text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Making Education Affordable Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.
  
      Part B of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
  1138 et seq.) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating section 745 as section 746;
              (2) in section 746, as redesignated by paragraph (1), by 
          striking ``fiscal year 2009'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
          2018''; and
              (3) by inserting after section 744 the following:
  
  ``SEC. 745. CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC TRANSITION PROGRAMS.
  
      ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to expand access for 
  high school students to the opportunities offered in credit-based 
  academic transition programs established through partnerships between 
  high schools and institutions of higher education utilizing dual or 
  concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs 
  that enable such students to earn college credits while in high school.
      ``(b) Eligible Institution.--In this section, the term `eligible 
  institution' means an institution of higher education that carries out 
  a dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high school 
  program that enables high school students to earn college credits while 
  in high school.
      ``(c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants to 
  eligible institutions to carry out credit-based academic transition 
  programs described in subsection (a).
      ``(d) Application.--An eligible institution that desires to receive 
  a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
  at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
  Secretary may require.
      ``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
  Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions that serve 
  students from low-income families, students from rural communities, or 
  students who are the first in their family to receive postsecondary 
  education.
      ``(f) Use of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives a grant 
  under this section shall use the grant funds--
              ``(1) to carry out a dual or concurrent enrollment program 
          or an early college high school program for high school 
          students, through which such students while enrolled in high 
          school are enrolled in postsecondary courses at the eligible 
          institution, through which such students can earn college 
          credits that can be transferred to 2-year and 4-year 
          institutions of higher education in the State;
              ``(2) to provide teachers, principals, and other school 
          leaders with professional development activities that enhance 
          or enable the provision of postsecondary coursework through a 
          dual or concurrent enrollment program or an early college high 
          school program; and
              ``(3) to support activities such as--
                      ``(A) designing the curriculum and sequence of 
                  courses in collaboration with teachers from the local 
                  educational agency and faculty from the eligible 
                  institution;
                      ``(B) establishing a course articulation process 
                  for defining and approving courses for high school and 
                  postsecondary credit or credentials for both 2-year and 
                  4-year institutions of higher education in the State;
                      ``(C) outreach programs to provide elementary 
                  school and secondary school students, especially those 
                  in middle grades, and their parents, teachers, school 
                  counselors, and principals information about and 
                  academic preparation for the credit-based academic 
                  transition programs described in subsection (a);
                      ``(D) helping students meet eligibility criteria 
                  for postsecondary courses and ensuring that students 
                  understand how credits earned will transfer to 
                  institutions of higher education in the State; and
                      ``(E) coordinating secondary and postsecondary 
                  support services and academic calendars.
      ``(g) Flexibility of Funds.--An eligible institution that receives 
  a grant under this section may use grant funds for any of the costs 
  associated with carrying out credit-based academic transition programs 
  described in subsection (a), including the costs of--
              ``(1) tuition and fees, books, and required instructional 
          materials for such program so that students will not be 
          required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses; and
              ``(2) transportation to and from such program.
      ``(h) Evaluation and Report.--Each eligible institution receiving a 
  grant under this section shall--
              ``(1) conduct an independent evaluation of the 
          effectiveness of the activities carried out by such eligible 
          institution under this section; and
              ``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report 
          containing the results of the evaluation described in paragraph 
          (1).
      ``(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
  construed to impose on any State or public institution of higher 
  education any requirement or rule regarding credit-based academic 
  transition programs described in subsection (a) that is inconsistent 
  with State law.''.
target: Making Education Affordable Act  This bill amends title VII (Graduate and Postsecondary Improvement Programs) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize through FY2018 the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) program.  The bill also authorizes new grants under the FIPSE program. Specifically, the Department of Education may award grants to institutions of higher education for dual or concurrent enrollment programs or early college high school programs that allow high school students to earn college credits.
feat_title: Making Education Affordable Act