[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6557-S6559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN:
  S. 1467. A bill to establish an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment 
Demonstration Program; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Early Federal 
Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program Act of 2007.
  This legislation addresses some of the disparities in our current 
system with an innovative way to clear the hurdles that lack of 
information and high costs often form to prevent low-income students 
from planning for a college education. A recent report by the Urban-
Brookings Tax Policy Center concluded that grant programs ``that are 
well targeted and have more predictable and larger awards tend to have 
larger impacts on college-going rates.'' This bill, I am pleased to 
say, establishes such a program.
  Right now, students do not find out if they are eligible for Federal 
aid until their senior year, much less how much they will receive. If 
you have ever put kids through college, like I have, you know that this 
time frame doesn't allow much leeway for planning ahead. An earlier 
promise of Federal aid will begin the conversation about college early 
and continue it through high school. That way, students and their 
families can visualize college in their future, and this goal can 
sustain them through the moment they open their letter of acceptance. 
This promise can be especially important in changing the expectations 
of low-income students whose future plans often don't include college.

[[Page S6558]]

  My bill would provide funding for a demonstration in four states, 
each of which would work with two cohorts of up to 10,000 eighth grade 
students; one in school year 2007-2008, and one in school year 2008-
2009. By using the same eligibility criteria as the National School 
Lunch Program, students would be identified based on need in the eighth 
grade. Eligible students would qualify for the Automatic Zero Expected 
Family Contribution on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, 
FAFSA, guaranteeing them a maximum Pell Grant. Local educational 
agencies with a National School Lunch Program participation rate above 
50 percent would be eligible for the program.
  The Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program would 
also provide funding for states, in conjunction with the participating 
local educational agencies, to conduct targeted information campaigns 
beginning in the eighth grade and continuing through students' senior 
year. These campaigns would inform students and their families of the 
program and provide information about the cost of a college education, 
State and Federal financial assistance, and the average amount of aid 
awards. A targeted information campaign, along with a guarantee of a 
maximum Pell grant, would allow families and students to plan ahead for 
college and develop an expectation that the future includes higher 
education.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1467

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATION 
                   PROGRAM.

       Subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:

