TITLE IV--EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE FUND

Section 401. Purpose

Sets forth five purposes to the title.

Section 402. Programs authorized

Reserves up to 2 percent of funds for joint administration of the title by the Secretary of Education and up to 3 percent for research activities described in section 405. Authorizes .25 percent for a competitive grant program to Indian tribes to develop and implement school readiness plans. After these reservations, reserves up to 65 percent for fiscal years 2010 through 2012 and up to 85 percent for subsequent fiscal years for Quality Pathways Grants. The remainder is reserved for Development Grants. Lists priority criteria for awarding competitive grants and state maintenance of effort requirements. Describes the federal administration of the grant program and includes a list of a prohibition on the use of funds.

Section 403. Quality pathways grants

Describes the quality pathways grants, including the grant period, the Secretary's criteria for awarding grants and determining amount of the award, as well as criteria for renewal, and the state matching requirement. Explains the required contents of State applications and the allowable uses of funds. Includes special rule allowing 25% of funds from a Quality Pathways grant to be used to expand access under certain conditions. Includes an improvement plan for states encountering barriers to reaching their goals.

Section 404. Development grants

Describes the development grants, including the grant period, the use of funds, and the matching requirement.

Section 405. Research and evaluation

From funds reserved in section 402, requires the Secretary of education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to act jointly to carry out 4 activities: (1) establish a national commission to review and provide recommendations regarding early learning program standards and early learning and development standards; (2) conduct a national evaluation of the grants made under the title; (3) support a research collaborative to support research that can inform improved child outcomes; (4) review strategic reports by the State Advisory Councils on Early Care and Education and disseminate best practices.

Section 406. Reporting requirements

Requires the Secretary of Education to submit an annual report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee of the U.S. Senate and describes the contents of such report. Requires States receiving grants under this title to submit annual reports to the Secretary of Education and describes the contents of such report.

Section 407. Construction

Includes two rules of construction regarding interpretation of the provisions of the title.

Section 408. Definitions

Includes definitions for the term `child', `disadvantaged', `Indian tribe', `Limited English Proficient', `Secretary', and `State'.

Sec. 409. Availability of Funds

Provides $1 billion for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2017.

TITLE V--AMERICAN GRADUATION INITIATIVE

Section 501. Authorization and appropriation

This section authorizes and appropriates $730 million for each fiscal year 2010 through 2013 and $680 million for each fiscal year 2014 through 2019 for the American Graduation Initiative. For fiscal years 2010 through 2013: $630 million is available for the Community College Challenge grant program, $50 million is available for open online education, and $50 million is available for the Learning and Earning Research Center and grants to states for data systems. For fiscal years 2014 through 2019: $630 million is available for grants to States for community college programs and $50 million is available for open online education.

Sections 503 and 504 will be jointly administered by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor pursuant to an interagency agreement, with the Secretary of Education having primary responsibility for obligating and disbursing funds and ensuring compliance with applicable law and administrative requirements.

Section 502. Definitions

This section defines eligible entities and the following terms: area career and technical education school, institution of higher education, community college, philanthropic organization, State, State Public Employment Service, State Workforce Investment Board, Local Workforce Investment Board, and supportive services. Eligible entities include: community colleges and community college districts; area and career technical education schools; public four-year institutions that offer two-year degrees, use funds for activities at the associate degree and certificate levels, and is not reasonably close to a community college; States and higher education institutions in partnership with one of the above four eligible entities; and consortia of at least two of the above entities.

Section 503. Grants to eligible entities for community college reform

This section authorizes the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to community colleges, area career and technical colleges, public four-year institutions offering two-year degrees, States or public four-year institutions partnering with community colleges, or consortia of the above entities.

Grants awarded are for innovative programs, or programs of demonstrated effectiveness, that lead to the completion of a postsecondary degree, certificate, or industry-recognized credential leading to a skilled occupation in a high-demand industry. Grants are awarded for a four-year period. The Secretary is authorized to terminate a grant in the third year if the eligible entity has not made demonstrable progress in achieving agreed upon benchmarks. If such a determination is made, no further grant funds will be awarded. The minimum grant award is $750,000. Priority is given to eligible entities partnering philanthropic organizations, businesses, and labor organizations for defined purposes. Eligible entities seeking a grant must submit a detailed application to the Secretary.

Requires a non-federal match for federal dollars to cover 50% of the cost of the programs, services, and policies under the grant. The non-federal portion of the match can be in cash or in kind, and can be provided from States, local resources, and/or private organizations. A hardship waiver may be granted by the Secretary pursuant to Department regulations.

Eligible entities receiving a grant must use grant funds to carry out two of the following activities: facilitating transfer of credit and articulation agreements; expanding, enhancing, or creating academic or training programs in partnership with employers; providing student and worker support services; creating workforce programs leading to industry-recognized credentials; building or enhancing linkages including the development of dual enrollment programs and early college high schools; and other innovative programs to increase completion and the provision of training for students to enter skilled occupations.

Requires eligible entities receiving a grant to develop and annually measure and report quantifiable benchmarks approved by the Secretary on the following indicators as applicable: closing gaps in enrollment and completion rates; addressing local and regional workforce needs; and improving educational and employment outcomes for education and training programs.

This section also authorizes the Secretary to allocate up to 2% of funds to direct the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct evaluations to determine the effectiveness of grant programs carried out by eligible entities receiving a grant. Evaluations must conclude prior to January 30, 2014.

The Secretary is required to annually submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and Labor and the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.

Section 504. Grants to eligible States for community college programs

This section authorizes the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor to award competitive grants to States to implement systematic reform of community colleges located in the State by carrying out programs, policies, and services that have demonstrated effectiveness resulting from the evaluation in section 503.

In order to be eligible for a grant under this section a State must: have an access and completion plan under section 782 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, have an interoperable statewide longitudinal data system including community college data, have an articulation agreement pursuant to section 486A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and is in compliance with section 137 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Eligible States seeking a grant must submit a detailed application to the Secretary.

Grants are awarded for a six-year period. The Secretary is authorized to terminate a grant in the third year if the eligible entity has not made demonstrable progress in achieving agreed upon benchmarks. If such a determination is made, no further grant funds will be awarded.

Requires a non-federal match for federal dollars to cover 50% of the cost of the programs, services, and policies under the grant. The non-federal portion of the match can be in cash or in kind, and can be provided from States, local resources, and/or private organizations. A hardship waiver may be granted by the Secretary pursuant to Department regulations.

Requires eligible entities receiving a grant to develop and annually measure and report quantifiable benchmarks approved by the Secretary on the following indicators as applicable: closing gapes in enrollment and completion rates; addressing local and regional workforce needs; and improving educational and employment outcomes for education and training programs.

States must submit an annual report to the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor detailing the description and outcome of the systematic reform carried out under the grant.

The Secretary is required to submit a report not later than six months following the end of the grant period.

Section 505. National activities

This section authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants or contract with institutions of higher education, philanthropic organizations, or other appropriate entities to develop, evaluate, and disseminate freely-available high-quality online training, high school courses, and postsecondary education courses.

This section also authorizes the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences to award a grant or contract with an organization with demonstrated expertise in research and evaluation of community colleges to establish and operate a Learning and Earning Center. The grant or contract is authorized for four years. Creates an advisory board appointed by the Secretary. Authorized activities for the center include: the development of common education and training metrics and creating standardized data elements and data-sharing protocol.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grant to States and consortia of States to establish cooperative agreements to develop, implement, and expand interoperable statewide longitudinal data systems.

Requires compliance with defined privacy and access to data provisions made applicable to the entire Act.

The Secretary is required to annually submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and Labor and the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives detailing the amounts awarded to entities and activities carried out pursuant to such grants or contracts.