Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions - S. 2335 - Part 2
"(e) ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS.-An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section may use such funds to carry out the following activities:
"(1) DISSEMINATION AND COORDINATION.-Broadly disseminating information on effective practices used by the partnership, including teaching strategies and interactive materials for developing skills in classroom management and assessment and how to respond to individual student needs, abilities, and backgrounds, to early childhood education providers and teachers in elementary schools or secondary schools that are not associated with the partnership. Coordinating with the activities of the Governor, State board of education, State higher education agency, and State educational agency, as appropriate.
"(2) CURRICULUM PREPARATION.-Supporting preparation time for early childhood education providers, teachers in elementary schools or secondary schools, and faculty to jointly design and implement teacher preparation curricula, classroom experiences, and ongoing professional development opportunities that promote the acquisition and continued growth of teaching skills.
"(3) COMMUNICATION SKILLS.-Developing strategies and curriculum-based professional development activities to enhance prospective teachers' communication skills with students, parents, colleagues, and other education professionals.
"(4) COORDINATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.-Coordinating with other institutions of higher education, including community colleges, to implement teacher preparation programs that support prospective teachers in obtaining baccalaureate degrees and State certification or licensure.
"(5) TEACHER RECRUITMENT.-Activities described in subsections (d) and (e) of section 204.
"(f) SPECIAL RULE.-No individual member of an eligible partnership shall retain more than 50 percent of the funds made available to the partnership under this section.
"(g) CONSTRUCTION.-Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an eligible partnership from using grant funds to coordinate with the activities of more than 1 Governor, State board of education, State educational agency, local educational agency, or State agency for higher education.".
SEC. 5. RECRUITMENT GRANTS.
Section 204 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1024) is amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 204. RECRUITMENT GRANTS.
"(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.-From amounts made available under section 211(3) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible applicants to enable the eligible applicants to carry out activities described in subsections (d) and (e).
"(b) ELIGIBLE APPLICANT DEFINED.-In this part, the term 'eligible applicant' means-
"(1) an eligible State described in section 202(b) that has-
"(A) high teacher shortages or turnover rates; or
"(B) high teacher shortages or turnover rates in high-need local educational agencies; or
"(2) an eligible partnership described in section 203(b) that-
"(A) serves not less than 1 high-need local educational agency with high teacher shortages or turnover rates ;
"(B) serves schools that demonstrate great difficulty meeting State challenging academic content standards; or
"© demonstrates great difficulty meeting the requirement that teachers be highly qualified.
"© APPLICATION.-Any eligible applicant desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including-
"(1) a description of the assessment that the eligible applicant, and the other entities with whom the eligible applicant will carry out the grant activities, have undertaken to determine the most critical needs of the participating high-need local educational agencies;
"(2) a description of how the eligible applicant will recruit and retain highly qualified teachers or other qualified individuals, including principals and early childhood education providers, or both, who are enrolled in, accepted to, or plan to participate in teacher preparation programs or professional development activities, as described under section 203, in geographic areas of greatest need, including data on the retention rate, by school, of all teachers in schools located within the geographic areas served by the eligible applicant;
"(3) a description of the activities the eligible applicant will carry out with the grant; and
"(4) a description of the eligible applicant's plan for continuing the activities carried out with the grant once Federal funding ceases.
"(d) REQUIRED USES OF FUNDS.-An eligible applicant receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds-
"(1)(A) to award scholarships to help students pay the costs of tuition, room, board, and other expenses of completing a teacher preparation program;
"(B) to provide support services, if needed, to enable scholarship recipients to complete postsecondary education programs;
"© for followup services (including mentoring and professional development activities) provided to former scholarship recipients during the recipients first 3 years of teaching; and
"(D) in the case where the eligible applicant also receives a grant under section 203, for support for mentor teachers who participate in the residency program; or
"(2) to develop and implement effective mechanisms, including a professional development system and career ladders, to ensure that high-need local educational agencies, high-need schools, and early childhood education programs are able to effectively recruit and retain highly competent early childhood education providers, highly qualified teachers, and principals.
"(e) ALLOWABLE USE OF FUNDS.-An eligible applicant receiving a grant under this section may use the grant funds to carry out the following:
"(1) OUTREACH.-Conducting outreach and coordinating with inner city and rural secondary schools to encourage students to pursue teaching as a career.
