Sec. 3. Remedial education grants
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Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 486A the following: From the funds appropriated under subsection
(k)(and not reserved under subsection (c)(4)), the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to improve remedial education in higher education. A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of 5 years. The total amount of funds provided under each grant awarded under this section shall not be less than $500,000. An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include the following: A description of how the eligible entity will use the grant funds to develop or improve a remedial education program that includes evidence-based, effective strategies for providing instruction to ensure that students are prepared for courses at the postsecondary level. An assurance that the eligible entity will use more than two measures (such as a student’s college entrance examination score, grade point average, high school course list, or a placement examination) to identify students in need of remedial education who may be eligible to participate in the remedial education program developed or improved under the grant. A description of how the eligible entity, in developing or improving such a program, will consult with stakeholders, including individuals with expertise in remedial education, students enrolled in remedial education, and faculty instructors for remedial education. The eligible entity’s plan for sustaining the program after the grant period has ended. The eligible entity’s plan for monitoring and evaluating the program, including how the eligible entity will use the data collected under subsection
(h)to continually update and improve the program. Before selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall— ensure that the consultation required under paragraph
(3)is carried out; and consider the results of the consultation in selecting eligible entities to receive such grants. The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent evaluator under which the evaluator will provide the consultation and evaluation required under paragraph (3). The independent evaluator shall carry out the following activities: For each fiscal year of the grant program under this section, the independent evaluator shall consult with, and provide advice to, the Secretary regarding which eligible entities should receive grants under this section for such fiscal year. Throughout the duration of the grant program under this section, the independent evaluator shall independently evaluate the impact of the remedial education programs funded with the grants, which shall include evaluation of— the effectiveness of the remedial education programs in increasing course and degree completion at the postsecondary level; and the outcomes of the remedial education programs within and among models of remedial education described in subsection (d). The Secretary may reserve not more than 15 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection
(k)for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection for such fiscal year. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to develop or improve a remedial education program through one or more of the following models: Working with a local educational agency or State educational agency that is part of the eligible entity to develop or improve programs that provide alignment between high school coursework and postsecondary education, and that may include— assessments in high school to measure student readiness for courses at the postsecondary level; or interventions in high school that improve student competencies for courses at the postsecondary level. Redesigning or improving remedial education that— allows students to enroll in more than one sequential remedial education course or training in a semester, or the equivalent; condenses the time of the remedial education; or provides shortened, intensive courses or training to improve competencies of students for courses at the postsecondary level. Developing or improving remedial education that— specifically targets the skills that students need to move forward in courses at the postsecondary level; and may be used to develop new assessments, redesign courses to provide targeted skill instruction, or provide faculty professional development. Developing or improving remedial education programs that allow a student to enroll in remedial education (which may be provided through a modular instructional method) while also enrolled in a course at the postsecondary level. Implementing and improving comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based support programs that— enable students enrolled in remedial education to complete a course of study leading to a recognized educational credential within 150 percent of the normal time for completion; and may include financial supports, academic tutoring or support, and advising that enable students to find success in remedial education and courses at the postsecondary level. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall— ensure— a minimum of 30 eligible entities are awarded grants for each 5-year grant period; an equitable geographic distribution of such grants, including an equitable distribution between urban and rural areas; and that grants are used to develop or improve remedial education programs— under each model described in subsection
(d)to enable, to the extent practicable, statistical comparisons of the relative effectiveness of the models and the programs within each model; and for a range of types and sizes of institutions of higher education; and give preference to eligible entities that primarily serve low-income students. A grant awarded under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, funds that would otherwise be used to carry out the activities described in this section. Subject to subparagraph (B), an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of the grant for the cost of activities assisted under the grant. The requirements of subparagraph
(A)shall not apply to— Tribal Colleges or Universities; or institutions of higher education located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a student may be eligible to receive loans or grants under this title for up to 2 academic years for enrollment in a remedial education program under this section. Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide to the Director and the Secretary, on an annual basis for each year of the grant period and for 5 years after such grant period, the student-level data with respect to the students who are or were enrolled in a remedial education program funded with the grant. The Director and the Secretary shall share such data with the independent evaluator to enable the evaluator, for each such year, to determine the information described in subparagraph