     ``SEC. 401B. EARLY FEDERAL PELL GRANT COMMITMENT 
                   DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Demonstration Program Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to carry out 
     an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program 
     under which--
       ``(A) the Secretary awards grants to 4 State educational 
     agencies, in accordance with paragraph (2), to pay the 
     administrative expenses incurred in participating in the 
     demonstration program under this section; and
       ``(B) the Secretary awards Federal Pell Grants to 
     participating students in accordance with this section.
       ``(2) Grants.--
       ``(A) In general.--From amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (g) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized 
     to award grants to 4 State educational agencies to enable the 
     State educational agencies to pay the administrative expenses 
     incurred in participating in a demonstration program under 
     which students in 8th grade who are eligible for a free or 
     reduced price meal receive a commitment to receive a Federal 
     Pell Grant early in their academic careers.
       ``(B) Equal amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants 
     under this section in equal amounts to each of the 4 
     participating State educational agencies.
       ``(b) Demonstration Project Requirements.--Each of the 4 
     demonstration projects assisted under this section shall meet 
     the following requirements:
       ``(1) Participants.--
       ``(A) In general.--The State educational agency shall make 
     participation in the demonstration project available to 2 
     cohorts of students, which shall consist of--
       ``(i) 1 cohort of 8th grade students who begin the 
     participation in academic year 2007-2008; and
       ``(ii) 1 cohort of 8th grade students who begin the 
     participation in academic year 2008-2009.
       ``(B) Students in each cohort.--Each cohort of students 
     shall consist of not more than 10,000 8th grade students who 
     qualify for a free or reduced price meal under the Richard B. 
     Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act 
     of 1966.
       ``(2) Student data.--The State educational agency shall 
     ensure that student data from local educational agencies 
     serving students who participate in the demonstration 
     project, as well as student data from local educational 
     agencies serving a comparable group of students who do not 
     participate in the demonstration project, are available for 
     evaluation of the demonstration project.
       ``(3) Federal pell grant commitment.--Each student who 
     participates in the demonstration project receives a 
     commitment from the Secretary to receive a Federal Pell Grant 
     during the first academic year that student is in attendance 
     at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate, if 
     the student applies for Federal financial aid (via the FAFSA) 
     during the student's senior year of secondary school and 
     during succeeding years.
       ``(4) Applicability of federal pell grant requirements.--
     The requirements of section 401 shall apply to Federal Pell 
     Grants awarded pursuant to this section, except that the 
     amount of each participating student's Federal Pell Grant 
     only shall be calculated by deeming such student to have an 
     expected family contribution equal to zero.
       ``(5) Application process.--The Secretary shall establish 
     an application process to select State educational agencies 
     to participate in the demonstration program and State 
     educational agencies shall establish an application process 
     to select local educational agencies within the State to 
     participate in the demonstration project.
       ``(6) Local educational agency participation.--Subject to 
     the 10,000 statewide student limitation described in 
     paragraph (1), a local educational agency serving students, 
     not less than 50 percent of whom are eligible for a free or 
     reduced price meal under the Richard B. Russell National 
     School Lunch Act or the Child Nutritional Act of 1966, shall 
     be eligible to participate in the demonstration project.
       ``(c) State Educational Agency Applications.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State educational agency desiring 
     to participate in the demonstration program under this 
     section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
     time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each application shall include--
       ``(A) a description of the proposed targeted information 
     campaign for the demonstration project and a copy of the plan 
     described in subsection (f)(2);
       ``(B) a description of the student population that will 
     receive an early commitment to receive a Federal Pell Grant 
     under this section;
       ``(C) an assurance that the State educational agency will 
     fully cooperate with the ongoing evaluation of the 
     demonstration project; and
       ``(D) such other information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(d) Selection Considerations.--
       ``(1) Selection of state educational agencies.--In 
     selecting State educational agencies to participate in the 
     demonstration program, the Secretary shall consider--
       ``(A) the number and quality of State educational agency 
     applications received;
       ``(B) the Department's capacity to oversee and monitor each 
     State educational agency's participation in the demonstration 
     program;
       ``(C) a State educational agency's--
       ``(i) financial responsibility;
       ``(ii) administrative capability;
       ``(iii) commitment to focusing State resources, in addition 
     to any resources provided under part A of title I of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, on students 
     who receive assistance under such part A;
       ``(iv) the ability and plans of a State educational agency 
     to run an effective and thorough targeted information 
     campaign for students served by local educational agencies 
     eligible to participate in the demonstration project; and
       ``(v) ensuring the participation in the demonstration 
     program of a diverse group of students with respect to 
     ethnicity and gender.
       ``(2) Local educational agency.--In selecting local 
     educational agencies to participate in a demonstration 
     project under this section, the State educational agency 
     shall consider--
       ``(A) the number and quality of local educational agency 
     applications received;
       ``(B) the State educational agency's capacity to oversee 
     and monitor each local educational agency's participation in 
     the demonstration project;
       ``(C) a local educational agency's--
       ``(i) financial responsibility;
       ``(ii) administrative capability;
       ``(iii) commitment to focusing local resources, in addition 
     to any resources provided under part A of title I of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, on students 
     who receive assistance under such part A;
       ``(iv) the ability and plans of a local educational agency 
     to run an effective and thorough targeted information 
     campaign for students served by the local educational agency; 
     and
       ``(v) ensuring the participation in the demonstration 
     project of a diverse group of students with respect to 
     ethnicity and gender.
       ``(e) Evaluation.--
       ``(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under section 
     (g) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more 
     than $1,000,000 to award a grant or contract to an 
     organization outside the Department for an independent 
     evaluation of the impact of the demonstration program 
     assisted under this section.
       ``(2) Competitive basis.--The grant or contract shall be 
     awarded on a competitive basis.
       ``(3) Matters evaluated.--The evaluation described in this 
     subsection shall--
       ``(A) determine the number of individuals who were 
     encouraged by the demonstration program to pursue higher 
     education;
       ``(B) identify the barriers to the effectiveness of the 
     demonstration program;

[[Page S6559]]

