739 
‘‘(vi) access to student housing for 
students participating in the inclusive 
higher education programs, including ac-
commodations and services that support 
independent living; 
‘‘(I) review and analyze— 
‘‘(i) policy impact of inclusive higher 
education on Federal and State legislation; 
and 
‘‘(ii) funding streams for such pro-
grams; 
‘‘(J) provide recommendations regarding 
the funding streams described in subparagraph 
(H)(ii); 
‘‘(K) develop mechanisms for regular com-
munication, outreach and dissemination of in-
formation about inclusive higher education pro-
grams for students with intellectual disabilities 
under subpart 2 between or among such pro-
grams and to families and prospective students; 
‘‘(L) host a meeting of all recipients of 
grants under subpart 2 not less often than once 
each year; and 
‘‘(M) convene a work group to continue the 
development of and recommendations for model 
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criteria, standards, and components of inclusive 
higher education programs and comprehensive 
transition and postsecondary programs for stu-
dents with intellectual disabilities, that are ap-
propriate for the development of accreditation 
standards— 
‘‘(i) which work group shall include— 
‘‘(I) an expert in higher edu-
cation; 
‘‘(II) an expert in special edu-
cation; 
‘‘(III) a disability organization 
that represents students with intellec-
tual disabilities; 
‘‘(IV) a representative from the 
National Advisory Committee on In-
stitutional Quality and Integrity; and 
‘‘(V) a representative of a re-
gional or national accreditation agen-
cy or association; and 
‘‘(ii) the work group will carry out the 
following activities— 
‘‘(I) conduct outreach to accred-
iting agencies; 
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‘‘(II) develop a technical guid-
ance document to support implemen-
tation of the model standards; 
‘‘(III) develop and conduct a pro-
tocol for field testing and imple-
menting the model standards; and 
‘‘(IV) update recommendations 
for the model standards, criteria, and 
components of such programs, as ap-
plicable. 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the establishment of the coordinating center 
under this subsection, the coordinating center shall 
report to the Secretary, the authorizing committees, 
and the National Advisory Committee on Institu-
tional Quality and Integrity on the activities de-
scribed in paragraph (5). 
‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), there are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this subsection $2,500,000 
for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years. 
‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The amount au-
thorized to be appropriated under subpara-
graph (A) for fiscal year 2020 and each of 
the 4 succeeding fiscal years shall be 
deemed increased by the annual adjust-
ment percentage. 
‘‘(ii) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, 
the term ‘annual adjustment percentage’, 
as applied to a fiscal year, means the esti-
mated percentage change in the Consumer 
Price Index (as determined by the Sec-
retary, using the definition in section 
478(f)) for the most recent calendar year 
ending before the beginning of that fiscal 
year.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
778 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1140r) is repealed. 
SEC. 7008. ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND 
TECHNOLOGY. 
Part D of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1140 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
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‘‘Subpart 5—Accessible Instructional Materials and 
Technology 
‘‘SEC. 779. ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND 
TECHNOLOGY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.—The Speak-
er of the House of Representatives, the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate, and the Secretary of Education shall 
establish an independent commission, comprised of key 
stakeholders, to develop guidelines for accessible postsec-
ondary electronic instructional materials and related tech-
nologies in order— 
‘‘(1) to ensure students with disabilities are af-
forded the same educational benefits provided to stu-
dents without disabilities through the use of elec-
tronic instructional materials and related tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(2) to improve the selection and use of such 
materials and technologies at institutions of higher 
education; and 
‘‘(3) to encourage entities that produce such 
materials and technologies to make accessible 
versions more readily available in the market. 
‘‘(b) REVIEW.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
commission shall— 
‘‘(1) review applicable information technology 
accessibility standards; and 
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‘‘(2) compile and annotate such accessibility 
standards as an additional information resource for 
institutions of higher education and companies that 
service the higher education market. 
‘‘(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.—The commission 
shall be composed of representatives from the fol-
lowing categories: 
‘‘(A) Communities of persons with disabil-
ities for whom the accessibility of postsecondary 
electronic instructional materials and related 
technologies is a significant factor in ensuring 
equal participation in higher education, and 
nonprofit organizations that provide accessible 
electronic materials to these communities. 
‘‘(B) Higher education leadership, includ-
ing university presidents, provosts, deans, vice 
presidents or deans of libraries, chief informa-
tion officers, and other senior institutional ex-
ecutives. 
‘‘(C) Developers of postsecondary elec-
tronic instructional materials and manufactur-
ers of related technologies. 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS.—The com-
mission members shall be appointed as follows: 
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‘‘(A) 6 members, 2 from each category de-
scribed in paragraph (1), shall be appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3 
of whom shall be appointed on the rec-
ommendation of the majority leader of the 
House of Representatives and 3 of whom shall 
be appointed on the recommendation of the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives, 
with the Speaker ensuring that 1 developer of 
postsecondary electronic instructional materials 
and 1 manufacturer of related technologies are 
appointed. The Speaker shall also appoint 2 ad-
ditional members, 1 student with a disability 
and 1 faculty member from an institution of 
higher education. 
‘‘(B) 6 members, 2 from each category de-
scribed in paragraph (1), shall be appointed by 
the President pro tempore of the Senate, 3 of 
whom shall be appointed on the recommenda-
tion of the majority leader of the Senate and 3 
of whom shall be appointed on the rec-
ommendation of the minority leader of the Sen-
ate, with the President pro tempore ensuring 
that 1 developer of postsecondary electronic in-
structional materials and 1 manufacturer of re-
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lated technologies are appointed. The President 
pro tempore shall also appoint 2 additional 
members, 1 student with a disability and 1 fac-
ulty member from an institution of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(C) 3 members, each of whom must pos-
sess extensive, demonstrated technical expertise 
in the development and implementation of ac-
cessible postsecondary electronic instructional 
materials, shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of Education. 1 of these members shall rep-
resent postsecondary students with disabilities, 
1 shall represent higher education leadership, 
and 1 shall represent developers of postsec-
ondary electronic instructional materials. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS A MEMBER.— 
Federal employees are ineligible for appointment to 
the commission. An appointee to a volunteer or advi-
sory position with a Federal agency or related advi-
sory body may be appointed to the commission so 
long as his or her primary employment is with a 
non-Federal entity and he or she is not otherwise 
engaged in financially compensated work on behalf 
of the Federal Government, exclusive of any stand-
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ard expense reimbursement or grant-funded activi-
ties. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The commission’s execution 
of its duties shall be independent of the Secretary of 
Education, the Attorney General, and the head of 
any other agency or department of the Federal Gov-
ernment with regulatory or standard setting author-
ity in the areas addressed by the commission. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(A) STAFFING.—There shall be no per-
manent staffing for the commission. 
