[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2198 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2198
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
to give the Department of Education the authority to award competitive
grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support school-
based mentoring programs to assist at-risk students in middle school
and high school in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills to
prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and
the workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 23, 2021
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
to give the Department of Education the authority to award competitive
grants to eligible entities to establish, expand, or support school-
based mentoring programs to assist at-risk students in middle school
and high school in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills to
prepare them for success in high school, postsecondary education, and
the workforce.
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 ``Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to make assistance available for school-
based mentoring programs for at-risk students in order to--
(1) establish, expand, or support school-based mentoring
programs;
(2) assist at-risk students in middle school and high
school in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills; and
(3) prepare such at-risk students for success in high
school, postsecondary education, and the workforce.
SEC. 3. SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM.
Part C of title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 136. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) At-risk student.--The term `at-risk student' means a
student who--
``(A) is failing academically or at risk of
dropping out of school;
``(B) is pregnant or a parent;
``(C) is a gang member;
``(D) is a child or youth in foster care or a youth
who has been emancipated from foster care, but is still
enrolled in high school;
``(E) is or has recently been a homeless child or
youth;
``(F) is chronically absent;
``(G) has changed schools 3 or more times in the
past 6 months;
``(H) has come in contact with the juvenile justice
system in the past;
``(I) has a history of multiple suspensions or
disciplinary actions;
``(J) is an English learner;
``(K) has one or both parents incarcerated;
``(L) has experienced one or more adverse childhood
experiences, traumatic events, or toxic stressors, as
assessed through an evidence-based screening;
``(M) lives in a high-poverty area with a high rate
of community violence;
``(N) has a disability; or
``(O) shows signs of alcohol or drug misuse or
abuse or has a parent or guardian who is struggling
with substance abuse.
``(2) Disability.--The term `disability' has the meaning
given the term for purposes of section 602(3) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C.
1401(3)).
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'--
``(A) means a high-need local educational agency,
high-need school, or local government entity; and
``(B) may include a partnership between an entity
described in subparagraph (A) and a nonprofit,
community-based, or faith-based organization, or
institution of higher education.
``(4) English learner.--The term `English learner' has the
meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(5) Foster care.--The term `foster care' has the meaning
given the term in section 1355.20 of title 45, Code of Federal
Regulations.
``(6) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
need local educational agency' means a local educational agency
that serves at least one high-need school.
``(7) High-need school.--The term `high-need school' has
the meaning given the term in section 2211(b) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6631(b)).
``(8) 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).
``(9) School-based mentoring.--The term `school-based
mentoring' means a structured, managed, evidenced-based program
conducted in partnership with teachers, administrators, school
psychologists, school social workers or counselors, and other
school staff, in which at-risk students are appropriately
matched with screened and trained professional or volunteer
mentors who provide guidance, support, and encouragement,
involving meetings, group-based sessions, and educational and
workforce-related activities on a regular basis to prepare at-
risk students for success in high school, postsecondary
education, and the workforce.
``(b) School-Based Mentoring Competitive Grant Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities to establish, expand, or
support school-based mentoring programs that--
``(A) are designed to assist at-risk students in
high-need schools in developing cognitive skills and
promoting social-emotional learning to prepare them for
success in high school, postsecondary education, and
the workforce by linking them with mentors who--
``(i) have received mentor training,
including on trauma-informed practices, youth
engagement, cultural competency, and social-
emotional learning; and
``(ii) have been screened using appropriate
reference checks and criminal background
checks;
``(B) provide coaching and technical assistance to
mentors in each such mentoring program;
``(C) seek to--
``(i) improve the academic achievement of
at-risk students;
``(ii) reduce dropout rates and absenteeism
and improve school engagement of at-risk
students and their families;
``(iii) reduce juvenile justice involvement
of at-risk students;
``(iv) foster positive relationships
between at-risk students and their peers,
teachers, other adults, and family members;
``(v) develop the workforce readiness
skills of at-risk students by exploring paths
to employment, including encouraging students
with disabilities to explore transition
services; and
``(vi) increase the participation of at-
risk students in community service activities;
and
``(D) encourage at-risk students to set goals and
plan for their futures, including making plans and
identifying goals for postsecondary education and the
workforce.
``(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants under
this section for a period not to exceed 5 years.
