[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1964 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1964

                       To empower our educators.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 1999

 Mr. Lazio (for himself, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Horn, and Mrs. 
   Wilson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
                       To empower our educators.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Empowering Our Educators Act''.

      TITLE I--ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE OF TEACHERS

SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the measure of a good teacher is how much and how well 
        the teacher's students learn and achieve;
            (2) one of the primary problems regarding teacher quality 
        is the lack of subject matter knowledge, particularly for 
        teachers who receive emergency credentials and are assigned to 
        teach subject matter for which they lack knowledge or adequate 
        preparation;
            (3) knowledgeable and eager individuals of sound character 
        and various professional backgrounds should be encouraged to 
        enter the prekindergarten through grade 12 classrooms as 
        teachers;
            (4) many talented professionals who have demonstrated a 
        high level of subject area competence outside the education 
        profession wish to pursue careers in education, but have not 
        fulfilled the traditional requirements to be certified or 
        licensed as teachers;
            (5) States should have maximum flexibility and be provided 
        with incentives to create alternative teacher certification and 
        licensure programs in order to recruit well-educated people and 
        talented professionals into the teaching profession; and
            (6) alternative routes should enable qualified individuals 
        to fulfill State teacher certification or licensure 
        requirements and allow school systems to utilize the expertise 
        of professionals and thereby improve and expand the pool of 
        qualified individuals available to local educational agencies 
        as teachers.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to improve the supply 
of well-qualified elementary and secondary school teachers by 
encouraging and assisting States to develop and implement programs for 
alternative routes to teacher certification and licensure requirements.

SEC. 102. ALLOTMENTS.

    (a) Allotments to States.--
            (1) In general.--From the amount appropriated to carry out 
        this title for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to 
        each State the lesser of--
                    (A) the amount the State applies for under section 
                103; or
                    (B) an amount that bears the same relation to the 
                amount so appropriated as the total population of 
                children ages 5 through 17 in the State bears to the 
                total population of such children in all the States 
                (based on the most recent data available that is 
                satisfactory to the Secretary).
            (2) Reallocation.--If a State does not apply for the 
        State's allotment, or the full amount of the State's allotment, 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary may reallocate the excess 
        funds to 1 or more other States that demonstrate, to the 
        satisfaction of the Secretary, a current need for the funds.
    (b) Special Rule.--Notwithstanding section 421(b) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1225(b)), funds awarded under this 
title shall remain available for obligation by a recipient for a period 
of 2 calendar years from the date of the grant.

SEC. 103. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Any State desiring to receive an allotment under 
this title shall, through the State educational agency, submit an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information, as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    (b) Requirements.--Each application shall--
            (1) describe the programs, projects, and activities to be 
        undertaken with assistance provided under this title; and
            (2) contain such assurances as the Secretary considers 
        necessary, including assurances that--
                    (A) assistance provided to the State educational 
                agency under this title will be used to supplement, and 
                not to supplant, any State or local funds available for 
                the development and implementation of programs to 
                provide alternative routes to fulfilling teacher 
                certification or licensure requirements;
                    (B) the State educational agency has, in developing 
                and designing the application, consulted with--
                            (i) representatives of local educational 
                        agencies, including superintendents and school 
                        board members, including representatives of 
                        their professional organizations if 
                        appropriate;
                            (ii) elementary school and secondary school 
                        teachers, including representatives of their 
                        professional organizations;
                            (iii) schools or departments of education 
                        within institutions of higher education;
                            (iv) parents; and
                            (v) other interested individuals and 
                        organizations; and
                    (C) the State educational agency shall submit to 
                the Secretary, at such time as the Secretary may 
                specify, a final report describing the activities 
                carried out with assistance provided under this title 
                and the results achieved with respect to such 
                activities.
    (c) GEPA Provisions Inapplicable.--Sections 441 and 442 of the 
General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232d and 1232e), except to 
the extent that such sections relate to fiscal control and fund 
accounting procedures, shall not apply to this title.

