Pell Plus Act of 2023

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create the Pell Plus program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pell Plus Act of 2023 2. Pell Plus Program Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a Public Law 116–260 (k) Pell Plus program (1) Program established (A) In general Beginning with award year 2025–2026, for each award year for which a student receives a Federal Pell Grant and meets the requirements of paragraph (2) Federal Pell Plus Grant subparagraph (B) (B) Cost of attendance reductions In any case in which a student is awarded a Federal Pell Grant under this section and a Federal Pell Plus grant under this subsection, the combined total of such Federal Pell Grant, such Federal Pell Plus Grant, and the amount provided by a Pell Plus institution in accordance with paragraph (4)(B)(i)(II)(aa) paragraph (4)(B)(i)(II)(aa) paragraph (4)(B)(i)(II)(aa), (2) Student eligibility A student meets the requirements of this paragraph, if the student— (A) during the award year during which the student receives a Federal Pell Plus Grant under paragraph (1) (i) is enrolled— (I) in the student’s first undergraduate baccalaureate course of study; and (II) at a Pell Plus institution; and (ii) is maintaining progress toward completion of such course of study in not more than a total of 4 academic years; and (B) has completed at least 4 semesters, or the equivalent, of such course of study. (3) Duration limits The period during which a student receives a Federal Pell Plus Grant under paragraph (1) (4) Pell Plus institutional eligibility For purposes of this subsection, a Pell Plus institution is an eligible institution for purposes of this subpart that— (A) notifies the Secretary that the institution desires to participate in the program under this subsection; (B) agrees to provide, to each student receiving a Federal Pell Plus Grant under paragraph (1) (i) for each award year for which the student receives such Federal Pell Plus Grant— (I) a notification that shall include— (aa) whether the student is maintaining the progress toward completion required under paragraph (2)(A)(ii); (bb) in a case in which the student is not maintaining such progress toward completion, a list of available student support services and additional resources to assist the student in completing the course of study for which the student is receiving the Federal Pell Plus Grant in not more than a total of 4 academic years; and (cc) the amount of funds the student is receiving under the Federal Pell Plus Grant and from the institution under subclause (II)(aa); and (II) an amount of funds— (aa) equal to the amount of such Federal Pell Plus Grant received by the student for such award year; and (bb) using the non-Federal resources of the institution, such as— (AA) an institutional grant or scholarship; (BB) through a tuition or fee waiver; or (CC) foundation or other charitable organization funds; and (ii) in the case of a student who, as of the beginning of the third academic year of the course of study for which the student is receiving the Federal Pell Plus Grant, is not maintaining the progress toward completion required under paragraph (2)(A)(ii), a warning during such third academic year that the student will not be eligible for a Federal Pell Plus Grant under paragraph (1) (C) in the case of an institution that provides institutional grant or scholarship aid to a student for the academic year preceding the academic year for which the student receives a Federal Pell Plus Grant under paragraph (1), agrees to provide the amount of such institutional grant or scholarship aid for any academic year for which the student receives such Federal Pell Plus Grant that the institution would have provided to such student in the absence of such Federal Pell Plus Grant, except that such amount of aid may be reduced to ensure that the combined amount of such aid, and the Federal Pell Plus Grant, the amount under subparagraph (B)(i)(II)(aa), and the Federal Pell Grant award provided to the student does not exceed the cost of attendance (as defined in section 472) at such institution for such academic year; and (D) the Secretary determines meets the requirements of this paragraph. . 3. Information dissemination activities (a) Amendment Section 485(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(a)(1) (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (V) and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (W) in the case of an institution that is a Pell Plus institution under section 401(k), any applicable information with respect to the institution’s participation in the Federal Pell Plus Grant program under such subsection. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a)

Summary: Pell Plus Act of 2023This bill establishes the Pell Plus program to award an additional Federal Pell Grant (i.e., a Federal Pell Plus Grant), which shall be matched by the participating institution of enrollment, to eligible students.A student is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Plus Grant if the student (1) is enrolled in their first undergraduate course of study at a Pell Plus institution, (2) is maintaining progress toward completion of their course of study in no more than four academic years, and (3) has completed at least four semesters (or the equivalent) of such course of study.Further, the bill outlines the requirements for an institution to participate as a Pell Plus institution, including that the institution must notify students whether they are maintaining progress toward completion of their course of study.The bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award a Federal Pell Plus Grant to an eligible student in an amount equal to the student's Federal Pell Grant award. If the student's combined Federal Pell Grant and Federal Pell Plus Grant exceed the cost of attendance, then ED must reduce the amount of the student's Federal Pell Plus Grant.The bill specifies that these Federal Pell Plus Grants must count toward current duration limits.