[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 772 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 772
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to
establish a program to identify and mentor college eligible high school
students and their parents or legal guardians, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2001
Mrs. Capps introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to
establish a program to identify and mentor college eligible high school
students and their parents or legal guardians, and for other purposes.
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 ``Access to Aid Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
Title X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
part:
PART L--ACCESS AID ACT
``SEC. 10995A. INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) Purposes of Access Aid Act.--The Secretary is authorized, in
accordance with the requirements of this part, to establish a
demonstration program with the following purposes:
``(1) Encourage nonprofit organizations working with local
school districts to establish a program that identifies and
mentors college eligible students and their families on college
selection, college admissions, and college funding. Such
program shall serve students no later than the end of grade 10
and shall continue to support them until the end of their 4- or
5-year college career. Nonprofit organizations shall provide
comprehensive mentoring, supportive services, and outreach to
students and others and schools participating under this part
to promote enrollment of first generation, low-income students
and others in colleges and universities across the Nation.
``(2) Shift the cost of programs established under this
part from the Federal Government to the private sector after 24
months to ensure that programs created under this part continue
without Federal funds.
``(3) A nonprofit organization selected to receive
assistance under this part shall involve parents or legal
guardians of students in every aspect of college selection and
college admissions in the financial aid process.
``(b) Counseling Component; Individual Services.--The primary focus
of the counseling services under this part shall be college selection,
college admissions, and college funding. Such counseling shall involve
the students' parents or legal guardians and shall be conducted on an
individual and confidential basis. The program shall enable students to
evaluate and select a college based on the student's interest level and
qualifications not cost. Such support programs ensures a higher rate of
college graduation.
``(c) Emergency Grant Component.--Programs under this part may
provide participating students small grants to underwrite the costs of
college visits or to purchase books and equipment required by (but not
included in) the student budget of the college. In addition, emergency
grants may be used when a student's demonstrated need is not fully
funded by the postsecondary institution. In every case, emergency
grants will be made pursuant to the purposes outlined in this part.
``(d) Workshops Component.--In addition to individual counseling of
students and scholars, the organization shall provide outreach support
to each participating school's guidance or career counseling staff and
provide workshops relating to college admissions, college funding, and
financial aid form completion to the general population of each
participating school or other interested schools. At each project site,
the organization shall provide no less than 10 workshops in
participating and surrounding school districts.
``SEC. 10995B. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM.
``(a) Identification of Participants.--The students selected for
assistance under this part shall be nominated for the program by the
staffs of the participating high schools. The primary standard for
selection relates to college eligible, first generation, low-income
students, with no student served by TRIO or GEAR UP eligible for the
program under this part.
``(b) Scope of Access Aid.--Students shall be selected for
assistance under this part in each State.
``(c) Qualifying Organizations.--In order to qualify for a grant
under this part, the applicant shall--
``(1) be a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization;
``(2) not be affiliated with a public or private
educational institution;
``(3) not sell a financial product of any kind;
``(4) demonstrate experience in the college admissions and
college funding arenas;
``(5) demonstrate familiarity with Federal outreach
programs;
``(6) demonstrate prior experience with the public
secondary school sector;
``(7) provide evidence that there is a demand by schools
and school districts for its program;
``(8) provide a plan for orderly shift of the funding
component from the public to the private sector;
``(9) provide for a plan for public awareness of the
program, the participants, and the outcomes;
``(10) provide a plan for counseling services for
participants from entry into the program until completion of
college; and
``(11) include a quantifiable evaluation plan.
``(d) Plan Required for Eligibility.--
``(1) In order to qualify for a grant under this part, the
applicant shall submit to the Secretary a plan for carrying out
the program under this part. Such plan shall describe the
program, including the selection process for participating
students and the districts, the services rendered, and the
strategy to be used to shift the funding responsibility from
the Federal Government to the private sector.
``(2) The plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be
in such form, contain or be accompanied by such information,
and be submitted at such time as the Secretary may require by
regulation and shall--
``(A) describe the activities for which assistance
under this section is sought; and
``(B) provide such additional assurances to ensure
compliance with the requirements of this part.
``SEC. 10995C. EARLY INTERVENTION.
``In order to receive payments under this part, an organization
shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the
organization will provide comprehensive mentoring, outreach, and
supportive services to students, parents, and schools participating
under this part to promote enrollment of first generation, low-income
students in colleges and universities across the Nation. Such
individual services shall begin not later than the end of the 10th
grade and shall continue until completion of college. Such counseling
must involve the students' parents or legal guardians and shall be
conducted on an individual and confidential basis. The primary focus of
the counseling services shall be college selection, college admissions,
and college funding. In order to assure completion of college, the
program shall have participating students select and attend colleges
across the Nation based upon their appropriateness for the student
rather than the cost.
``SEC. 10995D. USES OF FUNDS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish
criteria for determining whether comprehensive mentoring, counseling,
outreach, and supportive services programs may be used to meet the
requirements of this part.
``(b) Allowable Providers.--To meet the requirements of this part,
the organization may contract on a limited basis certain services from
other providers.
``SEC. 10995E. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.''.
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