To provide for a feasibility study with regard to a free online college degree program.

1. Inserts new text wherever appropriate

   Inserts

   Inserted: SEC. . FEASIBILITY STUDY ON FREE ONLINE COLLEGE DEGREE PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct and complete a feasibility study on creating a national, free online college degree program that would be available to all individuals described under section 484(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091(a)(5)) who wish to pursue a degree in a field of strategic importance to the United States and where expertise is in demand, such as mathematics, sciences, and foreign languages. The study shall look at the need for a free college degree program as well as the feasibility of--

   Inserted: (1) developing online course content;

   Inserted: (2) developing sufficiently rigorous tests to determine mastery of a field of study; and

   Inserted: (3) sustaining the program through private funding.

   Inserted: (b) Study.--The study described in subsection (a) shall also include a review of existing online education programs to determine the extent to which these programs offer a rigorous curriculum in areas like mathematics and science and the National Academy of Sciences shall make recommendations for how online degree programs can be assessed and accredited.

   Inserted: (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $500,000 for fiscal year 2008.

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   Original wording

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As printed