PROPEL Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for participation in the Federal Pell Grant program to certain trade schools. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Professional Pell Education Learning Act PROPEL Act 2. Federal Pell Grants (a) Clarification of eligible institutions (1) Award year 2023–2024 Section 401(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(a) (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of this section, the terms eligible institution institution of higher education eligible program institution (A) consists of vocational or technical training, flight training, or apprenticeship or other on-job training; (B) an individual may pursue using educational assistance pursuant to section 3313(g) of title 38, United States Code; (C) is less than 600 clock hours of instruction, 16 semester hours, or 24 quarter hours, offered during a period of less than 15 weeks; (D) is not required to be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary pursuant to part H; (E) is not required to lead to a recognized educational credential; (F) for purposes of the reporting requirements under section 132(i), reports on all enrolled students without regard to whether a student is a first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking student; and (G) except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of this paragraph, meets the requirements of this title for an institution to participate in the program under this section. . (2) Award year 2024–2025 and each succeeding award year Section 401(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a(a) Public Law 116–260 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of this section, the terms eligible institution institution of higher education eligible program institution (A) consists of vocational or technical training, flight training, or apprenticeship or other on-job training; (B) an individual may pursue using educational assistance pursuant to section 3313(g) of title 38, United States Code; (C) is less than 600 clock hours of instruction, 16 semester hours, or 24 quarter hours, offered during a period of less than 15 weeks; (D) is not required to be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary pursuant to part H; (E) is not required to lead to a recognized educational credential; (F) for purposes of the reporting requirements under section 132(i), reports on all enrolled students without regard to whether a student is a first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking student; and (G) except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of this paragraph, meets the requirements of this title for an institution to participate in the program under this section. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(1) or, for purposes of the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401, a program of education described in section 401(a)(3) for award year 2023–2024, or section 401(a)(4) for award year 2024–2025 or any succeeding award year section 487

Summary: Professional Pell Education Learning Act or the PROPEL Act This bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by allowing students to use these grants for enrollment in educational programs that consist of vocational or technical training, flight training, apprenticeship, or other on-job training. In addition, the bill expands institutional eligibility under the Federal Pell Grant program, including by allowing these vocational and training programs to be unaccredited.