Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for accreditation reform, to require institutions of higher education to publish information regarding student success, to provide for fiscal accountability, and to provide for school accountability for student loans. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 I Accreditation Reform 101. Accreditation reform (a) Definition of Institution of Higher Education Section 102(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(1) (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: (B) if accredited by an authorized accreditation authority in a State that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Secretary, as described in section 498C— (i) an institution that provides postsecondary education; (ii) a postsecondary apprenticeship program; or (iii) a postsecondary education course or program provided by an institution of postsecondary education, a nonprofit organization, or a for-profit organization or business; . (b) State alternative accreditation Part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1099a 4 State Alternative Accreditation 498C. State alternative accreditation (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State may establish an alternative accreditation system for the purpose of establishing institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs as eligible for funding under title IV if the State submits a plan to the Secretary for the establishment of the alternative accreditation system. Such institutions, courses, or programs may include— (1) institutions that provide postsecondary education that culminates in a certification, credential, or degree; (2) postsecondary apprenticeship programs that culminate in a certification, credential, or degree; (3) any other postsecondary education course or program offered at an institution of postsecondary education, a nonprofit organization, or a for-profit organization or business, that culminates in a certification, credential, or degree; and (4) any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (3) that do not award a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree, provided that such entity provides credit that will be accepted toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree at one or more of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (3). (b) Alternative accreditation notification The alternative accreditation plan described in subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) The State's plan for designating one or more authorized accrediting entities within the State, such as the State Department of Education, another State agency, an industry-specific accrediting agency, or another entity, and an explanation of the process through which the State will select such authorized accrediting entities. (2) The standards or criteria that an institution that provides postsecondary education and a postsecondary education course or program must meet in order to— (A) receive an initial accreditation as part of the alternative accreditation system; and (B) maintain such accreditation. (3) A description of the appeals process through which an institution that provides postsecondary education or a postsecondary education course or program may appeal to an authorized accrediting entity if such institution, course, or program is denied accreditation under the State alternative accreditation system. (4) Any State policy regarding public accessibility to certain information relating to institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses and programs accredited under the State alternative accreditation system, including— (A) the information described in subsection (e)(1); and (B) information about the rates of job placement for individuals that have graduated from an institution or completed a course or program that is accredited under the State alternative accreditation system, if available. (5) An assurance by the State that under the State alternative accreditation system, only institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that provide a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree, or credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree (as defined by the State in accordance with paragraph (6)) will be accredited. (6) The State's definition of a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree, as such term applies to the requirement described in paragraph (5). (7) A description of the agreements that the State will enter into with institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that are accredited under the alternative accreditation system for purposes of accreditation regarding requirements for instructional time, in lieu of the requirements described under section 481(a)(2). (8) A description of the agreements that the State will enter into with institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that are accredited under the alternative accreditation system regarding requirements for credit hours or clock hours, or other measures of student learning, in lieu of the requirements described under section 481(b). (c) Review and approval Not later than 30 days after the Secretary receives a plan from a State regarding an alternative accreditation system, the Secretary shall submit to the State and Congress, and make publicly available, a response to the State’s plan. The Secretary shall approve the plan and allow the State to establish the alternative accreditation system if the plan meets the requirements described in subsection (b). (d) Time limit Each plan approved under subsection (c) shall allow a State to carry out an alternative accreditation system in the State for a period of 5 years. (e) Reporting requirements States that establish an alternative accreditation system shall submit a report to the Secretary every 3 years following the implementation of the alternative accreditation system. The report shall include— (1) in the case of a postsecondary education course or program that is accredited through the State alternative accreditation system— (A) the number and percentage of students who successfully complete each such postsecondary education course or program; and (B) for postsecondary education courses or programs that lead to a certification, credential, or degree, the number of students in such course or program; and (2) in the case of an institution that provides postsecondary