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hours at an institution of higher education, as 
the case may be; 
‘‘(6) analyze possible funding streams for such 
programs and provide recommendations regarding 
funding streams; 
‘‘(7) develop model memoranda of agreement 
between institutions of higher education and agen-
cies providing funding for such programs; 
‘‘(8) develop mechanisms for regular commu-
nication between the recipients of grants under sec-
tion 769 regarding such programs; 
‘‘(9) host a meeting of all recipients of grants 
under section 769 not less often than once each 
year; and 
‘‘(10) convene a workgroup to develop rec-
ommendations on criteria, standards, and compo-
nents of such programs as described in paragraph 
(5), to include the participation of— 
‘‘(A) an expert in higher education; 
‘‘(B) an expert in special education; 
‘‘(C) a disability organization that rep-
resents students with intellectual disabilities; 
and
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‘‘(D) a national, State, or regional accred-
iting agency or association recognized by the 
Secretary under subpart 2 of part H of title IV. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—No later than 5 years after the date 
of the establishment of the coordinating center under this 
section, such center shall report to the Secretary, the Con-
gress, and the National Advisory Committee on Institu-
tional Quality and Integrity on the recommendations of 
the workgroup described in subsection (b)(10). 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible entity’ means an entity, or a part-
nership of entities, that has demonstrated expertise in the 
fields of higher education, students with intellectual dis-
abilities, the development of comprehensive transition and 
postsecondary programs for students with intellectual dis-
abilities, evaluation, and technical assistance. 
‘‘SEC. 770A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this subpart for fiscal 
year 2009 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.’’. 
(f) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Part D of title VII 
(20 U.S.C. 1140 et seq.) is further amended— 
(1) in section 761, by striking ‘‘part’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subpart’’;
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(2) in section 762 (as amended by subsection 
(a)), by striking ‘‘part’’ each place the term appears 
and inserting ‘‘subpart’’; 
(3) in section 763, in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘part’’ and inserting 
‘‘subpart’’; 
(4) in section 764, by striking ‘‘part’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subpart’’; and 
(5) in section 765, by striking ‘‘part’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subpart’’. 
SEC. 709. SUBGRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 771(e) (20 U.S.C. 1141(e)), as added by sec-
tion 802 of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act 
of 2007, is amended by inserting after ‘‘of this Act)’’ the 
following: ‘‘, or those who have agreements with the Sec-
retary under section 435(j)’’. 
SEC. 710. NURSING EDUCATION. 
Title VII (20 U.S.C. 1133 et seq.) is further amended 
by adding at the end the following new part: 
‘‘PART F—NURSING EDUCATION 
‘‘SEC. 776. ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR R.N. STUDENTS OR 
GRADUATE-LEVEL NURSING STUDENTS. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to institutions of higher education that offer—
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‘‘(1) a R.N. nursing program at the bacca-
laureate or associate degree level to enable such pro-
gram to expand the faculty and facilities of such 
program to accommodate additional R.N. nursing 
program students; or 
‘‘(2) a graduate-level nursing program to ac-
commodate advanced practice degrees for Registered 
Nurses or to accommodate students enrolled in a 
graduate-level nursing program to provide teachers 
of nursing students. 
