[Pages S4967-S4968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SA 2186. Mr. MURPHY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs.
Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 630, between lines 4 and 5, insert the following:

SEC. 5011. PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS.

Title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), as amended by section
5001, is further amended by inserting after part I, as added
by section 5010, the following:

``PART J--PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS

``SEC. 5910. SHORT TITLE.

``This part may be cited as the `Promise Neighborhoods Act
of 2015'.

``SEC. 5911. PURPOSE.

``The purpose of this part is to significantly improve the
academic and developmental outcomes of children living in our
Nation's most distressed communities, including ensuring
school readiness, high school graduation, and college and
career readiness for such children, and access to a
community-based continuum of high-quality services.

``SEC. 5912. PIPELINE SERVICES DEFINED.

``In this part, the term `pipeline services' means a
continuum of supports and services for children from birth
through college entry, college success, and career
attainment, including, at a minimum, strategies to address
through services or programs (including integrated student
supports) the following:
``(1) High-quality early learning opportunities.
``(2) High-quality schools and out-of-school-time programs
and strategies.
``(3) Support for a child's transition to elementary
school, support for a child's transition from elementary
school to middle school, from middle school to high school,
and from high school into and through college and into the
workforce, including any comprehensive readiness assessment
as deemed necessary.
``(4) Family and community engagement.
``(5) Family and student supports, which may be provided
within the school building.
``(6) Activities that support college and career readiness.
``(7) Community-based support for students who have
attended the schools in the pipeline, or students who are
members of the community, facilitating their continued
connection to the community and success in college and the
workforce.

``SEC. 5913. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

``(a) In General.--
``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts appropriated to
carry out this part, the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to implement a
comprehensive, evidence-based continuum of coordinated
services that meet the purpose of this part by carrying out
the activities in neighborhoods with high concentrations of
low-income individuals and multiple signs of distress, which
may include poverty, childhood obesity rates, academic
failure, and rates of juvenile delinquency, adjudication, or
incarceration, and persistently low-achieving schools or
schools with an achievement gap.
``(2) Sufficient size and scope.--Each grant awarded under
this part shall be of sufficient size and scope to allow the
eligible entity to carry out the purpose of this part.
``(b) Duration.--A grant awarded under this part shall be
for a period of not more than 5 years, and may be renewed for
an additional period of not more than 5 years
``(c) Continued Funding.--Continued funding of a grant
under this part, including a grant renewed under subsection
(b), after the third year of the grant period shall be
contingent on the eligible entity's progress toward meeting
the performance metrics described in section 5918(a).
``(d) Matching Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant
under this part shall contribute matching funds in an amount
equal to not less than 100 percent of the amount of the
grant. Such matching funds shall come from Federal, State,
local, and private sources.
``(2) Private sources.--The Secretary shall require that a
portion of the matching funds come from private sources,
which may include in-kind donations.
``(3) Adjustment.--The Secretary may adjust the matching
funds requirement for applicants that demonstrate high need,
including applicants from rural areas or applicant that wish
to provide services on tribal lands.
``(e) Financial Hardship Waiver.--The Secretary may waive
or reduce, on a case-by-case basis, the matching requirement
described in subsection (d), including the requirement for
funds for private sources for a period of 1 year at a time,
if the eligible entity demonstrates significant financial
hardship.
``(f) Reservation for Rural Areas.--From the amounts
appropriated to carry out this part for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reserve not less than 20 percent for eligible
entities that propose to carry out the activities described
in section 5916 in rural areas. The Secretary shall reduce
the amount described in the preceding sentence if the
Secretary does not receive a sufficient number of
applications that are deserving of a grant under this part
for such purpose.

``SEC. 5914. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

``In this part, the term `eligible entity' means--
``(1) an institution of higher education, as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965;
``(2) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined
under section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b); or
``(3) one or more nonprofit entities working in formal
partnership with not less than 1 of the following entities:
``(A) A high-need local educational agency.
``(B) An institution of higher education, as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(C) The office of a chief elected official of a unit of
local government.
``(D) An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined
under section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).

``SEC. 5915. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

``(a) In General.--An eligible entity desiring a grant
under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(b) Contents of Application.--At a minimum, an
application described in subsection (a) shall include the
following:
``(1) A plan to significantly improve the academic outcomes
of children living in a neighborhood that is served by the
eligible entity, by providing pipeline services that address
the needs of children in the neighborhood, as identified by
the needs analysis described in paragraph (4), and supported
by evidence-based practices.
``(2) A description of the neighborhood that the eligible
entity will serve.
``(3) Measurable annual goals for the outcomes of the
grant, including performance goals, in accordance with the
metrics described in section 5918(a), for each year of the
grant.
``(4) An analysis of the needs and assets, including size
and scope of population affected of the neighborhood
identified in paragraph (1), including--
``(A) a description of the process through which the needs
analysis was produced, including a description of how
parents, family, and community members were engaged in such
analysis;
``(B) an analysis of community assets and collaborative
efforts, including programs already provided from Federal and
non-Federal sources, within, or accessible to, the
neighborhood, including, at a minimum, early learning, family
and student supports, local businesses, and institutions of
higher education;
``(C) the steps that the eligible entity is taking, at the
time of the application, to address the needs identified in
the needs analysis; and
``(D) any barriers the eligible entity, public agencies,
and other community-based organizations have faced in meeting
such needs.
``(5) A description of all data that the entity used to
identify the pipeline services to be provided and how the
eligible entity will collect data on children served by each
pipeline service and increase the percentage of children
served over time.

