Bill > S1347

This bill seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs and early college high school programs, which allow high school students to earn postsecondary credits while still in high school. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Education to award 5-year grants to eligible educational institutions to develop and implement these programs, with priority given to institutions serving low-income students, rural schools, and first-generation college students. Grant funds can be used for various purposes, including professional development for educators, designing rigorous course sequences, establishing course articulation processes, creating outreach programs, and helping students understand credit transfer. Institutions can use the grants to cover tuition, fees, books, and up to 20% of transportation costs, ensuring that students do not pay out-of-pocket expenses for postsecondary courses. Recipients must conduct independent evaluations of their programs, tracking student enrollment and the number of credits earned and transferred, and submit reports to the Secretary of Education. The Secretary is then required to submit a summarized report to Congress every two years describing the programs' findings and effectiveness.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1347/all-info