H.R.3406 Success in the Middle Act of 2007

Title: To provide grants to States to ensure that all students exit the middle grades prepared for success in a high school with an academically rigorous curriculum that prepares students for postsecondary education and the workplace.
Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [2] [D-AZ-7] (introduced 8/3/2007)      Cosponsors (11)
Latest Major Action: 9/19/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.Highlights: Grants will be made to each approved State educational agency. At least 80 percent of the grant funds awarded under this title to a State educational agency shall be used to make subgrants to local educational agencies. The middle school improvement plan of a State educational agency shall be a statewide plan to improve student achievement that describes what students are required to know and do to successfully complete the middle grades and make the transition to succeed in an academically rigorous high school that prepares students for postsecondary education and the workplace.

Grant eligibility: Funds will be allotted among the States in proportion to the number of children, aged 5 to 17, who reside within each State and are from families with incomes below the poverty line. Grants to State education agencies will not be less than $20 million. Subgrants will be made to local education agencies such as an institution of higher education, an education service agency, and any non-profit organization with demonstrated expertise in high quality middle level interventions.

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA fully supports the measure as it promotes efforts to improve student academic achievement.

ASPIRA also supports the size of the authorization, but is concerned that a reduced annual appropriation and a requirement that grants be no less than $20 million to any state, may lead to many states being left out of the program altogether or that no grants would be awarded.