‘‘(B) LEADERSHIP.—Commission members 
shall elect a chairperson from among the ap-
pointees to the commission. 
‘‘(C) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT.—The 
Commission shall be provided administrative 
support, as needed, by the Secretary of Edu-
cation through the Office of Postsecondary 
Education of the Department of Education. 
‘‘(e) DUTIES.— 
‘‘(1) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, subject to 
a 6-month extension that it may exercise at its dis-
cretion, the commission shall— 
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‘‘(A) develop and issue guidelines for ac-
cessible postsecondary electronic instructional 
materials, and related technologies; and 
‘‘(B) in developing the guidelines, the com-
mission shall— 
‘‘(i) establish a technical panel pursu-
ant to paragraph (4) to support the com-
mission in developing the guidelines; 
‘‘(ii) develop criteria for determining 
which materials and technologies constitute 
postsecondary electronic instructional ma-
terials and related technologies; 
‘‘(iii) identify existing national and 
international accessibility standards that 
are relevant to student use of postsec-
ondary electronic instructional materials 
and related technologies at institutions of 
higher education; 
‘‘(iv) identify and address any unique 
pedagogical and accessibility requirements 
of postsecondary electronic instructional 
materials and related technologies that are 
not addressed, or not adequately ad-
dressed, by the identified, relevant existing 
accessibility standards; 
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‘‘(v) identify those aspects of accessi-
bility, and types of postsecondary instruc-
tional materials and related technologies, 
for which the commission cannot produce 
guidelines or which cannot be addressed by 
existing accessibility standards due to— 
‘‘(I) inherent limitations of com-
mercially available technologies; or 
‘‘(II) the challenges posed by a 
specific category of disability that cov-
ers a wide spectrum of impairments 
and capabilities which makes it dif-
ficult to assess the benefits from par-
ticular guidelines on a categorical 
basis; 
‘‘(vi) ensure that the guidelines are 
consistent with the requirements of section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794) and titles II and III of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 
12131 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 12181 et seq.); 
‘‘(vii) ensure that the guidelines are 
consistent, to the extent feasible and ap-
propriate, with the technical and functional 
performance criteria included in the na-
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tional and international accessibility stand-
ards identified by the commission as rel-
evant to student use of postsecondary elec-
tronic instructional materials and related 
technologies; 
‘‘(viii) allow for the use of an alter-
native design or technology that results in 
substantially equivalent or greater accessi-
bility and usability by individuals with dis-
abilities than would be provided by compli-
ance with the guidelines; and 
‘‘(ix) provide that where electronic in-
structional materials, or related tech-
nologies, that comply fully with the guide-
lines are not commercially available, or 
where such compliance is not technically 
feasible, the institution may select the 
product that best meets the guidelines con-
sistent with the institution’s business and 
pedagogical needs. 
‘‘(2) ANNOTATED LIST OF INFORMATION TECH-
NOLOGY
STANDARDS.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, subject 
to a 6-month extension that it may exercise at its 
discretion, the commission established in section 2 
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shall, with the assistance of the technical panel es-
tablished under paragraph (4), develop and issue an 
annotated list of information technology standards. 
‘‘(3) APPROVAL.—Issuance of the guidelines 
and annotated list of information technology stand-
ards shall require approval of at least 75 percent of 
the members of the commission. 
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL
PANEL.—Not later than 1 
month after first meeting, the Commission shall ap-
point and convene a panel of 12 technical experts, 
each of whom shall have extensive, demonstrated 
technical experience in developing, researching, or 
implementing accessible postsecondary electronic in-
structional materials, or related technologies. The 
commission has discretion to determine a process for 
nominating, vetting, and confirming a panel of ex-
perts that fairly represents the stakeholder commu-
nities on the commission. The technical panel shall 
include a representative from the United States Ac-
cess Board. 
‘‘(f) REVIEW OF GUIDELINES.—Not later than 5 
years after issuance of the guidelines and annotated list 
of information technology standards described in sub-
sections (a) and (b), and every 5 years thereafter, the Sec-
retary of Education shall publish a notice in the Federal 
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Register requesting public comment about whether there 
is a need to reconstitute the commission to update the 
guidelines and annotated list of information technology 
standards to reflect technological advances, changes in 
postsecondary electronic instructional materials and re-
lated technologies, or updated national and international 
accessibility standards. The Secretary shall then submit 
a report and recommendation to Congress regarding 
whether the Commission should be reconstituted. 
‘‘(g) RULE OF APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) NONCONFORMING POSTSECONDARY ELEC-
TRONIC
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS
OR
RELATED 
TECHNOLOGIES.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require an institution of higher edu-
cation to require, provide, or both recommend and 
provide, postsecondary electronic instructional mate-
rials or related technologies that conform to the 
guidelines. However, an institution that selects or 
uses nonconforming postsecondary electronic instruc-
tional materials or related technologies must other-
wise comply with existing obligations under section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 
794) and titles II and III of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 
12181 et seq.) to provide access to the educational 
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benefit afforded by such materials and technologies 
through provision of appropriate and reasonable 
modification, accommodation, and auxiliary aids or 
services. 
