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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2860 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2860

To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early 
 college high schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2014

  Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, and 
  Mrs. Hagan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early 
 college high schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fast Track to College Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to increase secondary school graduation 
rates and the percentage of students who complete a recognized 
postsecondary credential by the age of 26, including among low-income 
students and students from other populations underrepresented in higher 
education.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Dual or concurrent enrollment program.--The term ``dual 
        or concurrent enrollment program'' means an academic program 
        through which a secondary school student is able simultaneously 
        to earn credit toward a secondary school diploma and a 
        postsecondary degree or credential.
            (2) Early college high school.--The term ``early college 
        high school'' means a secondary school that provides a course 
        of study that enables a student to earn a secondary school 
        diploma and either an associate's degree or 1 to 2 years of 
        postsecondary credit toward a postsecondary degree or 
        credential.
            (3) Educational service agency.--The term ``educational 
        service agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership between a local educational agency, which may be an 
        educational service agency, and an institution of higher 
        education. Such partnership also may include other entities, 
        such as a nonprofit organization with experience in youth 
        development.
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (6) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (7) Low-income student.--The term ``low-income student'' 
        means a student described in section 1113(a)(5) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6313(a)(5)).
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be 
appropriated $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
    (b) Early College High Schools.--The Secretary shall reserve not 
less than 45 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (a) to 
support early college high schools under section 5.
    (c) Dual or Concurrent Enrollment Programs.--The Secretary shall 
reserve not less than 45 percent of the funds appropriated under 
subsection (a) to support dual or concurrent enrollment programs (other 
than early college high schools) under section 5.
    (d) State Grants.--The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of the 
funds appropriated under subsection (a), or $10,000,000, whichever is 
less, for grants to States under section 9.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award 6-year grants 
to eligible entities seeking to establish a new, or support an 
existing, early college high school or other dual or concurrent 
enrollment program in accordance with section 6.
    (b) Grant Amount.--The Secretary shall ensure that grants are of 
sufficient size to enable grantees to carry out all required activities 
and otherwise meet the purposes of this Act, except that a grant under 
this section may not exceed $2,000,000.
    (c) Matching Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity shall contribute 
        matching funds toward the costs of the early college high 
        school or other dual or concurrent enrollment program to be 
        supported under this section, of which not less than half shall 
        be from non-Federal sources, which funds shall represent not 
        less than the following:
                    (A) 20 percent of the grant amount received in each 
                of the first and second years of the grant.
                    (B) 30 percent in each of the third and fourth 
                years.
                    (C) 40 percent in the fifth year.
                    (D) 50 percent in the sixth year.
            (2) Determination of amount contributed.--The Secretary 
        shall allow an eligible entity to satisfy the requirement of 
        this subsection through in-kind contributions.
    (d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--An eligible entity shall use a grant 
received under this section only to supplement funds that would, in the 
absence of such grant, be made available from non-Federal funds for 
support of the activities described in the eligible entity's 
application under section 7, and not to supplant such funds.
    (e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applicants--
            (1) that propose to establish or support an early college 
        high school or other dual or concurrent enrollment program that 
        will serve a student population of which 40 percent or more are 
        students counted under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)); and
            (2) from States that provide assistance to early college 
        high schools or other dual or concurrent enrollment programs, 
        such as assistance to defray the costs of higher education 
        (including costs of tuition, fees, and textbooks).
    (f) Geographic Distribution.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, ensure that grantees are from a representative 
cross-section of urban, suburban, and rural areas.

SEC. 6. USES OF FUNDS.

    (a) Mandatory Activities.--An eligible entity shall use grant funds 
received under section 5 to support the activities described in its 
application under section 7, including the following:
            (1) Planning year.--In the case of a new early college high 
        school or dual or concurrent enrollment program, during the 
        first year of the grant--
                    (A) hiring a principal and staff, as appropriate;
                    (B) designing the curriculum and sequence of 
                courses (which shall not be mandated, directed, or 
                controlled by the Secretary or other officer or 
                employee of the Federal Government) in collaboration 
                with (at a minimum) teachers from the local educational 
                agency and faculty from the partner institution of 
                higher education;
                    (C) informing parents and the community about the 
                school or program and opportunities to become actively 
                involved in the school or program;
                    (D) establishing a course articulation process for 
                defining and approving courses for secondary school and 
                postsecondary credit or credential;
                    (E) outreach programs to ensure that secondary 
                school students and their families are aware of the 
                early college high school or dual or concurrent 
                enrollment program;
                    (F) liaison activities among partners in the 
                eligible entity; and
                    (G) coordinating secondary and postsecondary 
                support services, academic calendars, and 
                transportation.
            (2) Implementation period.--During the remainder of the 
        grant period--
                    (A) academic and social support services, including 
                counseling;
                    (B) liaison activities among partners in the 
                eligible entity;
                    (C) data collection and use of such data for 
                student and instructional improvement and program 
                evaluation;
                    (D) outreach programs to ensure that secondary 
                school students and their families are aware of the 
                early college high school or dual or concurrent 
                enrollment program;
                    (E) professional development, including joint 
                professional development for educators from the 
                secondary school and faculty from the institution of 
                higher education; and
                    (F) school or program design and planning team 
                activities, including curriculum development.
    (b) Allowable Activities.--An eligible entity may also use grant 
funds received under section 5 otherwise to support the activities 
described in its application under section 7, including--
            (1) purchasing textbooks and equipment that support the 
        school or program's curriculum;
            (2) developing learning opportunities for students that 
        complement classroom experiences, such as internships, career-
        based capstone projects, and opportunities provided under 
        chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.);
            (3) transportation; and
            (4) planning time for educators from a secondary school and 
        educators from an institution of higher education to 
        collaborate.

