,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ciej ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bd1 #bjai,mr4 ,norcross 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,moulton1 ,mr4 ,kim1 ,mr4 ,cox of ,california1 and ,ms4 ,craig7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to establish a grant program for the improvement of remedial education programs at institutions of higher education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,remedial ,education ,improvement ,act4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to-- 7#a7 improve remedial education and support students as they move throughout credit and non-credit bearing course work and complete postsecondary education2 7#b7 provide funding to improve remedial education based on five models found to have success on a small scale2 7#c7 through collection of data1 reports1 and evaluations1 compare within and between models of remedial education and the impact of such models on postsecondary education completion2 and 7#d7 develop strategies to replicate successful models and improve the sustainability of remedial education programs4 #c4 ,remedial education grants ,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 ,remedial education grants 7a7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,from the funds appropriated under subsection 7k7 7and not reserved under subsection 7c77#d771 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences1 shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to improve remedial education in higher education4 7#b7 ,duration ,a grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of #e years4 7#c7 ,minimum awards ,the total amount of funds provided under each grant awarded under this section shall not be less than #ejj1jjj4 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may require1 which shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of how the eligible entity will use the grant funds to develop or improve a remedial education program that includes evidence-based1 effective strategies for providing instruction to ensure that students are prepared for courses at the postsecondary level4 7#b7 ,an assurance that the eligible entity will use more than two measures 7such as a student's college entrance examination score1 grade point average1 high school course list1 or a placement examination7 to identify students in need of remedial education who may be eligible to participate in the remedial education program developed or improved under the grant4 7#c7 ,a description of how the eligible entity1 in developing or improving such a program1 will consult with stakeholders1 including individuals with expertise in remedial education1 students enrolled in remedial education1 and faculty instructors for remedial education4 7#d7 ,the eligible entity's plan for sustaining the program after the grant period has ended4 7#e7 ,the eligible entity's plan for monitoring and evaluating the program1 including how the eligible entity will use the data collected under subsection 7h7 to continually update and improve the program4 7c7 ,consultation and independent evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,before selecting eligible entities to receive grants under this section for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 ensure that the consultation required under paragraph 7#c7 is carried out2 and 7,b7 consider the results of the consultation in selecting eligible entities to receive such grants4 7#b7 ,contract authority ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director1 shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent evaluator under which the evaluator will provide the consultation and evaluation required under paragraph 7#c74 7#c7 ,consultation and independent evaluation required ,the independent evaluator shall carry out the following activities3 7,a7 ,consultation ,for each fiscal year of the grant program under this section1 the independent evaluator shall consult with1 and provide advice to1 the ,secretary regarding which eligible entities should receive grants under this section for such fiscal year4 7,b7 ,evaluation ,throughout the duration of the grant program under this section1 the independent evaluator shall independently evaluate the impact of the remedial education programs funded with the grants1 which shall include evaluation of-- 7i7 the effectiveness of the remedial education programs in increasing course and degree completion at the postsecondary level2 and 7ii7 the outcomes of the remedial education programs within and among models of remedial education described in subsection 7d74 7#d7 ,reservation ,the ,secretary may reserve not more than #ae percent of the funds appropriated under subsection 7k7 for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection for such fiscal year4 7d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to develop or improve a remedial education program through one or more of the following models3 7#a7 ,aligning course work ,working with a local educational agency or ,state educational agency that is part of the eligible entity to develop or improve programs that provide alignment between high school coursework and postsecondary education1 and that may include-- 7,a7 assessments in high school to measure student readiness for courses at the postsecondary level2 or 7,b7 interventions in high school that improve student competencies for courses at the postsecondary level4 7#b7 ,accelerated course work ,redesigning or