‘‘(2) RELATIONSHIP
TO
EXISTING
LAWS
AND 
REGULATIONS.—With respect to the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) 
and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 
et seq.), nothing in this Act may be construed— 
‘‘(A) to authorize or require conduct pro-
hibited under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, including the regulations issued pursuant 
to those laws; 
‘‘(B) to expand, limit, or alter the remedies 
or defenses under the Americans with Disabil-
ities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973; 
‘‘(C) to supersede, restrict, or limit the ap-
plication of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; or 
‘‘(D) to limit the authority of Federal 
agencies to issue regulations pursuant to the 
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 
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‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ANNOTATED LIST OF INFORMATION TECH-
NOLOGY STANDARDS.—the term ‘annotated list of 
information technology standards’ means a list of 
existing national and international accessibility 
standards relevant to student use of postsecondary 
electronic instructional materials and related tech-
nologies, and to other types of information tech-
nology common to institutions of higher education, 
such as institutional websites or registration sys-
tems, annotated by the commission established pur-
suant to this section. The annotated list of informa-
tion technology standards is intended to serve solely 
as a reference tool to inform any consideration of 
the relevance of such standards in higher education 
contexts. 
‘‘(2) POSTSECONDARY
ELECTRONIC
INSTRUC-
TIONAL MATERIALS.—The term ‘postsecondary elec-
tronic instructional materials’ means digital cur-
ricular content that is required, provided, or both 
recommended and provided by an institution of high-
er education for use in a postsecondary instructional 
program. 
‘‘(3) RELATED TECHNOLOGIES.—The term ‘re-
lated technologies’ refers to any software, applica-
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tions, learning management or content management 
systems, and hardware that an institution of higher 
education requires, provides, or both recommends 
and provides for student access to and use of post-
secondary electronic instructional materials in a 
postsecondary instructional program. 
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL PANEL.—The term ‘technical 
panel’ means a group of experts with extensive, dem-
onstrated technical experience in the development 
and implementation of accessibility features for post-
secondary electronic instructional materials and re-
lated technologies, established by the Commission 
pursuant to subsection (e)(4), which will assist the 
commission in the development of the guidelines and 
annotated list of information technology standards 
authorized under this Act.’’. 
SEC. 7009. FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE 
HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
FOSTER YOUTH AND HOMELESS YOUTH. 
Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1133 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new part: 
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‘‘PART F—GRANTS FOR IMPROVING ACCESS TO 
AND SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR 
FOSTER YOUTH AND HOMELESS YOUTH 
‘‘SEC. 791. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this part: 
‘‘(1) 
FOSTER
YOUTH.—The 
term 
‘foster 
youth’— 
‘‘(A) means an individual whose care and 
placement is the responsibility of the State or 
tribal agency that administers a State or tribal 
plan under part B or E of title IV of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.; 670 et 
seq.), without regard to whether foster care 
maintenance payments are made under section 
472 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) on behalf of 
the individual; and 
‘‘(B) includes any individual— 
‘‘(i) whose care and placement was 
the responsibility of such a State or tribal 
agency when, or at any time after, the in-
dividual attained 13 years of age, without 
regard to whether foster care maintenance 
payments were made under section 472 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) on behalf of the 
individual; and 
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‘‘(ii) who is no longer under the care 
and responsibility of such a State or tribal 
agency, without regard to any subsequent 
adoption of the individual. 
‘‘(2) HOMELESS YOUTH.—The term ‘homeless 
youth’ has the meaning given the term ‘homeless 
children and youths’ in section 725 of the McKin-
ney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11434a). 
‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.— 
The terms ‘Indian Tribe’ and ‘tribal organization’ 
have the meanings given the terms in section 4 of 
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assist-
ance Act (25 U.S.C. 450). 
‘‘(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101. 
‘‘(5) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of 
the several States and the District of Columbia. 
‘‘(6) TERRITORY.—The term ‘territory’ means 
Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Mar-
shall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
and the Republic of Palau. 
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‘‘SEC. 792. FORMULA GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE AC-
CESS TO AND SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDU-
CATION FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND HOMELESS 
YOUTH. 
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—From the 
amount appropriated under subsection (h), the Secretary 
shall make allotments under subsection (b), to States hav-
ing applications approved under subsection (c), to enable 
each State to— 
‘‘(1) carry out the Statewide transition initia-
tive described in subsection (d); and 
‘‘(2) make subgrants described in subsection 
(e). 
‘‘(b) ALLOCATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) FORMULA.— 
‘‘(A) RESERVATION
FOR
INDIAN
TRIBES 
AND TERRITORIES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—From the amount 
appropriated under subsection (h) for a 
fiscal year and subject to clause (ii), the 
Secretary shall reserve— 
‘‘(I) not more than 3 percent for 
grants to Indian Tribes, consortia of 
Indian Tribes, or Tribal organiza-
tions; and 
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‘‘(II) not more than 2 percent for 
grants to territories. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—In awarding 
grants under this subparagraph, the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(I) shall not award a grant 
under subclause (I) or (II) of clause 
(i) for a fiscal year for which no In-
dian Tribe (or consortium of Indian 
Tribes) or Tribal organization, or ter-
ritory, respectively, submits a satisfac-
tory application for a grant under 
such subclause; 
‘‘(II) shall require that any In-
dian Tribe, consortium, Tribal organi-
zation, or territory that receives a 
grant under this subparagraph pro-
vide an assurance of a partnership 
among relevant education, child wel-
fare, and homeless agencies or organi-
zations; and 
‘‘(III) may determine any other 
requirements with respect to such 
grants (including the allocation, appli-
cation, and use of fund requirements), 
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which to the extent possible, shall be 
consistent with the requirements for 
States under this part, except that ap-
propriate adjustments shall be made 
based on the needs and size of popu-
lations served by the Indian Tribe, 
consortium, Tribal organization, or 
territory applying for the grant. 