SEC. 7. APPLICATION.

    (a) In General.--To receive a grant under section 5, an eligible 
entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate.
    (b) Contents of Application.--At a minimum, the application 
described in subsection (a) shall include a description of--
            (1) the budget of the early college high school or other 
        dual or concurrent enrollment program;
            (2) each partner in the eligible entity and such partner's 
        experience with early college high schools or other dual or 
        concurrent enrollment programs, and a description of key 
        personnel from each partner and their responsibilities for the 
        early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment 
        program;
            (3) how the eligible entity will work with secondary and 
        postsecondary teachers, other public and private entities, 
        community-based organizations, businesses, labor organizations, 
        and parents to ensure that students will be prepared to succeed 
        in postsecondary education and employment, which may include 
        the development of an advisory board;
            (4) how the eligible entity will target and recruit at-risk 
        youth, including those at risk of dropping out of school, first 
        generation college students, and students from populations 
        described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II));
            (5) a system of student supports including small group 
        activities, tutoring, literacy and numeracy skill development 
        in all academic disciplines, parental and community outreach 
        and engagement, extended learning time, and college readiness 
        activities, such as early college academic seminars and 
        counseling;
            (6) in the case of an early college high school, how a 
        graduation and career plan will be developed, consistent with 
        State graduation requirements, for each student and reviewed 
        each semester;
            (7) how parents or guardians of students in the early 
        college high school or dually enrolled students will be 
        informed of their academic performance and progress and, 
        subject to paragraph (6), involved in the development of their 
        career and graduation plan;
            (8) coordination that will occur between the institution of 
        higher education and the local educational agency, including 
        regarding academic calendars, provision of student services, 
        curriculum development, and professional development;
            (9) how the eligible entity will ensure that teachers in 
        the early college high school or other dual or concurrent 
        enrollment program receive appropriate professional development 
        and other supports, including to enable them to utilize 
        effective parent and community engagement strategies, and help 
        students with limited English proficiency, students with 
        disabilities, and students from diverse cultural backgrounds to 
        succeed;
            (10) learning opportunities for students that complement 
        classroom experiences, such as internships, career-based 
        capstone projects, and opportunities provided under chapters 1 
        and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.);
            (11) how policies, agreements, and courses taken will 
        ensure that postsecondary credits earned will be transferable 
        to, at a minimum, public institutions of higher education 
        within the State, consistent with existing statewide 
        articulation agreements;
            (12) student assessments and other measurements of student 
        achievement including benchmarks for student achievement;
            (13) outreach programs to provide elementary and secondary 
        school students, especially those in middle grades, and their 
        parents, teachers, school counselors, and principals 
        information about and academic preparation for the early 
        college high school or other dual or concurrent enrollment 
        program;
            (14) how the local educational agency and institution of 
        higher education will work together, as appropriate, to collect 
        and use data for student and instructional improvement and 
        program evaluation;
            (15) how the eligible entity will help students meet 
        eligibility criteria for postsecondary courses and ensure that 
        students understand how their credits will transfer; and
            (16) how the eligible entity will access and leverage 
        additional resources necessary to sustain the early college 
        high school or other dual or concurrent enrollment program 
        after the grant expires, including by engaging businesses and 
        nonprofit organizations.
    (c) Assurances.--An eligible entity's application under subsection 
(a) shall include assurances that--
            (1) in the case of an early college high school, the 
        majority of courses offered, including postsecondary courses, 
        will be offered at facilities of the institution of higher 
        education;
            (2) students will not be required to pay tuition or fees 
        for postsecondary courses;
            (3) postsecondary credits earned will be transcribed upon 
        completion of the requisite course work; and
            (4) faculty teaching postsecondary courses meet the normal 
        standards for faculty established by the institution of higher 
        education.
    (d) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement of subsection 
(c)(1) upon a showing that it is impractical to apply due to geographic 
considerations.

SEC. 8. PEER REVIEW.

    (a) Peer Review of Applications.--The Secretary shall establish 
peer review panels to review applications submitted pursuant to section 
7 and to advise the Secretary regarding such applications.
    (b) Composition of Peer Review Panels.--The Secretary shall ensure 
that each peer review panel is not comprised wholly of full-time 
officers or employees of the Federal Government and includes, at a 
minimum--
            (1) experts in the establishment and administration of 
        early college high schools or other dual or concurrent 
        enrollment programs from the secondary and postsecondary 
        perspective;
            (2) faculty at institutions of higher education and 
        secondary school teachers with expertise in dual enrollment; 
        and
            (3) experts in the education of at-risk students.

SEC. 9. GRANTS TO STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award 5-year grants 
to State agencies responsible for secondary or postsecondary education 
for efforts to support or establish early college high schools or other 
dual or concurrent enrollment programs.
    (b) Grant Amount.--The Secretary shall ensure that grants are of 
sufficient size to enable grantees to carry out all required 
activities.
    (c) Matching Requirement.--A State shall contribute matching funds 
from non-Federal sources toward the costs of carrying out activities 
under this section, which funds shall represent not less than 50 
percent of the grant amount.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to States that provide assistance to early college 
high schools or other dual or concurrent enrollment programs, such as 
assistance to defray the costs of higher education, such as tuition, 
fees, and textbooks.
    (e) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a State 
agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate.
    (f) Contents of Application.--At a minimum, the application 
described in subsection (e) shall include--
            (1) a description of how the State will carry out all of 
        the required State activities described in subsection (g);
            (2) a description of how the State will identify and 
        eliminate barriers to implementing effective early college high 
        schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs after the 
        grant expires, including by engaging businesses and nonprofit 
        organizations;
            (3) a description of how the State will access and leverage 
        additional resources necessary to sustain early college high 
        schools or other dual or concurrent enrollment programs; and
            (4) such other information as the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate.
    (g) State Activities.--A State receiving a grant under this section 
shall use such funds for--
            (1) creating outreach programs to ensure that secondary 
        school students, their families, and community members are 
        aware of early college high schools and dual or concurrent 
        enrollment programs in the State;
            (2) planning and implementing a statewide strategy for 
        expanding access to early college high schools and dual or 
        concurrent enrollment programs for students who are 
        underrepresented in higher education to raise statewide rates 
        of secondary school graduation, readiness for postsecondary 
        education, and completion of postsecondary degrees and 
        credentials, with a focus on at-risk students, including 
        identifying any obstacles to such a strategy under State law or 
        policy;
            (3) providing technical assistance to early college high 
        schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs, such 
        as brokering relationships and agreements that forge a strong 
        partnership between elementary and secondary and postsecondary 
        partners;
            (4) identifying policies that will improve the 
        effectiveness and ensure the quality of early college high 
        schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs, such as 
        access, funding, data and quality assurance, governance, 
        accountability and alignment policies;
            (5) planning and delivering statewide training and peer 
        learning opportunities for school leaders and teachers from 
        early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment 
        programs, which may include providing instructional coaches who 
        offer on-site guidance;
            (6) disseminating best practices in early college high 
        schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs from across 
        the State and from other States; and
            (7) facilitating statewide data collection, research and 
        evaluation, and reporting to policymakers and other 
        stakeholders.

SEC. 10. REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT.

    (a) Reporting by Grantees.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish uniform 
        guidelines for all grantees concerning information such 
        grantees annually shall report to the Secretary to demonstrate 
        a grantee's progress toward achieving the goals of this Act.
            (2) Contents of report.--At a minimum, the report described 
        in paragraph (1) shall include, for eligible entities receiving 
        funds under section 5, for students participating in the early 
        college high school or other dual or concurrent enrollment 
        program within each category of students described in section 
        1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)(1)(C)(i)):
                    (A) The number of students.
                    (B) The percentage of students scoring advanced, 
                proficient, basic, and below basic on the assessments 
                described in section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)).
                    (C) The performance of students on other 
                assessments or measurements of achievement.
                    (D) The number of secondary school credits earned.
                    (E) The number of postsecondary credits earned.
                    (F) Attendance rate, as appropriate.
                    (G) Graduation rate.
                    (H) Placement in postsecondary education or 
                advanced training, in military service, and in 
                employment.
                    (I) A description of the school or program's 
                student, parent, and community outreach and engagement.
    (b) Reporting by Secretary.--The Secretary annually shall compile 
and analyze the information described in subsection (a) and shall 
submit a report containing such analysis to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives. The report 
shall include identification of best practices for achieving the goals 
of this Act.
    (c) Monitoring Visits.--The Secretary's designee shall visit each 
grantee at least once for the purpose of helping the grantee achieve 
the goals of this Act and to monitor the grantee's progress toward 
achieving such goals.
    (d) National Evaluation.--Not later than 6 months after the date on 
which funds are appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall 
enter into a contract with an independent organization to perform an 
evaluation of the grants awarded under this Act. Such evaluation shall 
apply rigorous procedures to obtain valid and reliable data concerning 
participants' outcomes by social and academic characteristics and 
monitor the progress of students from secondary school to and through 
postsecondary education.
    (e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in early 
college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs and 
shall disseminate such best practices among eligible entities and State 
and local educational agencies.

SEC. 11. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Employees.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or 
otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded to the 
employees of local educational agencies (including schools) or 
institutions of higher education under Federal, State, or local laws 
(including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms 
of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or 
other agreements between such employees and their employers.
    (b) Graduation Rate.--A student who graduates from an early college 
high school supported under this Act in the standard number of years 
for graduation described in the eligible entity's application shall be 
considered to have graduated on time for purposes of section 
1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi)).
                                 <all>
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