Keep Students in School Act of 2016

This bill establishes a grant program through which the Department of Education (ED) shall assist local educational agencies in carrying out one or more of the following activities:

• establishing an attendance program;
• funding after-school programs and recreational activities;
• establishing a teacher training and development program that focuses on issues relating to racial inequality and poverty;
• if applicable, making a zero tolerance policy more compatible with the goals of student retention and engagement;
• establishing a student absence policy with respect to at-risk children;
• collaborating with local agencies and social workers to address issues facing at-risk children;
• providing parents of at-risk children with resources and support;
• establishing or expanding a mentoring program; or
• providing schools with licensed social workers.

ED shall provide technical assistance to grantees upon request.

In addition, ED shall establish a task force to develop a comprehensive work plan to address the hardships that disadvantaged youth may face in attending school and attaining academic success. The task force shall: (1) coordinate interagency efforts to address such hardships, (2) assess the effectiveness of federal programs aimed at addressing those hardships, and (3) develop a plan that implements improvements to such federal programs and incorporates positive youth development practices.