SEC. 104. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A State educational agency shall use funds 
        provided under this title to support and create programs, 
        projects, or activities that develop and implement new, or 
        expand and improve existing, programs that enable individuals 
        to move to a teaching career in elementary or secondary 
        education from another occupation through an alternative route 
        to teacher certification or licensure that includes taking a 
        State licensing examination.
            (2) Types of assistance.--A State educational agency may 
        carry out such programs, projects, or activities directly, 
        through contracts, or through grants to local educational 
        agencies and institutions of higher education, or consortia of 
        such agencies or institutions.
    (b) Uses.--A State educational agency that receives funds under 
this title may use such funds for--
            (1) the design, development, implementation, and evaluation 
        of programs that enable qualified professionals who have 
        demonstrated a high level of subject area competence outside 
        the education profession and are interested in entering the 
        education profession to fulfill State teacher certification or 
        licensure requirements;
            (2) the establishment of administrative structures 
        necessary for the development and implementation of programs to 
        provide alternative routes to fulfilling State teacher 
        certification or licensure requirements;
            (3) training of staff, including the development of 
        appropriate support programs, such as mentor programs, for 
        teachers entering the school system through alternative routes 
        to teacher certification or licensure;
            (4) the development of recruitment strategies;
            (5) the development of reciprocity agreements between or 
        among States for the certification or licensure of teachers; or
            (6) other programs, projects, and activities that--
                    (A) are designed to meet the purpose of this title; 
                and
                    (B) the Secretary determines appropriate.
    (c) Limitation for Administrative Costs.--A State educational 
agency may use not more than 3 percent of the amount of funds received 
under this title for the administrative costs to carry out this title.

SEC. 105. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Elementary school; local educational agency; secondary 
        school; secretary; and state educational agency.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'', ``local educational agency'', 
        ``secondary school'', ``Secretary'', and ``State educational 
        agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 14101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8801).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
        Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and each of the 3 succeeding fiscal 
years.

                 TITLE II--TEACHER TRAINING FACILITIES

SEC. 201. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) individuals entering a classroom should have a sound 
        grasp of the subject the individuals intend to teach, and the 
        individuals should know how to teach;
            (2) the quality of teachers impacts student achievement;
            (3) people who enter the teaching profession through 
        alternative certification programs can benefit from having the 
        opportunity to attend a teacher training facility;
            (4) teachers need to increase their subject matter 
        knowledge, learning theory, and teaching strategies;
            (5) less than 40 percent of the individuals teaching the 
        core subjects (English, mathematics, science, social studies, 
        and foreign languages) majored or minored in the core subjects; 
        and
            (6) according to the Third International Mathematics and 
        Science Study, American high school seniors finished near the 
        bottom of the study in both science and mathematics.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is to strengthen teacher 
training programs by establishing a private and public partnership to 
create the best teacher training facilities in the world to ensure that 
teachers receive unlimited access to the most updated technology and 
skills training in education, so that students can benefit from the 
teachers' knowledge and experience.

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 14101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8801).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.

SEC. 203. GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 204 for a 
fiscal year the Secretary shall award grants to local educational 
agencies to enable the local educational agencies to establish teacher 
training facilities for elementary and secondary school teachers.
    (b) Competitive Basis.--The Secretary shall award grants under this 
title on a competitive basis.
    (c) Partnership Contract Required.--In order to receive a grant 
under this title, a local educational agency shall enter into a 
contract with a nongovernmental organization to establish a teacher 
training facility.
    (d) Applications.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant 
under this title shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may require. Each such application shall contain an assurance 
that the local educational agency--
            (1) will raise matching funds, from public or private 
        sources, for the support of the teacher training facility in an 
        amount equal to the amount of funds provided under the grant;
            (2) will train the teachers employed by the local 
        educational agency at the teacher training facility for a 
        period of 10 years after the date the agency enters into the 
        contract described in subsection (c); and
            (3) will spend not less than 0.5 percent of the local 
        educational agency's total school budget for each fiscal year 
        to support the teacher training facility.
    (e) Amount.--The Secretary shall award each grant under this 
section in an amount that is not less than $1,000,000 and not more than 
$4,000,000.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$8,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, 
$12,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.

           TITLE III--MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR NOVICE TEACHERS

SEC. 301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Only half of all novice teachers will still be teaching 
        in 7 years: most will depart the teaching profession after 3 
        years.
            (2) Better support for novice teachers is among the top 
        policy reforms that will help school systems retain more 
        teachers.
            (3) Novice teachers find that having a mentor during the 
        first year is an effective form of support in adjusting to the 
        profession.
            (4) Teachers who have had a mentor are more confident in 
        their teaching, more able to deal with the social and 
        bureaucratic aspects of their profession than teachers who have 
        not had a mentor.
            (5) Teachers who have had a mentor are more likely to 
        remain in the profession than teachers who have not had a 
        mentor.
            (6) Studies show that principals are more satisfied with 
        the performances of teachers who have had a mentor than with 
        teachers who have not had a mentor.
            (7) Teachers who have had a mentor have a higher rate of 
        one-to-one contact with students, are more interactive with 
        students in general, are more focused on academic content, 
        handle discipline better, and have an enhanced ability to 
        communicate with parents than teachers who have not had a 
        mentor.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to increase teacher 
retention and improve the support and performance of teachers in the 
first few years of their employment by encouraging and assisting States 
and local educational agencies to develop and implement mentoring 
programs for novice teachers.

SEC. 302. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Any State educational agency or local educational 
agency desiring to receive a grant under this title shall submit an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information, as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    (b) Requirements.--Each application shall--
            (1) describe the programs, projects, and activities to be 
        undertaken with assistance provided under this title;
            (2) assess the needs of novice teachers; and
            (3) contain such assurances as the Secretary considers 
        necessary, including assurances that--
                    (A) assistance provided under this title will be 
                used to supplement, and not supplant, any State or 
                local funds available for the development and 
                implementation of programs to provide a mentoring 
                program for novice teachers; and
                    (B) the State educational agency or local 
                educational agency has, while developing and before 
                submitting the application, consulted with--
                            (i) superintendents and school board 
                        members (including representatives of their 
                        professional organizations if appropriate);
                            (ii) elementary and secondary school 
                        teachers, including representatives of their 
                        professional organizations;
                            (iii) schools or departments of education 
                        within institutions of higher education; and
                            (iv) other interested individuals and 
                        organizations.

SEC. 303. USE OF FUNDS.

    (a) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A State educational agency or local 
        educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall 
        use such funds to develop and implement new, or expand and 
        improve existing, programs that support and train novice 
        teachers through a mentoring program.
            (2) Types of assistance.--A State educational agency or 
        local educational agency may carry out such programs, projects, 
        or activities directly, through contracts, or through grants to 
        local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, 
        or consortia of such agencies or institutions.
    (b) Specific Activities.--Funds received under this title may be 
used for--
            (1) the design, development, implementation, and evaluation 
        of programs that enable novice teachers to have the support and 
        training of other teachers and administrators;
            (2) the establishment of administrative structures 
        necessary for the development and implementation of mentoring 
        programs;
            (3) training of staff, including the development of support 
        for mentors, workshops, and seminars for the education and 
        support of novice teachers; and
            (4) other programs that--
                    (A) are designed to meet the purpose of this title; 
                and
                    (B) the Secretary determines appropriate.

SEC. 304. REPORTING.

    Each State educational agency and local educational agency that 
receives a grant under this title shall submit to the Secretary, at 
such time as the Secretary may specify, a final report describing the 
mentoring programs carried out with assistance provided under this 
title and the results achieved with respect to such programs.

SEC. 305. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Elementary school; local educational agency; secondary 
        school; and state educational agency.--The terms ``elementary 
        school,'' ``local educational agency,'' ``secondary school,'' 
        and ``State educational agency'' have the same meanings given 
        such terms in section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the same meaning given 
        such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
            (3) Mentoring programs.--The term ``mentoring program'' 
        means to provide professional support and development, 
        instruction, and guidance to novice teachers, but does not 
        include a teacher or individual who begins to work in a 
        supervisory position.
            (4) Novice teacher.--The term ``novice teacher'' means an 
        educator in a public school who has not yet been teaching 3 
        full school years.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
        Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands.

SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and each of the 3 succeeding fiscal 
years.
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