,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ihec ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bb1 #bjbf,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,correa1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,omar1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,garcia of ,california1 ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,krishnamoorthi1 ,ms4 ,crockett1 ,mrs4 ,ramirez1 ,ms4 ,craig1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,evans of ,pennsylvania1 ,mrs4 ,grijalva1 and ,mr4 ,espaillat7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program to support students1 families1 and school personnel impacted by immigration enforcement actions to ensure that schools remain safe1 trauma-informed learning environments1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may cited as the ,right to ,learn ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,community-based nonprofit organization ,the term community-based nonprofit organization means a nonprofit entity that-- 7,a7 demonstrates expertise in trauma-informed care1 educational equity1 or immigrant family services2 and 7,b7 is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and is exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7#b7 ,culturally responsive care ,the term culturally responsive care means practices1 policies1 or interventions that-- 7,a7 recognize and affirm students' cultural1 linguistic1 and community backgrounds2 7,b7 ensure that educational and mental health services are inclusive1 equitable1 and accessible to individuals of all racial1 ethic1 and national origins2 and 7,c7 integrate students' and families' cultural strengths and perspectives into trauma-informed and educational support programs4 7#c7 ,early childhood program ,the term early childhood program means a ,head ,start or ,early ,head ,start program carried out under the ,head ,start ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihca et seq471 or a prekindergarten program that is licensed or regulated by a ,state and that receives ,federal or ,state funds4 7#d7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local educational agency2 7,b7 a public school2 7,c7 an early childhood program2 7,d7 an institution of higher education2 7,e7 a community-based nonprofit organization2 or 7,f7 a legal service provider4 7#e7 ,immigration enforcement action ,the term immigration enforcement action means any action carried out by or on behalf of the ,department of ,homeland ,security for the purpose of enforcing the immigration laws 7as such term is defined in section #aja of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja774 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#g7 ,know ,your ,rights services ,the term ,know ,your ,rights services means services that provide accurate1 age-appropriate1 and culturally and linguistically responsive information to students1 families1 educators1 and school personnel regarding legal rights and available protections under ,federal1 ,state1 and local law1 including with respect to interactions with immigration enforcement1 access to education and related services1 due process rights1 and protections against discrimination and unlawful search or questioning4 7#h7 ,legal service provider ,the term legal service provider means a nonprofit legal services organization1 legal aid organization1 law school legal clinic1 or pro bono legal network that provides representation1 referral1 or ,know ,your ,rights services to immigrant children and families4 7#i7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency 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#aj7 ,school personnel ,the term school personnel means teachers1 principals1 administrators1 school counselors1 social workers1 school psychologists1 nurses1 paraprofessionals1 transportation staff1 food service workers1 custodial staff1 security personnel1 and any other individuals employed by1 under contract with1 or volunteering on behalf of an eligible entity described in subparagraphs 7,a7 though 7,d7 of paragraph 7#d74 7#aa7 ,specified individual ,the term specified individual means an individual-- 7,a7 who is not a ,united ,states national and who is present in the ,united ,states with or without lawful status under the immigration laws 7as such term is defined in section #aja of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja772 or 7,b7 who has a household member who is not a ,united ,states national and who is present in the ,united ,states with or without lawful status under the immigration laws 7as such term is defined in section #aja of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja774 7#ab7 ,trauma-informed practice ,the term trauma-informed practice1 when used with respect to an approach to immigration enforcement action1 means an approach in education or social services that recognizes and addresses the impact of traumatic stress on students1 families1 and staff1 including through principles of safety1 trust1 empowerment1 peer support1 choice1 and cultural responsiveness4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purposes of this ,act are to-- 7#a7 provide emergency resources to eligible entities to support students and educators impacted by immigration enforcement actions2 7#b7 ensure that schools remain safe1 trauma-informed environments for learning1 especially for students who are specified individuals2 7#c7 affirm and reinforce the constitutional right to free1 public education for all children1 regardless of immigration status1 as recognized in ,plyler v4 ,doe1 7#deg ,u4,s4 #bjb 7#aihb771 and to prohibit discriminatory measures based on immigration