20 USC 1092f - Early awareness and outreach of financial aid eligibility

U.S Code last checked for updates: Oct 17, 2024

§ 1092f.

Early awareness and outreach of financial aid eligibility

(a)

In general

(b)

Pell Grant early awareness estimates

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall produce a consumer-tested method of estimating student eligibility for Federal Pell Grants under section 1070a(b) of this title utilizing the variables of family size and adjusted gross income, presented in electronic format. There shall be a method for students to indicate whether they are, or will be in—

(A)

a single-parent household;

(B)

a household with two parents; or

(C)

a household with no children or dependents.

(2)

Consumer testing

(A)

In general

(B)

Updates

(3)

Distribution

The method of estimating eligibility described in paragraph (1) shall be—

(A)

made publicly and prominently available on the Department’s website; and

(B)

actively shared by the Secretary with—

(i)

institutions of higher education participating in programs under this subchapter;

(ii)

all middle and secondary schools eligible for funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.];

(iii)

local educational agencies and middle schools and high schools that serve students not less than 25 percent of whom meet a measure of poverty as described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)]; and

(iv)

agencies responsible for administering means-tested Federal benefit programs, as defined in section 1087ss(b)(4)(H) of this title.

(4)

Electronic estimator on FAFSA

(c)

Early awareness plans

The Secretary shall establish and implement early awareness and outreach plans to provide early information about the availability of Federal financial aid and estimates of prospective students’ eligibility for Federal financial aid as well as to promote the attainment of postsecondary education specifically among prospective first-generation students and families as well as low-income individuals and families, as follows:

(1)

Outreach plans for low-income families

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall develop plans for each population described in this subparagraph to disseminate information about the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter, in addition to and in coordination with the distribution of the method of estimating eligibility under subsection (b), to—

(i)

all middle schools and secondary schools eligible for funds under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.];

(ii)

(iii)

households receiving assistance under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and

(iv)

agencies responsible for administering means-tested Federal benefit programs, as defined in section 1087ss(b)(4)(H) of this title.

(B)

Content of plans

The plans described in paragraph (A) shall—

(i)

provide students and their families with information on—

(I)

the availability of the College Scorecard or any similar successor website;

(II)

the electronic estimates of financial aid available under subsection (b);

(III)

Federal financial aid available to students, including eligibility criteria for the Federal financial aid and an explanation of the Federal financial aid programs (including applicable Federal educational tax credits); and

(IV)

resources that can inform students of financial aid that may be available from state-based financial aid, state-based college savings programs, and scholarships and other non-governmental sources;

(ii)

describe how the dissemination of information will be conducted by the Secretary.

(C)

Reporting and updates

(D)

Partnership

(2)

Interagency coordination plans

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall develop interagency coordination plans in order to inform more students and families, including low-income individuals or families and recipients of means-tested Federal benefits, about the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter through participation in existing Federal programs or tax benefits that serve low-income individuals or families, in coordination with the following Secretaries:

(i)

The Secretary of the Treasury.

(ii)

The Secretary of Labor.

(iii)

The Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(iv)

The Secretary of Agriculture.

(v)

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(vi)

The Secretary of Commerce.

(vii)

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

(viii)

The Secretary of the Interior.

(B)

Process, activities, and goals

Each interagency coordination plan under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i)

identify opportunities in which low-income individuals and families could be informed of the availability of Federal financial aid under this subchapter through access to other Federal programs that serve low-income individuals and families;

(ii)

identify methods to effectively inform low-income individuals and families of the availability of Federal financial aid for postsecondary education under this subchapter and assist such individuals in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;

(iii)

develop early awareness and FAFSA completion activities that align with the opportunities and methods identified under clauses (i) and (ii);

(iv)

establish goals regarding the effects of the activities to be implemented under clause (iii); and

(v)

provide information on how students and families can maintain access to Federal programs that serve low-income individuals and families operated by the agencies identified under subsection (A) while attending an institution of higher education.

(C)

Plan with Secretary of the Treasury

(D)

Reporting and updates

(3)

Nationwide participation in early awareness plans

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall solicit voluntary public commitments from entities, such as States, State systems of higher education, institutions of higher education, and other interested organizations, to carry out early awareness plans, which shall include goals, to—

(i)

notify prospective and existing students who are low-income individuals and families about their eligibility for Federal aid under this subchapter, as well as State-based financial aid, if applicable, on an annual basis;

(ii)

increase the number of prospective and current students who are low-income individuals and families filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and

(iii)

increase the number of prospective and current students who are low-income individuals and families enrolling in postsecondary education.

(B)

Reporting and updates

(C)

Early awareness champions

(d)

Public awareness campaign

(1)

In general

(2)

Coordination

(3)

Reporting

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, § 485E, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title IV, § 490, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3305; amended Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2101(b)(5), Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1073; Pub. L. 116–260, div. FF, title VII, § 702(o), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 3186; Pub. L. 117–103, div. R, § 102(b)(5), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 819.)

cite as: 20 USC 1092f