,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #caee  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #h1 #bjbj,ms4  
,coll9s 7= h]self & ,ms4 ,hassan7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% a rural          
po/second>y & economic developm5t grant 
program4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may 
be cit$ z ! ,success = ,rural ,/ud5ts & 
,communities ,act ( #bjbj4  #b4 ,rural  
po/second>y & economic developm5t grant 
program ,"p ,q ( title ,,viii ( ! ,high]
 ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#aafaq7 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3  #hfb4 ,rural po/second>y &     
economic developm5t grant program  7a7  
,purposes ,! purposes ( ?is section are 
to-- 7#a7 increase enrollm5t &          
graduation rates ( second>y s*ool       
graduates & nontraditional /ud5ts f     
rural areas at #b-ye> & #d-ye>          
in/itutions ( high] education1 _!       
articulation f #b-ye> degree programs   

into #d-ye> degree programs1 & _!       
atta9m5t ( m>ket-relevant cr$5tials &   
c]tificates2  7#b7 ensure rural         
communities b5efit f _! /ud5ts' success 
by advanc+ rural economic developm5t &  
cultivation ( a skill$ local work=ce )  
employm5t opportunities = college       
graduates2  7#c7 promote economic gr[? &
 developm5t 9 ! rural ,unit$ ,/ates     
?r\gh p>tn]%ip grants to consortia (    
rural s]v+ in/itutions ( high]          
education1 local educational ag5cies1 & 
regional economic developm5t entities2  
7#d7 fo/] innovation & developm5t (     
effective practices1 id5tify & docum5t  
effective practices = ! purpose (       
cont9u\s quality improvem5t1 & ensure t 
additional rural areas b5efit f         
innovations ?r\gh dissem9ation (        
practices t are mo/ effective 9 rural   
areas2 &  7#e7 fo/] elevat$ levels (    
inve/m5t 9 rural /ud5ts & communities by
 ,/ate1 private sector1 & philan?ropic  
p>tn]s4  7b7 ,def9itions ,= ! purposes (
 ?is section3 7#a7 ,nontraditional /ud5t

 ,! t]m nontraditional /ud5t means an   
individual :o--  7,a7 delays enrollm5t 9
 an in/itution ( high] education by #c  
or m ye>s aft] second>y s*ool           
graduation2  7,b7 att5ds an in/itution (
 high] education "p-"t2 or  7,c7 att5ds 
an in/itution ( high] education &--  7i7
 works full-"t2  7ii7 is an indep5d5t   
/ud5t1 z def9$ 9 section #dhj2  7iii7   
has #a or m dep5d5ts o!r ?an a sp\se2   
7iv7 is a s+le p>5t or is ! prim>y      
c>egiv] = a family memb]2  7v7 is ag+   
out ( fo/] c>e2  7vi7 has be5 involv$ 9 
! juv5ile ju/ice sy/em or ! adult       
crim9al ju/ice sy/em2 or  7vii7 is 9    
recov]y f a sub/ance use disord]4  7#b7 
,regional economic developm5t entity ,! 
t]m regional economic developm5t entity 
means an entity work+ to promote        
economic developm5t 91 or employ+       
resid5ts (1 a rural area1 :i* may       
include local bo>ds 7z def9$ 9 section  
#c ( ! ,work=ce ,innovation &           
,opportunity ,act71 ,*amb]s ( ,comm]ce1 
& employ]s 9 ! rural region cov]$ by !  

