154 
(C) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1) 
through (9)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) 
through (10)’’; 
(4) in section 402E(b) (20 U.S.C. 1070a– 
15(b))— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (7) and 
(8) as paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (6) the 
following: 
‘‘(7) education or counseling services designed 
to improve the financial literacy and economic lit-
eracy of students and, as appropriate, their par-
ents;’’; and 
(5) in section 402F(b) (20 U.S.C. 1070a– 
16(b))— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(4) 
through (10) as paragraphs (5) through (11), 
respectively; 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 
following: 
‘‘(4) education or counseling services designed 
to improve the financial literacy and economic lit-
eracy of students and, as appropriate, their par-
ents;’’; and 
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(C) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1) 
through (9)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) 
through (10)’’. 
(i) MAXIMUM
STIPENDS.—Section 402C(e) (20 
U.S.C. 1070a–13(e)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$60’’ and inserting ‘‘$100’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘$40’’ and inserting ‘‘$60’’. 
(j) 
STUDENT
SUPPORT
SERVICES.—Section 
402D(d)(6) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–14(d)(6)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (A); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) working with other entities that serve 
low-income working adults to increase access to 
and successful progress in postsecondary edu-
cation by low-income working adults seeking 
their first postsecondary degree or certificate.’’. 
(k) POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT MAXIMUM 
STIPENDS.—Section 402E(e)(1) (20 U.S.C. 1070a– 
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156 
15(e)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘$2,800’’ and inserting 
‘‘$5,000’’. 
(l) EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS: APPLICA-
TION APPROVAL.—Section 402F(c) (20 U.S.C. 1070a– 
16(c)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(2); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) consider the extent to which the proposed 
project would provide services to low-income working 
adults in the region to be served, in order to in-
crease access to postsecondary education by low-in-
come working adults.’’. 
(m) GAO STUDY OF ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.— 
(1) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral shall conduct a study of the Federal TRIO Pro-
grams under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.) to examine the allocation 
of funds procedures for such programs. Such study 
shall— 
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157 
(A) examine the consideration of prior ex-
perience of service delivery and its impact on 
grant applicants who have prior experience as 
compared to those who do not have prior expe-
rience; and 
(B) examine the impact of the prior experi-
ence consideration in distribution of funds 
across programs and the impact of maintaining 
continuation of older programs on the success 
rate of accomplishing the goals of the program. 
(2) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall 
submit a report on the study required by paragraph 
(1) within one year of the date of enactment of this 
Act to the Committee on Education and Labor of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Sen-
ate. 
SEC. 403. TRIO REFORM. 
(a) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—Section 402A (20 
U.S.C. 1070a–11) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), 
(f), and (g) as subsections (d), (e), (g), (h), and (i), 
respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
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158 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish expected program outcomes and procedures for 
measuring, annually and for longer periods, the 
quality and effectiveness of programs operated under 
this chapter, and the impact of these programs in 
supporting the attainment of higher education for 
students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particu-
larly low-income individuals, prospective first-genera-
tion college students, and individuals with disabil-
ities. 
‘‘(2) USE
OF
MEASURES.—The performance 
measures described in paragraph (1) shall consider 
demographic and geographic variation and be used 
to— 
‘‘(A) assess the impact of the specific serv-
ices provided by recipients of grants or con-
tracts under this chapter and, to the extent the 
Secretary finds appropriate, administrative and 
financial management practices of such pro-
grams; 
‘‘(B) identify strengths and weaknesses in 
the provision of services provided by grantees 
under this chapter; 
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159 
‘‘(C) identify project operations that may 
require training and technical assistance re-
sources. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL MEASURES.—In addition to 
the performance measures in paragraph (1), each 
grant recipient may establish local performance 
measures.’’. 
(b) SELECTION.—Subsection (d) of such section (as 
redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
(6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) SELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In awarding grants 
from among qualified applicants, the Secretary 
shall consider the effectiveness of each applicant 
in providing services under this chapter, based 
on— 
‘‘(i) the plan of such applicant to de-
liver program services and achieve expected 
program outcomes established by the Sec-
retary; 
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160 
‘‘(ii) the plan of such applicant to co-
ordinate program services with other pro-
grams for disadvantaged students; and 
‘‘(iii) any prior experience of such ap-
plicant in achieving expected program out-
comes under this chapter. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL
CRITERIA.—The Sec-
retary may establish additional selection criteria 
as necessary to identify the most qualified ap-
plicants.’’. 
