; and (2) not less than 85 percent of any funds provided to an eligible institution under subsection (a) shall be advanced to the eligible institution prior to the start of each payment period and shall be based upon an amount requested by the institution as needed to cover the total cost of grants awarded to eligible recipients until such time as the Secretary determines and publishes in the Federal Register with an opportunity for comment, an alternative payment system that provides payments to institutions in an accurate and timely manner, except that this sentence shall not be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to place an institution on a reimbursement system of payment. (f) Direct payment Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from making a grant directly to an eligible individual in a case in which an institution of higher education with a qualified early childhood educator program does not participate in the program under subsection (a). (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual means an individual who is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in a qualified early childhood educator program. (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ). (3) Qualified early childhood educator program The term qualified early childhood educator program means a course of study leading to an associate’s degree or a certificate in early childhood education or a related field from an institution of higher education. (4) Licensed early learning program The term licensed early learning program means any State-licensed or State-regulated program or provider, regardless of setting or funding source, that provides early care and education for children from birth to kindergarten entry, including, but not limited to, programs operated by child care centers and in family child care homes. (h) Authorization of