Early Pell Promise Act

To establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Early Pell Promise Act 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. 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 (1) award grants to States 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 any of grades 8 through 12; and (ii) is a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2011 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 Free Application for Federal Student Aid under section 483 (referred to in this section as FAFSA (ii) enrolls at such institution of higher education— (I) not later than 1 year 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) Continued eligibility (i) In general 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 is not a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. (I) the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. (II) a State program funded under the temporary assistance for needy families program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (III) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. (IV) a means-tested Federal benefit program, not described in subclause (I), (II), or (III), that is determined appropriate by the Secretary. (ii) Eligibility for other aid A student who does not receive a Federal Pell Grant pursuant to the commitment under this section because such student is not a member of a household receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. (C) Identification The Secretary shall identify for each eligible institution, each eligible student who attends that institution and participates in the Program, including students participating in accordance with subparagraph (B). (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, 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 or student aid index, as applicable, equal to zero. (c) State applications (1) In general Each State 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 will fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the Program; (C) a description of how the State will— (i) encourage participating students to enroll in rigorous and challenging curricula and coursework, in order to reduce the need for remedial coursework at the postsecondary level; (ii) increase the number of participating students who— (I) obtain a secondary school diploma; and (II) complete applications for and enroll in a program of postsecondary education; (iii) introduce participating students to institutions of higher education, through trips and school-based sessions; (iv) provide participating students with assistance in the admissions and application process for institutions of higher education or other postsecondary education programs; and (v) ensure that each participating student has an educational development plan; and (D) such other information as the Secretary may require. (3) Educational development plan In this subsection, the term educational development plan (A) contains a series of steps to help promote the student's career awareness and exploration; and (B) assists students in identifying— (i) career and technical education programs or programs of study (as those terms are defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302 (ii) other postsecondary options, including baccalaureate and subbaccalaureate degree programs. (d) Evaluation (1) In general From amounts appropriated under subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 2 percent and not more than 5 percent 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 access to and success in institutions of higher education, 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 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 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 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 to all students and families participating in the Program of information regarding— (i) the estimated national and 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 institutions of higher education; (bb) 4-year public institutions of higher education; (cc) 4-year private institutions of higher education; and (dd) private, for-profit institutions of higher education; 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 postsecondary education savings programs; (iv) State-based financial aid, including State-based merit aid; (v) Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs; and (vi) financial aid that may be available from non-governmental sources. (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 receiving a grant under this section shall reserve not less than 10 percent 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. .

Summary: Early Pell Promise Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Program under which ED must make a commitment to award Pell Grants to certain students. To be eligible to receive a commitment, the student must be in grades 8-12 and a member of a household receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Pursuant to a commitment, the student shall receive a Pell Grant during the first two academic years of attendance at an institution of higher education (IHE) as an undergraduate if the student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the award year in which the student will be in attendance at the IHE, and enrolls at the IHE not later than one year after receiving a secondary school diploma or not later than three years after release from the Armed Forces.