175 
(3) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—The Fed-
eral and non-Federal share required by this section 
shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, 
State, and private resources that would otherwise be 
expended to carry out the systematic reform of jun-
ior or community colleges in a State. 
(e) APPLICATION.—An eligible State desiring to re-
ceive a grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
Such application shall describe the programs, service, and 
policies to be used by the State to achieve the systematic 
reform described in subsection (f), including— 
(1) the goals of such programs, services, and 
policies; 
(2) how the State will allocate grant funds to 
carry out such programs, services, and policies; 
(3) how such programs, services, and policies 
will enable the State to meet the benchmarks devel-
oped pursuant to subsection (g), and how the State 
will track and report the State’s progress in reach-
ing such benchmarks; 
(4) how the State will use such programs, serv-
ices, and policies to establish quantifiable targets for 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00175
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
176 
improving graduation rates and employment-related 
outcomes; 
(5) how the State will serve high-need popu-
lations through such programs, services, and poli-
cies; 
(6) how the State will partner with the State 
public employment service and State or local work-
force investment boards in carrying out such pro-
grams, services, and policies; and 
(7) how the State will rigorously evaluate such 
programs, services, and policies, which may include 
participation in national evaluations. 
(f) USES OF FUNDS.—An eligible State receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to im-
plement the systematic reform of junior and community 
colleges located in the State by carrying out programs, 
services, and policies that demonstrated effectiveness 
under the evaluation described in section 503(i). 
(g) BENCHMARKS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible State receiving 
a grant under this section shall, in consultation with 
the Secretary, develop quantifiable benchmarks on 
the indicators identified in section 503(f)(1). 
(2) PROGRESS.—An eligible State receiving 
such a grant shall annually measure and report to 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00176
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
177 
the Secretary progress in achieving the benchmarks 
developed pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(h) REPORT.— 
(1) REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY.—Each eligi-
ble State receiving a grant under this section shall 
annually submit to the Secretary and the Secretary 
of Labor a report on such grant, including— 
(A) a description of the systematic reform 
carried out by the State using such grant; and 
(B) the outcome of such reform, including 
the State’s progress in achieving the bench-
marks developed under subsection (g). 
(2) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 
months after the end of the grant period, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and 
the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
House of Representatives a summary of the reports 
submitted under paragraph (1) with respect to such 
grant period. 
SEC. 505. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 
(a) OPEN ONLINE EDUCATION.—From the amount 
appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary is au-
thorized to make competitive grants to, or enter into con-
tracts with, institutions of higher education, philanthropic 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00177
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
178 
organizations, and other appropriate entities to develop, 
evaluate, and disseminate free high-quality online training, 
high school courses, and postsecondary education courses. 
(b) LEARNING AND EARNING RESEARCH CENTER.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—From the amount appro-
priated to carry out this section, the Secretary is au-
thorized to award a grant to, or enter into a con-
tract with, a nonprofit organization with dem-
onstrated expertise in the research and evaluation of 
junior or community colleges to establish and oper-
ate the Learning and Earning Research Center (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘Center’’). 
(2) GRANT
TERM.—The grant or contract 
awarded under this section shall be awarded for a 
period of not more than 4 years. 
(3) BOARD.—The Center shall be comprised of 
an independent board of 9 individuals who— 
(A) are appointed by the Secretary, based 
on recommendations from the nonprofit organi-
zation receiving the grant or contract under 
this section; and 
(B) who have demonstrated expertise in— 
(i) data collection; 
(ii) data analysis; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00178
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
179 
(iii) econometrics, postsecondary edu-
cation, and workforce development re-
search. 
(4) CENTER ACTIVITIES.—The Center shall— 
(A) develop— 
(i) peer-reviewed metrics to help con-
sumers make sound education and training 
choices, and to help students, workers, 
schools, businesses, researchers, and pol-
icymakers assess the effectiveness of junior 
or community colleges, and courses of 
study at such colleges, in meeting edu-
cation and employment objectives and serv-
ing groups that are underrepresented in 
postsecondary education; 
(ii) standardized data elements, defi-
nitions, and data-sharing protocols to 
make it possible for data systems related 
to postsecondary education to be linked 
and interoperable, and for best practices to 
be shared among States; 
(iii) standards and processes for facili-
tating sharing of data in a manner that 
safeguards student privacy; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00179
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
180 
(iv) common metrics and data ele-
ments to measure the education and em-
ployment outcomes of students attending 
junior or community colleges; 
(B) develop and make widely available ma-
terials analyzing best practices and research on 
successful postsecondary education and training 
efforts; 
(C) make the data and metrics developed 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) available to the 
public in a transparent, user-friendly format; 
and 
(D) consult with representatives from 
States with respect to the activities of the Cen-
ter. 
(c) STATE SYSTEMS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—From the amount appro-
priated to carry out this section, the Secretary is au-
thorized to award grants to States to establish coop-
erative agreements among States to develop, imple-
ment, and expand longitudinal data systems that 
collect, maintain, disaggregate (by income, race, eth-
nicity, gender, disability, and age), and analyze stu-
dent data from junior and community colleges, in-
cluding data on the programs of study and edu-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:20 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00180
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
181 
cation and employment outcomes for particular stu-
dents, tracked over time. 
(2) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds ap-
propriated to carry out this subsection shall be used 
to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and 
State resources that would otherwise be expended to 
carry out statewide longitudinal data systems, in-
cluding funding appropriated for State Longitudinal 
Data Systems in the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009 (26 U.S.C. 1). 
(d) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor 
of the House of Representatives an annual report on the 
amounts awarded to entities receiving grants or contracts 
under this section, and the activities carried out by such 
entities under such grants and contracts. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
03:59 Jul 16, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00181
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3221.IH
H3221
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS