[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2211 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 2211


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 10, 2003

     Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
      To reauthorize title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

    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 ``Ready to Teach Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. TEACHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT GRANTS.

    Part A of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1021 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

      ``PART A--TEACHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT GRANTS FOR STATES AND 
                              PARTNERSHIPS

``SEC. 201. PURPOSES; DEFINITIONS.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are to--
            ``(1) improve student academic achievement;
            ``(2) improve the quality of the current and future 
        teaching force by improving the preparation of prospective 
        teachers and enhancing professional development activities;
            ``(3) hold institutions of higher education accountable for 
        preparing highly qualified teachers; and
            ``(4) recruit qualified individuals, including minorities 
        and individuals from other occupations, into the teaching 
        force.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this part:
            ``(1) Arts and sciences.--The term `arts and sciences' 
        means--
                    ``(A) when referring to an organizational unit of 
                an institution of higher education, any academic unit 
                that offers 1 or more academic majors in disciplines or 
                content areas corresponding to the academic subject 
                matter areas in which teachers provide instruction; and
                    ``(B) when referring to a specific academic subject 
                matter area, the disciplines or content areas in which 
                academic majors are offered by the arts and science 
                organizational unit.
            ``(2) Exemplary teacher.--The term `exemplary teacher' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(3) Highly qualified.--The term `highly qualified' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(4) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
        need local educational agency' means a local educational 
        agency--
                    ``(A)(i)(I) that serves not fewer than 10,000 
                children from families with incomes below the poverty 
                line; or
                    ``(II) for which not less than 25 percent of the 
                children served by the agency are from families with 
                incomes below the poverty line;
                    ``(ii) that is among those serving the highest 
                number or percentage of children from families with 
                incomes below the poverty line in the State, but this 
                clause applies only in a State that has no local 
                educational agency meeting the requirements of clause 
                (i); or
                    ``(iii) with a total of less than 600 students in 
                average daily attendance at the schools that are served 
                by the agency and all of whose schools are designated 
                with a school locale code of 7, as determined by the 
                Secretary; and
                    ``(B)(i) for which there is a high percentage of 
                teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or grade 
                levels that the teachers were trained to teach; or
                    ``(ii) for which there is a high percentage of 
                teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary 
                certification or licensing.
            ``(5) Poverty line.--The term `poverty line' means the 
        poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and 
        Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) 
        of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) 
        applicable to a family of the size involved.
            ``(6) Professional development.--The term `professional 
        development' has the meaning given such term in section 9101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            ``(7) Scientifically based reading research.--The term 
        `scientifically based reading research' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1208 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368).
            ``(8) Scientifically based research.--The term 
        `scientifically based research' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(9) Teaching skills.--The term `teaching skills' means 
        skills that--
                    ``(A) are based on scientifically based research;
                    ``(B) enable teachers to effectively convey and 
                explain subject matter content;
                    ``(C) lead to increased student academic 
                achievement; and
                    ``(D) use strategies that--
                            ``(i) are specific to subject matter;
                            ``(ii) include ongoing assessment of 
                        student learning;
                            ``(iii) focus on identification and 
                        tailoring of academic instruction to students's 
                        specific learning needs; and
                            ``(iv) focus on classroom management.

``SEC. 202. STATE GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--From amounts made available under section 210(1) 
for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants under 
this section, on a competitive basis, to eligible States to enable the 
eligible States to carry out the activities described in subsection 
(d).
    ``(b) Eligible State.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this part, the term `eligible State' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Governor of a State; or
                    ``(B) in the case of a State for which the 
                constitution or law of such State designates another 
                individual, entity, or agency in the State to be 
                responsible for teacher certification and preparation 
                activity, such individual, entity, or agency.
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Governor or the individual, 
        entity, or agency designated under paragraph (1)(B) shall 
        consult with the Governor, State board of education, State 
        educational agency, or State agency for higher education, as 
        appropriate, with respect to the activities assisted under this 
        section.
            ``(3) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to negate or supersede the legal authority under 
        State law of any State agency, State entity, or State public 
        official over programs that are under the jurisdiction of the 
        agency, entity, or official.
    ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible State shall submit an application to the Secretary 
that--
            ``(1) meets the requirement of this section;
            ``(2) demonstrates that the State is in full compliance 
        with sections 207 and 208;
            ``(3) includes a description of how the eligible State 
        intends to use funds provided under this section;
            ``(4) includes measurable objectives for the use of the 
        funds provided under the grant;
            ``(5) demonstrates the State has submitted and is actively 
        implementing a plan that meets the requirements of sections 
        1111(h)(1)(C)(viii) and 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)(1)(C)(viii) and 6319); 
        and
            ``(6) contains such other information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible State that receives a grant under 
this section shall use the grant funds to reform teacher preparation 
requirements, to coordinate with State activities under section 2113(c) 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6613(c)), and to ensure that current and future teachers are highly 
qualified, by carrying out one or more of the following activities:
            ``(1) Reforms.--Ensuring that all teacher preparation 
        programs in the State are preparing teachers who are highly 
        qualified, are able to understand scientifically based research 
        and its applicability, and are able to use advanced technology 
        effectively in the classroom, including use for instructional 
        techniques to improve student academic achievement, by 
        assisting such programs--
                    ``(A) to retrain faculty; and
                    ``(B) to design (or redesign) teacher preparation 
                programs so they--
                            ``(i) are based on rigorous academic 
                        content, scientifically based research 
                        (including scientifically based reading 
                        research), and challenging State student 
                        academic content standards; and
                            ``(ii) promote strong teaching skills.
            ``(2) Certification or licensure requirements.--Reforming 
        teacher certification (including recertification) or licensing 
        requirements to ensure that--
                    ``(A) teachers have the subject matter knowledge 
                and teaching skills in the academic subjects that the 
                teachers teach that are necessary to help students meet 
                challenging State student academic achievement 
                standards; and
                    ``(B) such requirements are aligned with 
                challenging State academic content standards.
            ``(3) Alternatives to traditional teacher preparation and 
        state certification.--Providing prospective teachers with 
        alternative routes to State certification and traditional 
        preparation to become highly qualified teachers through--
                    ``(A) innovative approaches that reduce unnecessary 
                barriers to State certification while producing highly 
                qualified teachers;
                    ``(B) programs that provide support to teachers 
                during their initial years in the profession; and
                    ``(C) alternative routes to State certification of 
                teachers for qualified individuals, including mid-
                career professionals from other occupations, former 
                military personnel, and recent college graduates with 
                records of academic distinction.
            ``(4) Innovative programs.--Planning and implementing 
        innovative programs to enhance the ability of institutions of 
        higher education to prepare highly qualified teachers, such as 
        charter colleges of education or university and local 
        educational agency partnership schools, that--
                    ``(A) permit flexibility in meeting State 
                requirements as long as graduates, during their initial 
                years in the profession, increase student academic 
                achievement;
                    ``(B) provide long-term data gathered from 
                teachers' performance over multiple years in the 
                classroom on the ability to increase student academic 
                achievement;
                    ``(C) ensure high-quality preparation of teachers 
                from underrepresented groups; and
                    ``(D) create performance measures that can be used 
                to document the effectiveness of innovative methods for 
                preparing highly qualified teachers.
            ``(5) Merit pay.--Developing, or assisting local 
        educational agencies in developing--
                    ``(A) merit-based performance systems that reward 
                teachers who increase student academic achievement; and
                    ``(B) strategies that provide differential and 
                bonus pay in high-need local educational agencies to 
                retain--
                            ``(i) principals;
                            ``(ii) highly qualified teachers who teach 
                        in high-need academic subjects, such as 
                        reading, mathematics, and science;
                            ``(iii) highly qualified teachers who teach 
                        in schools identified for school improvement 
                        under section 1116(b) of the Elementary and 
                        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        6316(b));
                            ``(iv) special education teachers;
                            ``(v) teachers specializing in teaching 
                        limited English proficient children; and
                            ``(vi) highly qualified teachers in urban 
                        and rural schools or districts.
            ``(6) Teacher advancement.--Developing, or assisting local 
        educational agencies in developing, teacher advancement and 
        retention initiatives that promote professional growth and 
        emphasize multiple career paths (such as paths to becoming a 
        highly qualified mentor teacher or exemplary teacher) and pay 
        differentiation.
            ``(7) Teacher removal.--Developing and implementing 
        effective mechanisms to ensure that local educational agencies 
        and schools are able to remove expeditiously incompetent or 
        unqualified teachers consistent with procedures to ensure due 
        process for the teachers.
            ``(8) Technical assistance.--Providing technical assistance 
        to low-performing teacher preparation programs within 
        institutions of higher education identified under section 
        208(a).
            ``(9) Teacher effectiveness.--Developing--
                    ``(A) systems to measure the effectiveness of 
                teacher preparation programs and professional 
                development programs; and
                    ``(B) strategies to document gains in student 
                academic achievement or increases in teacher mastery of 
                the academic subjects the teachers teach as a result of 
                such programs.
            ``(10) Teacher recruitment and retention.--Undertaking 
        activities that--
                    ``(A) develop and implement effective mechanisms to 
                ensure that local educational agencies and schools are 
                able effectively to recruit and retain highly qualified 
                teachers; or
                    ``(B) are described in section 204(d).
            ``(11) Preschool teachers.--Developing strategies--
                    ``(A) to improve the qualifications of preschool 
                teachers, which may include State certification for 
                such teachers; and
                    ``(B) to improve and expand preschool teacher 
                preparation programs.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Evaluation system.--An eligible State that receives a 
        grant under this section shall develop and utilize a system to 
        evaluate annually the effectiveness of teacher preparation 
        programs and professional development activities within the 
        State in producing gains in--
                    ``(A) the teacher's annual contribution to 
                improving student academic achievement, as measured by 
                State academic assessments required under section 
                1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)); and
                    ``(B) teacher mastery of the academic subjects they 
                teach, as measured by pre- and post-participation tests 
                of teacher knowledge, as appropriate.
            ``(2) Use of evaluation system.--Such evaluation system 
        shall be used by the State to evaluate--
                    ``(A) activities carried out using funds provided 
                under this section; and
                    ``(B) the quality of its teacher education 
                programs.
            ``(3) Public reporting.--The State shall make the 
        information described in paragraph (1) widely available through 
        public means, such as posting on the Internet, distribution to 
        the media, and distribution through public agencies.

