PURPOSE; ENDOWMENT GRANT AUTHORITY.

SEC. 524. PURPOSE; ENDOWMENT GRANT AUTHORITY. (a) Purpose.—It is the purpose of this part to establish and support area program centers to enable such centers to foster the development of local affiliated chapters in high-poverty areas that promote higher education goals for students from low-income families by— (1) providing academic support, including guidance, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and recognition; and (2) providing scholarship assistance for the pursuit of post-secondary education. (b) Endowment Grant Authority.—From the funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 527, the Secretary shall award an endowment grant, on a competitive basis, to a national organization to enable such organization to support the establishment or ongoing work of area program centers that foster the development of local affiliated chapters in high-poverty areas to improve high school graduation rates and postsecondary attend-108 STAT. 4047ance through the provision of academic support services and scholarship assistance for the pursuit of postsecondary education.