Broadening Opportunities Through Education Act

Bill: 114-hr-2371
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]
Introduced: 2015-05-15
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education of the disadvantaged

Education programs funding

Educational guidance

Elementary and secondary education

School administration

Teaching, teachers, curricula

Vocational and technical education
Latest action: action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Broadening Opportunities Through Education Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to states that make school attendance compulsory through age 17.</p> <p>States must use their grant to improve their secondary school programs, such as by: </p> <ul> <li> establishing or expanding work-based programs that integrate academic and career-based skills; </li> <li> implementing an early warning system that helps high schools and their feeder middle schools identify and assist struggling students; </li> <li> establishing grade and school transition programs and supports; </li> <li>personalizing the school experience and increasing student engagement through service-learning and experiential, work-based, and other learning opportunities; </li> <li> providing extended-learning opportunities by the school day, week, or year; and </li> <li> increasing student supports through activities such as student advisories, counseling, and one-to-one mentoring.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2371 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 15, 2015 Ms. Edwards (for herself, Mr. Langevin , Ms. Norton , Mr. Rangel , Mr. Vargas , and Mr. Delaney ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that enact State laws that will make school attendance compulsory through the age of 17.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Broadening Opportunities Through Education Act . 2. Grant program for States with compulsory school attendance through the age of 17 (a) Program authorized From the amounts appropriated to carry out this Act and not later than 90 days after such amounts are appropriated, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to States with approved applications under subsection (b) to assist such States in improving secondary school programs. (b) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include— (1) a description of the State law that the State has enacted that makes school attendance in the State compulsory through the age of 17 (except in cases of individuals who complete the secondary school graduation requirements of the State prior to attaining such age or individuals that meet any other exemptions to such State law), including a description of any exemptions to such State law; and (2) a description of how the State will use the grant to carry out or improve secondary school programs in the State. (c) Uses of funds A State that receives a grant under this Act shall use such grant to improve secondary school programs in the State, such as by— (1) establishing or expanding work-based programs that integrate academic and career-based skills through career and technical training, linked learning pathways, school-registered apprenticeships, and other career-training programs; (2) implementing an early warning indicator system to help high schools, and their feeder middle schools, to identify struggling students and create a system of evidence-based interventions; (3) providing evidence-based grade and school transition programs and supports, including through curricula alignment; (4) personalizing the school experience and increasing student engagement by providing service-learning, experiential, and work-based and other learning opportunities; (5) providing extended-learning opportunities, by the school day, week, or year to increase the total number of school hours to include additional time for instruction in academic subjects and enrichment; or (6) increasing student supports through activities such as student advisories, school counseling opportunities, and one-to-one mentoring. (d) Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) ESEA terms The terms secondary school and State have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.