GEAR UP for Success Act of 2019
This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and revises the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).
The bill adds metrics for program evaluations and makes other revisions to GEAR UP, including with respect to authorized uses of funds.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 954 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 954
To reform the GEAR UP program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2019
Mr. Hurd of Texas (for himself and Mrs. Davis of California) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reform the GEAR UP program.
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 ``GEAR UP for Success Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. GAINING EARLY AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR UNDERGRADUATE
PROGRAMS AMENDMENTS.
Chapter 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1070a-21 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 404A (20 U.S.C. 1070a-21)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of
subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``for college
readiness'' after ``academic support''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting
the following:
``(3) Priority.--In making awards to eligible entities
described in subsection (c), the Secretary--
``(A) may give a competitive priority--
``(i) to eligible entities that--
``(I) on the day before the date of
enactment of the GEAR UP for Success
Act of 2019, carried out successful
educational opportunity programs under
this chapter (as this chapter was in
effect on such day); and
``(II) have a prior, demonstrated
commitment to early intervention
leading to college access and readiness
through collaboration and replication
of successful strategies;
``(ii) to eligible entities that ensure
that students served under this chapter on the
day before the date of enactment of the GEAR UP
for Success Act of 2019 continue to receive
assistance through the completion of secondary
school; or
``(iii) to eligible entities that meet the
requirements of clauses (i) and (ii); and
``(B) shall not give a competitive or absolute
priority on any other basis.''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Multiple award prohibition.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity described in
subsection (c)(1) that receives a grant under this
chapter shall not be eligible to receive an additional
grant under this chapter until after the date on which
the initial grant period expires.
``(B) Exception for no-cost extension.--
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an eligible entity
shall be eligible to receive an additional grant under
this chapter during the time that eligible entity is
receiving a customary no-cost extension of a grant
under this chapter.'';
(2) in section 404B (20 U.S.C. 1070a-22)--
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by inserting ``that are in the first
award year'' after ``grants''; and
(B) in subsection (d)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting
``and'' after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a period; and
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C);
(3) in section 404C (20 U.S.C. 1070a-23)--
(A) in subsection (b)(1)(A)--
(i) by inserting ``matching funds'' after
``will provide'';
(ii) by inserting ``equaling'' after
``private funds,''; and
(iii) by striking ``the cost of the
program, which matching funds'' and inserting
``total Federal grant award, which'';
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``at any
point during the grant award period'' after ``obligated
to students''; and
(C) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the
following:
``(d) Peer Review Panels and Competitions.--The Secretary--
``(1) shall convene peer review panels to assist in making
determinations regarding the awarding of grants under this
chapter; and
``(2) shall host a grant competition to make new awards
under this chapter in any year in which there are funds
available to make new awards.'';
(4) in section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a-24)--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or
former participants of a program under this
chapter'' and inserting ``, former participants
of a program under this chapter, or peers and
near peers'' after ``adults'';
(ii) in paragraph (3), by inserting
``academic, social, and postsecondary
planning'' after ``supportive'';
(iii) in paragraph (10)--
(I) by redesignating subparagraphs
(E) through (K) as subparagraphs (F)
through (L), respectively;
(II) by inserting after
subparagraph (D) the following:
``(E) counseling or referral services to address
the behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health
needs of at-risk students;'';
(III) in subparagraph (I), as
redesignated by subclause (I), by
inserting ``, cognitive, non-cognitive,
and credit-by-examination'' after
``skills'';
(IV) in subparagraph (K), as
redesignated by subclause (I), by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(V) in subparagraph (L), as
redesignated by subclause (I), by
striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(VI) by adding at the end the
following:
``(M) capacity building activities that create
college-going cultures in participating schools and
local educational agencies.''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(16) Creating or expanding secondary school drop-out
recovery programs that allow students who have dropped out of
secondary school to complete a regular secondary school diploma
and begin college-level work.
``(17) Establishing data collection and data sharing
agreements to obtain, analyze, and report postsecondary outcome
data for eligible students for a period of not more than 72
months after the end of the grant award period, which may
include postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion
data.
``(18) Establishing or maintaining an agreement with a
consortium of eligible entities described in section 404A(c)
to--
``(A) foster collaborative approaches to research
and evaluation;
``(B) improve the quality of data collection, data
sharing, analysis and reporting; and
``(C) apply evidence to improve programs and
evaluation under this chapter.
``(19) Providing services under this chapter to students
who have received services under a previous grant award under
this chapter but have not yet completed grade 12.'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and
technical assistance'' after ``support''; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (9); and
(C) in subsection (d)--
(i) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'';
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (4) as
paragraph (5); and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following:
``(4) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch under the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; or'';
(5) in section 404E (20 U.S.C. 1070a-25)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2)
as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
(ii) by inserting before paragraph (2), as
redesignated by clause (i), the following:
``(1) Application requirements.--
``(A) Plan for maintenance of financial
assistance.--An eligible entity proposing to establish
or maintain a financial assistance program providing
scholarships for students assisted by the program of
the eligible entity under this chapter shall include a
plan regarding the financial application program with
the application submitted under section 404C.
``(B) Scholarship details.--Under a plan described
in subparagraph (A), an eligible entity--
``(i) may elect to offer 1 or more types of
scholarships; and
``(ii) shall describe, for each type of
scholarship--
``(I) the minimum and maximum
awards for the scholarships, consistent
with section 404E(d), based on criteria
and disbursement priorities established
by the eligible entity;
``(II) the duration of the
scholarships, which may be single-year
or multi-year awards;
``(III) the enrollment requirements
for participating students, which may
include providing scholarships for
participating students who are enrolled
in an institution of higher education
on less than a full-time basis during
any award year; and
``(IV) notwithstanding subsection
(g), any additional student eligibility
criteria established by the eligible
entity for earning and maintaining
scholarships under this section,
including--
``(aa) financial need;
``(bb) meeting
participation milestones in the
activities offered by the
eligible entity under section
404D;
``(cc) meeting and
maintaining satisfactory
academic milestones; and
``(dd) other criteria
aligned with State and local
goals to incentivize
postsecondary readiness,
access, and success.''; and
(iii) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by
clause (i), by striking ``may award'' and
inserting ``may use not less than 10 percent
and not more than 50 percent of funds made
available under this chapter to award'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``State'' before ``Limitation''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
``eligible entity demonstrates'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``eligible entity--
``(I) demonstrates that the
eligible entity has another means of
providing the students with the
financial assistance described in this
section or eligible students have
reasonable access to State and local
financial assistance programs; and
``(II) describes such means or
access in the application submitted
under section 404C.'';
(C) in subsection (e)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Scholarship plan.--Each eligible entity
described in section 404A(c)(1) that receives a grant
under this chapter shall hold in reserve, for the
students served by such grant as described in section
404B(d)(1)(A) or 404D(d), an estimated amount that is
based on the eligible entity's scholarship plan
described in subsection (a)(1).
``(B) Interest use.--Interest earned on funds held
in reserve under subparagraph (A) may be used by the
eligible entity to administer the scholarship program
during the award period and through the post-award
period described in paragraph (4).'';
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``,
or been accepted for enrollment,'' after
``enrolled''; and
(iii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(II) by redesignating subparagraph
(B) as subparagraph (C); and
(III) by inserting after
subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) the costs associated with enrolling in an
institution of higher education; and''; and
(D) in subsection (g)--
(i) in paragraph (3)--
(I) by inserting ``or, if the
eligible entity chooses, in another
program of study or credential program
for which an individual could use funds
received under a Federal Pell Grant to
attend,'' before ``that is located'';
and
(II) by striking ``except that, at
the State's option'' and inserting
``except that, at the eligible entity's
option''; and
(ii) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and
qualifies for an award, consistent with the
eligible entity's scholarship plan as described
in subsection (a)(1)'' after ``404D(a)'';
(6) in section 404G (20 U.S.C. 1070a-27)--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
``(3) include the following metrics:
``(A) The number of students completing the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid under section 483.
``(B) If applicable, the number of students
receiving a scholarship under section 404E.
``(C) The graduation rate of participating students
from high school.
``(D) The enrollment of participating students into
postsecondary education.
``(E) Such other metrics as the Secretary may
require.''; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``and Technical Assistance'' after ``Federal
Evaluation'';
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)--
(I) by inserting ``after
consultation with the community of
eligible entities receiving grants
under this chapter and'' after
``Secretary shall,'';
(II) by striking ``0.75'' and
inserting ``1''; and
(III) by striking ``evaluate the
effectiveness of the program and, as
appropriate, disseminate the results of
the evaluation. Such evaluation shall
include a separate analysis of'';
(iii) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively,
and indenting the margins appropriately; and
(iv) before subparagraph (A) (as
redesignated by clause (iii)), by inserting the
following:
``(1) provide pre-application technical assistance
workshops for eligible entities and potential applicants in any
year in which new awards are expected to be made;
``(2) support initiatives designed to improve the research,
data collection and infrastructure, and evaluation capacity of
eligible entities; and
``(3) evaluate the effectiveness of the program and, as
appropriate, disseminate the results of the evaluation. Such
evaluation may include a separate analysis of--''; and
(7) in section 404H (20 U.S.C. 1070a-28)--
(A) by striking ``$400,000,000'' and inserting
``$500,000,000''; and
(B) by striking ``2009'' and inserting ``2020''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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