,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cdac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #f1 #bjah,mr4 ,murphy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,sanders7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife to establish the ,strength in ,diversity ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,strength in ,diversity ,act4 #b4 ,stronger together program 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iv of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaja et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating part ,f as part ,g2 and 7#b7 by inserting after part ,e the following3 ,f ,strength in ,diversity ,program #deea4 ,findings and statement of purpose 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,students from low-income families are #f times more likely to attend high-poverty schools than their more affluent peers4 7#b7 ,racial diversity in schools results in long-term social and academic benefits1 including reduced neighborhood1 college1 and workplace segregation1 higher levels of social cohesion1 a reduced likelihood of racial prejudice1 and the development of skills to navigate and find comfort in racially diverse settings4 7#c7 ,students from low-income families who attend more affluent elementary schools are more likely to perform better academically than similar students who attend high-poverty schools4 7#d7 ,students who attend the most affluent schools are nearly #gj percent more likely to attend college than students who attend the highest-poverty schools1 regardless of their socioeconomic background4 7#e7 ,students who attend racially and socioeconomically isolated schools have less access to experienced and qualified teachers1 advanced coursework1 high-quality instructional materials1 and adequate facilities4 7#f7 ,according to the ,government ,accountability ,office1 as of the #bjac-ad school year1 #af percent of our ,nation's public elementary schools and secondary schools served student populations comprised of #ge percent or more ,black and ,hispanic students and #ge percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq471 an increase of more than #i percent compared to the percentage of such elementary and secondary schools in the #bjjj-bjja school year4 ,more than #g1gjj1jjj ,black students and #ab1cjj1jjj ,hispanic students attend racially and socioeconomically isolated public elementary schools and secondary schools4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this part is to support the development1 implementation1 and evaluation of comprehensive strategies to address the effects of concentrated poverty or racial isolation by increasing diversity1 including socioeconomic diversity or racial diversity1 in publicly funded early childhood education programs and public elementary schools and secondary schools4 #deeb4 ,reservation for national activities ,the ,secretary may reserve not more than #e percent of the amounts made available under section #deeh for a fiscal year to carry out activities of national significance relating to this part1 which may include-- 7#a7 research1 development1 data collection1 monitoring1 technical assistance1 evaluation1 or dissemination activities2 or 7#b7 the development and maintenance of a community of practice for recipients of grants under this part and other experts in the field of school diversity4 #deec4 ,program authorized2 length of grants 7a7 ,program authorization 7#a7 ,in general ,from the amounts made available under section #deeh and not reserved under section #deeb for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis in accordance with section #deed7;b71 to eligible entities described in subsection 7b7 to enable the eligible entities to develop or implement ambitious plans to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate socioeconomic or racial isolation in publicly funded early childhood education programs and public elementary schools and secondary schools4 7#b7 ,types of grants ,the ,secretary may1 in any fiscal year1 award-- 7,a7 planning grants2 7,b7 implementation grants2 or 7,c7 planning grants and implementation grants4 7b7 ,eligible entity ,an entity that is eligible for a grant under subsection 7a7 is a local educational agency1 a consortium of such agencies1 an educational service agency1 or another regional educational authority1 that has significant achievement gaps and socioeconomic or racial segregation within or across the school districts served by the entity4 7c7 ,duration of grants 7#a7 ,planning grant ,a planning grant awarded under this part shall be for a period of not more than #a year4 7#b7 ,implementation grant ,an implementation grant awarded under this part shall be for a period of not more than #c years1 except that the ,secretary may extend an implementation grant for an additional #b-year period if the eligible entity receiving the grant demonstrates to the ,secretary that the eligible entity is making significant progress on the program performance measures identified in section #deef4 #deed4 ,applications2 award basis 7a7 ,applications ,an eligible entity described in section #deec7;b7 that desires to receive a grant under this part shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may prescribe1 including-- 7#a7 a description of the project for which the eligible entity is seeking a grant1 including-- 7,a7 how the eligible entity proposes to use funds under this part to improve the academic and life outcomes of students in high-poverty or racially isolated publicly funded early childhood education programs or public elementary schools and secondary schools by supporting interventions that increase diversity in such programs and schools2 7,b7 in the case of an implementation grant1 the implementation grant plan described in section #deee7;b77#a72 and 7,c7 any available evidence1 or if such evidence is not available1 a rationale based on current research1 regarding how the proposed project will increase diversity2 7#b7 7,a7 in the case of an eligible entity proposing to use any portion of funds under this part to benefit high-poverty publicly funded early childhood education programs or public schools1 a description of how the eligible entity will identify and define income level and socioeconomic status2 7,b7 in the case of an eligible entity proposing to use any funds under this part to benefit publicly funded early childhood education programs1 or public schools1 that are racially isolated1 a description of how the eligible entity will identify and define racial isolation2 7#c7 a description of the plan of the eligible entity for continuing the proposed project after funding under this part ends2 7#d7 a description of how the eligible entity will assess1 monitor1 and evaluate the impact of the activities funded under this part on student achievement and student enrollment diversity2 7#e7 an assurance that the eligible entity has conducted1 or will conduct1 robust parent and community engagement1 and where appropriate1 tribal consultation1 while planning for and implementing a program under this part1 such as through-- 7,a7 public hearings or other open forums to inform the development of any formal strategy to increase diversity2 and 7,b7 outreach1 in a language that parents can understand1 and consultation with families in the targeted district or region that is designed to ensure participation in the planning and development of any formal strategy to increase diversity2 7#f7 an estimate of the number of students that the eligible entity plans to serve under the proposed project and the number of