                    (A) the roles and responsibilities of each partner 
                agency;
                    (B) the intended outcomes of the demonstration 
                project;
                    (C) how each partner agency will share relevant 
                data, if applicable, consistent with the requirements 
                of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act 
                (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly referred to as the ``Family 
                Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974''); and
                    (D) a timeline for the demonstration project;
            (2) to conduct planning, collaboration activities, 
        stakeholder and community outreach, public hearings, and 
        listening sessions, including engagement with the community, 
        students, parents, teachers, and principals and other school 
        leaders;
            (3) to increase the capacity of the eligible entity to 
        share relevant data; and
            (4) to investigate innovative approaches and evidence-based 
        practices to meeting the goals under section 5(a)(3).
    (b) Implementation Grants.--An eligible entity that receives an 
implementation grant under section 4(a)(2) shall use the grant funds to 
implement a demonstration project that meets the goals identified in 
section 5(a)(3), which shall include for one or more of the following 
activities:
            (1) To increase educational support for homeless children 
        and youths or for children living in public or subsidized 
        housing, such as through providing academic instruction or 
        mentorship, offering afterschool programs, facilitating credit 
        accrual to promote on-time high school graduation, or 
        supporting students to access supplies or assistance needed for 
        attendance and participation in school.
            (2) To facilitate family engagement in education for 
        families of homeless children and youths, or families living in 
        public or subsidized housing.
            (3) To provide housing assistance that promotes educational 
        stability and success.
            (4) To hire personnel to assist families in addressing 
        housing needs, such as through housing counselors, client 
        advocates, or housing and education navigators.
            (5) To conduct outreach and collaborate with local entities 
        that provide educational and housing supports for unaccompanied 
        youths who are homeless, including entities funded by the 
        Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.).
            (6) To improve access to high-quality early childhood 
        education programs for homeless children or children living in 
        public or subsidized housing, such as through providing 
        transportation to access early childhood programs or helping 
        families access child care during nontraditional hours.
            (7) To provide school-based or community-based services for 
        low-income children and their families, which may include case 
        management, health, mental health, employment, or other social 
        services.
            (8) To promote access to and success in postsecondary 
        education and workforce training opportunities for homeless 
        children and youths or students living in public or subsidized 
        housing, or to increase higher education, job training, 
        workforce, adult education, parenting, and employment supports 
        for families of homeless children and youths or families living 
        in public or subsidized housing.
            (9) To provide professional development opportunities for 
        teachers, principals, and other school leaders, housing and 
        homeless providers, or other social service providers, 
        including training on best practices for meeting the needs of 
        homeless children and youths and their families, or for 
        supporting socioeconomically and racially diverse classrooms.
            (10) To promote housing stability for youth who leave 
        foster care after the age of 18 or who have left foster care 
        after the age of 16 to adoption or guardianship, which may 
        include intensive case management or coordination with the 
        family unification program described in section 8(x) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(x)).
            (11) To support programs that focus on building self-
        sufficiency skills, permanent connections, and social and 
        emotional well-being for youth at risk of homelessness.

SEC. 8. EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS.

    (a) Evaluations.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, shall conduct a rigorous, independent evaluation of each 
implementation grant awarded under section 4 and report the findings of 
each such evaluation to Congress. Such an evaluation shall examine the 
results of the demonstration project on the following outcomes for 
children:
            (1) Achievement outcomes, as measured under clauses (i) and 
        (iii) of section 1111(c)(4)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(c)(4)(B)(i) and (iii)).
            (2) Housing and educational stability.
            (3) Other measures of child well-being and neighborhood 
        opportunity, as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Reports.--Each eligible entity receiving an implementation 
grant under section 4 shall submit to the Secretary, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, a report detailing the effects of the demonstration project 
on the outcomes for children described in subsection (a). Such reports 
shall be made publicly available on the Department of Education's 
website, and shall be submitted--
            (1) at the end of the third year of the 5-year grant 
        period; and
            (2) at the end of such grant period.

SEC. 9. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.

    An eligible entity shall use Federal funds received under this Act 
only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal 
funds, be made available from State and local sources for activities 
described in this Act, and not to supplant such funds.

SEC. 10. NONDISCRIMINATION.

    No individual in the United States may, on the basis of actual or 
perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual 
orientation and gender identity), age, or disability, be excluded from 
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to 
discrimination under any program or activity that is funded in whole or 
in part with funds made available under this Act.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026 in order to carry out this Act.
    (b) Technical Assistance and Evaluation.--From the amount 
appropriated to carry out this Act for any fiscal year, the Secretary 
may reserve not more than 5 percent of funds to provide technical 
assistance, conduct an evaluation of a demonstration project under 
section 8(a), and disseminate best practices.
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