I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3386
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish
a program to identify and mentor college eligible high school students
and their parents or legal guardians, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 16, 1999
Mrs. CAPPS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 to establish a program to identify and mentor
college eligible high school students and their parents
or legal guardians, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Access Aid Act of
1999’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new part:
PART L—ACCESS AID ACT
‘‘SEC. 10995A. INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
‘‘(a) PURPOSES OF ACCESS AID ACT.—The Secretary
is authorized, in accordance with the requirements of this
part, to establish a demonstration program with the fol-
lowing purposes:
‘‘(1) Encourage nonprofit organizations work-
ing with local school districts to establish a program
that identifies and mentors college eligible students
and their families on college selection, college admis-
sions, and college funding. Such program shall serve
students no later than the end of grade 10 and shall
continue to support them until the end of their 4-
or 5-year college career. Nonprofit organizations
shall provide comprehensive mentoring, supportive
services, and outreach to students and others and
schools participating under this part to promote en-
rollment of first generation, low-income students and
others in colleges and universities across the Nation.
‘‘(2) Shift the cost of programs established
under this part from the Federal Government to the
private sector after 24 months to ensure that pro-
grams created under this part continue without Fed-
eral funds.
‘‘(3) A nonprofit organization selected to receive
assistance under this part shall involve parents or
legal guardians of students in every aspect of college
selection and college admissions in the financial aid
process.
‘‘(b) COUNSELING COMPONENT; INDIVIDUAL SERV-
ICES.—The primary focus of the counseling services under
this part shall be college selection, college admissions, and
college funding. Such counseling shall involve the stu-
dents’ parents or legal guardians and shall be conducted
on an individual and confidential basis. The program shall
enable students to evaluate and select a college based on
the student’s interest level and qualifications not cost.
Such support programs ensures a higher rate of college
graduation.
‘‘(c) EMERGENCY GRANT COMPONENT.—Programs
under this part may provide participating students small
grants to underwrite the costs of college visits or to pur-
chase books and equipment required by (but not included
in) the student budget of the college. In addition, emer-
gency grants may be used when a student’s demonstrated
need is not fully funded by the postsecondary institution.
In every case, emergency grants will be made pursuant
to the purposes outlined in this part.
‘‘(d) WORKSHOPS COMPONENT.—In addition to indi-
vidual counseling of students and scholars, the organiza-
tion shall provide outreach support to each participating
school’s guidance or career counseling staff and provide
workshops relating to college admissions, college funding,
and financial aid form completion to the general popu-
lation of each participating school or other interested
schools. At each project site, the organization shall provide
no less than 10 workshops in participating and sur-
rounding school districts.
‘‘SEC. 10995B. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) IDENTIFICATION OF PARTICIPANTS.—The stu-
dents selected for assistance under this part shall be nomi-
nated for the program by the staffs of the participating
high schools. The primary standard for selection relates
to college eligible, first generation, low-income students,
with no student served by TRIO or GEAR UP eligible
for the program under this part.
‘‘(b) SCOPE OF ACCESS AID.—Students shall be se-
lected for assistance under this part in each State.
‘‘(c) QUALIFYING
ORGANIZATIONS.—In order to
qualify for a grant under this part, the applicant shall—
‘‘(1) be a tax-exempt not-for-profit organiza-
tion;
‘‘(2) not be affiliated with a public or private
educational institution;
‘‘(3) not sell a financial product of any kind;
‘‘(4) demonstrate experience in the college ad-
missions and college funding arenas;
‘‘(5) demonstrate familiarity with Federal out-
reach programs;
‘‘(6) demonstrate prior experience with the pub-
lic secondary school sector;
‘‘(7) provide evidence that there is a demand by
schools and school districts for its program;
‘‘(8) provide a plan for orderly shift of the
funding component from the public to the private
sector;
‘‘(9) provide for a plan for public awareness of
the program, the participants, and the outcomes;
‘‘(10) provide a plan for counseling services for
participants from entry into the program until com-
pletion of college; and
‘‘(11) include a quantifiable evaluation plan.
‘‘(d) PLAN REQUIRED FOR ELIGIBILITY.—
‘‘(1) In order to qualify for a grant under this
part, the applicant shall submit to the Secretary a