Broadening Opportunities Through Education Act

Broadening Opportunities Through Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states that make school attendance compulsory through age 17.

Requires states to use their grant to improve their secondary school programs, such as by:

• establishing or expanding work-based programs that integrate academic and career-based skills;
• implementing an early warning system that helps high schools and their feeder middle schools identify and assist struggling students;
• establishing grade and school transition programs and supports;
• personalizing the school experience and increasing student engagement through service-learning and experiential, work-based, and other learning opportunities;
• providing extended-learning opportunities by the school day, week, or year; and
• increasing student supports through activities such as student advisories, counseling, and one-to-one mentoring.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6434 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6434

  To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that 
 enact State laws that will make school attendance compulsory through 
                             the age of 17.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2012

 Ms. Edwards introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that 
 enact State laws that will make school attendance compulsory through 
                             the age of 17.

    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 ``Broadening Opportunities Through 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATES WITH COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE 
              THROUGH THE AGE OF 17.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out 
this Act and not later than 90 days after such amounts are 
appropriated, the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to States with approved applications under 
subsection (b) to assist such States in improving secondary school 
programs.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, 
a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, including--
            (1) a description of the State law that the State has 
        enacted that makes school attendance in the State compulsory 
        through the age of 17 (except in cases of individuals who 
        complete the secondary school graduation requirements of the 
        State prior to attaining such age) including a description of 
        any other exemptions to such law; and
            (2) a description of how the State will use the grant to 
        carry out or improve secondary school programs in the State.
    (c) Uses of Funds.--A State that receives a grant under this Act 
shall use such grant to improve secondary school programs in the State, 
such as by--
            (1) establishing or expanding work-based programs that 
        integrate academic and career-based skills through career and 
        technical training, linked learning pathways, school-registered 
        apprenticeships, and other career-training programs;
            (2) implementing an early warning indicator system to help 
        high schools, and their feeder middle schools, to identify 
        struggling students and create a system of evidence-based 
        interventions;
            (3) providing evidence-based grade and school transition 
        programs and supports, including through curricula alignment;
            (4) personalizing the school experience and increasing 
        student engagement by providing service-learning, experiential, 
        and work-based and other learning opportunities;
            (5) providing extended-learning opportunities, by the 
        school day, week, or year to increase the total number of 
        school hours to include additional time for instruction in 
        academic subjects and enrichment; or
            (6) increasing student supports through activities such as 
        student advisories, school counseling opportunities, and one-
        to-one mentoring.
    (d) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``secondary school'' and 
        ``State'' have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
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