§ 1070a-1. Academic competitiveness grants
(a)
Academic competitiveness grant program authorized
The Secretary shall award grants, in the amounts specified in subsection (d)(1), to eligible students to assist the eligible students in paying their college education expenses.
(b)
Designation
A grant under this section—
(c)
Definition of eligible student
In this section the term “eligible student” means a student who, for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made for a grant under this section—
(2)
is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an institution of higher education on not less than a half-time basis; and
(3)
in the case of a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment in—
(A)
the first year of a program of undergraduate education at a two- or four-year degree-granting institution of higher education (including a program of not less than one year for which the institution awards a certificate)—
(i)
has successfully completed, after January 1, 2006, a rigorous secondary school program of study that prepares students for college and is recognized as such by the State official designated for such recognition, or with respect to any private or home school, the school official designated for such recognition for such school, consistent with State law, which recognized program shall be reported to the Secretary; and
(B)
the second year of a program of undergraduate education at a two- or four-year degree-granting institution of higher education (including a program of not less than two years for which the institution awards a certificate)—
(AA)
that is recognized as such by the official designated for such recognition consistent with State law; and
(BB)
about which the designated official has reported to the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary may reasonably require, in order to assist financial aid administrators to determine that the student is an eligible student under this section; or
(C)
the third or fourth year of a program of undergraduate education at a four-year degree-granting institution of higher education—
(D)
the third or fourth year of a program of undergraduate education at an institution of higher education (as defined in section
1001
(a) of this title), is attending an institution that demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the institution—
(i)
offers a single liberal arts curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree, under which students are not permitted by the institution to declare a major in a particular subject area, and the student—
(I)
(E)
the fifth year of a program of undergraduate education that requires 5 full years of coursework, as certified by the appropriate official of the degree-granting institution of higher education, for which a baccalaureate degree is awarded by a degree-granting institution of higher education—
(d)
Grant award
(1)
Amounts
(A)
In general
The Secretary shall award a grant under this section in the amount of—
(B)
Limitation; ratable reduction
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in any case in which a student attends an institution of higher education on less than a full-time basis, the amount of the grant that such student may receive shall be reduced in the same manner as a Federal Pell Grant is reduced under section
1070a
(b)(2)(B) of this title;
(ii)
the amount of such grant, in combination with the Federal Pell Grant assistance and other student financial assistance available to such student, shall not exceed the student’s cost of attendance;
(iii)
if the amount made available under subsection (e) for any fiscal year is less than the amount required to be provided grants to all eligible students in the amounts determined under subparagraph (A) and clause (i) of this subparagraph, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student shall be ratably reduced; and
(2)
Limitations
(3)
Calculation of grant payments
An institution of higher education shall make payments of a grant awarded under this section in the same manner, using the same payment periods, as such institution makes payments for Federal Pell Grants under section
1070a of this title.
(e)
Funding
(f)
Recognition of programs of study
The Secretary shall recognize not less than one rigorous secondary school program of study in each State under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(3) for the purpose of determining student eligibility under such subsection.
(g)
Sunset provision
The authority to make grants under this section shall expire at the end of award year 2010–2011.