Legislative Tracker Archive: Quality & Accountability
On this page, you'll find previous proposals that look to hold institutions or individuals responsible for their actions or performance. In addition, this page includes legislation impacting accreditation.
115th Session of Congress (2017-2018)
| Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act | |||
| HR 7303 | Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/13/2018 |
| S. 3762 | Sponsor: Sen. Brown (D-OH) |
Co-Sponsors: 4 (0 R; 4 D) |
Introduced: 12/17/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure prohibits institutions from using federal education funds, including Title IV and VA benefit dollars, for marketing, advertising, or recruiting.
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| Student Rights Act | |||
| HR 7229 | Sponsor: Rep. Brat (R-VA) |
Co-Sponsors: 7 (7 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/10/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would impose several "expressive activity" requirements on public insitutions.
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| PRO Students Act | |||
| HR 7112 | Sponsor: Rep. Takano (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (0 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 10/30/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill, the Protections and Regulation for Our (PRO) Students Act, changes the 90/10 Rule back to 85/15 for proprietary institutions, prohibits institutions from using federal student aid funds for marketing, advertising, or recruiting, establishes an interagency committee to examine the for-profit sector, launches a complaint tracking system for students, improves access to particular pieces of consumer information, prohibits incentive compensation based on recruitment or academic success, among other things.
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| College Affordability and Innovation Act | |||
| HR 6947 | Sponsor: Rep. Himes (D-CT) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 9/27/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would create a pilot program to promote innovation in higher education through innovative program design at the postsecondary and graduate levels. The goal of these programs would be to decrease the cost and time required for students to complete postsecondary or graduate certificate or degree programs while receiving a quality education. This bill would allow ED to award 5-year grants to up to 15 institutions of higher education. The bill also allows ED to waive certain provisions of the HEA if they would inhibit these institutions from operating their innovative education programs.
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| Aim Higher Act | |||
| HR 6543 | Sponsor: Rep. Scott (D-VA) |
Co-Sponsors: 57 (0 R; 57 D) |
Introduced: 7/26/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The Aim Higher Act is a comprehensive Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization bill with notable changes to the federal student aid programs.
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| REDUCE Act | |||
| HR 5916 | Sponsor: Rep. Reed (R-NY) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 5/22/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, the Reducing Excessive Debt and Unfair Costs of Education (REDUCE) Act, would impose a tax on the "wealthiest" institutions of higher education (defined as those with an aggregate endowment asset value of at least $500,000 per student) that fail to direct 25 percent of endowment growth value toward grants for "working-family students" (defined as those with a household income below 600 percent of the poverty line) each year. The bill would allocate tax receipts from this provision into the Federal Pell Grant Program. The legislation would require certain institutions to report cost of attendance and grant information for "working-family students," and would add additional consumer information disclosures around endowment management, institutional aid, major donor gifts, and legacy status to the College Navigator.
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| Puerto Rico Higher Education Disaster Relief Act | |||
| HR 5850 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 5/16/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This piece of legislation would waive the 90-10 rule for proprietary institutions impacted by Hurricanes Irma or Maria. The waiver would apply to for-profit institutions located in major disaster areas during Hurricanes Irma or Maria (as determined by the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act), and would be in effect from FY 2018 through FY 2020.
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| ALERT Act | |||
| S. 2431 | Sponsor: Sen. Peters (D-MI) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (1 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 2/15/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, the Accountability of Leaders in Education to Report Title IX Investigations (ALERT) Act, amends program participation agreement (PPA) requirements to require institutions to submit an annual certification to the Secretary of Education affirming the "president of the institution (or the equivalent officer) and not less than 1 additional member of the institution's board of trustees (or a designee of the board) have completed a comprehensive review of any incident involving a covered employee that was reported to the title IX coordinator at that institution in the previous 12 months."
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| Free Right to Expression in Education Act | |||
| S. 2394 | Sponsor: Sen. Hatch (R-UT) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 2/7/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would prohibit public institutions (as part of the program participation agreement (PPA)) from restricting expressive activities, such as through so-called "free speech zones."