grant4  7#c7 ,rural area ,! t]m rural   
area means an area t is def9$1 id5tifi$1
 or o!rwise recogniz$ z rural by a      
gov]nm5tal ag5cy ( ! ,/ate 9 :i* ! area 
is locat$4  7#d7 ,rural s]v+ in/itution 
( high] education ,! t]m rural s]v+     
in/itution ( high] education means an   
in/itution ( high] education t s]ves    
rural areas4  7c7 ,eligible ,p>tn]%ip   
7#a7 ,eligible p>tn]%ip ,a p>tn]%ip     
eligible to apply = a grant & c>ry out  
activities "u ?is section 7ref]r$ to 9  
?is section z an eligible p>tn]%ip7 %all
 include p>tn]s repres5t+ n less ?an #c 
( ! foll[+ types ( organizations3  7,a7 
,a local educational ag5cy or           
educational s]vice ag5cy 7z su* t]m is  
def9$ 9 section #haja ( ! ,elem5t>y &   
,second>y ,education ,act ( #aife7 s]v+ 
a rural area4  7,b7 ,an in/itution (    
high] education4  7,c7 ,a regional      
economic developm5t entity4  7,d7 ,a    
rural community-s]v+ organization1      
includ+ a philan?ropy1 ) demon/rat$     
success support+ rural /ud5ts 9 access+ 

high] education & atta9+ #b-ye> or      
#d-ye> degrees1 includ+ support+ /ud5ts 
articulat+ f a #b-ye> to a #d-ye>       
college4  7#b7 ,optional p>tn]s ,o!r    
organizations s]v+ rural /ud5ts1        
families1 or communities1 includ+       
ag5cies ( ,tribal1 ,/ate1 or local      
gov]nm5t1 community action ag5cies1 or  
o!r non-gov]nm5tal ag5cies1 & local     
elect$ (ficials may p>ticipate 9 !      
eligible p>tn]%ip z optional p>tn]s4    
7#c7 ,lead applicant ,any requir$ p>tn] 
9 an eligible p>tn]%ip describ$ 9       
p>agraph 7#a7 may be designat$ by !     
eligible p>tn]%ip to s]ve z ! lead      
applicant & submit a competitive        
application on behalf ( ! eligible      
p>tn]%ip ( :i* t p>tn] entity is a      
memb]4  7#d7 ,limitation ,no m ?an #a   
p>tn] may submit a grant application "u 
?is section on behalf ( an eligible     
p>tn]%ip4  7d7 ,grants au?oriz$  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,f am\nts made available "u      
subsection 7j71 ! ,secret>y may aw>d    
grants1 on a competitive basis1 to      

eligible p>tn]%ips to c>ry out !        
activities describ$ 9 subsection 7f74   
7#b7 ,duration ,a grant aw>d$ "u ?is    
section %all be aw>d$ = a p]iod ( n less
 ?an #e ye>s & n m ?an #i ye>s4  7#c7   
,m9imum grants ,a grant aw>d$ "u ?is    
section %all be 9 an am\nt n less ?an   
#a1jjj1jjj4  7e7 ,applications  7#a7 ,9 
,g5]al ,ea* eligible p>tn]%ip desir+ a  
grant "u ?is section %all submit to !   
,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9   
su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z !  
,secret>y may reasonably require4  7#b7 
,special consid]ations ,9 aw>d+ grants  
"u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all give   
special consid]ation to applications t  
demon/rate ! mo/ pot5tial & propose !   
mo/ promis+ & innovative approa*es =--  
7,a7 increas+ ! numb] & p]c5tage (      
graduates f rural second>y s*ools :o    
enroll 9 & graduate f in/itutions (     
high] education2  7,b7 increas+ ! numb] 
( m>ket-relevant cr$5tials & c]tificates
 aw>d$ to /ud5ts 9 rural communities2   
7,c7 meet+ ! employm5t ne$s ( regional  

employ]s2  7,d7 /r5g!n+ ! regional      
economy ( a rural area2  7,e7 utiliz+   
,labor ,m>ket ,in=mation data to det]m9e
 regional job gr[? opportunities &      
connect t in=mation to education & o!r  
p>tn]s2 &  7,f7 creat+ %>$ data sy/ems  
accessible to all p>tn]s4  7f7 ,mat* ,z 
"p ( ! application1 ea* eligible        
p>tn]%ip apply+ = a grant "u ?is section
 %all secure & docum5t commitm5ts (     
mat*+ funds1 9 ca% or 9 k9d1 total+ n   
less ?an #bj p]c5t ( ! am\nt ( grant    
fund+ t ! eligible p>tn]%ip is reque/+ 9
 ! application4 ,mat*+ funds may be     
contribut$ f any non-,f$]al s\rce1      
includ+ a ,/ate1 local1 private1        
nonpr(it1 or philan?ropic s\rce4  7g7   
,use ( funds ,an eligible p>tn]%ip t    
receives a grant "u ?is section %all use
 grant & mat*+ funds to c>ry out n less 
?an #b ( ! foll[+ #d activities3  7#a7  
,improv+ po/second>y enrollm5t rates =  
rural second>y s*ool /ud5ts by provid+  
supports to /ud5ts1 beg9n+ z e>ly z     
middle s*ool1 b 9 no case lat] ?an grade

 #aa1 & cont9u+ ?r\gh completion (      
po/second>y education4 ,su* supports may
 include--  7,a7 provid+ /ud5ts &       
families ) c\nsel+ relat$ to apply+ =   
po/second>y education1 & ,f$]al & ,/ate 
f9ancial assi/ance = po/second>y        
education2  7,b7 provid+ /ud5ts at rural
 high s*ools1 & _! families1 ) exposure 
& access to campuses1 c\rses1 programs1 
& int]n%ips ( in/itutions ( high]       
education1 includ+ cov]+ ! co/ (        
transportation to & f su* in/itutions2  
7,c7 provid+ /ud5ts ( rural high s*ools 
exposure & access to c\rses (f]+ dual or
 concurr5t enrollm5t t w e>n cr$its     
t[>ds po/second>y degrees1 cr$5tials1 or
 c]tificates2  7,d7 support+ e>ly       
connectivity to regional employm5t      
opportunities = rural /ud5ts1 includ+   
e>ly opportunities = c>e] exploration & 
exposure1 exp&+ c>e] c\nsel+ &          
opportunities = "w-bas$ le>n+ exp]i5ces1
 opportunities available ?r\gh c>e] &   
te*nical education s*ools1 & design+ &  
implem5t+ college & c>e] pa?ways 9      

second>y s*ools t align to local labor  
m>ket dem&s2  7,e7 support+ ! transition
 ( /ud5ts f high s*ool to po/second>y   
education2  7,f7 support+ /ud5ts 9      
complet+ _! po/second>y degree or       
cr$5tial2  7,g7 support+ ! transition ( 
/ud5ts articulat+ f #b-ye> degree       
programs to #d-ye> degree programs2 &   
7,h7 o!r initiatives t assi/ /ud5ts &   
families 9 develop+ int]e/ 91 apply+ =1 
att5d+1 & graduat+ f rural s]v+         
in/itutions ( high] education4  7#b7    
,increas+ enrollm5t & completion rates (
 rural nontraditional /ud5ts 9 degree   
programs at in/itutions ( high]         
education1 :i* may include--  7,a7      
programs to provide nontraditional      
/ud5ts ) c\nsel+ relat$ to apply+ =     
po/second>y education1 & ,f$]al & ,/ate 
f9ancial assi/ance = po/second>y        
education2  7,b7 community outrea*      
initiatives to enc\rage nontraditional  
/ud5ts to enroll 9 an in/itution ( high]
 education2  7,c7 programs to increase  
rural nontraditional /ud5t p]si/5ce 9 & 

completion ( po/second>y education2 or  
7,d7 programs to improve ! enrollm5t (  
nontraditional /ud5ts 9 #b-ye> degree   
programs & ! transition ( nontraditional
 /ud5ts articulat+ f #b-ye> degree      
programs to #d-ye> degree programs4     
7#c7 ,creat+ or /r5g!n+ academic        
programs at rural s]v+ in/itutions (    
high] education to prep>e graduates to  
ent] into high-ne$ occupations 9 !      
regional & local economies1 & to provide
 additional c>e] tra9+ to su* /ud5ts 9  
fields relevant to ! regional economy4  
,su* activities may include--  7,a7     
develop+ & exp&+ "w-bas$ le>n+          
opportunities1 su* z appr5tice%ips or   
paid int]n%ips1 includ+ cov]+ ! co/ (   
transportation or ! co/ ( int]net access
 = virtual opportunities2  7,b7 e/abli%+
 policies & processes = assess+ & aw>d+ 
c\rse cr$it = prior le>n+2  7,c7        
develop+ & exp&+ programs t accel]ate   
le>n+ & recogniz$ po/second>y cr$5tial  
atta9m5t1 includ+ compet5cy-bas$        
education1 corequisite rem$iation1 & o!r

