[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3156-S3157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1656. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to 
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the 
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub 
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, 
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to 
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 2106 and insert the following:

     SEC. 2106. ACCREDITATION REFORM.

       (a) Transfer of Funds.--The Director, acting through the 
     Directorate, shall transfer to the Secretary of Education 
     amounts to fund Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part A 
     of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1070a et. seq.) and Federal student loans under part D of 
     title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a 
     et seq.). Of such funds, not more than 5 percent may be 
     transferred to States for administrative costs associated 
     with implementing the accreditation reform program under 
     subpart 4 of part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.).
       (b) Definition of Institution of Higher Education.--Section 
     102(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1002(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
       ``(B) if accredited by an authorized accreditation 
     authority in a State that has an alternative accreditation 
     agreement with the Secretary, as described in section 498C--
       ``(i) an institution that provides postsecondary education;
       ``(ii) a postsecondary apprenticeship program; or
       ``(iii) a postsecondary education course or program 
     provided by an institution of postsecondary education, a 
     nonprofit organization, or a for-profit organization or 
     business;''.
       (c) State Alternative Accreditation.--Part H of title IV of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099a et seq.) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``Subpart 4--State Alternative Accreditation

     ``SEC. 498C. STATE ALTERNATIVE ACCREDITATION.

       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, a State may establish an alternative accreditation 
     system for the purpose of establishing institutions that 
     provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education 
     courses or programs as eligible for funding under title IV if 
     the State submits a plan to the Secretary for the 
     establishment of the alternative accreditation system. Such 
     institutions, courses, or programs may include--
       ``(1) institutions that provide postsecondary education 
     that culminates in a certification, credential, or degree;
       ``(2) postsecondary apprenticeship programs that culminate 
     in a certification, credential, or degree;
       ``(3) any other postsecondary education course or program 
     offered at an institution of postsecondary education, a 
     nonprofit organization, or a for-profit organization or 
     business, that culminates in a certification, credential, or 
     degree; and
       ``(4) any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) 
     through (3) that do not award a postsecondary certification, 
     credential, or degree, provided that such entity provides 
     credit that will be accepted toward a postsecondary 
     certification, credential, or degree at one or more of the 
     entities described in paragraphs (1) through (3).
       ``(b) Alternative Accreditation Notification.--The 
     alternative accreditation plan described in subsection (a) 
     shall include the following:
       ``(1) The State's plan for designating one or more 
     authorized accrediting entities within the State, such as the 
     State Department of Education, another State agency, an 
     industry-specific accrediting agency, or another entity, and 
     an explanation of the process through which the State will 
     select such authorized accrediting entities.
       ``(2) The standards or criteria that an institution that 
     provides postsecondary education and a postsecondary 
     education course or program must meet in order to--
       ``(A) receive an initial accreditation as part of the 
     alternative accreditation system; and
       ``(B) maintain such accreditation.
       ``(3) A description of the appeals process through which an 
     institution that provides postsecondary education or a 
     postsecondary education course or program may appeal to an 
     authorized accrediting entity if such institution, course, or 
     program is denied accreditation under the State alternative 
     accreditation system.
       ``(4) Any State policy regarding public accessibility to 
     certain information relating to institutions that provide 
     postsecondary education and postsecondary education courses 
     and programs accredited under the State alternative 
     accreditation system, including--
       ``(A) the information described in subsection (e)(1); and
       ``(B) information about the rates of job placement for 
     individuals that have graduated from an institution or 
     completed a course or program that is accredited under the 
     State alternative accreditation system, if available.
       ``(5) An assurance by the State that under the State 
     alternative accreditation system, only institutions that 
     provide postsecondary education and postsecondary education 
     courses or programs that provide a postsecondary 
     certification, credential, or degree, or credits toward a 
     postsecondary certification, credential, or degree (as 
     defined by the State in accordance with paragraph (6)) will 
     be accredited.
       ``(6) The State's definition of a postsecondary 
     certification, credential, or degree, as such term applies to 
     the requirement described in paragraph (5).
       ``(7) A description of the agreements that the State will 
     enter into with institutions that provide postsecondary 
     education and postsecondary education courses or programs 
     that are accredited under the alternative accreditation 
     system for purposes of accreditation regarding requirements 
     for instructional time, in lieu of the requirements described 
     under section 481(a)(2).
       ``(8) A description of the agreements that the State will 
     enter into with institutions that provide postsecondary 
     education and postsecondary education courses or programs 
     that are accredited under the alternative accreditation 
     system regarding requirements for credit hours or clock 
     hours, or other measures of student learning, in lieu of the 
     requirements described under section 481(b).
       ``(c) Review and Approval.--Not later than 30 days after 
     the Secretary receives a plan from a State regarding an 
     alternative accreditation system, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the State and Congress, and make publicly available, a 
     response to the State's plan. The Secretary shall approve the 
     plan and allow the State to establish the alternative 
     accreditation system if the plan meets the requirements 
     described in subsection (b).
       ``(d) Time Limit.--Each plan approved under subsection (c) 
     shall allow a State to carry out an alternative accreditation 
     system in the State for a period of 5 years.
       ``(e) Reporting Requirements.--States that establish an 
     alternative accreditation system shall submit a report to the 
     Secretary every 3 years following the implementation of the 
     alternative accreditation system. The report shall include--
       ``(1) in the case of a postsecondary education course or 
     program that is accredited through the State alternative 
     accreditation system--
       ``(A) the number and percentage of students who 
     successfully complete each such postsecondary education 
     course or program; and
       ``(B) for postsecondary education courses or programs that 
     lead to a certification, credential, or degree, the number of 
     students in such course or program; and
       ``(2) in the case of an institution that provides 
     postsecondary education that is accredited through the State 
     alternative accreditation system--
       ``(A) the number and percentage of students who 
     successfully obtain a postsecondary certification, 
     credential, or degree from such institution; and
       ``(B) the number and percentage of students who do not 
     successfully obtain a postsecondary certification, 
     credential, or degree from such institution but do obtain 
     credit from such institution toward a postsecondary degree, 
     credential, or certification; and
       ``(3) a description of any requirements for third-party 
     verification of information contained in the report.''.
       (d) Title IV Eligibility Requirements.--Part G of title IV 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088 et seq.) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 494A. STATE ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMS, OR 
                   COURSES.

       ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 
     institution, program, or course that is eligible for funds 
     under this title in accordance with section 102(a)(1)(B) and 
     meets the requirements of section 498C--
       ``(1) shall not be required to meet the requirements of 
     section 496; and
       ``(2) shall not be required to meet the requirements 
     described in subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 481.''.

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