       ``(C) assess the cost-effectiveness of the demonstration 
     program in improving access to higher education;
       ``(D) identify the reasons why participants in the 
     demonstration program either received or did not receive a 
     Federal Pell Grant;
       ``(E) identify intermediate outcomes (relative to 
     postsecondary education attendance), such as whether 
     participants--
       ``(i) were more likely to take a college-prep curriculum 
     while in secondary school;
       ``(ii) submitted any college applications; and
       ``(iii) took the PSAT, SAT, or ACT;
       ``(F) identify the number of individuals participating in 
     the demonstration program who pursued an associate's degree 
     or a bachelor's degree, as well as other forms of 
     postsecondary education;
       ``(G) compare the findings of the demonstration program 
     with respect to participants to comparison groups (of similar 
     size and demographics) that did not participate in the 
     demonstration program; and
       ``(H) identify the impact on the parents of students 
     eligible to participate in the demonstration program.
       ``(4) Dissemination.--The findings of the evaluation shall 
     be widely disseminated to the public by the organization 
     conducting the evaluation as well as by the Secretary.
       ``(f) Targeted Information Campaign.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each State educational agency receiving 
     a grant under this section shall, in cooperation with the 
     participating local educational agencies within the State and 
     the Secretary, develop a targeted information campaign for 
     the demonstration program assisted under this section.
       ``(2) Plan.--Each State educational agency receiving a 
     grant under this section shall include in the application 
     submitted under subsection (c) a written plan for their 
     proposed targeted information campaign. The plan shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) Outreach.--Outreach to students and their families, 
     at a minimum, at the beginning and end of each academic year 
     of the demonstration project.
       ``(B) Distribution.--How the State educational agency plans 
     to provide the outreach described in subparagraph (A) and to 
     provide the information described in subparagraph (C).
       ``(C) Information.--The annual provision by the State 
     educational agency to all students and families participating 
     in the demonstration program of information regarding--
       ``(i) the estimated statewide average higher education 
     institution cost data for each academic year, which cost data 
     shall be disaggregated by--

       ``(I) type of institution, including--

       ``(aa) 2-year public colleges;
       ``(bb) 4-year public colleges; and
       ``(cc) 4-year private colleges;

       ``(II) by component, including--

       ``(aa) tuition and fees; and
       ``(bb) room and board;
       ``(ii) Federal Pell Grants, including--

       ``(I) the maximum Federal Pell Grant for each academic 
     year;
       ``(II) when and how to apply for a Federal Pell Grant; and
       ``(III) what the application process for a Federal Pell 
     Grant requires;

       ``(iii) State-specific college savings programs;
       ``(iv) State-based merit aid;
       ``(v) State-based financial aid; and
       ``(vi) Federal financial aid available to students, 
     including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid 
     and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs.
       ``(3) Cohorts.--The information described in paragraph 
     (2)(C) shall be provided to 2 cohorts of students annually 
     for the duration of the students' participation in the 
     demonstration program. The 2 cohorts shall consist of--
       ``(A) 1 cohort of 8th grade students who begin the 
     participation in academic year 2007-2008; and
       ``(B) 1 cohort of 8th grade students who begin the 
     participation in academic year 2008-2009.
       ``(4) Reservation.--Each State educational agency receiving 
     a grant under this section shall reserve $200,000 of the 
     grant funds received each fiscal year for each of the 2 
     cohorts of students (for a total reservation of $400,000 each 
     fiscal year) served by the State to carry out their targeted 
     information campaign described in this subsection.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       ``(1) $1,300,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which--
       ``(A) $500,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
     (e); and
       ``(B) $800,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
     (f)(2)(C);
       ``(2) $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $1,600,000 
     shall be available to carry out subsection (f)(2)(C);
       ``(3) $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $1,600,000 
     shall be available to carry out subsection (f)(2)(C);
       ``(4) $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which--
       ``(A) $500,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
     (e); and
       ``(B) $1,600,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
     (f)(2)(C);
       ``(5) $1,600,000 for fiscal year 2012, of which $1,600,000 
     shall be available to carry out subsection (f)(2)(C);
       ``(6) $14,600,000 for fiscal year 2013, of which--
       ``(A) $800,000 shall be available to carry out subsection 
     (f)(2)(C); and
       ``(B) $13,800,000 shall be available for Federal Pell 
     Grants provided in accordance with this section; and
       ``(7) $13,800,000 for fiscal year 2014, of which 
     $13,800,000 shall be available for Federal Pell Grants 
     provided in accordance with this section.''.
                                 ______