[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5963 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5963
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
fund pilot projects to explore how the camp experience promotes
physical activity and healthy lifestyles among children and youth,
reduces summer learning loss, and promotes academic achievement.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2010
Mrs. McCarthy of New York introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
fund pilot projects to explore how the camp experience promotes
physical activity and healthy lifestyles among children and youth,
reduces summer learning loss, and promotes academic achievement.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Students Using the Camp
Community for Enrichment, Strength, and Success Act'' or the
``Promoting SUCCESS Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) reduce childhood obesity through increased physical
activity and healthy lifestyle choices; and
(2) strengthen high school graduation rates by reducing
summer learning loss.
SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
From the amounts appropriated under section 11, the Secretary shall
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable
the eligible entities to carry out a summertime learning pilot program.
SEC. 4. APPLICATION.
To receive a grant under this Act, an eligible entity shall submit
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require. An
application shall include--
(1) a description of the needs of the youth population that
will be served under the grant, including any data with respect
to such youth that supports a need for the grant, including
data on--
(A) summer learning loss;
(B) academic achievement;
(C) physical activity;
(D) childhood obesity; and
(E) any other relevant needs facing the youth
population;
(2) a description of the balanced array of activities that
will be undertaken with the grant funds to address the needs of
the youth population described in paragraph (1) to reduce
summer learning loss, strengthen academic achievement, increase
physical activity, reduce childhood obesity, and promote youth
development;
(3) in the case of an eligible entity consisting of at
least 1 nonprofit or for-profit organization offering camp
activities, a description of how the eligible entity will work
with the local educational agencies and schools serving the
youth participating in activities funded under the grant to--
(A) provide activities that complement the academic
curriculum taught to the students; and
(B) address the academic and developmental needs of
the students;
(4) specific goals, strategies, and performance measures
related to the academic and developmental outcomes expected to
be achieved under the grant, including the number of indicators
of performance described in subsection 7(b)(2), and the level
of performance (as measured by level of performance measure
described in section 7(b)(3)) on each of the indicators,
expected to be achieved; and
(5) an outreach strategy, including--
(A) a description of how parents will be informed
of the opportunities made available under the grant;
and
(B) a description of how diverse participants and
staff will be recruited to participate in such
opportunities.
SEC. 5. PRIORITY.
The Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities--
(1) proposing to target services to students who attend
schools that have been identified as in need of improvement
under section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965;
(2) that consist of not less than 1--
(A) nonprofit or for-profit organization offering
camp activities; or
(B) a local educational agency receiving funds
under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965; and
(3) proposing to provide at least 1 activity from 3 or more
categories described in section 6(b).
SEC. 6. ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS.
(a) In General.--An eligible entity receiving funds under this Act
shall use such funds--
(1) to carry out a summertime learning pilot program that
provides the camp activities described in subsection (b) for
students during the period beginning with the summer after
grade 5 through the summer before grade 10 to increase on-time
promotion to the next grade level, reduce summer learning loss,
strengthen academic achievement, increase physical activity,
promote healthy lifestyle choices, and promote positive youth
development;
(2) to provide training and technical assistance to pilot
program staff in areas such as--
(A) shared leadership;
(B) the cultural needs of students;
(C) how to attract and effectively serve diverse
students and staff; and
(D) experiential learning as a teaching strategy;
(3) for the evaluation and data collection necessary to
submit annual reports under section 7(a); and
(4) for reasonable costs associated with program
coordination and administration.
(b) Camp Activities.--The camp activities described in this
subsection include activities in areas such as--
(1) academic achievement, including--
(A) activities related to literacy;
(B) tutoring or mentoring to promote academic
achievement;
(C) nature-based activities that promote
achievement in science, technology, engineering, and
math; and
(D) other activities developed to reduce summer
learning loss and increase on-time promotion to the
next grade level;
(2) health and wellness activities, including activities
that encourage--
(A) eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day;
(B) limiting computer and television screen time;
(C) striving for 1 hour of physical activity a day;
and
(D) limiting sugar-sweetened drinks;
(3) independent living skills, including skills related
to--
(A) personal appearance and hygiene;
(B) first aid;
(C) health;
(D) emergency and safety;
(E) knowledge of community resources; and
(F) interpersonal skills;
(4) environmental stewardship, including activities related
to--
(A) nature-based civic engagement;
(B) service learning;
(C) environmental awareness; and
(D) other community-based improvement activities;
(5) leadership development, including activities related
to--
(A) leadership competencies;
(B) leadership styles;
(C) conflict-management;
(D) communication;
(E) character development;
(F) working effectively with others;
(G) emotional self-regulation;
(H) team building;
(I) making positive choices; and
(J) mobilizing groups to solve problems; and
(6) workforce preparation, including a range of
introductory workforce experiences (such as staff training,
workplace etiquette, employee and supervisor relationships,
performance feedback, workforce training, and care-giving and
supervision of youth).
