Early Pell Promise Act

Summary: Early Pell Promise Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education to carry out a program of grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) under which a student who is in eighth grade and is eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act may be provided a commitment to receive a Federal Pell Grant early in the student's academic career. Pursuant to such a commitment, the student receives a Pell Grant during the first two years of attendance at an institution of higher education (IHE) as an undergraduate if the student:  files the FAFSA form during the senior year of secondary school and the succeeding year, and enrolls at the IHE not later than three years after receiving a secondary school diploma or after release from the Armed Forces.  A student may not receive the early Pell Grant for a succeeding year if the expected family contribution for either year is more than twice the threshold amount for Pell Grant eligibility for that year. Funds are reserved for an independent evaluation of the program's impact. In order to participate in the program, an SEA must develop a targeted information campaign and include in the plan for that campaign cost data disaggregated by institution type and information on both state and federal financial aid. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Early Pell Promise Act''.

SEC. 2. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT PROGRAM.

    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:

``SEC. 401B. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--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--
            ``(1) award grants to State educational agencies to pay the 
        administrative expenses incurred in participating in the 
        Program; and
            ``(2) make a commitment to award Federal Pell Grants to 
        eligible students in accordance with this section.
    ``(b) Program Requirements.--The Program shall meet the following 
requirements:
            ``(1) Eligible students.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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--
                            ``(i) is in 8th grade; and
                            ``(ii) 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.).
            ``(2) Federal pell grant commitment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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--
                            ``(i) applies for Federal financial aid 
                        (via the FAFSA) during the student's senior 
                        year of secondary school and during the 
                        succeeding academic year; and
                            ``(ii) enrolls at such institution of 
                        higher education--
                                    ``(I) not later than 3 years after 
                                such student receives a secondary 
                                school diploma or its recognized 
                                equivalent; or
                                    ``(II) 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.
                    ``(B) Exception to commitment.--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.
            ``(3) Applicability of federal pell grant requirements.--
        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 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.
    ``(c) State Educational Agency Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--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.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application shall include--
                    ``(A) a description of the proposed targeted 
                information campaign for the Program and a copy of the 
                plan described in subsection (e)(2);
                    ``(B) an assurance that the State educational 
                agency will fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation 
                of the Program; and
                    ``(C) such other information as the Secretary may 
                require.
    ``(d) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--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.
            ``(2) Competitive basis.--The grant or contract shall be 
        awarded on a competitive basis.
            ``(3) Matters evaluated.--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.
            ``(4) Dissemination.--The findings of the evaluation shall 
        be widely disseminated to the public by the organization 
        conducting the evaluation as well as by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Targeted Information Campaign.--
            ``(1) In general.--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.
            ``(2) Plan.--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:
                    ``(A) Outreach.--Outreach to students and their 
                families, at a minimum, at the beginning and end of 
                each academic year.
                    ``(B) Distribution.--How the State educational 
                agency plans to provide the outreach described in 
                subparagraph (A) and to provide the information 
                described in subparagraph (C).
                    ``(C) Information.--The annual provision by the 
                State educational agency to all students and families 
                participating in the Program of information regarding--
                            ``(i) the estimated statewide average 
                        higher education institution cost data for each 
                        academic year, which cost data shall be 
                        disaggregated by--
                                    ``(I) type of institution, 
                                including--
                                            ``(aa) 2-year public 
                                        colleges;
                                            ``(bb) 4-year public 
                                        colleges;
                                            ``(cc) 4-year private 
                                        colleges; and
                                            ``(dd) private, for-profit 
                                        colleges; and
                                    ``(II) component, including--
                                            ``(aa) tuition and fees; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) room and board;
                            ``(ii) Federal Pell Grants, including--
                                    ``(I) the maximum Federal Pell 
                                Grant for each academic year;
                                    ``(II) when and how to apply for a 
                                Federal Pell Grant; and
                                    ``(III) what the application 
                                process for a Federal Pell Grant 
                                requires;
                            ``(iii) State-specific college savings 
                        programs;
                            ``(iv) State-based financial aid, including 
                        State-based merit aid; and
                            ``(v) Federal financial aid available to 
                        students, including eligibility criteria for 
                        the Federal financial aid and an explanation of 
                        the Federal financial aid programs.
            ``(3) Annual information.--The information described in 
        paragraph (2)(C) shall be provided to eligible students 
        annually for the duration of the students' participation in the 
        Program.
            ``(4) Reservation.--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.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be 
necessary.''.