H.R. 9428 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9428 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2022Mr. Lynch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to assist certain individuals in reentering a secondary school or a general educational development program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Graduate on Your Own Schedule Act. 2. Secondary school dropout reengagement grant program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies to— (1) assist eligible secondary school dropouts in reentering a secondary school or entering a general educational development program; (2) provide life and career workshops for such dropouts, including— (A) résumé support services; and (B) interview assistance; and (3) provide support services for such dropouts, including— (A) childcare; (B) unemployment assistance; (C) housing assistance; and (D) transit assistance. (b) Application To receive a grant under this section, the local educational agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Preference In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to local educational agencies operating in a low-income community. (d) Report Not later than 1 year after the date on which a grant is awarded under subsection (a) and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible secondary school dropout The term eligible secondary school dropout means an individual who is— (A) between the ages of 16 and 24; and (B) not enrolled in a secondary school or general educational development program. (2) ESEA terms The terms local educational agency and secondary school have the meanings given such terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (3) Low-income community The term low-income community means any census block group in which 30 percent or more of the population are individuals with an annual household equal to, or less than, the greater of— (A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (B) an amount equal to 200 percent of the Federal poverty line. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. (f) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,520,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2034.