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shall conduct an analysis of proprietary institutions of higher edu-
cation subject to section 487(a)(24) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(24)) and shall submit to the authorizing 
committees a report that provides the results of the analysis. 
(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report shall provide— 
(1) the number of institutions subject to section 487(a)(24) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(24)); 
(2) the number and percentage of such institutions each 
year that do not comply with such section; 
(3) the number of such institutions that are in compliance 
with such section at the time of submission of the report; 
and 
(4) in the case of institutions that are in compliance with 
such section at the time of submission of the report, information 
on the extent to which such institutions’ revenue is derived 
from funds provided under title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.), including information 
on the number of such institutions that derive not less than 
85 percent of their revenues from funds provided under such 
title. 
SEC. 1106. ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON INSTITUTIONS 
OF HIGHER EDUCATION. 
The Secretary of Education shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences 
for the conduct of a study to ascertain the amount and scope 
of all Federal regulations and reporting requirements with which 
institutions of higher education must comply. The study shall be 
completed not later than two years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and shall include information describing— 
(1) by agency, the number of Federal regulations and 
reporting requirements affecting institutions of higher edu-
cation; 
(2) by agency, the estimated time required and costs to 
institutions of higher education (disaggregated by types of 
institutions) to comply with the regulations and reporting 
requirements described in paragraph (1); and 
(3) by agency, recommendations for consolidating, stream-
lining, and eliminating redundant and burdensome Federal 
regulations and reporting requirements affecting institutions 
of higher education. 
SEC. 1107. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF DISTANCE EDUCATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Education 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council 
of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a statistically valid 
evaluation of the quality of distance education programs, as com-
pared to campus-based education programs, at institutions of higher 
education. Such evaluation shall include— 
(1) identification of the elements by which the quality of 
distance education can be assessed, which may include elements 
such as subject matter, interactivity, and student outcomes; 
(2) identification of distance education program success, 
with respect to student achievement, in relation to the mission 
of the institution of higher education; 
(3) identification of the benefits and limitations of distance 
education programs and campus-based programs for different
H. R. 4137—418 
students (including classification of types of students by age 
category) by assessing access, job placement rates, graduation 
rates, and other factors related to persistence, completion, and 
cost; and 
(4) identification and analysis of factors that may make 
direct comparisons of distance education programs and campus- 
based education programs difficult. 
(b) SCOPE.—The National Research Council shall select for 
participation in the evaluation under subsection (a) a diverse group 
of institutions of higher education with respect to size, mission, 
and geographic distribution. 
(c) INTERIM
AND FINAL REPORTS.—The contract under sub-
section (a) shall require that the National Research Council submit 
to the authorizing committees— 
(1) an interim report regarding the evaluation under sub-
section (a) not later than June 30, 2009; and 
(2) a final report regarding such evaluation not later than 
June 30, 2010. 
SEC. 1108. REVIEW OF COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL, 
HEALTH, AND SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) REVIEW OF STANDARDS.—The Secretary of Education shall 
enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of 
the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a national study 
that— 
(1) reviews, analyzes, and compares existing standards in 
environmental, health, and safety areas, for the regulation 
of— 
(A) industrial research and development facilities; and 
(B) research and teaching laboratories and facilities 
at institutions of higher education; and 
(2) based upon the review in paragraph (1), develops rec-
ommended frameworks for alternative regulatory standards, 
if any, for research and teaching laboratories and facilities 
at institutions of higher education that— 
(A) maintain the overall level of protection of the 
environment, and of the health and safety of those using 
such laboratories and facilities; 
(B) reflect the need to ensure consistent application 
of Federal laws; and 
(C) take into account the educational and research 
activities of institutions of higher education. 
(b) REPORT.—The National Research Council shall report to 
Congress regarding the recommended frameworks for alternative 
regulatory standards developed under subsection (a). Such report 
shall contain recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes 
needed to implement the different standards described in subsection 
(a), and the projected costs and benefits resulting from the adoption 
of such standards. 
SEC. 1109. STUDY OF MINORITY MALE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Education shall carry 
out the following: 
(1) Commission and ensure the conduct of a national study 
of underrepresented minority males (particularly African Amer-
ican, Hispanic American, Native American, Native Hawaiian, 
and Alaska Native males) completing high school, and entering
H. R. 4137—419 
and graduating from colleges and universities in accordance 
with the following: 
(A) The data comprising the study shall focus primarily 
on African American, Hispanic American, Native American, 
Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native males and shall uti-
lize existing data sources. 
