(1) in subsection (b)(4)(C)(ii)— 
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subclause (II), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by inserting after subclause (II) the 
following new subclause: 
‘‘(III) describe the progress of 
career and technical education stu-
dents served by the eligible recipient 
in attaining 21st century skills (such 
as critical thinking, problem-solving, 
communication, and collaboration).’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) describe the progress of career and 
technical education students of the State in at-
taining 21st century skills (such as critical 
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thinking, problem-solving, communication, and 
collaboration).’’. 
SEC. 103. INCLUSION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND 
INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS IN STATE 
AND LOCAL PLANS. 
(a) STATE PLAN.—Section 122 of the Carl D. Per-
kins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2342) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A)(ix), by striking ‘‘in-
cluding parent and community organizations’’ and 
inserting ‘‘including parent and intermediary organi-
zations and community partners’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A)— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(B) by inserting after clause (iv) the fol-
lowing new clauses: 
‘‘(v) are carried out in partnership 
with one or more community partners, in-
cluding through joint planning and imple-
mentation, shared professional develop-
ment designed to improve the effectiveness 
of eligible recipient and community partner 
staff, development and implementation of 
shared data systems that support program 
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improvement and the improvement of pro-
gram outcomes, and the alignment and co-
ordination of eligible recipient and commu-
nity partner goals, activities, and training; 
and 
‘‘(vi) are carried out with the involve-
ment of one or more intermediary organi-
zations that will assist the eligible appli-
cants by training staff, providing technical 
assistance that is designed to ensure con-
tinuous improvement, helping to ensure ac-
countability for results, and helping to en-
sure that program funds flow quickly and 
effectively to effective service providers and 
activities;’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in subparagraph (G), by inserting 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) 
the following: 
‘‘(H) may be provided by a community 
partner or an intermediary organization;’’. 
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(b) LOCAL PLAN.—Section 134(b) of the Carl D. 
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
U.S.C. 2354(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘community 
partners, intermediary organizations,’’ after ‘‘labor 
organizations,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking the period 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (12) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(13) describe the data-sharing agreement or 
agreements that the eligible recipient agency has en-
tered into with other agencies and organizations so 
as to provide for shared access to information on 
student progress and success (consistent with the re-
quirements of subpart 4 of part C of the General 
Education Provisions Act), integrated planning and 
joint review of the data, and coordinated adjust-
ments in program strategies and activities in re-
sponse to changes in student needs or to new chal-
lenges; 
‘‘(14) describe how the eligible recipient will 
carry out its program under this part in partnership 
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with one or more community partners, including 
through joint planning and implementation, shared 
professional development designed to improve the ef-
fectiveness of eligible recipient and community part-
ner staff, development and implementation of shared 
data systems that support program improvement 
and the improvement of program outcomes, and the 
alignment and coordination of eligible recipient and 
community partner goals, activities, and training; 
and 
‘‘(15) a description of how the eligible recipient 
will carry out its program under this part with the 
involvement of one or more intermediary organiza-
tions that will assist the eligible entity by training 
staff, providing technical assistance that is designed 
to ensure continuous improvement, helping to ensure 
accountability for results, and helping to ensure that 
program funds flow quickly and effectively to effec-
tive service providers and activities.’’. 
(c) LOCAL USE OF FUNDS.—Section 135(b) of the 
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2355(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘development 
programs that’’ and inserting ‘‘development pro-
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grams, which may be provided by community part-
ners or intermediary organizations, that’’; 
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(3) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) development and implementation of data- 
sharing agreements between the eligible recipient 
and other agencies and organizations that provide 
for shared access to information on student progress 
and success (consistent with the requirements of 
subpart 4 of part C of the General Education Provi-
sions Act), integrated planning and joint review of 
the data, and coordinated adjustments in program 
strategies and activities in response to changes in 
student needs or to new challenges.’’. 
SEC. 104. EVALUATIONS. 
Section 114(d)(2)(B) of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2324) 
is amended— 
(1) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
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(2) in clause (vii), by striking the period and in-
serting a semicolon; and 
(3) by inserting after clause (vii) the following 
new clauses: 
‘‘(viii) whether and how eligible recipi-
ents are involving community partners and 
intermediary organizations in their activi-
ties carried out under part C, and the im-
pact of that involvement; and 
‘‘(ix) the implementation of the data- 
sharing agreements entered into under sec-
tion 135(b)(10), and the impact of that 
implementation.’’. 
TITLE II—AMENDMENTS TO THE 
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 
1965 
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1088) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsections: 
‘‘(g) COMMUNITY PARTNER.—For purposes of this 
title, the term ‘community partner’ means a nonprofit or-
ganization that has expertise in the planning and delivery 
of education, career training, and related programs, in 
forging coordination and cooperation between educators 
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and other members of the community, in training edu-
cators and other deliverers of educational services, or in 
development and implementation of data systems that 
measure the progress of students, schools and institutions 
of higher education, and programs. 
‘‘(h) INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATION.—For purposes 
of this title, the term ‘intermediary organization’ means 
a nonprofit organization that has expertise in training, 
forging public-private partnerships, systems development, 
capacity-building, improving scalability, evaluation, and 
development and implementation of data systems that 
measure the progress of students, schools and other edu-
cational institutions, and programs.’’. 
SEC. 202. TRIO PROGRAMS. 
Section 402A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a–11) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘For the purposes de-
scribed’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes de-
scribed’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND INTER-
MEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS.—An entity described 
in subparagraph (A) receiving a grant or enter-
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ing into a contract under this chapter shall, to 
the extent practicable, carry out the grant or 
contract— 
‘‘(i) with one or more community 
partners, including through joint planning 
and implementation, shared professional 
development designed to improve the effec-
tiveness of such eligible entity and commu-
nity partner staff, development and imple-
mentation of shared data systems that 
support the improvement of the operations 
and outcomes of the program carried out 
with such grant or contract, and the align-
ment and coordination of such eligible enti-
ty and community partner goals, activities, 
and training; and 
‘‘(ii) with the involvement of one or 
more intermediary organizations that will 
assist such eligible entity by training staff, 
providing technical assistance that is de-
signed to ensure continuous improvement, 
helping to ensure accountability for results, 
and helping to ensure that the grant or 
contract funds flow quickly and effectively 
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to effective service providers and activi-
ties.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(6), by adding at the end 
the following: ‘‘The Secretary shall encourage enti-
ties receiving grants or entering into contracts under 
this chapter to enter into data-sharing agreements 
with other agencies and organizations so as to pro-
vide for shared access to information on student 
progress and success (consistent with the require-
ments of subpart 4 of part C of the General Edu-
cation Provisions Act), integrated planning and re-
view of the data, and coordinated adjustments in 
program strategies and activities in response to 
changes in student needs or to new challenges.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)(3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by redesignating clauses (v) and 
(vi) as clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; 
and 
(ii) by inserting after clause (iv) the 
following new clause: 
‘‘(v) student acquisition of 21st cen-
tury skills (such as critical thinking, prob-
lem-solving, communication, and collabora-
tion);’’; and 
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(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), 
and (vii) as clauses (vi), (vii), and (viii), 
respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after clause (iv) the 
following new clause: 
‘‘(v) student acquisition of 21st cen-
tury skills (such as critical thinking, prob-
lem-solving, communication, and collabora-
tion);’’. 
SEC. 203. GEAR UP. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—Section 
404A(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1070a–21(c)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause 
(i); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) one or more community part-
ners; and’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘inter-
mediary organizations,’’ after ‘‘subpart 4,’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 404B(b) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–22(b)) is 
amended— 
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(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjust-
ing the margins of such subparagraphs accordingly; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Each eligible entity’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each eligible entity’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DATA SHARING.—Each eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this chapter shall, to the ex-
tent feasible, enter into data-sharing agreements 
with other organizations or agencies so as to provide 
for shared access to information on student progress 
and success (consistent with the requirements of 
subpart 4 of part C of the General Education Provi-
sions Act), integrated planning and joint review of 
the data, and coordinated adjustments in program 
strategies and activities in response to changes in 
student needs or to new challenges.’’. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—Section 404C(a)(2) of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–23(a)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (I); 
(2) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’ 
at the end of subparagraph (J); and 
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(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(K) describe, in the case of an eligible en-
tity described in section 404A(c)(2), how the 
entities included in the partnership will engage 
in— 
‘‘(i) joint planning and implementa-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) shared professional development 
designed to improve the effectiveness of 
school, community partner, and other 
staff; 
‘‘(iii) development and implementation 
of shared data systems that support pro-
gram improvement and the improvement of 
program outcomes; and 
‘‘(iv) the alignment and coordination 
of local educational agency, school, commu-
nity partner, and other partnership mem-
ber goals, activities, and training.’’. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—Section 404D(a)(3) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24(a)(3)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (A); 
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(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) at the discretion of the eligible entity, 
acquire 21st century skills (such as critical 
thinking, problem-solving, communication, and 
collaboration).’’. 
SEC. 204. MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—Section 418A(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070d–2(a)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) 
COMMUNITY
PARTNERS
AND
INTER-
MEDIARY
ORGANIZATIONS.—Each such program 
shall be implemented— 
‘‘(A) in partnership with one or more com-
munity partners, including through joint plan-
ning and implementation, shared professional 
development designed to improve the effective-
ness of, as applicable, school, institution of 
higher education, nonprofit organization, and 
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community partner staff, development and im-
plementation of shared data systems that sup-
port program improvement and the improve-
ment of program outcomes, and the alignment 
and coordination of, as applicable, school, insti-
tution of higher education, nonprofit organiza-
tion, and community partner goals, activities, 
and training; and 
‘‘(B) with the involvement of one or more 
intermediary organizations that assist the 
grantee by training staff, providing technical 
assistance that is designed to ensure continuous 
improvement, helping to ensure accountability 
for results, and helping to ensure that program 
funds flow quickly and effectively to effective 
service providers and activities. 
‘‘(3) DATA SHARING.—Each such program shall 
include the implementation of one or more data- 
sharing agreements between the grantee and other 
organizations or agencies that provide for shared ac-
cess to information on student progress and success 
(consistent with the requirements of subpart 4 of 
part C of the General Education Provisions Act), in-
tegrated planning and joint review of the data, and 
coordinated adjustments in program strategies and 
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activities in response to changes in student needs or 
to new challenges.’’. 
(b) SERVICES PROVIDED.—Section 418A(b) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070d–2(b)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(8); 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as para-
graph (10); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(9) activities designed to ensure that partici-
pants acquire 21st century skills (such as critical 
thinking, problem-solving, communication, and col-
laboration); and’’. 
Æ 
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