1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2017 . 2. Authorization for use of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to pursue independent study programs at certain educational institutions that are not institutions of higher learning Paragraph (4) of section 3680A(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (4) any independent study program except— (A) with respect to enrollments occurring during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Education Improvement Act of 2017 and ending on September 30, 2018, an independent study program (including open circuit television) that— (i) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; and (ii) leads— (I) to a standard college degree; (II) to a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning; or (III) to a certificate that reflects completion of a course of study offered by— (aa) an area career and technical education school (as defined in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 3(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2302(3) )) that provides education at the postsecondary level; or (bb) a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002(c) )) that provides education at the postsecondary level; and (B) with respect to enrollments occurring during any period other than the period described in subparagraph (A), an accredited independent study program (including open circuit television) leading— (i) to a standard college degree; or (ii) to a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning. .