 
      CHAPTER 28--HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE
 
                    SUBCHAPTER IV--STUDENT ASSISTANCE
 
                        Part G--Program Integrity
 
                subpart 2--accrediting agency recognition
 
Sec. 1099b. Recognition of accrediting agency or association


(a) Criteria required

    No accrediting agency or association may be determined by the 
Secretary to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or 
training offered for the purposes of this chapter or for other Federal 
purposes, unless the agency or association meets criteria established by 
the Secretary pursuant to this section. The Secretary shall, after 
notice and opportunity for a hearing, establish criteria for such 
determinations. Such criteria shall include an appropriate measure or 
measures of student achievement. Such criteria shall require that--
        (1) the accrediting agency or association shall be a State, 
    regional, or national agency or association and shall demonstrate 
    the ability and the experience to operate as an accrediting agency 
    or association within the State, region, or nationally, as 
    appropriate;
        (2) such agency or association--
            (A)(i) for the purpose of participation in programs under 
        this chapter, has a voluntary membership of institutions of 
        higher education and has as a principal purpose the accrediting 
        of institutions of higher education; or
            (ii) for the purpose of participation in other programs 
        administered by the Department of Education or other Federal 
        agencies, has a voluntary membership and has as its principal 
        purpose the accrediting of institutions of higher education or 
        programs;
            (B) is a State agency approved by the Secretary for the 
        purpose described in subparagraph (A); or
            (C) is an agency or association that, for the purpose of 
        determining eligibility for student assistance under this 
        subchapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42, 
        conducts accreditation through (i) a voluntary membership 
        organization of individuals participating in a profession, or 
        (ii) an agency or association which has as its principal purpose 
        the accreditation of programs within institutions, which 
        institutions are accredited by another agency or association 
        recognized by the Secretary;

        (3) if such agency or association is an agency or association 
    described in--
            (A) subparagraph (A)(i) of paragraph (2), then such agency 
        or association is separate and independent, both 
        administratively and financially of any related, associated, or 
        affiliated trade association or membership organization;
            (B) subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), then such agency or 
        association has been recognized by the Secretary on or before 
        October 1, 1991; or
            (C) subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) and such agency or 
        association has been recognized by the Secretary on or before 
        October 1, 1991, then the Secretary may waive the requirement 
        that such agency or association is separate and independent, 
        both administratively and financially of any related, 
        associated, or affiliated trade association or membership 
        organization upon a demonstration that the existing relationship 
        has not served to compromise the independence of its 
        accreditation process;

        (4) such agency or association consistently applies and enforces 
    standards that ensure that the courses or programs of instruction, 
    training, or study offered by the institution of higher education, 
    including distance education courses or programs, are of sufficient 
    quality to achieve, for the duration of the accreditation period, 
    the stated objective for which the courses or the programs are 
    offered;
        (5) the standards for accreditation of the agency or association 
    assess the institution's--
            (A) success with respect to student achievement in relation 
        to the institution's mission, including, as appropriate, 
        consideration of course completion, State licensing 
        examinations, and job placement rates;
            (B) curricula;
            (C) faculty;
            (D) facilities, equipment, and supplies;
            (E) fiscal and administrative capacity as appropriate to the 
        specified scale of operations;
            (F) student support services;
            (G) recruiting and admissions practices, academic calendars, 
        catalogs, publications, grading and advertising;
            (H) measures of program length and the objectives of the 
        degrees or credentials offered;
            (I) record of student complaints received by, or available 
        to, the agency or association; and
            (J) record of compliance with its program responsibilities 
        under this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 
        of title 42 based on the most recent student loan default rate 
        data provided by the Secretary, the results of financial or 
        compliance audits, program reviews, and such other information 
        as the Secretary may provide to the agency or association;

    except that subparagraphs (A), (H), and (J) shall not apply to 
    agencies or associations described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of this 
    subsection;
        (6) such agency or association shall apply procedures throughout 
    the accrediting process, including evaluation and withdrawal 
    proceedings, that comply with due process, including--
            (A) adequate specification of requirements and deficiencies 
        at the institution of higher education or program being 
        examined;
            (B) notice of an opportunity for a hearing by any such 
        institution;
            (C) the right to appeal any adverse action against any such 
        institution; and
            (D) the right to representation by counsel for any such 
        institution;

        (7) such agency or association shall notify the Secretary and 
    the appropriate State licensing or authorizing agency within 30 days 
    of the accreditation of an institution or any final denial, 
    withdrawal, suspension, or termination of accreditation or placement 
    on probation of an institution, together with any other adverse 
    action taken with respect to an institution; and
        (8) such agency or association shall make available to the 
    public, upon request, and to the Secretary, and the State licensing 
    or authorizing agency a summary of any review resulting in a final 
    accrediting decision involving denial, termination, or suspension of 
    accreditation, together with the comments of the affected 
    institution.

