[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3158-S3159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1667. 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:
At the end of title I of division F, insert the following:
Subtitle D--Accreditation Reform
SEC. 6131. ACCREDITATION REFORM.
(a) 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;''.
(b) 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
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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.''.
(c) 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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