S. 2892 — Jumpstart on College Act

This section declares the purpose of the Act to increase the percentage of students who complete a recognized postsecondary credential within 100 percent of normal time, including low-income students and students from other populations underrepresented in higher education.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act. It (1) incorporates definitions from section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for 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; (2) defines eligible entity as an institution of higher education in partnership with one or more local educational agencies (which may be an educational service agency) and possibly other entities such as nonprofit organizations, businesses, or schools in juvenile detention centers; (3) defines institution of higher education as having the meaning given in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; (4) defines low-income student as a student counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (5) defines recognized postsecondary credential as having the meaning given in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and (6) defines Secretary as the Secretary of Education.

This section authorizes $250 million annually for FY2026 through FY2030 to carry out the Act. From those funds, the Secretary must reserve (1) not less than 40% for grants to eligible entities under section 5, (2) not less than 55% for grants to States under section 6, and (3) not less than 5% for national activities under section 8.

This section directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible entities to establish or support early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs (i.e., programs enabling high school students to earn postsecondary credits). Grants are for a 6-year period, with amounts sufficient to carry out required activities but not exceeding $2,000,000 per grant, of which no more than 15% may fund data systems to support reporting. Grantees must match grant funds at (1) 20% for years 1-2, (2) 30% for years 3-4, (3) 40% for year 5, and (4) 50% for year 6, with at least half from non-Federal sources and in-kind contributions allowed; grants must supplement, not supplant, other funds. The Secretary must prioritize applicants that (1) serve student bodies with at least 51% low-income students, (2) include local educational agencies with schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement or targeted support under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, (3) are from states providing assistance (e.g., for tuition, fees, textbooks) to such programs, and (4) meet quality standards from a national accreditor or state process; and must ensure equitable distribution across urban, suburban, and rural areas, U.S. regions, and 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education. Grantees must use funds for (1) activities in their application, (2) coherent student supports (academic, social, college/career readiness) and professional development (including joint activities and parent engagement strategies targeting at-risk, first-generation, and subgroups under ESEA), (3) partner liaison activities under a memorandum of understanding, (4) outreach and enrollment assistance for targeted students, (5) data collection and sharing for improvement and evaluation (consistent with FERPA), and (6) program review and strengthening.

This section directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive six-year grants to states to support or establish early college high schools (i.e., programs allowing high school students to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of postsecondary credit concurrently) and dual or concurrent enrollment programs (i.e., high school students enrolling in postsecondary courses for dual credit). Grants must be sufficient to carry out required activities, of which no more than 15% may improve data systems for reporting under section 7(a); require a 50% non-federal match; and supplement, not supplant, other funds. States must use funds for mandatory activities, including (1) implementing a statewide strategy to expand access for underrepresented and at-risk students; (2) providing technical assistance and professional development; (3) improving program policies on eligibility, funding, data, and alignment; (4) updating high school diploma requirements to align with challenging state academic standards and postsecondary entrance requirements under ESEA §1111(b)(1)(A),(D) (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)(A),(D)); (5) incorporating access and completion indicators into school quality and student success metrics under ESEA §1111(c)(4)(B)(v)(I) (20 U.S.C. 6311(c)(4)(B)(v)(I)); (6) facilitating disaggregated data collection and reporting per ESEA §1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) subgroups (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(B)(xi)); and (7) conducting outreach via state websites. States may use funds for allowable activities such as offsetting costs for low-income students, establishing transfer systems, providing incentives to local educational agencies, and improving program quality. States must apply to the Secretary with specified information.

This section establishes annual reporting requirements for states and eligible entities receiving grants under this Act to support early college high school or dual or concurrent enrollment programs. Grantees must report to the Secretary, in a uniform format, data on program outcomes—including student enrollment; the number and percentage earning a recognized postsecondary credential with a high school diploma; postsecondary credits earned applicable toward such a credential; the number and percentage earning a high school diploma; and the number and percentage completing the program and enrolling in postsecondary education—with all data disaggregated by student subgroups specified in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (i.e., racially and ethnically diverse groups, economically disadvantaged students, children with disabilities, English learners, and migrant students).

This section establishes national activities for the Secretary of Education, including (1) annual reporting to Congress analyzing data from States and eligible entities under section 7, identifying best practices for grant-supported programs, and including results of the evaluation under subsection (b); (2) seeking a contract within six months of enactment with an independent entity to evaluate grants awarded under this Act using rigorous methods to assess student outcomes by social and academic characteristics and track progress from secondary to postsecondary education; (3) providing technical assistance to States and eligible entities on best practices and quality improvements for early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs and disseminating such practices to eligible entities, States, and local educational agencies; and (4) reserving necessary sums from amounts under section 4(b)(3) for direct administrative costs of the Secretary's responsibilities under this Act.

This section provides rules of construction clarifying that (1) the Act does not alter or affect rights, remedies, or procedures for employees of local educational agencies (including schools) or institutions of higher education under federal, state, or local laws (including regulations or court orders) or under collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements; and (2) for purposes of this Act and other federal law, students graduating from an early college high school supported by a grant under section 5 within 100% of the normal time for completion specified in the grant application count toward that high school's four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate.