United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

S 840 — Go to High School, Go to College Act of 2017

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Go to High School, Go to College Act of 2017 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to carry out (from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2023) a program awarding Early College Federal Pell Grants to students to support their enrollment in, and completion of, postsecondary courses offered through early college high schools. Students who would be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant if not for their enrollment in secondary school are deemed eligible for an Early College Federal Pell Grant upon their completion of a full-time postsecondary semester or its equivalent. Students may receive Early College Federal Pell Grants in an amount equal to the cost of not more than four full-time postsecondary semesters or the equivalent while enrolled in postsecondary courses offered by an early college high school. Early College Federal Pell Grants shall count toward the 12-semester, or equivalent, limit on a student's receipt of Federal Pell Grants.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Higher education resources and student assistance · 20 U.S.C. ch. 28 1 section
  • § 1070a Federal Pell Grants: amount and determinations; applications Amends

    20 U.S.C. § 1070a

    The law today

    (a) Purpose; definitions (1) Purpose The purpose of this subpart is to provide a Federal Pell Grant to low-income students. (2) Definitions In this section— (A) the term “adjusted gross income” means— (i) in the case of a dependent student, for the second tax year preceding the academic year— (I) the adjusted gross income (as defined in section 62 of title 26) of the student’s parents; plus (II) for Federal Pell Grant determinations made for academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, the foreign income (as described in section 1087vv(b)(5) of this title) of the student’s parents; and (ii) in the case of an independent student, for the second tax year preceding the academic year— (I) the adjusted gross income (as defined in section 62 of title 26) of the student (and the student’s spouse, if applicable); plus (II) for Federal Pell Grant determinations made for academic years beginning on or after July 1, 2026, the foreign income (as described in section 1087vv(b)(5) of this title) of the student (and the student’s spouse, if applicable); (B) the term “family size” has the meaning given the term in section 1087vv(k) of this title; (C) the term “poverty line” means the poverty line (as determined under the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of section 9902(2) of title 42) applicable to the student’s family size and applicable to the second tax year preceding the academic year; (D) the term “single parent” means— (i) a parent of a dependent student who was a head of household (as defined in section 2(b) of title 26) or a surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a) of title 26) or was an eligible individual for purposes of the credit under section 32 of such title, in the second tax year preceding the academic year; or (ii) an independent student who is a parent and was a head of household (as defined in section 2(b) of title 26) or a surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a) of title 26) or was an eligible individual for purposes of the credit under section 32 of such title, in the second tax year preceding the academic year; (E) the term “total maximum Federal Pell Grant” means the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award per student for any academic year described under subsection (b)(5); and (F) the term “minimum Federal Pell Grant” means the minimum amount of a Federal Pell Grant that shall be awarded to a student for any academic year in which that student is attending full time, which shall be equal to 10 percent of the total maximum Federal Pell Grant for such academic year. (b) Amount and distribution of grants (1) Determination of amount of a Federal Pell Grant Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the amount of a Federal Pell Grant for a student shall be determined in accordance with the following: (A) A student shall be eligible for a total maximum Federal Pell Grant for an academic year in which the student is enrolled in an eligible program full time— (i) if the student (and the student’s spouse, if applicable), or, in the case of a dependent student, the dependent student’s parents (or single parent), is not required to file a Federal income tax return in the second year preceding the academic year; (ii) if the student or, in the case of a dependent student, the dependent student’s parent, is a single parent, and the adjusted gross income is greater than zero and equal to or less than 225 percent of the poverty line; or (iii) if the student or, in the case of a dependent student, the dependent student’s parent, is not a single parent, and the adjusted gross income is greater than zero and equal to or less than 175 percent of the poverty line. (B) A student who is not eligible for a total maximum Federal Pell Grant under subparagraph (A) for an academic year, shall be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant for an academic year in which the student is enrolled in an eligible program full time if such student’s student a...

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How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to introduce Early College Federal Pell Grants for eligible students enrolled in early college high schools.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (k) Early College Federal Pell Grants.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the requirement under section 484(a)(1) that a student not been enrolled in an elementary or secondary school to be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under this section, for the award years beginning on July 1, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2023, the Secretary shall carry out a program to award Early College Federal Pell Grants to eligible students to support enrollment in, and completion of, postsecondary courses offered through an early college high school.

    This adds a new category of grants for students enrolled in early college high schools, enabling them to receive Pell Grants despite concurrent high school enrollment.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (2) Maximum period for early college federal pell grants.--An eligible student may receive an Early College Federal Pell Grant under this subsection in an amount equal to the cost of not more than 4 full-time postsecondary semesters, or the equivalent of 4 full-time postsecondary semesters, as determined by the Secretary by regulation, while enrolled in postsecondary courses offered by an early college high school.

    This specifies the maximum financial support available through Early College Federal Pell Grants.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (3) Counting of awards for purposes of federal pell grants.-- (A) In general.--An Early College Federal Pell Grant received under this subsection shall be counted toward the maximum period for which a student may receive Federal Pell Grants under this section, as provided under subsection (c)(5). (B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) on a case-by-case basis for any student demonstrating evidence of a credible disruption or redirection in course of study necessitating additional time to complete a postsecondary degree or credential.

    This establishes how Early College Pell Grants impact the overall limit on Federal Pell Grant eligibility.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (4) Terms and conditions.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection, an Early College Federal Pell Grant received under this subsection shall have the same terms and conditions, and be awarded in the same manner, as Federal Pell Grants awarded under this section. (B) Minimum completion.--An eligible student may only receive an Early College Federal Pell Grant under this subsection upon completion of a full-time postsecondary semester, or the equivalent of a full-time postsecondary semester, as determined by the Secretary by regulation.

    This clarifies that Early College Pell Grants follow similar rules to existing Pell Grants, with a completion requirement for eligibility.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (5) Reporting.--Each early college high school shall annually submit to the Secretary a report on the program of postsecondary courses provided to eligible students that includes the following information that is reported for all eligible students and disaggregated by each student subgroup of eligible students: ...

    This mandates reporting requirements for early college high schools to provide data on the effectiveness of the Early College Pell Grant program.

  • 20 U.S.C. 1070a

    (6) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Early college high school.--The term `early college high school' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (B) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible institution' means an institution that-- (i) complies with the existing requirements of being an eligible institution under this title; and (ii) demonstrates that it-- ... (D) Student subgroup.--The term `student subgroup' means-- (i) economically disadvantaged students; (ii) students from major racial and ethnic groups; (iii) children with disabilities; and (iv) English learners.

    This adds definitions relevant to the Early College Pell Grant program, facilitating its implementation and understanding.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 840 do?
Go to High School, Go to College Act of 2017 This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to carry out (from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2023) a program awarding Early College Federal Pell Grants to students to support their enrollment in, and completion of, postsecondary courses offered through early college high schools. Students who would be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant if not for their enrollment in secondary school are deemed eligible for an Early College Federal Pell Grant upon their completion of a full-time postsecondary semester or its equivalent. Students may receive Early College Federal Pell Grants in an amount equal to the cost of not more than four full-time postsecondary semesters or the equivalent while enrolled in postsecondary courses offered by an early college high school. Early College Federal Pell Grants shall count toward the 12-semester, or equivalent, limit on a student's receipt of Federal Pell Grants.
Who sponsors S 840?
S 840 is sponsored by Portman, Rob (Republican).
What is the current status of S 840?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 840?
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