 /rategies = accel]ation2  7,d7 develop+
 & exp&+ effici5t c>e] pa?ways to       
cr$5tials1 includ+ ! developm5t (       
/ackable cr$5tials & integrat$ education
 & tra9+ /rategies2  7,e7 work+ ) local 
bo>ds on ! use ( labor m>ket in=mation =
 mak+ program decisions2 or  7,f7 engag+
 employ]s 9 ! developm5t ( programs &   
curricula4  7#d7 ,g5]at+ local &        
regional economic developm5t t creates  
employm5t opportunities = rural /ud5ts )
 po/second>y degrees1 :i* may include-- 
7,a7 promot+ & inc5tiviz+ remote "w     
opportunities to connect local tal5t )  
non-local employ]s2  7,b7 support+      
entrepr5eur%ip z a "p ( c>e] pa?ways 9  
second>y s*ool & po/second>y academic & 
c>e] programs2  7,c7 develop+ /rategies 
to address transportation & int]net     
connectivity gaps t create b>ri]s to    
employm5t opportunities 9 rural areas2  
7,d7 design+ & implem5t+ m>ket+ ef=ts to
 attract employ]s & tal5t to ! region or
 community2 or  7,e7 develop+ /rategies 
to id5tify />t-up fund+ = local         

entrepr5eurs4  7h7 ,te*nical assi/ance  
,! ,secret>y may res]ve n m ?an #e p]c5t
 ( funds au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to  
c>ry out ?is section to provide te*nical
 assi/ance to assi/ eligible p>tn]%ips 9
 prep>+ & submitt+ successful           
applications1 & to support grantees 9 ! 
successful implem5tation ( grant aw>ds  
"u ?is section4  7i7 ,rese>*1           
evaluation1 & dissem9ation ( promis+    
practices  7#a7 ,ongo+ data collection &
 rese>* ,! ,secret>y %all res]ve n less 
?an #aj p]c5t ( ! am\nt appropriat$ to  
c>ry out ?is section = ! purpose (--    
7,a7 ongo+ data collection & rese>* to--
 7i7 id5tify innovative practices t     
improve atta9m5t ( m>ket-relevant       
cr$5tials1 c]tificates1 & degrees =     
rural /ud5ts2 or  7ii7 enhance rural    
economic developm5t t results 9         
employm5t opportunities = graduates (   
po/second>y education 9 rural areas2 &  
7,b7 dissem9ation ( ! f9d+s relat$ to t 
data collection & rese>* on a regul>    
basis ?r\gh\t ! duration ( ! grant      

p]iod4  7#b7 ,data collection & rese>*  
by grantees ,at ! ,secret>y's           
discretion1 data collection & rese>* "u 
?is subsection may be conduct$ by       
eligible p>tn]%ips4  7#c7 ,purpose2     
prohibit$ use  7,a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,! purpose
 ( data collection & rese>* "u ?is      
subsection %all be to id5tify1 docum5t1 
& dissem9ate effective practices ?r\gh\t
 ! duration ( ! grant p]iod 9 ord] to   
support cont9u\s quality improvem5t (   
programs fund$ "u ?is section4  7,b7    
,prohibit$ use ,to inc5tivize           
innovation1 exp]im5tation1 &            
collaboration1 f9d+s t result f data    
collection & rese>* "u ?is subsection   
%all n be us$ = ! purpose ( d5y+        
subsequ5t applications = ,f$]al funds4  
7j7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re 
are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry  
out ?is section #fj1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye>
 #bjba & ea* ( ! #e succe$+ fiscal ye>s4
  4