20 USC 7273 - Program authorized

Collapse to view only § 7273. Program authorized

§ 7271. Purposes
§ 7272. Definitions
§ 7273. Program authorized
§ 7274. Promise neighborhoods
§ 7275. Full-service community schools

§ 7271. Purposes

The purposes of this subpart are to—

(1) significantly improve the academic and developmental outcomes of children living in the most distressed communities of the United States, including ensuring school readiness, high school graduation, and access to a community-based continuum of high-quality services; and

(2) provide support for the planning, implementation, and operation of full-service community schools that improve the coordination and integration, accessibility, and effectiveness of services for children and families, particularly for children attending high-poverty schools, including high-poverty rural schools.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4621, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4601, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2023.)

§ 7272. DefinitionsIn this subpart:

(1) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means the following:

(A) With respect to a grant for activities described in section 7273(a)(1)(A) of this title—

(i) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 1002 of this title;

(ii) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in section 5304 of title 25; or

(iii) one or more nonprofit entities working in formal partnership with not less than 1 of the following entities:(I) A high-need local educational agency.(II) An institution of higher education, as defined in section 1002 of this title.(III) The office of a chief elected official of a unit of local government.(IV) An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined under section 5304 of title 25.

(B) With respect to a grant for activities described in section 7273(a)(1)(B) of this title, a consortium of—

(i)(I) 1 or more local educational agencies; or(II) the Bureau of Indian Education; and

(ii) 1 or more community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, or other public or private entities.

(2) Full-service community schoolThe term “full-service community school” means a public elementary school or secondary school that—

(A) participates in a community-based effort to coordinate and integrate educational, developmental, family, health, and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships; and

(B) provides access to such services in school to students, families, and the community, such as access during the school year (including before- and after-school hours and weekends), as well as during the summer.

(3) Pipeline servicesThe term “pipeline services” means a continuum of coordinated supports, services, and opportunities for children from birth through entry into and success in postsecondary education, and career attainment. Such services shall include, at a minimum, strategies to address through services or programs (including integrated student supports) the following:

(A) High-quality early childhood education programs.

(B) High-quality school and out-of-school-time programs and strategies.

(C) Support for a child’s transition to elementary school, from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school, and from high school into and through postsecondary education and into the workforce, including any comprehensive readiness assessment determined necessary.

(D) Family and community engagement and supports, which may include engaging or supporting families at school or at home.

(E) Activities that support postsecondary and workforce readiness, which may include job training, internship opportunities, and career counseling.

(F) Community-based support for students who have attended the schools in the area served by the pipeline, or students who are members of the community, facilitating their continued connection to the community and success in postsecondary education and the workforce.

(G) Social, health, nutrition, and mental health services and supports.

(H) Juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4622, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4601, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2023.)

§ 7273. Program authorized

(a) Program authorized

(1) In general

The Secretary shall use not less than 95 percent of the amounts made available under section 7251(b)(2)(B) of this title to award grants, on a competitive basis and subject to subsection (e), to eligible entities for the following activities:

(A) Promise neighborhoods

The implementation of a comprehensive, effective continuum of coordinated services that meets the purpose described in section 7271(1) of this title by carrying out activities in neighborhoods with—

(i) high concentrations of low-income individuals;

(ii) multiple signs of distress, which may include high rates of poverty, childhood obesity, academic failure, and juvenile delinquency, adjudication, or incarceration; and

(iii) schools implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities or targeted support and improvement activities under section 6311(d) of this title.

(B) Full-service community schools

(2) Sufficient size and scope

(b) Duration

Continued funding of a grant under this subpart, including a grant extended under subsection (b), after the third year of the initial grant period shall be contingent on the eligible entity’s progress toward meeting—

(1) with respect to a grant for activities described in section 7274 of this title, the performance metrics described in section 7274(h) of this title; and

(2) with respect to a grant for activities described in section 7275 of this title, annual performance objectives and outcomes under section 7275(a)(4)(C) of this title.

(d) Matching requirements

(1) Promise neighborhood activities

(A) Matching funds

(B) Private sources

(D) Financial hardship waiver

(2) Full-service community schools activities

(A) In general

(B) Special rule

(3) Special rules

(A) In general

(B) Consideration

(e) Reservation for rural areas

(1) In general

(2) Exception

(f) Minimum number of grants

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4623, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4601, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2024.)

§ 7274. Promise neighborhoods

(a) Application requirementsAn eligible entity desiring a grant under this subpart for activities described in this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, including, at a minimum, all of the following:

(1) A plan to significantly improve the academic outcomes of children living in a neighborhood that is served by the eligible entity—

(A) by providing pipeline services that address the needs of children in the neighborhood, as identified by the needs analysis described in paragraph (4); and

(B) that is supported by effective practices.

(2) A description of the neighborhood that the eligible entity will serve.

(3) Measurable annual objectives and outcomes for the grant, in accordance with the metrics described in subsection (h), for each year of the grant.

(4) An analysis of the needs and assets of the neighborhood identified in paragraph (1), including—

(A) the size and scope of the population affected;

(B) a description of the process through which the needs analysis was produced, including a description of how parents, families, and community members were engaged in such analysis;

(C) 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 opportunities, family and student supports, local businesses, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education;

(D) the steps that the eligible entity is taking, at the time of the application, to address the needs identified in the needs analysis; and

(E) any barriers the eligible entity, public agencies, and other community-based organizations have faced in meeting such needs.

(5) A description of—

(A) all information that the entity used to identify the pipeline services to be provided, which shall not include information that is more than 3 years old; and

(B) how the eligible entity will—

(i) collect data on children served by each pipeline service; and

(ii) increase the percentage of children served over time.

(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 early learning opportunities for children, including by—

(i) providing opportunities for families to acquire the skills to promote early learning and child development; and

(ii) ensuring appropriate diagnostic assessments and referrals for children with disabilities and children aged 3 through 9 experiencing developmental delays, consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), where applicable.

(B) Supporting, enhancing, operating, or expanding rigorous, comprehensive, effective educational improvements, which may include high-quality academic programs, expanded learning time, and programs and activities to prepare students for postsecondary education 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, for children, family members, 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 postsecondary education courses and postsecondary education enrollment aid 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 within the neighborhood) to support the purpose described in section 7271(1) of this title.

(9) An explanation of the process the eligible entity will use to establish and maintain family and community engagement, including—

(A) involving representative participation by the members of such neighborhood in the planning and implementation of the activities of each grant awarded under this subpart for activities described in this section;

(B) the provision of strategies and practices to assist family and community members in actively supporting student achievement and child development;

(D) collaboration with institutions of higher education, workforce development centers, and employers to align expectations and programming with postsecondary education and workforce 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.

(b) Priority

(d) Uses of fundsEach eligible entity that receives a grant under this subpart to carry out a program of activities described in this section shall use the grant funds to—

(1) support planning activities to develop and implement pipeline services;

(2) implement the pipeline services; and

(3) continuously evaluate the success of the program and improve the program based on data and outcomes.

(e) Special rules

(1) Funds for pipeline services

(2) Operational flexibility

(3) Limitation on use of funds for early childhood education programsFunds provided under this subpart for activities described in this section 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.

(f) ReportEach eligible entity that receives a grant under this subpart for activities described in this section 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 subsection (h).

(g) Publicly available data

(h) Performance indicators

(1) In general

(2) IndicatorsThe performance indicators established by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be indicators of improved academic and developmental outcomes for children, including indicators of school readiness, high school graduation, postsecondary education and career readiness, and other academic and developmental outcomes, to promote—

(A) data-driven decision-making by eligible entities receiving funds under this subpart; and

(B) access to a community-based continuum of high-quality services for children living in the most distressed communities of the United States, beginning at birth.

