Sec. 20024. Retention and completion grants
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/bill/117/hr/5376/eh/section-20024·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following: From amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants (which shall be known as retention and completion grants ) to eligible entities to enable the such entities to carry out the activities described in the applications submitted under subsection (b). To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary that includes a description of— how the eligible entity will use the funds to implement or expand evidence-based reforms or practices to improve student outcomes at institutions of higher education in the State or system of institutions of higher education, or at the Tribal College or University, as applicable; and how the eligible entity will sustain such reforms or practices after the grant period.
In awarding grants under this section to eligible entities, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to use a significant share of grant funds to, among students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, students in need of remediation, first generation college students, student parents, and other underserved student populations in such eligible entity, improve enrollment, retention, transfer, or completion rates or labor market outcomes.
As a condition of continuing to receive funds under this section, for each year in which an eligible entity participates in the program under this section, such eligible entity shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the entity has made adequate progress in implementing or expanding evidence-based reforms or practices, and, among students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities, students in need of remediation, first generation college students, student parents, and other underserved student populations in such eligible entity, improving enrollment, retention, transfer, or completion rates or labor market outcomes.
As a condition of receiving a grant under this section for the applicable year described in paragraphs
(1)through (3), an eligible entity that is not a Tribal College or University shall provide matching funds for such applicable year toward the cost of the activities described in the application submitted under subsection (b). Such matching funds shall be in the amount of— in the second year of a grant, not less than 10 percent of the grant amount awarded to such eligible entity for such year; in the third year of a grant, not less than 15 percent of the grant amount awarded to such eligible entity for such year; and in the fourth year and each subsequent year of a grant, not less than 20 percent of the grant amount awarded to such eligible entity for such year. An eligible entity shall use a grant under this section only to carry out activities described in the application for such year under subsection (b). An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall, directly or in collaboration with institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations, use the grant funds to implement one or more of the following evidence-based reforms or practices: Providing comprehensive academic, career, and student support services, including mentoring, advising, or case management services. Providing assistance in applying for and accessing direct support services, financial assistance, or means-tested benefit programs to meet the basic needs of students. Providing accelerated learning opportunities, including dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs. Reforming remedial or developmental education, course scheduling, or credit-awarding policies. Improving transfer pathways between— in the case of an eligible entity that is a State, community colleges and 4-year institutions of higher education in the State; in the case of an eligible entity that is a system of institutions of higher education, institutions within such system and other institutions of higher education in the State in which the system is located; or in the case of a Tribal College or University, between the Tribal College or University and other institutions of higher education. Funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and institutional funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out activities described in this section. In this section: The term eligible entity means a State, a system of institutions of higher education, or a Tribal College or University. The term evidence tier 1 , when used with respect to a reform or practice, means a reform or practice that meets the criteria for receiving an expansion grant from the education innovation and research program under section 4611(a)(2)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with such section. The term evidence tier 2 , when used with respect to a reform or practice, means a reform or practice that meets the criteria for receiving a mid-phase grant from the education innovation and research program under section 4611(a)(2)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with such section. The term first generation college student has the meaning given the term in section 402A(h)(3). The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B). The term State means each of the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States. The term Tribal College or University has the meaning given the term in section 316(b)(3). In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated— $310,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2030, to award competitive grants to eligible entities that are not Tribal Colleges and Universities to carry out the approved activities described in the applications submitted under subsection (b); $37,500,000 to remain available until September 30, 2030, to award competitive grants to Tribal Colleges and Universities to carry out the approved activities described in the applications submitted under subsection (b); $95,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2030, to supplement the competitive grant amounts awarded to eligible entities with funds available under paragraph
(1)and
(2)to implement reforms or practices that meet evidence tier 1; $47,500,000 to remain available until September 30, 2030, to supplement the competitive grant amounts awarded to eligible entities with funds available under paragraphs
(1)and
(2)to implement reforms or practices that meet evidence tier 1 or evidence tier 2, or a combination of such reforms or practices; and $10,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2030, to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this section. The authority to make grants under this section shall expire at the end of award year 2026–2027. Section 422 of the General Education Provisions Act shall not apply to this part. .