(B) The study shall focus on high school completion 
and preparation for college, success on the SAT and ACT, 
and minority male access to college, including the financing 
of college, and college persistence and graduation. 
(C) The implementation of the study shall be in four 
stages based on the recommendations of the Commissioner 
for Education Statistics. 
(2) Make specific recommendations to the authorizing 
committees and States on new approaches to increase— 
(A) the number of minority males successfully pre-
paring themselves for college study; 
(B) the number of minority males graduating from 
high school and entering college; and 
(C) the number of minority males graduating from 
college and entering careers in which they are underrep-
resented. 
(b) SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT.—Not later than four years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education 
shall submit a report on the study required by subsection (a)(1), 
together with the recommendations required by subsection (a)(2), 
to the authorizing committees. 
SEC. 1110. STUDY ON BIAS IN STANDARDIZED TESTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Education shall enter into an 
agreement with the Board on Testing and Assessment of the 
National Academy of Sciences for the conduct of a study to identify 
any race, ethnicity, or gender bias in the content and construction 
of standardized tests that are used for admission to institutions 
of higher education. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall issue an interim 
report to the authorizing committees related to the progress of 
the study under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1111. ENDOWMENT REPORT. 
(a) ANALYSIS OF ENDOWMENTS.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study on the amounts, uses, 
and public purposes of the endowments of institutions of higher 
education. The study shall include information (disaggregated by 
types of institutions) describing— 
(1) the average and range of— 
(A) the outstanding balance of such endowments; and 
(B) the growth of such endowments over the last 20 
years; 
(2) the amount and percentage of endowment assets distrib-
uted on an annual basis for spending on education; 
(3) the amount and percentage of endowment assets distrib-
uted on an annual basis for financial aid or for the purpose 
of reducing the costs of tuition, fees, textbooks, and room and 
board; and 
(4) the extent to which the funds in such endowments 
are restricted, and the restrictions placed upon such funds.
H. R. 4137—420 
(b) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit a report on the study required by 
subsection (a) to the authorizing committees not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1112. STUDY OF CORRECTIONAL POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Education, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Labor and the Attorney General, shall— 
(1) conduct a longitudinal study to assess the effects of 
correctional postsecondary education that— 
(A) employs rigorous empirical methods that control 
for self-selection bias; 
(B) measures a range of outcomes, including those 
related to employment and earnings, recidivism, engaged 
citizenship, impact on families of the incarcerated, and 
impact on the culture of the correctional institution; 
(C) examines different delivery systems of postsec-
ondary education, such as on-site and distance learning; 
and 
(D) includes a projected cost-benefit analysis of the 
Federal investment in terms of reduction of future 
offending, reduction of future prison costs (construction 
and operational), increased tax payments by formerly incar-
cerated individuals, a reduction of welfare and other social 
service costs for successful formerly incarcerated individ-
uals, and increased costs from the employment of formerly 
incarcerated individuals; and 
(2) make specific recommendations to the authorizing 
committees and the relevant State agencies responsible for 
correctional education, such as the State superintendents of 
education and State secretaries of corrections, on best 
approaches to increase correctional education and its effective-
ness. 
(b) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.—Not later than three years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall 
submit an interim report on the progress of the study required 
by subsection (a)(1) to the authorizing committees. Not later than 
seven years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Education shall submit a final report, together with the rec-
ommendations required by subsection (a)(2), to the authorizing 
committees. 
SEC. 1113. STUDY OF AID TO LESS-THAN-HALF-TIME STUDENTS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall conduct a study 
on making and expanding the student aid available under title 
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) 
to less-than-half-time students. The Secretary shall submit a report 
on the results of such study, including the Secretary’s recommenda-
tions, to the authorizing committees not later than one year after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) SUBJECTS FOR STUDY.—The study required by this section 
shall, at a minimum, examine the following: 
(1) The existing sources of Federal aid for less-than-half- 
time students seeking a college degree or certificate. 
(2) The demand for Federal aid for less-than-half-time stu-
dents and whether the demand is satisfied by existing sources 
of Federal aid, taking into consideration not only the number 
of less-than-half-time students currently seeking a college