Making College Affordable and Accessible Act of 2016

Summary: Making College Affordable and Accessible Act of 2016 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to: (1) extend the authorization of appropriations for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education through FY2022, and (2) authorize the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to institutions of higher education to carry out credit-based academic transition programs established through partnerships between high schools and such institutions that utilize dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that enable students to earn college credits while in high school. ED shall give priority in awarding grants to institutions that serve students from low-income families, students from rural communities, or students who are the first in their family to receive postsecondary education. Institutions shall use grant funds to:   provide teachers, principals, and other school leaders with professional development activities that enhance or enable the provision of the appropriate coursework through such programs; and  support activities including curriculum design, establishment of a course articulation process, outreach programs to provide elementary school and secondary school students information about and academic preparation for the transition programs, helping students meet eligibility criteria for the postsecondary courses, and coordinating secondary and postsecondary support services and academic calendars.  Institutions may use grant funds for costs associated with carrying out such transition programs, including the costs of: (1) tuition and fees, books, and required instructional materials; and (2) transportation to and from such programs.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Making College Affordable and 
Accessible Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.

    Part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1138 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 745 as section 746;
            (2) in section 746, as redesignated by paragraph (1), by 
        striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
        2017''; and
            (3) by inserting after section 744 the following:

``SEC. 745. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to expand access for 
high school students to the opportunities offered in credit-based 
academic transition programs established through partnerships between 
high schools and institutions of higher education utilizing dual or 
concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs 
that enable such students to earn college credits while in high school.
    ``(b) Eligible Institution.--In this section, the term `eligible 
institution' means an institution of higher education that carries out 
a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school 
program that enables high school students to earn college credits while 
in high school.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants to 
eligible institutions to carry out credit-based academic transition 
programs described in subsection (a).
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible institution that desires to receive 
a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that serve 
students from low-income families, students from rural communities, or 
students who are the first in their family to receive postsecondary 
education.
    ``(f) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives a grant 
under this section shall use the grant funds--
            ``(1) to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program 
        or an early college high school program for high school 
        students, through which such students while enrolled in high 
        school are enrolled in postsecondary courses at the eligible 
        institution, through which such students can earn college 
        credits that can be transferred to 2-year and 4-year 
        institutions of higher education in the State;
            ``(2) to provide teachers, principals, and other school 
        leaders with professional development activities that enhance 
        or enable the provision of postsecondary coursework through a 
        dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high 
        school program; and
            ``(3) to support activities such as--
                    ``(A) designing the curriculum and sequence of 
                courses in collaboration with teachers from the local 
                educational agency and faculty from the eligible 
                institution;
                    ``(B) establishing a course articulation process 
                for defining and approving courses for high school and 
                postsecondary credit or credentials for both 2-year and 
                4-year institutions of higher education in the State;
                    ``(C) outreach programs to provide elementary 
                school and secondary school students, especially those 
                in middle grades, and their parents, teachers, school 
                counselors, and principals information about and 
                academic preparation for the credit-based academic 
                transition programs described in subsection (a);
                    ``(D) helping students meet eligibility criteria 
                for postsecondary courses and ensuring that students 
                understand how credits earned will transfer to 
                institutions of higher education in the State; and
                    ``(E) coordinating secondary and postsecondary 
                support services and academic calendars.
    ``(g) Flexibility of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives 
a grant under this section may use grant funds for any of the costs 
associated with carrying out credit-based academic transition programs 
described in subsection (a), including the costs of--
            ``(1) tuition and fees, books, and required instructional 
        materials for such program so that students will not be 
        required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses; and
            ``(2) transportation to and from such program.
    ``(h) Evaluation and Report.--Each eligible institution receiving a 
grant under this section shall--
            ``(1) conduct an independent evaluation of the 
        effectiveness of the activities carried out by such eligible 
        institution under this section; and
            ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report 
        containing the results of the evaluation described in paragraph 
        (1).
    ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to impose on any State or public institution of higher 
education any requirement or rule regarding credit-based academic 
transition programs described in subsection (a) that is inconsistent 
with State law.''.