,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #cie #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cacf ,report ,no4 #aac-ebi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ai1 #bjac ,mr4 ,salmon 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,polis1 ,mrs4 ,brooks of ,indiana1 and ,mr4 ,andrews7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,july #ag1 #bjad ,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,rokita1 ,mr4 ,petri1 ,mr4 ,bucshon1 ,mr4 ,rothfus1 ,mr4 ,delaney1 ,mr4 ,george ,miller of ,california1 and ,mr4 ,kline ,july #ag1 #bjad ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,september #ai1 #bjac ,a ,,bill ,to establish a demonstration program for competency-based education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,advancing ,competency-,based ,education ,demonstration ,project ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,competency-based education demonstration projects 7a7 ,projects ,part ,g of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #dhf;,a the following3 #dhf;,b4 ,competency-based education demonstration projects 7a7 ,demonstration projects authorized ,the ,secretary shall select1 in accordance with subsection 7c71 eligible entities to voluntarily carry out competency-based education demonstration projects and receive waivers described in subsection 7d7 to carry out such projects4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible entity desiring to carry out a demonstration project under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary1 at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,amendments ,an eligible entity may submit to the ,secretary amendments to the eligible entity's application under paragraph 7#a71 at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require1 which the ,secretary shall approve or deny within #ae days of receipt4 7#c7 ,contents ,each application shall include-- 7,a7 a description of the competency-based education to be offered by the eligible entity under the demonstration project2 7,b7 a description of the proposed academic delivery1 business1 and financial models for the demonstration project1 including explanations of how competency-based education offered under the demonstration project would-- 7i7 result in the achievement of competencies2 7ii7 differ from standard credit hour approaches1 in whole or in part2 and 7iii7 result in lower costs or shortened time to degree1 certificate1 or credential completion2 7,c7 a description of how the competency-based education offered under the demonstration project will progress a student toward completion of a degree1 certificate1 or credential2 7,d7 a description of how the eligible entity will articulate the transcript from the competency-based education demonstration project to another program within an institution of higher education that is part of the eligible entity or to another institution of higher education2 7,e7 a description of the statutory and regulatory requirements described in subsection 7d7 for which the eligible entity is seeking a waiver1 and why such waiver is necessary to carry out the demonstration project2 7,f7 a description of how the eligible entity will develop and evaluate the competencies and assessments of student knowledge 7which may include prior-learning assessments7 administered as part of the demonstration project1 including how such competencies and assessments are aligned with workforce needs2 7,g7 a description of the proposal for determining a student's ,federal student aid eligibility under this title for participating in the demonstration project1 the award and distribution of such aid1 and safeguards to ensure that students are making satisfactory progress that warrants disbursement of such aid2 7,h7 a description of the students to whom competency-based education will be offered1 including an assurance that the demonstration project will enroll a minimum of #ej and a maximum of #c1jjj students2 7,i7 an assurance that students participating in the demonstration project will not be eligible for more ,federal assistance under this title than such students would have been eligible for under a traditional program2 and 7,j7 an assurance the eligible entity will identify and disseminate best practices with respect to the demonstration project to other eligible entities carrying out a demonstration project under this section4 7c7 ,selection 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall select not more than #bj eligible entities to carry out a competency-based education demonstration project under this section4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in selecting eligible entities under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 prioritize projects which show promise in reducing the time or cost required to complete a degree1 certificate1 or credential2 7,b7 consider the number and quality of applications received2 7,c7 consider an eligible entity's-- 7i7 ability to successfully execute the demonstration project as described in the eligible entity's application under subsection 7b72 7ii7 commitment and ability to effectively finance the demonstration project2 7iii7 ability to provide administrative capability and the expertise to evaluate student progress based on measures other than credit hours or clock hours2 and 7iv7 commitment to work with the ,secretary to evaluate the demonstration project and the impact of the demonstration project2 7,d7 ensure the selection of a diverse group of eligible entities with respect to size1 mission1 and geographic distribution of the eligible entities2 7,e7 not limit the types of programs of study or courses of study approved for participation in a demonstration project2 and 7,f7 not select an eligible entity that has had1 for #a of the preceding #b fiscal years-- 7i7 a cohort default rate 7defined in section #dce7m77 that is #cj percent or greater2 and 7ii7 a borrowing rate of loans under this title of more than #ej percent of the students enrolled at institutions of higher education of the eligible entity4 7d7 ,waivers ,the ,secretary may waive for any eligible entity selected to carry out a demonstration project under this section any requirements of the following provisions of law 7including any regulations promulgated under such provisions7 or regulations and for which the eligible entity has provided a reason for waiving under subsection 7b77#c77;,e73 7#a7 ,subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of section #ajb7;a77#c74 7#b7 ,subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #dha1 as such subsections relate to requirements for a minimum number of weeks of instruction4 7#c7 ,section #dhd7l77#a74 7#d7 ,section #ffh4cb7;a77#a77;iii7 of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7#e7 ,any of the requirements under provisions in title ,i1 part ,f of this title1 or this part1 that inhibit the operation of competency-based education1 including requirements with respect to-- 7,a7 documenting attendance2 7,b7 weekly academic activity2 7,c7 minimum weeks of instructional time2 7,d7 requirements for credit hour or clock hour equivalencies2 7,e7 requirements for substantive interaction with faculty2 and 7,f7 definitions of