Grants for College Success

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to authorize grants to eligible entities to— (1)build and sustain an understanding among secondary school students from disadvantaged populations of the need for higher levels of educational attainment and lifelong learning; and (2)increase the number of low-income students from underserved populations and disadvantaged backgrounds who enter and complete college. (b)

Grants authorized

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Education shall award 5-year grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out the purpose of this Act through the activities and services described in subsection (d). (c)

Federal share; non-Federal share

(1)

Federal share

The amount of the Federal share under this section for a fiscal year shall be not be more than 85 percent of the costs of the activities and services described in subsection (d) that are carried out under the grant. (2)

Non-federal share

The amount of the non-Federal share under this section shall be not less than 15 percent of the costs of the activities and services described in subsection (d). Such non-Federal share may be provided in cash or in-kind, or both. (d)

Uses of funds

(1)

In general

Grants awarded under this Act shall be used to— (A)provide mentoring, academic support, and supportive services to prepare low-income students to attend institutions of higher education; (B)conduct outreach programs to encourage low-income students to pursue higher education, including providing information about Federal and State financial aid options; and (C)provide other activities to ensure that an increasing number of low-income students attend institutions of higher education. (2)

Priority

In carrying out the activities and services described in paragraph (1), an eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act shall give priority to students who are from families with incomes below the poverty line. (e)

Annual report

Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this Act shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary of Education on the activities and services provided with such grant funds, including— (1)each activity and service that was provided to low-income students over the course of the year; (2)the cost of providing each such activity and service; (3)the number of low-income students who received mentoring and outreach services from the entity; and (4)the outcomes for students who participated in an activity or received services provided with such grant funds, including high school graduation rates and enrollment rates at institutions of higher education. (f)

Definitions

For the purposes of this Act: (1)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means a nonprofit organization that— (A)has as its primary purpose to provide scholarships and support services to students from underserved and disadvantaged populations to increase the number of such students who enter and complete a program of study at institutions of higher education; (B)has been in operation for not less than 6 years and serves secondary school students; (C)is actively collaborating with the State in which it is headquartered; (D)has received financial support from such State; (E)has raised not less than $75,000,000 from private or other nongovernmental sources for scholarship aid and support programs for low-income students; (F)has a business plan in place to expand into additional States; (G)provides scholarships and support programs to students in more than one State; (H)during the 3-year period before applying for a grant under this Act, has served a significant number of students and awarded a significant number of scholarships through all of its programs, as determined by the Secretary; and (I)has provided scholarships and mentoring services for a significant number of baccalaureate degree graduates, as determined by the Secretary, since the entity was established. (2)

Low-income student

The term low-income student means a student who is determined by a local educational agency to be from a low-income family using the measures described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)). (3)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002), except that such term does not include an institution described in subsection (a)(1)(C) of that section. (4)

Poverty line

The term poverty line means the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act) applicable to a family of the size involved. (5)

State

The term State means each of the several States and the District of Columbia. (g)

Authorization of appropriation

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.