[[Page S4968]]

``(6) A description of the process used to develop the
application, including the involvement of family and
community members.
``(7) A description of how the pipeline services will
facilitate the coordination of the following activities:
``(A) Providing high-quality early learning opportunities
for children, including by providing opportunities for
families and expectant parents to acquire the skills to
promote early learning and child development, and ensuring
appropriate screening, diagnostic assessments, and referrals
for children with disabilities and developmental delays,
consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act, where applicable.
``(B) Supporting, enhancing, operating, or expanding
rigorous and comprehensive evidence-based education reforms,
which may include high-quality academic programs, expanded
learning time, and programs and activities to prepare
students for college admissions and success.
``(C) Supporting partnerships between schools and other
community resources with an integrated focus on academics and
other social, health, and familial supports.
``(D) Providing social, health, nutrition, and mental
health services and supports, including referrals for
essential healthcare and preventative screenings, for
children, family, and community members, which may include
services provided within the school building.
``(E) Supporting evidence-based programs that assist
students through school transitions, which may include
expanding access to college courses for and college
enrollment aide or guidance, and other supports for at-risk
youth.
``(8) A description of the strategies that will be used to
provide pipeline services (including a description of which
programs and services will be provided to children, family
members, community members, and children not attending
schools or programs operated by the eligible entity or its
partner providers) to support the purpose of this part.
``(9) An explanation of the process the eligible entity
will use to establish and maintain family and community
engagement, including involving representative participation
by the members of such neighborhood in the planning and
implementation of the activities of each grant awarded under
this part, and the provision of strategies and practices to
assist family and community members in actively supporting
student achievement and child development, providing services
for students, families, and communities within the school
building, and collaboration with institutions of higher
education, workforce development centers, and employers to
align expectations and programming with college and career
readiness.
``(10) An explanation of how the eligible entity will
continuously evaluate and improve the continuum of high-
quality pipeline services to provide for continuous program
improvement and potential expansion.
``(11) An identification of the fiscal agent, which may be
any entity described in section 5914 (not including paragraph
(2) of such section).
``(c) Memorandum of Understanding.--An eligible entity, as
part of the application described in this section, shall
submit a preliminary memorandum of understanding, signed by
each partner entity or agency. The preliminary memorandum of
understanding shall describe, at a minimum--
``(1) each partner's financial and programmatic commitment
with respect to the strategies described in the application,
including an identification of the fiscal agent;
``(2) each partner's long-term commitment to providing
pipeline services that, at a minimum, accounts for the cost
of supporting the continuum of supports and services
(including a plan for how to support services and activities
after grant funds are no longer available) and potential
changes in local government;
``(3) each partner's mission and the plan that will govern
the work that the partners do together;
``(4) each partner's long-term commitment to supporting the
continuum of supports and services through data collection,
monitoring, reporting, and sharing; and
``(5) each partner's commitment to ensure sound fiscal
management and controls, including evidence of a system of
supports and personnel.

``SEC. 5916. USE OF FUNDS.

``(a) In General.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant under this part shall use the grant funds to--
``(1) support planning activities to develop and implement
pipeline services;
``(2) implement the pipeline services, as described in the
application under section 5915; and
``(3) continuously evaluate the success of the program and
improve the program based on data and outcomes.
``(b) Special Rules.--
``(1) Funds for pipeline services.--Each eligible entity
that receives a grant under this part, for the first and
second year of the grant, shall use not less than 50 percent
of the grant funds to carry out the activities described in
subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Operational flexibility.--Each eligible entity that
operates a school in a neighborhood served by a grant program
under this part shall provide such school with the
operational flexibility, including autonomy over staff, time,
and budget, needed to effectively carry out the activities
described in the application under section 5915.
``(3) Limitation on use of funds for early childhood
education programs.--Funds under this part that are used to
improve early childhood education programs shall not be used
to carry out any of the following activities:
``(A) Assessments that provide rewards or sanctions for
individual children or teachers.
``(B) A single assessment that is used as the primary or
sole method for assessing program effectiveness.
``(C) Evaluating children, other than for the purposes of
improving instruction, classroom environment, professional
development, or parent and family engagement, or program
improvement.

``SEC. 5917. REPORT AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA.

``(a) Report.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant
under this part shall prepare and submit an annual report to
the Secretary, which shall include--
``(1) information about the number and percentage of
children in the neighborhood who are served by the grant
program, including a description of the number and percentage
of children accessing each support or service offered as part
of the pipeline services; and
``(2) information relating to the performance metrics
described in section 5918(a); and
``(b) Publicly Available Data.--Each eligible entity that
receives a grant under this part shall make publicly
available, including through electronic means, the
information described in subsection (a). To the extent
practicable, such information shall be provided in a form and
language accessible to parents and families in the
neighborhood, and such information shall be a part of
statewide longitudinal data systems.

``SEC. 5918. PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION.

``(a) Performance Metrics.--Each eligible entity that
receives a grant under this part shall collect data on
performance indicators of pipeline services and family and
student supports and report the results to the Secretary, who
shall use the results as a consideration in continuing grants
after the third year and in awarding grant renewals. The
indicators shall address the entity's progress toward meeting
the goals of this part to significantly improve the academic
and developmental outcomes of children living in our Nation's
most distressed communities from birth through college and
career entry, including ensuring school readiness, high
school graduation, and college and career readiness for such
children, through the use of data-driven decision making and
access to a community-based continuum of high-quality
services, beginning at birth.
``(b) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall evaluate the
implementation and impact of the activities funded under this
part, in accordance with section 9601.

``SEC. 5919. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

``From the amounts appropriated to carry out this part for
a fiscal year, in addition to the amounts that may be
reserved in accordance with section 9601, the Secretary may
reserve not more than 8 percent for national activities,
which may include research, technical assistance,
professional development, dissemination of best practices,
and other activities consistent with the purposes of this
part.

``SEC. 5920. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
part such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2016 through 2021.''.
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