status2 7#d7 reduce absenteeism1 disengagement1 bullying1 and academic decline resulting from immigration enforcement action-related trauma and instability2 and 7#e7 support educators and staff in effectively responding to the needs of students who are specified individuals and their families4 #d4 ,grant program establishes 7a7 ,authority ,the ,secretary of ,education shall establish a competitive grant program to award funds to eligible entities for the purposes described in subsection 7c74 7b7 ,period of grants ,grants awarded under this ,act shall be for a initial period not to exceed #c years1 but may be renewed annually as determined appropriate by the ,secretary of ,education based on performance and evaluation4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this ,act may use grant funds for the following purposes3 7#a7 ,student-focused stabilization services for students impacted by immigration enforcement actions1 including-- 7,a7 hiring or expanding access to bilingual counselors1 social workers1 trauma-informed staff1 or school psychologists2 7,b7 providing emergency assistance1 including transportation1 food1 clothing1 temporary shelter1 or legal service navigation 7including referral to legal service providers1 partnerships with legal service providers1 and payment of administrative or court fees related to immigration proceedings72 7,c7 supporting in-school mental health services1 community-based mental health providers1 peer support groups1 family-based counseling or therapeutic services1 and safe and supporting school environments for students experiencing anxiety1 fear1 or trauma stemming from immigration enforcement actions2 and 7,d7 developing and delivering curriculum or instructional content concerning the history1 contributions1 and experiences of immigrants in the ,united ,states to foster inclusion and cultural awareness4 7#b7 ,school personnel-focused services and training1 including-- 7,a7 providing mental health services1 peer-support networks1 or counseling to school personnel impacted by immigration enforcement actions 7including school personnel who are specified individuals72 and 7,b7 professional development and training on-- 7i7 trauma-informed practices with respect to immigration enforcement actions2 7ii7 legal rights of immigrant students and families2 and 7iii7 culturally responsive care and immigration-related crisis response protocols4 7#c7 ,community collaboration and family engagement with respect to immigration enforcement actions1 including-- 7,a7 partnering with legal service providers1 community-based nonprofit organizations1 or family advocacy centers to provide ,know ,your ,rights services1 family reunification resources1 and deportation defense or legal support2 7,b7 coordinating with local governments1 local educational agencies1 and community stakeholders to develop or revise protocols for school responses during immigration enforcement actions2 7d7 ,selection criteria2 priorities ,in awarding grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education shall determine appropriate selection criteria1 and shall give priority to an eligible entity that meets one or more of the following criteria3 7#a7 ,serves a local educational agency or student population that is located in a community with immigration enforcement action4 7#b7 ,serves populations with high rates of specified individuals4 7#c7 ,has established partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations or legal service providers4 7e7 ,technical assistance1 oversight1 and evaluation ,the ,secretary of ,education may reserve up to #e percent of funds made available to carry out this ,act for evaluation1 oversight1 monitoring1 and technical assistance to grantees4 #e4 ,protections and nondiscrimination 7a7 ,collection1 use1 and treatment of data 7#a7 ,prohibition on status inquiry or disclosure ,in carrying out this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education or an eligible entity receiving funds under this ,act may not request1 collect1 or disclose personally identifiable information concerning the immigration or citizenship status of any student or family member1 except where such disclosure is expressly required by a ,federal law other than this ,act that relates to the collection or disclosure of immigration or citizenship information for the administration of a ,federal program or investigation1 or by a judicial order issued under such a law4 7#b7 ,data to administer grant ,to administer and carry out the grant program under this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education and any eligible entity receiving funds under this ,act may use non-personally identifiable information from ,federal1 ,state1 or local governments or local educational agencies to determine1 within a community to be served by a grant under this ,act1 the occurrence of immigration enforcement action and the population of specified individuals4 7b7 ,nondiscrimination ,no eligible entity may deny or limit services or supports provided under this ,act on the basis of actual or perceived immigration status of a student1 family member1 or school personnel who is impacted by immigration enforcement action4 7c7 ,compliance ,each eligible entity applying for a grant under this ,act shall certify compliance with applicable ,federal privacy and civil rights laws1 as determined by the ,secretary of ,education1 including the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g7 and title ,,vi of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq474 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #bej1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4