Teachers and Parents at the Table Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish (1) a Teacher Advisory Committee to monitor the implementation and impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the elementary and secondary education law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act; and (2) a Parents and Families Advisory Committee to monitor the effects and implementation of the ESSA on children and families and to review and analyze the implementation of various family engagement activities.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5667 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5667
To establish a Teacher Advisory Committee and a Parents and Families
Advisory Committee.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 21, 2021
Miss Rice of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a Teacher Advisory Committee and a Parents and Families
Advisory Committee.
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 ``Teachers and Parents at the Table
Act''.
SEC. 2. TEACHER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Expert teachers offer an important resource to
policymakers as they can bring their expertise and perspective
from the classroom to inform policy so that positive outcomes
for all students will be maximized.
(2) State Teachers of the Year represent a valuable
resource with a body of expert knowledge and skill about
instructional practice, 21st century learning, and school
functioning that can be infused into policymaking to promote
better outcomes for elementary and secondary students.
(3) State Teachers of the Year have been selected by their
communities and States as models of their profession and
represent every State in the Nation and every discipline and
grade level.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory
committee, to be known as the Teacher Advisory Committee (referred to
in this section as the ``Committee'').
(c) Duty.--The duty of the Committee shall be to bring the
perspective of expert teachers to policymakers, including officials at
the Department of Education, the Committee on Education and Labor of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and monitor the implementation and
impact of the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95). The
Committee shall make policy recommendations on given sets of topics to
improve elementary and secondary education.
(d) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The membership of the Committee shall
consist of not more than 10 teachers employed in a public
elementary school and not more than 10 teachers employed in a
public secondary school who--
(A) are past or present finalists or State Teachers
of the Year, or are nominated from organizations
representing teachers, including organizations
representing predominantly Black, Latin, and Asian
educators, and have demonstrated similar evidence of
expertise;
(B) have experience working with educational policy
or research;
(C) have a demonstrated history of holding teacher
leadership roles among other teachers and school
leaders; and
(D) have submitted an application to the Secretary
to serve on the Committee.
(2) List; appointment.--The Secretary shall compile a list
of teachers submitting applications under paragraph (1)(D). The
members of the Committee shall be appointed sequentially as
follows, except that no appointer may appoint more than two
public elementary and two public secondary school teachers:
(A) The Secretary shall appoint 4 teachers from the
list.
(B) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint
4 teachers from the list.
(C) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint
4 teachers from the list.
(D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall appoint 4 teachers from the list.
(E) The minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall appoint 4 teachers from the list.
(3) Special requirements.--
(A) Finalists or state teachers of the year.--Not
less than half of the members of the Committee shall be
past or present finalists or State Teachers of the
Year.
(B) Representation requirement.--The members of the
Committee shall represent a diverse selection of
members of the teaching workforce. The committee shall
include members--
(i) working in a diversity of geographic
regions, including urban, suburban, and rural
areas across the country;
(ii) holding a variety of specializations,
such as special education teachers, teachers of
English learners, and those who work with high-
ability learners; and
(iii) serving a diverse variety of student
populations, including--
(I) economically disadvantaged
students;
(II) students from major racial and
ethnic groups;
(III) children with disabilities;
(IV) English learners;
(V) students who are members of an
Indian tribe or tribal organization, as
defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b);
(VI) students who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
youth;
(VII) migrant students;
(VIII) children in foster care; and
(IX) homeless children and youths.
(4) Term.--Each member of the Committee shall serve on the
Committee for a 3-year term.
(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall submit to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate and the Secretary 2 reports per year
on the monitoring carried out under subsection (c).
(2) Contents of report.--The reports submitted under
paragraph (1) shall provide the perspective of members of the
Committee, and information collected from surveys of teachers
in the networks represented on the Committee, on not more than
3 topics per year determined by the Committee in consultation
with policymakers, including officials at the Department of
Education, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate. Such topics might include--
(A) testing and assessment;
(B) the equitable distribution of teachers between
low-poverty and high-poverty schools;
(C) the diversity of the teaching workforce;
(D) implementation and impact of the Every Student
Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95) in rural and urban
public schools;
(E) school resource equity, including per-pupil
expenditures of Federal, State, and local funds;
(F) fostering a positive school climate through the
implementation of evidence-based practices that promote
safe and supportive learning environments for all
students; and
(G) other topics of relevance determined by the
Committee in consultation with policymakers and members
of other Department school and family engagement
fellowships (such as the School Ambassadors Program).
(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--The provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C.
App.) shall apply to the Committee.
(g) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Each member of the Committee may be
compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the
actual performance of the duties of the Committee.
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Committees, members of the Committee shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b)
of title 5, United States Code.
(h) Additional Requirements.--The following additional requirements
shall apply to the Committee:
(1) The Committee shall meet in person at least once per
year for deliberation.
(2) The Committee shall be available for consultation with
officials at the Department of Education, the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate regarding the contents of the reports submitted under
subsection (e).
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``State Teacher of the Year'' means any person
who has been recognized as a State Teacher of the Year by the
Council of Chief State School Officers.
(2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Education.
(j) Authorization of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated to, and
available at the discretion of, the Secretary for programmatic and
administrative expenditures for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, a total
of $500,000 shall be used to establish and carry out the functions of
the Committee established under this section.
