Sec. 16. Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program
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Subpart 1 of part A of title IV ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program (referred to in this section as the Program ) under which the Secretary— makes a commitment to award Federal Pell Grants to eligible students in accordance with this section; and awards grants to States with approved applications under subsection (c), to enable the States to administer the Program, support eligible students, and carry out a targeted information campaign described in subsection
(d)in the State. The Program shall meet the following requirements: A student shall be eligible to receive a commitment from the Secretary under paragraph
(2)if the student— is in any of the grades 8 through 12; and is a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). Each eligible student 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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid under section 483) 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. When an eligible student receiving a Federal Pell Grant pursuant to the commitment under subparagraph
(A)enters the student's second academic year, the Secretary shall notify the student— of the upcoming conclusion of the commitment; and that the student will remain eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 if the student, at the time of application, is— a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) at the time of such application; or is receiving benefits under— the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); a State program funded under the temporary assistance for needy families program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); or a means-tested Federal benefit program, not described in subclause (I), (II), or (III), that is determined appropriate by the Secretary. The requirements of section 401 shall apply to Federal Pell Grants awarded pursuant to this section, except that with respect to each eligible student in the Program, the amount of each such eligible student’s Federal Pell Grant only shall be calculated by deeming such student to have a student aid index equal to zero. For each student whose student aid index is deemed to be zero under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall also calculate the student aid index for the student, using the simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form in accordance with section 479, to identify students who have a negative student aid index and may be eligible for additional State or institutional aid. Each State 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 State's proposed targeted information campaign for the Program, in accordance with subsection (d), and a copy of the plan described in subsection (d)(2); an assurance that the State will fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the Program under subsection (e); a description of how the State will— encourage participating secondary 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 eligible students who— obtain a secondary school diploma; and complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education; introduce eligible students to institutions of higher education, through trips and school-based sessions; provide eligible students with assistance in the admissions and application process for institutions of higher education or other postsecondary education programs; and ensure that each eligible 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— postsecondary options, including baccalaureate and subbaccalaureate degree programs; or career and technical programs of study, including career and technical programs of study as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 ). Each State 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 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 plans to provide the outreach described in subparagraph
(A)and to provide the information described in subparagraph (C). The annual provision by the State to all students and families participating in the Program of information regarding— the average net price of in-State institutions of higher education, disaggregated by sector and by income quintile; 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 postsecondary education savings programs; State-based financial 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 nongovernmental 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 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. In the case of a State does not apply for a grant under this section, or applies but does not satisfy the requirements of the grant, the Secretary shall carry out an information campaign and administer the Program for the State, in order to ensure that eligible students in the State are assisted under the Program. 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. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary. .
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Sec. 16
Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program
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