[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2337 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2337

 To increase access to postsecondary education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2006

   Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Kerry, Mr. 
 Akaka, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read 
 twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To increase access to postsecondary education, 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 ``College Pathway Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Postsecondary education is an important aspiration for 
        most students and the future strength of the United States 
        economy and workforce will largely depend on the postsecondary 
        educational attainments of all people of the United States, 
        regardless of sex, race, or ethnic background.
            (2) Parents and students recognize the value of 
        postsecondary education. Ninety-seven percent of secondary 
        school students expect to attend college, and more than 75 
        percent of secondary school graduates enroll in some 
        postsecondary education within 2 years of secondary school 
        graduation.
            (3) Notwithstanding those expectations, only 32 percent of 
        students graduate from secondary school adequately prepared to 
        enter a 4-year institution of higher education. Students living 
        in poverty and students of color are roughly half as likely to 
        be college-ready.
            (4) Despite the reality that most students will enter 
        college after secondary school, secondary school graduation 
        requirements are not aligned with the expectations of 
        postsecondary education.
            (5) Rather than beginning college-level work upon entering 
        postsecondary education, many students (nearly 1 in 3) enroll 
        in developmental coursework, and more than half will take at 
        least 1 class of developmental coursework before leaving 
        postsecondary education. Students who need to take a class of 
        developmental coursework in college have less than a 40 percent 
        chance of completing their course of study, and students who 
        take 3 or more classes of developmental coursework face 
        reducing their prospects of completing their course of study to 
        less than 1 in 5.
            (6) The quality and intensity of the secondary school 
        curriculum--
                    (A) are the most significant predictors of college 
                success; and
                    (B) are more significant than race, socioeconomic 
                status, secondary school grade point average, or ACT 
                and SAT scores.
            (7) States around the Nation have developed secondary 
        school academic standards, but there is often no relationship 
        between those standards and institutional expectations for 
        college-level study. Students, families, and school personnel 
        need information to address the gap that exists between 
        satisfying various kindergarten through grade 12 standards and 
        meeting the standards that indicate success in higher 
        education. The lack of clear information affects all students, 
        but the effect is particularly grave for students living in 
        poverty who are more reliant on schools and public sources of 
        information to gauge their preparedness for college-level work.
            (8) Numerous reports have cited the need to improve 
        mathematics and science achievement in prekindergarten through 
        grade 12.
            (9) Current data systems are not designed to measure the 
        efficacy of State actions intended to prepare students to enter 
        and succeed in postsecondary education. State-level data 
        systems usually contain only data related to kindergarten 
        through grade 12, and often are not compatible with 
        postsecondary education data systems.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are the following:
            (1) To broaden the focus of Federal, State, and local 
        higher education programs to promote academic success in 
        postsecondary education, particularly with respect to 
        mathematics, science, and engineering.
            (2) To increase the percentage of low-income and minority 
        students who are academically prepared to enter and 
        successfully complete postsecondary-level general education 
        coursework.
            (3) To decrease the percentage of students requiring 
        developmental coursework through grants that enable States to 
        coordinate the public prekindergarten through grade 12 
        education system and the postsecondary education system--
                    (A) to ensure that covered institutions articulate 
                and publicize the prerequisite skills and knowledge 
                expected of incoming postsecondary students attending 
                covered institutions, in order to provide students and 
                other interested parties with accurate information 
                pertaining to the students' necessary preparations for 
                postsecondary education;
                    (B) to establish and implement middle school and 
                secondary school course enrollment guidelines--
                            (i) to ensure that public secondary school 
                        students, in all major racial and ethnic 
                        groups, and income levels, complete academic 
                        courses linked with academic success at the 
                        postsecondary level; and
                            (ii) to increase the percentage of students 
                        in each major racial group, ethnic group, and 
                        income level who graduate from secondary school 
                        and enter postsecondary education with the 
                        academic preparation necessary to successfully 
                        complete postsecondary-level general education 
                        coursework, particularly with respect to 
                        mathematics, science, and engineering;
                    (C) to implement programs and policies that 
                increase secondary school graduation rates; and
                    (D) to collect and analyze disaggregated 
                longitudinal student data throughout P-16 education in 
                order to--
                            (i) understand and improve students' 
                        progress throughout the P-16 education system;
                            (ii) understand problems and needs 
                        throughout the P-16 education system; and
                            (iii) align prekindergarten through grade 
                        12 academic standards and higher education 
                        standards so that more students are prepared to 
                        successfully complete postsecondary-level 
                        general education coursework.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) In general.--The terms ``local educational agency'', 
        ``parent'', ``secondary school'', and ``State'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Academic assessments.--The term ``academic 
        assessments'' means the academic assessments implemented by a 
        State educational agency pursuant to section 1111(b)(3) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(b)(3)).
            (3) Academic standards.--The term ``academic standards'' 
        means the challenging academic content standards and 
        challenging student academic achievement standards adopted by a 
        State pursuant to section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)).
            (4) Covered institution.--The term ``covered institution'' 
        means an institution of higher education that participates in a 
        program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
            (5) Developmental coursework.--The term ``developmental 
        coursework'' means coursework that a student is required to 
        complete in order to attain prerequisite knowledge or skills 
        necessary for entrance into a postsecondary degree or 
        certification program.
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1002).
            (7) P-16 education.--The term ``P-16 education'' means the 
        educational system from prekindergarten through the conferring 
        of a baccalaureate degree.
            (8) P-16 educator.--The term ``P-16 educator'' means an 
        individual teaching in P-16 education.
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (10) Student.--The term ``student'' means any student 
        enrolled in a public school.