"(2) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COMPENSATION.-For eligible applicants focusing on early childhood education, implementing initiatives that increase compensation of early childhood education providers who attain degrees in early childhood education.
"(f) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.-The Secretary shall establish such requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients of scholarships under this section who complete teacher education programs subsequently teach in a high-need local educational agency, for a period of time equivalent to the period for which the recipients receive scholarship assistance, or repay the amount of the scholarship. The Secretary shall use any such repayments to carry out additional activities under this section.".
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
Section 205 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1025) is amended-
(1) in subsection (a)-
(A) in the heading, by striking "ONE-TIME AWARDS;";
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
© by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
(2) in subsection (b)-
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
"(2) COMPOSITION OF PANEL.-The peer review panel shall be composed of experts who are competent, by virtue of their training, expertise, or experience, to evaluate applications for grants under this part. A majority of the panel shall be composed of individuals who are not employees of the Federal Government.";
© by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
"(3) EVALUATION AND PRIORITY.-The peer review panel shall evaluate the applicants' proposals to improve the current and future teaching force through program and certification reforms, teacher preparation program activities (including implementation and assessment strategies), and professional development activities described in sections 202, 203, and 204, as appropriate. In recommending applications to the Secretary for funding under this part, the peer review panel shall-
"(A) with respect to grants under section 202, give priority to eligible States that-
"(i) have initiatives to reform State program approval requirements for teacher preparation programs that are designed to ensure that current and future teachers are highly qualified and possess strong teaching skills, knowledge to assess student academic achievement, and the ability to use this information in such teachers' classroom instruction;
"(ii) include innovative reforms to hold institutions of higher education with teacher preparation programs accountable for preparing teachers who are highly qualified and have strong teaching skills; or
"(iii) involve the development of innovative efforts aimed at reducing the shortage of-
"(I) highly qualified teachers in high-poverty urban and rural areas; and
"(II) highly qualified teachers in fields with persistently high teacher shortages, such as special education;
"(B) with respect to grants under section 203-
"(i) give priority to applications from eligible partnerships that involve broad participation within the community, including businesses; and
"(ii) take into consideration-
"(I) providing an equitable geographic distribution of the grants throughout the United States; and
"(II) the potential of the proposed activities for creating improvement and positive change; and
"© with respect to grants under section 204, give priority to eligible applicants that have in place, or in progress, articulation agreements between 2- and 4-year public and private institutions of higher education and nonprofit providers of professional development with demonstrated experience in professional development activities."; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
"(5) PAYMENT OF FEES AND EXPENSES OF CERTAIN MEMBERS.-The Secretary may use available funds appropriated to carry out this part to pay the expenses and fees of peer review panel members who are not employees of the Federal Government."; and
© by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
"(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.-For each fiscal year, the Secretary may expend not more than $500,000 or 0.75 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this title for such fiscal year, whichever amount is greater, to provide technical assistance to States and partnerships receiving grants under this part.".
SEC. 7. ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION.
Section 206 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1026) is amended-
(1) in subsection (a)-
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "Committee on Labor and Human Resources" and inserting "Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions"; [Page S4308]
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ", including," and all that follows through the period and inserting "as a highly qualified teacher.";
© in paragraph (3)-
(i) by striking "highly"; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting "that meet the same standards and criteria of State certification or licensure programs.";
(D) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
"(4) TEACHER AND PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.-
"(A) ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASSES.-Increasing the percentage of elementary school and secondary school classes taught by teachers-
"(i) who are highly qualified;
"(ii) who have completed preparation programs that provide such teachers with the scientific knowledge about the disciplines of teaching, learning, and child and adolescent development so the teachers understand and use evidence-based teaching skills to meet the learning needs of all students; or
"(iii) who have completed a residency program throughout their first 3 years of teaching that includes mentoring by faculty who are trained and compensated for their work with new teachers.
