AMBRESH RANJAN

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas, has introduced the Investment in After-School Programs Act of 2008 (S. 3545), legislation that would "enhance after-school programs in rural a . . .

A copy of the full-text of the legislation follows: Investment in After-School Programs Act of 2008 S. 3545 To enhance after-school programs in rural areas of the United States by establishing a pilot program to help communities establish and improve rural after-school programs. 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 `Investment in After-School Programs Act of 2008'. SEC. 2. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended by inserting after section 365 (7 U.S.C. 2008) the following: `SEC. 366. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. `(a) Purpose- The purpose of this section is to enhance after-school programs in rural areas by helping communities-- `(1) to establish after-school programs; and `(2) to improve existing programs by overcoming barriers to service. `(b) Definitions- In this section: `(1) AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM- The term `after-school program' means a program that carries out a broad array of activities during periods when school is not in session (such as before school, after school, or during summer recess and other vacation periods) that advance student academic achievement and promote positive youth development. `(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term `eligible entity' means a local educational agency (as such term is defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), community-based organization, another public or private entity, or a consortium of 2 or more such agencies, organizations, or entities. `(3) RURAL AREA- The term `rural area' means an area that is served by an elementary or secondary school that is designated with a school locale code of Distant Town, Remote Town, Fringe Rural, Distant Rural, or Remote Rural, as determined by the Secretary of Education. `(c) Grants- `(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to improve, expand, or establish after-school programs in rural areas. `(2) REQUIREMENT- Each grant under this section shall be in an amount of not less than $50,000. `(d) Duration- `(1) TERM OF GRANT- The term of a grant under this section may not be for less than 3 years. `(2) RENEWAL- The Secretary may renew a grant under this section for a period of not less than 3 years, based on the performance of the eligible entity during the previous grant term. `(e) Uses- As a condition of the receipt of a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall use the grant to fund projects and activities described in subsection (c), including transportation, professional development, training, recruitment and retention of staff, increasing access to technology, and planning. `(f) Evaluation- The Secretary may use not more than 1 percent of the funds under this section-- `(1) to conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of programs and activities assisted under subsection (c); and `(2) to disseminate the results of those evaluations for the purpose of refining, improving, and strengthening programs. `(g) Outreach, Training, and Technical Assistance- The Secretary may use not more than 3 percent of the funds made available to carry out this section-- `(1) to conduct outreach, including bidders' conferences, to ensure widespread knowledge of the availability of resources described in subsection (c); `(2) to disseminate information on best practices and successful program models for serving children and youth in rural areas; and `(3) to provide capacity building, training, and technical assistance to afterschool programs and providers in rural areas. `(h) Application- `(1) IN GENERAL- To be considered for a grant under this section, each eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. `(2) CONTENTS- An application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include-- `(A) a description of the after-school program to be funded, including-- `(i) an assurance that the program will take place in a safe and easily accessible facility; `(ii) a description of how children and youth participating in the program will travel safely between the program site and home; `(iii) a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate information about the program, including the location of the program, to the community in a manner that is understandable and accessible; and `(iv) a description of the services to be provided to children and youth, the roles and responsibilities of the partners in providing the services, and how the services enhance an existing after-school program; `(B) an assurance that the proposed program was developed, and will be carried out, in active collaboration with the schools the students attend; `(C) an assurance that funds provided under this section will be used to increase the level of State, local, and other non-Federal funds that would, in the absence of funds under this section, be made available for programs and activities authorized under this section, and in no case supplant Federal, State, local, or non-Federal funds; `(D) a description of the partnership between a local educational agency, a community-based organization, or another public entity or private entity, if applicable; and `(E) such additional assurances as the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure compliance with this section. `(i) Priority- The Secretary shall give priority to applications that propose partnerships between 2 or more eligible entities. `(j) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section-- `(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; `(2) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; `(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; `(4) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and `(5) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.'.

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