Fast Track to College Act of 2013 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award matching six-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that partner with institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish or support dual enrollment programs, such as early college high schools, that allow secondary school students to earn credit simultaneously toward a secondary school diploma and a postsecondary degree or certificate.
Gives grant priority to applicants: (1) that propose to establish or support a dual enrollment program for a student body at least 40% of which is impoverished; and (2) from states that provide assistance to dual enrollment programs, such as assistance defraying the costs of higher education.
Requires applicants to make assurances that: (1) students will not be required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses, and (2) those courses will be taught by faculty that meet their partner IHE's normal standards.
Authorizes the Secretary to award matching five-year grants to states to: (1) plan and implement statewide strategies to make dual enrollment programs more accessible to students who are underrepresented in postsecondary education; (2) provide technical assistance to dual enrollment programs; and (3) engage in outreach, assessment, and teacher training activities designed to strengthen such programs.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract for an independent evaluation of this Act's programs, and (2) provide technical assistance to LEAs and their partners and disseminate information concerning best practices in dual enrollment programs.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 551 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 551
To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early
college high schools and other dual enrollment programs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2013
Mr. Hinojosa (for himself and Mr. Fattah) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 2013''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to increase secondary 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 secondary
school student is able simultaneously to earn credit toward a
secondary school diploma and a postsecondary degree or
credential.
(2) Early college high school.--The term ``early college
high school'' means a secondary school that provides a course
of study that enables a student to earn a secondary school
diploma and either an associate's degree or one to two years of
postsecondary 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
(20 U.S.C. 7801(17)).
(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 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(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 (20 U.S.C.
7801(26)).
(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 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)).
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 2014 and such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
(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) Twenty percent of the grant amount received in
each of the first and second years of the grant.
(B) Thirty percent in each of the third and fourth
years.
(C) Forty percent in the fifth year.
(D) Fifty 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 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)); 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 secondary school and
postsecondary credit or credential;
(E) outreach programs to ensure that secondary
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 secondary
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 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.);
(3) transportation; and
(4) planning time for secondary school and educators from
an institution of higher education to collaborate.
SEC. 7. APPLICATION.
(a) In General.--To receive a grant under section 5, an eligible
entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
(b) Contents of Application.--At a minimum, the application
described in subsection (a) shall include a description of--
(1) the early college high school's or other dual
enrollment program's budget;
(2) each partner in the eligible entity and its experience
with early college high schools or other dual enrollment
programs, key personnel from each partner and their
responsibilities for the early college high school or dual
enrollment program, and how the eligible entity will work with
secondary and postsecondary teachers, other public and private
entities, community-based organizations, businesses, labor
organizations, and parents to ensure that students will be
prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and employment,
which may include the development of an advisory board;
(3) how the eligible entity will target and recruit at-risk
youth, including those at risk of dropping out of school, first
generation college students, and students from populations
described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II));
(4) a system of student supports including, but not limited
to, small group activities, tutoring, literacy and numeracy
skill development in all academic disciplines, parental and
community outreach and engagement, extended learning time, and
college readiness activities, such as early college academic
seminars and counseling;
(5) in the case of an early college high school, how a
graduation and career plan will be developed, consistent with
State graduation requirements, for each student and reviewed
each semester;
(6) how parents or guardians of students in the early
college high school or dually enrolled students will be
informed of their academic performance and progress and,
subject to paragraph (5), involved in the development of their
career and graduation plan;
(7) coordination that will occur between the institution of
higher education and the local educational agency, including
regarding academic calendars, provision of student services,
curriculum development, and professional development;
(8) how the eligible entity will ensure that teachers in
the early college high school or other dual enrollment program
receive appropriate professional development and other
supports, including to enable them to utilize effective parent
and community engagement strategies, and help English-language
learners, students with disabilities, and students from diverse
cultural backgrounds to succeed;
(9) 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 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.);
(10) how policies, agreements, and courses taken will
ensure that postsecondary credits earned will be transferable
to, at a minimum, public institutions of higher education
within the State, consistent with existing statewide
articulation agreements;
(11) student assessments and other measurements of student
achievement including benchmarks for student achievement;
(12) outreach programs to provide elementary and secondary
school students, especially those in middle grades, and their
parents, teachers, school counselors, and principals
information about and academic preparation for the early
college high school or other dual enrollment program;
(13) how the local educational agency and institution of
higher education will work together, as appropriate, to collect
and use data for student and instructional improvement and
program evaluation;
(14) how the eligible entity will help students meet
eligibility criteria for postsecondary courses and ensure that
students understand how their credits will transfer; and
(15) how the eligible entity will access and leverage
additional resources necessary to sustain the early college
high school or other dual enrollment program after the grant
expires, including by engaging businesses and non-profit
organizations.
(c) Assurances.--An eligible entity's application under subsection
(a) shall include assurances that--
(1) in the case of an early college high school, the
majority of courses offered, including postsecondary courses,
will be offered at facilities of the institution of higher
education;
(2) students will not be required to pay tuition or fees
for postsecondary courses;
(3) postsecondary credits earned will be transcribed upon
completion of the requisite course work; and
(4) faculty teaching postsecondary courses meet the normal
standards for faculty established by the institution of higher
education.
(d) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement of subsection
(c)(1) upon a showing that it is impractical to apply due to geographic
considerations.
SEC. 8. PEER REVIEW.
(a) Peer Review of Applications.--The Secretary shall establish
peer review panels to review applications submitted pursuant to section
7 to advise the Secretary regarding such applications.
(b) Composition of Peer Review Panels.--The Secretary shall ensure
that each peer review panel is not comprised wholly of full-time
officers or employees of the Federal Government and includes, at a
minimum--
(1) experts in the establishment and administration of
early college high schools or other dual enrollment programs
from the secondary and postsecondary perspective;
(2) faculty at institutions of higher education and
secondary school teachers with expertise in dual enrollment;
and
(3) experts in the education of at-risk students.
SEC. 9. GRANTS TO STATES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award 5-year grants
to State agencies responsible for secondary or postsecondary education
for efforts to support or establish early college high schools or other
dual enrollment programs.
(b) Grant Amount.--The Secretary shall ensure that grants are of
sufficient size to enable grantees to carry out all required
activities.
(c) Matching Requirement.--A State shall contribute matching funds
from non-Federal sources toward the costs of carrying out activities
under this section, which funds shall represent not less than 50
percent of the grant amount.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to States that provide assistance to early college
high schools or other dual enrollment programs, such as assistance to
defray the costs of higher education, such as tuition, fees, and
textbooks.
(e) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, a State
agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in
such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
(f) Contents of Application.--At a minimum, the application
described in subsection (e) shall include--
(1) how the State will carry out all of the required State
activities described in subsection (g);
(2) how the State will identify and eliminate barriers to
implementing effective early college high schools and dual
enrollment programs after the grant expires, including by
engaging businesses and non-profit organizations;
(3) how the State will access and leverage additional
resources necessary to sustain early college high schools or
other dual enrollment programs; and
(4) such other information as the Secretary determines to
be appropriate.
(g) State Activities.--A State receiving a grant under this section
shall use such funds for--
(1) creating outreach programs to ensure that secondary
school students, their families, and community members are
aware of early college high schools and dual enrollment
programs in the State;
(2) planning and implementing a statewide strategy for
expanding access to early college high schools and dual
enrollment programs for students who are underrepresented in
higher education to raise statewide rates of secondary school
graduation, readiness for postsecondary education, and
completion of postsecondary degrees and credentials, with a
focus on at-risk students, including identifying any obstacles
to such a strategy under State law or policy;
(3) providing technical assistance to early college high
schools and other dual enrollment programs, such as brokering
relationships and agreements that forge a strong partnership
between elementary and secondary and postsecondary partners;
(4) identifying policies that will improve the
effectiveness and ensure the quality of early college high
schools and dual enrollment programs, such as access, funding,
data and quality assurance, governance, accountability and
alignment policies;
(5) planning and delivering statewide training and peer
learning opportunities for school leaders and teachers from
early college high schools and dual enrollment programs, which
may include providing instructional coaches who offer on-site
guidance;
(6) disseminating best practices in early college high
schools and dual enrollment programs from across the State and
from other States; and
(7) facilitating statewide data collection, research and
evaluation, and reporting to policymakers and other
stakeholders.
SEC. 10. REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT.
(a) Reporting by Grantees.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish uniform
guidelines for all grantees concerning information such
grantees annually shall report to the Secretary to demonstrate
a grantee's progress toward achieving the goals of this Act.
(2) Contents of report.--At a minimum, the report described
in paragraph (1) shall include, for eligible entities receiving
funds under section 5, for students participating in the early
college high school or other dual enrollment program within
each category of students described in section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i)
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C.6311(h)(1)(C)(i)):
(A) The number of students.
(B) The percentage of students scoring advanced,
proficient, basic, and below basic on the assessments
described in section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)).
(C) The performance of students on other
assessments or measurements of achievement.
(D) The number of secondary school credits earned.
(E) The number of postsecondary credits earned.
(F) Attendance rate, as appropriate.
(G) Graduation rate.
(H) Placement in postsecondary education or
advanced training, in military service, and in
employment.
(I) A description of the school or program's
student, parent, and community outreach and engagement.
(b) Reporting by Secretary.--The Secretary annually shall compile
and analyze the information described in subsection (a) and shall
submit a report containing such analysis to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. The report shall
include identification of best practices for achieving the goals of
this Act.
(c) Monitoring Visits.--The Secretary's designee shall visit each
grantee at least once for the purpose of helping the grantee achieve
the goals of this Act and to monitor the grantee's progress toward
achieving such goals.
(d) National Evaluation.--Not later than 6 months after the date on
which funds are appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall
enter into a contract with an independent organization to perform an
evaluation of the grants awarded under this Act. Such evaluation shall
apply rigorous procedures to obtain valid and reliable data concerning
participants' outcomes by social and academic characteristics and
monitor the progress of students from secondary school to and through
postsecondary education.
(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in early
college high schools and dual enrollment programs and shall disseminate
such best practices among eligible entities and State and local
educational agencies.
SEC. 11. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) Employees.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or
otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded to the
employees of local educational agencies (including schools) or
institutions of higher education under Federal, State, or local laws
(including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms
of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or
other agreements between such employees and their employers.
(b) Graduation Rate.--A student who graduates from an early college
high school supported under this Act in the standard number of years
for graduation described in the eligible entity's application shall be
considered to have graduated on time for purposes of section
1111(b)(2)(C)(6) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(6)).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
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