Community College Student Success Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3578 To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and carry out a grant program to make grants to eligible institutions to plan and implement programs that provide comprehensive support services and resources de- signed to increase transfer and graduation rates at community colleges, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 27, 2019 Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Miss RICE of New York, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. ESPAILLAT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and carry out a grant program to make grants to eligible institu- tions to plan and implement programs that provide com- prehensive support services and resources designed to increase transfer and graduation rates at community col- leges, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3578 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community College 2 Student Success Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS GRANT 4 PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. 5 From the amounts appropriated under section 10, the 6 Secretary of Education shall establish and carry out the 7 community college student success grant program to 8 award grants under sections 3 and 4, on a competitive 9 basis, to eligible institutions to plan and implement com- 10 munity college student success programs designed to in- 11 crease— 12 (1) the rate at which eligible students graduate 13 from a program of study at such eligible institution 14 within 150 percent of the normal time for gradua- 15 tion; and 16 (2) transfer rates of eligible students. 17 SEC. 3. GRANTS TO PLAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT 18 SUCCESS PROGRAMS. 19 (a) PLANNING GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—From the 20 amounts appropriated to carry out this section under sec- 21 tion 10 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award plan- 22 ning grants for such fiscal year, on a competitive basis, 23 to eligible institutions to develop plans for community col- 24 lege student success programs. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3578 IH (b) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this section 1 shall be for a 1-year period. 2 (c) PEER REVIEW PROCESS; PRIORITY.—In award- 3 ing grants under this section for a fiscal year, the Sec- 4 retary shall— 5 (1) carry out a peer review process that— 6 (A) requires that each application sub- 7 mitted under subsection (d) be peer reviewed by 8 a panel of readers composed of individuals se- 9 lected by the Secretary, which shall include— 10 (i) not less than 50 percent of read- 11 ers— 12 (I) who are not employees of the 13 Federal Government; and 14 (II) who have relevant research 15 or practical experience with respect to 16 student support programs designed to 17 increase graduation rates and transfer 18 rates at public 2-year institutions of 19 higher education; and 20 (ii) to the maximum extent prac- 21 ticable, individuals who are members of 22 groups underrepresented in higher edu- 23 cation, including African Americans, His- 24 panics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3578 IH Asian Americans, and Native American 1 Pacific Islanders (including Native Hawai- 2 ians); and 3 (B) ensures that no individual assigned 4 under subparagraph (A) to review an applica- 5 tion has any conflict of interest with regard to 6 that application that may make the individual 7 unable to impartially conduct such review; and 8 (2) give priority to eligible institutions that are 9 eligible to receive funding under title III or V of the 10 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1051 et 11 seq.). 12 (d) APPLICATION.—An eligible institution desiring a 13 grant under this section shall submit an application to the 14 Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 15 such information as the Secretary may require, which shall 16 include— 17 (1) the graduation rate and transfer rate for 18 the most recent academic year for which data are 19 available for eligible students and all students, re- 20 spectively; 21 (2) an analysis of how implementing a commu- 22 nity college student success program may improve 23 the graduation rate or transfer rate for eligible stu- 24 dents; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 3578 IH (3) an analysis of the methods the eligible insti- 1 tution has previously used to improve the graduation 2 rate or transfer rate with respect to eligible students 3 and all students, respectively. 4 (e) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible institution that re- 5 ceives a grant under this section shall use the grant to 6 develop a plan to implement a community college student 7 success program at the eligible institution. 8 (f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 9 on which an eligible institution receives a grant under this 10 section, such eligible institution shall submit to the Sec- 11 retary a report that includes— 12 (1) a plan for implementing a community col- 13 lege student success program at the eligible institu- 14 tion, including— 15 (A) the ambitious outcome goals for 16 achieving significant improvements in gradua- 17 tion rates and transfer rates for eligible stu- 18 dents and all students, respectively, as such 19 rates are defined by the eligible institution, in 20 consultation with the Secretary, before the end 21 of the grant period; 22 (B) the number of such eligible students 23 who will participate in such program, including 24 how such eligible students will be identified, re- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 3578 IH ferred, and selected, in cases where the interest 1 in the program is larger than the budget for the 2 program; 3 (C) the demographics (including income, 4 race, and gender) of such eligible students; 5 (D) based on the most recent academic 6 year for which data are available, disaggregated 7 by eligible students and all students— 8 (i) graduation rates; 9 (ii) transfer rates; 10 (iii) retention rates; 11 (iv) rates of completion of remedial 12 courses for students required to complete 13 such courses; and 14 (v) average number of credits at- 15 tempted and average number of credits 16 earned; 17 (E) an analysis of the financial needs of 18 the eligible students described in subparagraph 19 (B); 20 (F) an analysis of how the eligible institu- 21 tion will collaborate across departments at the 22 institution and with external partners to imple- 23 ment a community college student success pro- 24 gram, including the detailed roles and respon- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 3578 IH sibilities of each potential external partner (in- 1 cluding each investor, State or local government 2 entity, or other stakeholder); 3 (G) a description of how the eligible insti- 4 tution will effectively staff a community college 5 student success program; and 6 (H) a timeline for the implementation of 7 such program; 8 (2) a budgetary analysis that includes— 9 (A) a description of how the eligible insti- 10 tution will— 11 (i) provide non-Federal funds for such 12 program under subsection (d) of section 4; 13 and 14 (ii) meet the requirement of sub- 15 section (b)(3) of such section; and 16 (B) a description of how the eligible insti- 17 tution will continue to fund such program after 18 the end of the grant period for the grant 19 awarded to the institution under section 4; 20 (3) a description of the data system the eligible 21 institution will use to track and evaluate the 22 progress of eligible students participating in such 23 program; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 3578 IH (4) an analysis of the institutional barriers that 1 may hinder implementing such program at such eli- 2 gible institution; and 3 (5) such other information as the Secretary 4 may require. 5 SEC. 4. GRANTS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY COLLEGE 6 STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS. 7 (a) IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 8 (1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appro- 9 priated to carry out this section under section 10 for 10 a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants for 11 such fiscal year, on a competitive basis, to eligible 12 institutions awarded a grant under section 3 to im- 13 plement community college student success pro- 14 grams. 15 (2) CONSULTATION.—In awarding grants under 16 this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall con- 17 sult with the independent evaluator before finalizing 18 which eligible institutions will receive such a grant 19 for such fiscal year. 20 (b) REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION.—To be eligible 21 to receive a grant under this section, an eligible institution 22 shall meet the following requirements: 23 (1) The eligible institution was awarded a grant 24 under section 3 at least 1 year before such eligible 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 3578 IH institution submits an application under subsection 1 (e). 2 (2) The eligible institution submits an applica- 3 tion under subsection (e). 4 (3) The eligible institution demonstrates, on the 5 date of the application described in subsection (e), 6 the availability of non-Federal funding for the 7 matching funds required under subparagraphs (A), 8 (B), and (C) of subsection (d)(1). 9 (c) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this section 10 shall be for a 5-year period. 11 (d) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION.— 12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para- 13 graph (2), an eligible institution awarded a grant 14 under this section shall contribute in cash from non- 15 Federal sources, the following: 16 (A) For the second year of the grant pe- 17 riod, an amount equal to 20 percent of the cost 18 of carrying out the community college student 19 success program at the institution for such 20 year. 21 (B) For the third year of the grant period, 22 an amount equal to 40 percent of the cost of 23 carrying out such program for such year. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 3578 IH (C) For the fourth year of the grant pe- 1 riod, an amount equal to 60 percent of the cost 2 of carrying out such program for such year. 3 (D) For the fifth year of the grant period, 4 an amount equal to 80 percent of the cost of 5 carrying out such program for such year. 6 (2) EXCEPTION.— 7 (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para- 8 graph (1), with respect to an exempt institution 9 awarded a grant under this section, for each 10 year of the grant period beginning with the sec- 11 ond year through the fifth year, the Secretary 12 shall not require the institution to make a cash 13 contribution from non-Federal sources in an 14 amount that is greater than the amount equal 15 to 5 percent of the cost of carrying out the 16 community college student success program at 17 the institution for such year. 18 (B) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 19 paragraph: 20 (i) EXEMPT INSTITUTION.—The term 21 ‘‘exempt institution’’ means an eligible in- 22 stitution that is— 23 (I) a Tribal college or university; 24 or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 3578 IH (II) an institution located in the 1 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 2 American Samoa, the United States 3 Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of 4 the Northern Mariana Islands, the 5 Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 6 Federated States of Micronesia, or the 7 Republic of Palau. 8 (ii) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVER- 9 SITY.—The term ‘‘Tribal college or univer- 10 sity’’ has the meaning given the term in 11 section 316 of the Higher Education Act 12 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c). 13 (e) APPLICATION.— 14 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution desir- 15 ing a grant under this section shall submit an appli- 16 cation to the Secretary at such time, in such man- 17 ner, and containing such information as the Sec- 18 retary may require, which shall include a copy of the 19 report described in section 3(f). 20 (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE INSTITU- 21 TIONS THAT REAPPLY.—An institution that submits 22 an application under paragraph (1) that is not the 23 first application submitted by such institution under 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 3578 IH such paragraph shall include the following in such 1 application: 2 (A) The number of applications such eligi- 3 ble institution has submitted under paragraph 4 (1) and the dates on which such applications 5 were submitted. 6 (B) A description of the changes the eligi- 7 ble institution has made since the most recent 8 application submitted under paragraph (1) to 9 improve the plan to implement a community 10 college student success program at such eligible 11 institution. 12 (3) REVIEW.—Not later than 60 days after re- 13 ceiving an application under this subsection, the Sec- 14 retary shall approve or deny such application. 15 (f) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible institu- 16 tion that receives a grant under this section shall use the 17 grant funds to— 18 (1) implement a community college student suc- 19 cess program; 20 (2) regularly review— 21 (A) data to monitor the academic progress 22 of eligible students participating in such pro- 23 gram; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:08 Jul 11, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3578.IH H3578 jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS 13 •HR 3578 IH (B) the meeting and program participation 1 requirements described in section 9(1); and 2 (3) cover the employment of adm [Text truncated for display. 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