students to be served through additional expansion of the project after the grant ends2 7#g7 an assurance that the eligible entity will-- 7,a7 cooperate with the evaluation process1 including any evaluation that might require data and information from multiple recipients of grants under this part2 and 7,b7 participate in communities of practice with other recipients of grants under this part2 7#h7 an assurance that1 to the extent practicable1 the eligible entity has developed the plan in consultation with other relevant entities1 including local housing or transportation authorities2 7#i7 an assurance that1 to the extent possible1 the eligible entity has considered the potential implications of the grant activities on the demographics and student enrollment of nearby publicly funded early childhood education programs1 public elementary schools or secondary schools1 or local educational agencies not included in the activities of the grant2 and 7#aj7 in the case of an eligible entity applying for an implementation grant1 a description of how the eligible entity will implement1 replicate1 or take to scale a strategy based on a strong or moderate level of evidence1 as determined under subclause 7,i7 or 7,,ii7 of section #haja7ba77;,a77i71 or will test a promising strategy to increase diversity in publicly funded early childhood education programs or public elementary schools and secondary schools4 7b7 ,award basis 7#a7 ,criteria for evaluating applications ,the ,secretary shall award grants under this part on a competitive basis1 based on the quality of the applications submitted by eligible entities described in section #deec7;b7 and each eligible entity's likelihood of achieving success in improving student outcomes or outcomes on other performance measures under section #deef4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this part1 the ,secretary may give priority to an eligible entity that proposes1 in application submitted under subsection 7a71 to use funds under this part to support a program that extends beyond one local educational agency1 such as an inter-district or regional program4 #deee4 ,uses of funds 7a7 ,planning grants ,each eligible entity that receives a planning grant under this part shall use the grant funds to carry out the following required activities3 7#a7 ,completing a comprehensive assessment of the educational outcomes and socioeconomic and racial stratification of children attending publicly funded early childhood education programs1 and public elementary school and secondary school students1 within the area and an analysis of the location and capacity of program and school facilities and the adequacy of local or regional transportation infrastructure in the area4 7#b7 ,developing and implementing a robust family and community engagement plan1 including1 where feasible1 public hearings or other open forums that would precede and inform the development of a formal strategy to improve diversity4 7#c7 ,developing options1 including timelines and cost estimates1 for improving diversity1 such as weighted lotteries1 revised feeder patterns1 school boundary redesign1 or regional coordination4 7#d7 ,developing an implementation plan based on community preferences among those options4 7#e7 ,building the capacity to collect and analyze data that provide information for transparency1 continuous improvement1 and evaluation4 7#f7 ,participating in a community of practice with other grantees1 including those receiving implementation grants4 7b7 ,implementation grants 7#a7 ,implementation grant plan ,each eligible entity that receives an implementation grant under this part shall implement a high-quality plan that includes-- 7,a7 a comprehensive set of strategies designed to improve academic outcomes for all students1 particularly low-income students and minority students1 by increasing diversity in publicly funded early childhood education programs and public elementary schools and secondary schools2 7,b7 evidence of strong family and community support for these strategies1 including evidence that the eligible entity has engaged in meaningful family and community outreach activities2 7,c7 ambitious but achievable goals to increase diversity over the course of the grant period2 7,d7 collection and analysis of data to provide transparency and support continuous improvement throughout the grant period2 and 7,e7 a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed project4 7#b7 ,implementation grants activities ,each eligible entity that receives an implementation grant under this part may use the grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities3 7,a7 ,recruiting1 hiring1 or training additional teachers1 administrators1 and other instructional and support staff in new1 expanded1 or restructured publicly funded early childhood education programs or public elementary schools or secondary schools1 or other professional development activities for staff and administrators4 7,b7 ,investing in specialized academic programs or facilities designed to encourage inter-district school attendance patterns4 7,c7 ,pursue or initiate a transportation plan for bringing students to and from publicly funded early childhood education programs and public elementary schools and secondary schools1 if such transportation is sustainable beyond the grant period and does not represent a significant portion of the grant funds received by an eligible entity under this part4 7c7 ,rule regarding use ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an eligible entity to carry out activities authorized under this section in a manner that violates ,federal law4 #deef4 ,performance measures ,the ,secretary shall establish performance measures for the programs and activities carried out through a grant under this part4 ,these measures1 at a minimum1 shall track the progress of each eligible entity in-- 7#a7 improving academic and other developmental or noncognitive outcomes for each subgroup described in section #aaaa7;b77#b77;,b77xi7 that is served by the eligible entity on measures1 including1 as applicable1 by-- 7,a7 increasing school readiness2 7,b7 increasing student achievement and decreasing achievement gaps2 7,c7 increasing high school graduation rates2 7,d7 increasing readiness for postsecondary education and careers2 and 7,e7 any other indicator the ,secretary or eligible entity may identify2 and 7#b7 increasing diversity and decreasing socioeconomic or racial isolation in publicly funded early childhood education programs1 and public elementary schools and secondary schools1 served under this part4 #deeg4 ,annual reports ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this part shall submit to the ,secretary1 at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require1 an annual report that includes-- 7#a7 information on the progress of the eligible entity on the performance measures established under section #deef2 and 7#b7 the data supporting that progress4 #deeh4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part #abj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjai and such sums as may be necessary for each of the #e succeeding fiscal years4 4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #dejf the following3 ,part ,f--,strength in ,diversity ,program,sec4 #deea4 ,findings and statement of purpose4,sec4 #deeb4 ,reservation for national activities4,sec4 #deec4 ,program authorized2 length of grants4,sec4 #deed4 ,applications2 award basis4,sec4 #deee4 ,uses of funds4,sec4 #deef4 ,performance measures4,sec4 #deeg4 ,annual reports4,sec4 #deeh4 ,authorization of appropriations4 4