RISE Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reinstate the ability-to-benefit eligibility. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Investment in ATB Student Education Act RISE Act 2. Ability-to-benefit eligibility (a) In general Section 484(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1091(d) (d) Students who are not high school graduates In order for a student who does not have a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such certificate, to be eligible for any assistance under subparts 1, 3, and 4 of part A and parts B, C, D, and E of this title, the student shall meet one of the following standards: (1) The student shall take an independently administered examination and shall achieve a score, specified by the Secretary, demonstrating that such student can benefit from the education or training being offered. Such examination shall be approved by the Secretary on the basis of compliance with such standards for development, administration, and scoring as the Secretary may prescribe in regulations. (2) The student shall be determined as having the ability to benefit from the education or training in accordance with such process as the State shall prescribe. Any such process described or approved by a State for the purposes of this section shall be effective 6 months after the date of submission to the Secretary unless the Secretary disapproves such process. In determining whether to approve or disapprove such process, the Secretary shall take into account the effectiveness of such process in enabling students without high school diplomas or the equivalent thereof to benefit from the instruction offered by institutions utilizing such process, and shall also take into account the cultural diversity, economic circumstances, and educational preparation of the populations served by the institutions. (3) The student has completed a secondary school education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under State law. (4) The student shall be determined by the institution of higher education as having the ability to benefit from the education or training offered by the institution of higher education upon satisfactory completion of six credit hours or the equivalent clock hours that are applicable toward a degree or certificate offered by the institution of higher education. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 401(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(2)(A)(ii) 484(d)(1)(A) 484(d)

Summary: Restoring Investment in ATB Student Education Act or the RISE Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify the federal student aid eligibility requirements for students who are not high school graduates. Currently, a student without a high school diploma or homeschool credential is eligible to receive federal student aid if such student is enrolled in a career pathway program and demonstrates an ability to benefit from an institution's education or training program. This bill eliminates enrollment in a career pathway program as a federal student aid eligibility requirement. A student without a high school diploma or homeschool credential is eligible to receive federal student aid by demonstrating an ability to benefit from an institution's education or training program.