Sec. 204. Development grants
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From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Secretaries, in accordance with the interagency agreement described in section 206, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities, to support the eligible entities in the development, revamping, improvement, or expansion of programs of education and training for coal community zones in in-demand industry sectors or occupations or in industries in local demand. A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 3 years.
The Secretaries may renew a grant awarded under section for a single 2-year period, if— the eligible entity demonstrates that the program under the grant has a record of success and high-quality outcomes; and the local government or local administrator that submitted the demonstration of application approval under the initial application under subsection (b)(1)(E) approves of the renewal. An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretaries at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require, including— the number of coal community students in the coal community zone to be served; a plan for allocating funds to coal community students; a description of the eligible entity's track record of success with the programs of education and training to be supported under the grant, including— the student completion rates of the programs of education and training; the employment rates for students completing the programs of education and training as of 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after the completion of the program; a demonstration that the eligible entity is of high quality and will be a benefit to the coal community students and the coal community zone; a demonstration of application approval from the local government of the coal community zone or, in the case of a coal community zone receiving a grant under section 202, the local administrator for such grant, including a statement that the application and funds requested under the application is in the best interest of the coal community zone and coal community students; and an assurance that if the program supported under the grant does not enroll the required percentage of coal community students under subsection (c)(1), the eligible entity shall reimburse the Secretaries, in the amount and manner described in subsection (d).
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this program shall use such funds for the development, revamping, improvement, or expansion of a high-quality training and education program that— predominantly serves coal community students by ensuring that not less than 75 percent of the students enrolled in the program are coal community students; provides training in high-wage, high-demand industries or in industries in local demand; is free or offered at a very low cost to coal community students; and enters into an agreement with each coal community student that enrolls in the program to ensure that the eligible entity can obtain the information necessary for the report under subsection (e)(1).
An eligible entity that does not enroll the required percentage described in subsection (c)(1) shall reimburse the Secretaries in the amount equal to the product of— the average per-student cost of the program; and the number of additional coal community students that would have been needed in order for the program to meet the 75 percent coal community student enrollment requirement under subsection (c)(1). Any funds reimbursed to the Secretaries under this subsection may be used by the Secretaries to award additional grants under this section.
Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall prepare and submit to the Secretaries an annual report regarding the outcomes of the grant, including— the number of students, and the number of coal community students, enrolled in the program supported under the grant; the number of students, and the number of coal community students, completing such program; the number of students, and the number of coal community students, who have completed such program and who are employed after completion of such program as of— 6 months after the date of completion; 1 year after the date of completion; 3 years after the date of completion; and 5 years after the date of completion; the average wage of students, and the average wage of coal community students, who have completed such program as of— 6 months after the date of completion; 1 year after the date of completion; and 3 years after the date of completion; and the satisfaction rate of all students, and the satisfaction rate of coal community students, including students who completed the program and students who did not complete— 6 months after the date of completion or leaving the program; 1 year after the date of completion or leaving the program; and 3 years after the date of completion or leaving the program.
The Secretaries shall prepare and submit an annual report to Congress regarding the grants awarded under this section. The Director of the Institute of Education Sciences shall evaluate the effectiveness, quality, and return in investment of grant funds provided under this section. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2018 through 2023.