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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''GEAR UP
Enhancement Act of 2007''.
(b) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever
in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) In 1998, Congress created the Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) following
the leadership and innovation of successful programs such as
Say Yes to Education, 21st Century Scholars Program, Tell Them
We Are Rising, ''I Have a Dream'' Foundation, Project GRAD, and
others. GEAR UP, originally conceived of as High Hopes, is now
one of the most innovative and successful national college
access programs.
(2) Though college has become a reality for more families
now than ever before, an opportunity gap continues to exist in
which low-income students are far less likely to earn a high
school diploma, and enroll in and complete college. Whereas
73.9 percent of all students nationally graduate from high
school, only 52.1 percent of children from low-income families
achieve this educational milestone. While 76 percent of high-
income high school graduates enroll in college or trade school,
only 49 percent of low-income graduates do so.
(3) Since its enactment, GEAR UP has served approximately 2
million students in 48 states, the District of Columbia,
American Samoa, Guam, Palau and Puerto Rico. The Department of
Education reports that 84.4 percent of the first class of GEAR
UP students graduated from high school, while only 52.1 percent
of low-income students and 73.9 percent all students nationally
achieved this same educational milestone. An ACT study found
that students from GEAR UP schools had greater changes in
academic performance, were more likely to be on track to be
college-ready in English and Reading, more likely to take the
core high school curriculum, and more likely to have plans for
college at grade 10.

SEC. 3. AWARD PERIOD; PRIORITY.

Section 404A(b) (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21(b)) is amended by striking
paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
''(2) Award period.--The Secretary may award a grant under
this chapter to an eligible entity described in paragraphs (1)
and (2) of subsection (c) for 7 years.
''(3) Priority.--In making awards to eligible entities
described in subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall--
''(A) give priority to eligible entities that--
''(i) on the day before the date of
enactment of the GEAR UP Enhancement Act of
2007, carried out successful educational
opportunity programs under this chapter (as
this chapter was in effect on such day); and
''(ii) have a prior, demonstrated
commitment to early intervention leading to
college access through collaboration and
replication of successful strategies; and
''(B) ensure that students served under this
chapter on the day before the date of enactment of the
GEAR UP Enhancement Act of 2007 continue to receive
assistance through the completion of secondary
school.''.

SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS: CONTINUITY OF SERVICES.

(a) Cohort Approach.--Section 404B(g)(1) (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22(g)(1))
is amended--
(1) by striking ''and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by inserting ''and provide the option of
continued services through the student's first year of
attendance at an institution of higher education''
after ''grade level''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
''; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
''(C) provide services under this chapter to
students who have received services under a previous
GEAR UP grant award but have not yet completed the 12th
grade.''.
(b) Early Intervention.--Section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)--
(A) by striking ''and'' at the end of clause (ii);
(B) by striking the period at the end of clause
(iii) and inserting ''; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:
''(iv) the transition to college or post-
secondary education through continuity of
services to support students in and through the
first year of attendance at an institution of
higher education.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ''and students in
the first year of attendance at an institution of higher
education'' after ''grade 12''; and
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting '', and may consider
students in their first year of attendance at an institution,''
after ''grade 12''.

SEC. 5. FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.

Section 404C (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ''and accrued
over the full duration of the grant award period''
after ''in cash or in kind'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the
following new sentence: ''Eligible entities may request
reduced match percentage at the time of application or
by petition at any time during the grant award
period.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(3) Additional special rule.--To encourage eligible
entities described in 404A(c) to provide students under this
chapter with financial assistance for post-secondary education,
each dollar of non-Federal funds obligated under subsection
(c)(1) and (c)(2) shall, for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) of
this subsection, be treated as 2 dollars.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ''paid to
students from State, local, institutional, or private
funds under this chapter'' and inserting ''obligated to
students from state, local, institutional, or private
funds under this chapter, including pre-existing , non-
federal financial assistance programs'';
(B) by striking ''and'' at the end of paragraph
(2);
(C) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(3); and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
''(4) other resources recognized by the Secretary,
including equipment and supplies, cash contribution from non-
Federal sources, transportation expenses, in-kind or discounted
program services, indirect costs, and facility usage.''.

SEC. 6. EARLY INTERVENTION.

Section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii), by striking ''and academic
counseling'' and inserting '', academic counseling, and
financial literacy and economic literacy education or
counseling'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by adding at the end the
following new subparagraphs:
''(F) Fostering and improving parent and family
involvement in elementary and secondary education by
promoting the advantages of a college education, and
emphasizing academic admission requirements and the
need to take college preparation courses, through
parent engagement and leadership activities.
''(G) Engaging entities described in section
404A(c)(2)(C) in a collaborative manner to provide
matching resources and participate in other activities
authorized under this section.
''(H) Disseminating information that promotes the
importance of higher education, explains college
preparation and admission requirements, and raises
awareness of the resources and services provided by the
eligible entities described in section 404A(c) to
eligible students, their families, and communities.'';
and
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following
new paragraph:
''(3) Additional permissible activities for states.--In
meeting the requirements of subsection (a), an eligible entity
described in section 404A(c) (1) receiving funds under this
chapter may, in addition to the activities authorized by
paragraph (2), use funds to providing technical assistance to--
''(A) middle schools or secondary schools that are
located within the State; or
''(B) partnerships described in section 404A(c)(2)
that are located within the State.''.

SEC. 7. SCHOLARSHIP COMPONENT.

Section 404E (20 U.S.C. 1070a-25) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ''scholarships to
students to supplement aid for which they are regularly
eligible'' after ''shall establish or maintain a financial
assistance program that awards'';
(2) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ''scholarships to
students to supplement aid for which they are regularly
eligible'' after ''An eligible entity described in section
404A(c)(2) may award'';
(3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ''the maximum Federal
Pell Grant'' and inserting ''the minimum Federal Pell Grant''.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 404H (20 U.S.C. 1070a-31) is amended by striking
''$200,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years'' and inserting
''$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the 6 succeeding fiscal years''.
GEAR UP Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP) created to facilitate the transition of low-income high school students into postsecondary education.

Establishes a seven year GEAR UP grant period.

Requires grantees to provide services to students through their first year of postsecondary education.

Revises GEAR UP matching requirements to allow: (1) matching funds to accrue over the duration of a grant; (2) grantees to request that the match be reduced; and (3) each non-federal dollar obligated for student financial aid to be treated as two dollars toward the match.

Expands permissible uses of grant funds to include promoting student financial and economic literacy and facilitating family and community involvement in the program. Permits state grantees to use program funds for technical assistance to middle or secondary schools or partnership grantees located in the state.

Provides that GEAR UP scholarships are to supplement aid to which students are already eligible. Alters the formula used in determining the minimum GEAR UP scholarship to factor in the minimum, rather than maximum, Pell Grant.

Reauthorizes GEAR UP appropriations through FY2014.