Keeping Parents and Communities Engaged Act or Keeping PACE Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to award grants to states for competitive subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive school improvement funds under part A of title I of the Act to enable such LEAs to assist public elementary and secondary schools to hire and maintain Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators responsible for improving family and community involvement in such schools.
Gives subgrant priority to LEAs targeting schools with the highest proportions of needy students or students failing to meet state academic performance standards. Requires each assisted school to appoint a committee of school officials, parents, and community members to screen Coordinator applicants and evaluate Coordinator performance.
Directs state grantees to award competitive subgrants to partnerships between community-based organizations and public schools to connect integrated services and comprehensive supports to students and families to enhance student performance. Gives priority to applicants targeting schools with the highest proportions of needy students or students failing to meet state academic performance standards.
Requires state grantees to award competitive matching subgrants to consortia composed of a school, LEA, mayor, and at least one other community partner to redesign schools as centers of communities that encourage family and community participation in students' education and provide community education.
Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a nonprofit organization experienced in providing integrated student supports to: (1) provide technical assistance and training to this Act's grantees and subgrantees; and (2) establish a national information clearinghouse on effective parent, family, and community engagement practices and programs.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2691 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2691
To amend title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to encourage and support parent, family, and community involvement in
schools, to provide needed integrated services and comprehensive
supports to children, and to ensure that schools are centers of
communities, for the ultimate goal of assisting students to stay in
school, become successful learners, and improve academic achievement.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2011
Mr. Payne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
to encourage and support parent, family, and community involvement in
schools, to provide needed integrated services and comprehensive
supports to children, and to ensure that schools are centers of
communities, for the ultimate goal of assisting students to stay in
school, become successful learners, and improve academic achievement.
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 ``Keeping Parents and Communities
Engaged Act'' or the ``Keeping PACE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Research studies consistently show a positive
relationship between parental involvement and student
achievement. This relationship holds across families of all
economic, racial/ethnic, and educational backgrounds and for
students of all ages.
(2) Educators recognize, on the basis of social science and
common experience, that effective parental and community
involvement is a critical element in children's academic and
social development. Poverty, limited English proficiency, and
varying cultural expectations are among the biggest barriers to
effective parental involvement in schools.
(3) Schools with effective parent and community involvement
activities provide bridges between parents, community-based
organizations, and schools to improve communication,
information sharing, services, and comprehensive supports for
children and families.
(4) Educational research suggests that student achievement
improves in environments where learning is a community value,
and where schools have the ability to address a broad range of
educational needs for all students, such as in full-service
community schools.
(5) Cross-sector community engagement of businesses,
institutions of higher education, philanthropic organizations,
school boards, family and care organizations, neighborhood and
service organizations, after-school providers, and community-
based organizations, is essential if schools are to ensure that
all children meet college and work-ready standards.
(6) More than 1,000,000 of the students who enter ninth
grade do not receive a high school diploma 4 years later and
approximately 7,000 students drop out of school each day,
including a significant percentage of students with the
potential of high academic achievement.
(7) Integrated services and comprehensive supports,
including after-school and other services, are necessary
components of effective, school-based efforts to dramatically
affect dropout prevention rates, increase graduation rates, and
improve student achievement. In one national study, 98 percent
of students receiving such services and supports stayed in
school, 89 percent had fewer suspensions, and 85 percent of
eligible seniors graduated.
SEC. 3. OUTREACH AND COORDINATION.
(a) In General.--Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``PART E--PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
``SEC. 5700. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to States to
enable the States to award subgrants--
``(1) on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies
that receive assistance under part A of title I to enable such
agencies to assist public elementary schools and public
secondary schools served by such agencies to hire and maintain
Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators, pursuant to subpart
1;
``(2) on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to
provide necessary integrated services and comprehensive
supports to students and schools, pursuant to subpart 2; and
``(3) to eligible entities to create schools as centers of
communities, pursuant to subpart 3.
``(b) Application.--A State that desires to receive a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary
may require, including the following:
``(1) A description of the State's need to engage parents
and the community in students' education, as described in
subpart 1.
``(2) A description of the State's need for community-based
resources to address student and family needs.
``(3) A description of the progress a State is seeking
relating to the indicators outlined in section 5707(b).
``(4) A description of the State's capacity and resources
across multiple State agencies to integrate their existing
State and Federal (managed by the State) programs with local
educational agencies, schools, and community-based
organizations.
``SEC. 5700A. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
``The Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with a
nonprofit organization with a demonstrated record of effectiveness and
extensive national, State, and local experience in providing effective
integrated student supports in order to ensure accountability in the
execution of subparts 1 and 2. Such nonprofit organization shall be
responsible for--
``(1) providing technical assistance and training to
grantees and subgrantees to promote the effectiveness of the
programs assisted under this part in improving the
coordination, availability, delivery, and effectiveness of
integrated services and comprehensive supports for children and
families; and
``(2) establishing a national clearinghouse for the
collection and dissemination of information on effective
parent, family, and community engagement practices and
programs, which information shall be disseminated to State
educational agencies and made available to local educational
agencies, schools, and community-based organizations.
``SEC. 5700B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$260,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2012 through 2016, of which--
``(1) 50 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 1;
``(2) 30 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 2; and
``(3) 20 percent shall be used to carry out subpart 3.
``Subpart 1--Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators
``SEC. 5701. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this subpart is to provide support, through
competitive subgrants, to schools who may work in conjunction with a
community-based organization, to hire and maintain Parent and Community
Outreach Coordinators to--
``(1) ensure that families and communities participate in
the education of their children and become an integral part of
the school climate and culture;
``(2) enable principals and teachers to complement and
enrich efforts to help all children make learning gains,
prepare for graduation, and plan for their futures through
parent and community involvement activities that include
educational, family, and financial planning necessary to make
postsecondary education a reality; and
``(3) act as a liaison with other coordinators from
Federal, State, local, and private programs that serve the
school, including community school coordinators, 21st Century
Community Learning Centers, school health coordinators, and
violence prevention coordinators, as appropriate.
``SEC. 5702. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies that
receive assistance under part A of title I to enable such agencies to
assist public elementary schools and public secondary schools served by
such agencies to hire and maintain Parent and Community Outreach
Coordinators.
``SEC. 5703. APPLICATION.
``(a) In General.--A local educational agency that desires to
receive a subgrant under this subpart shall submit an application to
the State at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the State may require.
``(b) Contents.--An application submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include the following:
``(1) A description of the schools to be assisted by the
local educational agency under this subpart.
``(2) The current state of family and community engagement
in the schools, including a description of the ways in which
families and communities are engaged during the school day,
before school, and during after school and summer hours.
``(3) The particular family and community outreach needs
identified by the schools, parents, families, and community-
based organizations.
``(4) A workplan to address the needs identified in
paragraph (3).
``(5) A description of the desired progress of the local
educational agency related to the indicators outlined in
section 5707(b).
``(6) A description of the capacity of the schools for
measuring school-specific outcomes of the work provided by the
Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators.
``(7) A description of the capacity of the schools for
supporting a position of Parent and Community Outreach
Coordinator by providing space and adequate resources.
``(8) A description of how the activities supported with
funds under this subpart will be coordinated with the programs
and activities carried out by the local educational agency
pursuant to section 1118, including whether such activities
will be supported with funds provided under title I.
``SEC. 5704. AWARDING OF SUBGRANTS.
``(a) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this subpart, a State
shall give priority to applications--
``(1) proposing to target high-need schools--
``(A) with the highest proportions of students from
low-income families; and
``(B) with a large percentage of students who fail
to meet the State's challenging student academic
achievement standards, as assessed pursuant to section
1111(b)(3); and
``(2) submitted by local educational agencies describing a
partnership structure that delineates how the local educational
agency, community-based organizations, local government,
institutions of higher education, and other key institutions
will come together to support a common vision, defined results,
and measures of effectiveness, with clear roles and
responsibilities, and a plan for serving multiple schools.
``(b) Duration of Subgrant.--Each subgrant awarded under this
subpart shall be for a period of 5 years.
``SEC. 5705. SCREENING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE.
``(a) Establishment.--A school receiving assistance under this
subpart shall establish a screening and evaluation committee that shall
consist of the following members:
``(1) The school principal or headmaster.
``(2) Two parents of students enrolled at the school.
``(3) A teacher who teaches at the school.
``(4) One paraprofessional at the school.
``(5) Community partners.
``(6) The superintendent of the school or a designee of the
superintendent.