SEC. 5. P-16 EDUCATION STEWARDSHIP SYSTEM GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under section 10 
for a fiscal year, and subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
award grants, on a competitive basis, to States to enable the States--
            (1) to establish--
                    (A) P-16 education stewardship commissions in 
                accordance with section 7; or
                    (B) P-16 education stewardship systems consisting 
                of--
                            (i) a P-16 education stewardship commission 
                        in accordance with section 7; and
                            (ii) a P-16 education data system in 
                        accordance with section 8; and
            (2) to carry out the activities and programs described in 
        the State application and plan submitted under section 6.
    (b) Award Basis.--In determining the approval and amount of a grant 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to an 
application from a State that desires the grant to establish a P-16 
education stewardship system described in subsection (a)(1)(B).
    (c) Period of Grants.--
            (1) States establishing p-16 education stewardship 
        systems.--Each grant made under this section to a State to 
        establish a P-16 education stewardship system described in 
        subsection (a)(1)(B) shall be awarded for a period of 5 years.
            (2) States establishing p-16 education stewardship 
        commissions.--Each grant made under this section to a State to 
        establish a P-16 education stewardship commission described in 
        subsection (a)(1)(A) shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.

SEC. 6. STATE APPLICATION AND PLAN.

    (a) In General.--A State desiring a grant under section 5 shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require.
    (b) Contents.--Each application submitted under this section shall 
include, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) A demonstration that the State, not later than 5 months 
        after receiving grant funds under this Act, will establish a P-
        16 education stewardship commission described in section 7.
            (2) For a state applying for a grant under section 
        5(a)(1)(B), a demonstration that the State, not later than 2 
        years after receiving grant funds under this Act, will 
        implement, expand, or improve a P-16 education data system 
        described in section 8.
            (3) A demonstration that the State will work with the State 
        P-16 education stewardship commission and others as necessary 
        to examine the relationship among the content of postsecondary 
        education admission and placement exams, the prerequisite 
        skills and knowledge required to successfully take 
        postsecondary-level general education coursework, the 
        prekindergarten through grade 12 courses and academic factors 
        associated with academic success at the postsecondary level, 
        particularly with respect to mathematics, science, and 
        engineering, and existing academic standards and academic 
        assessments.
            (4) A description of how the State will, using the 
        information from the State P-16 education stewardship 
        commission, increase the percentage of students taking courses 
        that have the highest correlation of academic success at the 
        postsecondary level, for each of the following groups of 
        students:
                    (A) Economically disadvantaged students.
                    (B) Students from each major racial and ethnic 
                group.
                    (C) Students with disabilities.
                    (D) Students with limited English proficiency.
            (5) A description of how the State will distribute the 
        information in the P-16 education stewardship commission's 
        report under section 7(c)(4) to the public in the State, 
        including public secondary schools, local educational agencies, 
        school counselors, P-16 educators, institutions of higher 
        education, students, and parents.
            (6) An assurance that the State will continue to pursue 
        effective P-16 education alignment strategies after the end of 
        the grant period.

SEC. 7. P-16 EDUCATION STEWARDSHIP COMMISSION.

    (a) P-16 Education Stewardship Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Each State receiving a grant under section 
        5 shall establish a P-16 education stewardship commission that 
        has the policymaking ability to meet the requirements of this 
        section.
            (2) Existing commission.--The State may designate an 
        existing coordinating body or commission as the State P-16 
        education stewardship commission for purposes of this Act, if 
        the body or commission meets, or is amended to meet, the basic 
        requirements of this section.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--Each P-16 education stewardship 
        commission shall be composed of the Governor of the State, or 
        the designee of the Governor, and the stakeholders of the 
        statewide education community, as determined by the Governor or 
        the designee of the Governor, such as--
                    (A) the chief State official responsible for 
                administering prekindergarten through grade 12 
                education in the State;
                    (B) the chief State official of the entity 
                primarily responsible for the supervision of 
                institutions of higher education in the State;
                    (C) bipartisan representation from the State 
                legislative committee with jurisdiction over 
                prekindergarten through grade 12 education and higher 
                education;
                    (D) representatives of 2- and 4-year institutions 
                of higher education in the State;
                    (E) representatives of the business community; and
                    (F) at the discretion of the Governor, or the 
                designee of the Governor, representatives from 
                prekindergarten through grade 12 and higher education 
                governing boards and other organizations.
            (2) Chairperson; meetings.--The Governor of the State, or 
        the designee of the Governor, shall serve as chairperson of the 
        P-16 education stewardship commission and shall convene regular 
        meetings of the commission.
    (c) Duties of the Commission.--
            (1) Meetings of covered institutions.--
                    (A) In general.--Each State P-16 education 
                stewardship commission shall convene regular meetings 
                of the covered institutions in the State for the 
                purpose of assessing and reaching consensus regarding--
                            (i) the prerequisite skills and knowledge 
                        expected of incoming freshmen to successfully 
                        engage in and complete postsecondary-level 
                        general education coursework without the prior 
                        need to enroll in developmental coursework, 
                        particularly with respect to mathematics, 
                        science, and engineering; and
                            (ii) patterns of coursework and other 
                        academic factors that demonstrate the highest 
                        correlation with success in completing 
                        postsecondary-level general education 
                        coursework and degree or certification 
                        programs.
                    (B) Findings of covered institutions.--The covered 
                institutions shall communicate to the P-16 education 
                stewardship commission the findings of the covered 
                institutions, which--
                            (i) shall include the consensus on the 
                        prerequisite skills and knowledge, patterns of 
                        coursework, and other academic factors 
                        described in subparagraph (A);
                            (ii) shall address, at minimum, the 
                        subjects of reading, mathematics, science, 
                        grammar, and writing, and may cover additional 
                        academic content areas;
                            (iii) shall be descriptive of content and 
                        purpose, and shall not be limited to a simple 
                        listing of secondary course names; and
                            (iv) may be different for 2- and 4-year 
                        institutions of higher education.
            (2) Commission recommendations.--Not later than 18 months 
        after a State receives a grant under section 5, and annually 
        thereafter for each year in the grant period, the State P-16 
        education stewardship commission shall--
                    (A) develop recommendations regarding the 
                prerequisite skills and knowledge, patterns of 
                coursework, and other academic factors described in 
                paragraph (1)(A); and
                    (B) develop recommendations and enact policies to 
                increase the success rate of students in the students' 
                transition from secondary school to postsecondary 
                education.
            (3) Commission findings.--Not later than 3 years after a 
        State receives a grant under section 5(a)(1)(B), the State P-16 
        education stewardship commission shall--
                    (A) compile and interpret the findings from the P-
                16 education data system; and
                    (B) include the compilation and interpretation of 
                the findings in the report described in paragraph 
                (4)(A).
            (4) Reports.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after a 
                State receives a grant under section 5, and annually 
                thereafter for each year in the grant period, the State 
                P-16 education stewardship commission shall prepare and 
                submit to the Secretary a clear and concise report that 
                shall include the recommendations described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).
                    (B) Distribution to the public.--Not later than 60 
                days after the submission of a report under 
                subparagraph (A), each State P-16 education stewardship 
                commission shall publish and widely distribute the 
                information in the report to the public in the State, 
                including--
                            (i) all public secondary schools and local 
                        educational agencies;
                            (ii) school counselors;
                            (iii) P-16 educators;
                            (iv) institutions of higher education; and
                            (v) students and parents, especially 
                        students entering grade 9 in the next academic 
                        year and the parents of such students, to 
                        assist the students and the parents in making 
                        informed and strategic course enrollment 
                        decisions.

SEC. 8. P-16 EDUCATION DATA SYSTEM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after a State receives a 
grant under section 5(a)(1)(B), the State shall establish a State-level 
longitudinal data system that provides each student, upon enrollment in 
a public school or in a covered institution in the State, with a unique 
identifier that is retained throughout the student's enrollment in P-16 
education in the State.
    (b) Functions of Data System.--The State shall, through the 
implementation of the data system described in subsection (a), carry 
out the following:
            (1) Identify factors that correlate to students' ability to 
        successfully engage in and complete postsecondary-level general 
        education coursework without the need for prior developmental 
        coursework.
            (2) Implement procedures to track developmental coursework 
        enrollment rates.
            (3) Implement procedures to assist with identifying 
        correlations between course-taking patterns in public secondary 
        education and increased academic performance in higher 
        education.
            (4) Implement procedures to assist with identifying the 
        points at which students exit the P-16 education system, 
        including the assimilation of valid and reliable secondary 
        school dropout data.
            (5) Incorporate data to track postsecondary degree and 
        certification completion rates and student persistence 
        patterns.
            (6) Ensure that the data system is compliant with the 
        Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 
        1232g).
            (7) Disaggregate the data described in paragraphs (1) 
        through (5) by race, ethnicity, income level, sex, secondary 
        school attended, and type of institution of higher education 
        attended.
    (c) Existing Data Systems.--A State may employ, coordinate, or 
revise an existing data system for purposes of this section if such 
data system produces valid and reliable information that satisfies the 
requirements of subsection (b).

SEC. 9. REPORTS; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) State Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--Each State that receives a grant under 
        section 5 shall submit an annual report to the Secretary for 
        each year of the grant period that shall include a description 
        of the activities undertaken under the grant to improve 
        academic readiness for postsecondary-level general education 
        coursework and course completion.
            (2) Dissemination.--Each State shall prepare, publish, and 
        widely disseminate the report described in paragraph (1) to the 
        public in the State, including secondary schools, local 
        educational agencies, school counselors, P-16 educators, 
        institutions of higher education, students, and parents.
    (b) Secretary Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit an annual 
        report to Congress that includes--
                    (A) findings from the State reports submitted under 
                subsection (a)(1);
                    (B) a description of the actions taken by the 
                Department of Education to assist States with creating 
                P-16 education stewardship commissions and P-16 
                education data systems;
                    (C) a description of the actions and incentives 
                planned by the States' P-16 education stewardship 
                commissions--
                            (i) to help States align academic 
                        standards, courses, and academic assessments 
                        with postsecondary academic expectations, 
                        courses, and assessments;
                            (ii) to help States increase the percentage 
                        of minority and low-income students prepared to 
                        enter and succeed at the postsecondary level; 
                        and
                            (iii) to reduce postsecondary developmental 
                        coursework enrollment rates of minority and 
                        low-income students;
                    (D) a description of the actions and incentives 
                planned to help States reduce postsecondary 
                developmental coursework enrollment rates;
                    (E) an assessment of the effectiveness of P-16 
                education stewardship commissions in improving college 
                readiness and eliminating the need for developmental 
                coursework; and
                    (F) recommendations regarding how to make the P-16 
                education stewardship commissions more effective, and 
                whether the establishment of such commissions should be 
                encouraged throughout the United States.
            (2) Availability.--The Secretary shall make the annual 
        report described in paragraph (1) available to the public and 
        to each State and institution of higher education.
    (c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide, upon 
request, technical assistance to States and institutions of higher 
education seeking technical assistance under this Act.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011.
                                 <all>