20 USC 1161 - Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program

View all text of Part Y [§ 1161y - § 1161y]

§ 1161y. Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program

(a) Demonstration program authority

(1) In generalThe Secretary is authorized to carry out an Early Federal Pell Grant Commitment Demonstration Program under which—

(A) the Secretary awards grants to four 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 and consistent with section 1070a of this title.

(2) Grants

(A) In general

(B) Equal amounts

(b) Demonstration project requirementsEach of the four demonstration projects assisted under this section shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Participants

(A) In generalThe State educational agency shall make participation in the demonstration project available to two cohorts of students, which shall consist of—

(i) one cohort of eighth grade students who begin participating in the first academic year for which funds have been appropriated to carry out this section; and

(ii) one cohort of eighth grade students who begin participating in the academic year succeeding the academic year described in clause (i).

(B) Students in each cohort

(2) Student data

(3) Federal Pell Grant commitment

(4) Application process

(5) Local educational agency participation

(1) In general

(2) ContentsEach 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 agenciesIn selecting State educational agencies to participate in the demonstration program under this section, the Secretary shall consider—

(A) the number and quality of State educational agency applications received;

(B) a State educational agency’s—

(i) financial responsibility;

(ii) administrative capability;

(iii) commitment to focusing resources, in addition to any resources provided on students who receive assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.];

(iv) ability and plans 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) ability to ensure the participation in the demonstration project of a diverse group of students, including with respect to ethnicity and gender.

(2) Local educational agencyIn 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) a local educational agency’s—

(i) financial responsibility;

(ii) administrative capability;

(iii) commitment to focusing resources on students who receive assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(iv) ability and plans to run an effective and thorough targeted information campaign for students served by the local educational agency; and

(v) ability to ensure the participation in the demonstration project of a diverse group of students.

(e) Evaluation

(1) In general

(2) Competitive basis

(3) Matters evaluatedThe evaluation described in this subsection shall—

(A) determine the number of students who were encouraged by the demonstration program to pursue higher education;

(B) identify the barriers to the effectiveness of the demonstration program;

(D) identify the reasons why participants in the demonstration program either received or did not receive a Federal Pell Grant;

(E) identify intermediate outcomes related to postsecondary education attendance, such as whether participants—

(i) were more likely to take a college-preparatory curriculum while in secondary school;

(ii) submitted any applications to institutions of higher education; and

(iii) took the PSAT, SAT, or ACT;

(F) identify the number of students participating in the demonstration program who pursued an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, or other 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 of the demonstration program on the parents of students eligible to participate in the program.

(4) Dissemination

(f) Targeted information campaign

(1) In general

(2) PlanEach State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall include in the application submitted under subsection (c) a written plan for the State educational agency proposed targeted information campaign. The plan shall include the following:

(A) Outreach

(B) Distribution

(C) InformationThe annual provision by the State educational agency to all students and families participating in the demonstration project of information regarding—

(i) the estimated statewide average cost of attendance for an institution of higher education for each academic year, which cost data shall be disaggregated by—(I) type of institution, including—(aa) two-year public degree-granting institutions of higher education;(bb) four-year public degree-granting institutions of higher education; and(cc) four-year private degree-granting institutions of higher education;(II) component, including—(aa) tuition and fees; and(bb) room and board;

(ii) Federal Pell Grants, including—(I) the Federal Pell Grant amount, determined under section 1070a(b)(2)(A) of this title, for which a student may be eligible for each award 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 postsecondary education savings programs;

(iv) State merit-based financial aid;

(v) State need-based financial aid; and

(vi) Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for such aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs under subchapter IV, such as the Student Guide published by the Department (or any successor to such document).

(3) Cohorts

(4) Reservation

(g) Supplement, not supplant

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 894, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3440; amended Pub. L. 111–39, title VIII, § 801(14), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1956; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2101(b)(6), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1073.)