[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8050 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8050
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support and strengthen
outcomes for student parents through the provision of child care
services, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2024
Mr. Moran introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support and strengthen
outcomes for student parents through the provision of child care
services, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Parents in Education
Act''.
SEC. 2. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL.
(a) In General.--Section 419N of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1070e) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 419N. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to support the
participation and strengthen outcomes of eligible student parents in
postsecondary education through the provision of child care services.
``(b) Program Authorized.--
``(1) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible entities to assist such entities in providing child
care services to eligible student parents.
``(2) Amount of grants.--
``(A) Minimum grant amount.--The amount of a grant
awarded to an eligible entity under this section for a
fiscal year shall be not less than $75,000.
``(B) Maximum grant amount.--The amount of a grant
awarded to an eligible entity under this section for a
fiscal year shall not exceed--
``(i) in the case of an eligible entity
that is an individual institution of higher
education, 3 percent of the total amount of all
Federal Pell Grant funds awarded to students
enrolled at the institution for the preceding
fiscal year; or
``(ii) in the case of an eligible entity
that is a consortium of institutions of higher
education, 3 percent of the total amount of all
Federal Pell Grant funds awarded to students
enrolled at all institutions in such consortium
for the preceding fiscal year.
``(C) Exception.--If the maximum amount of a grant
calculated under subparagraph (B) for an eligible
entity is less the minimum amount specified in
subparagraph (A), the eligible entity shall be awarded
a grant of $75,000.
``(3) Duration; renewal; and payments.--
``(A) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant
under this section for a period of 4 years.
``(B) Payments.--Subject to subsection (e)(2), the
Secretary shall make annual grant payments under this
section.
``(4) Use of funds.--Grant funds under this section shall
be used by an eligible entity to carry out one or more of the
following activities:
``(A) Supporting or establishing child care
services primarily serving the needs of eligible
student parents served by the entity.
``(B) Making grants to or entering into contracts
or other agreements with local child care providers or
other appropriate entities for purposes of providing
eligible student parents with access to child care
services.
``(C) Providing or supporting additional services
(other than direct child care services) to help
eligible student parents served by the entity care for
their children, including transportation, nutrition
support, and health care services.
``(5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to prohibit an eligible entity that receives grant
funds under this section from serving the child care needs of
the community served by the entity.
``(6) Publicity.--The Secretary shall publicize the
availability of grants under this section, including by--
``(A) publishing notice of the availability of such
grants in the Federal Register;
``(B) informing appropriate educational, nonprofit,
and child care organizations of such availability; and
``(C) carrying out such other activities as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may
require. Each application shall--
``(1) demonstrate that the entity is an eligible entity;
``(2) in the case of an application from an eligible entity
that is a consortium of institutions of higher education--
``(A) identify each institution in the consortium;
``(B) explain the reasons for the establishment of
the consortium; and
``(C) describe how institutions in the consortium
will work together to meet the needs of eligible
student parents;
``(3) specify the amount of funds requested;
``(4) demonstrate the need of eligible student parents
served by the entity for child care services by including in
the application--
``(A) information regarding student demographics;
``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, an
assessment of child care capacity on or near each
campus or other location served by the entity;
``(C) information regarding additional needs
created by community income levels or other factors;
``(D) information about the number of eligible
student parents projected to be served by the entity
during the grant period which may be determined using
historical or projected data regarding the numbers of
eligible student parents enrolled in institutions that
comprise the entity;
``(E) information about the retention and
completion rates of eligible student parents;
``(F) information about the direct costs charged to
eligible student parents;
``(G) information on the types and average amounts
of non-Federal aid given to eligible student parents;
and
``(H) other relevant data;
``(5) contain a description of the activities to be funded
with the grant, including whether the grant funds will support
an existing child care program or a new child care program;
``(6) identify the resources, including non-Federal
resources, technical expertise, and community support, the
entity will draw upon to support eligible student parents in
accessing child care services, and provide an assurance that
the expenditure of such resources will not result in
compensatory increases in student tuition;
``(7) contain an assurance that the entity will meet the
child care needs of eligible student parents through the
provision of services, or through a contract for the provision
of services;
``(8) identify each program of study in the field of early
childhood education offered by the eligible entity and the CIP
code assigned to such program;
``(9) describe how the child care services supported with a
grant under this section may be integrated with the programs of
study identified under paragraph (8), including a description
of whether and to what extent students enrolled in such
programs may receive academic or other credit toward graduation
requirements in conjunction with providing such services;
``(10) in the case of an eligible entity seeking assistance
for a new child care program or a new contract for the
provision of child care services--
``(A) provide a timeline, covering the period from
receipt of the grant through the provision of the child
care services, delineating the specific steps the
entity will take to achieve the goal of providing
eligible student parents with child care services;
``(B) specify any measures the entity will take to
assist eligible student parents with child care during
the period before the entity provides child care
services; and
``(C) include a plan for identifying the resources
needed for the child care services supported by the
grant, including--
``(i) space in which to provide such
services; and
``(ii) any technical assistance that may be
required;
``(11) include a certification that there are in effect
within the State, under State or local law, requirements
designed to protect the health and safety of children that are
applicable to child care providers that provide services for
which assistance is made available under this section;
``(12) contain an assurance that any child care facility
assisted under this section will meet the applicable State or
local government licensing, certification, approval,
provisional status, or registration requirements prior to
serving children and families;
``(13) describe how information regarding the availability
of child care services will be provided to eligible student
parents; and
``(14) contain an abstract summarizing the contents of such
application together with an explanation of how the entity
intends to achieve the purpose described in subsection (a).
``(d) Priority.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall give priority in
awarding grants under this section to eligible entities that
submit applications describing programs for eligible student
parents to access child care services that--
``(A) include efforts to leverage significant non-
Federal, local, or institutional resources, including
in-kind contributions, to support the activities
assisted under this section;
``(B) utilize a sliding fee scale for child care
services provided under this section in order to
maximize the number of eligible student parents served;
``(C) coordinate with other community programs, as
appropriate, to improve the quality of child care
services and limit the cost of such services;
``(D) include efforts to improve the completion
rates and value-added earnings of eligible student
parents and plans to evaluate the effectiveness of such
efforts;
``(E) include efforts by the eligible entity--
``(i) to reduce the direct costs charged to
eligible student parents; and
``(ii) to increase the amount of non-
Federal aid given to eligible student parents;
and
``(F) are integrated with programs of study in
early childhood education identified under subsection
(c)(8), including by allowing students enrolled in such
programs to receive academic or other credit toward
graduation requirements in conjunction with providing
such services as described in subsection (c)(9).
``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may provide
technical assistance to eligible entities to help such entities
qualify for, apply for, and maintain a grant under this
section.
``(e) Reporting Requirements; Continuing Eligibility.--
``(1) Reporting requirements.--
``(A) Reports.--Each eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall report to the Secretary
annually.
``(B) Contents.--Each report under subparagraph (A)
shall include--
``(i) data on the population served by the
child care program supported with a grant under
this section, including--
``(I) the total number of children
served by the program and the age
ranges of such children; and
``(II) the total number of eligible
student parents served by the program;
``(ii) in the case of an eligible entity
that is an institution of higher education, the
number of such eligible student parents served
by such program--
``(I) who are attending an
institution on a full-time basis;
``(II) who are attending an
institution on a part-time basis;
``(III) who remain enrolled at an
institution during the academic year
for which such student parents received
child care services supported under
this section;
``(IV) who remain enrolled at an
institution during the academic year
following the academic year in which
such student parents first received
such services;
``(V) who graduate from an
institution during the academic year
for which such student parents received
such services;
``(VI) who transfer to a different
institution during the academic year
for which such student parents received
such services; and
``(VII) who withdraw from an
institution during the academic year
for which such student parents received
such services;
``(iii) in the case of an eligible entity
that is a consortium of institutions of higher
education, each category of information
described in clause (ii) stated separately for
the consortium as a whole and for each
institution in the consortium;
``(iv) information on the eligibility of
eligible student parents for Federal Pell
Grants (as described subsection (g)(6)(C)),
including the average amount of Federal Pell
Grants received by such student parents;
``(v) the marital status of eligible
student parents;
``(vi) the average completion rate of
eligible student parents;
``(vii) information on sources of campus
and community resources available to eligible
student parents and the amount of non-Federal
funding used by such parents to access child
care services;
``(viii) the fee structure for eligible
student parents to receive child care services
supported under this section, including a
description of any sliding scale used to
determine such fees;
``(ix) the percentage of the grant funds
received by the entity that was used directly
to subsidize any fees charged for--
``(I) campus-based child care
services for eligible student parents;
and
``(II) off-campus child care
services for eligible student parents;
``(x) documentation that the child care
services supported by the grant meet licensing,
certification, approval, and registration
requirements, as applicable; and
``(xi) a description of how grant funds
received under this section were used to pursue
the goals of the entity as set forth in the
application submitted by the entity under
subsection (c).
``(C) Public availability.--On an annual basis, the
Secretary shall publish the reports received under
subparagraph (A) on a publicly accessible website of
the Department of Education.
``(2) Continuing eligibility.--The Secretary shall make
continuation awards under this section to an eligible entity
only if the Secretary determines, on the basis of the reports
submitted under paragraph (1), that the entity is--
``(A) using funds only for authorized purposes;
``(B) providing eligible student parents served by
the entity with priority access to affordable, quality
child care services, as provided under this section;
``(C) implementing practices that, to the maximum
extent practicable--
``(i) improve the completion rates and
value-added earnings of eligible student
parents; and
``(ii) reduce the direct costs charged to
eligible student parents; and
``(D) documenting a continued need for Federal
funding under this section, while demonstrating how
non-Federal sources will be leveraged to support a
continuation award.
``(f) Construction.--No funds provided under this section shall be
used for construction, except for minor renovation or repair to meet
applicable State or local health or safety requirements.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Child care services.--The term `child care services'
includes campus-based child care services and child care
services provided in an off-campus setting that are accessible
to eligible student parents.
``(2) CIP code.--The term `CIP code' means the six-digit
taxonomic identification code assigned by an institution of
higher education to a specific program of study at the
institution, determined by the institution in accordance with
the Classification of Instructional Programs published by the
National Center for Education Statistics.
``(3) Completion rate.--The term `completion rate' means--
``(A) the percentage of students from an initial
cohort enrolled at an institution of higher education
that is a 2-year institution who have graduated from
the institution or transferred to a 4-year institution
of higher education; or
``(B) the percentage of students from an initial
cohort enrolled at an institution of higher education
in the State that is a 4-year institution who have
graduated from the institution.
``(4) Direct costs.--The term `direct costs' means the
total cost of all items included in the cost of attendance (as
defined in section 472) that are billed to the student by the
institution or otherwise required by the institution for
enrollment.
``(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education that had
an enrollment of not fewer than 150 eligible student
parents in the most recently completed award year as of
the date the determination is made; or
``(B) a consortium of two or more institutions of
higher education that had a total combined enrollment
of not fewer than 150 eligible student parents in the
most recently completed award year as of the date the
determination is made.
``(6) Eligible student parent.--The term `eligible student
parent' means a student who--
``(A) is the parent or guardian of one or more
dependent children;
``(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher
education described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (5); and
``(C)(i) is eligible to receive a Federal Pell
Grant under section 401 for the award year for which
the determination is made; or
``(ii) meets the financial eligibility criteria for
receiving a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 for
such award year but is not eligible for a Federal Pell
Grant because the student is enrolled in a graduate or
first professional course of study.
``(7) Value-added earnings.--
``(A) Calculation.--With respect to a student who
received Federal financial aid under this title and who
completed a program of study offered by an institution
of higher education, the term `value-added earnings'
means--
``(i) the annual earnings of such student
measured during the applicable earnings
measurement period for such program (as
determined under subparagraph (C)); minus
``(ii) in the case of a student who
completed a program of study that awards--
``(I) an undergraduate credential,
150 percent of the poverty line
applicable to a single individual as
determined under section 673(2) of the
Community Services Block Grant Act (42
U.S.C. 9902(2)) for such year; or
``(II) a graduate credential, 300
percent of the poverty line applicable
to a single individual as determined
under section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
9902(2)) for such year.
``(B) Geographic adjustment.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), the Secretary shall use the
geographic location of the institution at which
a student completed a program of study to
adjust the value-added earnings of the student
calculated under subparagraph (A) by dividing--
``(I) the difference between
subclauses (I) and (II) of such
subparagraph; by
``(II) the most recent regional
price parity index of the Bureau of
Economics Analysis for the State or, as
applicable, metropolitan area in which
such institution is located.
``(ii) Exception.--The value-added earnings
of a student calculated under subparagraph (A)
shall not be adjusted based on geographic
location in accordance with clause (i) if such
student attended principally through distance
education.
``(C) Earnings measurement period.--
``(i) In general.--For the purpose of
calculating the value-added earnings of a
student, except as provided in clause (ii), the
annual earnings of a student shall be
measured--
``(I) in the case of a program of
study that awards an undergraduate
certificate, post baccalaureate
certificate, or graduate certificate,
one year after the student completes
such program;
``(II) in the case of a program of
study that awards an associate's degree
or master's degree, 2 years after the
student completes such program; and
``(III) in the case of a program of
study that awards a bachelor's degree,
doctoral degree, or professional
degree, 4 years after the student
completes such program.
``(ii) Exception.--The Secretary may, as
the Secretary determines appropriate based on
the characteristics of a program of study,
extend an earnings measurement period described
in clause (i) for a program of study that--
``(I) requires completion of an
additional educational program after
completion of the program of study in
order to obtain a licensure associated
with the credential awarded for such
program of study; and
``(II) when combined with the
program length of such additional
educational program for licensure, has
a total program length that exceeds the
relevant earnings measurement period
prescribed for such program of study
under clause (i),
except that in no case shall the annual
earnings of a student be measured more than 5
years after the student completes a program of
study.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to grants made under section 419N of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070e) on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.
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