``(b) Hiring.--A school that receives assistance under this subpart
shall hire, based on the recommendation of the screening and evaluation
committee, a Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator.
``(c) Oversight and Evaluation.--The screening and evaluation
committee shall prepare and submit an evaluation to the local
educational agency on an annual basis regarding the performance of the
Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator based on the indicators of
effectiveness described in section 5707(b). The local educational
agency shall submit such report to the Secretary.
``SEC. 5706. PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR.
``(a) In General.--A Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator
hired pursuant to section 5705 shall--
``(1) provide leadership in building relationships,
bridging gaps, and facilitating the creation of partnerships
among school staff, families, and community members; and
``(2) provide support and resources--
``(A) to increase participation of family and
community members in the school; and
``(B) in support of all children's learning,
including those children meeting or exceeding academic
achievement standards (as assessed pursuant to section
1111(b)(3)).
``(b) Responsibilities.--Each Parent and Community Outreach
Coordinator shall--
``(1) implement a family needs and parent involvement
assessment at the school that includes goals and suggestions on
how to improve family and parental involvement in the school,
with particular attention to the needs of low-income families,
limited-English proficient families, families living in rural
areas, families with children in either the child welfare
system or juvenile justice system, families experiencing
homelessness, and families whose children may have special
development needs;
``(2) develop an individual workplan that includes an
overall family and parental engagement action plan for the
school, which shall include a description of the community
resources that will be brought into schools as well as a
strategy for connecting students and families with resources
available within the community;
``(3) establish and maintain consistent, effective, and
timely communication with families especially low-income,
limited English proficient, and minority families in a variety
of ways;
``(4) work with the principal or headmaster of the school
and school staff to establish an environment in which families
feel safe, welcome, and free to voice their opinions;
``(5) act as an advocate and liaison to assist parents and
school staff to resolve issues at the school and district
levels;
``(6) work with other Federal, State, local, and private
partners to develop and implement activities, programs, and
training aimed at assisting families to support student
learning needs and postsecondary education planning;
``(7) create, organize, strengthen, and support a school
parent council (which may include a school parent teacher
association) that is representative of the school community;
``(8) work with the principal to engage parents in school-
based decisionmaking bodies, including recruiting
nontraditional parents and providing training and support to
parents participating in such an entity;
``(9) as appropriate, participate in the school's school
improvement process and development of school improvement
plans;
``(10) take part in ongoing training and professional
development which may be provided by community-based
organizations and other staff serving at the local educational
agency that serves the school;
``(11) have the ability to relate to students as a caring
adult; and
``(12) carry out other duties specifically related to the
engagement of families and the community as designated by the
principal or headmaster of the school.
``SEC. 5707. EVALUATIONS.
``(a) In General.--Each Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator
shall--
``(1) be directly supervised and evaluated by the principal
or headmaster of the school on a regular basis; and
``(2) be evaluated on an annual basis by the school's
screening and evaluation committee established under section
5705 in order to determine the effectiveness of the
Coordinator.
``(b) Effectiveness.--Each screening and evaluation committee shall
work with the local educational agency and the Parent and Community
Outreach Coordinator to identify indicators of success related to the
activities supported under this subpart, and to develop baseline data
and evaluate progress on such indicators, which may include--
``(1) student achievement as measured by assessment data,
classroom grades, and participation in programs and services
for gifted and talented students;
``(2) student attendance rates;
``(3) graduation rates;
``(4) lower mobility rates;
``(5) lower dropout rates;
``(6) fewer detentions, suspensions, and expulsions;
``(7) postsecondary education attendance;
``(8) a school environment in which parents, community
members, and all school visitors are greeted with respect and
courtesy;
``(9) the degree of communication between schools and
families, including personal interaction, school visits, home
visits, telephone calls, and publications;
``(10) the degree of participation in parent-teacher
conferences, open houses, family nights, and other school-based
activities;
``(11) the degree of school-wide awareness and completion
of home-school compacts;
``(12) the frequency of ongoing workshops, training, and
other events that provide families with tools to support their
child's learning at home and enable planning for postsecondary
education experiences; and
``(13) ability to relate to students as a caring adult.
``(c) Basis for Evaluations.--In evaluating a Parent and Community
Outreach Coordinator under this section, the screening and evaluation
committee shall base such evaluation on case studies, interviews, and
outcomes based on the indicators described in subsection (b).
``SEC. 5708. REPORT.
``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this
subpart.
``Subpart 2--Connecting Students to Community Resources and
Comprehensive Supports
``SEC. 5721. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this subpart is to provide support, through
competitive subgrants, to eligible entities to--
``(1) improve the coordination, availability, delivery, and
effectiveness of integrated services and comprehensive supports
for children and families; and
``(2) act as a liaison with other organizations in order to
assist public schools in providing children and families the
integrated services and comprehensive supports needed to
improve the learning of children and their ability to plan for
postsecondary educational opportunities, such as health,
employment, mentor/tutor, and human services, enrichment and
accelerated learning opportunities, before and after-school
programs, and recreation, and related assistance.
``SEC. 5722. ELIGIBLE ENTITY.
``In this subpart, the term `eligible entity' means 1 or more
community-based organizations in partnership with public schools.
``SEC. 5723. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award
subgrants, on a competitive basis, to an eligible entity to connect
integrated services and comprehensive supports to students and families
in order to enhance student learning and outcomes, by--
``(1) conducting an assessment of student and family needs
in schools;
``(2) assessing the availability and quality of learning
opportunities beyond the classroom, including service-learning
opportunities;
``(3) linking needed integrated services and comprehensive
supports to children, their families, and their public schools,
and evaluating the impact of such services and supports once
the services and supports are provided;
``(4) enhancing the social, emotional, intellectual, and
physical development of students; and
``(5) providing training and support related to integrated
services and comprehensive supports for staff, teachers, and,
as appropriate, Parent and Community Outreach Coordinators in
such public schools.
``SEC. 5724. APPLICATION.
``(a) In General.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a
subgrant under this subpart shall submit an application to the State at
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
State may require.
``(b) Contents.--An application submitted under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
``(1) A description of the public schools to be assisted by
the school or community-based organization, their performance
with respect to other State performance criteria, and a
description of their student populations (including
demographics).
``(2) A memorandum of understanding between the public
school and the community-based organization that explains how
they will work to effectively coordinate the provision of
integrated services and comprehensive supports to students
within the public school (and with after-school and extended
day programs and services, if applicable), the objectives that
they expect to achieve, the educational research bases that
will guide the provision of student integrated services and
comprehensive supports in meeting their objectives, and the
capacity of the community partner to meet their objectives.
``(3) A description of how the community-based organization
plans to build and improve on the current state of community
involvement to increase support and ownership of the integrated
services and comprehensive supports designed to enhance student
learning outcomes, including the measures of progress and
desired results related to students and families.
``(4) The particular student needs to be addressed through
integrated services and comprehensive supports and the
organizations able to provide integrated services and
comprehensive supports to meet those needs, including
intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being, and
other academic and non-academic needs related to student
learning, including planning for college or other postsecondary
education options.
``(5) A draft work plan regarding the provision of
integrated services and comprehensive supports, including a
description of--
``(A) the role of the public school principal and
staff, including the Parent and Community Outreach
Coordinator, if applicable, in the management of the
provision of integrated services and comprehensive
supports;
``(B) how the community-based organization will
efficiently manage and leverage non-Federal resources
(which may include in-kind resources) to meet
identified student needs;
``(C) plans to track student performance along with
integrated services and comprehensive supports provided
to students over time, including plans to integrate the
community-based organization's data reporting with the
public school's data systems;
``(D) criteria by which the eligible entity will
evaluate the effectiveness of services and
comprehensive supports provided to students, including
a description of the proposed measurements used to
evaluate the impact of such services and supports on
the academic achievement of students; and
``(E) plans to leverage other non-Federal resources
(which may include in-kind resources) to support
integrated services and comprehensive supports.
``(6) Assurances that activities supported with funds under
this subpart will be coordinated with the programs and
activities carried out by the public school pursuant to section
1118.
``SEC. 5725. AWARDING OF SUBGRANTS.
