A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Jumpstart on College Act directs the Secretary of Education to provide grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs. Its goal is to increase the number of students, specifically low-income and underrepresented populations, who complete recognized postsecondary credentials on time. The bill authorizes $250 million annually for five years, splitting funds between eligible entities, States, and national activities. Grants for eligible entities and States both last for six years and require matching funds. The Act also mandates reporting on student outcomes and a national evaluation by an independent entity.
Yes· 3 of 25
- Scored +10
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Specifically prioritizes programs serving low-income students and offsets costs for tuition and fees.
- Scored +10
Would students be better off under this?
Eliminates tuition/fees for participants and accelerates credential attainment.
- Scored +9
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Provides significant educational advancement and cost reduction for high school students transitioning to college.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
Imposes federal matching requirements and reporting standards on states.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases government spending through new grant programs.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes additional federal spending of $250 million annually.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Free Postsecondary Courses: Students in programs funded by these grants will not be required to pay tuition or fees for their postsecondary courses (Section 5(i)(3)(A)).
- Support for Low-Income Students: The Secretary must prioritize grants for programs where at least 51 percent of students are low-income (Section 5(f)(1)).
- Increased Accessibility: States may use funds to offset costs for tuition, fees, standardized testing, and support services for low-income and underrepresented students (Section 6(f)(2)(A)).
- Student Support Services: Grant funds must be used to create systems of support, including academic, social, and college and career readiness services for students (Section 5(h)(1)(A)(ii)(I)).
- Work-Based Learning: The bill allows for the incorporation of internships, pre-apprenticeships, and registered apprenticeships into the programs (Section 5(h)(2)(C)).
- Improved Transferability: States can establish formal transfer systems across 2-year and 4-year institutions to make it easier for students to transfer credits (Section 6(f)(2)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Burden on Entities: Eligible entities must provide matching funds that increase over time, starting at 20 percent in the first two years and reaching 50 percent by the sixth year (Section 5(d)(2)).
- State Funding Requirements: States receiving grants must provide matching funds from non-Federal sources equal to 50 percent of the grant amount each year (Section 6(d)).
- Competitive Access: Because grants are awarded on a competitive basis, many eligible entities and States may not receive the funding necessary to establish or support these programs (Section 5(a) and Section 6(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Specifically prioritizes programs serving low-income students and offsets costs for tuition and fees. Would students be better off under this? — Eliminates tuition/fees for participants and accelerates credential attainment. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides significant educational advancement and cost reduction for high school students transitioning to college. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Directly targets underrepresented populations to close achievement gaps in higher education. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Directly targets underrepresented populations to close achievement gaps in higher education. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Directly targets underrepresented populations to close achievement gaps in higher education. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Reduces the cost of higher education for students who qualify for these programs. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Ensures accessibility of outreach and supports educational pathways. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Ensures equitable distribution of grants to rural areas. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Ensures equitable distribution of grants to urban areas. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Increases overall access to affordable early college credentials. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Increases overall access to affordable early college credentials. Would business owners be better off under this? — Creates a more skilled workforce pipeline through registered apprenticeships and industry alignment. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General improvement in educational infrastructure, though benefits are weighted toward low-income.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — Ensures students in funded programs are not required to pay tuition or fees for postsecondary courses. Does this put more money into public schools? — Provides significant grant funding to high schools and institutions of higher education for early college programs. Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — Expands options for students to enter early college high schools or dual enrollment programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Prioritizes underrepresented populations and low-income students in higher education access. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Provides pathways to higher credentials for low-income students, which is a key driver in poverty reduction. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Requires outreach websites to comply with accessibility laws for individuals with disabilities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Directs grants to a representative cross-section of rural areas to improve educational access.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandates annual public reporting of student outcomes and a national independent evaluation. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases federal oversight and funding mandates for state education programs. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Imposes federal matching requirements and reporting standards on states.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Increasing the number of students with postsecondary credentials generally improves long-term economic productivity. Is this likely to create jobs? — Incorporation of internships and apprenticeships can enhance workforce readiness and future job creation. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases government spending through new grant programs. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes additional federal spending of $250 million annually.
- 12/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon