[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 978 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 978
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish an award program
recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees
providing services to students in prekindergarten through higher
education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 27, 2017
Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish an award program
recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees
providing services to students in prekindergarten through higher
education.
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 ``Recognizing Achievement in
Classified School Employees Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Classified school employees provide valuable service to
public schools in the United States.
(2) Classified school employees provide essential services,
such as transportation, facilities maintenance and operations,
food service, safety, and health care.
(3) Classified school employees play a vital role in
providing for the welfare and safety of students.
(4) Classified school employees strive for excellence in
all areas of service to the education community.
(5) Exemplary classified school employees should be
recognized for their outstanding contributions to quality
education in the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Classified school employee.--The term ``classified
school employee'' means a public employee of a State or of any
political subdivision of a State, who works in any grade from
prekindergarten through higher education in any of the
following 9 occupational specialties:
(A) Paraeducator services.
(B) Clerical and administrative services.
(C) Transportation services.
(D) Food and nutrition services.
(E) Custodial and maintenance services.
(F) Security services.
(G) Health and student services.
(H) Technical services.
(I) Skilled trades.
(2) Other definitions.--The terms used in this Act have the
meaning given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
SEC. 4. RECOGNITION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish a
national recognition program to be known as the ``Recognizing
Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award Program''. The purpose of
the program shall be to recognize and promote the commitment and
excellence exhibited by classified school employees in public schools
who provide exemplary service to students in prekindergarten through
higher education.
(b) Award.--Prior to March 31 of each year (beginning with the
second calendar year that begins after the date of enactment of this
Act), the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award
Program shall recommend to the Secretary a classified school employee
to receive the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award
for the year.
(c) Selection Process.--
(1) Nomination process.--
(A) In general.--Not later than November 1 of each
year (beginning with the first calendar year that
begins after the date of enactment of this Act), the
Secretary shall solicit nominations of classified
school employees in public schools from the
occupational specialties described in section 3(1) from
the chief State school officer of each State.
(B) Nomination submissions.--In order for
individuals in a State to be eligible to receive
recognition under this section, the chief State school
officer shall consider nominations submitted by the
following:
(i) Local educational agencies.
(ii) School administrators.
(iii) Professional associations.
(iv) Labor organizations.
(v) Educational service agencies.
(vi) Any other group determined appropriate
by the Recognizing Inspirational School
Employees (RISE) Award Program.
(2) Demonstration.--Each chief State school officer of a
State who desires individuals in the State to receive
recognition under this section shall submit the nominations
described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary in such manner as
may be required by the Recognizing Inspirational School
Employees (RISE) Award Program. Each such nomination shall
contain, at a minimum, demonstrations of excellence in the
following areas:
(A) Work performance.
(B) School and community involvement.
(C) Leadership and commitment.
(D) Local support.
(E) Enhancement of classified school employees'
image in the community and schools.
(F) Any other area of superior performance, such as
health and safety promotion or efficient use of energy
or other resources.
(3) Selection.--The Recognizing Inspirational School
Employees (RISE) Award Program shall develop uniform national
guidelines for evaluating nominations submitted under paragraph
(2) in order to select the most deserving nominees based on the
demonstrations made in the areas described in such paragraph.
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