Historically Black Colleges and Universities Innovation Fund Act of 2014

Summary: Historically Black Colleges and Universities Innovation Fund Act of 2014 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive one-year planning grants and five-year implementation grants to historically black colleges or universities to plan, develop, and implement educational innovations. Allows an historically black college or university to apply for such grants by itself or in a consortium with one or more other institutions of higher education, private nonprofit organizations, or local educational agencies (LEAs). Requires implementation grant recipients to use the grant to further develop, pilot, field-test, implement, document, validate, and, as applicable, scale up and replicate educational innovations, including those designed to:  improve student achievement, such as through activities designed to increase the number or percentage of students who successfully complete developmental or remedial coursework and successfully pursue postsecondary studies; improve and expand institutional recruitment, postsecondary school awareness, and postsecondary school preparation efforts targeting students from low-income families, such as through activities undertaken in partnership with LEAs and nonprofit organizations; increase the number or percentage of students who enroll in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, graduate with STEM degrees, and pursue advanced STEM studies; increase the number or percentage of students who graduate from postsecondary school on time; implement evidence-based improvements to courses to improve student outcomes and reduce students' costs; enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs at historically black colleges or universities; and expand the effective use of technology in higher education.  Makes the five-year duration of each implementation grant conditional after the third year of such grant on the Secretary determining that the grantee is achieving satisfactory progress in carrying out its educational innovations. Limits the federal share to not more than 85% of the total cost of carrying out a project funded by an implementation grant.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities Innovation Fund Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INNOVATION FUND.

    Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1133 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 ``PART F--HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INNOVATION FUND

``SEC. 786. PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this part to assist historically Black 
colleges and universities in planning, developing, implementing, 
validating, and replicating innovations that provide solutions to 
persistent challenges in enabling economically and educationally 
disadvantaged students to enroll in, persist through, and graduate from 
historically Black colleges and universities, including initiatives 
designed to--
            ``(1) improve student achievement at historically Black 
        colleges and universities;
            ``(2) increase successful recruitment at historically Black 
        colleges and universities of--
                    ``(A) students from low-income families of all 
                races;
                    ``(B) adults; and
                    ``(C) military-affiliated students;
            ``(3) increase the rate at which students enrolled in 
        historically Black colleges and universities make adequate or 
        accelerated progress towards graduation and successfully 
        graduate from such colleges and universities;
            ``(4) increase the number of students pursuing and 
        completing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics at historically Black colleges and universities and 
        pursuing graduate work in such fields;
            ``(5) enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs 
        offered by historically Black colleges and universities;
            ``(6) redesign course offerings and institutional student 
        aid programs to help students obtain meaningful employment; and
            ``(7) expand the effective use of technology at 
        historically Black colleges and universities.

``SEC. 787. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a part B institution as defined in section 
                322(2);
                    ``(B) a part B institution, as so defined, applying 
                in consortium with one or more other institutions of 
                higher education;
                    ``(C) a part B institution, as so defined, applying 
                in consortium with one or more private nonprofit 
                organizations;
                    ``(D) a part B institution, as so defined, applying 
                in consortium with one or more local educational 
                agencies; or
                    ``(E) a part B institution, as so defined, applying 
                in a consortium that includes entities described in 
                more than one of paragraphs (2), (3), or (4).
            ``(2) Historically black college or university.--The term 
        `historically Black college or university' has the meaning 
        given the term `part B institution' as defined in section 
        322(2).

