Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 377
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-21T12:24:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025 aims to expand the Federal Work-Study Program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 by allowing college students to use work-study funds for off-campus community service in after-school activities. This supports educational opportunities for younger students, particularly in underserved areas, while providing paid work experience for college participants.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Community Services: Adds "after-school activities" to the list of eligible community services in the Federal Work-Study Program. After-school activities include educational programs during non-school hours (e.g., after school, before school, or summer recess) run by public elementary or secondary schools, or in partnership with community organizations.
- Use of Work-Study Funds:
- Institutions must use at least some funds to pay college students for working in after-school activities at eligible public schools, unless they are already meeting other community service requirements.
- Institutions can also use funds for this purpose alongside existing obligations.
- Compensation covers wages, training, and travel related to the activities.
- Implementation Requirements:
- The Secretary of Education must notify eligible schools within 180 days of enactment and create a registration process for schools to participate.
- The Secretary will set standards for the program and school registration.
- Institutions must prioritize schools in low-income communities (defined as areas with high concentrations of poverty) and ensure college students receive training for their roles.
- Federal Funding Share: The government's contribution to student wages can exceed 75%, providing more flexibility for institutions.
- Eligible Participants:
- College students employed through the program.
- Public elementary or secondary schools (K-12 public schools) as host sites.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amendments to the Higher Education Act:
- Expands Section 441(c) to explicitly include after-school activities as a form of community service, building on existing categories like tutoring and literacy programs.
- Modifies Section 443 to add a new subsection (f) dedicated to after-school activities, requiring or allowing fund allocation for this purpose in applicable academic years.
- Updates language in existing subsections to integrate after-school options without replacing core work-study rules, such as required community service spending.
- These changes make after-school service a mandated or optional priority, rather than an incidental use of funds, while preserving institutions' ability to meet prior requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education will need to develop and manage a new registration system and standards, potentially increasing administrative workload but promoting efficient use of federal funds for education equity.
- On Citizens: College students gain paid opportunities for community service and skill-building in education roles. Younger students in public schools, especially in low-income areas, benefit from additional educational support during non-school hours, which could improve academic outcomes and youth development.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic education programs.
- Overall, it could enhance access to after-school programs in underserved communities, reducing educational gaps without requiring new funding appropriations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- College Students: Primary beneficiaries as paid participants in after-school roles, gaining experience in teaching and community service.
- Higher Education Institutions: Responsible for allocating work-study funds, prioritizing low-income schools, and ensuring student training; they gain flexibility in program design.
- Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: Eligible to host programs and receive support from college student workers, particularly those serving low-income communities.
- Low-Income Communities and Youth: Indirectly benefit through expanded educational activities that promote learning and development.
- Department of Education: Oversees implementation, registration, and standards, acting as the key federal coordinator.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens the Federal Work-Study Program's focus on community service without altering its core structure, ensuring compliance with existing federal education laws like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill's definitions align with established terms (e.g., "low-income community" from student loan provisions), minimizing legal ambiguity.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; it supports equal educational opportunities under the Spending Clause (Congress's power to fund programs) and does not infringe on state or individual rights.
- Political Implications: Promotes bipartisan goals of education access and community engagement by linking higher education funding to K-12 support, potentially appealing to advocates for poverty reduction and youth programs. As an amendment, it could influence future expansions of work-study without major fiscal controversy, given no new spending is authorized.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-02-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-03 — PDF (6 pages)