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| Student Protection and Success Act | |||
| S. 2231 | Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/14/2017 |
| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would create a system of penalties and incentives based on Direct Loan repayment rates, which would replace default rates effective fiscal year 2022. The bill would also institute risk-sharing payments based on nonrepayment loan balances. Schools with a cohort repayment rate <15% lose eligibility to participate in Direct Loans and Pell Grants for that fiscal year and 2 succeeding fiscal years. Schools with cohort repayment rates >25%, a strong record of affordability and increasing access and success for low-income and moderate-income students could receive grants to support reforms to further increase that access and success. Uses include: (1) Awarding additional need-based financial aid to Pell-eligible students; (2) Enhancing academic and student support services; and (3) Establishing or expanding accelerated learning opportunities. Incentive grants would be funded with risk-sharing payments. | |||
| Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act | |||
| HR 4658 | Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (0 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 12/14/2017 |
| S. 3371 | Sponsor: Sen. Merkley (D-OR) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (0 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 8/23/2018 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would require programs offered by an institution designed to lead to a recognized occupation or profession that requires licensing or other requirements to meet any federal or state accreditation and licensing requirements. The bill also adds additional certification requirements for gainful employment (GE) programs, including ensuring the GE program is approved by a recognized accrediting agency (either institutionally or programmatically depending on if programmatic accreditation is required by a Federal or state entity) and prohibiting a GE program that is substantially similar to a program that in any of the three years prior became ineligible (or was failing or in the zone) due to the debt to earning rates at the same institution.
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| ASPIRE Act | |||
| S. 2201 | Sponsor: Sen. Coons (D-DE) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/6/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would fine the bottom five percent of institutions based on percentages of enrolled first time, full time Pell Grant recipients and use the funds to reward institutions with competitive funds to increase access and success efforts. Additionally, the bottom five percent of institutions based on six-year graduation rates would risk paying a penalty before eventually losing Title IV eligibility or schools can opt-in to the bill's completion standards.
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| PROSPER Act | |||
| HR 4508 | Sponsor: Rep. Foxx (R-NC) |
Co-Sponsors: 21 (21 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/1/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act is a comprehensive Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization bill with notable changes to the federal student aid programs.
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| Status: 12/13/2017: Passed House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce | |||
| Military and Veterans Education Protection Act | |||
| S. 2109 | Sponsor: Sen. Carper (D-DE) |
Co-Sponsors: 33 (0 R; 31 D; 2 I) |
Introduced: 11/9/2017 |
| HR 4632 | Sponsor: Rep. Speier (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (1 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 12/12/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure would count military tuition assistance and veterans' education benefits as federal aid for the purpose of calculations under the 90/10 Rule for proprietary institutions.
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| College Completion and Success Act | |||
| HR 4336 | Sponsor: Rep. Lewis (R-MN) |
Co-Sponsors: 4 (4 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 11/9/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This piece of legislation would significantly change the return of Title IV funds (R2T4) process when a student withdraws from school during a payment period. The bill would simplify certain aspects of the calculation, narrow the definition of "schools that are required to take attendance," and restore some discretion to schools in paying post-withdrawal disbursements. It would change the order of distribution of returned funds, increase the amount that must be returned in most cases, and shift responsibility for repaying unearned funds to the institution. The bill would also require a more defined distinction between changing enrollment status as opposed to withdrawing in the case of modules.
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| Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act | |||
| HR 4274 | Sponsor: Rep. DeSantis (R-FL) |
Co-Sponsors: 32 (32 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 11/7/2017 |
| S. 2228 | Sponsor: Sen. Lee (R-UT) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/13/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would allow states to accredit any institution that provides postsecondary education (including courses and programs) that can be applied to a degree, credential, or professional certification; this state-level accreditation would make an institution eligible to participate in the federal student aid programs. The bill would also require institutions to publish a variety of enrollment, graduation, and repayment figures with compliance monitored by an independent third party contracted by the state in which the institution is located, not by the Department of Education. The bill would eliminate all loan forgiveness programs for new loans made on or after 6 months following the date of enactment. Finally, the bill would fine institutions based on default rate. An institution's fine would be 10 percent of the difference between the amount of defaulted loans made, insured, or guaranteed in the fiscal year and the product of the amount of defaulted loans and the national unemployment rate. Institutions would receive a $400 credit against the fine for each Pell Grant recipient who graduates.
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| POST Act | |||
| HR 4181 | Sponsor: Rep. Cohen (D-TN) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 10/31/2017 |
| S. 2037 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 6 (0 R; 6 D) |
Introduced: 10/31/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill changes the 90/10 Rule back to 85/15 for proprietary institutions and expands the definition of federal funds to include any federal financial assistance provided under this Act or any other Federal law through a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other means to a proprietary institution, including federal financial assistance that is disbursed or delivered to an institution or on behalf of a student or to a student to be used to attend the institution.
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| Protect Student Borrowers Act | |||
| S. 2028 | Sponsor: Sen. Reed (D-RI) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (0 R; 3 D) |
Introduced: 10/26/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill establishes an institutional risk-sharing system where institutions would be required to assume some of the financial risk of student loan default based on the percentage of their graduates and former students who default on their loans. Institutions would be required to submit a risk-sharing payment to the federal government if the school's cohort default rate (CDR) is higher than 15 percent. The payment can be reduced by implementing a "student loan management plan" or by the discretion of the Secretary of Education. The bill would apply only to institutions with a Direct Loan program participation rate higher than 33%.
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| CAMPUS HATE Crimes Act | |||
| HR 4093 | Sponsor: Rep. Brown (D-MD) |
Co-Sponsors: 39 (0 R; 39 D) |
Introduced: 10/23/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, the Creating Accountability Measures Protecting University Students Historically Abused, Threatened, and Exposed to (CAMPUS HATE) Crimes Act, would require institutions participating in the federal student aid programs to certify to the Secretary of Education that the institution has adopted and has implemented a program to prevent and adequately respond to hate crimes within the jurisdiction of the institution or by students and employees. Institutions would be required to distribute hate crime information to students annually and to develop hate crime prevention and response programs. In addition, the bill would create a competitive grant program to support hate crime prevention initiatives at institutions.
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| AIM Act | |||
| HR 4029 | Sponsor: Rep. Speier (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (2 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 10/12/2017 |
| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, the Accurate Income Measure (AIM) Act, would require the Secretary to revise the gainful employment regulations to provide for the development and implementation of a percentage increase in the mean or median aggregate earnings of graduates of specific, covered programs to reasonably account for underreporting of earned income by the programs graduates. In addition, the bill would modify the Alternate Earnings appeal process to include a new appeal based upon the most current Bureau of Labor Statistics earnings data for the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, or combination of SOC codes, in which more than 50% of the students in the measured cohort were placed or found employment. The bill's "covered programs" would include all barbering, cosmetology, nail, esthetics, holistic health, and massage therapy programs. | |||
| Innovation in Accreditation Act | |||
| HR 3869 | Sponsor: Rep. Byrne (R-AL) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 9/28/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would allow the Secretary of Education to waive accreditation requirements if accreditors can demonstrate the waiver is necessary to "enable an institution of higher education or program accredited by the agency or association to implement innovative practices."
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| S.O.S. Campus Act | |||
| HR 3734 | Sponsor: Rep. Davis (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 17 (0 R; 17 D) |
Introduced: 9/11/2017 |
| S. 1801 | Sponsor: Sen. Kaine (D-VA) |
Co-Sponsors: 4 (0 R; 4 D) |
Introduced: 9/12/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This piece of legislation, the Survivor Outreach and Support (S.O.S.) Campus Act, would require institutions to create "an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and response."
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| Educator Preparation Reform Act | |||
| HR 3636 | Sponsor: Rep. Kihuen (D-NV) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (0 R; 3 D) |
Introduced: 8/1/2017 |
| S. 1694 | Sponsor: Sen. Reed (D-RI) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (0 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 8/1/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill addresses quality and accountability for teacher preparation programs. Specifically, the legislation requires programs to report on several performance metrics. The bill would also modify some components of TEACH Grants by restricting eligibility to only college juniors, seniors, and masters-level students. The bill allows partial payback based on the length of service completed for TEACH Grant recipients who do not finish the four-year service requirement. Institutions defined as "at-risk" or "low performing" would be ineligible for TEACH Grants.
