Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2021

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make college affordable and accessible by expanding access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2021 2. Dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school Part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1138 et seq. (1) by redesignating section 745 as section 746; (2) in section 746, as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking fiscal year 2009 fiscal year 2022 (3) by inserting after section 744 the following: 745. Dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to expand access for high school students to the opportunities offered in dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs established through partnerships between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that enable such students to earn postsecondary credits while enrolled in a public high school. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) ESEA definitions The terms dual or concurrent enrollment program early college high school high school (2) Eligible institution The term eligible institution (c) Grants authorized The Secretary may award grants to eligible institutions to carry out dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs. (d) Application An eligible institution that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include a description of— (1) the partnership between the eligible institution and each local educational agency involved in carrying out the dual or concurrent enrollment program or early college high school program; and (2) how the eligible institution will expand student access to a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program, especially for students described in subsection (e). (e) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that will use grant funds for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that serve students from low-income families, students from rural communities, or first-generation college students (as defined in section 402A(h)). (f) Use of funds An eligible institution that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program for students enrolled in a public high school, which may include activities such as— (1) providing educators, principals, and other school leaders with professional development activities that enhance or enable the provision of postsecondary coursework through a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program; (2) designing the curriculum and sequence of courses for a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program in collaboration with educators from the local educational agency and faculty from the eligible institution; (3) establishing a course articulation process for defining and approving courses for high school and postsecondary credit or credentials for both 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education in the State; (4) establishing outreach programs to provide elementary school and secondary school students, especially those students in middle grades, and their parents, educators, school counselors, and principals information about and academic preparation for a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program; (5) helping students meet eligibility criteria for postsecondary courses and ensuring that students understand how credits earned will transfer to institutions of higher education in the State; or (6) coordinating high school transition and postsecondary support services and academic calendars. (g) Flexibility of funds (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible institution that receives a grant under this section may use grant funds for any of the costs associated with carrying out a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program, including the costs of— (A) tuition and fees, books, and required instructional materials for the program so that students will not be required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses; and (B) transportation to and from the program. (2) Limitation An eligible institution may use not more than 20 percent of grant funds received under this section for transportation costs described in paragraph (1)(B). (h) Evaluation and report (1) In general Each eligible institution receiving a grant under this section shall— (A) conduct an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out by such eligible institution under this section; and (B) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report containing the results of the evaluation described in subparagraph (A). (2) Requirements The Secretary may establish requirements for program evaluations. .

Summary: Making Education Affordable and Accessible Act of 2021 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program. The bill also authorizes new grants under the FIPSE program. Specifically, the Department of Education may award grants to institutions of higher education for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that allow high school students to earn postsecondary credits.