[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 748 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 748

        To provide for college affordability and high standards.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 1997

 Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Bumpers, 
  Ms. Collins, and Mr. Robb) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
        To provide for college affordability and high standards.

    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 ``College Affordability and High 
Standards Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) far too many students are not being provided sufficient 
        academic preparation in secondary school, which results in 
        limited employment opportunities, college dropout rates of over 
        25 percent for the first year of college, and remediation for 
        almost one-third of incoming college freshmen;
            (2) there is a growing consensus that raising academic 
        standards, establishing high academic expectations, and showing 
        concrete results are at the core of improving public education;
            (3) modeling academic standards on the well-known program 
        of advanced placement courses is an approach that many 
        education leaders and almost half of all States have endorsed;
            (4) advanced placement programs already are providing 
        almost 30 different college-level courses, serving almost 60 
        percent of all secondary schools, reaching a 1,500,000 student 
        population (of which 80 percent attend public schools, 55 
        percent are females, and 30 percent are minorities), and 
        providing test scores that are accepted for college credit at 
        almost 3,000 colleges and universities, every university in 
        Germany, France, and Austria, and most institutions in Canada 
        and the United Kingdom;
            (5) 24 States are now funding programs to increase 
        participation in advanced placement programs, including 19 
        States that provide funds for advanced placement teacher 
        professional development, 3 States that require that advanced 
        placement courses be offered, 10 States that pay the fees for 
        advanced placement tests for some or all students, and 4 States 
        that require that their universities grant uniform academic 
        credit for scores of 3 or better on advanced placement tests; 
        and
            (6) the State programs described in paragraph (5) have 
        shown the responsiveness of schools and students to such 
        programs, raised the academic standards for both students 
        participating in such programs and other children taught by 
        teachers who are involved in advanced placement courses, and 
        shown tremendous success in increasing enrollment, achievement, 
        and minority participation in advanced placement programs.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to encourage more of the 600,000 students who take 
        advanced placement courses but do not take advanced placement 
        exams each year to demonstrate their achievements through 
        taking the exams;
            (2) to build on the many benefits of advanced placement 
        programs for students, which benefits may include the 
        acquisition of skills that are important to many employers, 
        Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) scores that are 100 points 
        above the national averages, and the achievement of better 
        grades than the grades of students who have not participated in 
        the programs;
            (3) to support State and local efforts to raise academic 
        standards through advanced placement programs, and thus further 
        increase the number of students who participate and succeed in 
        advanced placement programs;
            (4) to increase the availability and broaden the range of 
        schools that have advanced placement programs, which programs 
        are still often distributed unevenly among regions, States, and 
        even secondary schools within the same school districts, while 
        also increasing and diversifying student participation in the 
        programs;
            (5) to build on the State programs described in subsection 
        (a)(5) and demonstrate that larger and more diverse groups of 
        students can participate and succeed in advanced placement 
        programs; and
            (6) to provide access to advanced placement courses for 
        secondary school juniors at schools that do not offer advanced 
        placement programs, increase the rate of secondary school 
        juniors and seniors who participate in advanced placement 
        courses to 25 percent of the secondary school student 
        population, and increase the numbers of students who receive 
advanced placement test scores for which college academic credit is 
awarded.

SEC. 3. ADVANCED PLACEMENT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM GRANTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (e) and from amounts 
        appropriated under the authority of subsection (g) for a fiscal 
        year, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, 
        to eligible entities for the fiscal year to enable the eligible 
        entities to carry out the authorized activities described in 
        subsection (c).
            (2) Duration and payments.--
                    (A) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant 
                under this section for a period of 3 years.
                    (B) Payments.--The Secretary shall make grant 
                payments under this section on an annual basis.
            (3) Definition of eligible entity.--In this section, the 
        term ``eligible entity'' means a State educational agency, or 
        in the case of a State for which the State educational agency 
        does not receive a grant under this section, a local 
        educational agency in the State.
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities submitting applications under 
subsection (d) that demonstrate--
            (1) a pervasive need for access to advanced placement 
        incentive programs;
            (2) the involvement of business and community organizations 
        in the activities to be assisted;
            (3) a focus on developing or expanding advanced placement 
        programs and participation in the core academic areas of 
        English, mathematics, and science; and
            (4) the availability of matching funds from State or local 
        sources.
    (c) Authorized Activities.--An eligible entity may use grant funds 
under this section to expand access for low-income individuals to 
advanced placement incentive programs that involve--
            (1) teacher training;
            (2) preadvanced placement course development;
            (3) curriculum coordination and articulation between grade 
        levels that prepares students for advanced placement courses;
            (4) curriculum development; and
            (5) any other activity related to expanding access to and 
        participation in advanced placement incentive programs for low-
        income individuals.
    (d) Application.--Each eligible entity desiring 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.
    (e) Special Rule.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this 
section for a fiscal year only if the College Board expends for the 
College Board Fee Assistance Program for the fiscal year at least the 
amount of funds the College Board expended for the program for the 
preceding fiscal year.
    (f) Data Collection and Reporting.--
            (1) Data collection.--Each eligible entity receiving a 
        grant under this section shall annually report to the 
        Secretary--
                    (A) the number of advanced placement tests taken by 
                students served by the eligible entity;
                    (B) the scores on the advanced placement tests; and
                    (C) demographic information regarding individuals 
                taking the advanced placement tests.
            (2) Report.--The Secretary shall annually compile the 
        information received from each eligible entity under paragraph 
        (1) and report to Congress regarding the information.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 
1998, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT.

    (a) Student Incentives.--
            (1) Byrd scholarships.--Section 419G(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070d-37(a)) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following: ``The criteria shall take into 
        consideration participation and performance in advanced 
        placement courses.''.
            (2) Dissemination of advanced placement information.--Each 
        institution of higher education receiving Federal funds for 
        research or for programs assisted under the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)--
                    (A) shall distribute to secondary school counselors 
                or advanced placement coordinators in the State 
                information with respect to the amount and type of 
academic credit provided to students at the institution of higher 
education for advanced placement test scores; and
                    (B) shall standardize, not later than 4 years after 
                the date of enactment of this Act, the form and manner 
                in which the information described in subparagraph (A) 
                is disseminated by the various departments, offices, or 
                other divisions of the institution of higher education.
    (b) State and Local Initiatives.--
            (1) Javits gifted and talented students.--Section 10205(a) 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 8035(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to programs and projects for gifted and talented 
        students that build on or otherwise incorporate advanced 
        placement courses and tests.''.
            (2) Upward bound program.--Section 402C of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-13) is amended by adding 
        at the end the following:
    ``(f) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in awarding 
grants under this section to upward bound projects that focus on 
increasing secondary school student participation and success in 
advanced placement courses.''.
            (3) Eisenhower professional development.--
                    (A) Federal activities.--Section 2101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6621) is amended by adding at the end the 
                following:
    ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in awarding 
grants and entering into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
this part to activities that involve training in advanced placement 
instruction.''.
                    (B) State and local activities.--Section 2207 of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6647) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in paragraph (13), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) providing professional development activities 
        involving training in advanced placement instruction.''.
            (4) Technology.--
                    (A) Star schools.--Section 3204 of the Elementary 
                and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6894) is 
                amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Advanced Placement Instruction.--Each eligible entity 
receiving funds under this part is encouraged to deliver advanced 
placement instruction to underserved communities.''.
                    (B) Education technology grants.--Subpart 2 of part 
                A of title III of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6841 et seq.) is 
                amended--
                            (i) in section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (5), by striking 
                                ``and'' after the semicolon;
                                    (II) in paragraph (6), by striking 
                                the period and inserting ``; and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
            ``(7) providing education technology for advanced placement 
        instruction.''; and
                            (ii) in section 3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 
                        6846(c))--
                                    (I) in paragraph (4), by striking 
                                ``and'' after the semicolon;
                                    (II) in paragraph (5), by striking 
                                the period and inserting ``; and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
            ``(6) the project will use education technology for 
        advanced placement instruction.''.

SEC. 5. ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST FEE REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    Part G of title XV of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (20 
U.S.C. 1070a-11 note) is amended to read as follows:

        ``PART G--ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST FEE REDUCTION PROGRAM

``SEC. 1545. ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST FEE REDUCTION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (g) and from 
        amounts appropriated under the authority of subsection (j) for 
        a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to State 
        educational agencies for the fiscal year to enable the State 
        educational agencies to carry out the authorized activities 
        described in subsection (d).
            ``(2) Amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award a 
                State educational agency a grant under this section for 
                a fiscal year in an amount based on $25 for each 
                eligible low-income individual in the State who takes 
                an advanced placement test for the fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Adjustments.--The Secretary may adjust the 
                dollar figure in subparagraph (A) to reflect changes in 
                inflation or in amounts appropriated under the 
                authority of subsection (j).
    ``(b) Information Dissemination.--The State educational agency 
shall disseminate information on the activities assisted under this 
section to low-income individuals through secondary school teachers and 
guidance counselors.
    ``(c) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in awarding 
grants under this section for a fiscal year to State educational 
agencies serving States that--
            ``(1) expend State funds--
                    ``(A) to lower advanced placement test fees for 
                eligible low-income individuals; or
                    ``(B) to expand the State pool of teachers prepared 
                to teach advanced placement courses to low-income 
                individuals or in underserved communities;
            ``(2) use more than a negligible amount of funds provided 
        under title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) or other Federal funds to 
        increase participation in advanced placement incentive 
        programs; or
            ``(3) operate, on the date of enactment of the College 
        Affordability and High Standards Act of 1997, an advanced 
        placement incentive program.
    ``(d) Authorized Activities.--A State educational agency may use 
grant funds under this section for activities that are related to 
expanding access for low-income individuals or in underserved 
communities to advanced placement tests, and involve--
            ``(1) establishing or expanding an advanced placement test 
        fee reduction program for eligible low-income individuals that 
        may include--
                    ``(A) varying the amount or type of advanced 
                placement test fee reimbursement for eligible low-
                income individuals; or
                    ``(B) establishing a sliding scale advanced 
                placement test fee reimbursement program based on an 
                eligible low-income individual's annual gross income; 
                or
            ``(2) only in the case of a State that operates an advanced 
        placement test fee reduction program on the date of enactment 
        of the College Affordability and High Standards Act of 1997, 
        expanding the program or carrying out any activity that meets 
        the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection 
        (c)(1).
    ``(e) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Remaining funds.--If any funds authorized to be 
        appropriated under the authority of subsection (j) for a fiscal 
        year remain available after the Secretary awards grants to 
        State educational agencies under this section for the fiscal 
        year, then the Secretary shall use the remaining funds to award 
        grants under this section for the succeeding fiscal year.
            ``(2) Maintenance of effort.--The State educational agency, 
        in utilizing the proceeds of a grant received under this 
        section, shall maintain the expenditures of the State 
        educational agency for advanced placement incentive programs at 
        a level of such expenditures maintained by the State 
        educational agency for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal 
        year for which the grant is received.
    ``(f) Application.--Each State educational agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(g) Requirement.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this 
section for a fiscal year only if the College Board expends for the 
College Board Fee Assistance Program for the fiscal year at least the 
amount of funds the College Board expended for such program for the 
preceding fiscal year.
    ``(h) Data Collection and Reporting.--
            ``(1) Data collection.--Each State educational agency 
        receiving a grant under this section shall annually report to 
        the Secretary--
                    ``(A) the number of advanced placement tests taken 
                by students served by the State educational agency;
                    ``(B) the scores on the advanced placement tests; 
                and
                    ``(C) demographic information regarding individuals 
                taking the advanced placement tests.
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall annually compile the 
        information received from each State educational agency under 
        paragraph (1) and report to Congress regarding the information.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Advanced placement incentive program.--The term 
        `advanced placement incentive program' means a program that 
        provides advanced placement activities and services to low-
        income individuals.
            ``(2) Advanced placement test.--The term `advanced 
        placement test' means an advanced placement test administered 
        by the College Board or approved by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Eligible low-income individual.--The term `eligible 
        low-income individual' means a low-income individual (as 
        defined in section 402A(g)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11(g)(2)) who is academically prepared to 
        successfully take an advanced placement test as determined by a 
        secondary school teacher or advanced placement coordinator 
        taking into consideration factors such as enrollment and 
        performance in an advanced placement course or superior 
        academic ability.
            ``(4) Secondary school; and state educational agency.--The 
        terms `secondary school' and `State educational agency' have 
        the meanings given the terms in section 14101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            ``(5) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            ``(6) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United 
        States Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
        the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advanced placement incentive program.--The term 
        ``advanced placement incentive program'' means a program that 
        provides advanced placement activities and services to low-
        income individuals.
            (2) Advanced placement test.--The term ``advanced placement 
        test'' means an advanced placement test administered by the 
        College Board or approved by the Secretary.
            (3) Eligible low-income individual.--The term ``eligible 
        low-income individual'' means a low-income individual (as 
        defined in section 402A(g)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11(g)(2)) who is academically prepared to 
        successfully take an advanced placement test as determined by a 
        school teacher or advanced placement coordinator taking into 
        consideration factors such as enrollment and performance in an 
        advanced placement course or superior academic ability.
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1141(a)).
            (5) Local educational agency; secondary school; and state 
        educational agency.--The terms ``local educational agency'', 
        ``secondary school'', and ``State educational agency'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (7) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United 
        States Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
        the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
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