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ice, as required under section 6033 of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(C) A description of the major areas of 
expenditures in the institution’s budget with the 
greatest increase for such academic year. 
‘‘(D) A description of actions being taken 
by the institution to reduce net tuition. 
‘‘(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall compile the information submitted under this 
subsection and shall provide to the authorizing com-
mittees an annual report relating to such informa-
tion. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) NET
TUITION.—The term ‘net tuition’ 
means the average tuition and fees charged to a full- 
time undergraduate student by an institution of 
higher education for an academic year, minus the 
average grant amount received by such a student for 
such academic year. 
‘‘(2) 
POSTSECONDARY
EDUCATION
PRICE 
INDEX.—The term ‘postsecondary education price 
index’ means the postsecondary education price 
index developed pursuant to section 133(i).
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‘‘PART B—COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 
‘‘SEC. 811. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE; DEFINITION. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this part to 
award grants to institutions of higher education or com-
binations of such institutions to encourage such institu-
tions to develop and make available to as many of their 
students as possible work experience that will aid such stu-
dents in future careers and will enable such students to 
support themselves financially while in school. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—In this part the term ‘cooperative 
education’ means the provision of alternating or parallel 
periods of academic study and public or private employ-
ment to give students work experiences related to their 
academic or occupational objectives and an opportunity to 
earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing 
their education. 
‘‘SEC. 812. RESERVATIONS. 
‘‘(a) RESERVATIONS.—Of the amount appropriated 
to carry out this part under section 800 in each fiscal 
year— 
‘‘(1) not less than 50 percent shall be available 
for awarding grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation and combinations of such institutions de-
scribed in section 813(a)(1)(A) for cooperative edu-
cation under section 813;
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‘‘(2) not less than 25 percent shall be available 
for awarding grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation described in section 813(a)(1)(B) for coopera-
tive education under section 813; 
‘‘(3) not to exceed 11 percent shall be available 
for demonstration projects under paragraph (1) of 
section 814(a); 
‘‘(4) not to exceed 11 percent shall be available 
for training and resource centers under paragraph 
(2) of section 814(a); and 
‘‘(5) not to exceed 3 percent shall be available 
for research under paragraph (3) of section 814(a). 
‘‘(b) AVAILABILITY
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Appro-
priations under this part shall not be available for the pay-
ment of compensation of students for employment by em-
ployers under arrangements pursuant to this part. 
‘‘SEC. 813. GRANTS FOR COOPERATIVE EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is author-
ized, from the amount available to carry out this 
part under section 800 in each fiscal year and in ac-
cordance with the provisions of this part— 
‘‘(A) to award grants to institutions of 
higher education or combinations of such insti-
tutions that have not received a grant under
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
this paragraph in the 10-year period preceding 
the date for which a grant under this section is 
requested to pay the Federal share of the cost 
of planning, establishing, expanding, or car-
rying out programs of cooperative education by 
such institutions or combinations of institu-
tions; and 
‘‘(B) to award grants to institutions of 
higher education that are operating an existing 
cooperative education program as determined 
by the Secretary to pay the cost of planning, es-
tablishing, expanding, or carrying out programs 
of cooperative education by such institutions. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM
REQUIREMENT.—Cooperative 
education programs assisted under this section shall 
provide alternating or parallel periods of academic 
study and of public or private employment, giving 
students work experience related to their academic 
or occupational objectives and the opportunity to 
earn the funds necessary for continuing and com-
pleting their education. 
‘‘(3) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) The amount of each grant awarded 
pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) to any institution 
of higher education or combination of such in-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
stitutions in any fiscal year shall not exceed 
$500,000. 
‘‘(B)(i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) 
and (iii), the Secretary shall award grants in 
each fiscal year to each institution of higher 
education described in paragraph (1)(B) that 
has an application approved under subsection 
(b) in an amount which bears the same ratio to 
the amount reserved pursuant to section 
812(a)(2) for such fiscal year as the number of 
unduplicated students placed in cooperative 
education jobs during the preceding fiscal year 
by such institution of higher education (other 
than cooperative education jobs under section 
814 and as determined by the Secretary) bears 
to the total number of all such students placed 
in such jobs during the preceding fiscal year by 
all such institutions. 
‘‘(ii) No institution of higher education 
shall receive a grant pursuant to paragraph 
(1)(B) in any fiscal year in an amount which 
exceeds 25 percent of such institution’s cooper-
ative education program’s personnel and oper-
ating budget for the preceding fiscal year.
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‘‘(iii) The minimum annual grant amount 
which an institution of higher education is eligi-
ble to receive under paragraph (1)(B) is $1,000 
and the maximum annual grant amount is 
$75,000. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall not 
award grants pursuant to paragraphs (1)(A) and 
(B) to the same institution of higher education or 
combination of such institution in any one fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(5) USES.—Grants under paragraph (1)(B) 
shall be used exclusively— 
‘‘(A) to expand the quality of and partici-
pation in a cooperative education program; 
‘‘(B) for outreach in new curricular areas; 
and 
‘‘(C) for outreach to potential participants 
including underrepresented and nontraditional 
populations. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—Each institution of higher edu-
cation or combination of such institutions desiring to re-
ceive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
Secretary shall prescribe. Each such application shall—
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be available to students who are certificate or asso-
ciate degree candidates and who carry at least one- 
half of the normal full-time academic workload; 
‘‘(6) provide that the applicant will— 
‘‘(A) make such reports as may be nec-
essary to ensure that the applicant is complying 
with the provisions of this section, including re-
ports for the second and each succeeding fiscal 
year for which the applicant receives a grant 
with respect to the impact of the cooperative 
education program in the previous fiscal year, 
including— 
‘‘(i) the number of unduplicated stu-
dent applicants in the cooperative edu-
cation program; 
‘‘(ii) the number of unduplicated stu-
dents placed in cooperative education jobs; 
‘‘(iii) the number of employers who 
have hired cooperative education students; 
‘‘(iv) the income for students derived 
from working in cooperative education 
jobs; and 
‘‘(v) the increase or decrease in the 
number of unduplicated students placed in 
cooperative education jobs in each fiscal
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
year compared to the previous fiscal year; 
and 
‘‘(B) keep such records as may be nec-
essary to ensure that the applicant is complying 
with the provisions of this part, including the 
notation of cooperative education employment 
on the student’s transcript; 
‘‘(7) describe the extent to which programs in 
the academic disciplines for which the application is 
made have had a favorable reception by public and 
private sector employers; 
‘‘(8) describe the extent to which the institution 
is committed to extending cooperative education on 
an institution-wide basis for all students who can 
benefit; 
‘‘(9) describe the plans that the applicant will 
carry out to evaluate the applicant’s cooperative edu-
cation program at the end of the grant period; 
‘‘(10) provide for such fiscal control and fund 
accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure 
proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal 
funds paid to the applicant under this part; 
‘‘(11) demonstrate a commitment to serving all 
underserved populations at the institution; and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(12) include such other information as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. 
‘‘(c) DURATION OF GRANTS; FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) DURATION OF GRANTS.—No individual in-
stitution of higher education may receive, individ-
ually or as a participant in a combination of such in-
stitutions— 
‘‘(A) a grant pursuant to subsection 
(a)(1)(A) for more than 5 fiscal years; or 
‘‘(B) a grant pursuant to subsection 
(a)(1)(B) for more than 5 fiscal years. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of a 
grant under subsection (a)(1)(A) may not exceed— 
‘‘(A) 85 percent of the cost of carrying out 
the program or activities described in the appli-
cation in the first year the applicant receives a 
grant under this section; 
‘‘(B) 70 percent of such cost in the second 
such year; 
‘‘(C) 55 percent of such cost in the third 
such year; 
‘‘(D) 40 percent of such cost in the fourth 
such year; and 
‘‘(E) 25 percent of such cost in the fifth 
such year.
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‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE.—Any provision of law to 
the contrary notwithstanding, the Secretary shall not 
waive the provisions of this subsection. 
‘‘(d) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—If the Secretary 
determines that a recipient of funds under this section has 
failed to maintain the fiscal effort described in subsection 
(b)(3), then the Secretary may elect not to make grant 
payments under this section to such recipient. 
‘‘(e) FACTORS FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF AP-
PLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In approving applications 
under this section, the Secretary shall give special 
consideration to applications from institutions of 
higher education or combinations of such institu-
tions for programs which show the greatest promise 
of success because of— 
‘‘(A) the extent to which programs in the 
academic discipline with respect to which the 
application is made have had a favorable recep-
tion by public and private sector employers; 
‘‘(B) the strength of the commitment of 
the institution of higher education or combina-
tion of such institutions to cooperative edu-
cation as demonstrated by the plans and for-
malized institutional commitment statement
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which such institution or combination has made 
to continue the program after the termination 
of Federal financial assistance; 
‘‘(C) the extent to which the institution or 
combination of institutions is committed to ex-
tending cooperative education for all students 
who can benefit; and 
‘‘(D) such other factors as are consistent 
with the purposes of this section. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.— 
The Secretary shall also give special consideration to 
applications from institutions of higher education or 
combinations of such institutions which demonstrate 
a commitment to serving all underserved populations 
attending such institutions. 
‘‘SEC. 814. DEMONSTRATION AND INNOVATION PROJECTS; 
TRAINING AND RESOURCE CENTERS; AND RE-
SEARCH. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary is authorized, 
in accordance with the provisions of this section, to make 
grants and enter into contracts— 
‘‘(1) from the amounts available in each fiscal 
year under section 812(a)(3), for the conduct of 
demonstration projects designed to demonstrate or
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
determine the feasibility or value of innovative meth-
ods of cooperative education; 
‘‘(2) from the amounts available in each fiscal 
year under section 812(a)(4), for the conduct of 
training and resource centers designed to— 
‘‘(A) train personnel in the field of cooper-
ative education; 
‘‘(B) improve materials used in cooperative 
education programs if such improvement is con-
ducted in conjunction with other activities de-
scribed in this paragraph; 
‘‘(C) furnish technical assistance to institu-
tions of higher education to increase the poten-
tial of the institution to continue to conduct a 
cooperative education program without Federal 
assistance; 
‘‘(D) encourage model cooperative edu-
cation programs which furnish education and 
training in occupations in which there is a na-
tional need; 
‘‘(E) support partnerships under which an 
institution carrying out a comprehensive cooper-
ative education program joins with one or more 
institutions of higher education in order to (i) 
assist the institution that is not the institution
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY
FOR REPLICATION
OF EVIDENCE- 
BASED POLICIES AND PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall 
give priority to applications submitted by eligible institu-
tions that propose to replicate policies and practices that 
have proven effective in increasing persistence and comple-
tion by low-income students or students in need of devel-
opmental education. 
‘‘(f) PEER REVIEW.—The Secretary shall convene a 
peer review process to review applications for grants under 
this section and to make recommendations to the Sec-
retary regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the 
peer review committee shall include researchers and prac-
titioners who are recognized experts on services and poli-
cies to increase low income student success in postsec-
ondary education and training. No member of the com-
mittee shall be in a position to benefit financially from 
the grants to eligible institutions under subsection (d). 
‘‘(g) MANDATORY USES.—An eligible institution that 
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds to assign a Student Success Coach to every first- 
year student participating in the pilot program to provide 
intensive career and academic advising, ongoing personal 
help in navigating college services such as financial aid 
and registration, and assistance in connecting to commu-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
nity resources that can help students overcome family and 
personal challenges to success. Student Success Coaches— 
‘‘(1) shall work with not more than 50 new stu-
dents during any academic period; 
‘‘(2) may be employees of academic depart-
ments, student services offices, community-based or-
ganizations, or other entities as deemed appropriate 
by the institution; and 
‘‘(3) shall meet with each eligible student se-
lected for the pilot program before registration for 
courses. 
‘‘(h) PERMISSIBLE USES.—An eligible institution 
that receives a grant under this section may use the grant 
funds to provide services and program innovations for stu-
dents participating in the pilot, including the following: 
‘‘(1) College and career success courses, with 
tuition and fees for the course covered by the Stu-
dent Success Grant. These courses may cover college 
success topics, including how to take notes, how to 
study, how to take tests, and how to budget time, 
and may also include a substantial career explo-
ration component. Institutions may use such courses 
to help students develop a College and Career Suc-
cess Plan so that by the end of the first semester
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
the students have a clear sense of their career goals 
and what classes to take to achieve such goals. 
‘‘(2) Work-study jobs with private employers in 
the students’ fields of study. 
‘‘(3) Learning communities that ensure that 
students participating in the pilot are clustered to-
gether for at least two courses beginning in the first 
semester after enrolling and have other opportunities 
to create and maintain bonds that allow them to 
provide academic and social support to each other. 
‘‘(4) Curricular redesign, which may include 
such innovations as ‘blended’ or accelerated remedi-
ation classes that help Student Success Grant recipi-
ents to attain college-level reading, writing, math 
skills (or a combination thereof) more rapidly than 
traditional remediation formats allow, and intensive 
skills refresher classes, offered prior to each semes-
ter, to help students who have tested into remedial 
coursework to reach entry level assessment scores 
for the postsecondary programs they wish to enter. 
‘‘(5) Instructional support, such as learning 
labs, supplemental instruction, and tutoring. 
‘‘(6) Assistance with support services, such as 
child care and transportation.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(i) GRANT PERIOD; ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT PERIOD.—Grants made under this 
section shall be for a period of not less than 60 
months. 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.— 
After 36 months, the Secretary shall review the per-
formance of the Student Success Grant pilot pro-
gram students at each institution, and if no signifi-
cant improvements have been made by Student Suc-
cess Grant pilot program students in persistence and 
completion at an institution, then the Secretary shall 
provide additional technical assistance to help the in-
stitution improve outcomes. 
‘‘(j) REQUIRED NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each institution partici-
pating in the pilot program under this section shall 
provide a non-Federal match of 25 percent of the 
amount of grant to carry out the activities of the 
pilot program. The non-Federal share under this 
section may be provided in cash or in kind. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT
ON
NEED
ANALYSIS.—For the 
purpose of calculating a student’s need in accord-
ance with part F of this title, services or benefits 
under this section shall not be considered to be an
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
asset or income of the student or the students par-
ents. 
‘‘(k) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
enter into contracts with private entities to provide such 
technical assistance to grantees under this section as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(l) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) OUTCOME EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall conduct an evaluation of program outcomes 
under the pilot program, and shall disseminate to 
the public the findings from the evaluation and in-
formation on best practices. The Secretary is en-
couraged to partner with other providers of funds, 
such as private foundations, to allow for use of an 
experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation in at 
least one of the pilot program sites. 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTIONAL
PARTICIPATION.—As a 
condition of receiving grants under this section, par-
ticipating institutions shall work with the evaluator 
to track persistence and completion outcomes for 
students in the pilot program, specifically the pro-
portion of these students who take and complete de-
velopmental education courses, the proportion who 
take and complete college-level coursework, and the 
proportion who complete certificates and degrees.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
This data shall be broken down by race, ethnicity, 
and age and the evaluator shall assist institutions in 
analyzing this data to compare Student Success 
Grant pilot program participants to comparable non-
participants, using statistical techniques to control 
for differences in the groups. 
‘‘(3) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Participating institu-
tions under this section shall report on the data 
specified in paragraph (2) annually and the Sec-
retary shall make this data publicly available. 
‘‘PART E—JOBS TO CAREERS 
‘‘SEC. 831. GRANTS TO CREATE BRIDGES FROM JOBS TO CA-
REERS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.—From amounts 
appropriated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
institutions of higher education for the purposes of im-
proving developmental education, including English lan-
guage instruction, by customizing developmental education 
to student career goals, and helping students move rapidly 
from developmental coursework into for-credit occupa-
tional program courses and through program completion. 
The grants under this section shall focus in particular on 
creating bridges to for-credit occupational certificate pro-
grams that are articulated to degree programs.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(3) Improving the quality of teaching in reme-
dial courses through professional development, re-
classification of such teaching positions, or other 
means the eligible institution determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(4) Any other activities the eligible institution 
and the Secretary determine will promote retention 
of, and completion by, students attending institu-
tions of higher education. 
‘‘(5) Fully advise students on the range of op-
tions and programs available, which may include: di-
ploma; certification; 2-year degree; associate’s de-
gree; transfer degree to upper division; and career 
options. 
‘‘(g) GRANT PERIOD.—Grants made under this sec-
tion shall be for a period of not less than 36 months and 
not more than 60 months. 
‘‘(h) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to grantees under this section 
throughout the grant period. 
‘‘(i) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall conduct an 
evaluation of program impacts under the demonstration 
program, and shall disseminate to the public the findings 
from the evaluation and information on best practices. 
The Secretary is encouraged to partner with other pro-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
viders of funds, such as private foundations, to allow for 
use of a random assignment evaluation in at least one of 
the demonstration sites. 
‘‘(j) DEFINITION OF INSTITUTION.—In this section, 
the term ‘institution of higher education’ means an insti-
tution of higher education as defined in section 101(a). 
‘‘PART F—PROJECT GRAD 
‘‘SEC. 836. PROJECT GRAD. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this part are— 
‘‘(1) to provide support and assistance to pro-
grams implementing integrated education reform 
services in order to improve secondary school grad-
uation and college attendance and completion rates 
for disadvantaged students; and 
‘‘(2) to promote the establishment of new pro-
grams to implement such integrated education re-
form services. 
‘‘(b) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—From the amount ap-
propriated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary is authorized to award a grant to Project GRAD 
USA (referred to in this part as the ‘grantee’), a nonprofit 
educational organization that has as its primary purpose 
the improvement of secondary school graduation and col-
lege attendance and completion rates for disadvantaged 
students, to implement and sustain the integrated edu-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
cation reform services described in subsection (d)(3) at ex-
isting Project GRAD program sites and to promote the 
expansion of such programs to new sites. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS OF GRANT AGREEMENT.—The 
Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the grantee 
that requires that the grantee shall— 
‘‘(1) enter into subcontracts with nonprofit edu-
cational organizations that serve a substantial num-
ber or percentage of low-income students (referred 
to in this part as ‘subcontractors’), under which the 
subcontractors agree to implement the programs de-
scribed in subsection (d) and provide matching funds 
for such programs; 
‘‘(2) directly carry out— 
‘‘(A) activities to implement and sustain 
the literacy, mathematics, classroom manage-
ment, social service, and college access pro-
grams further described in subsection (d)(3); 
‘‘(B) activities to build the organizational 
and management capacity of the subcontractors 
to effectively implement and sustain the pro-
grams; 
‘‘(C) activities for the purpose of improving 
and expanding the programs, including but not 
limited to activities to further articulate a pro-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
gram for one or more grade levels and across 
grade levels, to tailor a program for a particular 
target audience, and provide tighter integration 
across programs; 
‘‘(D) activities for the purpose of imple-
menting new Project GRAD program sites; 
‘‘(E) activities for the purpose of pro-
moting greater public awareness of integrated 
education reform services to improve secondary 
school graduation and college attendance rates 
for disadvantaged students; and 
‘‘(F) other activities directly related to im-
proving secondary school graduation and college 
attendance and completion rates for disadvan-
taged students; and 
‘‘(3) use grant funds available under this part 
to pay— 
‘‘(A) the amount determined under sub-
section (f)(1); and 
‘‘(B) costs associated with carrying out the 
activities and providing the services, as provided 
in paragraph (2) of this subsection. 
‘‘(d) SUPPORTED PROGRAMS.—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATION.—The subcontractor pro-
grams referred to in subsection (c)(1) shall be 
known as Project GRAD programs. 
‘‘(2) FEEDER PATTERNS.—Each subcontractor 
shall implement a Project GRAD program and shall, 
with the agreement of the grantee— 
‘‘(A) identify or establish not less than one 
‘feeder pattern’ of public schools, where ‘feeder 
pattern’ is defined as a high school and the ele-
mentary schools and middle schools that chan-
nel students into that high school; and 
‘‘(B) provide the integrated educational re-
form services described in paragraph (3) at the 
identified feeder pattern or feeder patterns. 
‘‘(3) INTEGRATED EDUCATION REFORM SERV-
ICES.—The services provided through a Project 
GRAD program may include— 
‘‘(A) research-based programs in reading, 
mathematics, and classroom management; 
‘‘(B) campus-based social services pro-
grams, including a systematic approach to in-
crease family and community involvement in the 
schools served by the Project GRAD program; 
‘‘(C) a college access program that in-
cludes—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(i) providing college scholarships for 
students who meet established criteria; 
‘‘(ii) proven approaches for increasing 
student and family college awareness; and 
‘‘(iii) assistance for such students in 
applying for higher education financial aid; 
and 
‘‘(D) such other services identified by the 
grantee as necessary to increase secondary 
school graduation and college attendance and 
completion rates. 
‘‘(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Of the funds made available 
to carry out this part under section 800, not more than 
8 percent of such funds, or $4,000,000, whichever is less, 
shall be used by the grantee to pay for administration of 
the grant, with the remainder of funds to be used for the 
purposes described in subsections (c)(1) and (2). 
‘‘(f) GRANTEE CONTRIBUTION AND MATCHING RE-
QUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The grantee shall provide 
to each subcontractor an average of $200 for each 
pupil served by the subcontractor in the Project 
GRAD program, adjusted to take into consider-
ation—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(A) the resources available in the area 
where the subcontractor will implement the 
Project GRAD program; and 
‘‘(B) the need for Project GRAD programs 
in such area to improve student outcomes. 
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Each subcon-
tractor shall provide funds for the Project GRAD 
program in an amount that is equal to the amount 
received by the subcontractor from the grantee. 
Such matching funds may be provided in cash or in 
kind, fairly evaluated. 
‘‘(3) WAIVER
AUTHORITY.—The grantee may 
waive, in whole or in part, the requirement of para-
graph (2) for a subcontractor, if the subcontractor— 
‘‘(A) demonstrates that it would not other-
wise be able to participate in the program; and 
‘‘(B) enters into an agreement with the 
grantee with respect to the amount to which the 
waiver will apply. 
‘‘(4) DECREASE
IN
GRANTEE
SHARE.—Based 
on the funds or resources available to a subcon-
tractor, the grantee may elect to provide the subcon-
tractor with an amount that is less than the amount 
determined under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION.—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(i) data on the reading and mathe-
matics achievement of students involved in 
the Project GRAD program; 
‘‘(ii) statistics on secondary school 
graduation, college attendance, and college 
completion rates; and 
‘‘(iii) such financial reporting as re-
quired by the Secretary to review the effec-
tiveness and efficiency of the program. 
‘‘(B) FORM OF REPORT.—The report shall 
be in a form and include such content as shall 
be determined by the grantee, in consultation 
with the Secretary or the entity selected by the 
Secretary to evaluate the Project GRAD pro-
grams in accordance with paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF EVALUATIONS.—Copies 
of any evaluation or report prepared under this sub-
section shall be made available to— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) the chairperson and ranking member 
of the authorizing committees. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this part the term ‘low-in-
come student’ means a student who is determined by a 
local educational agency to be from a low-income family 
using the measures described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)). 