``(a) Priority.--In awarding subgrants under this subpart, a State
shall give priority to applications--
``(1) proposing integrated services and comprehensive
supports to high-need public schools--
``(A) with the highest proportions of students from
low-income families; and
``(B) with a large percentage of students who fail
to meet the State's challenging student academic
achievement standards, as assessed pursuant to section
1111(b)(3); and
``(2) that include a partnership structure that delineates
how such eligible entity will work with other organizations,
including local government, institutions of higher education,
and other key institutions that will come together to support a
common vision, defined results, and measures of effectiveness,
with clear roles and responsibilities, and a plan for serving
multiple schools.
``(b) Duration of Subgrant.--Each subgrant awarded under this
subpart shall be for a period of 5 years.
``SEC. 5726. REPORT.
``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this
subpart.
``Subpart 3--Schools as Centers of Communities
``SEC. 5731. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this subpart is to provide incentives to schools,
in conjunction with the applicable local educational agencies, and
mayors, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and other
community partners, such as 21st Century Community Learning Centers and
other after-school providers, to redesign such schools as centers of
communities that--
``(1) encourage the participation of family and community
in children's education;
``(2) engage students as resources to their communities;
``(3) encourage extensive and innovative community use of
school facilities, which may include renovation and expansion
of existing facilities to coordinate and deliver integrated
services and comprehensive supports to families, children, and
communities;
``(4) assist in keeping school facilities open outside of
traditional school hours in order to promote community use of
such facilities; and
``(5) engage the community in the redesign and planning of
such facilities.
``SEC. 5732. DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.
``In this subpart, the term `eligible entity' means a consortium of
a school in conjunction with the applicable local educational agency, a
mayor, and 1 or more nonprofit organization, for-profit organization,
or other community partner.
``SEC. 5733. SUBGRANTS AUTHORIZED.
``A State that receives a grant under section 5700 shall award
subgrants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to
redesign schools to be centers of communities and to incorporate
community education consistent with the purpose of this subpart.
``SEC. 5734. APPLICATION.
``(a) Current School.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a
subgrant to redesign a school as a center of community under this
subpart shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the State may require.
``(b) Contents.--An application submitted under subsection (a)
shall include the following:
``(1) A needs assessment of the school facility identified
for redesign as a center of community, including any
renovations or expansions, if necessary, to enable the school
to serve as a joint-use school facility.
``(2) An assessment of the need to keep the school
facilities open outside the traditional school hours, including
the needs of the surrounding community and the existing
capacity to facilitate a joint-use school facility as a center
of community.
``(3) A description of the eligible entity applying for the
subgrant.
``(4) A description of the eligible entity's capacity to
provide integrated services and comprehensive supports to an
existing school facility to transform it into a center of
community school.
``(5) A draft workplan of what the eligible entity hopes to
achieve at the joint-use school facility, including a
description of the integrated services and comprehensive
supports that would be available to the school, students, and
families through partnership with the eligible entity.
``(6) A description of student and family involvement in
redesigning the school to become a center of community school.
``(7) A memorandum of understanding between the school
selected for redesigning and the eligible entity.
``SEC. 5735. MATCHING FUNDS.
``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant to redesign an
existing school facility to incorporate community education under this
subpart shall provide matching funds, from non-Federal sources, equal
to 50 percent of the cost of activities under this subpart.
``SEC. 5736. REPORT.
``An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under this subpart
shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary regarding activities
conducted by such entity with subgrant funds received under this
subpart.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 5618 the following:
``PART E--PARENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
``Sec. 5700. Grants authorized.
``Sec. 5700A. National activities.
``Sec. 5700B. Authorization of appropriations.
``subpart 1--parent and community outreach coordinators
``Sec. 5701. Purpose.
``Sec. 5702. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5703. Application.
``Sec. 5704. Awarding of subgrants.
``Sec. 5705. Screening and evaluation committee.
``Sec. 5706. Parent and Community Outreach Coordinator.
``Sec. 5707. Evaluations.
``Sec. 5708. Report.
``subpart 2--connecting students to community resources and
comprehensive supports
``Sec. 5721. Purpose.
``Sec. 5722. Eligible entity.
``Sec. 5723. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5724. Application.
``Sec. 5725. Awarding of subgrants.
``Sec. 5726. Report.
``subpart 3--schools as centers of communities
``Sec. 5731. Purpose.
``Sec. 5732. Definition of eligible entity.
``Sec. 5733. Subgrants authorized.
``Sec. 5734. Application.
``Sec. 5735. Matching funds.
``Sec. 5736. Report.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
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