215 
‘‘(vii) military-connected students. 
‘‘(H) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ 
means the Secretary of Education. 
‘‘(I) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.— 
The term ‘Tribal College or University’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1059c(b)). 
‘‘(2) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR ELIGIBLE 
INDIAN ENTITIES.—From the total amount appro-
priated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall reserve 2 percent for grants to 
eligible Indian entities to increase participation and 
completion rates of high-need students. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF POSTSECONDARY STU-
DENT SUCCESS COMPETITIVE GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) GRANT
AUTHORIZATION.—For each 
of fiscal years 2025 through 2030, the Sec-
retary shall award, on a competitive basis, 
grants to eligible entities to provide student 
services to increase participation, retention, and 
completion rates of high-need students. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity de-
siring a grant under this section shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
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such manner, and containing the information 
required under subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(C) CONTENTS.—An application sub-
mitted under this paragraph shall include the 
following: 
‘‘(i) A plan to increase, with respect 
to all students enrolled at the institution of 
higher education, attainment and comple-
tion rates or graduation rates, including— 
‘‘(I) a description of which evi-
dence tiers would be met by the evi-
dence-based reforms or practices; and 
‘‘(II) a particular focus on serv-
ing high-need students through stu-
dent services and collaboration among 
2-year programs, 4-year programs, 
and workforce systems. 
‘‘(ii) Annual benchmarks for student 
outcomes with respect to evidence-based 
reforms or practices. 
‘‘(iii) A plan to evaluate the evidence- 
based reforms or practices carried out pur-
suant to a grant received under this sub-
section. 
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‘‘(iv) Rates of enrolled students who 
received a Federal Pell Grant under sec-
tion 401. 
‘‘(v) Demographics of enrolled stu-
dents, including high-need students. 
‘‘(vi) A description of how the eligible 
entity will, directly or in collaboration with 
institutions of higher education or non-
profit organizations, use the grant funds to 
implement 1 or more of the following evi-
dence-based reforms or practices: 
‘‘(I) 
Providing 
comprehensive 
academic, career, and student serv-
ices, which may include mentoring, 
advising, or case management serv-
ices. 
‘‘(II) Providing accelerated learn-
ing opportunities, which may include 
dual or concurrent enrollment pro-
grams and early college high school 
programs. 
‘‘(III) Reforming course sched-
uling or credit-awarding policies. 
‘‘(IV) Improving transfer path-
ways between the institution of higher 
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education, or eligible Indian entity, 
and other institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(vii) A description of how the evi-
dence-based reforms or practices carried 
out pursuant to a grant under this sub-
section will be sustained once the grant ex-
pires. 
‘‘(D) EVIDENCE-BASED STUDENT SUCCESS 
PROGRAMS.—From the total amount appro-
priated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal 
year and not reserved under paragraph (4), the 
Secretary shall reserve not less than 20 percent 
to award grants to eligible entities with applica-
tions that propose to include reforms or prac-
tices— 
‘‘(i) at least 1 of which is a tier 3 re-
form or practice; and 
‘‘(ii) the rest of which are tier 1 or 
tier 2 reforms or practices. 
‘‘(E) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.—An eligi-
ble entity that receives a grant under this sec-
tion shall use the grant funds to carry out the 
plans submitted pursuant to subparagraph (C) 
and for evidence-based reforms or practices for 
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improving retention and completion rates of 
students that may include the following: 
‘‘(i) Student services to support reten-
tion, completion, and success, which may 
include— 
‘‘(I) faculty and peer counseling; 
‘‘(II) use of real-time data on 
student progress; 
‘‘(III) improving transfer student 
success; and 
‘‘(IV) incentives for students to 
re-enroll or stay on track. 
‘‘(ii) Direct student support services, 
including a combination of— 
‘‘(I) tutoring, academic supports, 
and enrichment services; and 
‘‘(II) emergency financial assist-
ance. 
‘‘(iii) Efforts to prepare students for a 
career, which may include— 
‘‘(I) career coaching, career coun-
seling and planning services, and ef-
forts to lower student to advisor ra-
tios; 
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‘‘(II) networking and work-based 
learning opportunities to support the 
development of skills and professional 
relationships; 
‘‘(III) utilizing career pathways; 
and 
‘‘(IV) boosting experiences nec-
essary to obtain and succeed in high- 
wage, high-skilled, (as described in 
section 122 of the Carl D. Perkins 
Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2342)) or in-de-
mand sectors or occupations (as de-
fined in section 3(23) of the Work-
force Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102(23)). 
‘‘(iv) Efforts to recruit and retain fac-
ulty and other instructional staff. 
‘‘(F) PERMISSIVE USE OF FUNDS.—From 
the total amount appropriated to carry out this 
subsection for a fiscal year, and not reserved 
under paragraph (4) or subparagraph (D), the 
Secretary may set aside— 
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‘‘(i) not more than 5 percent for ad-
ministration, capacity building, research, 
evaluation, and reporting; and 
‘‘(ii) not more than 2 percent for 
technical assistance to eligible entities. 
‘‘(G) EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose 
of improving the effectiveness of the evi-
dence-based reforms or practices carried 
out by eligible entities pursuant to a grant 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
make grants to or enter into contracts with 
one or more organizations to— 
‘‘(I) evaluate the effectiveness of 
such reforms or practices; and 
‘‘(II) disseminate information on 
the impact of such reforms or prac-
tices in increasing completion and re-
tention activities of students, as well 
as other appropriate measures. 
‘‘(ii) ISSUES
TO
BE
EVALUATED.— 
The evaluations required under clause (i) 
shall measure the effectiveness of the evi-
dence-based reforms or practices carried 
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out by eligible entities pursuant to a grant 
under this subsection in— 
‘‘(I) whether such eligible entity 
implemented the plans, and carried 
out the activities, described in sub-
paragraph (C); and 
‘‘(II) comparing the completion 
and retention rates of students who 
participated in such reforms or prac-
tices with the rates of students of 
similar backgrounds who did not par-
ticipate in such reforms or practices. 
‘‘(iii) RESULTS.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of 
this subsection, the Secretary shall submit 
to the authorizing committees a final re-
port. 
‘‘(H) GRANT LIMIT.—An institution with 
branch campuses that is an eligible entity may 
only receive a grant under this subsection for 1 
campus of such institution at a time. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection, $45,000,000, for each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2031.’’; and 
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(2) by striking sections 742 through 745. 
SEC. 322. REVERSE TRANSFER EFFICIENCY ACT. 
Section 444(b)(1) of the General Education Provi-
sions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (K)(ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (L), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (L) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(M) an institution of postsecondary edu-
cation in which a student was previously en-
rolled, to which records of postsecondary 
coursework and credits are sent for the purpose 
of applying such coursework and credits toward 
completion of a recognized postsecondary cre-
dential (as that term is defined in section 3 of 
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(29 U.S.C. 3102)), upon condition that the stu-
dent provides written consent prior to receiving 
such credential.’’. 
SEC. 323. TRANSPARENT AND FAIR TRANSFER OF CREDIT 
POLICIES. 
Section 485(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1092(h)) is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing with respect to the acceptance or denial of such 
credit’’ after ‘‘higher education’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) DENIAL OF CREDIT TRANSFER.—An insti-
tution may not establish a transfer of credit policy 
which denies credit earned at another institution 
based solely on the source of accreditation of such 
other institution, provided that such other institu-
tion is accredited by an agency or association that 
is recognized by the Secretary pursuant to section 
496.’’. 
Æ 
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