‘‘PART G—IMPROVING COLLEGE ENROLLMENT 
BY SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
‘‘SEC. 841. IMPROVING COLLEGE ENROLLMENT BY SEC-
ONDARY SCHOOLS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From the amount appropriated 
to carry out this part under section 800, the Secretary 
shall award a grant to one nonprofit organization de-
scribed in subsection (b) to enable the nonprofit organiza-
tion— 
‘‘(1) to make publicly available the year-to-year 
higher education enrollment rate trends of secondary 
school students, disaggregated by secondary school, 
in compliance with the Family Education Rights and 
Privacy Act of 1974; 
‘‘(2) to identify not less than 50 urban local 
educational agencies and 5 States with significant 
rural populations, each serving a significant popu-
lation of low-income students, and to carry out a 
comprehensive needs assessment in the agencies and 
States of the factors known to contribute to im-
proved higher education enrollment rates, which fac-
tors shall include—
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‘‘(A) an evaluation of the local educational 
agency’s and State’s leadership strategies; 
‘‘(B) the secondary school curriculum and 
class offerings of the local educational agency 
and State; 
‘‘(C) the professional development used by 
the local educational agency and the State to 
assist teachers, higher education counselors, 
and administrators in supporting the transition 
of secondary students into higher education; 
‘‘(D) secondary school student attendance 
and other factors demonstrated to be associated 
with enrollment into higher education; 
‘‘(E) the data systems used by the local 
educational agency and the State to measure 
college enrollment rates and the incentives in 
place to motivate the efforts of faculty and stu-
dents to improve student and school-wide out-
comes; and 
‘‘(F) strategies to mobilize student leaders 
to build a college-bound culture; and 
‘‘(3) to provide comprehensive services to im-
prove the school-wide higher education enrollment 
rates of each of not less than 10 local educational 
agencies and States, with the federally funded por-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
tion of each project declining by not less than 20 
percent each year beginning in the second year of 
the comprehensive services, that— 
‘‘(A) participated in the needs assessment 
described in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) demonstrated a willingness and com-
mitment to improving the higher education en-
rollment rates of the local educational agency or 
State, respectively. 
‘‘(b) GRANT RECIPIENT CRITERIA.—The recipient of 
the grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be a non-
profit organization with demonstrated expertise— 
‘‘(1) in increasing school-wide higher education 
enrollment rates in low-income communities nation-
wide by providing curriculum, training, and technical 
assistance to secondary school staff and student peer 
influencers; and 
‘‘(2) in a college transition data management 
system. 
‘‘PART H—DIPLOMA MILL PREVENTION 
‘‘SEC. 851. PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this part is to pro-
tect institutions of higher education, businesses and other 
employers, professional licensing boards, patients and cli-
ents of degree holders, taxpayers, and other individuals
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from any person claiming to possess a legitimate academic 
degree that in fact was issued by a fraudulent or non-
existent school, by a non-educational entity posing as a 
school, or by any entity in violation of Federal or State 
law. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this part: 
‘‘(1) DEGREE-GRANTING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘degree-granting institution’ means any entity 
that offers or confers an academic, professional, or 
occupational degree, diploma, or certificate, if such 
degree, diploma, or certificate may be used to rep-
resent to the general public that the individual pos-
sessing such degree, diploma, or certificate has com-
pleted a program of education or training beyond 
secondary education. 
‘‘(2) DIPLOMA MILL.—The term ‘diploma mill’ 
means any entity that— 
‘‘(A) lacks valid accreditation by an agency 
recognized by a Federal agency or a State gov-
ernment or other organization or association 
that recognizes accrediting agencies as a valid 
accrediting agency of institutions of higher edu-
cation; and 
‘‘(B) offers degrees, diplomas, or certifi-
cations, for a fee, that may be used to represent
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to the general public that the individual pos-
sessing such a degree, diploma, or certification 
has completed a program of education or train-
ing beyond secondary education, but little or no 
education or course work is required to obtain 
such a degree, diploma, or certification. 
‘‘(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 102. 
‘‘SEC. 852. RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING AGENCIES AND IN-
STITUTIONS. 
‘‘(a) LISTS MAINTAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
EDUCATION.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 
the enactment of this part, the Secretary of Education 
shall make available (in a regularly updated, electronic 
format) to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, a list of— 
‘‘(1) accrediting agencies and associations, rec-
ognized by the Secretary of Education under section 
496, or, at the discretion of the Secretary, other or-
ganizations involved in accreditation; 
‘‘(2) eligible institutions, as defined under sec-
tion 435(a); and 
‘‘(3) to the extent practicable, foreign degree- 
granting institutions that—
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‘‘(A) have degree-granting authority, as 
granted by the appropriate agency or ministry 
of jurisdiction in the home country of such in-
stitution; 
‘‘(B) issue degrees that are accepted for 
professional licensure, public employment, and 
admission into graduate programs of degree- 
granting institutions in the home country (as 
determined by the Secretary of State); 
‘‘(C) are determined by the Secretary of 
Education to be academically equivalent to an 
eligible institution, as defined in section 435(a); 
and 
‘‘(D) are located in a home country that is 
capable of performing an effective academic 
evaluation of the degree-granting institutions to 
which it issues degree-granting authority, as de-
termined by the Secretary of State, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Education, 
for the purposes of assisting the Secretary of Homeland 
Security and the heads of such Federal agencies to deter-
mine, for immigration and Federal employment and hiring 
purposes, the legitimacy of degree-granting institutions 
and degrees issued by such institutions.
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‘‘(b) REVISIONS TO LISTS.—The Secretary of Edu-
cation shall modify and maintain the lists described in 
subsection (a) as necessary to ensure that the lists and 
the information contained in the lists are accurate and up- 
to-date, based on the most recent information available to 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) NOTICE OF RECOGNITION.—To be eligible to re-
ceive funds under title IV, each eligible institution de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2) shall, not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this part, prominently 
display on the institution’s Internet website a notice indi-
cating that the institution is recognized by the Secretary 
of Education as a legitimate institution for immigration 
and Federal employment and hiring purposes. If the Sec-
retary of Education determines that an institution no 
longer qualifies as a legitimate degree-granting institu-
tions described in subsection (a)(2), and removes the insti-
tution from the list maintained under such subsection, the 
institution shall, not later than 15 days after the removal 
of the institution from such list, delete the notice required 
by this subsection from the institution’s Internet website. 
‘‘SEC. 853. ACCREDITING AGENCIES. 
‘‘No accrediting agency or association may be consid-
ered to be a reliable authority as to the quality of edu-
cation or training offered by a degree-granting institution
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
for any purpose related to immigration, Federal employ-
ment and hiring practices, or for any other Federal pur-
poses, unless the agency or association is on the list of 
accrediting agencies and associations recognized by the 
Secretary of Education and provided to the Secretary of 
Homeland Security under section 852. The Secretary may 
consult with other organizations, such as the Council for 
Higher Education Accreditation, for such purposes. 
‘‘SEC. 854. TASK FORCE. 
‘‘(a) TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary of 
Education shall establish within the Department of Edu-
cation the Diploma Mill Task Force (referred to in this 
part as the ‘Task Force’). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Task 
Force shall, if practicable, be composed of 19 mem-
bers, as follows: 
‘‘(A) The Assistant Secretary of Education 
for Postsecondary Education. 
‘‘(B) A representative of the Department 
of Education with experience related to the de-
termination of the legitimacy and quality of de-
grees from foreign institutions of higher edu-
cation, selected by the Secretary of Education.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(C) A representative of the Department 
of Justice, selected by the Attorney General. 
‘‘(D) A representative of the Federal 
Trade Commission, selected by the Chairman of 
such agency. 
‘‘(E) A representative of the Secret Serv-
ice, selected by the Director of the Secret Serv-
ice. 
‘‘(F) A representative of the Department 
of State, selected by the Secretary of State. 
‘‘(G) A representative of the Department 
of Homeland Security, selected by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(H) A representative of the Office of Per-
sonnel Management, selected by the Director of 
such Office. 
‘‘(I) A representative of a national accredi-
tation association. 
‘‘(J) A representative of a national organi-
zation representing collegiate registrars and ad-
missions officers. 
‘‘(K) Two representatives of State degree 
approval agencies, selected by agreement of at 
least 3 of the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Senate majority leader, the
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
House minority leader, and the Senate minority 
leader. 
‘‘(L) Two representatives from regionally 
accredited institutions of higher education, se-
lected by agreement of at least 3 of the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, the Senate 
majority leader, the House minority leader, and 
the Senate minority leader. 
‘‘(M) One representative from a nationally 
accredited institution of higher education, se-
lected by agreement of at least 3 of the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, the Senate 
majority leader, the House minority leader, and 
the Senate minority leader. 
‘‘(N) Four individuals from the general 
population with experience in higher education, 
the detection of fraudulent degrees and degree- 
granting institutions, or law enforcement re-
lated to credential fraud, selected as follows: 
‘‘(i) One individual selected by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(ii) One individual selected by the 
minority leader of the House of Represent-
atives.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(iii) One individual selected by the 
majority leader of the Senate. 
‘‘(iv) One individual selected by the 
minority leader of the Senate. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP.—All mem-
bers of the Task Force shall be persons who are es-
pecially qualified to serve on the Task Force by vir-
tue of their education, training, or experience, par-
ticularly in the fields of higher education, accredita-
tion of institutions of higher education, foreign high-
er education standards, State regulation of institu-
tions of higher education, immigration, Federal em-
ployment requirements and hiring practices, or fraud 
prevention, detection, or enforcement. 
‘‘(3) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for the life of the Task Force. 
‘‘(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Task Force 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
‘‘(5) CHAIR.—At the first meeting of the Task 
Force, the members of the Task Force shall elect a 
member of the Task Force to serve as Chair. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) GUIDELINES.—The Task Force shall de-
velop guidelines, to be used for the development of
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
gree-granting institutions and practices 
and the use of fraudulent degrees; and 
‘‘(iv) the prosecution of such fraudu-
lent degree-granting institutions and prac-
tices and the use of fraudulent degrees; 
‘‘(D) difficulties in identifying fraudulent 
degree-granting institutions located in foreign 
countries, or that claim recognition or degree- 
granting authority from foreign countries; 
‘‘(E) means to alert and educate the public 
about fraudulent degree-granting institutions 
and the use of fraudulent degrees; 
‘‘(F) laws, regulations, and other means 
used by States to address fraudulent degree- 
granting institutions and the use of fraudulent 
degrees; 
‘‘(G) the potential need for coordination 
and cooperation among various Federal agen-
cies to investigate and prosecute suspected 
fraudulent degree-granting institutions, and the 
detailed recommendations of the Task Force re-
garding such coordination and cooperation; 
‘‘(H) the study and the report to the Task 
Force required under this section; and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(I) the purposes for which various agen-
cies of the United States need to identify fraud-
ulent degree-granting institutions, and identify, 
prohibit, and prevent the use of degrees issued 
by such fraudulent institutions, and the ability 
of such agencies to implement any guidelines 
considered by the Task Force. 
‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENT OF FEDERAL PLAN.—The 
Task Force shall develop a strategic diploma integ-
rity protection plan (referred to in this section as 
the ‘Plan’) to address the sale and use of fraudulent 
degrees for Federal purposes. The Plan shall include 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Recommendations to Congress re-
garding the implementation by Federal agencies 
of the guidelines developed under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(B) Recommendations to the Federal 
Trade Commission regarding the application of 
the guidelines developed under paragraph (1) to 
any rulemaking under section 856 and to the 
enforcement of the rules promulgated under 
such section. 
‘‘(3) SUBMISSION OF REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
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ment of this part, the Task Force shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report, 
including— 
‘‘(A) the guidelines developed under para-
graph (1); 
‘‘(B) the Plan developed under paragraph 
(2); and 
‘‘(C) a legislative proposal for consider-
ation by Congress. 
‘‘SEC. 855. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING USE BY 
STATES OF THE FEDERAL PLAN AS GUIDE-
LINES. 
‘‘It is the sense of the Congress that— 
‘‘(1) each State should implement a strategic 
diploma integrity plan similar to any strategic di-
ploma integrity plan developed under section 854, to 
the extent practicable and as soon as practicable 
after the date of the adoption of such a plan under 
such section; and 
‘‘(2) States may adopt more stringent stand-
ards than those standards contained in the Federal 
strategic diploma integrity plan and used by agen-
cies of the United States to identify fraudulent de-
gree-granting institutions operating within such 
State, except that State law does not preempt Fed-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
eral law as applied to the employment and hiring 
practices of Federal employees working in such 
State. 
‘‘SEC. 856. UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE ACTS AND PRACTICES 
REGARDING DIPLOMAS AND PROFESSIONAL 
CERTIFICATIONS. 
‘‘Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this part, the Secretary shall request in writing that 
the Federal Trade Commission shall develop a plan to ad-
dress diploma mills based on section 18 of Federal Trade 
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a). 
‘‘PART I—STUDENT SAFETY AND CAMPUS 
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 
‘‘SEC. 861. STUDENT SAFETY AND CAMPUS EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amount appro-
priated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a com-
petitive basis, to institutions of higher education or 
consortia of institutions of higher education to en-
able institutions of higher education or consortia to 
pay the Federal share of the cost of carrying out the 
authorized activities described in subsection (c).
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION
WITH
THE
ATTORNEY 
GENERAL AND THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SE-
CURITY.—Where appropriate, the Secretary shall 
award grants under this section in consultation with 
the Attorney General of the United States and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—The Secretary shall award 
each grant under this section for a period of 2 years. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON INSTITUTIONS AND CON-
SORTIA.—An institution of higher education or con-
sortium shall be eligible for only 1 grant under this 
section. 
‘‘(b) FEDERAL SHARE; NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the 
activities described in subsection (c) shall be 50 per-
cent. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The institution of 
higher education or consortium shall provide the 
non-Federal share, which may be provided from 
other Federal, State, and local resources dedicated 
to emergency preparedness and response. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—Each institution of 
higher education or consortium receiving a grant under 
this section may use the grant funds to carry out 1 or 
more of the following:
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‘‘(1) Developing and implementing a state-of- 
the-art emergency communications system for each 
campus of an institution of higher education or con-
sortium, in order to contact students via cellular, 
text message, or other state-of-the-art communica-
tions methods when a significant emergency or dan-
gerous situation occurs. An institution or consortium 
using grant funds to carry out this paragraph shall 
also, in coordination with the appropriate State and 
local emergency management authorities— 
‘‘(A) develop procedures that students, em-
ployees, and others on a campus of an institu-
tion of higher education or consortium will be 
directed to follow in the event of a significant 
emergency or dangerous situation; and 
‘‘(B) develop procedures the institution of 
higher education or consortium shall follow to 
inform, within a reasonable and timely manner, 
students, employees, and others on a campus in 
the event of a significant emergency or dan-
gerous situation, which procedures shall include 
the emergency communications system de-
scribed in this paragraph.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(2) Supporting measures to improve safety at 
the institution of higher education or consortium, 
such as— 
‘‘(A) security assessments; 
‘‘(B) security training of personnel and 
students at the institution of higher education 
or consortium; 
‘‘(C) where appropriate, coordination of 
campus preparedness and response efforts with 
local law enforcement, local emergency manage-
ment authorities, and other agencies, to im-
prove coordinated responses in emergencies 
among such entities; 
‘‘(D) establishing a hotline that allows a 
student or staff member at an institution or 
consortium to report another student or staff 
member at the institution or consortium who 
the reporting student or staff member believes 
may be a danger to the reported student or 
staff member or to others; and 
‘‘(E) acquisition and installation of access 
control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, 
and perimeter security technologies and sys-
tems.
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‘‘(3) Coordinating with appropriate local enti-
ties the provision of mental health services for stu-
dents and staff of the institution of higher education 
or consortium, including mental health crisis re-
sponse and intervention services for students and 
staff affected by a campus or community emergency. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—Each institution of higher edu-
cation or consortium desiring a grant under this section 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. 
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
coordinate technical assistance provided by State and local 
emergency management agencies, the Department of 
Homeland Security, and other agencies as appropriate, to 
institutions of higher education or consortia that request 
assistance in developing and implementing the activities 
assisted under this section. 
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed— 
‘‘(1) to provide a private right of action to any 
person to enforce any provision of this section; 
‘‘(2) to create a cause of action against any in-
stitution of higher education or any employee of the 
institution for any civil liability; or
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(3) to affect the Family Educational Rights 
and Privacy Act of 1974 or the regulations issued 
under section 264 of the Health Insurance Port-
ability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 
1320d–2 note). 
‘‘SEC. 862. MODEL EMERGENCY RESPONSE POLICIES, PRO-
CEDURES, AND PRACTICES. 
‘‘The Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
Attorney General of the United States and the Secretary 
of Homeland Security, shall— 
‘‘(1) advise institutions of higher education on 
model emergency response policies, procedures, and 
practices; and 
‘‘(2) disseminate information concerning those 
policies, procedures, and practices. 
‘‘SEC. 863. PREPARATION FOR FUTURE DISASTERS PLAN BY 
THE SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) PLANNING.—The Secretary shall develop and 
maintain a disaster relief plan, in consultation with the 
appropriate agencies, to ensure a procedure is in place to 
address the needs of institutions of higher education in 
the event of a natural or man-made disaster with respect 
to which the President has declared a major disaster or 
emergency. The plan shall take into consideration the im-
mediate safety and well-being of students, faculty, and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
staff. Additionally, such plan shall outline steps that can 
be taken to ensure institutions of higher education have 
a timely recovery. 
‘‘(b) SUBMISSION
TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall submit to the authorizing committees the plan re-
quired by subsection (a) and any revisions of such plan. 
‘‘SEC. 864. EDUCATION DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RELIEF 
LOAN PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to establish an Education Disaster and Emer-
gency Relief Loan Program for institutions of higher edu-
cation for direct or indirect losses incurred as a result of 
a federally declared major disaster or emergency. 
‘‘(b) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, provide any as-
sistance under the Education Disaster and Emergency Re-
lief Loan program to institutions of higher education pur-
suant to this section only after the declaration of a major 
disaster or emergency by the President. Loan funds pro-
vided under this section may be used for— 
‘‘(1) direct and indirect construction, replace-
ment, and renovation costs associated with or result-
ing from or preparing for a major disaster or emer-
gency;
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(2) faculty salaries and incentives for retaining 
faculty; or 
‘‘(3) reimbursement for lost tuition and other 
revenues. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—To be consid-
ered for a loan under this section, an institution of higher 
education shall— 
‘‘(1) submit a financial statement and other ap-
propriate data, documentation, or evidence requested 
by the Secretary that indicates that the institution 
incurred losses resulting from the impact of a major 
disaster or emergency and the monetary amount of 
such losses; and 
‘‘(2) demonstrate that the institution attempted 
to minimize the cost of any losses by pursuing collat-
eral source compensation from the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency and insurance coverage 
prior to seeking a loan under this section, except 
that an institution of higher education shall not be 
required to receive collateral source compensation 
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
and insurance prior to being eligible for a loan under 
this section. 
‘‘(d) AUDIT.—The Secretary may audit a financial 
statement submitted under subsection (c) and an institu-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
tion of higher education shall provide any information that 
the Secretary determines necessary to conduct such an 
audit. 
‘‘(e) REDUCTION IN LOAN AMOUNTS.—To determine 
the amount of a loan to make available to an institution 
of higher education under this section, the Secretary shall 
calculate the monetary amount of losses incurred by such 
institution as a result of a federally declared major dis-
aster or emergency, and shall reduce such amount by the 
amount of collateral source compensation the institution 
has already received from insurance, the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency, and the Small Business Ad-
ministration. 
‘‘(f) ESTABLISHMENT OF LOAN PROGRAM.—In order 
to disburse loans under this section, the Secretary shall 
prescribe regulations that— 
‘‘(1) establish the loan program, taking into 
consideration the structure of existing capital financ-
ing loan programs under this Act; and 
‘‘(2) that set forth— 
‘‘(A) terms for the loan program under 
this section; 
‘‘(B) procedures for an application for a 
loan under this section; and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
clared major disasters or emergencies that occur after the 
date of the enactment of the College Opportunity and Af-
fordability Act of 2008, except in the case of an institution 
affected by a Gulf hurricane disaster. 
‘‘SEC. 865. GUIDANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH DISCLOSURES 
FOR STUDENT SAFETY. 
‘‘Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008, 
the Secretary shall provide guidance that clarifies the role 
of institutions of higher education with respect to the dis-
closure of education records, including to a parent or legal 
guardian of a dependent student, in the event that such 
student demonstrates that the student poses a significant 
risk of harm to himself or herself or to others, including 
a significant risk of suicide, homicide, or assault. Such 
guidance shall further clarify that an institution of higher 
education that, in good faith, discloses education records 
or other information in accordance with the requirements 
of this Act and the Family Educational Rights and Pri-
vacy Act of 1974 shall not be liable to any person for that 
disclosure. 
‘‘PART J—RURAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS FOR 
RURAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
‘‘SEC. 871. PURPOSE. 
‘‘The purposes of this part are—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(1) to increase— 
‘‘(A) enrollment and graduation rates from 
2-year and 4-year colleges, and articulation 
from 2-year degree programs into 4-year degree 
programs, of graduates of rural high schools; 
and 
‘‘(B) degree completion for nontraditional 
students from rural areas; and 
‘‘(2) to promote economic growth and develop-
ment in rural America through partnership grants to 
consortia of rural colleges and universities and other 
entities, such as local education agencies, employers, 
education service agencies, and nonprofit organiza-
tions. 
‘‘SEC. 872. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For the purposes of this part: 
‘‘(1) RURAL
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘rural institution of higher edu-
cation’ means an institution of higher education that 
primarily serves rural areas. 
‘‘(2) RURAL
AREA.—The term ‘rural area’ 
means an area in which there is located a rural local 
educational agency. 
‘‘(3) RURAL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.— 
The term ‘rural local educational agency’ means a
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
local educational agency (as such term is defined in 
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965) that is designated with a metro- 
centric locale code of 41, 42, or 43 as determined by 
the National Center for Education Statistics 
(NCES), in conjunction with the Bureau of the Cen-
sus, using the NCES system for classifying local 
educational agencies. 
‘‘(4) NONTRADITIONAL
STUDENT.—The term 
‘nontraditional student’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(A) delays enrollment in an institution of 
higher education by 3 or more years after com-
pleting high school; 
‘‘(B) attends an institution of higher edu-
cation part-time; or 
‘‘(C) attends an institution of higher edu-
cation and— 
‘‘(i) works full-time; 
‘‘(ii) is an independent student; 
‘‘(iii) has one or more dependents 
other than a spouse; 
‘‘(iv) is a single parent; or 
‘‘(v) does not have a high school di-
ploma or the recognized equivalent of such 
a diploma.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(5) REGIONAL
EMPLOYER.—The term ‘re-
gional employer’ means employers qualifying as busi-
nesses or other entities employing individuals within 
a rural area. 
‘‘SEC. 873. ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR RURAL HIGH 
SCHOOL GRADUATES. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts ap-
propriated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary of Education is authorized to make grants in 
accordance with this section to partnerships formed be-
tween one or more rural institution of higher education 
and any of the following entities: 
‘‘(1) One or more rural local educational agen-
cies. 
‘‘(2) One or more rural education service agen-
cies. 
‘‘(3) One or more regional employers. 
‘‘(4) One or more nonprofit organizations with 
expertise in rural education. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS; APPLICATIONS.—To 
be eligible for a grant under this section, a partnership 
that meets the requirements of subsection (a) shall submit 
to the Secretary an application in such form and con-
taining such information as the Secretary shall prescribe.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
In determining which applications to approve for a grant 
under this section, the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the percentage of graduates, attendees, or 
former attendees of high schools from rural local 
educational agencies enrolled or otherwise affiliated 
with the entity; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of employers, the percentage of 
employees that are graduates of high schools in 
rural local educational agencies. 
‘‘(c) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—Funds made avail-
able by a grant under this section to a partnership that 
meets the requirements of subsection (b) shall be used— 
‘‘(1) to improve enrollment rates for graduates 
and former attendees of rural high schools at rural 
institutions of higher education, including— 
‘‘(A) programs to provide information 
about college costs and financial aid options, as-
sistance with college enrollment applications, 
and assistance with financial aid applications; 
‘‘(B) programs or initiatives that provide 
such graduates or former attendees of rural 
high schools access and exposure to campuses, 
classes, programs, and facilities of rural institu-
tions of higher education, including covering the
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
cost of transportation to and from institutions 
of higher education; 
‘‘(C) the formation of groups or other ini-
tiatives that create support groups of such stu-
dents expressing interest in attending rural in-
stitutions of higher education; 
‘‘(D) extracurricular activities, such as in-
ternships, community service, and other activi-
ties for such individuals in advance of attending 
institutions of higher education; and 
‘‘(E) other initiatives that assist such indi-
viduals in applying and developing interest in 
attending rural institutions of higher education; 
and 
‘‘(2) to encourage participation of nontradi-
tional students in degree programs at rural institu-
tions of higher education, including— 
‘‘(A) programs to provide information 
about college costs and financial aid options, as-
sistance with college enrollment applications, 
and assistance with financial aid applications 
for institutions of higher education; 
‘‘(B) outreach to nontraditional students 
through community initiatives; and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
uates to enter into high-need occupations in the regional 
and local economies. 
‘‘SEC. 876. ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) GRANT CONSIDERATIONS.—In making grant al-
locations under this part to qualifying institutions and 
partnerships, the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the percentage of graduates of rural high 
schools attending rural institutions of higher edu-
cation in proximity to the entity receiving the grant; 
‘‘(2) employment needs of regional employers in 
proximity to entities receiving the grant; and 
‘‘(3) the health of the regional economy of the 
region surrounding the entity receiving the grant. 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM GRANTS.—No grant 
awarded by the Secretary under this part shall be less 
than $200,000 or more than $500,000. 
‘‘(c) GRANT DURATION.—A grant awarded under 
this part shall be awarded for one 3-year period.
733 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘PART K—IMPROVING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
ENGINEERING, 
AND 
MATHEMATICS 
EDU-
CATION WITH A FOCUS ON ALASKA NATIVE 
AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN STUDENTS 
‘‘SEC. 880. IMPROVING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEER-
ING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION WITH A 
FOCUS ON ALASKA NATIVE AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN STUDENTS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is— 
‘‘(1) to develop or expand programs for the de-
velopment of professionals in the fields of science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics; and 
‘‘(2) to focus resources on meeting the edu-
cational and cultural needs of Alaska Natives and 
Native Hawaiians. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ALASKA NATIVE.—The term ‘Alaska Na-
tive’ has the meaning given the term ‘Native’ in sec-
tion 3(b) of the Alaska Natives Claims Settlement 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘eligi-
ble partnership’ means a partnership that includes— 
‘‘(A) 1 or more colleges or schools of engi-
neering; 
‘‘(B) 1 or more colleges of science or math-
ematics;
734 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(C) 1 or more institutions of higher edu-
cation that offer 2-year degrees; and 
‘‘(D) 1 or more private entities that— 
‘‘(i) conduct career awareness activi-
ties showcasing local technology profes-
sionals; 
‘‘(ii) encourage students to pursue 
education in science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics from elementary 
school through college, and careers in 
those fields, with the assistance of local 
technology professionals; 
‘‘(iii) develop internships, apprentice-
ships, and mentoring programs in partner-
ship with relevant industries; and 
‘‘(iv) assist with placement of interns 
and apprentices. 
‘‘(3) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN.—The term ‘Native 
Hawaiian’ has the meaning given the term in section 
7207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965. 
‘‘(c) GRANT AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts ap-
propriated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary is authorized to award a grant to an eligible 
partnership to enable the eligible partnership to expand
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
programs for the development of science, technology, engi-
neering, or mathematics professionals, from elementary 
school through college, including existing programs for 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. 
‘‘(d) USES OF FUNDS.—Grant funds under this sec-
tion shall be used for 1 or more of the following: 
‘‘(1) Development or implementation of cul-
tural, social, or educational transition programs to 
assist students to transition into college life and aca-
demics in order to increase such students’ retention 
rates in the fields of science, technology, engineer-
ing, or mathematics, with a focus on Alaska Native 
or Native Hawaiian students. 
‘‘(2) Development or implementation of aca-
demic support or supplemental educational programs 
to increase the graduation rates of students in the 
fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathe-
matics, with a focus on Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian students. 
‘‘(3) Development or implementation of intern-
ship programs, carried out in coordination with edu-
cational institutions and private entities, to prepare 
students for careers in the fields of science, tech-
nology, engineering, or mathematics, with a focus on
736 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
programs that serve Alaska Native or Native Hawai-
ian students. 
‘‘(4) Such other activities as are consistent with 
the purposes of this section. 
‘‘(e) APPLICATION.—Each eligible partnership that 
desires a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible part-
nership that provides 1 or more programs in which 30 per-
cent or more of the program participants are Alaska Na-
tive or Native Hawaiian. 
‘‘(g) PERIOD OF GRANT.—A grant under this section 
shall be awarded for a period of 5 years. 
‘‘(h) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—Each eligible part-
nership that receives a grant under this section shall con-
duct an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the 
programs funded under the grant and shall provide a re-
port regarding the evaluation to the Secretary not later 
than 6 months after the end of the grant period.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘PART L—NATIONAL DATABASE ON FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE FOR STUDY OF SCIENCE, TECH-
NOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
‘‘SEC. 881. NATIONAL DATABASE ON FINANCIAL ASSIST-
ANCE FOR STUDY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF DATA-
BASE.— 
‘‘(1) DATABASE.—The Secretary of Education 
shall establish and maintain, on the public website 
of the Department of Education, a database con-
sisting of information on scholarships, fellowships, 
and other programs of financial assistance available 
from public and private sources for the study of 
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at 
the postsecondary and post baccalaureate levels. 
‘‘(2) PRESENTATION
OF
INFORMATION.—The 
information maintained on the database established 
under this section shall be displayed on the website 
in the following manner: 
‘‘(A) Separate information shall be pro-
vided for each of the fields of study referred to 
in paragraph (1) and for postsecondary and 
post baccalaureate programs of financial assist-
ance.
738 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(B) The database shall provide specific 
information on any programs of financial assist-
ance which are targeted to individuals of a par-
ticular gender, ethnicity, or other demographic 
group. 
‘‘(C) If the sponsor of any program of fi-
nancial assistance included on the database 
maintains a public website, the database shall 
provide hyperlinks to the website. 
‘‘(D) In addition to providing the hyperlink 
to the website of a sponsor of a program of fi-
nancial assistance as required under subpara-
graph (C), the database shall provide general 
information that an interested person may use 
to contact the sponsor, including the sponsor’s 
electronic mail address. 
‘‘(E) The database shall have a search ca-
pability which permits an individual to search 
for information on the basis of each category of 
the information provided and on the basis of 
combinations of categories of the information 
provided, including whether the scholarship is 
need- or merit-based and by relevant academic 
majors.
739 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(F) The database shall include a rec-
ommendation that students and families should 
carefully review all of the application require-
ments prior to applying for aid, and a dis-
claimer that the scholarships presented in the 
database are not provided or endorsed by the 
Department of Education or the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
‘‘(b) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON DATA-
BASE.—The Secretary shall take such actions as may be 
necessary on an ongoing basis, including sending notices 
to secondary schools and institutions of higher education, 
to disseminate information on the database established 
and maintained under this part and to encourage its use 
by interested parties. 
‘‘(c) USE OF VENDOR TO OBTAIN INFORMATION.— 
In carrying out this part, the Secretary of Education shall 
enter into a contract with a private entity under which 
the entity shall furnish and regularly update all of the in-
formation required to be maintained on the database es-
tablished under this section. 
‘‘(d) ENCOURAGING THE PROVISION OF INFORMA-
TION.—In carrying out this part, the Secretary of Edu-
cation and the contracted entity shall consult with public 
and private sources of scholarships and make easily avail-
740 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
able a process for such entities to provide regular and up-
dated information. 
‘‘PART M—TRAINING FOR REALTIME WRITERS 
‘‘SEC. 882. PROGRAM TO PROMOTE TRAINING AND JOB 
PLACEMENT OF REALTIME WRITERS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appro-
priated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary of Education shall make competitive 
grants to eligible entities under subsection (b) to 
promote training and placement of individuals, in-
cluding individuals who have completed a court re-
porting training program, as realtime writers in 
order to meet the requirements for closed captioning 
of video programming set forth in section 713 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 613) and 
the rules prescribed thereunder. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For purposes of this 
part, an eligible entity is a court reporting program 
that— 
‘‘(A) can document and demonstrate to the 
Secretary of Education that it meets minimum 
standards of educational and financial account-
ability, with a curriculum capable of training
741 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
realtime writers qualified to provide captioning 
services; 
‘‘(B) is accredited by an accrediting agency 
recognized by the Department of Education; 
and 
‘‘(C) is participating in student aid pro-
grams under title IV. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY
IN
GRANTS.—In determining 
whether to make grants under this section, the Sec-
retary of Education shall give a priority to eligible 
entities that, as determined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) possess the most substantial capa-
bility to increase their capacity to train realtime 
writers; 
‘‘(B) demonstrate the most promising col-
laboration with local educational institutions, 
businesses, labor organizations, or other com-
munity groups having the potential to train or 
provide job placement assistance to realtime 
writers; or 
‘‘(C) propose the most promising and inno-
vative approaches for initiating or expanding 
training or job placement assistance efforts 
with respect to realtime writers.
742 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(4) DURATION
OF
GRANT.—A grant under 
this section shall be for a period of 2 years. 
‘‘(5) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
GRANT.—The 
amount of a grant provided under subsection (a) to 
an entity eligible may not exceed $1,500,000 for the 
2-year period of the grant under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an eligible entity shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary of Education at such time 
and in such manner as the secretary may require. 
The application shall contain the information set 
forth under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION.—Information in the appli-
cation of an eligible entity under subsection (a) for 
a grant under subsection (a) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A description of the training and as-
sistance to be funded using the grant amount, 
including how such training and assistance will 
increase the number of realtime writers. 
‘‘(B) A description of performance meas-
ures to be utilized to evaluate the progress of 
individuals receiving such training and assist-
ance in matters relating to enrollment, comple-
743 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
tion of training, and job placement and reten-
tion. 
‘‘(C) A description of the manner in which 
the eligible entity will ensure that recipients of 
scholarships, if any, funded by the grant will be 
employed and retained as realtime writers. 
‘‘(D) A description of the manner in which 
the eligible entity intends to continue providing 
the training and assistance to be funded by the 
grant after the end of the grant period, includ-
ing any partnerships or arrangements estab-
lished for that purpose. 
‘‘(E) A description of how the eligible enti-
ty will work with local workforce investment 
boards to ensure that training and assistance to 
be funded with the grant will further local 
workforce goals, including the creation of edu-
cational opportunities for individuals who are 
from economically disadvantaged backgrounds 
or are displaced workers. 
‘‘(F) Additional information, if any, of the 
eligibility of the eligible entity for priority in the 
making of grants under subsection (a)(3). 
‘‘(G) Such other information as the Sec-
retary may require.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving 
a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant 
amount for purposes relating to the recruitment, 
training and assistance, and job placement of indi-
viduals, including individuals who have completed a 
court reporting training program, as realtime writ-
ers, including— 
‘‘(A) recruitment; 
‘‘(B) subject to paragraph (2), the provi-
sion of scholarships; 
‘‘(C) distance learning; 
‘‘(D) further developing and implementing 
both English and Spanish curriculum to more 
effectively train realtime writing skills, and edu-
cation in the knowledge necessary for the deliv-
ery of high-quality closed captioning services; 
‘‘(E) mentoring students to ensure success-
ful completion of the realtime training and pro-
vide assistance in job placement; 
‘‘(F) encouraging individuals with disabil-
ities to pursue a career in realtime writing; and 
‘‘(G) the employment and payment of per-
sonnel for all such purposes. 
‘‘(2) SCHOLARSHIPS.—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(A) AMOUNT.—The amount of a scholar-
ship under paragraph (1)(B) shall be based on 
the amount of need of the recipient of the 
scholarship for financial assistance, as deter-
mined in accordance with part F of title IV. 