‘‘(B) RESERVATION FOR DEPARTMENT AC-
TIVITIES.—From 
the 
amount 
appropriated 
under subsection (h) for a fiscal year, the Sec-
retary may reserve— 
‘‘(i) not more than 7 percent to— 
‘‘(I) provide technical assistance, 
in consultation with Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, to 
States carrying out activities under 
this section; and 
‘‘(II) complete the evaluations re-
quired by subsection (g)(1); and 
‘‘(ii) not more than 3 percent for ad-
ministrative expenses. 
‘‘(C) ALLOCATIONS.—From the amount 
appropriated under subsection (h) for a fiscal 
year and remaining after the Secretary reserves 
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funds under subparagraphs (A) and (B), the 
Secretary shall allocate to each State the great-
er of— 
‘‘(i) $500,000; or 
‘‘(ii) the amount that bears the same 
proportion to the remaining appropriated 
amount for such fiscal year as the number 
of foster youth and homeless youth in the 
State bears to the number of foster youth 
and homeless youth in all States. 
‘‘(D) 
RATABLE
REDUCTION.—If 
the 
amount appropriated under subsection (h) for a 
fiscal year and remaining after the Secretary 
reserves funds under subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) is less than the amount required to be allo-
cated to States under subparagraph (C), then 
the amount of the allocation to each State shall 
be ratably reduced. 
‘‘(2) STATE RESERVATION.—From the amounts 
awarded a State under paragraph (1)(C) for a fiscal 
year, the State may reserve not more than 5 percent 
for administrative expenses. 
‘‘(3) TEMPORARY
INELIGIBILITY
FOR
SUBSE-
QUENT PAYMENTS.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
determine a State to be temporarily ineligible to 
receive a grant payment under this subsection 
for a fiscal year if— 
‘‘(i) the State fails to submit an an-
nual report under subsection (f) for the 
preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines, based 
on information in such annual report, that 
the State is not effectively— 
‘‘(I) meeting the outcomes de-
scribed in the application of such 
State under subsection (c)(2)(C), and 
does not have a plan to improve the 
outcomes; 
‘‘(II) monitoring and evaluating 
the activities under subsections (d) 
and (e); or 
‘‘(III) using funds as required 
under subsections (d) and (e). 
‘‘(B) REINSTATEMENT.—If the Secretary 
determines that a State is ineligible under sub-
paragraph (A), the Secretary may enter into an 
agreement with the State setting forth the 
terms and conditions under which the State 
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may regain eligibility to receive payments under 
this section. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For each fiscal year for 
which a State desires an allotment under subsection 
(b), the State shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
the information described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—An application 
submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) A plan for how the State will carry 
out the activities under subsections (d) and (e). 
‘‘(B) A description of the State’s capacity 
to carry out such activities. 
‘‘(C) A description of intended outcomes 
for such activities. 
‘‘(D) A plan for how the State will monitor 
and evaluate such activities, including how the 
State will use data to continually update and 
improve such activities. 
‘‘(E) A description of how students will be 
identified and recruited for participation in the 
Statewide transition initiative under subsection 
(d). 
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‘‘(F) An estimate of the number and char-
acteristics of the populations targeted for par-
ticipation in the Statewide transition initiative 
under subsection (d) with attention to the di-
verse needs of homeless youth and foster youth 
in the State. 
‘‘(G) A description of how the State will 
coordinate services provided under the grant 
with services provided to foster youth and 
homeless youth under the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et 
seq.), the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Run-
away and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 
et seq.), and other services provided to foster 
youth and homeless youth by the State. 
‘‘(H) An assurance that the State will 
comply with subtitle B of title VII of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11431 et seq.). 
‘‘(I) An assurance that the State will part-
ner with State educational agencies, local edu-
cational agencies, institutions of higher edu-
cation, State and local child welfare authorities, 
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and other relevant organizations that serve fos-
ter youth or homeless youth. 
‘‘(J) An assurance that the State will sub-
mit the annual report required under subsection 
(f). 
‘‘(K) A budgetary analysis of the use of 
funds awarded under this section. 
‘‘(L) Such other information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(d) STATEWIDE TRANSITION INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Subject to subsection 
(b)(2), and in consultation and coordination with the 
entities described in paragraph (2) of this sub-
section, a State receiving a grant award under this 
section shall use not less than 25 percent of the 
funds to— 
‘‘(A) provide intensive outreach and sup-
port to foster youth and homeless youth to— 
‘‘(i) improve the understanding and 
preparation of such youth for enrollment in 
institutions of higher education; 
‘‘(ii) increase the number of applica-
tions to institutions of higher education 
submitted by such youth; and 
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‘‘(iii) increase the number of enroll-
ments at institutions of higher education; 
‘‘(B) provide education to foster youth and 
homeless youth with respect to— 
‘‘(i) the benefits and opportunities of 
postsecondary education; 
‘‘(ii) planning for postsecondary edu-
cation; 
‘‘(iii) financial aid opportunities that 
assist youth with covering the cost of at-
tendance of an institution of higher edu-
cation; 
‘‘(iv) the Federal and State services 
and benefits available to foster youth and 
homeless youth while enrolled at an insti-
tution of higher education, including health 
and mental health services; 
‘‘(v) career exploration; and 
‘‘(vi) financial literacy training, in-
cluding security from identity theft; 
‘‘(C) assist foster youth and homeless 
youth with submitting applications for— 
‘‘(i) enrollment at an institution of 
higher education; 
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‘‘(ii) financial aid for such enrollment; 
and 
‘‘(iii) scholarships available for such 
students, including under a State edu-
cational and training voucher program re-
ferred to in section 477(i) of the Social Se-
curity Act; and 
‘‘(D) provide free programming, which may 
include free transportation to and from such 
programming, for foster youth and homeless 
youth to prepare such individuals socially and 
academically for the rigors of postsecondary 
education during the summer before such indi-
viduals first attend an institution of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED CONSULTATION AND COORDI-
NATION.—In carrying out the activities described in 
paragraph (1), a State shall consult and coordinate 
with State educational agencies, local educational 
agencies, institutions of higher education, State and 
local child welfare authorities, and other relevant or-
ganizations that serve foster youth or homeless 
youth. 
