What This Bill Does
This bill changes a federal work-study program to let colleges use federal money to pay college students for working at after-school activities in elementary and secondary schools. The bill requires the federal government to help schools register for this program and set up rules for how it works.
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Who It Affects
- College students who work in after-school programs
- Elementary and secondary public schools offering after-school activities
- Community-based organizations that run youth programs in partnership with schools
- College institutions (schools) that receive federal work-study funding
- The Secretary of Education (the federal official who runs education programs)
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Key Provisions
- Colleges can pay college students from federal work-study funds to work at after-school educational activities in public schools, including time spent training and traveling to these activities. (Sec. 3(f)(1))
- Within 180 days of this law passing, the Secretary of Education must tell eligible schools about the program and create a way for schools to sign up to participate. (Sec. 3(f)(2))
- The Secretary must create rules needed for schools and colleges to participate in the program. (Sec. 3(f)(3))
- When possible, colleges should prioritize schools serving low-income communities and make sure students get proper training. (Sec. 3(f)(4))
- The federal government can pay more than 75 percent of the cost of paying these work-study students. (Sec. 3(f)(5))
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What Changes
If this becomes law, federal work-study money can now be used for college students working at after-school programs in public schools. Currently, the bill states this is an "authorized use" alongside existing uses. Schools must register with the federal government to participate in this program. Colleges must prioritize schools in low-income areas when deciding which schools to work with.
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Important Definitions
- "After-school activities" means activities happening after school, before school, or during breaks (like summer) that have an educational purpose. These can be run by public schools themselves or by nonprofit organizations and community centers that partner with schools. (Sec. 3(f)(6)(A))
- "Eligible school" means a public elementary school or secondary school. (Sec. 3(f)(6)(C))
- "Low-income community" is defined in another section of federal law (section 428K(g)(6)) but the specific meaning is not stated in this bill. (Sec. 3(f)(6)(D))
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Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 183
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, to add a work-study program
for off-campus community service at selected after-school activities, and
for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY 31, 2023
Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mr. MENENDEZ) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, to add a
work-study program for off-campus community service
at selected after-school activities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Students Helping
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Young Students Act of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEFINED.
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Section 441(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
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(20 U.S.C. 1087–51(c)) is amended—
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•S 183 IS
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
1
(3);
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(2) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘and’’
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at the end of paragraph (4)(C); and
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(3) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(5) after-school activities, as defined in section
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443(f).’’.
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SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR FEDERAL WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.
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Section 443 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
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U.S.C. 1087–53) is amended—
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(1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘or
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after-school activity (as described in subsection (f))’’
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after ‘‘subsection (d))’’;
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(2) in subsection (d)—
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(A) in paragraph (1)—
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(i) in the subsection heading, by strik-
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ing ‘‘USE’’ and inserting ‘‘REQUIRED
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USE’’; and
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(ii) by inserting ‘‘that is not carrying
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out subsection (f) for such year’’ after ‘‘an
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institution’’; and
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(B) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(4) AUTHORIZED
USE
OF
FUNDS.—In any
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academic year to which subsection (b)(2)(A) applies,
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an institution that is carrying out subsection (f) may
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•S 183 IS
also use funds granted to such institution under this
1
section in accordance with this subsection.’’; and
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(3) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(f) AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.—
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‘‘(1) USE OF FUNDS.—In any academic year to
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which subsection (b)(2)(A) applies—
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‘‘(A) an institution that is not carrying out
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subsection (d) for such year shall ensure funds
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granted to such institution under this section
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are used in accordance with this subsection to
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compensate (including compensation for time
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spent in training and travel directly related to
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after school activities) students employed in
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after-school activities of eligible schools; and
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‘‘(B) an institution that is carrying out
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subsection (d) for such year may also use funds
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granted to such institution under this section in
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accordance with this subsection to compensate
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the students described in subparagraph (A).
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‘‘(2) REGISTRATION PROCESS.—Not later than
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180 days after the date of enactment of the Stu-
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dents Helping Young Students Act of 2023, the Sec-
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retary shall inform eligible schools about the work-
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study program described in paragraph (1), and es-
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•S 183 IS
tablish and carry out a process for eligible schools
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to register to participate in such program.
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‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall
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establish any standards necessary for participation
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in—
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‘‘(A) the work-study program described in
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paragraph (1); and
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‘‘(B) the registration process described in
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paragraph (2).
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‘‘(4) PRIORITY FOR SCHOOLS.—To the extent
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practicable, an institution shall—
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‘‘(A) give priority to eligible schools serving
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a low-income community; and
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‘‘(B) ensure that any student compensated
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with funds described in paragraph (1) receives
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appropriate training to carry out the edu-
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cational services required.
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‘‘(5) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of
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the compensation for work-study students com-
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pensated under this subsection may exceed 75 per-
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cent.
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‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
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section:
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‘‘(A) The term ‘after-school activities’—
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•S 183 IS
‘‘(i) means activities that take place
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after school, before school, or out of school
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(in the summer or during other vacations)
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that have an educational purpose; and
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‘‘(ii) includes such activities adminis-
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tered by—
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‘‘(I) an eligible school, including
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activities in which only the student
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population of such school is served; or
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‘‘(II) a community-based learning
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center or organization, nonprofit orga-
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nization, or other center or organiza-
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tion that facilitates youth development
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activities, which partners with an eli-
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gible school.
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‘‘(B) The terms ‘elementary school’ and
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‘secondary school’ have the meanings given the
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terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
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Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
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7801).
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‘‘(C) The term ‘eligible school’ means a
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public elementary school or secondary school.
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•S 183 IS
‘‘(D) The term ‘low-income community’
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has the meaning given the term in section
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428K(g)(6).’’.
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