Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Fast Track to College Act of 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to increase high school graduation rates and the percentage of students who complete a recognized postsecondary credential by the age of 26, including among low-income students and students from other populations underrepresented in higher education.

Definitions

For purposes of this Act: (1)

Dual enrollment program

The term dual enrollment program means an academic program through which a high school student is able simultaneously to earn credit toward a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree or certificate. (2)

Early college high school

The term early college high school means a high school that provides a course of study that enables a student to earn a high school diploma and either an associate’s degree or one to two years of college credit toward a postsecondary degree or credential. (3)

Educational service agency

The term educational service agency means an educational service agency as defined by section 9101(17) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (4)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a local educational agency, which may be an educational service agency, in a collaborative partnership with an institution of higher education. Such partnership also may include other entities, such as a nonprofit organization with experience in youth development. (5)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education means an institution of higher education as defined by section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. (6)

Local educational agency

The term local educational agency means a local educational agency as defined by section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (7)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

Early college high schools

To support early college high schools under this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. (b)

Other dual enrollment programs

To support other dual enrollment programs under this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. (c)

Funds reserved

The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) for grants to States under section 9.

Authorized program

(a)

In general

The Secretary is authorized to award six-year grants to eligible entities seeking to establish a new or support an existing early college high school or other dual enrollment program. (b)

Grant amount

A grant under this Act shall not exceed $2,000,000. (c)

Matching requirement

(1)

In general

An eligible entity shall contribute matching funds toward the costs of the early college high school or other dual enrollment program to be supported under this Act, of which not less than half shall be from non-Federal sources, which funds shall represent not less than the following: (A)20 percent of the grant amount in the first and second years of the grant. (B)30 percent in the third and fourth years. (C)40 percent in the fifth year. (D)50 percent in the sixth year. (2)

Determination of amount contributed

The Secretary shall allow an eligible entity to satisfy the requirement of this subsection through in-kind contributions. (d)

Supplement, Not Supplant

An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this Act only to supplement funds that would, in the absence of such grant, be made available from non-Federal funds for support of the activities described in the eligible entity’s application under section 7, and not to supplant such funds. (e)

Priority

In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants— (1)that propose to establish or support an early college high school or other dual enrollment program that will serve a student population of which 40 percent or more are students counted under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (2)from States that provide assistance to early college high schools or other dual enrollment programs, such as assistance to defray the costs of higher education, such as tuition, fees, and textbooks. (f)

Geographic distribution

The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that grantees are from a representative cross-section of urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Uses of Funds

(a)

Mandatory activities

An eligible entity shall use grant funds received under section 7 to support the activities described in its application, including for the following: (1)

Planning year

In the case of a new early college high school or dual enrollment program, during the first year of the grant— (A)hiring a principal and staff, as appropriate; (B)designing the curriculum and sequence of courses in collaboration with at a minimum, teachers from the local educational agency and faculty from the partner institution of higher education; (C)educating parents and the community about the school; (D)recruiting students; (E)liaison activities among partners in the eligible entity; and (F)coordinating secondary and postsecondary support services, academic calendars, and transportation. (2)

Implementation period

During the remainder of the grant period— (A)academic and social support services, including counseling; (B)student recruitment and community education and engagement; (C)professional development, including joint professional development for secondary school and faculty from the institution of higher education; and (D)school design and planning team activities, including curriculum development. (b)

Allowable activities

An eligible entity may also use grant funds received under this Act to otherwise support the activities described in its application, including, but not limited to— (1)purchasing textbooks and equipment that support academic programs; (2)learning opportunities for students that complement classroom experiences, such as internships, career-based capstone projects, and opportunities provided under title IV, part A, subpart 2, and chapters 1 and 2 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; (3)transportation; (4)planning time for high school and college educators to collaborate; and (5)data collection, sharing, reporting, and evaluation.

Application

(a)

In general

To receive a grant under section 4(a) or (b), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (b)