‘‘(b) DETERMINATION OF NUMBER OF STUDENTS 
AND APPLICATION.—Each institution of higher education 
that offers a program described in subsection (a) that de-
sires to receive a grant under this section shall— 
‘‘(1) determine for the 4 academic years pre-
ceding the academic year for which the determina-
tion is made the average number of matriculated 
nursing program students, in each of the institu-
tion’s nursing programs (associate, baccalaureate, or 
advanced nursing degree program), at such institu-
tion for such academic years; and 
‘‘(2) submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
such information as the Secretary may require, in-
cluding the average number in each of the institu-
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tion’s nursing programs determined under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(c) GRANT AMOUNT; AWARD BASIS.— 
‘‘(1) GRANT AMOUNT.—For each academic year 
after academic year 2008–2009, the Secretary is au-
thorized to provide to each institution of higher edu-
cation awarded a grant under this section an 
amount that is equal to $3,000 multiplied by the 
number of matriculated nursing program students at 
such institution for such academic year that is more 
than the average number determined with respect to 
such institution under subsection (b)(1). Such 
amount shall be used for the purposes described in 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION
OF
GRANTS
AMONG
DIF-
FERENT DEGREE PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), from the funds available to award 
grants under this section for each fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) use 20 percent of such funds to 
award grants under this section to institu-
tions of higher education for the purpose 
of accommodating advanced practice de-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
grees or students in graduate-level nursing 
programs; 
‘‘(ii) use 40 percent of such funds to 
award grants under this section to institu-
tions of higher education for the purpose 
of expanding R.N. nursing programs at the 
baccalaureate degree level; and 
‘‘(iii) use 40 percent of such funds to 
award grants under this section to institu-
tions of higher education for the purpose 
of expanding R.N. nursing programs at the 
associate degree level. 
‘‘(B) DISTRIBUTION OF EXCESS FUNDS.— 
If, for a fiscal year, funds described in clause 
(i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A) remain 
available after the Secretary awards grants 
under this section to all applicants for the par-
ticular category of nursing programs described 
in such clause, the Secretary shall use equal 
amounts of the remaining funds to award 
grants under this section to applicants for the 
remaining categories of nursing programs. 
‘‘(C) 
EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION.—In 
awarding grants under this section, the Sec-
retary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure—
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‘‘(i) an equitable geographic distribu-
tion of the grants among the States; and 
‘‘(ii) an equitable distribution of the 
grants among different types of institu-
tions of higher education. 
‘‘(d) PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(1) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds provided under 
this section may not be used for the construction of 
new facilities. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
paragraph (1) shall be construed to prohibit funds 
provided under this section from being used for the 
repair or renovation of facilities. 
‘‘SEC. 777. NURSE FACULTY PILOT PROJECT. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are to 
create a pilot program— 
‘‘(1) to provide scholarships to qualified nurses 
in pursuit of an advanced degree with the goal of be-
coming faculty members in an accredited nursing 
program; and 
‘‘(2) to provide grants to partnerships between 
accredited schools of nursing and hospitals or health 
facilities to ensure that those employees can earn a 
salary while obtaining an advanced degree in nursing 
with the goal of becoming nurse faculty.
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‘‘(b) ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The 
Secretary may, on a competitive basis, award grants 
to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agree-
ments with, partnerships composed of an accredited 
school of nursing at an institution of higher edu-
cation and a hospital or health facility to establish 
not more than 5 pilot projects to enable such hos-
pital or health facility to retain its staff of experi-
enced nurses while providing a mechanism to have 
such nurses become, through an accelerated nursing 
education program, faculty members of an accred-
ited school of nursing. 
‘‘(2) DURATION; EVALUATION AND DISSEMINA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) DURATION.—Grants under this sec-
tion shall be awarded for a period of 3 to 5 
years. 
‘‘(B) MANDATORY EVALUATION AND DIS-
SEMINATION.—Grants under this section shall 
be primarily used for evaluation, and dissemina-
tion to other institutions of higher education, of 
the information obtained through the activities 
described in subsection (a)(2).
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‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS IN MAKING AWARDS.— 
In awarding grants and entering into contracts and 
cooperative agreements under this section, the Sec-
retary shall consider the following: 
‘‘(A) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—Pro-
viding an equitable geographic distribution of 
such grants. 
‘‘(B) RURAL AND URBAN AREAS.—Distrib-
uting such grants to urban and rural areas. 
‘‘(C) RANGE AND TYPE OF INSTITUTION.— 
Ensuring that the activities to be assisted are 
developed for a range of types and sizes of in-
stitutions of higher education, including institu-
tions providing alternative methods of delivery 
of instruction in addition to on-site learning. 
‘‘(D) PRIOR
EXPERIENCE
OR
EXCEP-
TIONAL PROGRAMS.—The extent to which insti-
tutions of higher education have demonstrated 
prior experience in providing advanced nursing 
education programs to prepare nurses inter-
ested in pursuing a faculty role. 
