Title: Community College Student Success Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Community College Student Success Act
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to carry out a community college student success grant program that awards grants to public, two-year institutions of higher educations (IHEs) for planning and implementing programs designed to increase the rate at which their students graduate or transfer to a four-year IHE.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2960 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2960

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and carry out a grant 
 program to make grants to eligible institutions to plan and implement 
  programs that provide comprehensive support services and resources 
    designed to increase transfer and graduation rates at community 
                   colleges, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 20, 2017

Ms. Meng (for herself, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Clarke 
  of New York, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Jeffries, Mrs. Carolyn B. 
   Maloney of New York, and Mrs. Davis of California) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                             the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and carry out a grant 
 program to make grants to eligible institutions to plan and implement 
  programs that provide comprehensive support services and resources 
    designed to increase transfer and graduation rates at community 
                   colleges, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Community College Student Success 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    From the amounts appropriated under section 10, the Secretary of 
Education shall establish and carry out the community college student 
success grant program to award grants under sections 3 and 4, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible institutions to plan and implement 
community college student success programs designed to increase--
            (1) the rate at which eligible students graduate from a 
        program of study at such eligible institution within 150 
        percent of the normal time for graduation; and
            (2) transfer rates of eligible students.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO PLAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS.

    (a) Planning Grants Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to 
carry out this section under section 10 for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall award planning grants for such fiscal year, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible institutions to develop plans for 
community college student success programs.
    (b) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be for a 1-
year period.
    (c) Peer Review Process; Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall--
            (1) carry out a peer review process that--
                    (A) requires that each application submitted under 
                subsection (d) be peer reviewed by a panel of readers 
                composed of individuals selected by the Secretary, 
                which shall include--
                            (i) not less than 50 percent of readers--
                                    (I) who are not employees of the 
                                Federal Government; and
                                    (II) who have relevant research or 
                                practical experience with respect to 
                                student support programs designed to 
                                increase graduation rates and transfer 
                                rates at public 2-year institutions of 
                                higher education; and
                            (ii) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        individuals who are members of groups 
                        underrepresented in higher education, including 
                        African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, 
                        Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, and Native 
                        American Pacific Islanders (including Native 
                        Hawaiians); and
                    (B) ensures that no individual assigned under 
                subparagraph (A) to review an application has any 
                conflict of interest with regard to that application 
                that may make the individual unable to impartially 
                conduct such review; and
            (2) give priority to eligible institutions that are 
        eligible to receive funding under title III or V of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.).
    (d) Application.--An eligible institution desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require, which shall include--
            (1) the graduation rate and transfer rate for the most 
        recent academic year for which data are available for eligible 
        students and all students, respectively;
            (2) an analysis of how implementing a community college 
        student success program may improve the graduation rate or 
        transfer rate for eligible students; and
            (3) an analysis of the methods the eligible institution has 
        previously used to improve the graduation rate or transfer rate 
        with respect to eligible students and all students, 
        respectively.
    (e) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to develop a plan to implement a 
community college student success program at the eligible institution.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which an 
eligible institution receives a grant under this section, such eligible 
institution shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes--
            (1) a plan for implementing a community college student 
        success program at the eligible institution, including--
                    (A) the ambitious outcome goals for achieving 
                significant improvements in graduation rates and 
                transfer rates for eligible students and all students, 
                respectively, as such rates are defined by the eligible 
                institution, in consultation with the Secretary, before 
                the end of the grant period;
                    (B) the number of such eligible students who will 
                participate in such program, including how such 
                eligible students will be identified, referred, and 
                selected, in cases where the interest in the program is 
                larger than the budget for the program;
                    (C) the demographics (including income, race, and 
                gender) of such eligible students;
                    (D) based on the most recent academic year for 
                which data are available, disaggregated by eligible 
                students and all students--
                            (i) graduation rates;
                            (ii) transfer rates;
                            (iii) retention rates;
                            (iv) rates of completion of remedial 
                        courses for students required to complete such 
                        courses; and
                            (v) average number of credits attempted and 
                        average number of credits earned;
                    (E) an analysis of the financial needs of the 
                eligible students described in subparagraph (B);
                    (F) an analysis of how the eligible institution 
                will collaborate across departments at the institution 
                and with external partners to implement a community 
                college student success program, including the detailed 
                roles and responsibilities of each potential external 
                partner (including each investor, State or local 
                government entity, or other stakeholder);
                    (G) a description of how the eligible institution 
                will effectively staff a community college student 
                success program; and
                    (H) a timeline for the implementation of such 
                program;
            (2) a budgetary analysis that includes--
                    (A) a description of how the eligible institution 
                will--
                            (i) provide non-Federal funds for such 
                        program under subsection (d) of section 4; and
                            (ii) meet the requirement of subsection 
                        (b)(3) of such section; and
                    (B) a description of how the eligible institution 
                will continue to fund such program after the end of the 
                grant period for the grant awarded to the institution 
                under section 4;
            (3) a description of the data system the eligible 
        institution will use to track and evaluate the progress of 
        eligible students participating in such program;
            (4) an analysis of the institutional barriers that may 
        hinder implementing such program at such eligible institution; 
        and
            (5) such other information as the Secretary may require.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS.

    (a) Implementation Grants Authorized.--From the amounts 
appropriated to carry out this section under section 10 for a fiscal 
year, the Secretary shall award grants for such fiscal year, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible institutions awarded a grant under 
section 3 to implement community college student success programs.
            (1) In general.--
            (2) Consultation.--In awarding grants under this section 
        for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall consult with the 
        independent evaluator before finalizing which eligible 
        institutions will receive such a grant for such fiscal year.
    (b) Requirements for Selection.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible institution shall meet the following 
requirements:
            (1) The eligible institution was awarded a grant under 
        section 3 at least 1 year before such eligible institution 
        submits an application under subsection (e).
            (2) The eligible institution submits an application under 
        subsection (e).
            (3) The eligible institution demonstrates, on the date of 
        the application described in subsection (e), the availability 
        of non-Federal funding for the matching funds required under 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of subsection (d)(1).
    (c) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be for a 5-
year period.
    (d) Non-Federal Contribution.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), an 
        eligible institution awarded a grant under this section shall 
        contribute in cash from non-Federal sources, the following:
                    (A) For the second year of the grant period, an 
                amount equal to 20 percent of the cost of carrying out 
                the community college student success program at the 
                institution for such year.
                    (B) For the third year of the grant period, an 
                amount equal to 40 percent of the cost of carrying out 
                such program for such year.
                    (C) For the fourth year of the grant period, an 
                amount equal to 60 percent of the cost of carrying out 
                such program for such year.
                    (D) For the fifth year of the grant period, an 
                amount equal to 80 percent of the cost of carrying out 
                such program for such year.
            (2) Exception.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
                with respect to an exempt institution awarded a grant 
                under this section, for each year of the grant period 
                beginning with the second year through the fifth year, 
                the Secretary shall not require the institution to make 
                a cash contribution from non-Federal sources in an 
                amount that is greater than the amount equal to 5 
                percent of the cost of carrying out the community 
                college student success program at the institution for 
                such year.
                    (B) Definitions.--For purposes of this paragraph:
                            (i) Exempt institution.--The term ``exempt 
                        institution'' means an eligible institution 
                        that is--
                                    (I) a Tribal college or university; 
                                or
                                    (II) an institution located in the 
                                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
                                American Samoa, the United States 
                                Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the 
                                Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic 
                                of the Marshall Islands, the Federated 
                                States of Micronesia, or the Republic 
                                of Palau.
                            (ii) Tribal college or university.--The 
                        term ``Tribal college or university'' has the 
                        meaning given the term in section 316 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
    (e) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible institution desiring a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require, which shall include a copy of the 
        report described in section 3(f).
            (2) Requirements for eligible institutions that reapply.--
        An institution that submits an application under paragraph (1) 
        that is not the first application submitted by such institution 
        under such paragraph shall include the following in such 
        application:
                    (A) The number of applications such eligible 
                institution has submitted under paragraph (1) and the 
                dates on which such applications were submitted.
                    (B) A description of the changes the eligible 
                institution has made since the most recent application 
                submitted under paragraph (1) to improve the plan to 
                implement a community college student success program 
                at such eligible institution.
            (3) Review.--Not later than 60 days after receiving an 
        application under this subsection, the Secretary shall approve 
        or deny such application.
    (f) Required Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives a 
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to--
            (1) implement a community college student success program;
            (2) regularly review--
                    (A) data to monitor the academic progress of 
                eligible students participating in such program; and
                    (B) the meeting and program participation 
                requirements described in section 9(1); and
            (3) cover the employment of administrators for the program 
        whose sole job shall be to administer the program, without 
        regard to whether the employment is full-time or less than 
        full-time.
    (g) Permissible Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that 
receives a grant under this section may use the grant to--
            (1) establish or expand a data tracking system that 
        includes early alerts to complete the regular reviews required 
        under subsection (f)(2);
            (2) provide eligible students participating in the 
        community college student success program for which the grant 
        is awarded with financial assistance to cover the costs 
        described in paragraph (2), (3), or (8) of section 472 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll);
            (3) establish or expand career development services for 
        such students, such as career workshops or career counseling;
            (4) establish or expand tutoring services for such 
        students; and
            (5) provide financial support for eligible students 
        participating in such program to enroll in courses offered 
        during enrollment periods that are outside the fall and spring 
        semesters (or equivalent terms).
    (h) Reports.--An eligible institution that receives a grant under 
this section shall--
            (1) not less than once for each year of the grant period, 
        submit to the Secretary an annual performance report for such 
        year of the grant period, and when data is available, compares 
        such year with the each of the 2 years preceding the date on 
        which the grant was awarded--
                    (A) the demographics of the eligible students 
                participating in the community college student success 
                program;
                    (B) the average number of credits attempted and 
                average number of credits earned, rate of retention, 
                rate of degree completion, and transfer rates of such 
                eligible students;
                    (C) the graduation rate of such eligible students 
                within--
                            (i) 100 percent of the normal time for 
                        graduation;
                            (ii) 150 percent of the normal time for 
                        graduation; and
                            (iii) 200 percent of the normal time 
                        graduation;
                    (D) an analysis of the implementation and progress 
                of such program based on the ambitious outcome goals 
                described in the report submitted by the institution 
                under section 3(f)(1)(A), including challenges to and 
                changes made to such program;
                    (E) if according to the analysis under subparagraph 
                (D), the program is not on track to meet such ambitious 
                outcome goals, a description of the plans to adjust the 
                program to improve the performance of the program;
                    (F) the participation of such eligible students in 
                tutoring, career services, and meetings with program 
                advisors;
                    (G) for the report for the third year of the grant 
                period, the plan to meet the non-Federal contribution 
                requirement under subsection (d)(1)(D); and
                    (H) for the report for the fourth year of the grant 
                period, a description of--
                            (i) the source of the funds to meet the 
                        non-Federal contribution requirement under 
                        subsection (d)(1)(D);
                            (ii) the plans to continue to fund such 
                        program after the grant period ends; and
                            (iii) the plans to use this program as a 
                        catalyst for institution-wide reform with 
                        respect to graduation rates and transfer rates 
                        for all students; and
            (2) not later than 6 years after the date on which the 
        eligible institution received such grant, submit a final report 
        to the Secretary that includes an analysis of--
                    (A) the factors that contributed to the success or 
                failure of the community college student success 
                program in meeting the ambitious outcome goals 
                described in the report submitted by the institution 
                under section 3(f)(1)(A);
                    (B) the challenges faced in attempting to implement 
                such program;
                    (C) information on how to improve such program;
                    (D) whether the program has created an institution-
                wide reform with respect to graduate rates and transfer 
                rates for all students, and if so, how such reform was 
                created; and
                    (E) how the eligible institution will continue to 
                fund such program after the end of the grant period.

SEC. 5. EVALUATIONS.

    (a) Independent Evaluations.--Before finalizing which eligible 
institutions will receive grants under section 4 for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Institute of Education 
Sciences, shall enter into a contract with an independent evaluator--
            (1) to consult with the Secretary on which eligible 
        institutions should receive the grants; and
            (2) to use the What Works Clearinghouse Standards (without 
        reservations) to evaluate, throughout the duration of the grant 
        period of such grants--
                    (A) each community college student success program 
                for which such grant is awarded, including whether the 
                program met its ambitious outcome goals described in 
                the report submitted by the institution under section 
                3(f)(1)(A);
                    (B) the average impact of community college student 
                success programs on graduation rates and transfer rates 
                for eligible students;
                    (C) the variation in program impacts across 
                eligible institutions with respect to such rates; and
                    (D) whether such programs lead to higher graduation 
                rates and transfer rates of eligible students per 
                dollar spent for such students by such institutions 
                compared with such rates at eligible institutions 
                without such programs.
    (b) Results of Evaluations.--The results of the evaluations under 
subsection (a) shall be made publicly available on the website of the 
Department of Education.
    (c) Funding for Evaluations.--The Secretary may reserve not more 
than 15 percent of the funds appropriated under section 10 for a fiscal 
year to carry out this section for such fiscal year.

SEC. 6. OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach activities to 
notify eligible institutions of the availability of grants under this 
Act.
    (b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance--
            (1) to eligible institutions that may be interested in 
        applying for grants under this Act, including assistance with 
        applications for such grants; and
            (2) to eligible institutions awarded grants under this Act, 
        including assistance with--
                    (A) establishing ambitious outcome goals described 
                in section 3(f)(1)(A); and
                    (B) the implementation of a community college 
                student success program.
    (c) Funding for Technical Assistance for Evaluations.--The 
Secretary may reserve not more than 7 percent of the funds appropriated 
under section 10 for a fiscal year for technical assistance under this 
section for such fiscal year.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary 
receives the final evaluation results under section 5 for eligible 
institutions that were awarded grants under section 4 for the same 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes--
            (1) the number of grants awarded under section 4 for such 
        fiscal year, and the amount of such grants;
            (2) the number of grants awarded under section 3 to 
        eligible institutions that received or would have been eligible 
        for the grants described in paragraph (1), and the amount of 
        such grants; and
            (3) such final evaluation results.

SEC. 8. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.