Contents of application

At a minimum, the application described in subsection (a) shall include a description of— (1)the early college high school’s or other dual enrollment program’s budget; (2)each partner in the eligible entity and its experience with early college high schools or other dual enrollment programs, key personnel from each partner and their responsibilities for the early college high school or dual enrollment program, and how the eligible entity will work with secondary and postsecondary teachers, other public and private entities, community-based organizations, businesses, and labor organizations to ensure that students will be prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and employment, which may include the development of an advisory board; (3)how the eligible entity will target and recruit at-risk youth, including those at risk of dropping out of school, first generation college students, and students from populations described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (4)a system of student supports including, but not limited to, small group activities, tutoring, literacy and numeracy skill development in all academic disciplines, parental outreach, extended learning time, and college readiness activities, such as early college academic seminars and counseling; (5)in the case of an early college high school, how a graduation and career plan will be developed, consistent with State graduation requirements, for each student and reviewed each semester; (6)how parents or guardians of dually enrolled students will be informed of their academic performance and progress and, subject to paragraph (5), involved in the development of their career and graduation plan; (7)coordination between the institution of higher education and the local educational agency, including regarding academic calendars, provision of student services, curriculum development, and professional development; (8)how the eligible entity will ensure that teachers in the early college high school or other dual enrollment program receive appropriate professional development and other supports, including to enable them to help English-language learners, students with disabilities, and students from diverse cultural backgrounds to succeed; (9)learning opportunities for students that complement classroom experiences, such as internships, career-based capstone projects, and opportunities provided under title IV, part A, subpart 2, and chapters 1 and 2 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; (10)a plan to ensure that postsecondary credits earned will be transferable to, at a minimum, public institutions of higher education within the State, consistent with existing statewide articulation agreement; (11)student assessments and other measurements of students achievement including benchmarks for student achievement; (12)outreach programs to provide elementary and secondary school students, especially those in middle grades, and their parents, teachers, school counselors, and principals information about and academic preparation for the early college high school or other dual enrollment program; (13)how the eligible entity will help students meet eligibility criteria for postsecondary courses; and (14)how the eligible entity will sustain the early college high school or other dual enrollment program after the grant expires. (c)

Assurances

An eligible entity’s application under subsection (a) shall include assurances that— (1)in the case of an early college high school, the majority of courses offered, including of postsecondary courses, will be offered at facilities of the institution of higher education; (2)students will not be required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses; (3)postsecondary credits earned will be transcribed upon completion of the requisite coursework; and (4)faculty teaching postsecondary courses meet the normal standards for faculty established by the institution of higher education. (d)

Waiver

The Secretary may waive the requirement of subsection (c)(1) upon a showing that it is impractical to apply due to geographic considerations.

Peer review

(a)

Peer review of applications

The Secretary shall establish peer review panels to review applications submitted pursuant to section 7 to advise the Secretary regarding such applications. (b)

Composition of peer review panels

The Secretary shall ensure that each peer review panel is not comprised wholly of full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government and includes, at a minimum— (1)experts in the establishment and administration of early college high schools or other dual enrollment programs from the high school and college perspective; (2)faculty at institutions of higher education and secondary school teachers with expertise in dual enrollment; and (3)experts in the education of at-risk students.

Grants to States

(a)

In general

The Secretary is authorized to award six-year grants to State agencies responsible for secondary or postsecondary education for efforts to support or establish statewide dual enrollment programs. (b)

Application

To receive a grant under this section, a State agency shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and including such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (c)

Contents of Application

At a minimum, the application described in subsection (b) shall include— (1)how the State will create outreach programs to ensure that middle and high school students and their families are aware of dual enrollment programs in the State; (2)how the State will provide technical assistance to local dual enrollment programs as appropriate; (3)how the State will ensure the quality of state and local dual enrollment programs; and (4)such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (d)

State activities

A State receiving a grant under this section shall use such funds for— (1)planning and implementing a statewide strategy for expanding access to dual enrollment programs for students who are underrepresented in higher education; and (2)providing technical assistance to local dual enrollment programs.

10.

Reporting and oversight

(a)

Reporting by grantees

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall establish uniform guidelines for all grantees concerning information such grantees annually shall report to the Secretary to demonstrate a grantee’s progress toward achieving the goals of this Act. (2)

Contents of report

At a minimum, the report described in paragraph (1) shall include, for eligible entities receiving funds under section 7, for each category of students described in section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: (A)The number of students. (B)The percentage of students scoring advanced, proficient, basic, and below basic on the assessments described in section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (C)The performance of students on other assessments or measurements of achievement. (D)The number of secondary school credits earned. (E)The number of postsecondary credits earned. (F)Attendance rate. (G)Graduation rate. (H)Placement in postsecondary education or advanced training, in military service, and in employment. (b)

Reporting by the secretary

The Secretary annually shall compile and analyze the information described in subsection (a) and report it to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, which report shall include identification of best practices for achieving the goals of this Act. (c)

Monitoring visits

The Secretary’s designee shall visit each grantee at least once for the purpose of helping the grantee achieve the goals of this Act and to monitor the grantee’s progress toward achieving such goals. (d)

National evaluation

Within six months of the appropriation of funds for this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent organization to perform an evaluation of the grants awarded under this Act. Such evaluation shall apply rigorous procedures to obtain valid and reliable data concerning participants’ outcomes by social and academic characteristics and monitor the progress of students from high school to and through postsecondary education. (e)

Technical assistance

The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in early college high schools and dual enrollment programs and shall disseminate such best practices among eligible entities and State and local educational agencies.

11.

Rules of construction

(a)

Employees

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded to the employees of local educational agencies (including schools) or institutions of higher education under Federal, State, or local laws (including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements between such employees and their employers. (b)

Graduation rate

A student who graduates from an early college high school supported under this Act in the standard number of years for graduation described in the eligible entity’s application shall be considered to have graduated on time for purposes of section 1111(b)(2)(C)(6) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.