Sec. 5. Comprehensive State plan
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To carry out the objectives of this Act, an eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall develop, in the case of a planning grant, and implement, in the case of an implementation grant, a comprehensive State plan to— enhance the affordability of postsecondary education; and increase the number and percentage of students attaining a postsecondary credential, particularly first generation college students and low-income students. The comprehensive State plan for each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act shall include each of the following reforms:
Increasing the transparency of information provided to students and the families of such students about the costs and outcomes of attaining a postsecondary credential in each State participating in the eligible entity, and increasing access to such information for students and their families, by taking measures that shall include— requiring the institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity to adopt a net price calculator under section 132(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015a(h) ) that meets the requirements of paragraph (4); adopting a common letter developed by the Secretary under section 484(a) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1092 note) for institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity to use in awarding financial aid to students; enhancing the financial literacy of students and the families of such students regarding the costs of postsecondary education and financial aid opportunities, beginning when such students enter secondary school; reporting accurate student graduation rates for institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity, disaggregated by status as a full-time student, or a part-time student, and status as a transfer student; developing practices for the continuous assessment of student learning at the postsecondary level and public reporting of student learning outcomes; developing multi-year tuition and fee schedules; and providing free degree audits to students residing in each State participating in the eligible entity.
Implementing measures to maintain or increase fiscal support for postsecondary education that shall include— increasing need-based grant aid for postsecondary education; and restricting the increase in tuition at public institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity to a rate that is below the rate of inflation. The comprehensive State plan of each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act shall include 1 or more of the following reforms, as chosen by such eligible entity in accordance with paragraph (3):
Removing barriers to innovation in postsecondary education that shall include— developing innovative education delivery models, such as using technology to enhance online and classroom learning aimed to increase participation and retention of students, particularly first generation college students and low-income students; promoting the use of technology to increase personalized learning, advising, and support services for students; and creating programs to create and expand the use of open educational resources.
Improving the transition of students to and from postsecondary institutions and increasing the rate of graduation of students from postsecondary institutions, particularly such students graduating on time, by— increasing participation in accelerated learning models, which may include— subsidizing the cost of advanced placement program examinations for low-income students; training teachers to offer advanced placement program courses; subsidizing the cost of international baccalaureate examinations and programs for low-income students; increasing access to dual enrollment programs for low-income students; and developing programs to bring advanced placement program courses to rural schools; reforming postsecondary remediation by taking measures, which may include— reducing the need for remediation, by creating targeted inventions to occur in secondary school or adult education that align with higher education and waiving placement testing; improving the quality of remediation courses and developmental education based on emerging research-based practices; and improving the process for identifying the foundational skills needs of students for remediation or developmental education while such students are in secondary school or adult education; improving the credit transfer policies and articulation agreements, as defined in section 486A(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1093a(a) ), between or among institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity; and incentivizing institutions of higher education in each State participating in the eligible entity to increase the number and percentage of Federal Pell Grant recipients who attain a postsecondary credential at such institutions of higher education.
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act shall only select a reform under paragraph
(2)that each State participating in the eligible entity does not have in place on the date on which such eligible entity receives such grant. The net price calculator, adopted under paragraph (1)(A)(i) by each institution of higher education in each State participating in an eligible entity, shall meet each of the following requirements: The link to the net price calculator made publicly available on the website of such institution— shall be labeled as a net price calculator in a prominent, clear, and conspicuous manner, using a size and contrast (such as shade) that is readily noticeable and readable; shall be posted on the website of such institution in locations that provide information on costs and aid (such as web pages for financial aid, prospective students, or tuition and fees); shall match in size and font to the other prominent links on the primary web page of such website; and may be included on the web page of such institution that contains information relating to compliance with Federal, State, and local laws. The results screen for the net price calculator shall specify each of the following: The individual net price (as calculated under section 132(h)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015a(h)(2) )) for an individual student, which shall be the most visually prominent figure on such screen. The cost of attendance at such institution of higher education for a first-time, full-time undergraduate student enrolled in the institution, including— tuition and fees; the average annual cost of room and board; the average annual cost of books and supplies; and the estimated cost of other expenses (including personal expenses and transportation). The estimated total need-based grant aid and merit-based grant aid, from Federal, State, and institutional sources, that may be available to an individual student, showing the subtotal for each such category and the total of all sources of grant aid. The percentage of the first-time, full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the institution that received any type of grant aid described in clause (iii). The disclaimer described in section 132(h)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1015a(h)(4) ). In the case of a calculator that— includes questions to estimate the eligibility of a student (or prospective student) for veteran's education benefits (as defined in section 480(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1956 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(c) )) or educational benefits for active duty service members, the results screen shall display such benefits in a manner that clearly distinguishes them from the grant aid described in clause (iii); or does not include questions to estimate eligibility for the benefits described in subclause (I), the results screen shall indicate that certain students (or prospective students) may qualify for such benefits and include a link to information about such benefits. The institution shall populate the calculator with data from not earlier than 2 academic years prior to the most recent academic year completed on the date of enactment of this Act. The net price calculator shall clearly indicate which questions are required to be answered for a net price estimate. In the case of a calculator that requests contact information from users, the net price calculator shall clearly indicate that such request is optional . The net price calculator shall protect the confidentiality of users by including mechanisms to prevent any personally identifiable information from being sold or made available to third parties. The net price calculator shall clearly state: Any information that you provide on this site is confidential. . The net price calculator shall not store responses, shall not require any personal identifying information from users, and shall clearly state: The Net Price Calculator does not store your responses and does not require personal identifying information of any kind. .
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