(a) PurposeIt is the purpose of this section to carry out a pilot program to assist not more than five States to develop State-level postsecondary student data systems to—
(1)
improve the capacity of States and institutions of higher education to generate more comprehensive and comparable data, in order to develop better-informed educational policy at the State level and to evaluate the effectiveness of institutional performance while protecting the confidentiality of students’ personally identifiable information; and
(2)
identify how to best minimize the data-reporting burden placed on institutions of higher education, particularly smaller institutions, and to maximize and improve the information institutions receive from the data systems, in order to assist institutions in improving educational practice and postsecondary outcomes.
(c) Competitive grants
(1) Grants authorizedThe Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to not more than five eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to—
(d) Application requirementsAn eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a description of—
(1)
how the eligible entity will ensure that student privacy is protected and that individually identifiable information about students, the students’ achievements, and the students’ families remains confidential in accordance with section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”); and
(e) Use of fundsA grant awarded under this section shall be used to—
(1)
design, develop, and implement the components of a comprehensive postsecondary student data system with the capacity to transmit student information within a State;
(3) select and define common data elements, data quality, and other elements that will enable the data system to—
(f) Evaluation; reportsNot later than six months after the end of the projects funded by grants awarded under this section, the Secretary shall—
(2)
report the Secretary’s findings, as well as recommendations regarding the implementation of State-level postsecondary student data systems, to the authorizing committees.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title I, § 136, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title I, § 115, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3111; amended Pub. L. 111–39, title I, § 101(b)(4), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1935.)