Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9300
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T22:21:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
## Purpose The legislation establishes the Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026. Its stated purpose is to support evidence-based activities that improve participation, retention, and completion rates for high-need students at postsecondary institutions.
## Key Provisions
- Grant Program Authorization: The Secretary of Education must award competitive grants for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to eligible entities, including public institutions of higher education, partnerships between nonprofit organizations and such institutions, or consortia of institutions.
- Reservations: Two percent of appropriated funds are reserved for eligible Indian entities (Tribal Colleges and Universities). At least 20 percent of remaining funds support projects that include at least one evidence tier 3 reform or practice alongside evidence tier 1 or 2 reforms or practices. Up to 5 percent may cover administration, research, and evaluation, and up to 2 percent may fund technical assistance.
- Application Requirements: Eligible entities must submit plans describing evidence-based reforms or practices (categorized by evidence tiers), annual outcome benchmarks, evaluation methods, student demographics (including Pell Grant recipients and high-need students), and strategies for sustainability after the grant ends.
- Required and Permissive Uses of Funds: Funds must support evidence-based activities such as academic advising, tutoring, emergency financial aid, career counseling, transfer pathway improvements, accelerated learning programs, and faculty retention efforts.
- Evaluations: The Secretary must contract for independent evaluations measuring implementation and comparing outcomes for participating students versus similar non-participants, with a final report due to congressional committees within 18 months of enactment.
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms including “high-need student” (covering low-income, first-generation, caregiver, disabled, reentering justice-impacted, and military-connected students), “completion rate,” and three tiers of evidence-based reforms or practices.
## Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates a new standalone grant program administered by the Department of Education. It does not amend existing statutes but incorporates definitions and concepts from the Higher Education Act of 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
## Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains responsibility for administering the competitive grant process, reserving funds, conducting evaluations, and providing technical assistance.
- Citizens and Institutions: Public postsecondary institutions and Tribal Colleges may receive funding to expand student support services, potentially increasing retention and graduation rates for high-need students. Workforce systems and nonprofit partners may collaborate on implementation.
- International Relations: No direct impacts identified.
## Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible entities such as public institutions of higher education and consortia.
- High-need students, including those from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and others.
- Eligible Indian entities responsible for Tribal Colleges and Universities.
- The Secretary of Education and congressional committees overseeing education policy.
## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill raises no unique constitutional issues beyond standard federal grant-making authority. It emphasizes evidence tiers for reforms and focuses resources on specific student populations without altering existing legal frameworks for higher education funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4102)
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Postsecondary Student Success Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (12 pages)