,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfab ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #h1 #bjad ,mr4 ,de,santis 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,salmon1 ,mr4 ,posey1 and ,mr4 ,bentivolio7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the eligibility requirements for funding under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,higher ,education ,reform and ,opportunity ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,amendments to the ,higher ,education ,act 7a7 ,definition of ,institution of ,higher ,education ,section #ajb7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#e7 and 7#f7 as paragraphs 7#f7 and 7#g71 respectively2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,subject to paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#d7 and inserting ,subject to paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#e72 7#c7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,c7 as subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,a7 the following3 7,b7 if accredited by an authorized accreditation authority in a ,state that has an alternative accreditation agreement with the ,secretary1 as described in paragraph 7#e7-- 7i7 an institution that provides postsecondary education2 7ii7 a postsecondary apprenticeship program2 or 7iii7 a postsecondary education course or program provided by an institution of postsecondary education1 a nonprofit organization1 or a for-profit organization or business2 2 and 7#d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#d71 the following3 7#e7 ,state alternative accreditation 7,a7 ,in ,general ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 a ,state may establish an alternative accreditation system for the purpose of establishing institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs as eligible for funding under title ,,iv if the ,state enters into an agreement with the ,secretary for the establishment of the alternative accreditation system4 ,such institutions1 courses1 or programs may include-- 7i7 institutions that provide postsecondary education2 7ii7 postsecondary apprenticeship programs2 7iii7 any other postsecondary education course or program offered at an institution of postsecondary education1 a nonprofit organization1 or a for-profit organization or business2 and 7iv7 any of the entities described in clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 that do not award a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree1 provided that such entity provides credit that will apply toward a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree4 7,b7 ,alternative accreditation agreement ,the alternative accreditation agreement described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,the designation of one or more authorized accrediting entities within the ,state1 such as the ,state ,department of ,education1 another ,state agency1 an industry-specific accrediting agency1 or another entity1 and an explanation of the process through which the ,state will select such authorized accrediting entities4 7ii7 ,the standards or criteria that an institution that provides postsecondary education and a postsecondary education course or program must meet in order to-- 7,i7 receive an initial accreditation as part of the alternative accreditation system2 and 7,,ii7 maintain such accreditation4 7iii7 ,a description of the appeals process through which an institution that provides postsecondary education and a postsecondary education course or program may appeal to an authorized accrediting entity if such institution1 course1 or program is denied accreditation under the ,state alternative accreditation system4 7iv7 ,each authorized accrediting entity's policy regarding the transfer of credits between institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs within the ,state that are accredited as part of the alternative accreditation system4 7v7 ,the ,secretary's reporting requirements for the ,state regarding the ,state alternative accreditation system1 including-- 7,i7 the contents of reports that must be submitted to the ,secretary1 which may include information such as-- 7aa7 in the case of a postsecondary education course or program that is accredited through the ,state alternative accreditation system-- 7,,aa7 the number and percentage of students who successfully complete each such postsecondary education course or program2 and 7,,bb7 the number and percentage of students who successfully obtain a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree using credit obtained from each such postsecondary education course or program2 and 7bb7 in the case of an institution that provides postsecondary education that is accredited through the ,state alternative accreditation system-- 7,,aa7 the number and percentage of students who successfully obtain a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree from such institution2 and 7,,bb7 the number and percentage of students who do not successfully obtain a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree from such institution but do obtain credit from such institution toward a postsecondary degree1 credential1 or certification2 7,,ii7 the frequency with which such reports must be submitted to the ,secretary2 and 7,,iii7 any requirements for third party verification of information contained in such reports4 7vi7 ,the ,state policy regarding public accessibility to certain information relating to institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses and programs accredited under the ,state alternative accreditation system1 including-- 7,i7 the information described in subclause 7,i7 of clause 7v72 and 7,,ii7 information about the rates of job placement for individuals that have graduated from an institution or completed a course or program that is accredited under the ,state alternative accreditation system4 7vii7 ,an assurance by the ,state that under the ,state alternative accreditation system1 only institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that provide credits toward a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree 7as defined by the ,state in accordance with clause 7viii77 will be accredited4 7viii7 ,the ,state's definition of a postsecondary certification1 credential1 or degree1 as such term applies to the requirement described in clause 7vii74 7ix7 ,a description of the agreements that the ,state will enter into with institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that are accredited under the alternative accreditation system to enable such institutions1 courses1 or programs to be eligible under a program authorized under title ,,iv1 for participation in the direct student loan program1 and for the origination of loans under part ,d of title ,,iv1 and how such agreements will operate in lieu of the agreements described in sections #dhg and #ded4 7x7 ,a description of how the ,state will select institutions that provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses or programs that are accredited under the alternative accreditation system1 in lieu of the selection process described in section #dec1 for-- 7,i7 participation in the direct student loan program under part ,d of title ,,iv2 and 7,,ii7 approval allowing such institution1 program1 or course to originate direct loans under part ,d of title ,,iv4 7xi7 ,a description of how the ,state will administer title ,,iv funds for institutions that provide postsecondary education1 postsecondary apprenticeship programs1 and postsecondary education courses or programs provided by an institution of postsecondary education1 a nonprofit organization1 or a for-profit organization or business that are accredited through the alternative accreditation system4 7,c7 ,administrative ,costs for ,pell ,grant ,students 7i7 ,pell ,grants administered by entities ,in the case of an institution that provides postsecondary education1 a postsecondary apprenticeship program1 or an entity that provides a postsecondary education course or program that is accredited through the alternative accreditation system and that will administer the ,federal ,pell ,grant1 ,federal ,perkins ,loan1 ,federal ,work-,study1 and ,federal ,supplemental ,educational ,opportunity ,grants in accordance with the agreement described in subparagraph 7,b77xi71 the ,secretary shall1 in lieu of carrying out section #fij4aj of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 and subject to available appropriations1 pay #e4jj to the institution1 apprenticeship program1 or entity1 as the case may be1 for each student who receives a ,federal ,pell ,grant at that institution1 apprenticeship program1 or entity for an award year4 7ii7 ,pell ,grants administered by ,states ,in the case of an institution that provides postsecondary education1 a postsecondary apprenticeship program1 or an entity that provides a postsecondary education course or program that is accredited through the alternative accreditation system and will not administer the ,federal ,pell ,grant1 ,federal ,perkins ,loan1 ,federal ,work-,study1 and ,federal ,supplemental ,educational ,opportunity ,grants1 but will have such programs administered by the ,state in accordance with the agreement described in subparagraph 7,b77xi71 the ,secretary shall1 in lieu of carrying out section #fij4aj of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 and subject to available appropriations1 pay #e4jj to the ,state for each student who receives a ,federal ,pell ,grant at that institution1 apprenticeship program1 or entity1 as the case may be1 for an award year4 7iii7 ,use of ,funds ,all funds that an institution1 apprenticeship program1 entity1 or the ,state receives under this subparagraph shall be used solely to pay the cost of-- 7,i7 administering the ,federal ,pell ,grant1 ,federal ,perkins ,loan1 ,federal ,work-,study1 and ,federal ,supplemental ,educational ,opportunity ,grants2 and 7,,ii7 carrying out the reporting requirements described under subparagraph 7,b77v74 7iv7 ,financial aid services ,if an institution1 apprenticeship program1 or entity described in this subparagraph enrolls a significant number of students who are attending less-than-full-time or are independent students1 such institution1 apprenticeship program1 entity1 or the ,state1 as the case may be1 shall use a reasonable proportion of the funds provided under this subparagraph to make financial aid services available during times and in places that will most effectively accommodate the needs of those students4 4 7b7 ,title ,,iv eligibility requirements ,part ,g of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dic;,e4 ,state ,accredited ,institutions1 ,programs1 or ,courses ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 an institution1 program1 or course that is eligible for funds under this title in accordance with section #ajb7;a77#a77;,b7 and meets the requirements of section #ajb7;a77#e7 shall not be required to meet any other requirements of this title4 ,for purposes of this title1 such an institution1 program1 or course shall be deemed to be an eligible institution that meets the requirements of section #dhg4 4