‘‘(e) SUBGRANTS TO CREATE INSTITUTIONS OF EX-
CELLENCE.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the subsection 
(b)(2), a State receiving a grant under this section 
shall, acting through the administering State agen-
cy, use not less than 70 percent of the funds to 
award, on a competitive basis, subgrants to eligible 
institutions to enable such institutions to become in-
stitutions of excellence by improving college access, 
retention, and completion rates for foster and home-
less youth as described in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution 
desiring a subgrant under this subsection shall 
submit an application to the State in which 
such eligible institution is located, at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the State may require. 
‘‘(B) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—States 
shall provide outreach and technical assistance 
to eligible institutions with respect to applica-
tions for subgrants under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) ACTIVITIES.—An eligible institution that 
receives a grant under this subsection shall use the 
grant funds to carry out the following activities with 
respect to homeless youth and foster youth: 
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‘‘(A) Provide flexibility and assistance in 
completing the application process to enroll at 
such institution. 
‘‘(B) Coordinate programs with relevant 
on- and off-campus stakeholders to increase the 
enrollment of such youth at the institution and 
align services at the institution for such youth. 
‘‘(C) Adjust the cost of attendance for 
such youth at such eligible institution to include 
the cost of housing during periods of non-enroll-
ment. 
‘‘(D) Provide institutional aid to such stu-
dents to meet the cost of attendance that is not 
covered by other Federal or State educational 
grants. 
‘‘(E) Provide outreach to such students to 
ensure that such youth are aware of housing re-
sources available during periods of non-enroll-
ment. 
‘‘(F) Subsidize any fees for such students 
associated with orientation and offer free trans-
portation to college orientation or move-in week. 
‘‘(G) Hire and provide training for at least 
one full-time staff at the eligible institution to 
serve as a point of contact to provide case man-
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agement services and monthly face-to-face 
meetings with students who are foster youth or 
homeless youth. Such individual shall have an 
advanced degree and at least two years of rel-
evant experience. 
‘‘(H) Establish or enhance campus support 
programs to provide such students with a wide- 
range of on-campus services including— 
‘‘(i) assistance with financial aid; 
‘‘(ii) career advice; and 
‘‘(iii) leadership development. 
‘‘(I) Ensure the availability of robust stu-
dent health services (physical and mental) that 
meet the specific needs of foster youth and 
homeless youth. 
‘‘(J) Establish or expand early alert sys-
tems to identify and support such students who 
may be struggling academically. 
‘‘(K) Collect, review, and monitor data for 
program improvement. 
‘‘(4) RELIANCE ON INSTITUTIONAL AID.—Any 
institutional aid provided to a student under para-
graph (3)(D) by an eligible institution during the 
grant period of the institution’s grant under this 
section shall continue to be provided during the stu-
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dent’s continuous enrollment at the institution, with-
out regard to whether the grant period ends during 
such enrollment. 
‘‘(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) ADMINISTERING
STATE
AGENCY.— 
The term ‘administering State agency’ means a 
State agency— 
‘‘(i) designated by the Governor or ex-
ecutive of the State to administer the sub-
grants under this subsection; and 
‘‘(ii) that, with respect to such State, 
has jurisdiction over— 
‘‘(I) foster youth; 
‘‘(II) homeless youth; 
‘‘(III) elementary and secondary 
education; or 
‘‘(IV) higher education. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘eligible institution’ means an institution of 
higher education— 
‘‘(i) that is in partnership with— 
‘‘(I) the State child welfare agen-
cy that is responsible for the adminis-
tration of the State plan under part B 
or E of title IV of the Social Security 
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Act (42 U.S.C. 621 et seq.; 670 et 
seq.); and 
‘‘(II) an organization that serves 
homeless youth (such as a youth shel-
ter or outreach program); and 
‘‘(ii) that may partner with any other 
provider, agency, official, or entity that 
serves foster youth and homeless youth, or 
former foster youth and homeless youth. 
‘‘(f) STATE REPORTS.—For each year in which a 
State receives an allotment under subsection (b), the State 
shall prepare and submit a report to the Secretary that 
includes— 
‘‘(1) each activity or service that was carried 
out under this section; 
‘‘(2) the cost of providing each such activity or 
service; 
‘‘(3) the number of students who received each 
activity or service disaggregated by race, as defined 
in section 153(a)(3) of the Education Sciences Re-
form Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9543(a)(3)) and each 
subgroup of students described in subclauses (II) 
through (VI) of section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the El-
ementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(B)(xi)); 
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‘‘(4) using qualitative and quantitative analysis, 
how the State— 
‘‘(A) improved access to higher education 
for foster youth and homeless youth; and 
‘‘(B) measured youth satisfaction with ac-
tivities carried out under this part; 
‘‘(5) an analysis of the implementation and 
progress of the Statewide transition initiative under 
subsection (d), including challenges and changes 
made to the initiative throughout the preceding year; 
‘‘(6) if, based on the analysis under paragraph 
(5), the State determines that the program is not on 
track to meet the intended outcomes described in the 
application of the State under subsection (c)(2)(C), 
a description of how the State plans to meet such 
intended outcomes; and 
‘‘(7) information on the eligible institutions re-
ceiving subgrants, including how such institutions 
used subgrant funds to carry out the activities de-
scribed in subsection (e)(3). 
‘‘(g) DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) EVALUATIONS.—Beginning on the date on 
which funds are first allotted under subsection (b), 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall evaluate 
recipients of allotments and subgrants under this 
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section. The results of such evaluations shall be 
made publicly available on the website of the De-
partment. 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date on which funds are first allocated 
under subsection (b), and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the amount of each allotment under 
subsection (b); 
‘‘(B) the amount of each subgrant under 
subsection (e); and 
‘‘(C) with respect to the year for which 
such report is made, the results of the evalua-
tions under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this part $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. 
‘‘(2) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The amount author-
ized to be appropriated under paragraph (1) for 
fiscal year 2020 and each of the 4 succeeding 
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fiscal years shall be deemed increased by the 
annual adjustment percentage. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘annual adjustment percentage’, as applied 
to a fiscal year, means the estimated percentage 
change in the Consumer Price Index (as deter-
mined by the Secretary, using the definition in 
section 478(f)) for the most recent calendar 
year ending before the beginning of that fiscal 
year.’’. 
TITLE VIII—ADDITIONAL 
PROGRAMS 
SEC. 8001. TEACH FOR AMERICA. 
Subparagraph (C) of section 806(f)(1) (20 U.S.C. 
1161f(f)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 8002. PATSY T. MINK FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
Subsection (f) of section 807 (20 U.S.C. 1161g) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years.’’. 
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SEC. 8003. IMPROVING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEER-
ING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION WITH A 
FOCUS ON ALASKA NATIVE AND NATIVE HA-
WAIIAN STUDENTS. 
Subsection (i) of section 819 (20 U.S.C. 1161j) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 8004. GRANTS FOR RURAL-SERVING INSTITUTIONS OF 
HIGHER EDUCATION. 
Subsection (g) of section 861 (20 U.S.C. 1161q) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 8005. TRAINING FOR REALTIME WRITERS TO PROVIDE 
CLOSED CAPTIONING AND COURT REPORT-
ING SERVICES. 
Section 872(e) (20 U.S.C. 1161s(e)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2009’’ and inserting ‘‘2019’’. 
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SEC. 8006. GRANT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, 
AND IMPROVE VETERAN STUDENT CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VIII (20 U.S.C. 1161a et 
seq.) is amended by striking part T (20 U.S.C. 1161t) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘PART T—GRANTS FOR VETERAN STUDENT 
CENTERS 
‘‘SEC. 873. GRANTS FOR VETERAN STUDENT CENTERS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations under subsection (i), the Sec-
retary shall award grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation or consortia of institutions of higher education to 
assist in the establishment, maintenance, improvement, 
and operation of Veteran Student Centers. The Secretary 
shall award not more than 30 grants in a fiscal year under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATION.—An institution or consor-
tium seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary may award a 
grant under subsection (a) to an institution or a 
consortium if the institution or consortium meets 
each of the following criteria: 
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‘‘(A) The institution or consortium enrolls 
in undergraduate or graduate courses— 
‘‘(i) a significant number of veteran 
students, members of the Armed Forces 
serving on active duty, and members of a 
reserve component of the Armed Forces; or 
‘‘(ii) a significant percentage of vet-
eran students, as measured by comparing 
the overall enrollment of the institution or 
consortium to the number, for the most re-
cent academic year for which data are 
available, of veteran students, members of 
the Armed Forces serving on active duty, 
and members of a reserve component of 
the Armed Forces who are enrolled in un-
dergraduate or graduate courses at the in-
stitution or consortium. 
‘‘(B) The institution or consortium pre-
sents a sustainability plan to demonstrate that 
the Veteran Student Center of such institution 
or consortium will be maintained and will con-
tinue operations upon conclusion of the grant 
period under subsection (a). 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.— 
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‘‘(A) MANDATORY
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
awarding grants under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall consider institutions or consortia 
representing a broad spectrum of sectors and 
sizes, including institutions or consortia from 
urban, suburban, and rural regions of the 
United States. 
‘‘(B) 
DISCRETIONARY
CRITERIA.—In 
awarding grants under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary may provide consideration to institutions 
or consortia that meet one or more of the fol-
lowing criteria: 
‘‘(i) The institution or consortium is 
located in a region or community that has 
a significant population of veterans. 
‘‘(ii) The institution or consortium 
carries out programs or activities that as-
sist veterans in the local community and 
the spouses of veteran students. 
‘‘(iii) The institution or consortium 
partners in its veteran-specific program-
ming with nonprofit veteran service organi-
zations, local workforce development orga-
nizations, or institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
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‘‘(iv) The institution or consortium 
commits to hiring staff at the Veteran Stu-
dent Center that includes veterans (includ-
ing veteran student volunteers and veteran 
students participating in a Federal work- 
study program under part C of title IV, a 
work-study program administered by the 
Secretary of Veteran Affairs, or a State 
work-study program). 
‘‘(v) The institution or consortium 
commits to using a portion of the grant re-
ceived under this section to develop and 
implement an early-warning veteran stu-
dent retention program designed to alert 
staff at the Veteran Student Center that a 
veteran student may be facing difficulties 
that could lead to the non-completion of 
the course of study of such veteran. 
‘‘(vi) The institution or consortium 
commits to providing mental health coun-
seling to its veteran students and their 
spouses. 
‘‘(vii) The institution or consortium 
carries out programs or activities that as-
sist individuals pursuing a course of edu-
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cation using educational assistance under 
chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An institution or consor-
tium that is awarded a grant under subsection (a) 
shall use such grant to establish, maintain, improve, 
or operate a Veteran Student Center. 
‘‘(2) OTHER ALLOWABLE USES.—An institution 
or consortium receiving a grant under subsection (a) 
may use a portion of such funds to carry out sup-
portive instruction services for student veterans, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) assistance with special admissions 
and transfer of credit from previous postsec-
ondary education or experience; and 
‘‘(B) any other support services the insti-
tution or consortium determines to be necessary 
to ensure the success of veterans on campus in 
achieving education and career goals. 
‘‘(d) AMOUNTS AWARDED.— 
‘‘(1) DURATION.—Each grant awarded under 
subsection (a) shall be for a 4-year period. 
‘‘(2) TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT AND SCHED-
ULE.—Each grant awarded under subsection (a) 
may not exceed a total of $500,000. The Secretary 
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shall disburse to an institution or consortium the 
amounts awarded under the grant in such amounts 
and at such times during the grant period as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—From the amounts appropriated to 
carry out this section, and not later than 3 years after 
the date on which the first grant is awarded under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a re-
port on the grant program established under subsection 
(a), including— 
‘‘(1) the number of grants awarded; 
‘‘(2) the institutions of higher education and 
consortia that have received grants; 
‘‘(3) with respect to each such institution of 
higher education and consortium— 
‘‘(A) the amounts awarded; 
‘‘(B) how such institution or consortium 
used such amounts; 
‘‘(C) a description of the students to whom 
services were offered as a result of the award; 
and 
‘‘(D) data enumerating whether the use of 
the amounts awarded helped veteran students 
at the institution or consortium toward comple-
tion of a degree, certificate, or credential; 
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‘‘(4) best practices for veteran student success, 
identified by reviewing data provided by institutions 
and consortia that received a grant under this sec-
tion; and 
‘‘(5) a determination by the Secretary with re-
spect to whether the grant program under this sec-
tion should be extended or expanded. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Secretary 
to carry out the grant program established under sub-
section (a) shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after 
the date on which the first grant is awarded under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(g) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BEST PRACTICES 
WEBSITE.—Subject to the availability of appropriations 
under subsection (i) and not later than 3 years after the 
date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall develop and implement a website 
for veteran student services at institutions of higher edu-
cation, which details best practices for serving veteran stu-
dents at institutions of higher education. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101. 
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‘‘(2) VETERAN STUDENT CENTER.—The term 
‘Veteran Student Center’ means a dedicated space 
on a campus of an institution of higher education 
that provides students who are veterans or members 
of the Armed Forces with the following: 
‘‘(A) A lounge or meeting space for such 
veteran students, their spouses or partners, and 
veterans in the community. 
‘‘(B) A centralized office for veteran serv-
ices that— 
‘‘(i) is a single point of contact to co-
ordinate comprehensive support services 
for veteran students; 
‘‘(ii) is staffed by trained employees 
and volunteers, which includes veterans 
and at least one full-time employee or vol-
unteer who is trained as a veterans’ bene-
fits counselor; 
‘‘(iii) provides veteran students with 
assistance relating to— 
‘‘(I) transitioning from the mili-
tary to student life; 
‘‘(II) transitioning from the mili-
tary to the civilian workforce; 
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‘‘(III) networking with other vet-
eran students and veterans in the 
community; 
‘‘(IV) understanding and obtain-
ing benefits provided by the institu-
tion of higher education, Federal Gov-
ernment, and State for which such 
students may be eligible; 
‘‘(V) understanding how to suc-
ceed in the institution of higher edu-
cation, including by understanding 
academic policies, the course selection 
process, and institutional policies and 
practices related to the transfer of 
academic credits; and 
‘‘(VI) understanding their dis-
ability-related rights and protections 
under the Americans with Disabilities 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) 
and section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and 
‘‘(iv) provides comprehensive academic 
and tutoring services for veteran students, 
including peer-to-peer tutoring and aca-
demic mentorship. 
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‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years.’’. 
(b) CONTINUATION OF AWARDS.—An institution of 
higher education that received a grant under section 873 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161t) 
before the date of enactment of this Act, as such section 
873 (20 U.S.C. 1161t) was in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive 
funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of such 
grant. 
SEC. 8007. MODELING AND SIMULATION. 
Subsection (e) of section 891 (20 U.S.C. 1161v) is 
amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by strik-
ing the first sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 8008. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
Section 
894(f)(2)(C)(ii)(I) 
(20 
U.S.C. 
1161y(f)(2)(C)(ii)(I)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
401(b)(2)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 401(b)(1)’’. 
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SEC. 8009. MANDATORY FUNDING FOR MASTERS AND 
POSTBACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS. 
(a) MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMS.—Section 897 (20 
U.S.C. 1161aa) is amended by striking ‘‘$11,500,000 for 
fiscal year 2009 and for each of the five succeeding fiscal 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘$13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019 
and each succeeding fiscal year’’. 
(b) POSTBACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS.—Section 898 
(20 U.S.C. 1161aa–1) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘In addition’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
FOR PART B OF 
TITLE V.—In addition’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘$11,500,000 for fiscal year 
2009 and for each of the five succeeding fiscal 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘$21,000,000 for fiscal year 
2019 and each succeeding fiscal year’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR PART A OF 
TITLE VII.—In addition to any amounts appropriated 
under subpart 5 of part 4 of title VII, there are authorized 
to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, out of any 
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$13,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and each of the 5 suc-
ceeding fiscal years to carry out subpart 5 of part A of 
title VII.’’. 
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SEC. 8010. FUNDS FOR ACCESS TO OPEN EDUCATIONAL RE-
SOURCES. 
Title VIII (20 U.S.C. 1161a et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘PART BB—ACCESS TO OPEN EDUCATIONAL 
RESOURCES 
‘‘SEC. 899. AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCE.—The term 
‘educational resource’ means a print or digital edu-
cational material that can be used in postsecondary 
instruction, including textbooks and other written or 
audiovisual works. 
‘‘(2) OPEN
EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCE.—The 
term ‘open educational resource’ means a print or 
digital educational resource that either resides in the 
public domain or has been released under an intel-
lectual property license that permits its free use, 
reuse, modification, and sharing with others. 
‘‘(3) OPEN TEXTBOOK.—The term ‘open text-
book’ means an open educational resource or set of 
open educational resources that either is a textbook 
or can be used in place of a textbook for a postsec-
ondary course at an institution of higher education. 
‘‘(4) RELEVANT FACULTY.—The term ‘relevant 
faculty’ means both tenure track and contingent fac-
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ulty members who may be involved in the creation 
of open educational resources or the use of open 
educational resources created as part of the grant 
application. 
‘‘(b) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) 
GRANTS
AUTHORIZED.—From 
the 
amounts appropriated under paragraph (9), the Sec-
retary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities to support projects that expand the 
use of high-quality open textbooks in order to 
achieve savings for students while improving instruc-
tion and student learning outcomes. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE
ENTITY.—In this section, the 
term ‘eligible entity’ means an institution of higher 
education or group of institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each eligible entity 
desiring a grant under this subsection, after 
consultation with relevant faculty, shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and accompanied by such infor-
mation as the Secretary may reasonably re-
quire. 
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‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—Each application sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) shall include a 
description of the project to be completed with 
grant funds and— 
‘‘(i) a plan for promoting and track-
ing the use of open textbooks in postsec-
ondary courses offered by the eligible enti-
ty, including an estimate of the projected 
savings that will be achieved for students; 
‘‘(ii) a plan for evaluating, before cre-
ating new open educational resources, 
whether existing open educational re-
sources could be used or adapted for the 
same purpose; 
‘‘(iii) a plan for quality review (includ-
ing peer review) and review of accuracy of 
any open educational resources to be cre-
ated or adapted through the grant; 
‘‘(iv) a plan for assessing the impact 
of open textbooks on instruction and stu-
dent learning outcomes at the eligible enti-
ty; 
‘‘(v) a plan for review of accessibility 
of any open educational resources to be 
created or adapted through the grant; 
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‘‘(vi) a plan for disseminating infor-
mation about the results of the project to 
institutions of higher education outside of 
the eligible entity, including promoting the 
adoption of any open textbooks created or 
adapted through the grant; 
‘‘(vii) a statement on consultation 
with relevant faculty, including those en-
gaged in the creation of open educational 
resources, in the development of the appli-
cation; and 
‘‘(viii) an assurance that open edu-
cational resources utilized, developed, or 
researched will be available in accessible 
formats, which may include braille, audio 
books, closed captioning, and audio de-
scriptions. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION.—In awarding 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall give 
special consideration to applications that dem-
onstrate the greatest potential to— 
‘‘(A) achieve the highest level of savings 
for students through sustainable expanded use 
of high-quality open textbooks in postsecondary 
courses offered by the eligible entity; 
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‘‘(B) achieve improvements in student 
learning and student outcomes; 
‘‘(C) expand the use of open textbooks at 
institutions of higher education outside of the 
eligible entity; and 
‘‘(D) produce— 
‘‘(i) the highest quality and most ac-
cessible open textbooks; 
‘‘(ii) open textbooks that can be most 
easily utilized and adapted by faculty 
members at institutions of higher edu-
cation; 
‘‘(iii) open textbooks that correspond 
to the highest enrollment courses at insti-
tutions of higher education; 
‘‘(iv) open textbooks created or adapt-
ed in partnership with entities, including 
campus bookstores, that will assist in mar-
keting and distribution of the open text-
book; and 
‘‘(v) open textbooks that conform with 
national accessibility standards. 
‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under this section shall use the 
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grant funds to carry out the following activities to 
expand the use of open textbooks: 
‘‘(A) Professional development for any fac-
ulty and staff members at institutions of higher 
education, including the search for and review 
of open textbooks. 
‘‘(B) Creation or adaptation of high-qual-
ity open educational resources that conform to 
accessibility standards, especially open text-
books, and the quality assurance of such open 
educational resources. 
‘‘(C) Development or improvement of tools 
and informational resources that support the 
use of open textbooks, including improving ac-
cessible instructional materials for students 
with disabilities that are consistent with na-
tional accessibility standards. 
‘‘(D) Research evaluating the efficacy of 
the use of open textbooks for achieving savings 
for students and the impact on instruction and 
student learning outcomes. 
‘‘(6) LICENSE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Educational content 
created under paragraph (5) shall be licensed 
under a nonexclusive, irrevocable license to the 
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public to exercise any of the rights under copy-
right conditioned only on the requirement that 
attribution be given as directed by the copyright 
owner. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—In this paragraph, the 
term education content does not include the 
technology or platform used to develop such 
content. 
‘‘(7) ACCESS AND DISTRIBUTION.—The full and 
complete digital content of each educational resource 
created or adapted under paragraph (5) shall be 
made available free of charge to the public— 
‘‘(A) on an easily accessible and interoper-
able website, which shall be identified to the 
Secretary by the eligible entity; 
‘‘(B) in a machine readable, digital format 
that anyone can directly download, edit with at-
tribution, and redistribute; and 
‘‘(C) in a fully accessible format in compli-
ance with the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and section 
508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794d). 
‘‘(8) REPORT.—Upon an eligible entity’s com-
pletion of a project supported under this section, the 
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eligible entity shall prepare and submit a report to 
the Secretary regarding— 
‘‘(A) the effectiveness of the project in ex-
panding the use of high-quality open textbooks 
and in achieving savings for students; 
‘‘(B) the impact of the project on expand-
ing the use of open textbooks at institutions of 
higher education outside of the eligible entity; 
‘‘(C) educational resources created or 
adapted under the grant, including instructions 
on where the public can access each educational 
resource under the terms of paragraph (7); 
‘‘(D) information about the quality review 
process that was used to ensure quality and ac-
curacy; 
‘‘(E) the impact of the project on instruc-
tion and student learning outcomes; and 
‘‘(F) all project costs, including the value 
of any volunteer labor and institutional capital 
used for the project. 
‘‘(9) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. 
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‘‘(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall prepare and submit a report to authorizing 
committees detailing— 
‘‘(1) the high-quality open textbooks created or 
adapted under this section; 
‘‘(2) the adoption of such open textbooks; 
‘‘(3) the savings generated for students, States, 
territories, and the Federal Government through the 
use of open textbooks; and 
‘‘(4) the impact of open textbooks on instruc-
tion and student learning outcomes. 
‘‘(d) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall prepare and submit a re-
port to the authorizing committees on the cost of text-
books to students at institutions of higher education. The 
report shall particularly examine— 
‘‘(1) the change of the cost of textbooks; 
‘‘(2) the factors that have contributed to the 
change of the cost of textbooks, including the impact 
of open textbooks on the cost; 
‘‘(3) the extent to which open textbooks are 
used at institutions of higher education compared to 
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