(B)with respect to each such remedial education program. The independent evaluator shall determine, with respect to each remedial education program for which an eligible entity provides student-level data under subparagraph (A), the following information: The number of students who are or were enrolled in such remedial education program. The cost of such remedial education program. The amount of grant or loan funds under this title awarded to students for enrollment in such remedial education program. The type of remedial education offered under the program. The length of time students spend in such remedial education program, as measured by semester, trimester, or clock hours. The number of students who complete such remedial education program. Of the students who complete such remedial education program— the number and percentage of such students who later enroll in postsecondary-level courses at an institution of higher education; the number and percentage of such students who receive a recognized educational credential from an institution of higher education; the average length of time required for a student described in subclause
(II)to complete the course of study leading to such credential; and the number and percentage of students described in subclause
(II)who complete the course of study leading to such credential within 150 percent of the normal time for completion. The information determined under subparagraph
(B)shall be disaggregated by race, gender, socioeconomic status, Federal Pell Grant eligibility status, status as a first generation college student, veteran or active duty status, and disability status. Not later than six years after the first grant is awarded under this section, the Director, in consultation with the Secretary and using the information determined under paragraph (1), shall submit to the authorizing committees and make available on a publicly accessible website, a report on the results of the multiyear, rigorous, and independent evaluation of the impact of the remedial education programs carried out by the independent evaluator. The report shall include the results of such evaluation with respect to— the effectiveness of the remedial education programs in increasing course and degree completion at the postsecondary level; and the outcomes of the remedial education programs within and among models of remedial education described in subsection (d). Not later than one year after the first grant is awarded under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the independent evaluator, shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a report on each remedial education program funded under this section. Not later than five years after the last grant is awarded under this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the independent evaluator, shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a report that includes— a review of the activities and program performance of each remedial education program funded under this section; and guidance and recommendations on how successful remedial education programs (as determined, at a minimum, by the number and percentage of remedial education students who later complete a course of study at an institution of higher education within 150 percent of the normal time for completion) can be replicated. The reports submitted under subparagraphs
(A)and
(B)shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the Department of Education. It shall be unlawful for any person who obtains or has access to personally identifiable information in connection with this section to willfully disclose to any person (except as authorized in this Act or any Federal law) such personally identifiable information. Any person who violates paragraph
(1)shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. If a violation of paragraph
(1)is committed by any officer or employee of the United States, the officer or employee shall be dismissed from office or discharged from employment upon conviction for the violation. Data collected under this section shall not be sold to any third party by the Director, any postsecondary institution, or any other entity. The Director shall not allow any other Federal agency to use data collected under this section for any purpose except as explicitly authorized by this Act. Personally identifiable information collected under this section shall not be used for any law enforcement activity or any other activity that would result in adverse action against any student, including debt collection activity or enforcement of the immigration laws. In this section: The term Director means the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences. The term eligible entity means— an institution of higher education; or a partnership between an institution of higher education and at least 1 of the following: A local educational agency. A State educational agency. The term first generation college student has the meaning given that term in section 402A(h). The term independent evaluator means the independent evaluator with which the Secretary enters into a contract under subsection (c)(2). The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101. The term remedial education — means education (such as courses or training) offered at an institution of higher education that— is below the postsecondary level; and is determined by the institution to be necessary to help students be prepared for the pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate degree, associate's degree, or certificate or, in the case of courses in English language instruction, to be necessary to enable the student to utilize already existing knowledge, training, or skills; and includes developmental education that meets the requirements of subparagraph (A). The term Tribal College or University has the meaning given that term in section 316(b). There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $162,500,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. .
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Sec. 3
Remedial education grants
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