,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #be1 #bjbc,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf to give the ,department of ,education the authority to award competitive grants to eligible entities to establish1 expand1 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 school1 postsecondary education1 and the workforce4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,mentoring to ,succeed ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to make assistance available for school-based mentoring programs for at-risk students in order to-- 7#a7 establish1 expand1 or support school-based mentoring programs2 7#b7 assist at-risk students in middle school and high school in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills2 and 7#c7 prepare such at-risk students for success in high school1 postsecondary education1 and the workforce4 #c4 ,school-based mentoring program ,part ,c of title ,i of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #acf4 ,distribution of funds for school-based mentoring programs 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,at-risk student ,the term at-risk student means a student who-- 7,a7 is failing academically or at risk of dropping out of school2 7,b7 is pregnant or a parent2 7,c7 is a gang member2 7,d7 is a child or youth in foster care or a youth who has been emancipated from foster care1 but is still enrolled in high school2 7,e7 is or has recently been a homeless child or youth2 7,f7 is chronically absent2 7,g7 has changed schools #c or more times in the past #f months2 7,h7 has come in contact with the juvenile justice system in the past2 7,i7 has a history of multiple suspensions or disciplinary actions2 7,j7 is an ,english learner2 7,k7 has one or both parents incarcerated2 7,l7 has experienced one or more adverse childhood experiences1 traumatic events1 or toxic stressors1 as assessed through an evidence-based screening2 7,m7 lives in a high-poverty area with a high rate of community violence2 7,n7 has a disability2 or 7,o7 shows signs of alcohol or drug misuse or abuse or has a parent or guardian who is struggling with substance abuse4 7#b7 ,disability ,the term disability has the meaning given the term for purposes of section #fjb7c7 of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adja7c774 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity-- 7,a7 means a high-need local educational agency1 high-need school1 or local government entity2 and 7,b7 may include a partnership between an entity described in subparagraph 7,a7 and a nonprofit1 community-based1 or faith-based organization1 or institution of higher education4 7#d7 ,english learner ,the term ,english learner has the meaning given the term in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,foster care ,the term foster care has the meaning given the term in section #acee4bj7;a7 of title #de1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 7#f7 ,high-need local educational agency ,the term high-need local educational agency means a local educational agency that serves at least one high-need school4 7#g7 ,high-need school ,the term high-need school has the meaning given the term in section #bbaa7;b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ffca7;b774 7#h7 ,homeless children and youths ,the term homeless children and youths has the meaning given the term in section #gbe of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aadcd;a74 7#i7 ,school-based mentoring ,the term school-based mentoring means a structured1 managed1 evidenced-based program conducted in partnership with teachers1 administrators1 school psychologists1 school social workers or counselors1 and other school staff1 in which at-risk students are appropriately matched with screened and trained professional or volunteer mentors who provide guidance1 support1 and encouragement1 involving meetings1 group-based sessions1 and educational and workforce-related activities on a regular basis to prepare at-risk students for success in high school1 postsecondary education1 and the workforce4 7b7 ,school-,based mentoring competitive grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to establish1 expand1 or support school-based mentoring programs that-- 7,a7 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 school1 postsecondary education1 and the workforce by linking them with mentors who-- 7i7 have received mentor training1 including on trauma-informed practices1 youth engagement1 cultural competency1 and social-emotional learning2 and 7ii7 have been screened using appropriate reference checks and criminal background checks1 in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 7#c77;,b77v77ii72 7,b7 provide coaching and technical assistance to mentors in each such mentoring program2 7,c7 seek to-- 7i7 improve the academic achievement of at-risk students2 7ii7 reduce dropout rates and absenteeism and improve school engagement of at-risk students and their families2 7iii7 reduce juvenile justice involvement of at-risk students2 7iv7 foster positive relationships between at-risk students and their peers1 teachers1 other adults1 and family members2 7v7 develop the workforce readiness skills of at-risk students by exploring paths to employment1 including encouraging students with disabilities to explore transition services2 and 7vi7 increase the participation of at-risk students in community service activities2 and 7,d7 encourage at-risk students to set goals and plan for their futures1 including making plans and identifying goals for postsecondary education and the workforce4 7#b7 ,duration ,the ,secretary shall award grants under this section for a period not to exceed #e years4 7#c7 ,application ,to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application that includes-- 7,a7 a needs assessment that includes baseline data on the measures described in paragraph 7#f77;,a77ii72 and 7,b7 a plan to meet the requirements of paragraph 7#a71 including-- 7i7 the targeted outcomes1 mentee age and eligibility1 mentor type1 and meeting frequency for the program2 7ii7 the number of mentor-student matches proposed to be established and maintained annually under the program2 7iii7 the capacity and expertise of the program to serve children and youth in a way that is responsive to children and youth of color1 expectant and parenting youth1 indigenous youth1 youth who are lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 transgendered1 or queer1 and youth with disabilities2 7iv7 actions taken to ensure that the design of the program reflects input from youth2 and 7v7 an assurance that mentors supported under the program are appropriately screened and have demonstrated a willingness to comply with aspects of the mentoring program1 including-- 7,i7 a written screening plan that includes all of the policies and procedures used to screen and select mentors1 including eligibility requirements and preferences for such applicants2 7,,ii7 a description of the methods to be used to conduct criminal background checks on all prospective mentors1 and the methods in place to exclude mentors with convictions directly related to child safety that occur during the mentor's participation in the program or in the #aj-year period preceding the mentor's participation2 and 7,,iii7 a description of the methods to be used to ensure that the mentors are willing and able to serve as a mentor on a long-term1 consistent basis as defined in the application4 7#d7 ,priority ,in selecting grant recipients1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applicants that-- 7,a7 serve children and youth with the greatest need living in high-poverty1 high-crime areas1 or rural areas1 or who attend schools with high rates of community violence2 7,b7 provide at-risk students with opportunities for postsecondary education preparation and career development1 including-- 7i7 job training1 professional development1 work shadowing1 internships1 networking1 rsum writing and review1 interview preparation1 transition services for students with disabilities1 application assistance and visits to institutions of higher education1 and leadership development through community service2 and 7ii7 partnerships with the private sector and local businesses to provide internship and career exploration activities and resources2 7,c7 seek to provide match lengths between at-risk students and mentors for at least #a academic year2 and 7,d7 consult and engage youth in the development1 design1 and implementation of the program4 7#e7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use such funds to-- 7,a7 develop and carry out regular training for mentors1 including on-- 7i7 the impact of adverse childhood experiences2 7ii7 trauma-informed practices and interventions2 7iii7 supporting homeless children and youths2 7iv7 supporting children and youth in foster care or youth who have been emancipated from foster care1 but are still enrolled in high school2 7v7 cultural competency2 7vi7 meeting all appropriate privacy and confidentiality requirements for students1 including students in foster care2 7vii7 working in coordination with a public school system2 7viii7 positive youth development and engagement practices2 and 7ix7 disability inclusion practices to ensure access and participation by students with disabilities2 7,b7 recruit1 screen1 match1 train1 and compensate mentors2 7,c7 hire staff to perform or support the objectives of the school-based mentoring program2 7,d7 provide inclusive and accessible youth engagement activities1 such as-- 7i7 enrichment field trips to cultural destinations2 7ii7 career awareness activities1 including job site visits1 informational interviews1 rsum writing1 interview preparation1 and networking2 and 7iii7 academic or postsecondary education preparation activities1 including trade or vocational school visits1 visits to institutions of higher education1 and assistance in applying to institutions of higher education2 and 7,e7 conduct program evaluation1 including by acquiring and analyzing the data described under paragraph 7#f74 7#f7 ,reporting requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #f months after the end of each academic year during the grant period1 an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary a report that includes-- 7i7 the number of students and mentors1 and the demographics of the students and mentors1 who participated in the school-based mentoring program that was funded in whole or in part with the grant funds2 7ii7 data on the academic achievement1 dropout rates1 truancy1 absenteeism1 outcomes of arrests for violent crime1 summer employment1 and postsecondary education enrollment of students in the program2 7iii7 the number of group sessions and number of one-to-one contacts between students in the program and their mentors2 7iv7 the average attendance of students enrolled in the program2 7v7 the number of students with disabilities connected to transition services2 7vi7 data on social-emotional development of students as assessed with a validated social-emotional assessment tool2 and 7vii7 any other information that the ,secretary may require to evaluate the success of the school-based mentoring program4 7,b7 ,student privacy ,an eligible entity shall ensure that the report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 is prepared in a manner that protects the privacy rights of each student in accordance with section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g2 commonly known as the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd74 7#g7 ,mentoring resources and community service coordination 7,a7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall work with the ,office of ,juvenile ,justice and ,delinquency ,prevention to-- 7i7 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 assistance2 and 7ii7 provide grantees under this section with information regarding transitional services for at-risk students returning from correctional facilities and transition services for students with disabilities4 7,b7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall1 to the extent possible1 coordinate with the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service1 including through entering into an interagency agreement or a memorandum of understanding1 to support mentoring and community service-related activities for at-risk students4 7c7 ,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 #bjbc through #bjbh4 4 #d4 ,institute of ,education ,sciences study on school-based mentoring programs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,education1 acting through the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 shall conduct a study to-- 7#a7 identify successful school-based mentoring programs and effective strategies for administering and monitoring such programs2 7#b7 evaluate the role of mentors in promoting cognitive development and social-emotional learning to enhance academic achievement and to improve workforce readiness2 and 7#c7 evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under section #acf of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf1 as added by section #c1 on student academic outcomes and youth career development4 7b7 ,timing ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education1 acting through the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 shall submit the results of the study described in subsection 7a7 to the appropriate congressional committees4