improving remedial education that-- 7,a7 allows students to enroll in more than one sequential remedial education course or training in a semester1 or the equivalent2 7,b7 condenses the time of the remedial education2 or 7,c7 provides shortened1 intensive courses or training to improve competencies of students for courses at the postsecondary level4 7#c7 ,modular instructional methods ,developing or improving remedial education that-- 7,a7 specifically targets the skills that students need to move forward in courses at the postsecondary level2 and 7,b7 may be used to develop new assessments1 redesign courses to provide targeted skill instruction1 or provide faculty professional development4 7#d7 ,co-requisite model ,developing or improving remedial education programs that allow a student to enroll in remedial education 7which may be provided through a modular instructional method7 while also enrolled in a course at the postsecondary level4 7#e7 ,systemic reform to implement comprehensive1 integrated support programs ,implementing and improving comprehensive1 integrated1 evidence-based support programs that-- 7,a7 enable students enrolled in remedial education to complete a course of study leading to a recognized educational credential within #aej percent of the normal time for completion2 and 7,b7 may include financial supports1 academic tutoring or support1 and advising that enable students to find success in remedial education and courses at the postsecondary level4 7e7 ,considerations ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director1 shall-- 7#a7 ensure-- 7,a7 a minimum of #cj eligible entities are awarded grants for each #e-year grant period2 7,b7 an equitable geographic distribution of such grants1 including an equitable distribution between urban and rural areas2 and 7,c7 that grants are used to develop or improve remedial education programs-- 7i7 under each model described in subsection 7d7 to enable1 to the extent practicable1 statistical comparisons of the relative effectiveness of the models and the programs within each model2 and 7ii7 for a range of types and sizes of institutions of higher education2 and 7#b7 give preference to eligible entities that primarily serve low-income students4 7f7 ,fiscal requirements 7#a7 ,supplement not supplant ,a grant awarded under this section shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 funds that would otherwise be used to carry out the activities described in this section4 7#b7 ,matching funds 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #aj percent of the amount of the grant for the cost of activities assisted under the grant4 7,b7 ,exceptions ,the requirements of subparagraph 7,a7 shall not apply to-- 7i7 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities2 or 7ii7 institutions of higher education located in the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 the ,republic of the ,marshall ,islands1 the ,federated ,states of ,micronesia1 or the ,republic of ,palau4 7g7 ,experimental authority ,notwithstanding any other provision of this title1 a student may be eligible to receive loans or grants under this title for up to #b academic years for enrollment in a remedial education program under this section4 7h7 ,data collection1 reports1 evaluations1 and dissemination 7#a7 ,information 7,a7 ,student-level data ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide to the ,director and the ,secretary1 on an annual basis for each year of the grant period and for #e years after such grant period1 the student-level data with respect to the students who are or were enrolled in a remedial education program funded with the grant4 ,the ,director and the ,secretary shall share such data with the independent evaluator to enable the evaluator1 for each such year1 to determine the information described in subparagraph 7,b7 with respect to each such remedial education program4 7,b7 ,aggregate student data ,the independent evaluator shall determine1 with respect to each remedial education program for which an eligible entity provides student-level data under subparagraph 7,a71 the following information3 7i7 ,the number of students who are or were enrolled in such remedial education program4 7ii7 ,the cost of such remedial education program4 7iii7 ,the amount of grant or loan funds under this title awarded to students for enrollment in such remedial education program4 7iv7 ,the type of remedial education offered under the program4 7v7 ,the length of time students spend in such remedial education program1 as measured by semester1 trimester1 or clock hours4 7vi7 ,the number of students who complete such remedial education program4 7vii7 ,of the students who complete such remedial education program-- 7,i7 the number and percentage of such students who later enroll in postsecondary-level courses at an institution of higher education2 7,,ii7 the number and percentage of such students who receive a recognized educational credential from an institution of higher education2 7,,iii7 the average length of time required for a student described in subclause 7,,ii7 to complete the course of study leading to such credential2 and 7,,iv7 the number and percentage of students described in subclause 7,,ii7 who complete the course of study leading to such credential within #aej percent of the normal time for completion4 7,c7 ,disaggregation ,the information determined under subparagraph 7,b7 shall be disaggregated by race1 gender1 socioeconomic status1 ,federal ,pell ,grant eligibility