Short title; reference

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

GEAR UP Enhancement Act of 2007

. (b)

References

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)In 1998, Congress created the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) following the leadership and innovation of successful programs such as Say Yes to Education, 21st Century Scholars Program, Tell Them We Are Rising, “I Have a Dream” Foundation, Project GRAD, and others. GEAR UP, originally conceived of as High Hopes, is now one of the most innovative and successful national college access programs. (2)Though college has become a reality for more families now than ever before, an opportunity gap continues to exist in which low-income students are far less likely to earn a high school diploma, and enroll in and complete college. Whereas 73.9 percent of all students nationally graduate from high school, only 52.1 percent of children from low-income families achieve this educational milestone. While 76 percent of high-income high school graduates enroll in college or trade school, only 49 percent of low-income graduates do so. (3)Since its enactment, GEAR UP has served approximately 2 million students in 48 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Palau and Puerto Rico. The Department of Education reports that 84.4 percent of the first class of GEAR UP students graduated from high school, while only 52.1 percent of low-income students and 73.9 percent all students nationally achieved this same educational milestone. An ACT study found that students from GEAR UP schools had greater changes in academic performance, were more likely to be on track to be college-ready in English and Reading, more likely to take the core high school curriculum, and more likely to have plans for college at grade 10.

Award period; priority

Section 404A(b) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–21(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

Award period

The Secretary may award a grant under this chapter to an eligible entity described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) for 7 years. (3)

Priority

In making awards to eligible entities described in subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall— (A)give priority to eligible entities that— (i)on the day before the date of enactment of the GEAR UP Enhancement Act of 2007, carried out successful educational opportunity programs under this chapter (as this chapter was in effect on such day); and (ii)have a prior, demonstrated commitment to early intervention leading to college access through collaboration and replication of successful strategies; and (B)ensure that students served under this chapter on the day before the date of enactment of the GEAR UP Enhancement Act of 2007 continue to receive assistance through the completion of secondary school.

Requirements: Continuity of services

(a)

Cohort approach

Section 404B(g)(1) (20 U.S.C. 1070a–22(g)(1)) is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of subparagraph (A); (2)in subparagraph (B)— (A)by inserting and provide the option of continued services through the student’s first year of attendance at an institution of higher education after grade level; and (B)by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)provide services under this chapter to students who have received services under a previous GEAR UP grant award but have not yet completed the 12th grade.

(b)

Early intervention

Section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1)(B)— (A)by striking and at the end of clause (ii); (B)by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and inserting ; and; and (C)by adding at the end the following new clause:

(iv)the transition to college or post-secondary education through continuity of services to support students in and through the first year of attendance at an institution of higher education.

;

(2)in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting and students in the first year of attendance at an institution of higher education after grade 12; and (3)in subsection (c), by inserting , and may consider students in their first year of attendance at an institution, after grade 12.

Flexibility in meeting matching requirements

Section 404C (20 U.S.C. 1070a–23) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting and accrued over the full duration of the grant award period after in cash or in kind; (B)in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new sentence: Eligible entities may request reduced match percentage at the time of application or by petition at any time during the grant award period.; and (C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3)

Additional special rule

To encourage eligible entities described in 404A(c) to provide students under this chapter with financial assistance for post-secondary education, each dollar of non-Federal funds obligated under subsection (c)(1) and (c)(2) shall, for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, be treated as 2 dollars.

; and

(2)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (1), by striking paid to students from State, local, institutional, or private funds under this chapter and inserting obligated to students from state, local, institutional, or private funds under this chapter, including pre-existing , non-federal financial assistance programs; (B)by striking and at the end of paragraph (2); (C)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3); and (D)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)other resources recognized by the Secretary, including equipment and supplies, cash contribution from non-Federal sources, transportation expenses, in-kind or discounted program services, indirect costs, and facility usage.

Early intervention

Section 404D (20 U.S.C. 1070a–24) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)(2)(A)(ii), by striking and academic counseling and inserting , academic counseling, and financial literacy and economic literacy education or counseling; (2)in subsection (b)(2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(F)Fostering and improving parent and family involvement in elementary and secondary education by promoting the advantages of a college education, and emphasizing academic admission requirements and the need to take college preparation courses, through parent engagement and leadership activities. (G)Engaging entities described in section 404A(c)(2)(C) in a collaborative manner to provide matching resources and participate in other activities authorized under this section. (H)Disseminating information that promotes the importance of higher education, explains college preparation and admission requirements, and raises awareness of the resources and services provided by the eligible entities described in section 404A(c) to eligible students, their families, and communities.

; and

(3)by adding at the end of subsection (b) the following new paragraph:

(3)

Additional permissible activities for States

In meeting the requirements of subsection (a), an eligible entity described in section 404A(c) (1) receiving funds under this chapter may, in addition to the activities authorized by paragraph (2), use funds to providing technical assistance to— (A)middle schools or secondary schools that are located within the State; or (B)partnerships described in section 404A(c)(2) that are located within the State.

Scholarship component

Section 404E (20 U.S.C. 1070a–25) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1), by inserting scholarships to students to supplement aid for which they are regularly eligible after shall establish or maintain a financial assistance program that awards; (2)in subsection (a)(2), by inserting scholarships to students to supplement aid for which they are regularly eligible after An eligible entity described in section 404A(c)(2) may award; (3)in subsection (b)(2), by striking the maximum Federal Pell Grant and inserting the minimum Federal Pell Grant.

Authorization of appropriations

Section 404H (20 U.S.C. 1070a–31) is amended by striking $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years and inserting $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 6 succeeding fiscal years.