Overview

The purpose of Title V is to help children meet challenging academic standards by empowering states and school districts with the means to provide a high-quality education that is also safe and drug free.

This proposal seeks to ease the burden of administering two separate but similar programs that clearly overlap each other in statute and practice. It streamlines the Safe and Drug Free Schools program and the 21^st Century Learning Centers program into a performance-based grant for before and after-school learning opportunities, as well as for violence and drug prevention activities. States are held accountable for using research-based programs to improve academic achievement, improve school safety, and reduce drug use. In addition, this Title ensures that parents know whether their child attends a safe school, and frees students from those that are dangerous.

Summary of Proposals

Consolidates and Simplifies Funding for the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program and the 21^st Century Learning Centers Program. School districts will be able to use federal dollars on after-school learning opportunities and drug and violence prevention activities.

Establishes Accountability for School Safety and Achievement. In order to receive funds for this program, states must develop a definition for a "persistently dangerous school" and must report on safety on a school-by-school basis. Victims of serious, school-based crimes and students trapped in persistently dangerous schools will be provided the option to transfer to a safe alternative.

Grants Teachers Control Over Their Classrooms. Teachers will be empowered by the states to remove violent or persistently disruptive students from the classroom. In order to receive funds from this program, states must adopt a zero-tolerance policy for violent or persistently disruptive students.

Focuses on What Works. An emphasis will be placed on preventing drug use and violence among youth and ensuring that schools utilize funds for programs that have demonstrated proven effectiveness in making schools safer. Funds may be used for after school programs, to provide students with safety and anti-substance abuse activities before, during and after school; and to educate students about the dangers of drugs, especially newly emerging drugs.

Allows Community-Based Organizations to Receive Grants for After-School Programs. Before and after-school learning opportunities will be expanded by granting states and school districts freedom to award grants to faith-based and community-based organizations.

Facilitates Crime Prevention and Prosecution. The Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) will be amended to make it easier for public school districts and local law enforcement authorities to share information regarding disciplinary actions and misconduct by students.*

Strengthens Gun Law Enforcement. Project Sentry, a new federal-state partnership will be established to identify, prosecute, punish, and supervise juveniles who violate state and federal firearms laws.*

Increases Funds for Character Education. Funding for character education grants to states and districts to train teachers in methods of incorporating character-building lessons and activities in the classroom would be increased.