"(B) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS.-Increasing the percentage of classrooms in early childhood education programs taught by providers who are highly competent.";
(E) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
"(5) DECREASING SHORTAGES.-Decreasing shortages of-
"(A) qualified teachers and principals in poor urban and rural areas; and
"(B) qualified teachers in fields with persistently high teacher shortages, such as special education."; and
(F) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
"(6) INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.-Increasing opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development that-
"(A) improves-
"(i) the knowledge and skills of early childhood education providers;
"(ii) the knowledge of teachers in special education;
"(iii) the knowledge and skills to assess student academic achievement and use the results of such assessments to improve instruction; or
"(iv) the knowledge of subject matter or academic content areas-
"(I) in which the teachers are certified or licensed to teach; or
"(II) in which the teachers are working toward certification or licensure to teach;
"(B) promotes strong teaching skills and an understanding of how to apply scientific knowledge about teaching and learning to teachers' teaching practice and to teachers' ongoing classroom assessment of students; and
"© provides enhanced instructional leadership and management skills for principals.";
(2) in subsection (b)-
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "for" and inserting "for teachers, early childhood education providers, or principals, as appropriate, according to the needs analysis required under section 203(c)(1), for"; and
(B) by striking paragraphs (1) through (6) and inserting the following:
"(1) increased demonstration by program graduates of teaching skills grounded in scientific knowledge about the disciplines of teaching and learning;
"(2) increased student achievement for all students as measured by the partnership, including mechanisms to measure student achievement due to the specific activities conducted by the partnership;
"(3) increased teacher retention in the first 3 years of a teacher's career based, in part, on teacher retention data collected as described in section 203©(3)(H);
"(4) increased success in the pass rate for initial State certification or licensure of teachers;
"(5) increased percentage of elementary school and secondary school classes taught by teachers who are highly qualified;
"(6) increased percentage of early childhood education program classes taught by providers who are highly competent;
"(7) increased percentage of early childhood education programs and elementary school and secondary school classes taught by providers and teachers who demonstrate clinical judgment, communication, and problem-solving skills resulting from participation in a residency program;
"(8) increased percentage of qualified special education teachers;
"(9) increased number of general education teachers trained in working with students with disabilities, limited-English proficient students, and students with different learning styles or other special learning needs;
"(10) increased number of teachers trained in technology; and
"(11) increased number of teachers, early childhood education providers, or principals prepared to work effectively with parents."; and
(3) in subsection (d)-
(A) by inserting ", with particular attention to the reports and evaluations provided by the eligible States and eligible partnerships pursuant to this section," after "funded under this part"; and
(B) by striking "Committee on Labor and Human Resources" and inserting "Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions".
SEC. 8. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE TEACHERS.
Section 207 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1027) is amended-
(1) by striking subsection (a);
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (f) as subsections (a) through (e), respectively;
(3) in subsection (a), as redesignated by paragraph (2)-
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ", within 2 years" and all that follows through "the following" and inserting ", on an annual basis and in a uniform and comprehensible manner that conforms with the definitions and reporting methods previously developed for teacher preparation programs by the Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a State report card on the quality of teacher preparation in the State, which shall include not less than the following";
(B) in paragraph (4)-
(i) by striking "teaching candidates" and inserting "prospective teachers"; and
(ii) by striking "candidate" and inserting "prospective teacher";
© in paragraph (5)-
(i) by striking "teaching candidates" and inserting "prospective teachers";
(ii) by striking "teacher candidate" and inserting "prospective teacher"; and
(iii) by striking "candidate's" and inserting "teacher's";
(D) in paragraph (7), by inserting "how the State has ensured that the alternative certification routes meet the same State standards and criteria for teacher certification or licensure," after "if any,";
(E) in paragraph (8)-
(i) by striking "teacher candidate" and inserting "prospective teacher"; and
(ii) by inserting "(including the ability to provide instruction to diverse student populations, including students with disabilities, limited-English proficient students, and students with different learning styles or other special learning needs)" after "skills";
(F) by adding at the end the following:
"(10) Information on the extent to which teachers or prospective teachers in each State are prepared to work in partnership with parents and involve parents in their children's education.";
(4) in subsection (b)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)-
(A) by striking "not later than 6 months of the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and";
(B) by striking "subsection (b)" and inserting "subsection (a)";
© by striking "Committee on Labor and Human Resources" and inserting "Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions"; and
(D) by striking "not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998";
(5) in subsection ©(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)-
(A) by striking "(9) of subsection (b)" and inserting "(10) of subsection (a)"; and
(B) by striking "and made available not later than 2 years 6 months after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and annually thereafter" and inserting ", and made available annually"; and
(6) in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (2)-
(A) by striking "not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and annually thereafter, shall report" and inserting "shall report annually"; and
(B) by striking "methods established under subsection (a)" and inserting "reporting methods developed for teacher preparation programs".