education that is accredited through the State alternative accreditation system— (A) the number and percentage of students who successfully obtain a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree from such institution; and (B) the number and percentage of students who do not successfully obtain a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree from such institution but do obtain credit from such institution toward a postsecondary degree, credential, or certification; and (3) a description of any requirements for third-party verification of information contained in the report. . (c) Title IV eligibility requirements Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1088 493E. State Accredited Institutions, Programs, or Courses Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an institution, program, or course that is eligible for funds under this title in accordance with section 102(a)(1)(B) and meets the requirements of section 498C— (1) shall not be required to meet the requirements of section 496; and (2) shall not be required to meet the requirements described in subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 481. . II Transparency in Higher Education 201. Time for transparency in higher education (a) In general Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070 (1) in section 487(a), by adding at the end the following: (30) The institution will publish information in compliance with section 493E. ; and (2) in part G, by adding at the end the following: 493E. Institutional publication of information (a) Publication of information (1) In general Each institution of higher education participating in a program under this title shall publish on the institution's website and in an alternative format, on an annual basis, the information described in paragraphs (2) and (3). To the extent that such data is available, an institution may use data that the institution is already collecting in accordance with other Federal requirements. (2) Information Each institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) shall publish, with respect to the institution as a whole and with respect to each program of study offered by the institution, the following information for the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available: (A) For each of the following, the percentage and number of students enrolled at the institution or in the program of study, as applicable, who receive the following: (i) Federal grant aid, including Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part A, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants under subpart 3 of part A, or any other Federal postsecondary education grant aid or subsidy. (ii) Federal student loans, including Federal loans under part D. (iii) State grant aid. (iv) Institutional grants. (v) A student loan from a State. (B) Student body enrollment status, including as a— (i) first-time, full-time student; (ii) first-time, part-time student; (iii) non-first-time, full-time student; and (iv) non-first-time, part-time student. (C) Information about students that includes the following: (i) The percentage of students who do not complete the program of study the student initially started upon enrollment. (ii) The percentage of students who transfer. (iii) The percentage of students who complete the program of study the student initially started upon enrollment. (iv) The average length of time for a student to complete the program of study. (v) The percentage of students who continue on to higher levels of education. (vi) The percentage of former students who received financial aid who are employed at 2, 4, and 6 years after graduating, disaggregated by program of study. (vii) The median earnings of former students who earned a degree or credential and received financial aid on the date that is 10 years after the date the students first enrolled in a program of study at the institution, disaggregated by program of study. (viii) The median earnings of former students who received financial aid on the date that is 10 years after the date the students first enrolled in a program of study at the institution, disaggregated by program of study. (3) Publication of default and non-repayment rates In addition to the information described in paragraph (2), each institution of higher education described in paragraph (1) shall publish, with respect to the institution as a whole and with respect to each program of study offered by the institution, the following information for the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available: (A) The average amount of total Federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. (B) The average amount of total Federal student loan debt accrued by students who leave the institution without having graduated. (C) Federal student loan default rate. (D) Federal student loan non-repayment rate. (E) Default and non-repayment rate, including as a— (i) first-time, full-time student; (ii) first-time, part-time student; (iii) non-first-time, full-time student; and (iv) non-first-time, part-time student. (F) Default and non-repayment rate, of— (i) students who complete a program of study; (ii) students who transfer; and (iii) students who do not complete a program of study. (b) Privacy (1) Compliance with FERPA In carrying out this section, an institution of higher education and any personnel of the institution shall not share any personally identifiable information and shall act in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1232g Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (2) Prohibition on use of information Information published pursuant to this section shall not be used by a Federal employee, agency, or officer, or an institution of higher education to take action against an individual. (3) Penalties The Secretary shall establish penalties for a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) that includes both a monetary fine and up to 5 years in prison. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or permit the Secretary or any employee or contractor of the Department to mandate, direct, or control the selection of practices or curriculum by an institution of higher education. . (b) GAO report (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study that compiles all the institutional publication of information pursuant to section 493E of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as added by subsection (a) of this Act. (2) Report Not later than October 1 of the fourth fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report containing the results of the study under paragraph (1) to the appropriate committees of Congress. III Fiscal Accountability 301. Simplification of Federal student loans (a) Termination Section 451 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087a (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: No sums may be expended after September 30, 2026, with respect to loans under this part for which the first disbursement is after such date, except Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A. (2) by adding at the end, the following: (c) Termination of authority To make new loans Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision of law— (1) no new loans may be made under this part after September 30, 2026, except Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A; and (2) no funds are authorized to be appropriated, or may be expended, under this Act, or any other Act to make loans under this part for which the first disbursement is after September 30, 2026, except Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A, or as expressly authorized by an Act of Congress enacted after the date of enactment of Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 (d) Student eligibility beginning with award year 2022 (1) New borrowers No loan may be made under this part to a new borrower for which the first disbursement is after June 30, 2022, except Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A. (2) Borrowers with outstanding balances Subject to paragraph (3), with respect to a borrower who, as of July 1, 2022, has an outstanding balance of principal or interest owing on a loan made under this part that is not a Federal Direct simplification loan under section 460A, such borrower may— (A) in the case of such a loan made to the borrower for enrollment in a program of undergraduate education, borrow loans made under this part that are not Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A for any program of undergraduate education through the close of September 30, 2026; (B) in the case of such a loan made to the borrower for enrollment in a program of graduate or professional education, borrow loans made under this part that are not Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A for any program of graduate or professional education through the close of September 30, 2026; and (C) in the case of such a loan made to the borrower on behalf of a dependent student for the student’s enrollment in a program of undergraduate education, borrow loans made under this part that are not Federal Direct simplification loans under section 460A on behalf of such student through the close of September 30, 2026. (3) Loss of eligibility A borrower described in paragraph (2) who borrows a Federal Direct simplification loan made under section 460A for which the first disbursement is made before September 30, 2026, shall lose the borrower’s eligibility to borrow a loan under this part that is not a Federal Direct simplification loan under section 460A in accordance with paragraph (2). . (b) Federal Direct simplification loans Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087a 460A. Federal Direct simplification loans (a) In General Beginning on July 1, 2022, except as provided in section 451(d), the Secretary shall make loans to borrowers under this section. Loans made under this section shall be known as Federal Direct simplification loans. (b) Federal Direct simplification loans The provisions of this part shall apply with respect to Federal Direct simplification loans, except that Federal Direct simplification loans shall be made in accordance with the following: (1) The applicable rate of interest on a loan made under this section shall, for loans disbursed during any 12-month period beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, be determined on the preceding June 1 and be equal to— (A) a rate equal to the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the final auction held prior to such June 1; plus (B) 3.6 percent. (2) Interest on a loan made under this section shall begin to accrue on the date the loan is disbursed. (3) The maximum— (A) annual amount of loans under this section an undergraduate student may borrow in any academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be equal to $7,500; and (B) aggregate amount of loans under this section an undergraduate student may borrow shall be equal to $30,000. (4) The maximum— (A) annual amount of loans under this section a graduate or professional student may borrow in any academic year (as defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be equal to $12,500; and (B) aggregate amount of loans under this section a graduate or professional student may borrow shall be equal to $50,000. (5) The only length of repayment— (A) for a loan borrowed by an undergraduate student shall be 15 years; and (B) for a loan borrowed by a graduate or professional student shall be 25 years. (6) Repayment on a loan made under this section shall begin— (A) after 125 percent of the normal time for completion of the program of study for which the borrower receives the loan under this section; or (B) if the borrower withdraws from the program of study before the borrower completes the program, 6 months after the date the borrower withdraws. (7) The Secretary shall not repay or cancel any outstanding balance of principal or interest due on a Federal Direct simplification loan as part of a student loan forgiveness program, including such a program under section 455(m) and section 493C. (c) Authorization To limit loan amounts An institution of higher education that is required under State law to enroll all eligible applicants for an academic year may limit the amount of loans under this section that a student may borrow for such academic year to not more than the tuition and fees at such institution for such academic year. (d) Loan fee The Secretary shall not charge the borrower of a loan made under this part an origination fee. (e) Repayment A borrower of a loan made under this section may accelerate without penalty repayment of the whole or any part of the loan. . 