§ 1141. College access challenge grant program

(a) Authorization and appropriation

There are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, to carry out this section $66,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009. In addition to the amount authorized and appropriated under the preceding sentence, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.

(b) Program authorized

(1) Grants authorized

From amounts appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, award grants, from allotments under subsection (c), to States (and to philanthropic organization,^[1] as appropriate under paragraph (3)) having applications approved under subsection (d), to enable the State (or philanthropic organization) to pay the Federal share of the costs of carrying out the activities and services described in subsection (f).

(2) Federal share; non-Federal share

(A) Federal share

The amount of the Federal share under this section for a fiscal year shall be equal to 2/3 of the costs of the activities and services described in subsection (f) that are carried out under the grant.

(B) Non-Federal share

The amount of the non-Federal share under this section shall be equal to 1/3 of the costs of the activities and services described in subsection (f). The non-Federal share may be in cash or in-kind, and may be provided from State resources, contributions from private organizations, or both.

(3) Reduction for failure to pay non-Federal share

If a State fails to provide the full non-Federal share required under this subsection, the Secretary shall reduce the amount of the grant payment under this section proportionately, and may award the proportionate reduction amount of the grant directly to a philanthropic organization, as defined in subsection (i), to carry out this section.

(4) Temporary ineligibility for subsequent payments

(A) In general

The Secretary shall determine a grantee to be temporarily ineligible to receive a grant payment under this section for a fiscal year if—

(i) the grantee fails to submit an annual report pursuant to subsection (h) for the preceding fiscal year; or

(ii) the Secretary determines, based on information in such annual report, that the grantee is not effectively meeting the conditions described under subsection (g) and the goals of the application under subsection (d).

(B) Reinstatement

If the Secretary determines that a grantee is ineligible under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the grantee setting forth the terms and conditions under which the grantee may regain eligibility to receive payments under this section.

(1) Amount of allotment

Subject to paragraph (2), in making grant payments to grantees under this section, the allotment to each grantee for a fiscal year shall be equal to the sum of—

(A) the amount that bears the same relation to 50 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for such fiscal year as the number of residents in the State aged 5 through 17 who are living below the poverty line applicable to the resident’s family size (as determined under section 9902 (2) of title 42) bears to the total number of such residents in all States; and

(B) the amount that bears the same relation to 50 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) for such fiscal year as the number of residents in the State aged 15 through 44 who are living below the poverty line applicable to the individual’s family size (as determined under section 9902 (2) of title 42) bears to the total number of such residents in all States.

(2) Minimum amount

The allotment for each State under this section for a fiscal year shall not be an amount that is less than 0.5 percent of the total amount appropriated under subsection (a) for such fiscal year.

(d) Submission and contents of application

(1) In general

For each fiscal year for which a grantee desires a grant payment under subsection (b), the State agency with jurisdiction over higher education, or another agency designated by the Governor or chief executive of the State to administer the program under this section, or a philanthropic organization, in accordance with subsection (b)(3), shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing the information described in paragraph (2).

(2) Application

An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) A description of the grantee’s capacity to administer the grant under this section and report annually to the Secretary on the activities and services described in subsection (f).

(B) A description of the grantee’s plan for using the grant funds to meet the requirements of subsections (f) and (g), including plans for how the grantee will make special efforts to—

(i) provide such benefits to students in the State that are underrepresented in postsecondary education; or

(ii) in the case of a philanthropic organization that operates in more than one State, provide benefits to such students in each such State for which the philanthropic organization is receiving grant funds under this section.

(C) A description of how the grantee will provide or coordinate the provision of the non-Federal share from State resources or private contributions.

(D) A description of—

(i) the structure that the grantee has in place to administer the activities and services described in subsection (f); or

(ii) the plan to develop such administrative capacity.

(e) Subgrants to nonprofit organizations

A State receiving a payment under this section may elect to make a subgrant to one or more nonprofit organizations in the State, including an eligible not-for-profit holder (as described in section 1085 (p) of this title), or those nonprofit organizations that have agreements with the Secretary under section 1078 (b) of this title, or a partnership of such organizations, to carry out activities or services described in subsection (f), if the nonprofit organization or partnership—

(1) was in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and

(2) as of such day, was participating in activities and services related to increasing access to higher education, such as those activities and services described in subsection (f).

(f) Allowable uses

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (3), a grantee may use a grant payment under this section only for the following activities and services, pursuant to the conditions under subsection (g):

(A) Information for students and families regarding—

(i) the benefits of a postsecondary education;

(ii) postsecondary education opportunities;

(iii) planning for postsecondary education; and

(iv) career preparation.

(B) Information on financing options for postsecondary education and activities that promote financial literacy and debt management among students and families.

(D) Assistance in completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or other common financial reporting form under section 1090 (a) of this title.

(E) Need-based grant aid for students.

(F) Professional development for guidance counselors at middle schools and secondary schools, and financial aid administrators and college admissions counselors at institutions of higher education, to improve such individuals’ capacity to assist students and parents with—

(i) understanding—

(I) entrance requirements for admission to institutions of higher education; and

(II) State eligibility requirements for Academic Competitiveness Grants or National SMART Grants under section 1070a–1 of this title, and other financial assistance that is dependent upon a student’s coursework;

(ii) applying to institutions of higher education;

(iii) applying for Federal student financial assistance and other State, local, and private student financial assistance and scholarships;

(iv) activities that increase students’ ability to successfully complete the coursework required for a postsecondary degree, including activities such as tutoring or mentoring; and

(v) activities to improve secondary school students’ preparedness for postsecondary entrance examinations.

(G) Student loan cancellation or repayment (as applicable), or interest rate reductions, for borrowers who are employed in a high-need geographical area or a high-need profession in the State, as determined by the State.

(2) Prohibited uses

Funds made available under this section shall not be used to promote any lender’s loans.

(3) Use of funds for administrative purposes

A grantee may use not more than 6 percent of the total amount of the sum of the Federal share provided under this section and the non-Federal share required under this section for administrative purposes relating to the grant under this section.

(g) Special conditions

(1) Availability to students and families

A grantee receiving a grant payment under this section shall—

(A) make the activities and services described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (f)(1) that are funded under the payment available to all qualifying students and families in the State;

(B) allow students and families to participate in the activities and services without regard to—

(i) the postsecondary institution in which the student enrolls;

(ii) the type of student loan the student receives;

(iii) the servicer of such loan; or

(iv) the student’s academic performance;

(D) in the case of an activity providing grant aid, not require a student to meet any condition other than eligibility for Federal financial assistance under subchapter IV of this chapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42, except as provided for in the loan cancellation or repayment or interest rate reductions described in subsection (f)(1)(G).

(2) Priority

A grantee receiving a grant payment under this section shall, in carrying out any activity or service described in subsection (f)(1) with the grant funds, prioritize students and families who are living below the poverty line applicable to the individual’s family size (as determined under section 9902 (2) of title 42).

(3) Disclosures

(A) Organizational disclosures

In the case of a State that has chosen to make a payment to an eligible not-for-profit holder in the State in accordance with subsection (e), the holder shall clearly and prominently indicate the name of the holder and the nature of the holder’s work in connection with any of the activities carried out, or any information or services provided, with such funds.

(B) Informational disclosures

Any information about financing options for higher education provided through an activity or service funded under this section shall—

(i) include information to students and the students’ parents of the availability of Federal, State, local, institutional, and other grants and loans for postsecondary education; and

(ii) present information on financial assistance for postsecondary education that is not provided under subchapter IV of this chapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42 in a manner that is clearly distinct from information on student financial assistance under subchapter IV of this chapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42.

(4) Coordination

A grantee receiving a grant payment under this section shall attempt to coordinate the activities carried out with the grant payment with any existing activities that are similar to such activities, and with any other entities that support the existing activities in the State.

(h) Report

A grantee receiving a payment under this section shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Secretary on the activities and services carried out under this section, and on the implementation of such activities and services. The report shall include—

(1) each activity or service that was provided to students and families over the course of the year;

(2) the cost of providing each activity or service;

(3) the number, and percentage, if feasible and applicable, of students who received each activity or service; and

(4) the total contributions from private organizations included in the grantee’s non-Federal share for the fiscal year.

(i) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Philanthropic organization

The term “philanthropic organization” means a non-profit organization—

(A) that does not receive funds under subchapter IV of this chapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42 or under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.];

(B) that is not a local educational agency or an institution of higher education;

(C) that has a demonstrated record of dispersing grant aid to underserved populations to ensure access to, and participation in, higher education;

(D) that is affiliated with an eligible consortium (as defined in paragraph (2)) to carry out this section; and

(E) the primary purpose of which is to provide financial aid and support services to students from underrepresented populations to increase the number of such students who enter and remain in college.

(2) Eligible consortium

The term “eligible consortium” means a partnership of 2 or more entities that have agreed to work together to carry out this section that—

(A) includes—

(i) a philanthropic organization, which serves as the manager of the consortium;

(ii) a State that demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the creation of a Statewide system to address the issues of early intervention and financial support for eligible students to enter and remain in college; and

(iii) at the discretion of the philanthropic organization described in clause (i), additional partners, including other non-profit organizations, government entities (including local municipalities, school districts, cities, and counties), institutions of higher education, and other public or private programs that provide mentoring or outreach programs; and

(B) conducts activities to assist students with entering and remaining in college, which may include—

(i) providing need-based grants to students;

(ii) providing early notification to low-income students of their potential eligibility for Federal financial aid (which may include assisting students and families with filling out FAFSA forms), as well as other financial aid and other support available from the eligible consortium;

(iii) encouraging increased student participation in higher education through mentoring or outreach programs; and

(iv) conducting marketing and outreach efforts that are designed to—

(I) encourage full participation of students in the activities of the consortium that carry out this section; and

(II) provide the communities impacted by the activities of the consortium with a general knowledge about the efforts of the consortium.

(3) Grantee

The term “grantee” means—

(A) a State awarded a grant under this section; or

(B) with respect to such a State that has failed to meet the non-Federal share requirement of subsection (b), a philanthropic organization awarded the proportionate reduction amount of such a grant under subsection (b)(3).

[1] So in original. Probably should be “organizations,”.

U.S. Code

§ 1141. College access challenge grant program