status1 status as a first generation college student1 veteran or active duty status1 and disability status4 7#b7 ,evaluation results ,not later than six years after the first grant is awarded under this section1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,secretary and using the information determined under paragraph 7#a71 shall submit to the authorizing committees and make available on a publicly accessible website1 a report on the results of the multiyear1 rigorous1 and independent evaluation of the impact of the remedial education programs carried out by the independent evaluator4 ,the report shall include the results of such evaluation with respect to-- 7,a7 the effectiveness of the remedial education programs in increasing course and degree completion at the postsecondary level2 and 7,b7 the outcomes of the remedial education programs within and among models of remedial education described in subsection 7d74 7#c7 ,reports and dissemination 7,a7 ,initial report ,not later than one year after the first grant is awarded under this section1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the independent evaluator1 shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a report on each remedial education program funded under this section4 7,b7 ,subsequent report ,not later than five years after the last grant is awarded under this section1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the independent evaluator1 shall prepare and submit to the authorizing committees a report that includes-- 7i7 a review of the activities and program performance of each remedial education program funded under this section2 and 7ii7 guidance and recommendations on how successful remedial education programs 7as determined1 at a minimum1 by the number and percentage of remedial education students who later complete a course of study at an institution of higher education within #aej percent of the normal time for completion7 can be replicated4 7,c7 ,public availability ,the reports submitted under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the ,department of ,education4 7i7 ,data privacy 7#a7 ,in general ,it shall be unlawful for any person who obtains or has access to personally identifiable information in connection with this section to willfully disclose to any person 7except as authorized in this ,act or any ,federal law7 such personally identifiable information4 7#b7 ,penalty ,any person who violates paragraph 7#a7 shall be fined not more than #e1jjj1 imprisoned for not more than #e years1 or both1 together with the costs of prosecution4 7#c7 ,employee or officer of the united states ,if a violation of paragraph 7#a7 is committed by any officer or employee of the ,united ,states1 the officer or employee shall be dismissed from office or discharged from employment upon conviction for the violation4 7#d7 ,sale of data prohibited ,data collected under this section shall not be sold to any third party by the ,director1 any postsecondary institution1 or any other entity4 7#e7 ,limitation on use by other ,federal agencies ,the ,director shall not allow any other ,federal agency to use data collected under this section for any purpose except as explicitly authorized by this ,act4 7#f7 ,law enforcement ,personally identifiable information collected under this section shall not be used for any law enforcement activity or any other activity that would result in adverse action against any student1 including debt collection activity or enforcement of the immigration laws4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,institute of ,education ,sciences4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education2 or 7,b7 a partnership between an institution of higher education and at least #a of the following3 7i7 ,a local educational agency4 7ii7 ,a ,state educational agency4 7#c7 ,first generation college student ,the term first generation college student has the meaning given that term in section #djb;,a7h74 7#d7 ,independent evaluator ,the term independent evaluator means the independent evaluator with which the ,secretary enters into a contract under subsection 7c77#b74 7#e7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja4 7#f7 ,remedial education ,the term remedial education-- 7,a7 means education 7such as courses or training7 offered at an institution of higher education that-- 7i7 is below the postsecondary level2 and 7ii7 is determined by the institution to be necessary to help students be prepared for the pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate degree1 associate's degree1 or certificate or1 in the case of courses in ,english language instruction1 to be necessary to enable the student to utilize already existing knowledge1 training1 or skills2 and 7,b7 includes developmental education that meets the requirements of subparagraph 7,a74 7#g7 ,tribal college or university ,the term ,tribal ,college or ,university has the meaning given that term in section #caf7;b74 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #afb1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj and each of the #e succeeding fiscal years4 4 #d4 ,exception to student unit record ban ,section #acd7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajae;c7b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking 7#a7 is necessary and inserting 7#a77;,a7 is necessary2 7#b7 by striking 7#b7 was in and inserting 7,b7 was in2 7#c7 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 is necessary for the operation of section #dhf;,b4 4