‘‘(B) AGREEMENT.—Each recipient of a 
scholarship under paragraph (1)(B) shall enter 
into an agreement with the school in which the 
recipient is enrolled to provide realtime writing 
services for the purposes described in subsection 
(a)(1) for a period of time appropriate (as de-
termined by the Secretary of Education or the 
Secretary’s designee) for the amount of the 
scholarship received. 
‘‘(C) COURSEWORK AND EMPLOYMENT.— 
The Secretary of Education or the Secretary’s 
designee 
shall 
establish 
requirements 
for 
coursework and employment for recipients of 
scholarships under paragraph (1)(B), including 
requirements for repayment of scholarship 
amounts in the event of failure to meet such re-
quirements for coursework and employment. 
Requirements for repayment of scholarship 
amounts shall take into account the effect of
746 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
economic conditions on the capacity of scholar-
ship recipients to find work as realtime writers. 
‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The recipient of 
a grant under this section may not use more than 
5 percent of the grant amount to pay administrative 
costs associated with activities funded by the grant. 
The Secretary of Education shall use not more than 
5 percent of the amount available for grants under 
this part in any fiscal year for administrative costs 
of the program. 
‘‘(4) SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Grants 
amounts under this part shall supplement and not 
supplant other Federal or non-Federal funds of the 
grant recipient for purposes of promoting the train-
ing and placement of individuals as realtime writers. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Each eligible entity 
receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall submit 
to the Secretary of Education, at the end of each 
year of the grant period, a report on the activities 
of such entity with respect to the use of grant 
amounts during such year. 
‘‘(2) REPORT INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each report of an en-
tity for a year under paragraph (1) shall in-
747 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
clude a description of the use of grant amounts 
by the entity during such year, including an as-
sessment by the entity of the effectiveness of 
activities carried out using such funds in in-
creasing the number of realtime writers. The 
assessment shall utilize the performance meas-
ures submitted by the entity in the application 
for the grant under subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(B) FINAL REPORT.—The final report of 
an entity on a grant under paragraph (1) shall 
include a description of the best practices iden-
tified by the entity as a result of the grant for 
increasing the number of individuals who are 
trained, employed, and retained in employment 
as realtime writers. 
‘‘(3) ANNUAL REVIEW.—The Inspector General 
of the Department of Education shall conduct an 
annual review of the management, efficiency, and ef-
fectiveness of the grants made under this part. 
‘‘PART N—CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR 
VETERAN STUDENT SUCCESS 
‘‘SEC. 883. MODEL PROGRAMS FOR CENTERS OF EXCEL-
LENCE FOR VETERAN STUDENT SUCCESS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
encourage model programs to support veteran student suc-
748 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
cess in postsecondary education by coordinating services 
to address the academic, financial, physical, and social 
needs of veteran students. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations under section 800, the Secretary 
shall award grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation to develop model programs to support veteran 
student success in postsecondary education. 
‘‘(2) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant awarded under 
this section shall be awarded for a period of 3 years. 
‘‘(c) USE OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—An institution of 
higher education receiving a grant under this section 
shall use such grant to carry out a model program 
that includes— 
‘‘(A) establishing of a Center of Excellence 
for Veteran Student Success on the campus of 
the institution to provide a single point of con-
tact to coordinate comprehensive support serv-
ices for veteran students; 
‘‘(B) establishing a veteran students sup-
port team, including representatives from the 
offices of the institution responsible for admis-
sions, registration, financial aid, veterans bene-
749 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
fits, academic advising, student health, personal 
or mental health counseling, career advising, 
disabilities services, and any other office of the 
institution that provides support to veteran stu-
dents on campus; 
‘‘(C) providing a full-time or part-time co-
ordinator whose primary responsibility is to co-
ordinate the model program carried out under 
this section; 
‘‘(D) monitoring the rates of veteran stu-
dent enrollment, persistence, and completion; 
and 
‘‘(E) developing a plan to sustain the Cen-
ter of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 
after the grant period. 
‘‘(2) OTHER AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An in-
stitution of higher education receiving a grant under 
this section may use such grant to carry out any of 
the following activities with respect to veteran stu-
dents: 
‘‘(A) Outreach and recruitment of such 
students. 
‘‘(B) Supportive instructional services for 
such students, which may include—
750 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(i) personal, academic, and career 
counseling, as an on-going part of the pro-
gram; 
‘‘(ii) tutoring and academic skill-build-
ing instruction assistance, as needed; and 
‘‘(iii) assistance with special admis-
sions and transfer of credit from previous 
postsecondary education or experience. 
‘‘(C) Assistance in obtaining student finan-
cial aid. 
‘‘(D) Housing support for students living 
in institutional facilities and commuting stu-
dents. 
‘‘(E) Cultural events, academic programs, 
orientation programs, and other activities de-
signed to ease the transition to campus life for 
such students. 
‘‘(F) Support for veteran student organiza-
tions and veteran student support groups on 
campus. 
‘‘(G) Coordination of academic advising 
and admissions counseling with military bases 
and national guard units in the area. 
‘‘(H) Other support services the institution 
determines to be necessary to ensure the suc-
751 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
cess of such students in achieving their edu-
cational and career goals. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION; SELECTION.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATION.—To be considered for a 
grant under this section, an institution of higher 
education shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
by such information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS.—In award-
ing grants under this section, the Secretary shall 
consider— 
‘‘(A) the number of veteran students en-
rolled at an institution of higher education; and 
‘‘(B) the need for model programs to ad-
dress the needs of veteran students at a wide 
range of institutions of higher education, in-
cluding the need to provide— 
‘‘(i) an equitable distribution of such 
grants to institutions of higher education 
of various types and sizes; 
‘‘(ii) an equitable geographic distribu-
tion of such grants; and 
‘‘(iii) an equitable distribution of such 
grants among rural and urban areas.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN.— 
The Secretary shall develop an evaluation and account-
ability plan for model programs funded under this section 
to objectively measure the impact of such programs, in-
cluding a measure of whether postsecondary education en-
rollment, persistence, and completion for veterans in-
creases as a result of such programs. 
‘‘PART O—UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY 
PROGRAMS 
‘‘Subpart 1—Sustainability Planning Grants 
‘‘SEC. 884. GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appro-
priated to carry out this part under section 800, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall make 
grants to eligible entities to establish sustainability 
programs to design and implement sustainability 
practices, including in the areas of energy manage-
ment, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, green 
building, waste management, purchasing, transpor-
tation, and toxics management, and other aspects of 
sustainability that integrate campus operations with 
multidisciplinary academic programs and are appli-
cable to the private and government sectors.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(2) PERIOD OF GRANT.—The provision of pay-
ments under a grant under paragraph (1) may ex-
tend over a period of not more than 4 fiscal years. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—For 
purposes of this part, the term ‘eligible entity’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) an institution of higher education 
that grants 2 or 4-year undergraduate degrees, 
or masters and doctoral degrees, or both; or 
‘‘(B) a non-profit consortia, association, al-
liance, or collaboration operating in partnership 
with one or more institutions of higher edu-
cation that received funds for the implementa-
tion of work associated with sustainability pro-
grams under this part. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant under 
subsection (a)(1), an eligible entity shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
form, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require. 
‘‘(2) ASSURANCES.—Such application shall in-
clude assurances that the eligible entity— 
‘‘(A) has developed or shall develop a plan, 
including an evaluation component, for the pro-
754 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
gram component established pursuant to sub-
section (c); 
‘‘(B) shall use Federal funds received from 
a grant under subsection (a) to supplement, not 
supplant, non-Federal funds that would other-
wise be available for projects funded under such 
section; 
‘‘(C) shall provide, with respect to any fis-
cal year in which such entity receives funds 
from a grant under subsection (a)(1), non-Fed-
eral funds or an in-kind contribution in an 
amount equal to 20 percent of funds from such 
grant, for the purpose of carrying out the pro-
gram component established in subsection (c); 
and 
‘‘(D) shall collaborate with business, gov-
ernment, and the nonprofit sectors in the devel-
opment and implementation of its sustainability 
plan. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS.—Grants made 
under subsection (a) may be used by an eligible enti-
ty that is an individual institution of higher edu-
cation for the following purposes:
755 
•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(A) To develop and implement adminis-
trative and operations practices at institutions 
of higher education that test, model, and ana-
lyze principles of sustainability. 
‘‘(B) To establish multidisciplinary edu-
cation, research, and outreach programs at in-
stitutions of higher education that address the 
environmental, social, and economic dimensions 
of sustainability. 
‘‘(C) To support research and teaching ini-
tiatives that focus on multidisciplinary and inte-
grated environmental, economic, and social ele-
ments. 
‘‘(D) To establish initiatives in the areas of 
energy management, greenhouse gas emissions 
reductions, green building, waste management, 
purchasing, toxics management, transportation, 
and other aspects of sustainability. 
‘‘(E) To support student, faculty, and staff 
work at institutions of higher education to im-
plement, research, and evaluate sustainable 
practices. 
‘‘(F) To establish sustainability literacy as 
a requirement for undergraduate and graduate 
degree programs.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(G) To integrate sustainability curriculum 
in all programs of instruction, particularly in 
business, architecture, technology, manufac-
turing, engineering, and science programs. 
‘‘(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—Grants made under sub-
section (a) may be used by an eligible entity that is 
a non-profit consortia, association, alliance, or col-
laboration operating as a partnership with one or 
more institutions of higher education for the fol-
lowing purposes: 
‘‘(A) To conduct faculty, staff and admin-
istrator training on the subjects of sustain-
ability and institutional change. 
‘‘(B) To compile, evaluate, and disseminate 
best practices, case studies, guidelines and 
standards. 
‘‘(C) To conduct efforts to engage external 
stakeholders such as business, alumni, and ac-
crediting agencies in the process of building 
support for research, education, and technology 
development for sustainability. 
‘‘(D) To conduct professional development 
programs for faculty in all disciplines to enable 
faculty to incorporate sustainability content in 
their courses.
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
‘‘(E) To enable an appropriate non-profit 
consortia, association, alliance, or collaboration 
operating in partnership with an institution of 
higher education to create the analytical tools 
necessary for institutions of higher education to 
assess and measure their individual progress to-
ward fully sustainable campus operations and 
fully integrating sustainability into the cur-
riculum. 
‘‘(F) To develop educational benchmarks 
for institutions of higher education to determine 
the necessary rigor and effectiveness of aca-
demic sustainability programs. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—An eligible entity that receives a 
grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary, 
for each fiscal year in which the entity receives amounts 
from such grant, a report that describes the work con-
ducted pursuant to subsection (c), research findings and 
publications, administrative savings experienced, and an 
evaluation of the program. 
‘‘(e) ALLOCATION REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary 
may not make grants under subsection (a) to any eligible 
entity in a total amount that is less than $250,000 or 
more than $2,000,000.
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‘‘Subpart 2—Summit on Sustainability 
‘‘SEC. 885. SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABILITY. 
‘‘Not later than September 30, 2008, the Secretary 
of Education, in consultation with the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall convene a 
summit of higher education experts working in the area 
of sustainable operations and programs, representatives 
from agencies of the Federal Government, and business 
and industry leaders to focus on efforts of national distinc-
tion that— 
‘‘(1) encourage faculty, staff, and students at 
institutions of higher education to establish adminis-
trative and academic sustainability programs on 
campus; 
‘‘(2) enhance research by faculty and students 
at institutions of higher education in sustainability 
practices and innovations that assist and improve 
sustainability; 
‘‘(3) encourage institutions of higher education 
to work with community partners from the business, 
government, and nonprofit sectors to design and im-
plement sustainability programs for application in 
the community and workplace; 
‘‘(4) identify opportunities for partnerships in-
volving institutions of higher education and the Fed-
eral Government to expand sustainable operations
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and academic programs focused on environmental 
and economic sustainability; and 
‘‘(5) charge the summit participants or steering 
committee to submit a set of recommendations for 
addressing sustainability through institutions of 
higher education. 
