,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bicj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,august #a1 #bjac ,mr4 ,carson of ,indiana 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,brown of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,cartwright1 and ,mr4 ,polis7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife to award grants to eligible entities to establish1 expand1 or support school-based mentoring programs to assist at-risk middle school students with the transition from middle school to high school4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transition-to-,success ,mentoring ,act4 #b4 ,transition-to-,success ,mentoring ,program 7a7 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,section #ahjc of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #feec7 is amended to read as follows3 ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part #ej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year44 7b7 ,transition-to-,success ,mentoring ,program ,part ,h of title ,i of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #feea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #c ,transition-to-,success ,mentoring ,program #ahca4 ,transition-to-,success ,mentoring ,program 7a7 ,in general ,from the amounts appropriated to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish1 expand1 or support school-based mentoring programs to assist eligible students with the transition from middle school to high school4 7b7 ,application ,to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,uses of funds 7#a7 ,required uses of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to establish a mentoring program1 or to expand or provide technical support to an existing mentoring program1 in all middle schools served by the entity1 under which each eligible student is assigned to a success coach who-- 7,a7 creates a plan for success for the student that-- 7i7 is created with the student1 teachers1 mentor1 and parents of the student2 7ii7 includes1 for each academic year1 the student's academic1 personal1 and career exploration goals1 and a strategy on how to accomplish such goals2 and 7iii7 identifies the student's strengths1 weaknesses1 and academic progress2 7,b7 enters into a signed1 written agreement with the parents of the student that describes how the parents should assist the student in carrying out the plan for success2 7,c7 meets with the student at least once per month to-- 7i7 assist the student in achieving the goals under the plan for success2 7ii7 identify the student's academic areas of weaknesses2 7iii7 provide the student with the tools necessary to improve the student's potential for academic excellence1 and ensure the student's successful transition from middle school to high school by identifying improved attitude1 behavior1 coursework1 and social involvement2 and 7iv7 in the case of a student with behavioral issues1 assist the student in behavior management techniques2 7,d7 at least monthly1 meets with the student and the parents1 teachers1 or counselors of the student to-- 7i7 evaluate the student's progress in achieving the goals under the plan for the current academic year2 and 7ii7 revise or establish new goals for the next academic year2 and 7,e7 serves as the student's advocate between the teachers and parents of the student to ensure that the teachers and parents understand the student's plan4 7#b7 ,authorized uses of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use such funds to-- 7,a7 develop and carry out a training program for success coaches1 including providing support to match success coaches with eligible students2 7,b7 cover the cost of any materials used by success coaches under the mentoring program2 and 7,c7 hire staff to perform or support the program objectives4 7d7 ,grant ,duration ,a grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than #e years4 7e7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary1 at the end of each academic year during the grant period1 a report that includes-- 7,a7 the number of students who participated in the school-based mentoring program that was funded in whole or in part with the grant funds under this section2 7,b7 data on the academic achievement of such students2 7,c7 the number of contact hours between such students and their success coaches2 and 7,d7 any other information that the ,secretary may require to evaluate the success of the school-based mentoring program4 7#b7 ,secretary 7,a7 ,interim report ,at the end of the third fiscal year for which funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress an interim report on the success of the school-based mentoring programs funded under this section that includes the information received under paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,final report ,at the end of the fifth fiscal year for which funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a final report on the success of the school-based mentoring programs funded under this section that includes the information received under paragraph 7#a74 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,at-risk student ,the term at-risk student means a student who has been identified as a student who has below a #b4j grade point average or the equivalent or who has been determined by parents1 teachers1 or other school officials to-- 7,a7 be at-risk of academic failure2 7,b7 have expressed interest in dropping out of school2 7,c7 show signs of a drug or alcohol problem2 7,d7 be pregnant or a parent2 7,e7 have come into contact with the juvenile justice system in the past2 7,f7 have limited ,english proficiency2 7,g7 be a gang member2 7,h7 have dropped out of school in the past2 or 7,i7 have a high absenteeism rate at school4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local educational agency that-- 7i7 receives1 or is eligible to receive1 funds under part ,a of title ,i2 or 7ii7 is a high-need local educational agency2 or 7,b7 a partnership between a local educational agency described in subparagraph 7,a7 and a nonprofit1 community-based organization4 7#c7 ,eligible student ,the term eligible student means a student who-- 7,a7 is enrolled in a middle school served by an eligible entity2 and 7,b7 is an at-risk student4 7#d7 ,high-need local educational agency ,the term high-need local educational agency has the meaning given to the term in section #bajb7c77;,a74 7#e7 ,middle school ,the term middle school means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school1 including a public charter school1 that provides middle school education1 as determined under ,state law1 except that the term does not include any education below grade #f or beyond grade #i4 7#f7 ,school-based mentoring ,the term school-based mentoring refers to mentoring activities that-- 7,a7 are closely coordinated with a school by involving teachers1 counselors1 and other school staff who may identify and refer students for mentoring services2 and 7,b7 assist at-risk students in improving academic achievement1 reducing disciplinary referrals1 and increasing positive regard for school4 7#g7 ,success coach ,the term success coach means an individual who-- 7,a7 is-- 7i7 an employee or volunteer of a local educational agency in which a mentoring program receiving support under this section is being carried out2 or 7ii7 a volunteer or employee from a nonprofit1 community-based organization that provides volunteers for mentoring programs in secondary schools2 and 7,b7 prior to becoming a success coach-- 7i7 received training and support in mentoring from an eligible entity1 which1 at a minimum1 was #b hours in length and covered the roles and responsibilities of a success coach2 and 7ii7 underwent a screening by an eligible entity that included-- 7,i7 appropriate job reference checks2 7,,ii7 child and domestic abuse record checks2 and 7,,iii7 criminal background checks4 4