More Choice for Career Training Act of 2021

To amend the Federal Pell Grant Program to support career training opportunities for young Americans. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the More Choice for Career Training Act of 2021 2. Supporting career training opportunities for all young Americans (a) Amendments (1) Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a (k) Alternative certification program (1) In general The Secretary shall devise an alternative certification program to enable students to use Federal Pell Grants to enroll in educational programs (either at eligible institutions or institutions that are not eligible institutions) for which students are not otherwise eligible to use Federal Pell Grants under this section. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Program completion rate The term program completion rate (B) Job placement rate The term job placement rate (3) No requirement for accreditation or state authorization The alternative certification program shall not require accreditation, State authorization, minimum instructional hours, or minimum classroom time of educational programs for which students may use Federal Pell Grants to enroll pursuant to this subsection. (4) Continuous operation; determination of eligibility The Secretary shall— (A) only certify an educational program under the alternative certification program that— (i) has been in existence for not less than 5 years; and (ii) has an annual cost of enrollment for a year that is equal to or less than the maximum Federal Pell Grant award applicable to that year; (B) make an initial determination of educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program not later than 180 days after the date of application of the educational program; and (C) re-evaluate educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program not less often than once every 5 years. (5) Information to assess program eligibility (A) In general Each educational program applying for certification or re-certification under the alternative certification program, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the Secretary all data necessary for the Secretary to assess educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program. (B) Privacy The Secretary shall keep all student data submitted under subparagraph (A) private and confidential. (6) Determinations of program eligibility The Secretary shall make a determination of educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program on the basis of student outcomes in the educational program, including based on each of the following: (A) Program completion rate. (B) Job placement rate within 90 days of program completion. (C) Job placement rate within 12 months of program completion. (D) Graduate median starting salary. (E) Graduate median salary 5 years after program completion. (F) Graduate average starting salary. (G) Graduate average salary 5 years after program completion. (7) Decertification The Secretary may decertify an educational program under the alternative certification program if the program meets any of the following: (A) The program completion rate is less than 70 percent. (B) The job placement rate within 90 days of program completion is less than 50 percent. (C) The job placement rate within 12 months of program completion is less than 70 percent. (D) The graduate median starting salary is less than 200 percent of the Federal poverty level for a one-person household. (E) The graduate median salary 5 years after program completion is less than 300 percent of the Federal poverty level for a one-person household. (8) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to extend eligibility with respect to an educational program that is certified under the alternative certification program under this subsection to other programs under this title. . (2) Beginning on July 1, 2023 Section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a Public Law 116–260 (k) Alternative certification program (1) In general The Secretary shall devise an alternative certification program to enable students to use Federal Pell Grants to enroll in educational programs (either at eligible institutions or institutions that are not eligible institutions) for which students are not otherwise eligible to use Federal Pell Grants under this section. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Program completion rate The term program completion rate (B) Job placement rate The term job placement rate (3) No requirement for accreditation or state authorization The alternative certification program shall not require accreditation, State authorization, minimum instructional hours, or minimum classroom time of educational programs for which students may use Federal Pell Grants to enroll pursuant to this subsection. (4) Continuous operation; determination of eligibility The Secretary shall— (A) only certify an educational program under the alternative certification program that— (i) has been in existence for not less than 5 years; and (ii) has an annual cost of enrollment for a year that is equal to or less than the maximum Federal Pell Grant award applicable to that year; (B) make an initial determination of educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program not later than 180 days after the date of application of the educational program; and (C) re-evaluate educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program not less often than once every 5 years. (5) Information to assess program eligibility (A) In general Each educational program applying for certification or re-certification under the alternative certification program, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the Secretary all data necessary for the Secretary to assess educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program. (B) Privacy The Secretary shall keep all student data submitted under subparagraph (A) private and confidential. (6) Determinations of program eligibility The Secretary shall make a determination of educational program eligibility under the alternative certification program on the basis of student outcomes in the educational program, including based on each of the following: (A) Program completion rate. (B) Job placement rate within 90 days of program completion. (C) Job placement rate within 12 months of program completion. (D) Graduate median starting salary. (E) Graduate median salary 5 years after program completion. (F) Graduate average starting salary. (G) Graduate average salary 5 years after program completion. (7) Decertification The Secretary may decertify an educational program under the alternative certification program if the program meets any of the following: (A) The program completion rate is less than 70 percent. (B) The job placement rate within 90 days of program completion is less than 50 percent. (C) The job placement rate within 12 months of program completion is less than 70 percent. (D) The graduate median starting salary is less than 200 percent of the Federal poverty level for a one-person household. (E) The graduate median salary 5 years after program completion is less than 300 percent of the Federal poverty level for a one-person household. (8) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to extend eligibility with respect to an educational program that is certified under the alternative certification program under this subsection to other programs under this title. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a)(2) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of Division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260

Summary: More Choice for Career Training Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Education to develop an alternative certification program that allows students to use Pell Grants for enrollment in educational programs that have existed for at least five years and would not otherwise be eligible. The alternative certification program may not require accreditation, state authorization, minimum instructional hours, or minimum classroom time for an educational program to be eligible.