119-s2892

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2892 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2892

 To direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early 
 college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs, and 
 for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025

Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
 Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early 
 college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs, 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 ``Jumpstart on College Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

 The purpose of this Act is to increase the percentage of students 
who complete a recognized postsecondary credential within 100 percent 
of the normal time for the completion of such credential, including 
low-income students and students from other populations that are 
underrepresented in higher education.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``dual or concurrent enrollment 
 program'', ``early college high school'', ``educational service 
 agency'', ``four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate'', 
 ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', and 
 ``State'' have the meanings given the terms in 

section 8101 of 
 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 7801).

    (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
 institution of higher education in partnership with one or more 
 local educational agencies (which may be an educational service 
 agency). Such partnership may also include other entities, such 
 as nonprofit organizations or businesses and schools in 
 juvenile detention centers.

    (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
 ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1001).

    (4) Low-income student.--The term ``low-income student'' 
 means a student counted under 

section 1124
            (c) of the Elementary 
 and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333
            (c) ).

    (5) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
 ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

    (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Education.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATIONS.

    (a) In General.--To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be 
appropriated $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each of the 5 
succeeding fiscal years.

    (b) Reservations.--From the funds appropriated under subsection

    (a) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve--

    (1) not less than 40 percent for grants to eligible 
 entities under 

section 5;

    (2) not less than 55 percent for grants to States under 
 

section 6; and

    (3) not less than 5 percent for national activities under 
 

section 8.

SEC. 5. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities, on a competitive basis, to assist such entities in 
establishing or supporting an early college high school or dual or 
concurrent enrollment program in accordance with this section.

    (b) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be awarded for a 
period of 6 years.
            (c) Grant Amount.--The Secretary shall ensure that the amount of 
each grant under this section is sufficient to enable each grantee to 
carry out the activities described in subsection

    (h) , except that a 
grant under this section may not exceed $2,000,000, of which not more 
than 15 percent of the overall grant total may be used to improve data 
systems for the purpose of facilitating the execution of the reporting 
requirement in 

section 7

    (a) .
            (d) Matching Requirement.--

    (1) In general.--For each year that an eligible entity 
 receives a grant under this section, the entity shall 
 contribute matching funds, in the amounts described in 
 paragraph

    (2) , for the activities supported by the grant.

    (2) Amounts described.--The amounts described in this 
 paragraph are--
        (A) for each of the first and second years of the 
 grant period, 20 percent of the grant amount;
        (B) for each of the third and fourth years of the 
 grant period, 30 percent of the grant amount;
            (C) for the fifth year of the grant period, 40 
 percent of the grant amount; and
            (D) for the sixth year of the grant period, 50 
 percent of the grant amount.

    (3) Determination of amount contributed.--
        (A) In-kind contributions.--The Secretary shall 
 allow an eligible entity to meet the requirements of 
 this subsection through in-kind contributions.
        (B) Non-federal sources.--Not less than half of 
 each amount described in paragraph

    (2) shall be 
 provided by the eligible entity from non-Federal 
 sources.

    (e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--An eligible entity shall use a grant 
received under this section only to supplement funds that would, in the 
absence of such a grant, be made available from other Federal, State, 
or local sources for activities supported by the grant, and not to 
supplant such funds.

    (f) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that--

    (1) propose to establish or support an early college high 
 school or dual or concurrent enrollment program that will serve 
 a student population of which not less than 51 percent are low-
 income students;

    (2) include a local educational agency that serves a high 
 school that is--
        (A) identified for comprehensive support and 
 improvement under 

section 1111
            (c) (4)
            (D) 
            (i) of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6311
            (c) (4)
            (D) 
            (i) ); or
        (B) implementing a targeted support and improvement 
 plan as described in 

section 1111
            (d) (2) of such Act (20 
 U.S.C. 6311
            (d) (2) );

    (3) are from States that provide assistance to early 
 college high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment programs, 
 such as assistance to defray the costs of higher education 
 (including costs of tuition, fees, and textbooks); and

    (4) propose to establish or support an early college high 
 school or dual or concurrent enrollment program that meets 
 quality standards established by--
        (A) a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
 association that offers accreditation specifically for 
 such programs; or
        (B) a State process specifically for the review and 
 approval of such programs.

    (g) Equitable Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure, to the 
extent practicable, that eligible entities receiving grants under this 
section--

    (1) are from a representative cross-section of--
        (A) urban, suburban, and rural areas; and
        (B) regions of the United States; and

    (2) include both 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher 
 education.

    (h) Uses of Funds.--

    (1) Mandatory activities.--
        (A) In general.--An eligible entity shall use grant 
 funds received under this section--
            (i) to support the activities described in 
 its application under subsection
            (i) ;
            (ii) to create and maintain a coherent 
 system of supports for students, teachers, 
 principals, and faculty under the program, 
 including--
            (I) college and career readiness, 
 academic, and social support services 
 for students; and
            (II) professional development for 
 secondary school teachers, faculty, and 
 principals, and faculty from the 
 institution of higher education, 
 including--

    (aa) joint professional 
 development activities; and

    (bb) activities to assist 
 such teachers, faculty, and 
 principals in using effective 
 parent and community engagement 
 strategies and to help ensure 
 the success of students 
 academically at risk of not 
 enrolling in or completing 
 postsecondary education, first-
 generation college students, 
 and each category of students 
 described in 

section 1111

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) of the 
 Elementary and Secondary 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6311

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) );
            (iii) to carry out liaison activities among 
 the partners that comprise the eligible entity 
 pursuant to an agreement or memorandum of 
 understanding documenting commitments, 
 resources, roles, and responsibilities of the 
 partners consistent with the design of the 
 program;
            (iv) for outreach programs to ensure that 
 secondary school students and their families, 
 including students academically at risk of not 
 enrolling in or completing postsecondary 
 education, first-generation college students, 
 and each category of students described in 
 

section 1111

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) of the Elementary and 
 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 6311

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) ), are--
            (I) aware of, and recruited into, 
 the early college high school or dual 
 or concurrent enrollment program; and
            (II) assisted with the process of 
 enrolling and succeeding in the early 
 college high school or dual or 
 concurrent enrollment program, which 
 may include providing academic support;
            (v) to collect, share, and use data (in 
 compliance with 

section 444 of the General 
 Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g)) for 
 program improvement and program evaluation; and
            (vi) to review and strengthen its program 
 to maximize the potential that students 
 participating in the program will eventually 
 complete a recognized postsecondary credential, 
 including by optimizing--
            (I) the curriculum of the program;
            (II) the use of high-quality 
 assessments of student learning, such 
 as performance-based, project-based, or 
 portfolio assessments that measure 
 higher-order thinking skills;
            (III) the sequence of courses 
 offered by the program; and
            (IV) the alignment of academic 
 calendars between the secondary schools 
 and the institution of higher education 
 participating in the program.
        (B) New programs.--In the case of an eligible 
 entity that uses a grant under this section to 
 establish an early college high school or dual or 
 concurrent enrollment program, the entity shall use 
 such funds during the first year of the grant period--
            (i) to design the curriculum and sequence 
 of courses in collaboration with, at a 
 minimum--
            (I) faculty from the institution of 
 higher education;
            (II) teachers and faculty from the 
 local educational agency; and
            (III) in the case of a career and 
 technical education program, employers 
 or workforce development entities to 
 ensure that the program is aligned with 
 labor market demand;
            (ii) to develop and implement an 
 articulation agreement between the institution 
 of higher education and the local educational 
 agency that governs how secondary and 
 postsecondary credits will be awarded under the 
 program; and
            (iii) to carry out the activities described 
 in subparagraph
        (A) .

    (2) Allowable activities.--An eligible entity may use grant 
 funds received under this section to support the activities 
 described in its application under subsection
            (i) , including 
 by--
        (A) purchasing textbooks and equipment that support 
 the program's curriculum;
        (B) pursuant to the assurance provided by the 
 eligible entity under subsection
            (i) (3)
        (A) , paying 
 tuition and fees for postsecondary courses taken by 
 students under the program;
            (C) incorporating work-based learning opportunities 
 (other than by paying wages of students) into the 
 program (which may include partnering with entities 
 that provide such opportunities), including--
            (i) internships;
            (ii) career-based capstone projects;
            (iii) pre-apprenticeships and registered 
 apprenticeships provided by eligible providers 
 of apprenticeship programs described in 

section 122

    (a)

    (2)
        (B) of the Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152

    (a)

    (2)
        (B) ); and
            (iv) work-based learning opportunities 
 provided under chapters 1 and 2 of subpart 2 of 
 part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.);
            (D) providing students with transportation to and 
 from the program;
        (E) paying costs for--
            (i) high school teachers to obtain the 
 skills, credentials, or industry certifications 
 necessary to teach for the institution of 
 higher education participating in the program; 
 or
            (ii) postsecondary faculty to become 
 certified to teach high school; or
        (F) providing time during which secondary school 
 teachers and faculty and faculty from an institution of 
 higher education can collaborate, which may include--
            (i) professional development;
            (ii) the planning of team activities for 
 such teachers and faculty; and
            (iii) curricular design and student 
 assessment.
            (i) Application.--

    (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
 this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
 an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
 such information as the Secretary may require.

    (2) Contents of application.--The application under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall include, at minimum, a description of--
        (A) the partnership that comprises the eligible 
 entity, including documentation of partner commitments, 
 resources and budget, roles, and responsibilities;
        (B) how the partners that comprise the eligible 
 entity will coordinate to carry out the mandatory 
 activities described in subsection

    (h)

    (1) ;
            (C) the number of students intended to be served by 
 the program and demographic information relating to 
 such students;
            (D) how the eligible entity's curriculum and 
 sequence of courses form a program of study leading to 
 a recognized postsecondary credential;
        (E) how postsecondary credits earned will be 
 transferable to institutions of higher education within 
 the State, including any applicable statewide transfer 
 agreements and any provisions of such agreements that 
 are specific to dual or concurrent enrollment programs;
        (F) how the eligible entity will conduct outreach 
 to students;
        (G) how the eligible entity will determine the 
 eligibility of students for postsecondary courses, 
 including an explanation of the multiple factors the 
 entity will take into account to assess the readiness 
 of students for such courses; and
        (H) the sustainability plan for the early college 
 high school or dual or concurrent enrollment program.

    (3) Assurances.--The application under paragraph

    (1) shall 
 include assurances from the eligible entity that--
        (A) students participating in a program funded with 
 a grant under this section will not be required to pay 
 tuition or fees for postsecondary courses taken under 
 the program;
        (B) postsecondary credits earned by students under 
 the program will be transcribed upon completion of the 
 required course work; and
            (C) instructors of postsecondary courses under the 
 program will meet the same standards applicable to 
 other faculty at the institution of higher education 
 that is participating in the program.

SEC. 6. GRANTS TO STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to States, on a 
competitive basis, to assist States in supporting or establishing early 
college high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment programs.

    (b) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be awarded for a 
period of 6 years.
            (c) Grant Amount.--The Secretary shall ensure that the amount of 
each grant under this section is sufficient to enable each grantee to 
carry out the activities described in subsection

    (f) , of which not more 
than 15 percent of the overall grant total may be used to improve data 
systems for the purpose of facilitating the execution of the reporting 
requirement in 

section 7

    (a) .
            (d) Matching Requirement.--For each year that a State receives a 
grant under this section, the State shall provide, from non-Federal 
sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant 
received by the State for such year to carry out the activities 
supported by the grant.

    (e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--A State shall use a grant received 
under this section only to supplement funds that would, in the absence 
of such grant, be made available from other Federal, State, or local 
sources for activities supported by the grant, and not to supplant such 
funds.

    (f) Uses of Funds.--

    (1) Mandatory activities.--A State shall use grant funds 
 received under this section to--
        (A) support the activities described in its 
 application under subsection

    (g) ;
        (B) plan and implement a statewide strategy for 
 expanding access to early college high schools and dual 
 or concurrent enrollment programs for students who are 
 underrepresented in higher education to raise statewide 
 rates of secondary school graduation, readiness for 
 postsecondary education, and completion of recognized 
 postsecondary credentials, with a focus on students 
 academically at risk of not enrolling in or completing 
 postsecondary education;
            (C) identify any obstacles to such a strategy under 
 State law or policy;
            (D) provide technical assistance (either directly 
 or through a knowledgeable intermediary) to early 
 college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment 
 programs, which may include--
            (i) brokering relationships and agreements 
 that forge a strong partnership between 
 elementary and secondary and postsecondary 
 partners; and
            (ii) offering statewide training, 
 professional development, and peer learning 
 opportunities for school leaders, instructors, 
 and counselors or advisors;
        (E) identify and implement policies that will 
 improve the effectiveness and ensure the quality of 
 early college high schools and dual or concurrent 
 enrollment programs, such as eligibility and access, 
 funding, data and quality assurance, governance, 
 accountability, and alignment policies;
        (F) update the State's requirements for a student 
 to receive a regular high school diploma to align with 
 the challenging State academic standards and entrance 
 requirements for credit-bearing coursework as described 
 in subparagraphs
        (A) and
            (D) of 

section 1111

    (b)

    (1) of 
 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6311

    (b)

    (1) );
        (G) incorporate indicators regarding student access 
 to and completion of early college high schools and 
 dual or concurrent enrollment programs into the school 
 quality and student success indicators included in the 
 State system of annual meaningful differentiation as 
 described under 

section 1111
            (c) (4)
        (B)
            (v) 
            (I) of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6311
            (c) (4)
        (B)
            (v) 
            (I) );
        (H) disseminate best practices for early college 
 high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment 
 programs, which may include best practices from 
 programs in the State or other States;
            (I) facilitate statewide secondary and 
 postsecondary data collection, research and evaluation, 
 and reporting to policymakers and other stakeholders, 
 disaggregated for each category of students described 
 in 

section 1111

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) of the Elementary and 
 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 6311

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) ); and
        (J) conduct outreach programs to ensure that 
 secondary school students, their families, and 
 community members are made aware of early college high 
 schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs in 
 the State through a new or existing State online 
 website that complies with the web accessibility 
 requirements under Federal and State laws that protect 
 individuals with disabilities.

    (2) Allowable activities.--A State may use grant funds 
 received under this section to--
        (A) establish a mechanism to offset the costs of 
 tuition, fees, standardized testing, performance 
 assessments, and support services for low-income 
 students and students from underrepresented populations 
 enrolled in early college high schools or dual or 
 concurrent enrollment programs;
        (B) establish formal transfer systems within and 
 across State higher education systems, including 2-year 
 and 4-year public and private institutions to maximize 
 the transferability of postsecondary courses;
            (C) provide incentives to local educational 
 agencies that--
            (i) assist high school teachers in getting 
 the credentials needed to participate in early 
 college high school and dual or concurrent 
 enrollment programs;
            (ii) encourage the use of instructors at 
 institutions of higher education to teach 
 higher education courses in high schools; and
            (iii) participate in an annual assessment 
 of current availability and shortages of high 
 school instructors who are credentialed to 
 teach a dual or concurrent enrollment course, 
 and shortages of these instructors in specific 
 curricular areas; and
            (D) support initiatives to improve the quality of 
 early college high school and dual or concurrent 
 enrollment programs at participating institutions, 
 including by assisting such institutions in aligning 
 programs with the quality standards described in 
 

section 5

    (f)

    (4) .

    (g) State Applications.--

    (1) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
 this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
 application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
 information as the Secretary may require.

    (2) Contents of application.--The application under 
 paragraph

    (1) shall include, at minimum, a description of--
        (A) how the State will carry out the mandatory 
 State activities described in subsection

    (f)

    (1) ;
        (B) how the State will ensure that any programs 
 funded with a grant under this section are coordinated 
 with programs under--
            (i) the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
 Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 
 et seq.);
            (ii) the Workforce Innovation and 
 Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.);
            (iii) the Elementary and Secondary 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.); 
 and
            (iv) the Individuals with Disabilities 
 Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.);
            (C) how the State intends to use grant funds to 
 address achievement gaps for each category of students 
 described in 

section 1111

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) of the 
 Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 6311

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) );
            (D) how the State will access and leverage 
 additional resources necessary to sustain early college 
 high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment 
 programs;
        (E) how the State will identify and eliminate 
 barriers to implementing effective early college high 
 schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs 
 after the grant expires, including by engaging 
 businesses and nonprofit organizations; and
        (F) such other information as the Secretary 
 determines to be appropriate.

SEC. 7. REPORTING AND OVERSIGHT.

    (a) In General.--Not less frequently than once annually, each State 
and eligible entity that receives a grant under this Act shall submit 
to the Secretary a report on the progress of the State or eligible 
entity in carrying out the programs supported by such grant.

    (b) Form of Report.--The report under subsection

    (a) shall be 
submitted to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall 
issue uniform guidelines describing the information that shall be 
reported by grantees under such subsection.
            (c) Contents of Report.--

    (1) In general.--The report under subsection

    (a) shall 
 include, at minimum, the following:
        (A) The number of students enrolled in the early 
 college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment 
 program.
        (B) The number and percentage of students enrolled 
 in the early college high school or dual or concurrent 
 enrollment program who earn a recognized postsecondary 
 credential concurrently with a high school diploma.
            (C) The number of postsecondary credits earned by 
 students while enrolled in the early college high 
 school or dual or concurrent enrollment program that 
 may be applied toward a recognized postsecondary 
 credential.
            (D) The number and percentage of students enrolled 
 in the early college high school or dual or concurrent 
 enrollment program who earn a high school diploma.
        (E) The number and percentage of individuals who 
 complete the early college high school or dual or 
 concurrent enrollment program and who enroll in 
 postsecondary education.

    (2) Categories of students.--The information described in 
 each of subparagraphs
        (A) through
        (E) of paragraph

    (1) shall be 
 disaggregated for each category of students described in 
 

section 1111

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) of the Elementary and Secondary 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311

    (b)

    (2)
        (B)
            (xi) ).

SEC. 8. NATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Reporting by Secretary.--Not less frequently than once 
annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes--

    (1) an analysis of the information received from States and 
 eligible entities under 

section 7;

    (2) an identification of best practices for carrying out 
 programs supported by grants under this Act; and

    (3) the results of the evaluation under subsection

    (b) .

    (b) National Evaluation.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a 
contract with an independent entity to perform an evaluation of the 
grants awarded under this Act. Such evaluation shall apply rigorous 
procedures to obtain valid and reliable data concerning student 
outcomes by social and academic characteristics and monitor the 
progress of students from secondary school to and through postsecondary 
education.
            (c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to States and eligible entities concerning best practices 
and quality improvement programs in early college high schools and dual 
or concurrent enrollment programs and shall disseminate such best 
practices among eligible entities, States, and local educational 
agencies.
            (d) Administrative Costs.--From amounts reserved to carry out this 
section under 

section 4

    (b)

    (3) , the Secretary may reserve such sums as 
may be necessary for the direct administrative costs of carrying out 
the Secretary's responsibilities under this Act.

SEC. 9. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Employees.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or 
otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded to the 
employees of local educational agencies (including schools) or 
institutions of higher education under Federal, State, or local laws 
(including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms 
of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or 
other agreements between such employees and their employers.

    (b) Graduation Rate.--For purposes of this Act and any other 
Federal law, a student who graduates from an early college high school 
supported by a grant under 

section 5 within 100 percent of the normal 
time for completion described in the eligible entity's application 
under such section shall be counted in the four-year adjusted cohort 
graduation rate for such high school.
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