I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6168 
To encourage programs that support Dreamer student success in completing 
postsecondary education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 
Mr. AGUILAR (for himself, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 
GUTIE´RREZ, Mrs. TORRES, Mr. SIRES, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Mr. HONDA, and Mr. SERRANO) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To encourage programs that support Dreamer student 
success in completing postsecondary education. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Academic Success Cen-
ters and Education Networks for Dreamers (ASCEND) 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROGRAMS FOR DREAMER STUDENT SUCCESS IN 
COMPLETING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
courage programs that support Dreamer student success 
in completing postsecondary education by coordinating 
educational and community services to address the aca-
demic, financial, and social needs of Dreamer students. 
(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations under subsection (h), the Secretary of 
Education shall award grants to not-for-profit insti-
tutions of higher education to develop programs to 
support Dreamer student success in completing post-
secondary education. 
(2) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant awarded under 
this section shall be awarded for a period of 4 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 program that in-
cludes— 
(A) developing a team of professionals who 
provide services to Dreamer students and pro-
vide training to faculty on how to support 
Dreamer students; 
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(B) providing a coordinator whose primary 
responsibility is to coordinate the program car-
ried out under this section; and 
(C) establishing a plan to sustain the pro-
gram after the grant period. 
(2) OTHER AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An insti-
tution of higher education receiving a grant under 
this section may use such grant to carry out any of 
the following authorized activities with respect to 
Dreamer students and students described in section 
212(a)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)) or subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) 
of section 237(a)(1) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
1227(a)(1)): 
(A) Outreach to such students. 
(B) Supportive instructional services for 
such students, which may include— 
(i) personal, academic, and career 
counseling, as an ongoing part of the pro-
gram; 
(ii) tutoring and academic skill-build-
ing instruction assistance, as needed; and 
(iii) assistance with special admissions 
and transfer of credit from previous post-
secondary education or experience. 
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(C) Assistance in obtaining student finan-
cial aid. 
(D) Assistance with applications for in- 
state tuition, where applicable. 
(E) Establishing a scholarship program 
modeled after Federal work-study programs. 
(F) Other support services and planning 
activities the institution determines to be nec-
essary to ensure the success of such students in 
achieving educational 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.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall con-
sider— 
(i) the need for a new program for 
Dreamer students; or 
(ii) the need for additional services 
provided by an existing program for 
Dreamer students. 
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(B) GRANT CRITERIA DEPENDING ON ES-
TABLISHED
SOURCE
OF
FUNDING.—The Sec-
retary shall set criteria for grants awarded 
based on the differing objectives of programs 
for Dreamer students with, or without, an es-
tablished source of funding. With respect to an 
institution of higher education having a pro-
gram with an established source of funding at 
the time the application under paragraph (1) is 
submitted, the institution shall provide in the 
application an assurance that it will use Fed-
eral funds received under this section only to 
supplement the funds that would, in the ab-
sence of such Federal funds, be made available 
from State, local, and private sources for the 
program, and not to supplant such funds. 
(e) EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN.—The 
Secretary shall develop an evaluation and accountability 
plan for programs funded under this section to measure 
objectively the following: 
(1) The ability of the program to establish or 
expand services provided to Dreamer students. 
(2) Graduation rates of Dreamer students. 
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(f) ONLINE PUBLICATION OF PROGRESS RESULTS.— 
The Secretary of Education shall publish progress results 
online. 
(g) DREAMER STUDENTS.—In this section, the term 
‘‘Dreamer student’’ means an individual who is a bene-
ficiary of, or eligible for, the Deferred Action for Child-
hood Arrivals program pursuant to the memorandum by 
the Secretary of Homeland Security dated June 15, 2012, 
or November 20, 2014. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. 
Æ 
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