‘‘(4) USES OF FUNDS.—Funds made available 
by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under 
this section may be used—
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‘‘(A) to develop a new national demonstra-
tion initiative to align nursing education with 
the emerging challenges of healthcare delivery; 
and 
‘‘(B) for any one or more of the following 
innovations in educational programs: 
‘‘(i) To develop a clinical simulation 
laboratory in a hospital, health facility, or 
accredited school of nursing. 
‘‘(ii) To purchase distance learning 
technologies and to expand methods of de-
livery of instruction to include alternatives 
in addition to on-site learning. 
‘‘(iii) To fund release time for quali-
fied nurses enrolled in the graduate nurs-
ing program. 
‘‘(iv) To provide for faculty salaries. 
‘‘(v) To collect and analyze data on 
educational outcomes. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—Each partnership desiring to 
receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require. Each applica-
tion shall include assurances that—
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‘‘(1) the individuals enrolled in the program will 
be qualified nurses in pursuit of a master’s or doc-
toral degree in nursing and have a contractual obli-
gation with the hospital or health facility that is in 
partnership with the institution of higher education; 
‘‘(2) the hospital or health facility of employ-
ment will be the clinical site for the accredited school 
of nursing program if the program requires a clinical 
site; 
‘‘(3) individuals enrolled in the program will 
maintain their employment on at least a part-time 
basis with the hospital or health facility that allowed 
them to participate in the program, and will receive 
an income from the hospital or health facility, as at 
least a part-time employee, and release times or 
flexible schedules to accommodate their program re-
quirements, as necessary; and 
‘‘(4) upon completion of the program, such indi-
viduals will be required to teach for 2 years in an 
accredited school of nursing for each year of support 
the individual received under this program. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘health facility’ means an Indian Health Service cen-
ter, a Native Hawaiian health center, a hospital, a feder-
ally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, a nursing
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
home, a home health agency, a hospice program, a public 
health clinic, a State or local department of public health, 
a skilled nursing facility, or an ambulatory surgical center. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
not more than $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such 
sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 711. NATIONAL STUDY ON HIGHER EDUCATION AC-
CESS AND SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS WITH 
DISABILITIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a study of the barriers to, and opportunities for, the full 
participation of students with disabilities in institutions of 
higher education. The study shall address— 
(1) the extent to which, and manner in which, 
students with disabilities are— 
(A) prepared to participate in postsec-
ondary education upon enrollment; 
(B) applying to different types of institu-
tions of higher education; 
(C) accepted into different types of institu-
tions of higher education; 
(D) enrolling in and attending different 
types of institutions of higher education;
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
with disabilities, the factors that may contribute to 
such effectiveness, including— 
(A) faculty and staff preparation related to 
working with students with disabilities; 
(B) program characteristics; 
(C) accommodations and supports avail-
able; and 
(D) any other relevant factors. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
a report regarding the results of the study under sub-
section (a) to the authorizing committees (as defined in 
section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1003)) no later than 24 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
TITLE VIII—ADDITIONAL 
PROGRAMS 
SEC. 801. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. 
The Higher Education Act of 1965 is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new title: 
‘‘TITLE VIII—ADDITIONAL 
PROGRAMS 
‘‘SEC. 800. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
2009 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
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‘‘PART A—LOW TUITION 
‘‘SEC. 801. INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR LOW TUITION. 
‘‘(a) REWARDS FOR LOW TUITION.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—From funds made available 
under section 800, the Secretary shall award grants 
to institutions of higher education that, for academic 
year 2008–2009 or any succeeding academic year: 
(A) have an annual net tuition increase (expressed 
as a percentage) for the most recent academic year 
for which satisfactory data is available that is equal 
to or less than the percentage change in the postsec-
ondary education price index for such academic year; 
(B) are public institutions of higher education that 
have a net tuition that is in the lowest quartile of 
comparable institutions; or (C) are public institu-
tions of higher education that have a tuition increase 
of less than $500 for a full-time undergraduate stu-
dent. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded to an in-
stitution of higher education under paragraph (1) 
shall be distributed by the institution in the form of 
need-based grant aid to students who are eligible for 
Federal Pell Grants, except that no student shall re-
ceive an amount under this section that would cause 
the amount of total financial aid received by such
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student to exceed the cost of attendance of the insti-
tution. 