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| Flexibility to Innovate for College Affordability Act | |||
| HR 3052 | Sponsor: Rep. Welch (D-VT) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (2 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 6/23/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would establish the "Higher Education Regulatory Reform Task Force," which would be composed of the Secretary of Education (or designee) and higher education community stakeholders. The task force would submit to Congress recommendations to reduce burdensome, duplicative, or ineffective regulations in higher education. Following the task force's work, the President is tasked with producing and submitting to Congress a bill to address the task force's recommendations; the bill would receive expedited consideration. In addition, the bill would allow, through the Experimental Sites Initiative (ESI), the Secretary to waive grant and loan maximums for an experiment at institutions that would prorate additional aid to students enrolled over the minimum full-time course-load. Further, the Secretary would also have full waiver authority through ESI to conduct other experiments, including prior learning assessments, dual enrollment, and non-accredited competency-based education.
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| Remedial Education Improvement Act | |||
| HR 2961 | Sponsor: Rep. Norcross (D-NJ) |
Co-Sponsors: 8 (0 R; 8 D) |
Introduced: 6/20/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would authorize the Secretary of Education to provide competitive grants, not less than $500,000, to institutions for the purpose of improving remedial education, specifically through five models: aligning coursework, accelerated coursework, modular instruction, co-requisite enrollment, and systemic reform.
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| Community College Student Success Act | |||
| HR 2960 | Sponsor: Rep. Meng (D-NY) |
Co-Sponsors: 12 (0 R; 12 D) |
Introduced: 6/20/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This piece of legislation would authorize a new competitive grant program for community colleges, specifically for these institutions to increase graduation and transfer rates.
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| 85/15 Rule Act | |||
| HR 2743 | Sponsor: Rep. Waters (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 5/25/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would restore the 85/15 ratio for proprietary institutions from the current 90/10 rule ratio.
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| Students Before Profits Act | |||
| HR 2300 | Sponsor: Rep. Waters (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 6 (0 R; 6 D) |
Introduced: 5/2/2017 |
| S. 1784 | Sponsor: Sen. Murphy (D-CT) |
Co-Sponsors: 7 (0 R; 7 D) |
Introduced: 9/11/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: With a focus on the proprietary sector, this piece of legislation would impose civil penalties on executives of institutions found to be misrepresenting student data, require the Secretary of Education to monitor cohort default rate (CDR) manipulation and make retroactive adjustments to CDRs if manipulation is discovered, make executives personally liable for financial losses due to borrower defense to repayment, and bar board members and executives from institutions the Department of Education has pursued enforcement action against from working at another institution of higher education.
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| Kids Before Cons Act | |||
| HR 2007 | Sponsor: Rep. Collins (R-NY) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 4/6/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would prohibit the Department of Education from using experimental sites authority to waive the prohibition of incarcerated individuals from receiving federal student aid. The Department would also be prohibited from using experimental sites authority to award funds to institutions directly for the purposes of providing postsecondary education to incarcerated individuals.
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| Campus Accountability and Safety Act | |||
| HR 1949 | Sponsor: Rep. Maloney (D-NY) |
Co-Sponsors: 25 (4 R; 21 D) |
Introduced: 4/5/2017 |
| S. 856 | Sponsor: Sen. McCaskill (D-MO) |
Co-Sponsors: 22 (5 R; 17 D) |
Introduced: 4/5/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, aimed at addressing campus sexual assault, would establish several new requirements for colleges and universities relating to campus safety, including significantly increasing fines for Clery Act violations.
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| Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act | |||
| HR 1922 | Sponsor: Rep. Burgess (R-TX) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (0 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 4/5/2017 |
| S. 850 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 4/5/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would eliminate an exemption of certain medical schools outside of the United States and Canada from federal student aid requirements. The bill requires all medical schools outside of the U.S. and Canada to enroll at least 60 percent non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and their graduates must have at least a 75 percent pass rate on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam. Any U.S. student enrolled before the enactment of the legislation would retain access to Direct Loans. |
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| Higher Education Innovation Act | |||
| S. 615 | Sponsor: Sen. Bennet (D-CO) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 3/13/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would establish a pilot program for alternative accreditation for institutions for the purposes of institutional eligibility for the federal student aid programs. Certain currently ineligible programs and providers would be authorized to receive Title IV funds, provided the programs and providers meet a number of performance metrics and other requirements.
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| States' Education Reclamation Act | |||
| HR 1510 | Sponsor: Rep. Rouzer (R-NC) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (3 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 3/10/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would eliminate the Department of Education and distribute major programs to other agencies. The Federal Pell Grant Program and all student loan programs would be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Based on the language, FWS and FSEOG could be eliminated entirely.
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| CLASS Act | |||
| S. 553 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 8 (0 R; 8 D) |
Introduced: 3/7/2017 |
| Sponsor: Rep. Waters (D-CA) |
Co-Sponsors: 9 (0 R; 9 D) |
Introduced: 5/2/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, the Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act, prevents institutions from limiting the ability of students to pursue claims against the institution, such as through mandatory arbitration clauses in enrollment agreements. Further, the bill ensures existing law regarding enforcement of arbitration agreements does not apply to enrollment agreements.
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| To terminate the Department of Education. | |||
| HR 899 | Sponsor: Rep. Massie (R-KY) |
Co-Sponsors: 12 (12 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 2/7/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This brief bill would eliminate the Department of Education, effective December 31, 2018. The bill does not describe what would happen to the federal student aid programs.
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| Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to teacher preparation issues. | |||
| H.J.Res. 58 | Sponsor: Rep. Guthrie (R-KY) |
Co-Sponsors: 13 (13 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 2/1/2017 |
| S.J. Res. 26 | Sponsor: Sen. Sasse (R-NE) |
Co-Sponsors: 10 (10 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 3/2/2017 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure repeals the October 2016 teacher preparation program accountability regulation via the Congressional Review Act.
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Status: 3/27/2017: Signed into Law by President Trump
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114th Session of Congress (2016-2017)
| Prohibition of Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens | ||||
| S. 60 | Sponsor: Sen. Vitter (R-LA) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 1/7/2015 |
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| HR 3566 | Sponsor: Rep. Gosar (R-AZ, 4) |
Co-Sponsors: 25 (25 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 9/18/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill enacts a system to ensure states or institutions prohibit undocumented students from receiving student aid if not available to all United States citizens. | ||||
| Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act | ||||
| HR 747 | Sponsor: Rep. Cummings (D-MD, 7) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (0 R; 1 D) |
Introduced: 2/5/2015 |
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| S. 396 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 4 (0 R; 4 D) |
Introduced: 2/5/2015 |
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NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: The bill would require the formation of an interagency committee specifically instructed to examine the for-profit sector. The committee would meet regularly, publish a report, and compile a "warning list" of institutions. |
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| Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act | ||||
| HR 970 | Sponsor: Rep. Foxx (R-NC, 5) |
Co-Sponsors: 39 (37 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 2/13/2015 |
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| S. 559 | Sponsor: Sen. Burr (R-NC) |
Co-Sponsors: 28 (28 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 2/25/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would repeal current regulations relating to state authorization, credit hour definition, and gainful employment. It prohibits the Department of Education from enacting any regulations on these topics in the future. ED would also be prohibited from developing a teacher preparation program accountability system and an institutional ratings system. | ||||
| No Federal Funds Without the American Flag Act | ||||
| HR 1691 | Sponsor: Rep. Duffy (R-WI, 7) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (2 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 3/26/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill prohibits federal financial aid to higher education institutions that ban the display of the American flag on campus. | ||||
| Protections and Regulation for Our Students Act (PRO Students Act) | ||||
| HR 2192 | Sponsor: Rep. Takano (D-CA, 41) |
Co-Sponsors: 12 (0 R; 12 D) |
Introduced: 4/30/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill changes the 90/10 Rule back to 85/15 for proprietary institutions, prohibits institutions from using federal student aid funds for marketing, advertising, or recruiting, establishes an interagency committee to examine the for-profit sector, launches a complaint tracking system for students, improve access to particular pieces of consumer information, prohibits incentive compensation based on recruitment or academic success, among other things. | ||||
| Protect Student Borrowers Act | ||||
| S. 1102 | Sponsor: Sen. Reed (D-RI) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (0 R; 3 D) |
Introduced: 4/27/2015 |
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| HR 2364 | Sponsor: Rep. Carney (D-DE) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 5/15/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill, a risk-sharing proposal, would require institutions of higher education with cohort default rates at 15% or higher to pay a certain percentage of the total amount of loans made to students in default. Payments would be used to rehabilitate certain loans, develop programs to assist borrowers in default, and offset any future shortfalls in the Pell Grant program. | ||||
| National Collegiate Athletics Accountability (NCAA) Act | ||||
| HR 2731 | Sponsor: Rep. Dent (R-PA, 15) |
Co-Sponsors: 6 (3 R; 3 D) |
Introduced: 6/11/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill prohibits universities from receiving Title IV funds if they participate in an athletic association that does not provide certain rules related to the health of student athletes, the education of student athletes, and due process related to possible infractions of athletic association bylaws. | ||||
| Assuring Quality Outcomes in Higher Education Act | ||||
| HR 2815 | Sponsor: Rep. Salmon (R-AZ, 5) |
Co-Sponsors: 10 (4 R; 6 D) |
Introduced: 6/17/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure would require the Department of Education to conduct an impact analysis on any income- or employment-based measures of quality in higher education before promulgating regulations. The bill’s text refers specifically to gainful employment, college ratings, and teacher preparation regulations. | ||||
| Military and Veterans Education Protection Act | ||||
| S. 1664 | Sponsor: Sen. Carper (D-DE) |
Co-Sponsors: 26 (0 R; 26 D) |
Introduced: 6/24/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure would count military tuition assistance and veterans' education benefits as federal aid for the purpose of calculations under the 90/10 Rule for proprietary institutions. | ||||
| Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act | ||||
| S. 1908 | Sponsor: Sen. Brown (D-OH) |
Co-Sponsors: 5 (0 R; 5 D) |
Introduced: 7/30/2015 |
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| HR 4109 | Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ, 3) |
Co-Sponsors: 8 (0 R; 8 D) |
Introduced: 11/19/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure prohibits institutions from using federal student aid funds for marketing, advertising, or recruiting. | ||||
| Student Protection and Success Act | ||||
| S. 1939 | Sponsor: Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 8/5/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would implement an institutional risk-sharing model where eligibility for student aid funding would depend on cohort repayment rates. | ||||
| Students Before Profits Act | ||||
| S. 2098 | Sponsor: Sen. Murphy (D-CT) |
Co-Sponsors: 5 (0 R; 5 D) |
Introduced: 9/29/2015 |
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| HR 3992 | Sponsor: Rep. Waters (D-CA, 43) |
Co-Sponsors: 15 (0 R; 15 D) |
Introduced: 11/5/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill focuses on reforms targeted at the proprietary sector. The legislation would impose civil penalties on executives of institutions found to be misrepresenting student data, require the Secretary of Education to monitor default rate manipulation, make executives personally liable for financial losses due to borrower defense to repayment, and "prevent repeat offenders" by not allowing board members and executives from institutions the Department of Education has pursued enforcement action against from working at another institution of higher education. | ||||
| Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act | ||||
| S. 2272 | Sponsor: Sen. Durbin (D-IL) |
Co-Sponsors: 5 (0 R; 4 D; 1 I) |
Introduced: 11/10/2015 |
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| HR 4101 | Sponsor: Rep. Cohen (D-TN) |
Co-Sponsors: 3 (1 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 11/19/2015 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill changes the 90/10 Rule back to 85/15 for proprietary institutions and expands the definition of federal funds to include any Federal financial assistance provided, under this Act or any other Federal law, through a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other means to a proprietary institution, including Federal financial assistance that is disbursed or delivered to an institution or on behalf of a student or to a student to be used to attend the institution. | ||||
| Educator Preparation Reform Act | ||||
| S. 2419 | Sponsor: Sen. Reed (D-RI) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (0 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 12/17/2015 |
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| HR 4471 | Sponsor: Rep. Honda (D-CA, 17) |
Co-Sponsors: 6 (0 R; 6 D) |
Introduced: 2/4/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This comprehensive bill addresses quality and accountability for teacher preparation programs. Specifically, the legislation requires programs to report on several performance metrics. The bill would also modify some components of TEACH Grants by restricting eligibility to only college juniors, seniors, and masters-level students. The bill allows partial payback based on the length of service completed for TEACH Grant recipients who do not finish the four-year service requirement. Institutions defined as "at-risk" or "low performing" would be ineligible for TEACH. | ||||
| Pell for Performance Act | ||||
| HR 4808 | Sponsor: Rep. Salmon (R-AZ, 5) |
Co-Sponsors: 0 (0 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 3/17/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: In this bill, Pell Grant recipients who do not complete their program within the maximum time frame will be required to repay the Pell Grant dollars received in the form of an unsubsidized loan with interest applied retroactively to the date of first disbursement. Pell Grant recipients who enroll in another institution less than a year later or who face undue hardship, which includes active duty military service, the death of a relative, personal injury, or "other special circumstances as determined by the institution," would be exempted from this provision. | ||||
| Campus Sexual Assault Whistleblower Protection Act | ||||
| HR 5972 | Sponsor: Rep. Spier (D-CA, 14) |
Co-Sponsors: 13 (2 R; 11 D) |
Introduced: 9/8/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would exempt sexual assault survivors and witnesses from ineligibility from federal financial aid due to drug use admitted to or discovered following a sexual assault report. In addition, institutions are prohibited from taking "retaliatory action" (expulsion, suspension, or altering of financial aid) against sexual assault survivors and witnesses for drug, alcohol, or sexual activity admitted to or discovered following a sexual assault report. Institutions would be required to inform students annually of this policy. | ||||
| Access, Success, and Persistence in Reshaping Education (ASPIRE) Act | ||||
| S. 3368 | Sponsor: Sen. Coons (D-DE) |
Co-Sponsors: 1 (1 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 9/21/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill would fine the bottom five percent of institutions based on percentages of enrolled first time, full time Pell Grant recipients and use the funds to reward institutions with competitive funds to increase access and success efforts. Additionally, the bottom five percent of institutions based on six-year graduation rates would risk paying a penalty before eventually losing Title IV eligibility or schools can opt-in to the bill's completion standards. | ||||
| Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act | ||||
| S. 3380 | Sponsor: Sen. Warren (D-MA) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (0 R; 2 D) |
Introduced: 9/22/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This measure aims to comprehensively address accreditation. The bill would require the Department of Education (ED) to establish standards for student outcome data (e.g. loan repayment rate, loan default rate, graduation rate, retention rate, student earnings, job placement rate, etc.) that accreditors must use when evaluating colleges, including minimum baseline thresholds for select outcomes metrics that colleges must meet in order to remain accredited. The bill would require accreditors to conduct an "enhanced accreditation review" following any indication of fraud or abuse at an institution, including federal or state investigations and lawsuits. The bill would also increase transparency surrounding accreditation action and increase the authority of ED to terminate recognition of an accreditor. | ||||
| Protect the Flag Act | ||||
| HR 6433 | Sponsor: Rep. Turner (R-OH, 10) |
Co-Sponsors: 56 (56 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/2/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill prohibits federal financial aid for higher education institutions that ban or remove the American flag from campus. | ||||
| No Funding for Sanctuary Campuses Act | ||||
| HR 6530 | Sponsor: Rep. Hunter (R-CA, 50) |
Co-Sponsors: 2 (2 R; 0 D) |
Introduced: 12/16/2016 |
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| NASFAA Analysis & Coverage: This bill prohibits federal financial aid for higher education institutions that have "sanctuary campus" policies in effect to shield or protect undocumented students from law enforcement. Institutions would be classified as a "sanctuary campus" by the Secretary of Homeland Security based on several criteria outlined in the bill. | ||||
Publication Date: 2/26/2019