SEC. 3. PARENTS AND FAMILIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Parents and families have a major influence on their
children's achievement in public school and throughout life.
(2) Parents and family members offer an important resource
to policymakers as they provide a unique perspective as
consumers of our Nation's public schools.
(3) All parents and family members--regardless of income,
education, or cultural background--are critical in their
child's learning and development and want their child to reach
their fullest potential.
(4) Parental engagement improves school culture and
community well-being, as well as drive improvements in student
outcomes.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory
committee, to be known as the Parents and Families Advisory Committee
(referred to in this section as the ``Committee'').
(c) Duties and Focus.--The duty of the Committee shall be to
monitor the effects and implementation of the Every Student Success Act
(Public Law 114-95) on children and families, and review and analyze
implementation of State and local parent and family engagement
policies, school-parent compacts, and other family engagement
activities described in section 1116 and part E of title IV of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318; 20
U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
(d) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The membership of the Committee shall
consist of 10 parents or family members of children enrolled in
a public elementary school and 10 parents or family members of
children enrolled in a public secondary school who--
(A) have a demonstrated history of parental
involvement and family engagement in public schools;
and
(B) have submitted an application to the Secretary
to serve on the Committee.
(2) List; appointment.--The Secretary shall compile a list
of parents and family members submitting applications under
paragraph (1)(B). The members of the Committee shall be
appointed sequentially as follows:
(A) The Secretary shall appoint 4 parents or family
members from the list.
(B) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint
4 parents or family members from the list.
(C) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint
4 parents or family members from the list.
(D) The Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall appoint 4 parents or family members from the
list.
(E) The minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall appoint 4 parents or family
members from the list.
(3) Representation requirement.--
(A) In general.--The members of the Committee shall
represent geographically diverse areas, including
urban, suburban, and rural areas across the country,
and a diversity of students, and shall include at least
one parent or family member representing each of the
following student groups:
(i) Economically disadvantaged students.
(ii) Students from major racial and ethnic
groups.
(iii) Children with disabilities.
(iv) English learners.
(v) Students who are members of an Indian
tribe or tribal organization, as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(vi) Students who identify as lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender youth.
(vii) Migrant students.
(viii) Children in foster care.
(ix) Homeless children and youths.
(B) Special consideration.--Consideration should
also be given to representation of students' gender
identity, migrant status, and residence in rural or
urban areas in the appointment of members of the
Committee.
(4) Advisors.--If requested by the Committee, the Secretary
may provide access to 5 research advisors to the Committee,
such as researchers, practitioners or representatives from
national nonprofit organizations with expertise in family
engagement in education, to provide evidence-based information
and materials.
(5) Term.--Each member of the Committee shall serve on the
Committee for a 3-year term.
(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall submit to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate and the Secretary on an annual basis
a report and policy recommendations on the monitoring and
analysis carried out under subsection (c).
(2) Contents of report.--The report submitted under
paragraph (1) shall provide the perspective of parents and
families on not more than 3 topics per year determined by the
Committee. Such topics may include the following:
(A) The effects of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) on
parental involvement and family engagement in
education, including public schools and classrooms.
(B) Direction for State education agencies and
local education agencies for implementing written
family engagement policies under section 1116 and part
E of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318; 20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
(C) Recommendations for strengthening family
engagement policy and implementation in order to meet
the goals of section 1116 and part E of title IV of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6318; 20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.).
(D) Recommendations for fostering a positive school
climate that promotes safe and supportive learning
environments for all students, including the reduction
of use of exclusionary practices and implementation of
evidence-based approaches and interventions.
(E) Recommendations for improving State- and
district-level report cards, including that they are
developed by and understandable to parents.
(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Applicability.--The provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463; 5 U.S.C.
App.) shall apply to the Committee.
(g) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Each member of the Committee may be
compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the
actual performance of the duties of the Committee.
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Committees, members of the Committee shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b)
of title 5, United States Code.
(h) Additional Requirements.--The following additional requirements
shall apply to the Committee:
(1) The Committee shall meet in person at least once per
year for deliberation.
(2) The Committee shall be available for consultation with
officials at the Department of Education and the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate regarding the contents of the reports submitted under
subsection (e).
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``family engagement'' means a shared
responsibility of families and public schools for student
success--
(A) in which schools and community-based
organizations are committed to reaching out to engage
families in meaningful ways and families are committed
actively to support their children's learning and
development;
(B) that is continuous from birth through young
adulthood; and
(C) that reinforces learning that takes place in
the home, school, and community.
(2) The term ``parental involvement'' means the
participation of parents or family members in regular, two-way,
and meaningful communication involving student academic
learning and other public school activities, including
ensuring--
(A) that parents or family members play an integral
role in assisting their child's learning;
(B) that parents or family members are encouraged
to be actively involved in their child's education at
school;
(C) that parents or family members are full
partners in their child's education and are included,
as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory
committees to assist in the education of their child;
and
(D) the carrying out of other activities, such as
those described in section 1116 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6318).
(3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Education.
(j) Authorization of Funds.--Of the amounts appropriated to, and
available at the discretion of, the Secretary for programmatic and
administrative expenditures for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, a total
of $500,000 shall be used to establish and carry out the functions of
the Committee established under this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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