(b) ``Separate and independent'' defined

    For the purpose of subsection (a)(3) of this section, the term 
``separate and independent'' means that--
        (1) the members of the postsecondary education governing body of 
    the accrediting agency or association are not elected or selected by 
    the board or chief executive officer of any related, associated, or 
    affiliated trade association or membership organization;
        (2) among the membership of the board of the accrediting agency 
    or association there shall be one public member (who is not a member 
    of any related trade or membership organization) for each six 
    members of the board, with a minimum of one such public member, and 
    guidelines are established for such members to avoid conflicts of 
    interest;
        (3) dues to the accrediting agency or association are paid 
    separately from any dues paid to any related, associated, or 
    affiliated trade association or membership organization; and
        (4) the budget of the accrediting agency or association is 
    developed and determined by the accrediting agency or association 
    without review or resort to consultation with any other entity or 
    organization.

(c) Operating procedures required

    No accrediting agency or association may be recognized by the 
Secretary as a reliable authority as to the quality of education or 
training offered by an institution seeking to participate in the 
programs authorized under this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of 
chapter 34 of title 42, unless the agency or association--
        (1) performs, at regularly established intervals, on-site 
    inspections and reviews of institutions of higher education (which 
    may include unannounced site visits) with particular focus on 
    educational quality and program effectiveness, and ensures that 
    accreditation team members are well-trained and knowledgeable with 
    respect to their responsibilities;
        (2) requires that any institution of higher education subject to 
    its jurisdiction which plans to establish a branch campus submit a 
    business plan, including projected revenues and expenditures, prior 
    to opening the branch campus;
        (3) agrees to conduct, as soon as practicable, but within a 
    period of not more than 6 months of the establishment of a new 
    branch campus or a change of ownership of an institution of higher 
    education, an on-site visit of that branch campus or of the 
    institution after a change of ownership;
        (4) requires that teach-out agreements among institutions are 
    subject to approval by the accrediting agency or association 
    consistent with standards promulgated by such agency or association;
        (5) maintains and makes publicly available written materials 
    regarding standards and procedures for accreditation, appeal 
    procedures, and the accreditation status of each institution subject 
    to its jurisdiction; and
        (6) discloses publicly whenever an institution of higher 
    education subject to its jurisdiction is being considered for 
    accreditation or reaccreditation.

(d) Length of recognition

    No accrediting agency or association may be recognized by the 
Secretary for the purpose of this chapter for a period of more than 5 
years.

(e) Initial arbitration rule

    The Secretary may not recognize the accreditation of any institution 
of higher education unless the institution of higher education agrees to 
submit any dispute involving the final denial, withdrawal, or 
termination of accreditation to initial arbitration prior to any other 
legal action.

(f) Jurisdiction

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any civil action brought 
by an institution of higher education seeking accreditation from, or 
accredited by, an accrediting agency or association recognized by the 
Secretary for the purpose of this subchapter and part C of subchapter I 
of chapter 34 of title 42 and involving the denial, withdrawal, or 
termination of accreditation of the institution of higher education, 
shall be brought in the appropriate United States district court.

(g) Limitation on scope of criteria

    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit the Secretary 
to establish criteria for accrediting agencies or associations that are 
not required by this section. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed 
to prohibit or limit any accrediting agency or association from adopting 
additional standards not provided for in this section.

(h) Change of accrediting agency

    The Secretary shall not recognize the accreditation of any otherwise 
eligible institution of higher education if the institution of higher 
education is in the process of changing its accrediting agency or 
association, unless the eligible institution submits to the Secretary 
all materials relating to the prior accreditation, including materials 
demonstrating reasonable cause for changing the accrediting agency or 
association.

(i) Dual accreditation rule

    The Secretary shall not recognize the accreditation of any otherwise 
eligible institution of higher education if the institution of higher 
education is accredited, as an institution, by more than one accrediting 
agency or association, unless the institution submits to each such 
agency and association and to the Secretary the reasons for 
accreditation by more than one such agency or association and 
demonstrates to the Secretary reasonable cause for its accreditation by 
more than one agency or association. If the institution is accredited, 
as an institution, by more than one accrediting agency or association, 
the institution shall designate which agency's accreditation shall be 
utilized in determining the institution's eligibility for programs under 
this chapter.

