Sec. 2. Early Federal Pell Grant commitment program
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Subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary is authorized to carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program (referred to in this section as the Program ) under which the Secretary shall— award grants to State educational agencies to pay the administrative expenses incurred in participating in the Program; and make a commitment to award Federal Pell Grants to eligible students in accordance with this section.
The Program shall meet the following requirements: A student shall be eligible to receive a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant early in the student's academic career if the student— is in 8th grade; and is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each eligible student who participates in the Program shall receive a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student, if the student— applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior year of secondary school and during the succeeding academic year; and enrolls at such institution of higher education— not later than 3 years after such student receives a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; or if such student becomes a member of the Armed Forces, not later than 3 years after such student is discharged, separated, or released from the Armed Forces.
If an eligible student receives a commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant during the first 2 academic years that the student is in attendance at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student and the student applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior year of secondary school or during the succeeding academic year, and the expected family contribution of the student for either of such years is more than 2 times the threshold amount for Federal Pell Grant eligibility for such year, then such student shall not receive a Federal Pell Grant under this section for the succeeding academic year.
Such student shall continue to be eligible for any other Federal student financial aid for which the student is otherwise eligible. The requirements of section 401 shall apply to Federal Pell Grants awarded pursuant to this section, except that with respect to each eligible student who participates in the Program and is not subject to the exception under paragraph (2)(B), the amount of each such eligible student's Federal Pell Grant only shall be calculated by deeming such student to have an expected family contribution equal to zero.
Each State educational agency desiring to participate in the Program shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application shall include— a description of the proposed targeted information campaign for the Program and a copy of the plan described in subsection (e)(2); an assurance that the State educational agency will fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the Program; a description of how the State will— encourage participating students to enroll in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework, in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the postsecondary level; increase the number of participating students who— obtain a secondary school diploma; and complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education; introduce participating students to institutions of higher education, through trips and school-based sessions; provide participating students with assistance in the admissions and application process for institutions of higher education or other postsecondary education programs; and ensure that each participating student has an educational development plan; and such other information as the Secretary may require.
In this subsection, the term educational development plan means an individualized plan for a student that— contains a series of steps to help promote the student's career awareness and exploration; and assists students in identifying— career and technical programs of study, including— career and technical programs of study described in section 122(c)(1)(A) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2342(c)(1)(A) ); career pathways (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 )); and providers of training services leading to a recognized postsecondary credential that are included on a State's list under section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3152(d) ); or other postsecondary options, including baccalaureate and subbaccalaureate degree programs.
From amounts appropriated under subsection
(f)for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than $1,000,000 to award a grant or contract to an organization outside the Department for an independent evaluation of the impact of the Program. The grant or contract shall be awarded on a competitive basis. The evaluation described in this subsection shall consider metrics established by the Secretary that emphasize college access and success, encouraging low-income students to pursue higher education, and the cost effectiveness of the program. The findings of the evaluation shall be widely disseminated to the public by the organization conducting the evaluation as well as by the Secretary. Each State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall, in cooperation with the participating local educational agencies within the State and the Secretary, develop a targeted information campaign for the Program. Each State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall include in the application submitted under subsection
(c)a written plan for their proposed targeted information campaign. The plan shall include the following: Outreach to students and their families, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of each academic year. How the State educational agency plans to provide the outreach described in subparagraph
(A)and to provide the information described in subparagraph (C). The annual provision by the State educational agency to all students and families participating in the Program of information regarding— the estimated national and statewide average higher education institution cost data for each academic year, which cost data shall be disaggregated by— type of institution, including— 2-year public colleges; 4-year public colleges; 4-year private colleges; and private, for-profit colleges; and component, including— tuition and fees; and room and board; Federal Pell Grants, including— the maximum Federal Pell Grant for each academic year; when and how to apply for a Federal Pell Grant; and what the application process for a Federal Pell Grant requires; State-specific college savings programs; State-based financial aid, including State-based merit aid; Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs; and financial aid that may be available from non-governmental sources. The information described in paragraph (2)(C) shall be provided to eligible students annually for the duration of the students' participation in the Program. Each State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall reserve $200,000 of the grant funds received each fiscal year to carry out the targeted information campaign described in this subsection. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary. .
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Sec. 2
Early Federal Pell Grant commitment program
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