‘‘PART P—MODELING AND SIMULATION 
PROGRAMS 
‘‘SEC. 886. MODELING AND SIMULATION. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE; DEFINITION.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is 
to promote the study of modeling and simulation at 
institutions of higher education, through the collabo-
ration with new and existing programs, and specifi-
cally to promote the use of technology in such study 
through the creation of accurate models that can 
simulate processes or recreate real life, by— 
‘‘(A) establishing a task force at the De-
partment of Education to raise awareness of 
and define the study of modeling and simula-
tion; 
‘‘(B) providing grants to institutions of 
higher education to develop new modeling and 
simulation degree programs; and
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‘‘(C) providing grants for institutions of 
higher education to enhance existing modeling 
and simulation degree programs. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 
‘modeling and simulation’ means a field of study re-
lated to the application of computer science and 
mathematics to develop a level of understanding of 
the interaction of the parts of a system and of a sys-
tem as a whole. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a 
taskforce within the Department of Education to 
study modeling and simulation and to support the 
development of the modeling and simulation field. 
The activities of such taskforce shall include— 
‘‘(A) helping to define the study of mod-
eling and simulation (including the content of 
modeling and simulation classes and programs); 
‘‘(B) identifying best practices for such 
study; 
‘‘(C) identifying core knowledge and skills 
that individuals who participate in modeling 
and simulation programs should acquire; and
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‘‘(D) providing recommendations to the 
Secretary with respect to— 
‘‘(i) the information described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (C); and 
‘‘(ii) a system by which grants under 
this section will be distributed. 
‘‘(2) TASKFORCE MEMBERSHIP.—The member-
ship of the taskforce under this subsection shall be 
composed of representatives from— 
‘‘(A) institutions of higher education with 
established modeling and simulation degree pro-
grams; 
‘‘(B) the National Science Foundation; 
‘‘(C) Federal Government agencies that 
use modeling and simulation extensively, includ-
ing the Department of Defense, the National 
Institute of Health, the Department of Home-
land Security, the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Department of Energy, 
and the Department of Transportation; 
‘‘(D) private industries with a primary 
focus on modeling and simulation; 
‘‘(E) national modeling and simulation or-
ganizations; and
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‘‘(F) the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
‘‘(c) ENHANCING MODELING AND SIMULATION AT 
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
‘‘(1) ENHANCEMENT GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible institutions to enhance mod-
eling and simulation degree programs at such 
eligible institutions. 
‘‘(B) DURATION
OF
GRANT.—A grant 
awarded under this subsection shall be awarded 
for a 3-year period, and such grant period may 
be extended for not more than 2 years if the 
Secretary determines that an eligible institution 
has demonstrated success in enhancing the 
modeling and simulation degree program at 
such eligible institution. 
‘‘(C) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—Subject 
to the availability of appropriations, a grant 
awarded to an eligible institution under this 
subsection shall not be less than $750,000. 
‘‘(D) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Each eligible 
institution receiving a grant under this sub-
section shall provide, from non-Federal sources,
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in cash or in kind, an amount equal to 25 per-
cent of the amount of the grant to carry out the 
activities supported by the grant. The Secretary 
may waive the non-Federal share requirement 
under this subparagraph for an eligible institu-
tion if the Secretary determines a waiver to be 
appropriate based on the financial ability of the 
institution. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTIONS.—For the pur-
poses of this subsection, an eligible institution is an 
institution of higher education that— 
‘‘(A) has an established modeling and sim-
ulation degree program, including a major, 
minor, or career-track program; or 
‘‘(B) has an established modeling and sim-
ulation certificate or concentration program. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—To be considered for a 
grant under this subsection, an eligible institution 
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. Such application 
shall include— 
‘‘(A) a letter from the president or provost 
of the eligible institution that demonstrates the 
institution’s commitment to the enhancement of
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‘‘(D) creating new courses to compliment 
existing courses and reflect emerging develop-
ments in the modeling and simulation field; 
‘‘(E) conducting research to support new 
methodologies and techniques in modeling and 
simulation; and 
‘‘(F) purchasing equipment necessary for 
modeling and simulation programs. 
‘‘(d) ESTABLISHING MODELING
AND SIMULATION 
PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to award grants to institutions of high-
er education to establish a modeling and sim-
ulation program, including a major, minor, ca-
reer-track, certificate, or concentration pro-
gram. 
‘‘(B) DURATION
OF
GRANT.—A grant 
awarded under this subsection shall be awarded 
for a 3-year period, and such grant period may 
be extended for not more than 2 years if the 
Secretary determines that an eligible institution 
has demonstrated success in establishing a 
modeling and simulation degree program at 
such eligible institution.
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‘‘(C) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—Subject 
to the availability of appropriations, a grant 
awarded to an eligible institution under this 
subsection shall not be less than $750,000. 
‘‘(D) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Each eligible 
institution receiving a grant under this sub-
section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, 
in cash or in kind, an amount equal to 25 per-
cent of the amount of the grant to carry out the 
activities supported by the grant. The Secretary 
may waive the non-Federal share requirement 
under this subparagraph for an eligible institu-
tion if the Secretary determines a waiver to be 
appropriate based on the financial ability of the 
institution. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—To apply for a grant 
under this subsection, an eligible institution 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 in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) a letter from the president or provost 
of the eligible institution that demonstrates the 
institution’s commitment to the establishment
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of a modeling and simulation program at the 
institution of higher education; 
‘‘(B) a detailed plan for how the grant 
funds will be used to establish a modeling and 
simulation program at the institution; and 
‘‘(C) a description of how the modeling 
and simulation program established under this 
subsection will complement existing programs 
and fit in to the institution’s current program 
and course offerings. 
‘‘(3) USES OF FUNDS.—A grant awarded under 
this subsection may be used by an eligible institution 
to— 
‘‘(A) establish, or work toward the estab-
lishment of, a modeling and simulation pro-
gram, including a major, minor, career-track, 
certificate, or concentration program at the eli-
gible institution; 
‘‘(B) provide adequate staffing to ensure 
the successful establishment of the modeling 
and simulation program, which may include the 
assignment of full-time dedicated or supportive 
faculty; and 
‘‘(C) purchasing equipment necessary for a 
modeling and simulation program.
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‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. Of 
the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal 
year— 
‘‘(1) $1,000,000 is authorized to carry out the 
activities of the task force established pursuant to 
subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) of the amount remaining after the alloca-
tion for paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) 50 percent is authorized to carry out 
the grant program under subsection (c); and 
‘‘(B) 50 percent is authorized to carry out 
the grant program under subsection (d). 
‘‘PART Q—BUSINESS WORKFORCE 
PARTNERSHIPS 
‘‘SEC. 887. GRANTS TO CREATE BUSINESS WORKFORCE 
PARTNERSHIPS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is 
to provide grants to institutions of higher education 
partnering with employers to strengthen ties be-
tween college degree credit offerings and business
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
and industry workforce needs, and expand opportu-
nities for worksite learning. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible partnerships for the purposes of creating 
business and industry workforce partnerships. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION
OF
BUSINESS
AND
INDUSTRY 
WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘business and industry workforce part-
nership’ means a partnership between one or more 
institutions of higher education and— 
‘‘(A) an employer or group of employers, 
or a local board (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998), or both; and 
‘‘(B) labor organizations, where applicable, 
that represent workers locally in the businesses 
or industries that are the focus of the partner-
ship, including as a result of such organiza-
tion’s representation of employees at a worksite 
at which the partnership proposes to conduct 
activities under this section. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—In the case of a State that 
does not operate local boards, paragraph (1)(A)
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shall be applied by substituting ‘State board’ for 
‘local board’. 
‘‘(3) EXISTING
PARTNERSHIPS.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a part-
nership that is in existence on the date of enactment 
of this section from applying for a grant under this 
section. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—A business and industry work-
force partnership seeking a grant under this section shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY
FOR APPLICATIONS FOCUSED
ON 
SERVING NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS.—The Secretary 
shall give priority to applications focused on serving non-
traditional students who are independent, as defined in 
section 480(d), do not already have a bachelor’s degree, 
and who have one or more of the following characteristics: 
‘‘(1) Are the first generation in their family to 
attend college. 
‘‘(2) Have delayed enrollment in college. 
‘‘(3) Have dependents. 
‘‘(e) PEER REVIEW.—The Secretary shall convene a 
peer review process, which shall include individuals knowl-
edgeable about workforce education for working adults, to
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review applications for grants under this section, and 
make recommendations to the Secretary on the selection 
of grant recipients. 
‘‘(f) MANDATORY ACTIVITIES.—A partnership that 
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds to carry out all of the following activities: 
‘‘(1) Identify high demand occupations in the 
regional labor market which offer or can lead to high 
wages, in coordination with the State employment 
security agency funded under the Wagner-Peyser 
Act. 
‘‘(2) Develop linked career and educational 
pathways for those occupations and related ones, in-
cluding, where appropriate, pathways involving reg-
istered apprenticeships. 
‘‘(3) Consult with employers offering jobs in oc-
cupations identified under paragraph (1) to deter-
mine workforce development needs. 
‘‘(4) Consult with labor organizations rep-
resenting workers locally in the occupations identi-
fied in paragraph (1), where applicable. 
‘‘(5) Identify existing college degree credit of-
ferings or create new degree credit offerings that 
prepare students to meet business and industry
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
workforce needs, including offerings connected to 
registered apprenticeship programs. 
‘‘(g) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—A partnership that 
receives a grant under this section may use the grant 
funds to carry out one or more of the following activities: 
‘‘(1) In consultation with faculty in the appro-
priate departments, adapt college offerings identified 
and created under subsection (f)(5) to the schedules 
and needs of working students, such as by creating 
evening, weekend, modular, compressed, or distance 
learning formats, enrolling students in learning com-
munities, or other relevant innovations. 
‘‘(2) Create bridge programs that prepare stu-
dents with lower skills or limited English proficiency 
to enter the college offerings identified or created 
under subsection (f)(5). 
‘‘(3) Expand worksite learning opportunities. 
‘‘(4) Other activities that the institution and 
the Secretary deem appropriate to carry out the pur-
poses of this program. 
‘‘(h) GRANT PERIOD.—Grants made under this sec-
tion shall be for a period of at least 36 months and not 
more than 60 months.
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‘‘(i) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to grantees under this section 
throughout the grant period. 
‘‘(j) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall conduct an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the program under this 
section and disseminate the findings of such evaluation, 
as well as information on promising practices developed 
under this section. 
‘‘(k) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not less than 36 
months after the first grant is awarded under this section, 
the Secretary, jointly with the Secretary of Labor, shall 
report to Congress on: 
‘‘(1) Changes to the Higher Education Act and 
related Acts, such as the Perkins Vocational and 
Technical Education Act and the Workforce Invest-
ment Act (both Title I and Title II), that would help 
create and sustain business and industry workforce 
partnerships at colleges. 
‘‘(2) Other changes to the Higher Education 
Act and related Acts, such as the Perkins Vocational 
and Technical Education Act and the Workforce In-
vestment Act, that would more generally strengthen 
the links between business and industry workforce 
needs, workforce development programs, and other 
college degree credit offerings.
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‘‘PART R—PATH TO SUCCESS PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 887. PATH TO SUCCESS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this part is to en-
courage community supported programs that— 
‘‘(1) leverage and enhance community support 
for at-risk young adults by facilitating the transition 
of such young adults who are eligible individuals into 
productive learning environments where such young 
adults can obtain the life, social, academic, and vo-
cational skills and credentials necessary to strength-
en the Nation’s workforce; 
‘‘(2) provide counseling, as appropriate, for eli-
gible individuals participating in the programs to 
allow such individuals to build a relationship with 
one or more guidance counselors during the period 
that the individuals are enrolled in the programs, in-
cluding providing referrals and connections to com-
munity resources that help eligible individuals tran-
sition back into the community with the necessary 
life, social, academic, and vocational skills after 
being in detention, or incarcerated, particularly re-
sources related to health, housing, job training, and 
work-place readiness; 
‘‘(3) provide training and education for eligible 
individuals participating in the programs, to allow 
such individuals to assist community officials and
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
law enforcement agencies with the deterrence and 
prevention of gang and youth violence by partici-
pating 
in 
seminars, 
training, 
and 
workshops 
throughout the community; and 
‘‘(4) provide each eligible youth participating in 
the programs with individual attention based on a 
curriculum that matches the interests and abilities 
of the individual to the resources of the program. 
