H.R. 472 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to address the issues of college affordability and transparency.
Detailed Summary
College Affordability and Transparency Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education Statistics, in redesigning the College Opportunity On-Line (COOL) website, to identify and include the data of greatest importance to prospective and enrolled students, and their families.
Requires the Secretary of Education to publish, on such website, additional college affordability information comparing the change in each school's student costs with the change in the consumer price index (CPI) over the most recent three-year period.
Requires a school whose prices increase at more than twice the percentage change in the CPI over such time period to: (1) report an explanation to the Secretary; and (2) establish a quality-efficiency task force to review the school's operations, if the school's price increase is in the top 5% of such schools. Places schools on affordability alert status if their prices continue to exceed the CPI by such amount for two additional years. Requires publication of the explanatory reports, task force analyses, and affordability alerts on the COOL website.
Changes the student aid recipient survey to require that it be conducted at least once every four, rather than every three, years and include information on the effect students' costs and debt have on student school and career choices.
Authorizes the Secretary to select up to 100 schools to participate in a College Affordability Demonstration Project allowing increased innovation in the delivery of higher education and student financial aid to test the ability of innovations such as accelerated degree programs, distance education, and school collaborations with other schools and organizations, to reduce costs for students and schools.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 5/9/2007: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Sarah K. Jorgensen
November 12, 2007, 1:13pm (report abuse)There are many laudatory aspects of this bill (especially when it comes to funding of Native Americans and persons with disabilities).
However, there is one particular problem I would like to point out: on page 411-412 it says schools shall develop technological deterrents to illegal transfers of data. It also introduces an unfunded mandate for "cost effective" technical solutions. While education about compliance with copyrights, permissions and illegalities in certain types of file sharing is valid, forcing the provision of alternatives and technology to prevent it is short sighted, ill informed and derisory. This only serves to stagnate the open exchange of ideas, not contribute to them.
Sarah K. Jorgensen
November 12, 2007, 1:15pm (report abuse)I meant the recent HR ___ (of November 2007) which is also titled the The College Affordability and Transparency Act of 2007
S. Young
December 26, 2007, 7:30pm (report abuse)Sarah - we found your wallet today on the Mall in DC. Send me your cell phone or other contact number to syoung9000@yahoo.com and I can call you and tell you where to pick it up. Since we have your credit card and are not going to use it, we didn't cancel it.