``(3) Application.--To receive a grant under this section,
an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application
that includes--
``(A) a needs assessment that includes baseline
data on the measures described in paragraph (6)(A)(ii);
and
``(B) a plan to meet the requirements of paragraph
(1).
``(4) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients, the
Secretary shall give priority to applicants that--
``(A) serve children and youth with the greatest
need living in high-poverty, high-crime areas, or rural
areas, or who attend schools with high rates of
community violence;
``(B) provide at-risk students with opportunities
for postsecondary education preparation and career
development, including--
``(i) job training, professional
development, work shadowing, internships,
networking, resume writing and review,
interview preparation, transition services for
students with disabilities, application
assistance and visits to institutions of higher
education, and leadership development through
community service; and
``(ii) partnerships with the private sector
and local businesses to provide internship and
career exploration activities and resources;
and
``(C) seek to provide match lengths between at-risk
students and mentors for at least 1 academic year.
``(5) Use of funds.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section may use such funds to--
``(A) develop and carry out regular training for
mentors, including on--
``(i) the impact of adverse childhood
experiences;
``(ii) trauma-informed practices and
interventions;
``(iii) supporting homeless children and
youths;
``(iv) supporting children and youth in
foster care or youth who have been emancipated
from foster care, but are still enrolled in
high school;
``(v) cultural competency;
``(vi) meeting all appropriate privacy and
confidentiality requirements for students,
including students in foster care;
``(vii) working in coordination with a
public school system;
``(viii) positive youth development and
engagement practices; and
``(ix) disability inclusion practices to
ensure access and participation by students
with disabilities;
``(B) recruit, screen, match, and train mentors;
``(C) hire staff to perform or support the
objectives of the school-based mentoring program;
``(D) provide inclusive and accessible youth
engagement activities, such as--
``(i) enrichment field trips to cultural
destinations;
``(ii) career awareness activities,
including job site visits, informational
interviews, resume writing, interview
preparation, and networking; and
``(iii) academic or postsecondary education
preparation activities, including trade or
vocational school visits, visits to
institutions of higher education, and
assistance in applying to institutions of
higher education; and
``(E) conduct program evaluation, including by
acquiring and analyzing the data described under
paragraph (6).
``(6) Reporting requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after
the end of each academic year during the grant period,
an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section
shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes--
``(i) the number of students who
participated in the school-based mentoring
program that was funded in whole or in part
with the grant funds;
``(ii) data on the academic achievement,
dropout rates, truancy, absenteeism, outcomes
of arrests for violent crime, summer
employment, and postsecondary education
enrollment of students in the program;
``(iii) the number of group sessions and
number of one-to-one contacts between students
in the program and their mentors;
``(iv) the average attendance of students
enrolled in the program;
``(v) the number of students with
disabilities connected to transition services;
``(vi) data on social-emotional development
of students as assessed with a validated
social-emotional assessment tool; and
``(vii) any other information that the
Secretary may require to evaluate the success
of the school-based mentoring program.
``(B) Student privacy.--An eligible entity shall
ensure that the report submitted under subparagraph (A)
is prepared in a manner that protects the privacy
rights of each student in accordance with section 444
of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly
referred to as the `Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974') (20 U.S.C. 1232g).
``(7) Mentoring resources and community service
coordination.--
``(A) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall
work with the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention to--
``(i) refer grantees under this section to
the National Mentoring Resource Center to
obtain resources on best practices and research
related to mentoring and to request no-cost
training and technical assistance; and
``(ii) provide grantees under this section
with information regarding transitional
services for at-risk students returning from
correctional facilities and transition services
for students with disabilities.
``(B) Coordination.--The Secretary shall, to the
extent possible, coordinate with the Corporation for
National and Community Service, including through
entering into an interagency agreement or a memorandum
of understanding, to support mentoring and community
service-related activities for at-risk students.
``(c) Authorization of Funds.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.''.
SEC. 4. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES STUDY ON SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING
PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education, acting through the
Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall conduct a study
to--
(1) identify successful school-based mentoring programs and
effective strategies for administering and monitoring such
programs;
(2) evaluate the role of mentors in promoting cognitive
development and social-emotional learning to enhance academic
achievement and to improve workforce readiness; and
(3) evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under
section 136 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006, as added by section 3, on student
academic outcomes and youth career development.
(b) Timing.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Director of
the Institute of Education Sciences, shall submit the results of the
study to the appropriate congressional committees.
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