    Funds awarded to an eligible institution under this Act shall be 
used only to supplement the amount of funds that would, in the absence 
of the Federal funds provided under this Act, be made available from 
non-Federal sources or other Federal sources to carry out the 
activities under this Act, and not to supplant such funds.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Community college student success program.--The term 
        ``community college student success program'' means a program 
        carried out by an eligible institution under which the 
        institution carries out the following:
                    (A) Provides eligible students participating in 
                such program with an amount that covers the cost of 
                tuition and fees that are not covered by any Federal, 
                State, or institutional financial assistance received 
                by the student.
                    (B) Requires eligible students participating in 
                such program to--
                            (i) be enrolled in the eligible institution 
                        and carry a full-time academic workload during 
                        each fall and spring semester (or equivalent 
                        terms) during which the student participates in 
                        such program;
                            (ii) if the eligible student is referred to 
                        remedial courses or on academic probation, 
                        meet, on at least a weekly basis, with a tutor, 
                        except that in the case of an eligible student 
                        who is academically struggling, but who is not 
                        referred to remedial courses or on academic 
                        probation, the student may meet with a tutor as 
                        often as the program advisor for such student 
                        requires;
                            (iii) meet with a program advisor--
                                    (I) twice each month during the 
                                first semester (or equivalent term) of 
                                participation in such program; and
                                    (II) as directed by the program 
                                advisor in subsequent semesters (or 
                                equivalent terms) under subparagraph 
                                (C)(ii); and
                            (iv) meet with an on-campus career advisor 
                        or participate in a career services event once 
                        each semester (or equivalent term).
                    (C) Provides a program advisor to each eligible 
                student participating in such program who--
                            (i) provides comprehensive academic and 
                        personal advising to the eligible student, 
                        including--
                                    (I) the creation and implementation 
                                of an academic plan for the student to 
                                graduate from a program of study at the 
                                eligible institution within 150 percent 
                                of the normal time for graduation from 
                                such program;
                                    (II) if an eligible student is 
                                referred to remedial courses, 
                                encouraging such student to complete 
                                such courses as quickly as possible; 
                                and
                                    (III) assisting the eligible 
                                student with developing and achieving 
                                academic goals, including creating 
                                strong transfer pathways that 
                                demonstrate programmatic transfer for 
                                students interested in transferring to 
                                a 4-year institution of higher 
                                education;
                            (ii) after the eligible student 
                        participating in such program completes a 
                        semester (or equivalent term), creates for the 
                        eligible student a needs-based advising 
                        schedule that indicates, based on the eligible 
                        student's academic performance, the frequency 
                        with which such eligible student shall be 
                        required to meet with a program advisor for 
                        each subsequent semester (or equivalent term) 
                        of program participation;
                            (iii) has a caseload of not more than 150 
                        eligible students;
                            (iv) tracks the attendance of the eligible 
                        student at the meetings described in clauses 
                        (ii), (ii), and (iv) of subparagraph (B);
                            (v) monitors the academic progress of the 
                        eligible student; and
                            (vi) provides each eligible student who 
                        meets the requirements of subparagraph (B), on 
                        at least a monthly basis, with financial 
                        incentives, such as a transportation pass or a 
                        gas card.
                    (D) Provides free tutoring and career services to 
                eligible students participating in such program, and 
                may reserve places in select courses for such eligible 
                students in order to create community within cohorts of 
                eligible students.
            (2) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible 
        institution'' means a public 2-year institution of higher 
        education.
            (3) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student'' means 
        a student enrolled at an eligible institution who--
                    (A) on the date such eligible student would begin 
                participation in a community college student success 
                program at such eligible institution--
                            (i) is enrolled in a program of study 
                        leading to an associate degree;
                            (ii) is enrolled at such institution and 
                        carrying a full-time academic workload during 
                        each fall and spring semester (or equivalent 
                        terms) during which the student participates in 
                        such program;
                            (iii) is--
                                    (I) a first-time undergraduate 
                                student; or
                                    (II) a continuing or transfer 
                                student with not more than 15 credits 
                                and a minimum grade point average of 
                                2.0 (or its equivalent); and
                            (iv) is considered by the eligible 
                        institution to need no more than two remedial 
                        courses;
                    (B) if the student is eligible for financial aid 
                under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1070 et seq.), has completed the Free 
                Application for Federal Student Aid or other common 
                financial reporting form under section 483(a) of such 
                Act (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)); and
                    (C) meets any other requirements established by the 
                institution.
            (4) Full-time academic workload.--The term ``full-time 
        academic workload'', when used with respect to an semester or 
        equivalent term, means at least 12 credits (or the equivalent).
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (7) Transfer rate.--The term ``transfer rate'', when used 
        with respect to students enrolled in a program of study at an 
        eligible institution, means the rate at which such students 
        transfer to a 4-year institution of higher education.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$10,000,000,000 for fiscal years 2018 through 2028, to be available 
until expended.
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