``SEC. 788. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--With funds made available for this part under 
section 792, the Secretary shall make competitive planning and 
implementation grants, as described in subsections (b) and (c), to 
eligible entities to enable such entities to plan for the 
implementation of, in the case of a planning grant, and implement, in 
the case of an implementation grant, innovations authorized under this 
part and to support the implementation, validation, scaling up, and 
replication of such innovations.
    ``(b) Planning Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 
        $10,500,000 of the funds made available under section 792 to 
        award planning grants to eligible entities to plan, design, and 
        develop innovations that address the purpose of this part as 
        described in section 786.
            ``(2) Duration.--A planning grant authorized under this 
        subsection shall be for the duration of 1 year.
            ``(3) Grant amounts.--Each planning grant authorized under 
        this subsection shall be of an amount that is not more than 
        $100,000.
    ``(c) Implementation Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--With funds made available for this part 
        under section 792, the Secretary shall award implementation 
        grants to eligible entities to further develop, pilot, field-
        test, implement, document, validate, and, as applicable, scale 
        up and replicate innovations that address the purpose of this 
        part as described in section 786.
            ``(2) Duration.--An implementation grant authorized under 
        this subsection shall be for a duration of 5 years, conditional 
        after 3 years upon the eligible entity achieving satisfactory 
        progress towards carrying out the educational innovations, 
        activities, and projects described in section 789(d), as 
        determined by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Grant amount.--Each planning grant authorized under 
        this subsection shall be of an amount that is not more than 
        $10,000,000.
    ``(d) Consortium Entities.--
            ``(1) Fiscal agent.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In the case of an eligible 
                entity described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) 
                of section 787(1), each part B institution, institution 
                of higher education, private nonprofit organization, or 
                educational agency that applied in consortium for a 
                grant under this part shall agree on 1 such member of 
                such eligible entity to serve as the fiscal agent of 
                such entity.
                    ``(B) Responsibilities.--The fiscal agent of an 
                eligible entity, as described in subparagraph (A), 
                shall act on behalf of such entity in performing the 
                financial duties of such entity.
                    ``(C) Written agreement.--The agreement described 
                in subparagraph (A) shall be in writing and signed by 
                each part B institution, institution of higher 
                education, private nonprofit organization, or 
                educational agency that applied in consortium with the 
                selected fiscal agent for a grant under this part.
            ``(2) Subgrants.--In the case of an entity described in 
        subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 787(1) that 
        receives a grant under this part, the fiscal agent for such 
        entity (as described in paragraph (1)) may make subgrants to 
        another part B institution, institution of higher education, 
        private nonprofit organization, or educational agency that 
        applied in consortium for such grant with such fiscal agent.
    ``(e) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) Planning grants.--The Federal share of the total cost 
        of carrying out a project funded by a planning grant authorized 
        under subsection (b) shall be 100 percent of such total cost.
            ``(2) Implementation grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Federal share of the total 
                cost of carrying out a project funded by an 
                implementation grant authorized under subsection (c) 
                shall be not more than 85 percent of such total cost.
                    ``(B) Remaining cost.--An eligible entity that 
                receives a grant under subsection (c) shall provide, 
                from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to not less 
                than 15 percent of the total cost of carrying out the 
                project funded by the grant. Such amount may be 
                provided by in cash or in kind contributions.

``SEC. 789. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require.
    ``(b) Consortium Entities.--An application under this section for a 
planning grant or an implementation grant by an eligible entity that is 
a part B institution applying for a grant under this part in consortium 
with another institution of higher education, private nonprofit 
organization, or educational agency, as described in subparagraph (B), 
(C), (D), or (E) of section 787(1), shall include the written agreement 
described in section 788(d)(1)(C).
    ``(c) Planning Grants.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
application requirements under this section for a planning grant 
authorized under section 788(b) include, in addition to the requirement 
under subsection (b), only the minimal requirements that are necessary 
to review the proposed process of an eligible entity for the planning 
and development of one or more educational innovations that address the 
purpose of this part as described in section 786.
    ``(d) Implementation Grants.--An application under this section for 
an implementation grant authorized under section 788(c) shall include, 
in addition to the requirement under subsection (b), descriptions of--
            ``(1) each educational innovation that the eligible entity 
        will implement using the funds made available by such grant, 
        including, as applicable, a description of the evidence 
        supporting the effectiveness of each such innovation;
            ``(2) how each educational innovation proposed to be 
        implemented under such grant will address the purpose of this 
        part, as described in section 786, and how each such innovation 
        will further the institutional or organizational missions of, 
        as applicable, the part B institution and each institution of 
        higher education, private nonprofit organization, and 
        educational agency applying in consortium with such part B 
        institution for such grant;
            ``(3) the specific activities that the eligible entity will 
        carry out with funds made available by such grant, including, 
        for a consortium application submitted by an eligible entity 
        described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 
        787(1), a description of the activities that the part B 
        institution and each institution of higher education, private 
        nonprofit organization, and educational agency of the 
        consortium will carry out and a description of the capacity of 
        each such institution, organization, and educational agency to 
        carry out such activities;
            ``(4) the performance measures that the eligible entity 
        will use to track its progress in implementing each proposed 
        educational innovation, including a description of how the 
        entity will implement such performance measures and use 
        information on performance to make adjustments and improvements 
        to its implementation activities, as needed, over the course of 
        the grant period;
            ``(5) how the eligible entity will provide the amount 
        required under section 788(e)(2)(B);
            ``(6) how the eligible entity will provide for an 
        independent evaluation of the implementation and impact of the 
        projects funded by such grant that includes--
                    ``(A) an interim report (evaluating the progress 
                made in the first 3 years of the grant); and
                    ``(B) a final report (completed at the end of the 
                grant period); and
            ``(7) the plan of the eligible entity for continuing each 
        proposed educational innovation after the grant period has 
        ended.

``SEC. 790. PRIORITY.

    ``In awarding grants under this part, the Secretary shall give 
priority to applications that address issues of major national need, 
including--
            ``(1) educational innovations designed to increase the 
        number of African-American males who attain a postsecondary 
        degree;
            ``(2) innovative partnerships between part B institutions 
        and local educational agencies that are designed to increase 
        the enrollment and successful completion of historically 
        underrepresented populations in higher education;
            ``(3) educational innovations that bring together the 
        resources of part B institutions and partner institutions in 
        support of economic development, entrepreneurship, and the 
        commercialization of funded research and the development of an 
        innovation ecosystem on postsecondary school campuses;
            ``(4) educational innovations that support developing 
        programs and initiatives to support undergraduate and graduate 
        programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; 
        and
            ``(5) educational innovations described in paragraphs (3) 
        and (6) of section 791(b).

``SEC. 791. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Planning Grants.--An eligible entity receiving a planning 
grant authorized under section 788(b) shall use funds made available by 
such grant to conduct a comprehensive institutional planning process 
that includes--
            ``(1) an assessment of the needs of the part B institution 
        and, in the case of an eligible entity applying in a consortium 
        described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 
        787(1), the needs of such other institution of higher 
        education, private nonprofit organization, or educational 
        agency;
            ``(2) research on educational innovations, consistent with 
        the purpose of this part, as described in section 786, to meet 
        the needs described in paragraph (1);
            ``(3) the selection of one or more such educational 
        innovations to be implemented;
            ``(4) an assessment of the capacity of the part B 
        institution and, in the case of an eligible entity applying in 
        a consortium as described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) 
        of section 787(1), the capacity of such other institution of 
        higher education, private nonprofit organization, or 
        educational agency to implement each such educational 
        innovation; and
            ``(5) activities to further develop such capacity.
    ``(b) Implementation Grants.--An eligible entity receiving an 
implementation grant under section 788(c) shall use the funds made 
available by such grant to further develop, pilot, field-test, 
implement, document, validate, and, as applicable, scale up and 
replicate educational innovations that address the purpose of this 
part, as described in section 786, such as educational innovations 
designed to--
            ``(1) improve student achievement, such as through 
        activities designed to increase the number or percentage of 
        students who successfully complete developmental or remedial 
        coursework (which may be accomplished through the evidence-
        based redesign of such coursework) and pursue and succeed in 
        postsecondary studies;
            ``(2) improve and expand institutional recruitment, 
        postsecondary school awareness, and postsecondary school 
        preparation efforts targeting students, including high-
        achieving students, from low-income families, such as through 
        activities undertaken in partnership with local educational 
        agencies and nonprofit organizations (including the 
        introduction of dual enrollment programs and the implementation 
        of activities designed to enable more students to enter 
        postsecondary education without the need for remediation);
            ``(3) increase the number or percentage of students, 
        particularly students who are members of historically 
        underrepresented populations, who enroll in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics courses, graduate with 
        degrees in such fields, and pursue advanced studies in such 
        fields;
            ``(4) increase (such as through the provision of 
        comprehensive academic and nonacademic student support 
        services) the number or percentage of students who make 
        satisfactory or accelerated progress toward graduation from 
        postsecondary school and the number or percentage of students 
        who graduate from postsecondary school on time;
            ``(5) implement evidence-based improvements to courses, 
        particularly high-enrollment courses, to improve student 
        outcomes and reduce education costs for students, including 
        costs of remedial courses;
            ``(6) enhance the quality of teacher preparation programs 
        at part B institutions, to enable teachers at such institutions 
        to be highly effective in the classroom and to enable such 
        programs to meet the demands for accountability in teacher 
        education;
            ``(7) expand the effective use of technology in higher 
        education, such as through inter-institutional collaboration on 
        implementing competency-based technology-enabled delivery 
        models (including hybrid models) or through the use of open 
        educational resources and digital content; and
            ``(8) provide a continuum of solutions by incorporating 
        activities that address multiple objectives described in 
        paragraphs (1) through (7).

``SEC. 792. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for fiscal years 2015 through 2020 to carry out the 
activities under this part.''.