Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)An educated workforce is crucial to the success of the United States economy. Access to higher education for all students is critical to maintaining an educated workforce. More than 80 percent of the 23,000,000 jobs that will be created in the next 10 years will require postsecondary education. Only 36 percent of all 18- to 24-year olds are currently enrolled in postsecondary education. (2)Workers with bachelor’s degrees earn on average $17,000 more annually than workers with only high school diplomas. Workers who earn bachelor’s degrees can be expected to earn $1,000,000 more over a lifetime than those who only finished high school. (3)The ACT recommends that schools— (A)provide student guidance to engage students in college and career awareness; and (B)ensure that students enroll in a rigorous curriculum to prepare for postsecondary education. (4)The Department of Education reports that the average student-to-counselor ratio in high schools is 315:1. This falls far above the ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association, which is 250:1. While school counselors at private schools spend an average of 58 percent of their time on postsecondary education counseling, counselors in public schools spend an average of 25 percent of their time on postsecondary education counseling. (5)While just 57 percent of students from the lowest income quartile enroll in college, 87 percent of students from the top income quartile enroll. Of students who were in eighth grade in 2000, only 20 percent of the lowest-income students are projected to attain a bachelor’s degree by 2012, compared to 68 percent of the highest income group, according to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in 2006. (6)A recent report by the Consortium on Chicago School Research found that only 41 percent of Chicago public school students who aspire to go to college took the steps necessary to apply to and enroll in a 4-year institution of higher education. The report also reveals that only 1/3 of Chicago students who want to attend a 4-year institution of higher education enroll in a school that matches their qualifications. Even among students qualified to attend a selective college, 29 percent enrolled in a community college or did not enroll at all. (7)The Consortium found that many Chicago public school students do not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, even though students who apply for Federal financial aid are 50 percent more likely to enroll in college. Sixty-five percent of public secondary school counselors at low-income schools believe that students and parents are discouraged from considering college as an option due to lack of knowledge about financial aid. (8)Low-income and first-generation families often overestimate the cost of tuition and underestimate available aid; students from these backgrounds have access to fewer college application resources and financial aid resources than other groups, and are less likely to fulfill their postsecondary plans as a result. (9)College preparation intervention programs can double the college-going rates for at-risk youth, can expand students’ educational aspirations, and can boost college enrollment and graduation rates.

Grant program

(a)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

ESEA definitions

The terms local educational agency and Secretary have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (2)

Eligible local educational agency

The term eligible local educational agency means a local educational agency in which a majority of the secondary schools served by the agency are high-need secondary schools. (3)

High-need secondary school

The term high-need secondary school means a secondary school in which not less than 50 percent of the students enrolled in the school are— (A)eligible for a school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act; (B)eligible to be counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)); or (C)in families eligible for assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). (b)

Competitive grants to eligible local educational agencies

The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in this section. (c)

Duration

Grants awarded under this section shall be 5 years in duration. (d)

Distribution

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the grants are distributed among the different geographic regions of the United States, and among eligible local educational agencies serving urban and rural areas. (e)

Applications

(1)

In general

Each eligible local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (2)

Contents

Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of the program to be carried out with grant funds and— (A)a description of the secondary school population to be targeted by the program, the particular college-access needs of such population, and the resources available for meeting such needs; (B)an outline of the objectives of the program, including goals for increasing the number of college applications submitted by each student, increasing Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion rates, and increasing school-wide college enrollment rates across the local educational agency; (C)a description of the local educational agency’s plan to work cooperatively with programs funded under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq. and 1070a–21 et seq.), including the extent to which the agency commits to sharing facilities, providing access to students, and developing compatible record-keeping systems; (D)a description of the activities, services, and training to be provided by the program, including a plan to provide structure and support for all students in the college search, planning, and application process; (E)a description of the methods to be used to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of the program; (F)an assurance that grant funds will be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds available to carry out activities of the type carried out under the grant; (G)an explanation of the method used for calculating college enrollment rates for each secondary school served by the eligible local educational agency that is based on externally verified data, and, when possible, aligned with existing State or local methods; and (H)a plan to make the program sustainable over time, including the use of matching funds from non-Federal sources. (3)

Method of calculating enrollment rates

(A)

In general

A method included in an application under paragraph (2)(G)— (i)shall, at a minimum, track students’ first-time enrollment in institutions of higher education; and (ii)may track progress toward completion of a postsecondary degree. (B)

Development in conjunction

An eligible local educational agency may develop a method pursuant to paragraph (2)(G) in conjunction with an existing public or private entity that currently maintains such a method. (f)

Special consideration

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications from eligible local educational agencies serving schools with the highest percentages of poverty. (g)

Use of funds

(1)

In general

An eligible local educational agency that receives a grant under this section shall develop and implement, or expand, a program to increase the number of low-income students who enroll in postsecondary educational institutions, including institutions with competitive admissions criteria. (2)

Required use of funds

Each program funded under this section shall— (A)provide professional development to secondary school teachers and counselors in postsecondary education advising; (B)ensure that each student has not less than 1 meeting, not later than the first semester of the first year of secondary school, with a school counselor, college access personnel (including personnel involved in programs funded under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq. and 1070a–21 et seq.)), trained teacher, or other professional or organization, such as a community-based organization, approved by the school, to discuss postsecondary options, outline postsecondary goals, and create a plan to achieve those goals; (C)provide information to all students enrolled in the secondary schools served by the eligible local educational agency and parents beginning in the first year of secondary school on— (i)the economic and social benefits of higher education; (ii)college expenses, including information about expenses by institutional type, differences between sticker price and net price, and expenses beyond tuition; (iii)paying for college, including the availability, eligibility, and variety of financial aid; and (iv)the forms and processes associated with applying for financial aid; and (D)ensure that each secondary school served by the eligible local educational agency develops a comprehensive, school-wide plan of action to strengthen the college-going culture within the school. (3)

Allowable use of funds

Each program funded under this section may— (A)establish mandatory postsecondary planning classes for secondary school seniors to assist the seniors in the college preparation and application process; (B)hire and train postsecondary coaches with expertise in the college-going process; (C)increase the number of counselors who specialize in the college-going process serving students; (D)train student leaders to assist in the creation of a college-going culture in their schools; (E)provide opportunities for students to explore postsecondary opportunities outside of the school setting, such as college fairs, career fairs, college tours, workplace visits, or other similar activities; (F)assist students with test preparation, college applications, Federal financial aid applications, and scholarship applications; (G)establish partnerships with programs funded under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq. and 1070a–21 et seq.)), and with community and nonprofit organizations to increase college-going rates at secondary schools served by the eligible local educational agency; (H)provide long-term postsecondary follow up with graduates of the secondary schools served by the eligible local educational agencies, including increasing alumni involvement in mentoring and advising roles within the secondary school; (I)create and maintain a postsecondary access center in the school setting that provides information on colleges and universities, career opportunities, and financial aid options and provide a setting in which professionals working in programs funded under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq. and 1070a–21 et seq.)), can meet with students; (J)deliver college and career planning curriculum as a stand-alone course, or embedded in other classes, for all students in secondary school; and (K)increase parent involvement in preparing for postsecondary opportunities. (h)

Supplement, not supplant

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds available to carry out the activities described in this section. (i)

Technical assistance

The Secretary, directly or through contracting through a full and open process with 1 or more organizations that have demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to raise school-wide college enrollment rates in local educational agencies in not less than 3 States, shall provide technical assistance to grantees in carrying out this section. The technical assistance shall— (1)provide assistance in the calculation and analysis of college-going rates for all grant recipients; (2)provide semi-annual analysis to each grant recipient recommending best practices based on a comparison of the recipient's data with that of secondary schools with similar demographics; and (3)provide annual best practices conferences for all grant recipients. (j)

Evaluation and reporting requirements

(1)

Measure enrollment and track data

Each eligible local educational agency that receives a grant under this section shall— (A)measure externally verified school-wide college enrollment; and (B)track data that leads to increased college going, including college applications sent and Free Application for Federal Student Aid forms filed. (2)

Evaluations by grantees

Each eligible local educational agency that receives a grant under this section shall— (A)conduct periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the grant toward increasing school-wide college-going rates; (B)use such evaluations to refine and improve activities conducted with the grant and the performance measures for such activities; and (C)make the results of such evaluations publicly available, including by providing public notice of such availability. (3)

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the results of— (A)the evaluations conducted under paragraph (2); and (B)an evaluation conducted by the Secretary to analyze the effectiveness and efficacy of the activities conducted with grants under this section.