(3) Reporting

(i) Evaluation

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4624, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4601, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2026.)

§ 7275. Full-service community schools

(a) ApplicationAn eligible entity that desires a grant under this subpart for activities described in this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall require that each such application include the following:

(1) A description of the eligible entity.

(2) A memorandum of understanding among all partner entities in the eligible entity that will assist the eligible entity to coordinate and provide pipeline services and that describes the roles the partner entities will assume.

(3) A description of the capacity of the eligible entity to coordinate and provide pipeline services at 2 or more full-service community schools.

(4) A comprehensive plan that includes descriptions of the following:

(A) The student, family, and school community to be served, including demographic information.

(B) A needs assessment that identifies the academic, physical, nonacademic, health, mental health, and other needs of students, families, and community residents.

(C) Annual measurable performance objectives and outcomes, including an increase in the number and percentage of families and students targeted for services each year of the program, in order to ensure that children are—

(i) prepared for kindergarten;

(ii) achieving academically; and

(iii) safe, healthy, and supported by engaged parents.

(D) Pipeline services, including existing and additional pipeline services, to be coordinated and provided by the eligible entity and its partner entities, including an explanation of—

(i) why such services have been selected;

(ii) how such services will improve student academic achievement; and

(iii) how such services will address the annual measurable performance objectives and outcomes established under subparagraph (C).

(E) Plans to ensure that each full-service community school site has a full-time coordinator of pipeline services at such school, including a description of the applicable funding sources, plans for professional development for the personnel managing, coordinating, or delivering pipeline services, and plans for joint utilization and management of school facilities.

(F) Plans for annual evaluation based upon attainment of the performance objectives and outcomes described in subparagraph (C).

(G) Plans for sustaining the programs and services described in this subsection after the grant period.

(5) An assurance that the eligible entity and its partner entities will focus services on schools eligible for a schoolwide program under section 6314(b) of this title.

(b) PriorityIn awarding grants under this subpart for activities described in this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—

(1)

(A) will serve a minimum of 2 or more full-service community schools eligible for a schoolwide program under section 6314(b) of this title, as part of a community- or district-wide strategy; or

(B) include a local educational agency that satisfies the requirements of—

(i) subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 7345(b)(1) of this title; or

(ii) subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 7351(b)(1) of this title;

(2) are consortiums comprised of a broad representation of stakeholders or consortiums demonstrating a history of effectiveness; and

(3) will use funds for evidence-based activities described in subsection (e), defined for purposes of this paragraph as activities meeting the requirements of section 7801(21)(A)(i) of this title.

(d) Minimum amount

(e) Use of fundsGrants awarded under this subpart for activities described in this section shall be used to—

(1) coordinate not less than 3 existing pipeline services, as of the date of the grant award, and provide not less than 2 additional pipeline services, at 2 or more public elementary schools or secondary schools;

(2) to the extent practicable, integrate multiple pipeline services into a comprehensive, coordinated continuum to achieve the annual measurable performance objectives and outcomes under subsection (a)(4)(C) to meet the holistic needs of children; and

(3) if applicable, coordinate and integrate services provided by community-based organizations and government agencies with services provided by specialized instructional support personnel.

(f) Evaluations by the institute of education sciences

(g) Evaluations by granteesThe Secretary shall require each eligible entity receiving a grant under this subpart for activities described in this section to—

(1) conduct annual evaluations of the progress achieved with the grant toward the purpose described in section 7271(2) of this title;

(2) use such evaluations to refine and improve activities carried out through the grant and the annual measurable performance objectives and outcomes under subsection (a)(4)(C); and

(3) make the results of such evaluations publicly available, including by providing public notice of such availability.

(h) Construction clause

(i) Supplement, not supplant

(Pub. L. 89–10, title IV, § 4625, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title IV, § 4601, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2029.)