302. Phasing out loan forgiveness The Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (1) in section 455— (A) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting (except a Federal Direct simplification loan) borrower of a loan made under this part (B) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following: (8) Federal Direct simplification loans Income contingent repayment shall not be available for a Federal Direct simplification loan. ; and (C) in subsection (m), by adding at the end the following: (5) Elimination of loan forgiveness (A) In General Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act and subject to subparagraph (B), with respect to any loan made on or after July 1, 2022, the Secretary may not cancel any outstanding balance of principal and interest due on the loan for the borrower of the loan pursuant to this subsection. (B) Loans for continuing program of study In the case of a borrower whose first loan for a program of study is made prior to July 1, 2022, the Secretary may repay or cancel any outstanding balance of principal and interest due on the subsequent loans for that borrower for the same program of study pursuant to this subsection for— (i) loans made during the time it takes to complete that program of study; or (ii) loans made before July 1, 2026; whichever occurs earlier. ; and (2) in section 493C, by adding at the end the following: (f) Elimination of loan forgiveness (1) In General Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act and subject to paragraph (2), with respect to any loan made on or after July 1, 2022, the Secretary may not repay or cancel any outstanding balance of principal and interest due on the loan for the borrower of the loan pursuant to this section. (2) Loans for continuing program of study In the case of a borrower whose first loan for a program of study is made prior to July 1, 2022, the Secretary may repay or cancel any outstanding balance of principal and interest due on the subsequent loans for that borrower for the same program of study pursuant to this section for— (A) loans made during the time it takes to complete that program of study; or (B) loans made before July 1, 2026; whichever occurs earlier. . IV School Accountability for Student Loans 401. School accountability for student loans (a) Default rate fine Section 487 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1094 (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: (31) The institution will pay a default rate fine that is determined pursuant to subsection (k). ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (k) Default rate fine (1) In general Each institution described in paragraph (2) shall pay to the Secretary an annual default rate fine in accordance with this subsection. (2) Applicable institutions An institution shall pay a default rate fine under this subsection for a fiscal year based on the cohort default rate (as defined in section 435(m)) on loans made under this title for such fiscal year. (3) Fine (A) In general Each institution described in paragraph (2) shall pay a default rate fine for a fiscal year that is equal to 10 percent of the applicable amount determined under subparagraph (B)(i) for such fiscal year. (B) Applicable amount (i) In general The applicable amount for a fiscal year with respect to an institution shall be an amount equal to the product of the amount of loans made under this title for such fiscal year, and the applicable rate determined in clause (ii). If the applicable rate is equal to or less than zero percent then the applicable amount shall be equal to zero. (ii) Applicable rate The applicable rate for a fiscal year with respect to an institution shall be the rate that is equal to the difference between the cohort default rate on loans made under this title (as defined in section 435(m)) for such fiscal year and the average rate of total unemployment in the United States for the 3-year period covered by that cohort default rate (as defined in section 435(m)), as determined by the Secretary of Labor. (4) Credit for certain institutions Each institution that is described in paragraph (2) shall receive a $400 credit for the fiscal year for each graduate of the institution during such fiscal year who received a Federal Pell Grant while enrolled at the institution. (5) Flexibility in counsel and advice Notwithstanding any other provision of the Act, the Secretary shall grant institutions of higher education flexibility under this Act to counsel and advise students on Federal financial aid, including granting flexibility for institutions to award less than the maximum amount of Federal student aid for which an individual is eligible if the cost of tuition, room, and board at the institution is less than such maximum amount. . (b) Flexibility in counseling and advice Section 485(l) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1092(l) (3) Flexibility in counseling and advice In addition to the entrance counseling under paragraph (1), an eligible institution may require any borrower, at or prior to the time of a disbursement to the borrower of a loan made under part D, to receive the information described in paragraph (2) with respect to such loan, or any other financial counseling, including financial literacy counseling. .

Summary: Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 This bill revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Specifically, the bill makes postsecondary education courses and programs (e.g., apprenticeship programs) that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification, credential, or degree eligible for federal student aid funding if the programs and courses are accredited by a state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the Department of Education. The bill also requires institutions to publish certain enrollment and financial aid information, such as (1) the percentage of former financial aid recipients who are employed at various intervals following graduation, and (2) the average amount of total federal student loan debt accrued upon graduation. The Government Accountability Office must compile and study all such information published by institutions and submit a report containing the results. In addition, the bill consolidates federal student loans into one student loan program and eliminates loan forgiveness for borrowers. Lastly, the bill requires an institution that receives federal student aid funding to pay a default rate fine that is based on the default rate of loans made to its students.