(c) PRIOR EXPERIENCE.—Paragraph (3) of such 
subsection (d) (redesignated by subsection (b)(1) of this 
section) is amended— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
‘‘(A) In making grants under this chapter, the Sec-
retary shall use the measures described in subsection 
(c)(1) to evaluate each applicant’s prior experience 
in achieving expected program outcomes under the 
particular program for which funds are sought.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) The Secretary shall not give prior experi-
ence points to any current grantee that during the 
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161 
then most recent period for which funds were pro-
vided— 
‘‘(i) failed to meet one or more expected 
program outcomes based on the performance 
measures described in subsection (c); or 
‘‘(ii) expended funds for indirect costs in 
an amount that exceeded 8 percent of the total 
grant award.’’. 
(d) ORDER OF AWARDS.—Paragraph (4) of such sub-
section (d) (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1) of this 
section) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘under paragraph (4)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘under paragraph (5)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘with paragraph (2)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘with paragraph (3)’’; and 
(2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall not provide assistance 
to an entity if the Secretary has determined that 
such entity has involved the fraudulent use of public 
or private funds.’’. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Paragraph (3) of sub-
section (e) of such section (as redesignated by subsection 
(a)(1) of this section) is amended to read as follows: 
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162 
‘‘(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall provide technical assistance to applicants for 
projects and programs authorized under this chap-
ter. The Secretary shall give priority to serving pro-
grams and projects that serve geographic areas and 
eligible populations which have been underserved by 
the programs assisted under this chapter. Technical 
training activities shall include the provision of in-
formation on authorizing legislation, goals and objec-
tives of the program, required activities, eligibility 
requirements, the application process and applica-
tion deadlines, and assistance in the development of 
program proposals and the completion of program 
applications.’’. 
(f) RECORDKEEPING
AND
REPORTING.—Section 
402A is further amended by inserting after subsection (e) 
of such section (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of 
this section) the following new subsection: 
‘‘(f) RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish uniform reporting requirements and require 
each recipient of funds under this chapter to submit 
annually and in electronic form such information in 
such manner and form and at such time as the Sec-
retary may require, except that reporting such infor-
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163 
mation shall not reveal personally identifiable infor-
mation about an individual student. 
‘‘(2) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—At least once 
every 2-year period, the Secretary shall prepare and 
submit to the authorizing committees, a report on 
the services provided to students that shall include— 
‘‘(A) a statement for the then most re-
cently concluded fiscal year specifying— 
‘‘(i) the amount of funds received by 
grantees to provide services under this 
chapter; and 
‘‘(ii) the amount of funds received by 
new grantees to provide services under this 
chapter; 
‘‘(B) a description of the specific services 
provided to students; 
‘‘(C) a summary of the overall success in 
achieving specific program outcomes or progress 
toward such outcomes; 
‘‘(D) a report of the number of students 
served by types of service received; 
‘‘(E) information summarizing the types of 
organizations that received funds under this 
chapter; and 
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164 
‘‘(F) a summary of the research and eval-
uation activities under section 402H, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) a status report on ongoing activi-
ties; and 
‘‘(ii) results, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations based on the most recent 
report available’’. 
(g) INCREASED MONITORING.—Subsection (h) of 
such section (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this 
section) is amended by striking everything after the first 
sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘Of the amount ap-
propriated under this chapter, the Secretary may use no 
more than one half of 1 percent of such amount to support 
the administration of the Federal TRIO programs includ-
ing to increase the level of oversight monitoring, to sup-
port impact studies, program assessments and reviews, 
and to provide technical assistance to prospective appli-
cants and current grantees.’’. 
(h) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.— 
(1) Section 402B (20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.—For the pur-
poses of assessing an applicant’s performance under sec-
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tion 402A(c)(1), and prior experience under section 
402A(d)(3), the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the rate of college enrollment of students 
served by the program; 
‘‘(2) the continued secondary school enrollment 
of participating students; 
‘‘(3) the graduation of participating students 
from secondary school; 
‘‘(4) the delivery of services described in the ap-
plication approved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(5) other such outcomes the Secretary may re-
quire.’’. 
(2) Section 402C (20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(f) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.—For the pur-
poses of assessing an applicant’s performance under sec-
tion 402A(c)(1), and prior experience under section 
402A(d)(3), the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the rate of college enrollment of students 
served by the program; 
‘‘(2) the persistence of students in postsec-
ondary education; 
‘‘(3) the delivery of services described in the ap-
plication approved by the Secretary; 
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166 
‘‘(4) the academic achievement of participating 
students; and 
‘‘(5) other such outcomes the Secretary may re-
quire.’’. 
(3) Section 402D (20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(e) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.—For the pur-
poses of assessing an applicant’s performance under sec-
tion 402A(c)(1), and prior experience under section 
402A(d)(3), the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the persistence in postsecondary education 
of all students served by the program; 
‘‘(2)(A) in the case of a grant recipient that is 
an institution of higher education offering a bacca-
laureate degree, the number of participating stu-
dents who completed degree programs in which such 
students were enrolled; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a grant recipient that is an 
institution of higher education not offering a bacca-
laureate degree, the number of participating stu-
dents who— 
‘‘(i) completed degree or certificate pro-
grams; and 
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167 
‘‘(ii) transferred to institutions of higher 
education offering baccalaureate degrees; 
‘‘(3) the delivery of services described in the ap-
plication approved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) other such outcomes the Secretary may re-
quire.’’. 
(4) Section 402E (20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) is 
amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(f) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.—For the pur-
poses of assessing an applicant’s performance under sec-
tion 402A(c)(1), and prior experience under section 
402A(d)(3), the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the rate of graduate school enrollment of 
participating students; 
‘‘(2) the attainment of doctoral degrees by par-
ticipating students; 
‘‘(3) the delivery of services described in the ap-
plication approved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) other such outcomes as required by the 
Secretary.’’. 
(5) Section 402F (20 U.S.C. 1070a–12) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
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168 
‘‘(d) EXPECTED PROGRAM OUTCOMES.—For the 
purposes of assessing an applicant’s performance under 
section 402A(c)(1), and prior experience under section 
402A(d)(3), the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the rate of college enrollment of partici-
pating students; 
‘‘(2) the provision of assistance to students 
served by the program in completing financial aid 
applications and college admission applications; 
‘‘(3) the delivery of services described in the ap-
plication approved by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(4) other such outcomes as required by the 
Secretary.’’. 
(i) STAFF
DEVELOPMENT.—Section 402G (20 
U.S.C. 1070a–17) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 402G. STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) SECRETARY’S AUTHORITY.—For the purpose of 
improving the operation of the programs and projects au-
thorized by this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to 
make grants to institutions of higher education and other 
public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations 
to provide training and technical assistance for staff and 
leadership personnel employed in, participating in, or pre-
paring for employment in, such programs and projects. 
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169 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS
OF TRAINING PROGRAMS.—Such 
training shall be provided to assist programs and projects 
in— 
‘‘(1) achieving the expected program outcomes 
stated under this chapter or additional outcomes 
identified by individual programs or projects; 
‘‘(2) addressing any identified program weak-
nesses in the overall development, conduct, or ad-
ministration of a grant or contract; 
‘‘(3) improving the quality of services provided 
to eligible students; or 
‘‘(4) additional areas in need of program im-
provement as identified by the Secretary or as re-
quested by grantees in order to enhance program op-
erations and outcomes. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—Grants for the purposes of 
this section shall be made only after consultation with re-
gional and State professional associations of persons hav-
ing special knowledge with respect to the needs and prob-
lems of such programs and projects.’’. 
(j) 
EVALUATIONS.—Section 
402H 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1070a–18) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 402H. EVALUATIONS. 
‘‘(a) EVALUATIONS.— 
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170 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of improv-
ing the effectiveness of the programs and projects 
assisted under this chapter, the Secretary shall make 
grants to or enter into contracts with one or more 
organizations to— 
‘‘(A) evaluate the effectiveness of the pro-
grams and projects assisted under this chapter; 
and 
‘‘(B) disseminate information on the im-
pact of the programs in increasing the edu-
cation level of participating students, as well as 
other appropriate measures. 
‘‘(2) ISSUES TO BE EVALUATED.—The evalua-
tions described in paragraph (1) shall measure the 
effectiveness of programs under this chapter in— 
‘‘(A) meeting the expected program out-
comes stated under this chapter and all per-
formance measures identified by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) enhancing the access of low-income 
individuals and first-generation college students 
to postsecondary education; 
‘‘(C) preparing individuals and students 
for postsecondary education; 
‘‘(D) comparing the level of education com-
pleted by students who participate in the pro-
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171 
grams funded under this chapter with the level 
of education completed by students of similar 
backgrounds who do not participate in such 
programs; 
‘‘(E) comparing the retention rates, drop-
out rates, graduation rates, and college admis-
sion and completion rates of students who par-
ticipate in the programs funded under this 
chapter with the rates of students of similar 
backgrounds who do not participate in such 
programs; and 
‘‘(F) such other issues as the Secretary 
considers appropriate for inclusion in the eval-
uation. 
‘‘(3) PROGRAM
METHODS.—Such evaluations 
shall also investigate the effectiveness of alternative 
and innovative methods within Federal TRIO pro-
grams of increasing access to, and retention of, stu-
dents in postsecondary education. 
‘‘(b) RESULTS.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
authorizing committees— 
‘‘(1) an annual interim report on the progress 
and preliminary results of the evaluation of each 
program funded under this chapter no later than 2 
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