,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #acdg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #h1 #bjbe,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,boozman7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to make college affordable and accessible by expanding access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,making ,education ,affordable and ,accessible ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school ,part ,b of title ,,vii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aach et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating section #gde as section #gdf2 7#b7 in section #gdf1 as redesignated by paragraph 7#a71 by striking fiscal year #bjji and inserting fiscal year #bjbe2 and 7#c7 by inserting after section #gdd the following3 #gde4 ,dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to expand access for high school students to the opportunities offered in dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs established through partnerships between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that enable such students to earn postsecondary credits while enrolled in a public high school4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,esea definitions ,the terms dual or concurrent enrollment program1 early college high school1 high school1 and parent have the meanings given to those terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife4 7#b7 ,eligible institution ,the term eligible institution means an institution of higher education that carries out or plans to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program4 7#c7 ,first-generation college student ,the term first-generation college student has the meaning given the term in section #djb;,a7h74 7#d7 ,rural school ,the term rural school means a school designated with a locale code of #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,grants authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants to eligible institutions to carry out dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs4 7#b7 ,duration ,a grant awarded under this subsection shall be for a period of not more than #e years4 7#c7 ,renewal ,the ,secretary may renew a grant awarded to an eligible institution under this subsection if the ,secretary determines that the eligible institution demonstrated sufficient positive outcomes under the program carried out under the grant1 based on the reports submitted under subsection 7h74 7d7 ,application ,an eligible institution that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application shall include a description of-- 7#a7 the partnership between the eligible institution and each local educational agency involved in carrying out the dual or concurrent enrollment program or early college high school program2 and 7#b7 how the eligible institution will expand student access to a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program1 especially for students described in subsection 7e74 7e7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that will use grant funds for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that serve students from low-income families1 students who attend rural schools1 or first-generation college students4 7f7 ,use of funds ,an eligible institution that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program for students enrolled in a public high school1 which may include activities such as-- 7#a7 providing educators1 principals1 counselors1 and other school leaders with professional development activities1 trainings1 and certifications that enhance or enable the provision of postsecondary coursework through a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program2 7#b7 designing the sequence of courses for a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program-- 7,a7 to match the academic standards and rigor of a corresponding postsecondary course2 and 7,b7 in collaboration with educators from the local educational agency and faculty from the eligible institution2 7#c7 establishing a course articulation process for defining and approving courses for high school and postsecondary credit or credentials for both #b-year and #d-year institutions of higher education in the ,state2 7#d7 establishing outreach programs to provide elementary school and secondary school students1 especially those students in middle grades1 and their parents1 educators1 school counselors1 and principals with general information about a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program1 including the eligibility requirements and academic preparation needed for the program2 7#e7 helping students meet eligibility criteria for postsecondary courses and ensuring that students understand how credits earned will transfer to institutions of higher education in the ,state2 or 7#f7 coordinating high school transition with academic calendars4 7g7 ,flexibility of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 an eligible institution that receives a grant under this section may use grant funds for any of the costs associated with carrying out a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school program1 including the costs of-- 7,a7 tuition and fees1 books1 and required instructional materials for the program so that students will not be required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses2 and 7,b7 transportation to and from the program4 7#b7 ,limitation ,an eligible institution may use not more than #bj percent of grant funds received under this section for transportation costs described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7h7 ,evaluation and reports 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible institution receiving a grant under this section shall-- 7,a7 conduct an independent evaluation regarding the effectiveness and rigor of the activities as carried out by such eligible institution under this section1 which shall include-- 7i7 data on course-specific student enrollment2 and 7ii7 the number of resulting postsecondary credits earned by students through dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs supported under the grant that are transferred to institutions of higher education2 and 7,b7 prepare and submit to the ,secretary a report containing the results of the evaluation described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,requirements ,the ,secretary may establish additional requirements for the program evaluations required under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of the ,making ,education ,affordable and ,accessible ,act of #bjbe1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a summarized report that describes the findings of the evaluations conducted under paragraph 7#a77;,a74 4