On Friday, the Republican members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee announced their long-awaited proposal to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). While we work to provide a detailed analysis of H.R. 4508, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act in the coming day, here are some of the highlights from the bill:
- Consolidates financial aid into a “one grant, one loan, and one work-study system”
- Allows students to use Pell Grants for shorter-term education programs
- Authorizes a competitive grant to expand access to in-demand apprenticeship programs
- Requires accrediting agencies to have an employer representative
- Offers a $300 bonus to Pell Grant recipients who take 15 credits per academic session
- Simplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Creates a pathway to financial aid eligibility for competency-based education programs
- Reforms the Federal Work-Study program and eliminates the cap on private-sector employment
The education committee in the Senate has yet to unveil its proposal for higher education reauthorization, but committee chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has indicated that it will be a priority in 2018. Follow our HEA coverage on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
Note added 12/13:
**On Tuesday, December 12, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a marathon markup of the legislation and approved it on a party-line vote. We'll have more coverage on the blog soon and in the next ACTE News.
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