20 USC 1161k - Pilot programs to increase college persistence and success

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1161k.

Pilot programs to increase college persistence and success

(a)

Grants authorized

(b)

Applications

(1)

In general

(2)

Evaluation condition

(3)

Priority for replication of evidence-based policies and practices

(c)

Pilot program to increase persistence and success in community colleges

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

Eligible institution

(B)

Eligible student

The term “eligible student” means a student who—

(i)

is eligible to receive assistance under section 1070a of this title;

(ii)

is enrolled at least half-time;

(iii)

is not younger than age 19;

(iv)

is the parent of at least one dependent child, which dependent child is age 18 or younger;

(v)

has a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent; and

(vi)

does not have a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education.

(2)

Uses of funds

(A)

Support

(B)

Required uses

Each eligible institution receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds—

(i)

to provide scholarships in accordance with paragraph (3); and

(ii)

to provide counseling services in accordance with paragraph (4).

(C)

Allowable uses of funds

Grant funds provided under this subsection may be used—

(i)

to conduct outreach to make students aware of the scholarships and counseling services available under this subsection and to encourage the students to participate in the program assisted under this subsection; and

(ii)

to provide incentives of $20 or less to applicants who complete the process of applying for assistance under this subsection, as compensation for the student’s time.

(3)

Scholarship requirements

(A)

In general

Each scholarship awarded under this subsection shall—

(i)

be awarded for one academic year consisting of two semesters or the equivalent;

(ii)

require the student to maintain, during the scholarship period, at least half-time enrollment and at least a 2.0 grade point average or the equivalent;

(iii)

be awarded in the amount of $1,000 for each of two semesters (prorated for quarters or other equivalents), or $2,000 for an academic year;

(iv)

not exceed the student’s cost of attendance, as defined in section 1087ll of this title; and

(v)

be paid, for each of the two semesters, in increments of—

(I)

$250 upon enrollment (prorated for quarters or other equivalents);

(II)

$250 upon passing midterm examinations or comparable assessments (prorated for quarters or other equivalents); and

(III)

$500 upon passing courses (prorated for quarters or other equivalents).

(B)

Number

(4)

Counseling services

(A)

In general

Each eligible institution receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to provide students at the institution with a counseling staff dedicated to students participating in the program under this subsection. Each such counselor shall—

(i)

have a caseload of less than 125 students;

(ii)

use a proactive, team-oriented approach to counseling;

(iii)

hold a minimum of two meetings with each student each semester; and

(iv)

provide referrals to and follow-up with other student services staff, including financial aid and career services.

(B)

Counseling services availability

(d)

Student success grant pilot program

(1)

Definitions

(A)

Eligible institution

(B)

Eligible student

In this subsection, the term “eligible student” means a student who—

(i)

is eligible to receive assistance under section 1070a of this title;

(ii)

is a first-year student at the time of entering the program;

(iii)

is assessed as needing developmental education to bring reading, writing, or mathematics skills up to college level; and

(iv)

is selected by an eligible institution to participate in the program.

(2)

Student success grant amount

(3)

Required uses

An eligible institution that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to assign a student success coach to each first-year student participating in the program to provide intensive career and academic advising, ongoing personal help in navigating college services (such as financial aid and registration), and assistance in connecting to community resources that can help students overcome family and personal challenges to success. Student success coaches—

(A)

shall work with not more than 50 new students during any academic period;

(B)

may be employees of academic departments, student services offices, community-based organizations, or other entities as determined appropriate by the institution; and

(C)

shall meet with each eligible student selected for the program before registration for courses.

(4)

Allowable uses

An eligible institution that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant funds to provide services and program innovations for students participating in the program, including the following:

(A)

College and career success courses provided at no charge to participating students. These courses may cover college success topics, including how to take notes, how to study, how to take tests, and how to budget time, and may also include a substantial career exploration component. Institutions may use such courses to help students develop a college and career success plan, so that by the end of the first semester the students have a clear sense of their career goals and what classes to take to achieve such goals.

(B)

Work-study jobs with private employers in the students’ fields of study.

(C)

Learning communities that ensure that students participating in the program are clustered together for at least two courses beginning in the first semester after enrolling and have other opportunities to create and maintain bonds that allow them to provide academic and social support to each other.

(D)

Curricular redesign, which may include such innovations as blended or accelerated remediation classes that help student success grant recipients to attain college-level reading, writing, or math skills (or a combination thereof) more rapidly than traditional remediation formats allow, and intensive skills refresher classes, offered prior to each semester, to help students who have tested into remedial coursework to reach entry level assessment scores for the postsecondary programs they wish to enter.

(E)

Instructional support, such as learning labs, supplemental instruction, and tutoring.

(F)

Assistance with support services, such as child care and transportation.

(5)

Required non-Federal share

(e)

Period of grant

(f)

Technical assistance and evaluation

(1)

Contractor

(2)

Evaluations

(3)

Conduct of evaluations

The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the impact of the persistence and success grant programs as follows:

(A)

Program to increase persistence in community colleges

The evaluation of the program under subsection (c) shall be conducted using a random assignment research design with the following requirements:

(i)

When students are recruited for the program, all students will be told about the program and the evaluation.

(ii)

Baseline data will be collected from all applicants for assistance under subsection (c).

(iii)

Students will be assigned randomly to two groups, which will consist of—

(I)

a program group that will receive the scholarship and the additional counseling services; and

(II)

a control group that will receive whatever regular financial aid and counseling services are available to all students at the institution of higher education.

(B)

Student success grant program

(g)

Report

The Secretary shall—

(1)

provide a report to the authorizing committees that includes the evaluation and information on best practices and lessons learned during the pilot programs described in this section; and

(2)

disseminate the report to the public by making the report available on the Department’s website.

(h)

Supplement not supplant

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, § 820, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, § 801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3404; amended Pub. L. 111–39, title VIII, § 801(5), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1955.)

cite as: 20 USC 1161k