Remedial Education Improvement Act
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education to award grants for improving remedial education in higher education.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2961 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2961
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve remedial education
programs that train students in the competencies needed to succeed in
higher education.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 20, 2017
Mr. Norcross (for himself, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Walz, Mr. Scott of
Virginia, and Mrs. Davis of California) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve remedial education
programs that train students in the competencies needed to succeed in
higher education.
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 ``Remedial Education Improvement
Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to--
(1) improve remedial education and support students as they
move throughout credit and non-credit bearing course work and
complete postsecondary education;
(2) provide funding to improve remedial education based on
5 models found to have success on a small scale;
(3) through thorough collection of data, reports, and
evaluations, compare within and between models of remedial
education and their impact on postsecondary education
completion; and
(4) develop strategies for replication of successful models
and improve sustainability of remedial education programs.
SEC. 3. REMEDIAL EDUCATION GRANTS.
Part G of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1088 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 486A the following:
``SEC. 486B. REMEDIAL EDUCATION GRANTS.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--From the funds appropriated under
subsection (i), the Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall award
grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to improve
remedial education in higher education.
``(2) Duration.--A grant under this section shall be
awarded for a period of 5 years.
``(3) Minimum awards.--The total amount of funds provided
under a grant awarded under this section shall not be less than
$500,000.
``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a
grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as
the Secretary may require, which shall include the following:
``(1) A description of how the eligible entity will use the
grant funds to develop or improve a remedial education program
that includes evidence-based, effective strategies for
providing instruction to ensure that students are prepared for
courses at the postsecondary level.
``(2) An assurance that the eligible entity will use more
than 2 measures (such as a student's college entrance
examination score, grade point average, high school course
list, or a placement examination) to identify students in need
of remedial education who may be eligible to participate in the
remedial education program developed or improved under the
grant.
``(3) A description of how the eligible entity, in
developing or improving such a program, will consult with
stakeholders, including individuals with expertise in remedial
education, students enrolled in remedial education, and faculty
instructors for remedial education.
``(4) The eligible entity's plan for sustaining the program
after the grant period has ended.
``(5) The eligible entity's plan for monitoring and
evaluating the program, including how the eligible entity will
use the data collected under subsection (g) to continually
update and improve the program.
``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant to develop or improve a remedial
education program through one or more of the following models:
``(1) Aligning course work.--Working with a local
educational agency or State educational agency that is part of
the eligible entity to develop or improve programs that provide
alignment between high school coursework and postsecondary
education, and that may include--
``(A) assessments in high school to measure student
readiness for courses at the postsecondary level; or
``(B) interventions in high school that improve
student competencies for courses at the postsecondary
level.
``(2) Accelerated course work.--Redesigning or improving
remedial education that--
``(A) allows students to enroll in more than one
sequential remedial education course or training in a
semester, or the equivalent;
``(B) condenses the time of the remedial education;
or
``(C) provides shortened, intensive courses or
training to improve competencies of students for
courses at the postsecondary level.
``(3) Modular instructional methods.--Developing or
improving remedial education that--
``(A) specifically targets the skills that students
need to move forward in courses at the postsecondary
level; and
``(B) may be used to develop new assessments,
redesign courses to provide targeted skill instruction,
or provide faculty professional development.
``(4) Co-requisite model.--Developing or improving remedial
education programs that allow a student to enroll in remedial
education (which may be provided through a modular
instructional method) while also enrolled in a course at the
postsecondary level.
``(5) Systemic reform to implement comprehensive,
integrated support programs.--Implementing and improving
comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based support programs
that--
``(A) enable students enrolled in remedial
education to reach completion and graduation at an
institution of higher education within 150 percent of
the normal time for completion of, or graduation from,
the program of study for which the students are
enrolled; and
``(B) may include financial supports, academic
tutoring or support, and advising that enable students
to find success in remedial education and courses at
the postsecondary level.
``(d) Considerations.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Institute of
Education Sciences, shall--
``(1) ensure--
``(A) a minimum of 30 eligible entities are awarded
grants for each 5-year grant period;
``(B) an equitable geographic distribution of such
grants, including an equitable distribution between
urban and rural areas; and
``(C) that grants are used to develop or improve
remedial education programs--
``(i) for a range of types and sizes of
institutions of higher education; and
``(ii) for each of the models described in
subsection (c) to ensure statistical
comparisons are possible within and among such
models; and
``(2) give preference to eligible entities that primarily
serve low-income students.
``(e) Fiscal Requirements.--
``(1) Supplement not supplant.--A grant awarded under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, funds that
would otherwise be used to carry out the activities described
in this section.
``(2) Matching funds.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an
eligible entity that receives a grant under this
section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an
amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of the grant
for the cost of activities assisted under the grant.
``(B) Exceptions.--The requirements of subparagraph
(A) shall not apply to--
``(i) Tribal Colleges or Universities; or
``(ii) institutions of higher education
located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin
Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or
the Republic of Palau.
``(f) Experimental Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of this title, a student may be eligible to receive loans or grants
under this title for up to 2 academic years for enrollment in a
remedial education program under this section.
``(g) Data Collection, Reports, Evaluations, and Dissemination.--
``(1) Information.--
``(A) Student-level data.--Each eligible entity
that receives a grant under this section shall provide,
on an annual basis for each year of the grant period
and for 5 years after such grant period, to the
Director of the Institute of Education Sciences and the
Secretary, the student-level data with respect to the
students who are or were enrolled in a remedial
education program funded under the grant to enable the
Director, for each such year, to--
``(i) determine the information described
in subparagraph (B) with respect to each such
remedial education program; and
``(ii) submit to the authorizing
committees, and make publicly available in an
accessible format, such information.
``(B) Aggregate student data.--The Director shall
determine, with respect to each remedial education
program for which an eligible entity provides student-
level data under subparagraph (A), the following
information:
``(i) The number of students who are or
were enrolled in such a remedial education
program.
``(ii) The type of remedial education
offered under the program.
``(iii) The cost of such remedial education
program.
``(iv) The number of students who complete
such remedial education program.
``(v) The length of time students spend in
such remedial education program, as measured by
semester, trimester, or clock hours.
``(vi) The length of time students who
complete such remedial education program take
to graduate with a recognized educational
credential from an institution of higher
education.
``(vii) The number of students who enroll
in postsecondary-level courses upon completing
the remedial education program.
``(viii) The number and percentage of such
students who graduate, or are on track to
graduate, from an institution of higher
education within 150 percent of the normal time
for completion of, or graduation from, the
program of study for which the students are
enrolled.
``(ix) The amount of grant or loan funds
under this title awarded to students for
enrollment in such remedial education program.
``(C) Disaggregation.--The information determined
under subparagraph (B) shall be disaggregated by race,
gender, socioeconomic status, Federal Pell Grant
eligibility status, status as a first-generation
college student, Veteran or active duty status, and
disability status.
``(2) Evaluation.--Not later than 6 years after the first
grant is awarded under this section, the Director, in
consultation with the Secretary and using the information
determined under paragraph (1), shall submit to the authorizing
committees and make publicly available in an accessible format,
the results of a multi-year, rigorous evaluation on the impact
of remedial education programs funded under this section that
shall include--
``(A) the effectiveness of the remedial education
programs in providing the skills necessary for students
to advance through remedial education and complete
courses at the postsecondary level;
``(B) the quality of outcomes of the remedial
education programs within and among models of remedial
education described in subsection (c);
``(C) the sustainability and replicability of the
remedial education programs that demonstrate success,
as determined by the number and percentage of students
who graduate from an institution of higher education
within 150 percent of the normal time for completion
of, or graduation from, the program of study for which
the students are enrolled; and
``(D) the effectiveness of the authority under
subsection (f) in assisting students who complete a
remedial education program funded under this section in
graduating from an institution of higher education
within 150 percent of the normal time for completion
of, or graduation from, the program of study for which
the students are enrolled.
``(3) Reports and dissemination.--
``(A) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after
the first grant is awarded under this section, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing
committees, and make available to the public in an
accessible format, a report on each remedial education
program funded under this section.
``(B) Subsequent report.--Not later than 5 years
after the last grant is awarded under this section, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing
committees, and make available to the public in an
accessible format, a report that--
``(i) reviews the activities and program
performance of each remedial education program
funded under this section; and
``(ii) provides guidance and
recommendations on how successful remedial
education programs (as determined by the number
and percentage of students who graduate from an
institution of higher education within 150
percent of the normal time for completion of,
or graduation from, the program of study for
which the students are enrolled) can be
replicated.
``(h) Data Privacy.--
``(1) In general.--It shall be unlawful for any person who
obtains or has access to personally identifiable information in
connection with this section to willfully disclose to any
person (except as authorized in this Act or any Federal law)
such personally identifiable information.
``(2) Penalty.--Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall
be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned not more than 5
years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
``(3) Employee or officer of the united states.--If a
violation of paragraph (1) is committed by any officer or
employee of the United States, the officer or employee shall be
dismissed from office or discharged from employment upon
conviction for the violation.
``(4) Sale of data prohibited.--Data collected under this
section shall not be sold to any third party by the Director,
any postsecondary institution, or any other entity.
``(5) Limitation on use by other federal agencies.--The
Director shall not allow any other Federal agency to use data
collected under this section for any purpose except as
explicitly authorized by this Act.
``(6) Law enforcement.--Personally identifiable information
collected under this section shall not be used for any law
enforcement activity or any other activity that would result in
adverse action against any student, including debt collection
activity or enforcement of the immigration laws.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $162,500,000 for fiscal years
2018 through 2022.
``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
the Institute of Education Sciences.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education; or
``(B) a partnership between an institution of
higher education and at least one of the following:
``(i) A local educational agency.
``(ii) A State educational agency.
``(3) First-generation college student.--The term `first-
generation college student' has the meaning given the term in
section 402A(h).
``(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such
term in section 101.
``(5) Remedial education.--The term `remedial education'--
``(A) means education (such as courses or training)
offered at an institution of higher education that--
``(i) is below the postsecondary level; and
``(ii) is determined by the institution to
be necessary to help students be prepared for
the pursuit of a first undergraduate
baccalaureate degree or certificate or, in the
case of courses in English language
instruction, to be necessary to enable the
student to utilize already existing knowledge,
training, or skills; and
``(B) includes developmental education that meets
the requirements of subparagraph (A).
``(6) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal
College or University' has the meaning given the term in
section 316.''.
SEC. 4. EXCEPTION TO STUDENT UNIT RECORD BAN.
Section 134(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1015c(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking the following:
``(1) is necessary''; and inserting the following:
``(1)(A) is necessary'';
(2) by striking the following:
``(2) was in''; and inserting the following:
``(B) was in'';
(3) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``;
or''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) is necessary for the operation of section 486B.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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