,i  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #gdfa  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,april #g1 #bjbb,mr4  
,gro?man 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,ow5s1 ,mr4   
,kell]1 ,mr4 ,tiffany1 & ,mr4 ,/eil7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,education & ,labor  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,high] ,education   
,act ( #aife to cl>ify compet5cy-bas$   
education4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act   
may be cit$ z ! ,compet5cy-,bas$        
,education ,act ( #bjbb or ! ,,cbe ,act 
( #bjbb4  #b4 ,regulatory relief ,beg9n+
 on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act--    
7#a7 ! def9ition ( ! t]m cr$it h\r 9    
section #fjj4b ( title #cd1 ,code (     
,f$]al ,regulations 7z 9 effect on ! day
 be=e su* date ( enactm5t7 %all h no =ce
 or effect2  7#b7 = purposes ( ! ,high] 
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajja et seq71 ! t]m cr$it h\r %all h ! 
mean+ giv5 t t]m by ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,education 9 regulation be=e ! effective
 date ( ! regulations publi%$ by !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,education 9 ! ,f$]al       

,regi/] on ,octob] #bi1 #bjaj 7#ge ,f$4 
,reg4 #ffidf72 &  7#c7 ! ,secret>y (    
,education may n promulgate or en=ce any
 additional regulations or rules )      
respect to ! def9ition ( ! t]m cr$it h\r
 = any purpose "u ! ,high] ,education   
,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et    
seq474  #c4 ,def9itions ,section #ajc ( 
! ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7 is am5d$ by add+ at !  
end ! foll[+3  7#be7 ,compet5cy-bas$    
education2 compet5cy-bas$ education     
program  7,a7 ,compet5cy-bas$ education 
,except z o!rwise provid$1 ! t]m        
compet5cy-bas$ education means education
 t-- 7i7 measures academic progress &   
atta9m5t-- 7,i7 by direct assessm5t ( a 
/ud5t's level ( ma/]y ( compet5cies2    
7,,ii7 by express+ a /ud5t's level (    
ma/]y ( compet5cies 9 t]ms ( equival5t  
cr$it or clock h\rs2 or  7,,iii7 by a   
comb9ation ( ! me?ods describ$ 9        
subclauses 7,i7 or 7,,ii7 & cr$it or    
clock h\rs2 &  7ii7 provides !          
educational cont5t1 activities1 &       

res\rces1 includ+ sub/antive            
in/ructional int]action1 includ+ by     
faculty1 & regul> support by !          
in/itution1 necess>y to enable /ud5ts to
 le>n or develop :at is requir$ to      
demon/rate & atta9 ma/]y ( su*          
compet5cies1 z assess$ by ! accr$it+    
ag5cy or association ( ! in/itution (   
high] education4  7,b7 ,compet5cy-bas$  
education program ,except z o!rwise     
provid$1 ! t]m compet5cy-bas$ education 
program means a po/second>y program (f]$
 by an in/itution ( high] education t-- 
7i7 provides compet5cy-bas$ education1  
:i* ^u a /ud5t's demon/ration or ma/]y (
 a set ( compet5cies id5tifi$ & requir$ 
by ! in/itution1 leads to or results 9 !
 aw>d ( a c]tificate1 degree1 or o!r    
recogniz$ educational cr$5tial2  7ii7   
ensures title ,,iv funds may be us$ only
 = le>n+ t results f in/ruction provid$1
 or ov]se51 by ! in/itution1 n = !      
portion ( ! program ( :i* ! /ud5t has   
demon/rat$ ma/]y prior to enrollm5t 9 ! 
program or te/s ( le>n+ t are n         

associat$ ) educational activities      
ov]se5 by ! in/itution2 &  7iii7 is     
organiz$ 9 su* a mann] t an in/itution c
 det]m9e1 bas$ on ! me?od ( measurem5t  
select$ by ! in/itution "u subp>agraph  
7,a77i71 :at con/itutes a full-"t1      
?ree-qu>t] "t1 half-"t1 & less ?an      
half-"t workload = ! purposes ( aw>d+ & 
adm9i/]+ assi/ance "u title ,,iv ( ?is  
,act1 or assi/ance provid$ "u ano!r     
provision ( ,f$]al law to att5d an      
in/itution ( high] education4  7,c7     
,compet5cy def9$ ,9 ?is p>agraph1 ! t]m 
compet5cy means ! k1 skill1 or ability  
demon/rat$ by a /ud5t 9 a subject area4 
4  #d4 ,g5]al provisions relat+ to /ud5t
 assi/ance  7a7 ,def9itions ( academic  
ye> & eligible program ,section #dha ( !
 ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj    
,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9      
subsection 7a71 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+3  7#c7 7,a7 ,= ! purpose ( a     
compet5cy-bas$ education program ! t]m  
academic ye> %all be ! publi%$ measur$  
p]iod e/abli%$ by ! in/itution ( high]  

education t is necess>y = a /ud5t ) a   
normal full-"t workload = ! c\rse ( /udy
 ! /ud5t is pursu+ 7z measur$ us+ !     
value ( compet5cies or sets (           
compet5cies requir$ by su* in/itution & 
approv$ by su* in/itution's accr$it+    
ag5cy or association7 to e>n-- 7i7      
"o-qu>t] ( a ba*elor's degree2  7ii7    
"o-half ( an associate's degree2 or     
7iii7 ) respect to a non-degree or      
graduate program1 ! equival5t ( a p]iod 
describ$ 9 clause 7i7 or 7ii74  7,b7 7i7
 ,a compet5cy-bas$ education program t  
is n a t]m-bas$ program may be treat$ z 
a t]m-bas$ program = purposes ( e/abli%+
 paym5t p]iods = disbursem5t ( loans &  
grants "u ?is title if-- 7,i7 !         
in/itution ( high] education t (f]s su* 
program *>ges a flat subscription fee = 
access to in/ruction dur+ a p]iod       
det]m9$ by ! in/itution2 &  7,,ii7 !    
in/itution is able to det]m9e !         
compet5cies a /ud5t is expect$ to       
demon/rate = su* subscription p]iod4    
7ii7 ,clause 7i7 %all apply ev5 9 a case

 9 :i* in/ruction or o!r "w ) respect to
 a compet5cy t is expect$ to be         
attributable to a subscription p]iod    
beg9s prior to su* subscription p]iod4  
7iii7 ,9 a case 9 :i* a compet5cy-bas$  
education program (f]$ by an in/itution 
( high] education is treat$ z a t]m-bas$
 program "u clause 7i71 ! in/itution    
%all review ! academic progress ( ea*   
/ud5t enroll$ 9 su* program 9 accordance
 ) section #dhd7;c71 except t su* review
 %all occur at ! end ( ea* paym5t p]iod4
  2 &  7#b7 9 subsection 7b71 by /rik+  
p>agraph 7#d7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#d7  
,= purposes ( ?is title1 ! t]m eligible 
program includes a compet5cy-bas$       
program t-- 7,a7 has be5 evaluat$ &     
approv$ by an accr$it+ ag5cy or         
association t-- 7i7 is recogniz$ by !   
,secret>y "u subp>t #b ( "p ,h2 &  7ii7 
has evaluation ( compet5cy-bas$         
education programs )9 ! scope ( its     
recognition 9 accordance ) section      
#dif7;a77#d77;,c72 or  7,b7 z ( ! day   
be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,,cbe ,act ( 

#bjbb1 met ! requirem5ts ( a direct     
assessm5t program "u section            
#dha7;b77#d7 7z su* section 0 9 effect  
on ! day be=e su* date ( enactm5t74  4  
7b7 ,/ud5t eligibility ,section #dhd ( !
 ,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj    
,u4,s4,c4 #ajia7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9      
subsection 7b71 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+3  7#f7 ,= purposes (             
compet5cy-bas$ education1 9 ord] to be  
eligible to receive any loan "u ?is     
title = an aw>d ye>1 a /ud5t may be     
enroll$ 9 c\rsework attributable only to
 #b academic ye>s )9 ! aw>d ye>4  2 &   
7#b7 9 subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 
7#a7-- 7i7 9 subp>agraph 7,b7-- 7,i7 by 
/rik+ ! /ud5t has a cumulative & ins]t+ 
! foll[+3 ! /ud5t has--  7i7 a          
cumulative2  2  7,,ii7 by /rik+ ! second
 & ins]t+ ea*2  7,,iii7 by /rik+ ! p]iod
 at ! end & ins]t+ 2 or2 &  7,,iv7 by   
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7ii7 = !       
purposes ( compet5cy-bas$ programs1 a   
non-grade equival5t demon/ration (      
academic /&+ consi/5t ) ! requirem5ts = 

graduation1 z det]m9$ by ! in/itution1  
at ! end ( ea* su* academic ye>2 &  2 & 
7ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,c7 ! 
/ud5t ma9ta9s a pace 9 8 or h]          
educational program t-- 7i7 ensures t ! 
/ud5t completes ! program )9 ! maximum  
timeframe2 &  7ii7 is measur$ by a me?od
 det]m9$ by ! in/itution :i* may be bas$
 on cr$it h\rs1 clock h\rs1 or          
compet5cies complet$4  2  7,b7 9        
p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ grad+ p]iod &   
ins]t+ evaluation p]iod2 &  7,c7 by add+
 at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7 ,= purposes ( 
?is subsection1 ! t]m maximum timeframe 
means-- 7,a7 ) respect to an            
und]graduate program measur$ 9 cr$it    
h\rs1 a p]iod t is no long] ?an #aej    
p]c5t ( ! publi%$ l5g? ( ! educational  
program1 z measur$ 9 cr$it h\rs2  7,b7 )
 respect to an und]graduate program     
measur$ 9 compet5cies1 a p]iod t is no  
long] ?an #aej p]c5t ( ! publi%$ l5g? ( 
! educational program1 z measur$ 9      
compet5cies2  7,c7 ) respect to an      
und]graduate program measur$ 9 clock    

