College Transparency Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (14 Mar 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
What this bill does
This bill, the College Transparency Act, would direct the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to build a secure, student-level data system tracking postsecondary enrollment, progression, completion, and post-college outcomes such as earnings and loan repayment. The system would rely on periodic data-sharing agreements with agencies like the IRS, Defense Department, Veterans Affairs, Census Bureau, and Federal Student Aid, rather than a single standing linked database. A Postsecondary Student Data System Advisory Committee, including privacy and security officials, institution and student representatives, and outside experts, would help determine which data elements are collected. The bill lists required data categories (e.g., enrollment status, demographics, financial aid) and expressly prohibits collecting certain sensitive information, such as health data, grades, citizenship status, or religion. Data could not be sold, and public reporting would use aggregated, de-identified information.
The bill would primarily affect the Department of Education/NCES, colleges and universities (which report data and receive feedback reports), state higher education agencies, and students and families who would gain access to a public, customizable information website comparing institutions on cost, completion, and post-college outcomes. Researchers and federal agencies could also access de-identified data for approved research purposes.
S. 800 was introduced in the Senate on March 14, 2019, by Senator Bill Cassidy with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action in that Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
College Transparency Act
This bill requires the National Center for Education Statistics to establish a secure and privacy-protected data system that contains information about postsecondary students. Specifically, the data system must
• evaluate student enrollment patterns, progression, completion, and postcollegiate outcomes, and higher education costs and financial aid;
• provide complete and customizable information for students and families making decisions about postsecondary education;
• reduce the requirements for reporting by institutions of higher education; and
• periodically match with other federal systems of data.
The bill also establishes a postsecondary student data system advisory committee.
Timeline
14 Mar 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Common questions
- What does S. 800 do?
- This bill, the College Transparency Act, would direct the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to build a secure, student-level data system tracking postsecondary enrollment, progression, completion, and post-college outcomes such as earnings and loan repayment. The system would rely on periodic data-sharing agreements with agencies like the IRS, Defense Department, Veterans Affairs, Census Bureau, and Federal Student Aid, rather than a single standing linked database. A Postsecondary Student Data System Advisory Committee, including privacy and security officials, institution and student representatives, and outside experts, would help determine which data elements are collected. The bill lists required data categories (e.g., enrollment status, demographics, financial aid) and expressly prohibits collecting certain sensitive information, such as health data, grades, citizenship status, or religion. Data could not be sold, and public reporting would use aggregated, de-identified information. The bill would primarily affect the Department of Education/NCES, colleges and universities (which report data and receive feedback reports), state higher education agencies, and students and families who would gain access to a public, customizable information website comparing institutions on cost, completion, and post-college outcomes. Researchers and federal agencies could also access de-identified data for approved research purposes. S. 800 was introduced in the Senate on March 14, 2019, by Senator Bill Cassidy with bipartisan cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. According to the official record, it did not receive a vote and saw no further action in that Congress.
- Has S. 800 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 800. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 800?
- S. 800 was sponsored by Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA), with 36 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 800?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (14 Mar 2019).
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