1.This Act may be cited as the
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and
Parenting Student Services Act of 2005
.
2.In this Act:
(1)Eligible
institution of higher educationThe term eligible
institution of higher education means an institution of higher education
(as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)) that has established and operates, or agrees to establish and
operate upon the receipt of a grant under this Act, a pregnant and parenting
student services office described in section 5.
(2)The terms parent and
parenting refer to a parent or legal guardian of a minor.
(3)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.
3.Pregnant and
parenting student services pilot programFrom amounts appropriated under section 7
for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to award
grants to eligible institutions of higher education to enable the eligible
institutions to establish (or maintain) and operate pregnant and parenting
student services offices in accordance with section 5.
4.Application;
number of grants
(a)An eligible institution of higher education
that desires to receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require
(b)Requests for
additional informationThe
Secretary may require an eligible institution submitting an application under
subsection (a) to provide additional information if the Secretary determines
such information is necessary to process the application.
(c)The Secretary shall award grants under this Act to not
more than 200 eligible institutions of higher education.
5.
(a)An eligible
institution of higher education that receives a grant under this Act shall use
grant funds to establish (or maintain) and operate a pregnant and parenting
student services office, located on the campus of the eligible institution,
that carries out the following programs and activities:
(1)Hosts an initial
pregnancy and parenting resource forum—
(A)to assess
available pregnancy and parenting resources located on the campus or within the
local community; and
(B)to set goals
for—
(i)improved services
for pregnant, parenting, and prospective parenting students; and
(ii)improved access
to such services.
(2)Annually assesses
the performance of the eligible institution and the office in meeting the
following needs of students enrolled in the eligible institution who are
pregnant or are parents:
(A)Student health
care that includes maternity coverage and makes available riders for additional
family members.
(B)Family
housing.
(C)Child
care.
(D)Flexible or
alternative academic scheduling, such as telecommuting programs.
(E)Education
concerning responsible parenting for mothers and fathers, and education
supporting healthy marriages.
(F)Resources for
pregnant women and children, such as maternity and baby clothing, baby food
(including formula), and baby furniture.
(G)Post-partum
counseling and support groups.
(3)Identifies public
and private service providers, located on the campus of the eligible
institution or within the local community, that are qualified to meet the needs
described in paragraph (2), and establishes programs with qualified providers
to meet such needs.
(4)Assists pregnant
and parenting students in locating and obtaining services that meet the needs
described in paragraph (2).
(5)If appropriate,
provides referrals for prenatal care and delivery, infant or foster care, or
adoption, to a student who requests such information. An office shall make such
referrals only to service providers that primarily serve the following types of
individuals:
(A)Parents.
(B)Prospective
parents awaiting adoption.
(C)Women who are
pregnant and plan on parenting or placing the child for adoption.
(D)Parenting or
prospective parenting couples who are married or who plan on marrying in order
to provide a supportive environment for each other and their child.
(b)In carrying out the programs and activities described in
subsection (a), an eligible institution of higher education receiving a grant
under this Act may choose to provide access to such programs and activities to
a pregnant or parenting employee of the eligible institution.
6.
(a)Annual report
by institutions
(1)For each fiscal year that an eligible institution of
higher education receives a grant under this Act, the eligible institution
shall prepare and submit to the Secretary, by the date determined by the
Secretary, a report that—
(A)itemizes the
pregnant and parenting student services office's expenditures for the fiscal
year;
(B)contains a review
and evaluation of the performance of the office in fulfilling the requirements
of this Act, using the specific performance criteria or standards established
under paragraph (2)(A); and
(C)describes the
achievement of the office in meeting the needs listed in section 5(a)(2) of the
students served by the eligible institution, and the frequency of use of the
office by such students.
(2)Not later than 180
days before the date the annual report described in paragraph (1) is submitted,
the Secretary—
(A)shall identify the specific performance
criteria or standards that shall be used to prepare the report; and
(B)may establish the form or format of the
report.
(3)After reviewing
an annual report of an eligible institution of higher education, the Secretary
may require that the eligible institution provide additional information if the
Secretary determines that such additional information is necessary to evaluate
the pilot program.
(b)The Secretary shall annually prepare and submit a
report on the findings of the pilot program under this Act, including the
number of eligible institutions of higher education that were awarded grants
and the number of students served by each pregnant and parenting services
office receiving funds under this Act, to the appropriate committees of the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
7.Authorization of
appropriationsThere is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2006 through 2010.