SEC. 9. STATE FUNCTIONS.
Section 208 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1028) is amended-
(1) in subsection (a)-
(A) by striking ", not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998,";
(B) by inserting "and within entities providing alternative routes to teacher preparation" after "institutions of higher education";
© by inserting "and entities" after "low-performing institutions";
(D) by inserting "and entities" after "those institutions"; and
(E) by striking "207(b)" and inserting "207(a)";
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
"(b) TEACHER QUALITY PLAN.-In order to receive funds under this Act, a State shall submit a State teacher quality plan that-
"(1) details how such funds will ensure that all teachers are highly qualified; and
"(2) indicates whether each teacher preparation program in the State that has not been designated as low-performing under subsection (a) is of sufficient quality to meet all State standards and produce highly qualified teachers with the teaching skills needed to teach effectively in the schools of the State.";
(4) in subsection ©, as redesignated by paragraph (2)-
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking "of Education"; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking "of this Act"; and
(5) in subsection (d), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking "subsection (b)(2)" and inserting "subsection (c)(2)".
SEC. 10. ACADEMIES FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE.
Part A of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended-
(1) by redesignating section 210 as section 211; and
(2) by inserting after section 209 the following:
"SEC. 210. ACADEMIES FOR FACULTY EXCELLENCE.
"(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.-From amounts made available under subsection (e), the Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to create Academies for Faculty Excellence.
"(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.-In this section:
"(1) IN GENERAL.-The term 'eligible entity' means a consortium composed of institutions of higher education that-
"(A) award doctoral degrees in education; and
"(B) are partner institutions (as such term is defined in section 203).
"(2) INCLUSIONS.-The term 'eligible entity' may include the following:
"(A) Institutions of higher education that-
"(i) do not award doctoral degrees in education; and
"(ii) are partner institutions (as such term is defined in section 203).
"(B) Nonprofit entities with expertise in preparing highly qualified teachers.
"© APPLICATION.-An eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including-
"(1) a description of how the eligible entity will provide professional development that is grounded in scientifically based research to faculty;
"(2) evidence that the eligible entity is well versed in current scientifically based research related to teaching and learning across content areas and fields;
"(3) a description of the assessment that the eligible entity will undertake to determine the most critical needs of the faculty who will be served by the Academies for Faculty Excellence; and
"(4) a description of the activities the eligible entity will carry out with grant funds received under this section, how the entity will include faculty in the activities, and how the entity will conduct these activities in collaboration with programs and projects that receive Federal funds from the Institute of Education Sciences.
"(d) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.-Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to enhance the caliber of teaching undertaken in preparation programs for teachers, early childhood education providers, and principals and other administrators through the establishment and maintenance of a postdoctoral system of professional development by carrying out the following:
"(1) RECRUITMENT.-Recruit a faculty of experts who are knowledgeable about scientifically based research related to teaching and learning, who have direct experience working with teachers and students in school settings, who are capable of implementing scientifically based research to improve teaching practice and student achievement in school settings, and who are capable of providing professional development to faculty and others responsible for preparing teachers, early childhood education providers, principals, and administrators.
"(2) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CURRICULA.-Develop a series of professional development curricula to be used by the Academies for Faculty Excellence and disseminated broadly to teacher preparation programs nationwide.
"(3) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES.-Support the development of a range of ongoing professional development experiences (including the use of the Internet) for faculty to ensure that such faculty are knowledgeable about effective evidence-based practice in teaching and learning. Such experiences shall promote joint faculty activities that link content and pedagogy.
"(4) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.-Provide fellowships, scholarships, and stipends for teacher educators to participate in various faculty development programs offered by the Academies for Faculty Excellence.
"(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.".
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 211 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as redesignated by section 10, is amended-
(1) by striking "part $300,000,000 for fiscal year 1999" and inserting "part, other than section 210, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2005";
(2) by striking "4 succeeding" and inserting "5 succeeding";
(3) in paragraph (1), by striking "45" and inserting "20";
(4) in paragraph (2), by striking "45" and inserting "60"; and
(5) in paragraph (3), by striking "10" and inserting "20".