SEC. 7. ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under
this Act shall submit an annual report to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and providing such information as the Secretary may
require, including--
(1) information on the number, and demographic information,
of the children served under the summertime learning pilot
program carried out with the grant funds;
(2) the camp activities provided under the program; and
(3) an evaluation of the program using the indicators of
performance described in subsection (b)(2) and the level of
performance measure described in subsection (b)(3).
(b) Independent Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under
section 11 to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall
award a grant or a contract to an independent entity outside of
the Department of Education to carry out an evaluation of the
grants provided under this Act. Such evaluation shall evaluate
the summertime learning pilot program carried out by each
eligible entity using a grant under this Act by--
(A) analyzing and documenting the strategies (for
increasing on-time promotion to the next grade level,
reducing summer learning loss, strengthening academic
achievement, increasing physical activity, promoting
healthy lifestyle choices, and promoting positive youth
development) implemented by the eligible entities under
the program, and the key lessons learned by the entity
(such as lessons with respect to program design,
collaboration among nonprofit organizations, local
educational agencies, and schools that offer camps, and
program implementation);
(B) measuring progress toward the goals identified
under subparagraph (A) through the strategies
identified under such subparagraph;
(C) evaluating the performance of the program using
the indicators of performance described in paragraph
(2); and
(D) determining the level of performance achieved
on each such indicator of performance as measured by
the level of performance measure described in paragraph
(3).
(2) Indicators of performance.--The indicators of
performance described in this paragraph shall consist of the
following:
(A) The number and percentage of students served in
grade 5 through grade 9 who are promoted to the next
grade level on-time.
(B) The number and percentage of students passing
the State's academic assessments in reading and
mathematics required under section 1111(b)(3) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)).
(C) Student school behavior during the summer and
the regular school year, as measured by truancy or
teacher or principal behavior reports.
(D) Number or percentage of students participating
in 60 minutes or more of moderate-vigorous physical
activity during the program.
(E) Developmental outcomes of the students,
including--
(i) positive self-identity;
(ii) social and interpersonal skills;
(iii) responsibility and independence;
(iv) positive values and character;
(v) creativity and exploration; and
(vi) leadership and civic engagement.
(3) Level of performance measure.--For each indicator of
performance described in paragraph (2), the Secretary, in
coordination with eligible entities, shall develop a level of
performance measure expressed in an objective and quantifiable
form that measures the level of performance achieved by the
eligible entity on such indicator.
SEC. 8. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES.
From the amounts appropriated under section 11, the Secretary shall
provide a grant or contract to 1 or more national nonprofit
organizations to collect best practices from among grantees under this
Act and provide grantees with training, technical assistance, and
professional development. A national organization receiving a grant or
contract under this section shall have demonstrated expertise in
providing technical assistance and training on quality activities for
children and youth during the summer, and shall have experience
implementing a national system of accreditation to strengthen the
quality of summer camp experiences for children and youth.
SEC. 9. MATCHING FUNDS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall require each eligible entity
receiving a grant under this Act to provide matching funds from non-
Federal sources in an amount determined under subsection (b).
(b) Determination of Amount of Match.--
(1) Sliding scale.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall determine the amount of matching funds to be required of
an eligible entity under this subsection based on a sliding fee
scale that takes into account--
(A) the poverty level of the population to be
targeted by the eligible entity; and
(B) the ability of the eligible entity to obtain
such matching funds.
(2) Maximum amount.--The Secretary may not require any
eligible entity under this section to provide matching funds in
an amount that exceeds the amount of the grant award under this
Act.
(3) Level of poverty.--In determining the poverty level for
purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the
criteria of poverty used by the Bureau of the Census in
compiling the most recent decennial census, as the criteria
have been updated by increases in the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
(c) In-Kind Contributions.--The Secretary shall permit eligible
entities under this section to match funds in whole or in part with in-
kind contributions.
(d) Consideration.--Notwithstanding this section, the Secretary
shall not consider an applicant's ability to match funds when
determining which applicants will receive grants under this Act.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Camp activities.--The term ``camp'' refers to an
intentional set of evidence-based youth development and
academic activities taking place primarily during the summer
weeks when school is not in regular session.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) a for-profit organization,
(C) a local educational agency; and
(D) a consortium of 2 or more local educational
agencies.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2011 through 2015.
(b) Allocations.--Of the amount appropriated under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall use--
(1) not less than 90 percent for grants to eligible
entities under this Act; and
(2) not more than the greater of 10 percent or $5,000,000
for technical assistance and evaluations under sections 7(b)
and 8.
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