‘‘(b) REENTRY EDUCATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT
PROGRAM
ESTABLISHED.—The 
Secretary is authorized to award grants to commu-
nity colleges to enter into and maintain partnerships 
with juvenile detention centers and secure juvenile 
justice residential facilities to provide assistance, 
services, and education to eligible individuals who re-
enter the community and pursue, in accordance with 
the requirements of this part, at least one of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A certificate of graduation from a 
school providing secondary education, a general 
equivalency diploma (GED), or another recog-
nized equivalent of such a certificate or di-
ploma. 
‘‘(B) A certificate of completion for a spe-
cialized area of study, such as vocational train-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
ing and other alternative post-secondary edu-
cational programs. 
‘‘(C) An associate’s degree. 
‘‘(2) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant awarded under 
this part shall be for one 2-year period, and may be 
renewed for an additional period as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—A community college de-
siring to receive a grant under this section shall sub-
mit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary shall require, which shall include— 
‘‘(A) an assessment of the existing commu-
nity resources available to serve at-risk youth; 
‘‘(B) a detailed description of the program 
and activities the community college will carry 
out with such grant; and 
‘‘(C) a proposed budget describing how the 
community college will use the funds made 
available by such grant. 
‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
part, the Secretary of Education shall give priority 
to community colleges that accept the highest num-
ber of eligible individuals from high-risk areas, and 
among such community colleges, shall give priority
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
to community colleges that the Secretary determines 
will best carry out the purposes of this part, based 
on the applications submitted in accordance with 
paragraph (3). 
‘‘(c) ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS.—A community 
college awarded a grant under this part may use such 
grant to— 
‘‘(1) pay for tuition and transportation costs of 
eligible individuals; 
‘‘(2) establish and carry out an education pro-
gram that includes classes for eligible individuals 
that— 
‘‘(A) provide marketable life and social 
skills to such individuals; 
‘‘(B) meet the education program require-
ments under subsection (d); 
‘‘(C) promote the civic engagement of such 
individuals; and 
‘‘(D) facilitate a smooth reentry of such in-
dividuals into the community; 
‘‘(3) create and carry out a mentoring pro-
gram— 
‘‘(A) that is specifically designed to help el-
igible individuals with the potential challenges
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
of the transitional period from detention to re-
lease; 
‘‘(B) is created in consultation with guid-
ance counselors, academic advisors, law enforce-
ment officials, and other community resources; 
and 
‘‘(C) that is administered by a program co-
ordinator, selected and employed by the commu-
nity college, who shall oversee each individual’s 
development and shall serve as the immediate 
supervisor and reporting officer to whom the 
academic advisors, guidance counselors, and 
volunteers shall report regarding the progress 
of each such individual; 
‘‘(4) facilitate employment opportunities for eli-
gible individuals by entering into partnerships with 
public and private entities to provide opportunities 
for internships, apprenticeships, and permanent em-
ployment, as possible, for such individuals; and 
‘‘(5) provide training for eligible individuals 
participating in the programs, to allow such individ-
uals to assist community officials and law enforce-
ment agencies with the deterrence and prevention of 
gang and youth violence by participating in seminars 
and workshop series throughout the community.
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‘‘(d) EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—An 
education program established and carried out under sub-
section (c) shall— 
‘‘(1) include classes that are required for com-
pletion of a certificate, diploma, or degree described 
in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection 
(b)(1); 
‘‘(2) provide a variety of academic programs, 
with various completion requirements, to accommo-
date the distinctive academic backgrounds, learning 
curves, and concentration interests of the eligible in-
dividuals who participate in the program; 
‘‘(3) offer flexible academic programs that are 
designed to improve the academic development and 
achievement of eligible individuals, and to avoid high 
attrition rates for such individuals; and 
‘‘(4) provide for a uniquely designed education 
plan for each eligible individual participating in the 
program, which shall require such individual to re-
ceive, at a minimum, a certificate or diploma de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) to 
successfully complete such program. 
‘‘(e) REPORTS.—Each community college awarded a 
grant under this part shall submit to the Secretary of 
Education a report—
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‘‘(1) documenting the results of the program 
carried out with such grant; and 
‘‘(2) evaluating the effectiveness of activities 
carried out through such program. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this part: 
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘com-
munity college’ means a public or nonprofit institu-
tion of higher education (as such term is defined in 
section 101 or 102(a)(2)(B)), that— 
‘‘(A) provides an educational program of 
not less than two years; and 
‘‘(B) that is accredited by a regional ac-
crediting agency or association. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘eligible 
individual’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(A) is 16 to 25 years of age; 
‘‘(B) has been convicted of a gang-related 
offense, and has served a period of detention in 
a juvenile detention center for such offense; and 
‘‘(C) is detained in, or has been released 
from, such center. 
‘‘(3) GANG-RELATED
OFFENSE.—The term 
‘gang-related offense’ means conduct constituting 
any Federal or State crime, punishable by imprison-
ment in any of the following categories:
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‘‘(A) A crime of violence. 
‘‘(B) A crime involving obstruction of jus-
tice, tampering with or retaliating against a 
witness, victim, or informant, or burglary. 
‘‘(C) A crime involving the manufacturing, 
importing, distributing, possessing with intent 
to distribute, or otherwise dealing in a con-
trolled substance or listed chemical (as those 
terms are defined in section 102 of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)). 
‘‘(4) GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.—The term ‘guid-
ance counselor’ means an individual who works with 
at-risk youth on a one-on-one basis, to establishing 
a supportive relationship with such at-risk youth and 
to provide such at-risk youth with academic assist-
ance and exposure to new experiences that enhance 
their ability to become responsible citizens. 
‘‘(5) HIGH-RISK
AREA.—The term ‘high-risk 
area’ means a specified area within a State where 
there is a disproportionately high number of gang- 
related activities reported to State and local law en-
forcement authorities.’’. 
SEC. 802. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS; REPORT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that—
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
(C) significantly reduce the redundancy in 
reporting information pertaining to income con-
tingent repayment to the Department of Edu-
cation, institutions, and applicants. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretaries of Education and the 
Treasury shall, within one year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act— 
(1) provide the Congress with information on 
the progress in devising the direct IDEA loan with 
income contingent repayment using the income tax 
withholding system; 
(2) inform the Congress of any necessary statu-
tory changes for the purpose of establishing a direct 
IDEA loan with income contingent repayment using 
the income tax withholding system; and 
(3) 
consider 
international 
programs 
dem-
onstrating implementation of income contingent re-
payment collected through revenue services, such as 
programs in England, Australia, and New Zealand. 
SEC. 803. INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF DISTANCE EDU-
CATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—The Secretary of 
Education shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct a scientifically correct and 
statistically valid evaluation of the quality of distance edu-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
cation programs, as compared to campus-based education 
programs, at institutions of higher education. Such eval-
uation shall include— 
(1) identification of the elements by which the 
quality of distance education, as compared to cam-
pus-based education, can be assessed, including ele-
ments such as subject matter, interactivity, and stu-
dent outcomes; 
(2) identification of distance and campus-based 
education program success, with respect to student 
achievement, in relation to the mission of the insti-
tution of higher education; and 
(3) identification of the types of students (in-
cluding classification of types of students based on 
student age) who most benefit from distance edu-
cation programs, the types of students who most 
benefit from campus-based education programs, and 
the types of students who do not benefit from dis-
tance education programs, by assessing elements in-
cluding access to higher education, job placement 
rates, undergraduate graduation rates, and graduate 
and professional degree attainment rates. 
(b) SCOPE.—The National Academy of Sciences shall 
select for participation in the evaluation under subsection
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
(a) a diverse group of institutions of higher education with 
respect to size, mission, and geographic distribution. 
(c) INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS.—The agreement 
under subsection (a) shall require that the National Acad-
emy of Sciences submit to the authorizing committees (as 
such term is defined in section 103 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003)— 
(1) an interim report regarding the evaluation 
under subsection (a) not later than December 31, 
2008; and 
(2) a final report regarding such evaluation not 
later than December 31, 2010. 
SEC. 804. ENCOURAGING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO 
‘‘GO GREEN’’. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives makes the fol-
lowing findings: 
(1) A commitment to and academic programs 
for environmental and economic sustainability are 
essential for our Nation’s future prosperity. 
(2) The more than 4,200 higher education in-
stitutions in the United States have the capacity to 
innovatively leverage spending and change consump-
tion patterns by incorporating concepts of sustain-
ability into their academic programs and by mod-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
eling sustainable economic and environmental prac-
tices for their communities. 
(3) Many colleges and universities have inter-
disciplinary programs or centers focusing on equip-
ping students with the academic content knowledge 
needed to understand concepts of sustainability and 
‘‘going green’’. 
(4) Many colleges and universities have pro-
grams related to the research of sustainability and 
sustainable systems. 
(5) Academic programs related to sustainability 
vary in rigor because no national education content 
standards for academic sustainability programs cur-
rently exist. 
(6) Colleges and universities may partner with 
businesses to encourage students and faculty to 
translate academic learning and research into prac-
tical solutions that promote sustainability. 
(7) Colleges and universities that make an ef-
fort to reduce energy consumption and promote envi-
ronmental sustainability not only reduce their own 
emissions, but also motivate the leaders of the next 
generation to action and create technical skills and 
resources to develop innovative solutions.
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(8) Many colleges and universities have under-
taken detailed, campus-wide assessments of their 
progress toward ‘‘going green’’ and sustainability or 
have measured their progress in specific sectors, 
such as operations, or specific parameters, such as 
recycling, energy, and water consumption. 
(9) No system that evaluates and compares col-
lege and university campuses in terms of overall sus-
tainability-related academic programs and practices 
currently exists. 
(b) SENSE OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND 
LABOR.—It is the sense of the Committee on Education 
and Labor that in order to encourage increased public 
awareness of the need to ‘‘go green’’ by using sustainable 
economic and environmental practices and rigorous sus-
tainability academic programs on college and university 
campuses, the following should be encouraged: 
(1) The development of educational standards 
by institutions of higher education to determine the 
necessary rigor and effectiveness of academic sus-
tainability programs. 
(2) Public awareness of the need for ‘‘going 
green’’ by using sustainable economic and environ-
mental practices.
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(3) Non-governmental efforts to improve eco-
nomic and environmental sustainability efforts on 
college and university campuses, including holding 
national summits to share best practices. 
(4) Collaborative partnerships between Federal 
agencies, businesses, universities and communities to 
broaden sustainability practices. 
SEC. 805. STUDY OF COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, 
AND SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Education shall com-
mission the National Research Council to conduct a na-
tional study to determine the viability of developing and 
implementing standards in environmental, health, and 
safety areas to provide for differential regulation of indus-
trial laboratories and facilities, on the one hand, and re-
search and teaching laboratories on the other. The Na-
tional Research Council shall make specific recommenda-
tions for statutory and regulatory changes that are needed 
to develop such a differential approach. 
(b) REPORT.—The Secretary of Education shall sub-
mit the list of those regulations that impose the greatest 
compliance costs on institutions of higher education and 
make recommendations for statutory changes to ease the 
compliance burden to the authorizing committees (as such
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term is defined in section 103 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003). 
SEC. 806. STUDY OF MINORITY MALE ACADEMIC ACHIEVE-
MENT. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Education 
shall— 
(1) commission and ensure the conduct of a na-
tional study of underrepresented minority males, 
particularly African American and Hispanic Amer-
ican males, completing high school, and entering and 
graduating from colleges and universities in accord-
ance with the following: 
(A) the data comprising the study shall 
focus primarily on African American and His-
panic American males and will utilize 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; and 
(C) the implementation of the study shall 
be in four stages based on the recommendations 
of the Commissioner of Education Statistics; 
and