(j) Impact of loss of accreditation

    An institution may not be certified or recertified as an institution 
of higher education under section 1002 of this title and subpart 3 of 
this part or participate in any of the other programs authorized by this 
chapter if such institution--
        (1) is not currently accredited by any agency or association 
    recognized by the Secretary;
        (2) has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, or otherwise 
    terminated for cause during the preceding 24 months, unless such 
    withdrawal, revocation, or termination has been rescinded by the 
    same accrediting agency; or
        (3) has withdrawn from accreditation voluntarily under a show 
    cause or suspension order during the preceding 24 months, unless 
    such order has been rescinded by the same accrediting agency.

(k) Religious institution rule

    Notwithstanding subsection (j) of this section, the Secretary shall 
allow an institution that has had its accreditation withdrawn, revoked, 
or otherwise terminated, or has voluntarily withdrawn from an 
accreditation agency, to remain certified as an institution of higher 
education under section 1002 of this title and subpart 3 of this part 
for a period sufficient to allow such institution to obtain alternative 
accreditation, if the Secretary determines that the reason for the 
withdrawal, revocation, or termination--
        (1) is related to the religious mission or affiliation of the 
    institution; and
        (2) is not related to the accreditation criteria provided for in 
    this section.

(l) Limitation, suspension, or termination of recognition

    (1) If the Secretary determines that an accrediting agency or 
association has failed to apply effectively the criteria in this 
section, or is otherwise not in compliance with the requirements of this 
section, the Secretary shall--
        (A) after notice and opportunity for a hearing, limit, suspend, 
    or terminate the recognition of the agency or association; or
        (B) require the agency or association to take appropriate action 
    to bring the agency or association into compliance with such 
    requirements within a timeframe specified by the Secretary, except 
    that--
            (i) such timeframe shall not exceed 12 months unless the 
        Secretary extends such period for good cause; and
            (ii) if the agency or association fails to bring the agency 
        or association into compliance within such timeframe, the 
        Secretary shall, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, 
        limit, suspend, or terminate the recognition of the agency or 
        association.

    (2) The Secretary may determine that an accrediting agency or 
association has failed to apply effectively the standards provided in 
this section if an institution of higher education seeks and receives 
accreditation from the accrediting agency or association during any 
period in which the institution is the subject of any interim action by 
another accrediting agency or association, described in paragraph 
(2)(A)(i), (2)(B), or (2)(C) of subsection (a) of this section, leading 
to the suspension, revocation, or termination of accreditation or the 
institution has been notified of the threatened loss of accreditation, 
and the due process procedures required by such suspension, revocation, 
termination, or threatened loss have not been completed.

(m) Limitation on Secretary's authority

    The Secretary may only recognize accrediting agencies or 
associations which accredit institutions of higher education for the 
purpose of enabling such institutions to establish eligibility to 
participate in the programs under this chapter or which accredit 
institutions of higher education or higher education programs for the 
purpose of enabling them to establish eligibility to participate in 
other programs administered by the Department of Education or other 
Federal agencies.

(n) Independent evaluation

    (1) The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive review and 
evaluation of the performance of all accrediting agencies or 
associations which seek recognition by the Secretary in order to 
determine whether such accrediting agencies or associations meet the 
criteria established by this section. The Secretary shall conduct an 
independent evaluation of the information provided by such agency or 
association. Such evaluation shall include--
        (A) the solicitation of third-party information concerning the 
    performance of the accrediting agency or association; and
        (B) site visits, including unannounced site visits as 
    appropriate, at accrediting agencies and associations, and, at the 
    Secretary's discretion, at representative member institutions.

    (2) The Secretary shall place a priority for review of accrediting 
agencies or associations on those agencies or associations that accredit 
institutions of higher education that participate most extensively in 
the programs authorized by this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of 
chapter 34 of title 42 and on those agencies or associations which have 
been the subject of the most complaints or legal actions.
    (3) The Secretary shall consider all available relevant information 
concerning the compliance of the accrediting agency or association with 
the criteria provided for in this section, including any complaints or 
legal actions against such agency or association. In cases where 
deficiencies in the performance of an accreditation agency or 
association with respect to the requirements of this section are noted, 
the Secretary shall take these deficiencies into account in the 
recognition process. The Secretary shall not, under any circumstances, 
base decisions on the recognition or denial of recognition of 
accreditation agencies or associations on criteria other than those 
contained in this section. When the Secretary decides to recognize an 
accrediting agency or association, the Secretary shall determine the 
agency or association's scope of recognition. If the agency or 
association reviews institutions offering distance education courses or 
programs and the Secretary determines that the agency or association 
meets the requirements of this section, then the agency shall be 
recognized and the scope of recognition shall include accreditation of 
institutions offering distance education courses or programs.
    (4) The Secretary shall maintain sufficient documentation to support 
the conclusions reached in the recognition process, and, if the 
Secretary does not recognize any accreditation agency or association, 
shall make publicly available the reason for denying recognition, 
including reference to the specific criteria under this section which 
have not been fulfilled.

(o) Regulations

    The Secretary shall by regulation provide procedures for the 
recognition of accrediting agencies or associations and for the appeal 
of the Secretary's decisions.

(Pub. L. 89-329, title IV, Sec. 496, as added Pub. L. 102-325, title IV, 
Sec. 499, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 641; amended Pub. L. 103-208, 
Sec. 2(i)(3)-(8), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2478, 2479; Pub. L. 105-244, 
title I, Sec. 102(b)(5), title IV, Sec. 492(a)(2)-(d), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 
Stat. 1622, 1759, 1760.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a), (d), (g), (i), (j), and 
(m), was in the original ``this Act'', meaning Pub. L. 89-329, as 
amended, known as the Higher Education Act of 1965. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
under section 1001 of this title and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1998--Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(a)(2), substituted ``Recognition'' 
for ``Approval'' in section catchline.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(1), (2), substituted 
``Criteria'' for ``Standards'' in heading and ``criteria'' for 
``standards'' wherever appearing in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(3), substituted 
``offered by the institution'' for ``at the institution'' and inserted 
``, including distance education courses or programs,'' after ``higher 
education''.
    Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(A), (H), substituted 
``for accreditation'' for ``of accreditation'' in introductory 
provisions and ``(A), (H), and (J)'' for ``(G), (H), (I), (J), and (L)'' 
in concluding provisions.
    Subsec. (a)(5)(A) to (G). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(C), (E), 
added subpar. (A) and redesignated former subpars. (A) to (F) as (B) to 
(G), respectively. Former subpar. (G) redesignated (H).
    Subsec. (a)(5)(H). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(F), substituted 
``measures of program length'' for ``program length and tuition and fees 
in relation to the subject matters taught''.
    Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(C), redesignated subpar. (G) as (H).
    Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(B), struck out subpar. (H) which 
read as follows: ``measures of program length in clock hours or credit 
hours;''.
    Subsec. (a)(5)(I). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(B), (D), 
redesignated subpar. (K) as (I) and struck out former subpar. (I) which 
read as follows: ``success with respect to student achievement in 
relation to its mission, including, as appropriate, consideration of 
course completion, State licensing examination, and job placement 
rates;''.
    Subsec. (a)(5)(J). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(G), inserted 
``record of'' before ``compliance'', substituted ``based on the most 
recent student loan default rate data provided by the Secretary, the'' 
for ``, including any'', and inserted ``any'' after ``reviews, and''.
    Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(B), (D), redesignated subpar. (L) as 
(J) and struck out former subpar. (J) which read as follows: ``default 
rates in the student loan programs under this subchapter and part C of 
subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42, based on the most recent data 
provided by the Secretary;''.
    Subsec. (a)(5)(K), (L). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(4)(D), 
redesignated subpars. (K) and (L) as (I) and (J), respectively.
    Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(5), substituted ``State 
licensing or authorizing agency'' for ``State postsecondary review 
entity''.
    Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(b)(6), substituted ``State 
licensing or authorizing agency'' for ``State postsecondary review 
entity of the State in which the institution of higher education is 
located''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(c)(1), substituted 
``recognized by the Secretary'' for ``approved by the Secretary'' in 
introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(c)(2), substituted 
``(which may include unannounced site visits)'' for ``(at least one of 
which inspections at each institution that provides vocational education 
and training shall be unannounced),''.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(1), substituted 
``recognition'' for ``approval'' in heading and ``recognized'' for 
``approved'' in text.
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(2), substituted 
``recognized'' for ``approved''.
    Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(3), substituted 
``criteria'' for ``standards'' in heading and ``establish criteria'' for 
``establish standards'' in text.
    Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 102(b)(5), substituted ``section 
1002'' for ``section 1088'' in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 105-244, Secs. 102(b)(5), 492(d)(4)(A), amended 
subsec. (k) identically, substituting ``section 1002'' for ``section 
1088'' in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (k)(2). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(4)(B), substituted 
``criteria'' for ``standards''.
    Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(5), substituted 
``recognition'' for ``approval'' in heading, added par. (1), and struck 
out former par. (1) which read as follows: ``The Secretary shall limit, 
suspend, or terminate the approval of an accrediting agency or 
association if the Secretary determines, after notice and opportunity 
for a hearing, that the accrediting agency or association has failed to 
apply effectively the standards or operate according to the procedures 
provided in this section.''
    Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(6)(A), substituted 
``criteria'' for ``standards'' in introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (n)(3). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(6)(A), (B), substituted 
``criteria'' for ``standards'' in two places, ``recognition process'' 
for ``approval process'', and ``recognition or denial of recognition'' 
for ``approval or disapproval'', and inserted at end ``When the 
Secretary decides to recognize an accrediting agency or association, the 
Secretary shall determine the agency or association's scope of 
recognition. If the agency or association reviews institutions offering 
distance education courses or programs and the Secretary determines that 
the agency or association meets the requirements of this section, then 
the agency shall be recognized and the scope of recognition shall 
include accreditation of institutions offering distance education 
courses or programs.''
    Subsec. (n)(4). Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 492(d)(6)(C), added par. (4) 
and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: ``The Secretary 
shall maintain sufficient documentation to support the conclusions 
reached in the approval process, and, upon disapproval of any 
accreditation agency or association, shall make publicly available the 
reason for such disapproval, including reference to the specific 
standards under this section which have not been fulfilled.''
    1993--Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(3), inserted 
``of institutions of higher education'' after ``membership''.
    Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(4), substituted 
``subparagraph (A)(i)'' for ``subparagraph (A)''.
    Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(5), substituted a 
semicolon for the period at end of subpar. (L) and inserted after 
subpar. (L) the following: ``except that subparagraphs (G), (H), (I), 
(J), and (L) shall not apply to agencies or associations described in 
paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of this subsection;''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(6), substituted ``as a 
reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered by 
an institution seeking to participate in the programs authorized under 
this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42'' 
for ``for the purpose of this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of 
chapter 34 of title 42''.
    Subsec. (l)(2). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(7), substituted 
``institution'' for ``institutution'' and ``association, described in 
paragraph (2)(A)(i), (2)(B), or (2)(C) of subsection (a) of this 
section, leading to the suspension'' for ``association leading to the 
suspension''.
    Subsec. (n)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103-208, Sec. 2(i)(8), amended subpar. 
(B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: ``site 
visits at both the accrediting agency or association and member 
institutions, including unannounced visits where appropriate.''


                    Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 105-244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as 
otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105-244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105-244, 
set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 103-208 effective as if included in the Higher 
Education Amendments of 1992, Pub. L. 102-325, except as otherwise 
provided, see section 5(a) of Pub. L. 103-208, set out as a note under 
section 1051 of this title.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective Oct. 1, 1992, see section 2 of Pub. L. 102-325, 
set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 1001 
of this title.


                      Study of Transfer of Credits

    Pub. L. 105-244, title VIII, Sec. 804, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1806, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Education shall conduct a 
study to evaluate policies or practices instituted by recognized 
accrediting agencies or associations regarding the treatment of the 
transfer of credits from one institution of higher education to another, 
giving particular attention to--
        ``(1) adopted policies regarding the transfer of credits between 
    institutions of higher education which are accredited by different 
    agencies or associations and the reasons for such policies;
        ``(2) adopted policies regarding the transfer of credits between 
    institutions of higher education which are accredited by national 
    agencies or associations and institutions of higher education which 
    are accredited by regional agencies and associations and the reasons 
    for such policies;
        ``(3) the effect of the adoption of such policies on students 
    transferring between such institutions of higher education, 
    including time required to matriculate, increases to the student of 
    tuition and fees paid, and increases to the student with regard to 
    student loan burden;
        ``(4) the extent to which Federal financial aid is awarded to 
    such students for the duplication of coursework already completed at 
    another institution; and
        ``(5) the aggregate cost to the Federal Government of the 
    adoption of such policies.
    ``(b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act [Oct. 7, 1998], the Secretary of Education shall submit a 
report to the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate detailing the 
Secretary's findings regarding the study conducted under subsection (a). 
The Secretary's report shall include such recommendation with respect to 
the recognition of accrediting agencies or associations as the Secretary 
deems advisable.''
