[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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