Education Amendments of 1979

Education Amendments of 1979 Title I: Amendment to Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend through fiscal years 1985 the authorization of appropriations for community service and continuing education programs.

Transfers the duties and authority for such programs from the Commissioner of Education to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Sets the minimum yearly allotment to any State for continuing education programs at $25,000.

Title II: Amendment to Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Changes the title II heading to: College and Research Library Assistance and Library Training and Research.

Authorizes the Secretary (formerly directed the Commissioner of Education) to make resource development grants to institutions of higher learning and to other public and private nonprofit library institutions whose primary function is to provide library and information services to institutions of higher education on a formal cooperative basis.

Authorizes the Secretary to make special purpose grants to: (1) institutions of higher education to meet special national or regional needs in library or information sciences; (2) combinations of such institutions for joint- use library facilities, resources, and equipment; and (3) other public and private nonprofit library institutions providing formal, cooperative library and information services to higher education institutions to improve such services. Requires recipients of such grants to expend specified matching sums .

Directs the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education and library organizations or agencies to assist them in training persons in librarianship.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education and other public or private agencies, institutions, and organizations for research and demonstration projects related to library improvement, librarianship training, information technology, and dissemination of project information.

Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions with major resource libraries. Bars recipients of such grants from receiving other specified grants in the same fiscal year.

Authorizes appropriations for such purposes through fiscal year 1985.

Title III: Amendment to Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Directs the Secretary to carry out a program to improve the academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability of developing institutions. Redefines "developing institution" as "an institution of higher education: (1) the enrollment of which includes a substantial percentage of students from low-income families; and (2) the average expenditures of which are low, per full-time equivalent student, in comparison with the average expenditures of institutions that offer similar instruction.

Authorizes appropriations for such program for fiscal years 1980 through 1985. Sets forth formulas for allocating such appropriations to junior or community colleges, institutions awarding bachelor degrees, and for specified grants.

Authorizes appropriations for a challenge grant program through fiscal year 1985.

Authorizes the Secretary to waive specified requirements for eligibility for such assistance in order to increase higher education opportunities for American Indians or Spanish-speaking people.

Authorizes the Secretary to award challenge grants to eligible developing institutions, including those which offer postgraduate, rather than bachelor's, degrees.

Sets forth purposes and directions of grants, requirements for applications for assistance, and limitations on use of funds.

Establishes an Advisory Council on Developing Institutions to assist the Secretary in identifying developing institutions and establishing criteria for making grants to such institutions.

Title IV: Amendments to Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (formerly directed the Commissioner of Education) to pay basic educational opportunity grants to eligible undergraduate students through fiscal year 1985. Redefines student eligibility for such basic grants to include attending an eligible institution, carrying at least one-half the normal full-time workload, maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study (according to specified criteria), not owing a refund on previous grants or being in default on a student loan, and filing a statement that such funds will be used solely for educational purposes.

Sets the maximum amount of each such grant for any academic year at $1,800, except where yearly appropriations Acts stipulate a higher amount.

Requires that such grant payments be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary (formerly by the Commissioner). Requires that a schedule of reductions, in case of insufficient funds, be established by the Secretary and that such schedule provide for a uniformly increasing percentage reduction as the entitlement decreases and that no payment less than $200 shall be made.

Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1985 to enable the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to make payments to eligible institutions of higher education for supplemental grants to undergraduate students. Raises the limit on the amount of each such grant to $2,000 per academic year. Raises the limit on the aggregate of such undergraduate grants to any one student to $8,000 (from $4,000), and to $10,000 (from $5,000) for students in special curricula or circumstances. Eliminates the requirement that the Commissioner prescribe criteria and schedules for the guidance of institutions in determining student need. (Prescribes such criteria and directs the Secretary to publish such schedules, later in the bill.

Redefines institutional eligibility for such programs to include a program participation agreement with the Secretary (formerly with the Commissioner), continued spending of funds from other sources in its scholarship and student aid program, proper and efficient administration of funds, reporting to the Secretary, providing financial aid information to students, a fair and equitable tuition and fee refund policy, consideration for the special needs of handicapped students in awarding assistance, and insuring that the availability of Federal assistance will not result in increased tuition or fees.

Redefines student eligibility for such supplemental grants to include attending an eligible institution, not owing a refund on previous grants or being in default on a student loan, filing a statement that such funds will be used for educational purposes, and demonstrating financial need in accordance with specified criteria which include expected family contribution as prescribed by the Secretary.

Transfers to the Secretary specified duties of the Commissioner relating to the apportionment and allocation of funds to State's for undergraduate student assistance.

Extends through fiscal year 1985 the authorization of appropriations for payments to States for student incentive grants.

Directs the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to allot, from such appropriated sums, an amount to each State according to specified formulas and to make payments to eligible State student incentive grant programs according to specified formulas.

Directs the Secretary to carry out programs to assist economically disadvantaged persons to enter or resume, and to successfully complete, programs of post-secondary education. Defines an "economically disadvantaged person" as one whose family's income is not greater than 150 percent of the official poverty line. Authorizes appropriations for such programs through fiscal year 1985.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts for Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers, Upward Bound, and Special Services for Disadvantaged Students. Revises such programs descriptions and sets forth eligibility requirements for participation therein.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with institutions of higher education and other appropriate public agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide staff and leadership training for personnel specializing in improving delivery of services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Transfers to the Secretary, from the Commissioner, duties relating to the making of grants to education information centers. Extends the authorization of appropriations for such centers through fiscal year 1985.

Extends the program of veterans' cost-of-instruction payments to institutions of higher education through fiscal year 1985 for specified institutions and through any academic year ending before the end of fiscal year 1986 for specified institutions. Directs the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to administer such program. Eliminates the requirement that only an institution with less than 2,500 students in attendance may carry out such program through a consortium agreement with other institutions. Lowers to $100,000 (formerly $135,000) the maximum amount of such program payments in any fiscal year to any one institution and its branches. Raises the percentage (from 75 to 90) of such amount which must be spent to maintain a full-time office of veterans' affairs.

Revises provisions for Federal, State, and private programs of low-interest loans to students in institutions of higher education by establishing a supplemental loans program to provide access to educational loans for students and their parents through loan insurance programs coordinated by the Government Student Loan Association.

Transfers to the Association, from the Commissioner, responsibility for such programs.

Includes insurance of all loans made to eligible borrowers by a lender, if the Association determines that student and parent access to State or private nonprofit loan insurance programs is inadequate in that State, among those items for which the Association is authorized to issue certificates of Federal loan insurance to a lender in a State.

Requires that the total principal amount of new loans and installments paid pursuant to lines of credit to borrowers covered by Federal loan insurance under the supplemental loan program not to exceed the amount authorized in an appropriation Act for any fiscal year through fiscal year 1985.

Sets forth eligibility standards for borrowers on Federally insured loans. Includes among eligible borrowers parents or legal guardians on whom students are financially dependent.

Sets forth terms and conditions for such loans.

Revises limits on the yearly and aggregate amounts of loans under such program and other loan programs in this Act and under the National Defense Education Act of 1958.

Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to the payment of all amounts which may be required to be paid under specified provisions for the default of borrowers under the Federal loan insurance program and for the repayment by the Association of loans of deceased or disabled borrowers.

Authorizes the Association to request the Secretary of the Treasury to invest a portion of the student loan insurance fund which is not required for current operations. Requires that such investments be in public debt securities.

Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as the Association may require to redeem specified obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Deletes the authorization of appropriations for the District of Columbia Student Loan Insurance Program.

Sets the special allowance paid to holders of eligible loans made on or after the effective date of this Act at the rate of two and one-half percent per year of the average unpaid balance of principal (not including unearned interest added to principal) of all eligible loans held by such holder during such period, subject to specified conditions.

Deletes provisions relating to a Committee on the Process of Determining Student Loan Special Allowances.

Repeals the authority, under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Public Health Service, of the Student Loan Marketing Association to make advances on the security of, or purchase specified loans insured by the Government Student Loan Association, or by States or institutions or organizations with specified agreements, or by the Secretary.

Stipulates that any loan under the supplemental loan program may be counted as part of the expected family contribution in the determination of need for grants, work-study, basic loans, and national direct student loans programs purposes.

Declares that all of the functions, powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Education with respect to loans made, and agreements entered into, under the authority of the Federally insured student loan program shall be transferred to the Government Student Loan Association.

Extends the authorization of appropriations for work-study programs through fiscal year 1985. Transfers to the Secretary, from the Commissioner, various duties under such programs, including making allotments to States and establishing criteria for distribution of work-study assistance among institutions of higher education within a State, along with the authority to enter into agreements with eligible institutions to make grants to assist in their work-study programs and job location and development programs.

Establishes in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare the Government Student Loan Association. Directs the Secretary to appoint officers and determine operational policies for such Association.

Authorizes the Association to deal, in such amounts as appropriations Acts may provide, in loans insured under the supplemental loan program of this title and under the Federal program of insured loans to graduate schools and health profession schools of the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Association to establish the price, terms, and conditions of loan purchases, sales, and services and of security advances with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires that such an advance on the security of a loan be made only upon the lender's agreement to use the advance to make similar insured loans.

Stipulates that a security interest in an insured loan created on behalf of the Association or an eligible lender may be perfected through the taking of possession of the loan or by the filing of notice of such security interest in the loan in the manner provided by State law for perfection of security interests in accounts.

Authorizes the Association: (1) to assume specified liabilities of the Student Loan Marketing Association, upon transfer of specified obligations insured or held and of other assets; and (2) to purchase any real or personal property of such organization.

Sets forth powers and duties of the Association.

Authorizes the Association to assume all of the functions, powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Education for loans made, and agreements entered into, under the authority of the national direct student loan program of this title, and may also service and collect such loans on behalf of institutions that hold them.

Directs the Association to carry out a basic student loan program for making low-interest loans to assist needy students to pursue studies at eligible institutions of higher education. Directs the Association to give preference, by regulation, to the neediest students. Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1985 to carry out such program.

Establishes a Basic Student Loan Fund within the Treasury of the United States for the Association to make payments authorized for the basic student loan program and the national direct student loan program. Authorizes the Association to request the Secretary of the Treasury to invest a portion of the student loan insurance fund which is not required for current operations. Requires that such investments be in public debt securities.

Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as the Association may require to redeem specified obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Authorizes the Association to make loans to eligible students (other than graduate students studying business, law, or medicine) who submit prescribed applications.

Sets forth terms of basic student loans, including annual interest rates of seven percent or less according to specified formulas, and limits on such loans.

Repeals the authorization of appropriations, under the national direct student loan program, for fiscal years 1979 through 1982 to enable students who received loans for academic years ending prior to October 1, 1979, to continue or complete courses of study.

Revises the required provisions of agreements with institutions of higher education under the national direct student loan program to: (1) mandate that specified sums collected be deposited in the Basic Student Loan Fund (rather than the general fund of the Treasury; and (2) delete an entitlement for such institutions of specified payments in lieu of reimbursement for the administrative expenses of their student loan programs.

Changes the dates of the period for a capital distribution of the balance of the student loan fund established by each institution of higher education under the national direct student loan program to September 30, 1980 through March 31, 1981 (formerly September 30, 1984 through March 31, 1985). Directs the Association to deposit all amounts received under such distribution and under such program in the Basic Student Loan Fund.

Transfers to the Association all functions, powers, duties, rights and responsibilities of the Commissioner of Education with respect to specified loans and agreements.

Revises the formulas and procedures by which the administrative expenses of student assistance programs are compensated by the Federal government. Directs the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to administer such compensation.

Includes among required information which participating institutions must give to all students: (1) special facilities and services available to handicapped students; and (2) placement data for programs of study intended to prepare students for employment in particular fields.

Directs the Secretary to publish annually in the Federal Register a proposed schedule of expected family contributions for an academic year for various levels of family income for the purpose of determining a student's need for financial assistance. Directs the Secretary to provide interested parties an opportunity for comments and recommendations during a 30-day period following such publication. Requires that a final schedule be submitted to specified officers and committees of the Congress and become effective 60 days after submission, or earlier if such committees give notice of no objections to such schedule. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations concerning the determination of such expected family contribution, as well as special regulations for determining the expected family contribution of an independent student, in accordance with specified basic criteria.

Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations necessary to carry out this title, including regulations for the limitation, suspension or termination of the eligibility for any student assistance program of any otherwise eligible institution upon determination, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing on the record in the case of a limitation or termination, that such institution has violated or failed to carry out specified provisions, agreements, or regulations. Limits such periods of suspension to sixty days, with specified exceptions.

Directs the Secretary to prescribe a single application for determining a student's need and eligibility for financial assistance under this title.

Title V: Amendments to Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Includes principals among those in Teacher Corps training and retraining programs and demonstration projects.

Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Teacher Corps Program and for Teacher Training Programs through fiscal year 1985.

Includes the teachers and administrators of the schools involved among those represented on an elected council to participate in the preparation of specified Teacher Corps Program arrangements.

Removes the limit on the rate of compensation for teacher interns in the Teacher Corps Program.

Directs the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to allocate teacher training programs grants so as to most nearly provide an equitable geographical distribution of grants throughout the States when appropriations in any fiscal year are less than the $50,000,000 level requirement for one teacher center per State.

Transfers responsibility for Teacher Corps and Teacher Training Programs from the Commissioner to the Secretary.

Title VI: Establishment of a New Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Establishes a new title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965: Foreign Studies and Language Development. Terminates the program of grants to institution of higher education to improve undergraduate instruction through acquisition of equipment, including television equipment and by minor remodeling.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to or contracts with institutions of higher learning for establishing, equipping, and operating modern foreign language studies, foreign area studies, and international studies programs and centers.

Authorizes the Secretary to pay stipends to individuals undergoing advanced training in such centers or programs, upon reasonable assurance that recipients will be available for teaching or other public service.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education and to nonprofit organizations for graduate and undergraduate centers of international studies.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to or contracts with any public or private agency or organization for educational programs to promote U.S. student understanding of the cultures and actions of other nations.

Directs the Secretary to distribute such throughout the Nation on a broad and equitable geographical basis.

Authorizes appropriations for such purposes for fiscal years 1981 through 1985.

Title VII: Amendments to Title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Extends the authorizations of appropriations for the programs of financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate academic facilities and the program of loans for the construction, reconstruction, and renovation of academic facilities through fiscal year 1985.

Transfers responsibility for such programs from the Commissioner to the Secretary.

Revises the required formula for determining the interest rate of such loans.

Terminates the program of Assistance in Major Disaster Areas for construction of academic facilities and replacement of equipment and supplies by public institutions of higher education in such areas.

Terminates the old program of Reconstruction and Renovation. Establishes a new program of Reconstruction and Renovation assistance. Directs the Secretary to assist institutions of higher education and higher education building agencies to reconstruct or renovate academic facilities and acquire special equipment for: (1) energy use economy; (2) conformity with specified legal requirements relating to access for the handicapped, environmental protection, or health and safety; and (3) research facilities. Directs the Secretary to carry out such program through a State grant program, a direct grant program, and a program of making and insuring loans. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes through fiscal year 1985.

Provides, under the State grant program, for State allotments, State plans, basic criteria for determining priorities and Federal share, applications for grants, and amounts of grants.

Provides for applications for, and amounts of, grants under the direct grant program.

Sets forth eligibility conditions, amounts, and terms of loans and general provisions for the loan program.

Creates within the Treasury a separate fund available to the Secretary for higher education reconstruction and renovation and special equipment acquisition loans and loan insurance.

Authorizes the Secretary to make annual interest grants to private institutions of higher education and private higher education building agencies to reduce the cost of borrowing from other sources for such reconstruction, renovation or acquisition. Sets forth criteria for such grants.

Authorizes the Secretary to insure the payment of interest and principal on such loans to nonprofit private higher education institutions and nonprofit higher education building agencies which meet specified criteria.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to approve the interest rate, timing and other terms and conditions of such insured obligations and authorizes such Secretary to waive such requirement when such financing does not have a significant impact on the market for government and government guaranteed securities.

Title VIII: Amendment to Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Extends through fiscal year 1985 the authorization of appropriations for programs of Cooperative Education. Removes specified limits on the amounts of grants for such programs. Transfers the authority to make grants for programs of cooperative education and grants and contracts for training and research in cooperation education from the Commissioner to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts for projects demonstrating or exploring the feasibility or value of innovative methods of cooperative education.

Title IX: Amendments to Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Extends the authorization of appropriations for grants to institutions of higher education for graduate programs through fiscal year 1985. Extends the authority of the Secretary (formerly the Commissioner) to award fellowships for study in graduate and professional programs. Transfers responsibility for such grant and fellowship programs from the Commissioner to the Secretary. Terminates the programs of public service fellowships, fellowships for other purposes, and general assistance for graduate schools, and the annual fellowship report.

Retains the program of assistance for training in the legal profession. Transfers the authority to make grants and contracts for such program from the Commissioner to the Secretary. Extends such authority and the authorization of appropriations for such program through fiscal year 1985.

Title X: Amendments to Title XII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 - Includes in the definition of "institutions of higher education" educational institutions in any State which provide an educational program for which they award graduate or professional degrees or which provide not less than a six-month (formerly one-year) program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. Removes from such definition specified requirements involving accreditation or accreditation alternatives.

Changes the definition of State to include "the Northern Mariana Islands" (formerly "the government of the Northern Mariana Islands").

Limits the definition of "State educational agency" to "the officer or agency primarily responsible for the State supervision of public elementary and secondary schools.

Deletes the definition of "gifted and talented children.

Title XI: Amendment to the General Education Provisions Act - Amends the General Education Provisions Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education.

Title XII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals Title X (Establishment and Expansion of Community Colleges) and Title XI (Law School Clinical Experience Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Repeals Title VI (Foreign Studies and Language Development) of the National Defense Education Act of 1958.

Repeals the International Education Act of 1966.