h\rs1 a p]iod t is no long] ?an #aej    
p]c5t ( ! publi%$ l5g? ( ! educational  
program1 z measur$ by ! cumulative numb]
 ( clock h\rs ! /ud5t is requir$ to     
complete & express$ 9 cal5d> "t2 &  7,d7
 ) respect to a graduate program1 a     
p]iod def9$ by ! in/itution t is bas$ on
 ! l5g? ( ! educational program4  4  7c7
 ,recognition ( accr$it+ ag5cy or       
association ,section #dif ( ! ,high]    
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajii;b7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection   
7a77#d7-- 7,a7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by   
/rik+ & at ! end2 &  7,b7 by /rik+      
subp>agraph 7,b7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3     
7,b7 su* ag5cy or association           
demon/rates ! ability to review1        
evaluate1 & assess ! quality ( any      
in/ruction deliv]y model or me?od su*   
ag5cy or association has or seeks to    
include )9 its scope ( recognition1 )\t 
giv+ pref]5ce to or diff]5tially treat+ 
a p>ticul> in/ruction deliv]y model or  
me?od (f]$ by an in/itution ( high]     
education or program except t1 9 a case 

9 :i* ! in/ruction deliv]y model all[s =
 ! sep>ation ( ! /ud5t f ! in/ructor--  
7i7 ! ag5cy or association requires !   
in/itution to h processes ?r\gh :i* !   
in/itution e/abli%es t ! /ud5t :o       
regi/]s 9 a c\rse or program is ! same  
/ud5t :o p>ticipates 91 includ+1 to !   
ext5t practicable1 te/+ or o!r          
assessm5t1 & completes ! program &      
receives ! academic cr$it2 &  7ii7 !    
ag5cy or association requires t any     
process us$ by an in/itution to comply )
 ! requirem5t "u clause 7i7 does n      
infr+e ^u /ud5t privacy & is implem5t$ 9
 a mann] t is m9imally burd5some to !   
/ud5t2 &  7,c7 if su* an ag5cy or       
association evaluates or assesses !     
quality ( compet5cy-bas$ education      
programs1 ! ag5cy's or association's    
evaluation or assessm5t-- 7i7 %all      
address effectively ! quality ( an      
in/itution's compet5cy-bas$ education   
programs z set =? 9 p>agraph 7#e71      
except t ! ag5cy or association is n    
requir$ to h sep>ate /&>ds1 proc$ures1  

or policies = ! evaluation (            
compet5cy-bas$ education2  7ii7 %all    
e/abli% :e!r an in/itution has          
demon/rat$ t its program satisfies !    
def9itions 9 section #ajc7be72 &  7iii7 
%all e/abli% :e!r an in/itution has     
demon/rat$ t x has def9$ an academic ye>
 = a compet5cy-bas$ program 9 accordance
 ) section #dha7;a77#c74  2  7#b7 9     
subsection 7c77#a71 by ins]t+ or        
compet5cy-bas$ education aft] di/ance   
education2  7#c7 9 subsection 7n77#c71  
by ins]t+ 1 or compet5cy-bas$ education 
programs1 aft] ea* occurr5ce ( di/ance  
education c\rses or programs2 &  7#d7 by
 add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7r7 ,waiv] ,! 
,secret>y %all e/abli% a process ?r\gh  
:i* an ag5cy or association may seek to 
h a requirem5t ( ?is subp>t waiv$1 if   
su* ag5cy or association-- 7#a7         
demon/rates t su* waiv] is necess>y to  
enable an in/itution ( high] education  
or program accr$it$ by ! ag5cy or       
association to implem5t innovative      
practices int5d$ to-- 7,a7 r$uce        

adm9i/rative burd5s to ! in/itution or  
program )\t creat+ co/s = ! taxpay]2 or 
7,b7 improve ! deliv]y ( s]vices to     
/ud5ts1 improve in/ruction or le>n+     
outcomes1 or o!rwise b5efit /ud5ts2 &   
7#b7 describes ! t]ms & conditions t w  
be plac$ ^u ! program or in/itution to  
ensure academic integrity & quality4  4