HR 1578

HR 1578 IH

To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and other dual enrollment programs.

March 18, 2009

Mr. KILDEE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and other dual enrollment programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Fast Track to College Act of 2009’.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to increase high school graduation rates and the percentage of students who complete a recognized postsecondary credential by the age of 26, including among low-income students and students from other populations underrepresented in higher education.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

(1) DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM- The term ‘dual enrollment program’ means an academic program through which a high school student is able simultaneously to earn credit toward a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree or certificate.

(2) EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL- The term ‘early college high school’ means a high school that provides a course of study that enables a student to earn a high school diploma and either an associate’s degree or one to two years of college credit toward a postsecondary degree or credential.

(3) EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY- The term ‘educational service agency’ has the meaning given such term in section 9101(17) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- The term ‘eligible entity’ means a local educational agency, which may be an educational service agency, in a collaborative partnership with an institution of higher education. Such partnership also may include other entities, such as a nonprofit organization with experience in youth development.

(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION- The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

(6) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The term ‘local educational agency’ has the meaning given such term in section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

(7) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Education.

(8) LOW-INCOME STUDENT- The term ‘low-income student’ means a student described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS.

(a) In General- To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

(b) Early College High Schools- The Secretary shall reserve not less than 45 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (a) to support early college high schools under section 5.

(c) Dual Enrollment Programs- The Secretary shall reserve not less than 45 percent of such funds to support dual enrollment programs (other than early college high schools) under section 5.

(d) State Grants- The Secretary shall reserve 10 percent of such funds, or $10,000,000, whichever is less, for grants to States under section 9.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZED PROGRAM.

(a) In General- The Secretary is authorized to award 6-year grants to eligible entities seeking to establish a new, or support an existing, early college high school or other dual enrollment program in accordance with section 6.

(b) Grant Amount- The Secretary shall ensure that grants are of sufficient size to enable grantees to carry out all required activities and otherwise meet the purposes of this Act, except that a grant under this section may not exceed $2,000,000.

(c) Matching Requirement-

(1) IN GENERAL- An eligible entity shall contribute matching funds toward the costs of the early college high school or other dual enrollment program to be supported under this section, of which not less than half shall be from non-Federal sources, which funds shall represent not less than the following:

(A) 20 percent of the grant amount received in each of the first and second years of the grant.

(B) 30 percent in each of the third and fourth years.

(C) 40 percent in the fifth year.

(D) 50 percent in the sixth year.

(2) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED- The Secretary shall allow an eligible entity to satisfy the requirement of this subsection through in-kind contributions.

(d) Supplement, Not Supplant- An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this section only to supplement funds that would, in the absence of such grant, be made available from non-Federal funds for support of the activities described in the eligible entity’s application under section 7, and not to supplant such funds.

(e) Priority- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants--

(1) that propose to establish or support an early college high school or other dual enrollment program that will serve a student population of which 40 percent or more are students counted under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and

(2) from States that provide assistance to early college high schools or other dual enrollment programs, such as assistance to defray the costs of higher education (including costs of tuition, fees, and textbooks).

(f) Geographic Distribution- The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that grantees are from a representative cross-section of urban, suburban, and rural areas.

SEC. 6. USES OF FUNDS.

(a) Mandatory Activities- An eligible entity shall use grant funds received under section 5 to support the activities described in its application under section 7, including the following:

(1) PLANNING YEAR- In the case of a new early college high school or dual enrollment program, during the first year of the grant--

(A) hiring a principal and staff, as appropriate;

(B) designing the curriculum and sequence of courses in collaboration with (at a minimum) teachers from the local educational agency and faculty from the partner institution of higher education;

(C) informing parents and the community about the school or program and opportunities to become actively involved in the school or program;

(D) establishing a course articulation process for defining and approving courses for high school and college credit;

(E) outreach programs to ensure that middle and high school students and their families are aware of the early college high school or dual enrollment program;

(F) liaison activities among partners in the eligible entity; and

(G) coordinating secondary and postsecondary support services, academic calendars, and transportation.

(2) IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD- During the remainder of the grant period--

(A) academic and social support services, including counseling;

(B) liaison activities among partners in the eligible entity;

(C) data collection and use of such data for student and instructional improvement and program evaluation;

(D) outreach programs to ensure that middle and high school students and their families are aware of the early college high school or dual enrollment program;

(E) professional development, including joint professional development for secondary school and faculty from the institution of higher education; and

(F) school or program design and planning team activities, including curriculum development.

(b) Allowable Activities- An eligible entity may also use grant funds received under section 5 otherwise to support the activities described in its application under section 7, including--

(1) purchasing textbooks and equipment that support the school or program’s curriculum;

(2) developing learning opportunities for students that complement classroom experiences, such as internships, career-based capstone projects, and opportunities provided under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965;

(3) transportation; and

(4) planning time for high school and college educators to collaborate.

SEC. 7. APPLICATION.