the terms academic year1 full-time student1 term 7including standard term1 non-term1 and non-standard term71 satisfactory academic progress1 educational activity1 project of study1 and payment period4 7e7 ,notification ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall make available to the authorizing committees and the public a list of eligible entities selected to carry out a demonstration project under this section1 which shall include for each such eligible entity-- 7#a7 the specific statutory and regulatory requirements being waived under subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 a description of the competency-based education programs of study or courses of study to be offered under the project4 7f7 ,information and evaluation 7#a7 ,information 7,a7 ,in general ,each eligible entity that carries out a demonstration project under this section shall provide to the ,director of the ,institution of ,education ,sciences with respect to the students participating in the competency-based education project carried out by the eligible entity the following information3 7i7 ,the average number of credit hours the students earned prior to enrollment in the demonstration project1 if applicable4 7ii7 ,the number and percentage of students participating in the demonstration project that are also enrolled in programs of study or courses of study offered in credit hours or clock hours1 disaggregated by student status as a first-year1 second-year1 third-year1 fourth-year1 or other student4 7iii7 ,the average period of time between the enrollment of a student in the demonstration project and the first assessment of student knowledge of such student4 7iv7 ,the average time to #be percent1 #ej percent1 #ge percent1 and #ajj percent of the completion of a degree1 certificate1 or credential by a student who participated in the demonstration project4 7v7 ,the percentage of assessments of student knowledge that students passed on the first attempt1 during the period of the participation in the demonstration project by the students4 7vi7 ,the percentage of assessments of student knowledge that students passed on the second attempt and the average period of time between the first and second attempts by students1 during the period of the participation in the demonstration project by the students4 7vii7 ,the average number of competencies a student acquired while participating in the demonstration project and the period of time during which the student acquired such competencies4 7viii7 ,such other information as the ,director may reasonably require4 7,b7 ,disaggregation ,each eligible entity shall provide the information required under subparagraph 7,a7 disaggregated by age1 race1 gender1 disability status1 and status as a recipient of a ,federal ,pell ,grant1 provided that the disaggregation of the information does not identify any individual student participating in the demonstration project4 7#b7 ,evaluation ,the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 in consultation with the ,secretary1 shall annually evaluate each demonstration project under this section4 ,each evaluation shall include-- 7,a7 the extent to which the eligible entity has met the goals set forth in its application to the ,secretary2 7,b7 the number and types of students participating in the competency-based education offered under the project1 including the progress of participating students toward completion of a degree1 certificate1 or credential1 and the extent to which participation and retention in such project increased2 7,c7 whether the project led to reduced cost or time to completion of a degree1 certificate1 or credential1 and the amount of cost or time reduced for such completion2 7,d7 obstacles related to student financial assistance for competency-based education2 7,e7 the extent to which statutory or regulatory requirements not waived under subsection 7d7 present difficulties for students or institutions of higher education2 7,f7 degree1 certificate1 or credential completion rates2 7,g7 retention rates2 7,h7 total cost and net cost to the student of the competency-based education offered under the project2 7,i7 a description of the assessments of student knowledge and the corresponding competencies2 and 7,j7 outcomes of the assessments of student knowledge4 7#c7 ,annual report ,the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences shall annually provide to the authorizing committees a report on-- 7,a7 the evaluations of the demonstration projects required under paragraph 7#b72 7,b7 the number and types of students receiving assistance under this title for competency-based education under such projects2 7,c7 the retention and completion rates of students participating in such projects2 7,d7 any proposed statutory or regulatory changes designed to support and enhance the expansion of competency-based education1 which may be independent of or combined with traditional credit hour or clock hour projects2 7,e7 the most effective means of delivering competency-based education through demonstration projects2 and 7,f7 the appropriate level and distribution methodology of ,federal assistance under this title for students enrolled in competency-based education4 7g7 ,oversight ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall1 on a continuing basis-- 7#a7 assure compliance of eligible entities with the requirements of this title 7other than the provisions of law and regulations that are waived under subsection 7d772 7#b7 provide technical assistance2 7#c7 monitor fluctuations in the student population enrolled in the eligible entities carrying out the demonstration projects under this section2 and 7#d7 consult with appropriate accrediting agencies or associations and appropriate ,state regulatory authorities for additional ways of improving the delivery of competency-based education4 7h7 ,definitions ,for the purpose of this section3 7#a7 ,competency-based education ,the term competency-based education means an educational process or program that measures knowledge1 skills1 and experience through assessments of such knowledge1 skills1 or experience in place of or in addition to the use of credit hours or clock hours4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education2 7,b7 a system of institutions of higher education2 or 7,c7 a consortium of institutions of higher education4 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #ajb1 except that such term does not include institutions described in section #ajb7;a77#a77;,c74 4 7b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act or the amendments made by this ,act shall be construed to alter the authority of the ,secretary of ,education to establish experimental sites under any other provision of law4 7c7 ,funding 7#a7 ,use of existing funds ,of the amount authorized to be appropriated for salaries and expenses of the ,department of ,education1 #a1jjj1jjj shall be available to carry out this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act4 7#b7 ,no additional funds authorized ,no funds are authorized to be appropriated by this ,act to carry out this ,act or the amendments made by this ,act4 ,july #ag1 #bjad ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed