Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students Act

To direct the Secretary of Education to convene the Advisory Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data to conduct a study on improvements to postsecondary education transparency at the Federal level. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students Act 2. Study on improvements to postsecondary education transparency at the Federal level (a) Formation of Advisory Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall convene the Advisory Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data (in this Act referred to as the Advisory Committee (A) individuals representing different sectors of institutions of higher education, including individuals representing undergraduate and graduate education; (B) experts in the field of higher education policy; (C) State officials; (D) students and other stakeholders from the higher education community; (E) representatives from the business community; (F) experts in choice in consumer markets; (G) privacy experts; (H) college and career counselors at secondary schools; (I) experts in data policy, collection, and use; and (J) experts in labor markets. (2) Chairperson The Secretary shall appoint the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. (b) Study required The Advisory Committee shall conduct a study examining— (1) the types of information, including information related to costs of postsecondary education, sources of financial assistance (including Federal student loans), student outcomes, and postgraduation earnings, the Federal Government should collect and report on institutions of higher education to assist students and families in their search for an institution of higher education; (2) how such information should be collected and reported, including how to disaggregate information on student outcomes by subgroups of students, such as full-time students, part-time students, nontraditional students, first generation college students, students who are veterans, and Federal Pell Grant recipients under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a (3) the ways in which the Federal Government may make such information more readily available to— (A) students and their families in a format that is easily accessible and understandable, and will aid students and their families in making decisions; and (B) States, local governments, secondary schools, individual or groups of institutions of higher education, and private-sector entities. (c) Scope of study In conducting the study under this Act, the Advisory Committee shall, at a minimum, examine— (1) whether the current Federal transparency initiatives on postsecondary education— (A) are reporting consistent information about individual institutions of higher education across Federal agencies; and (B) are similar to transparency initiatives on postsecondary education carried out by States, individual or groups of institutions of higher education, or private-sector entities; (2) whether— (A) the collection and reporting of postgraduation earnings by the Federal Government is feasible, and if feasible, the options for collecting and reporting such information; (B) collecting and reporting such information would improve the use of Federal transparency initiatives and ease decisionmaking for students and their families; and (C) collecting and reporting such information would have an impact on student privacy, and if so, how such impact may be minimized; (3) whether any other information, including information relating to student outcomes or identified under the review required under subsection (d) (4) whether any information currently collected and reported by the Federal Government on institutions of higher education is not useful for students and their families and should not be so collected and reported; (5) the manner in which the information from Federal transparency initiatives is made available to students and their families, and whether format changes may help the information become more easily understood and widely utilized by students and their families; (6) any activities being carried out by the Federal Government, States, individual or groups of institutions of higher education, or private-sector entities to help inform students and their families of the availability of Federal transparency initiatives; (7) the cost to institutions of higher education of reporting to the Federal Government the information that is being collected and reported through Federal transparency initiatives, and how such cost may be minimized; and (8) the relevant research described in subsection (d) (d) Review of relevant research In conducting the study under this Act, the Advisory Committee shall review and consider— (1) research and studies, if any, that have been conducted to determine questions most frequently asked by students and families to help inform their search for an institution of higher education; (2) the types of information students seek before enrolling in an institution of higher education; (3) whether the availability to students and their families of additional information on institutions of higher education will be beneficial or confusing; (4) results, if any, that are available from consumer testing of Federal, State, institution of higher education, and private-sector transparency initiatives on postsecondary education that have been made publicly available on or after the date that is 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act; and (5) any gaps in the research, studies, and results described in paragraphs (1) (4) (e) Consultation (1) In general In conducting the study under this Act, the Advisory Committee shall— (A) hold public hearings to consult with parents and students; and (B) consult with a broad range of interested parties in higher education, including appropriate researchers, representatives of secondary schools (including college and career counselors) and institutions of higher education from different sectors of such institutions (including undergraduate and graduate education), State administrators, and Federal officials. (2) Consultation with the authorizing committees The Advisory Committee shall consult on a regular basis with the authorizing committees in conducting the study under this Act. (f) Reports to authorizing committees (1) Interim report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Committee shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees and the Secretary an interim report describing the progress made in conducting the study under this Act and any preliminary findings on the topics identified under subsection (c) (2) Final report (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Advisory Committee shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees and the Secretary a final report on the study, including— (i) recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and administrative actions based on findings related to the topics identified under subsection (c) (ii) a summary of the research described in subsection (d) (B) Consultation with NCES The Advisory Committee shall consult with the Commissioner of Education Statistics prior to making recommendations under subparagraph (A)(i) (g) Availability of funds The amount necessary to conduct the study under this Act shall be made available from amounts available to the Secretary for administrative expenses of the Department of Education. (h) Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) Authorizing committees The term authorizing committees (2) First generation college student The term first generation college student (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1002 (4) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) Secretary The term Secretary (6) State The term State (7) Student The term student (A) a prospective student; (B) a student enrolled in an institution of higher education; (C) a nontraditional student (as defined in section 803(j)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161c(j)(2))); and (D) a veteran (as defined in section 480(c)(1) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(c)(1) May 20, 2013 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Improving Postsecondary Education Data for Students Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to convene an Advisory Committee on Improving Postsecondary Education Data that: (1) is comprised of 15 members who represent economically, racially, and geographically diverse populations; and (2) includes higher education stakeholders, state officials, business representatives, college and career counselors at secondary schools, and experts in higher education policy, consumer choice, privacy, labor markets, and data policy, collection, and use. Requires the Committee to study: the types of information the federal government should collect and report on institutions of higher education (IHEs) to assist students and families in their search for an IHE, including information related to postsecondary education costs, financial assistance, student outcomes, and postgraduation earnings; how that information should be collected and reported, including how to disaggregate student outcome information by student subgroups; and ways in which the federal government could make that information more readily available to students and their families in an easily accessible and understandable format, and to states, local governments, secondary schools, IHEs, and private-sector entities. Requires the Committee, in conducting the study, to: (1) review relevant research concerning the types of information students and parents seek in searching for an IHE; (2) consider the utility of the information currently reported and whether additional information would be beneficial or confusing; and (3) consult with parents, students, and a broad range of parties interested in higher education. Directs the Committee to submit an interim and final report on the study to Congress and the Secretary. Requires the Committee, after consulting with the Commissioner of Education Statistics, to include in its final report recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and administrative actions to improve the information the federal government collects and reports on IHEs.