‘‘(b) REWARDS FOR GUARANTEED TUITION.— 
‘‘(1) BONUS.—For each institution of higher 
education that the Secretary determines complies 
with the requirements of paragraph (2) or (3) of 
this subsection, the Secretary shall provide to such 
institution a bonus amount. Such institution shall 
award the bonus amount in the form of need-based 
aid first to students who are eligible for Federal Pell 
Grants who were in attendance at the institution 
during the award year that such institution satisfied 
the eligibility criteria for maintaining low tuition and 
fees, then to students who are eligible for Federal 
Pell Grants who were not in attendance at the insti-
tution during such award year. 
‘‘(2) 4-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.—An institution of 
higher education that provides a program of instruc-
tion for which it awards a bachelor’s degree complies 
with the requirements of this paragraph if— 
‘‘(A) for a public institution of higher edu-
cation, such institution’s tuition is in the lowest 
quartile of comparable institutions; or 
‘‘(B) for any institution of higher edu-
cation, such institution guarantees that for any
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
academic year (or the equivalent) beginning on 
or after July 1, 2008, and for each of the 4 
succeeding continuous academic years, the net 
tuition charged to an undergraduate student 
will not exceed— 
‘‘(i) for a public institution of higher 
education, $500 per year for a full-time 
undergraduate student; or 
‘‘(ii) for any other institution of high-
er education— 
‘‘(I) the amount that the student 
was charged for an academic year at 
the time he or she first enrolled in the 
institution of higher education, plus 
‘‘(II) the product of the percent-
age increase in the higher education 
price index for the prior academic 
year, or the most recent prior aca-
demic year for which data is available, 
multiplied by the amount determined 
under subclause (I). 
‘‘(3) LESS-THAN
4-YEAR
INSTITUTIONS.—An 
institution of higher education that does not provide 
a program of instruction for which it awards a bach-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
elor’s degree complies with the requirements of this 
paragraph if— 
‘‘(A) for a public institution of higher edu-
cation, such institution’s tuition is in the lowest 
quartile of comparable institutions; or 
‘‘(B) for any institution of higher edu-
cation, such institution guarantees that for any 
academic year (or the equivalent) beginning on 
or after July 1, 2008, and for each of the 1.5 
succeeding continuous academic years, the net 
tuition charged to an undergraduate student 
will not exceed— 
‘‘(i) for a public institution of higher 
education, $500 per year for a full-time 
undergraduate student; or 
‘‘(ii) for any other institution of high-
er education— 
‘‘(I) the amount that the student 
was charged for an academic year at 
the time he or she first enrolled in the 
institution of higher education, plus 
‘‘(II) the product of the percent-
age increase in the higher education 
price index for the prior academic 
year, or the most recent prior aca-
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•HR 4137 EH2S 
demic year for which data is available, 
multiplied by the amount determined 
under subclause (I). 
‘‘(c) MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE TUITION.— 
‘‘(1) INSTITUTION REPORTS.—If an institution 
of higher education has an increase in annual net 
tuition (expressed as a percentage), for the most re-
cent academic year for which satisfactory data is 
available, that is greater than the percentage in-
crease in the postsecondary education price index for 
such academic year, and, with respect to any public 
institution of higher education, has a tuition that is 
not in the lowest quartile of comparable institutions 
the institution or a representative association is re-
quired to submit to the Secretary the following in-
formation, within 6 months of such determination: 
‘‘(A) A report on the factors contributing 
to the increase in the institution’s costs and the 
increase in net tuition and fees charged to stu-
dents, including identification of the major 
areas in the institution’s budget with the great-
est cost increases. 
‘‘(B) The institution’s 3 most recent Form 
990s submitted to the Internal Revenue Serv-