``SEC. 203. PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants.--From amounts made available under section 210(2) for 
a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants under this 
section, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable the 
eligible partnerships to carry out the activities described in 
subsections (d) and (e).
    ``(b) Definitions.--
            ``(1) Eligible partnerships.--In this part, the term 
        `eligible partnership' means an entity that--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) a partner institution;
                            ``(ii) a school of arts and sciences;
                            ``(iii) a high-need local educational 
                        agency; and
                            ``(iv) a public or private educational 
                        organization; and
                    ``(B) may include a Governor, State educational 
                agency, the State board of education, the State agency 
                for higher education, an institution of higher 
                education not described in subparagraph (A), a public 
                charter school, a public or private elementary school 
                or secondary school, a public or private educational 
                organization, a business, a science-, mathematics-, or 
                technology-oriented entity, a faith-based or community 
                organization, a prekindergarten program, a teacher 
                organization, an education service agency, a consortia 
                of local educational agencies, or a nonprofit 
                telecommunications entity.
            ``(2) Partner institution.--In this section, the term 
        `partner institution' means an institution of higher education, 
        the teacher training program of which demonstrates that--
                    ``(A) graduates from the teacher training program 
                exhibit strong performance on State-determined 
                qualifying assessments for new teachers through--
                            ``(i) demonstrating that the graduates of 
                        the program who intend to enter the field of 
                        teaching have passed all of the applicable 
                        State qualification assessments for new 
                        teachers, which shall include an assessment of 
                        each prospective teacher's subject matter 
                        knowledge in the content area or areas in which 
                        the teacher intends to teach; or
                            ``(ii) being ranked among the highest-
                        performing teacher preparation programs in the 
                        State as determined by the State--
                                    ``(I) using criteria consistent 
                                with the requirements for the State 
                                report card under section 207(a); and
                                    ``(II) using the State report card 
                                on teacher preparation required under 
                                section 207(a); or
                    ``(B) the teacher training program requires all the 
                students of the program to participate in intensive 
                clinical experience, to meet high academic standards, 
                and--
                            ``(i) in the case of secondary school 
                        candidates, to successfully complete an 
                        academic major in the subject area in which the 
                        candidate intends to teach or to demonstrate 
                        competence through a high level of performance 
                        in relevant content areas; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of elementary school 
                        candidates, to successfully complete an 
                        academic major in the arts and sciences or to 
                        demonstrate competence through a high level of 
                        performance in core academic subject areas.
    ``(c) Application.--Each eligible partnership desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may require. Each such application shall--
            ``(1) contain a needs assessment of all the partners with 
        respect to teaching and learning and a description of how the 
        partnership will coordinate with other teacher training or 
        professional development programs, and how the activities of 
        the partnership will be consistent with State, local, and other 
        education reform activities that promote student academic 
        achievement;
            ``(2) contain a resource assessment that describes the 
        resources available to the partnership, the intended use of the 
        grant funds, including a description of how the grant funds 
        will be used in accordance with subsection (f), and the 
        commitment of the resources of the partnership to the 
        activities assisted under this part, including financial 
        support, faculty participation, time commitments, and 
        continuation of the activities when the grant ends;
            ``(3) contain a description of--
                    ``(A) how the partnership will meet the purposes of 
                this part;
                    ``(B) how the partnership will carry out the 
                activities required under subsection (d) and any 
                permissible activities under subsection (e);
                    ``(C) the partnership's evaluation plan pursuant to 
                section 206(b);
                    ``(D) how faculty of the teacher preparation 
                program at the partner institution will serve, over the 
                term of the grant, with highly qualified teachers in 
                the classrooms of the high-need local educational 
                agency included in the partnership;
                    ``(E) how the partnership will ensure that 
                teachers, principals, and superintendents in private 
                elementary and secondary schools located in the 
                geographic areas served by an eligible partnership 
                under this section will participate equitably in 
                accordance with section 9501 of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7881);
                    ``(F) how the partnership will design and implement 
                a clinical program component that includes close 
                supervision of student teachers by faculty of the 
                teacher preparation program at the partner institution 
                and mentor teachers;
                    ``(G) how the partnership will design and implement 
                an induction program to support all new teachers 
                through the first 3 years of teaching that includes 
                mentors who are trained and compensated by the 
                partnership for their work with new teachers; and
                    ``(H) how the partnership will collect, analyze, 
                and use data on the retention of all teachers in 
                schools located in the geographic areas served by the 
                partnership to evaluate the effectiveness of its 
                teacher support system; and
            ``(4) contain a certification from the high-need local 
        educational agency included in the partnership that it has 
        reviewed the application and determined that the grant proposed 
        will comply with subsection (f).
    ``(d) Required Uses of Funds.--An eligible partnership that 
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to reform 
teacher preparation requirements, to coordinate with State activities 
under section 2113(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(c)), and to ensure that current and future 
teachers are highly qualified, by carrying out one or more of the 
following activities:
            ``(1) Reforms.--Implementing reforms within teacher 
        preparation programs to ensure that such programs are preparing 
        teachers who are highly qualified, are able to understand 
        scientifically based research and its applicability, and are 
        able to use advanced technology effectively in the classroom, 
        including use for instructional techniques to improve student 
        academic achievement, by--
                    ``(A) retraining faculty; and
                    ``(B) designing (or redesigning) teacher 
                preparation programs so they--
                            ``(i) are based on rigorous academic 
                        content, scientifically based research 
                        (including scientifically based reading 
                        research), and challenging State student 
                        academic content standards; and
                            ``(ii) promote strong teaching skills.
            ``(2) Clinical experience and interaction.--Providing 
        sustained and high-quality preservice and in-service clinical 
        experience, including the mentoring of prospective teachers by 
        exemplary teachers, substantially increasing interaction 
        between faculty at institutions of higher education and new and 
        experienced teachers, principals, and other administrators at 
        elementary schools or secondary schools, and providing support 
        for teachers, including preparation time and release time, for 
        such interaction.
            ``(3) Professional development.--Creating opportunities for 
        enhanced and ongoing professional development that improves the 
        academic content knowledge of teachers in the subject areas in 
        which the teachers are certified to teach or in which the 
        teachers are working toward certification to teach, and that 
        promotes strong teaching skills.
            ``(4) Teacher preparation.--Developing, or assisting local 
        educational agencies in developing, professional development 
        activities that--
                    ``(A) provide training in how to teach and address 
                the needs of students with different learning styles, 
                particularly students with disabilities, limited 
                English proficient students, and students with special 
                learning needs; and
                    ``(B) provide training in methods of--
                            ``(i) improving student behavior in the 
                        classroom; and
                            ``(ii) identifying early and appropriate 
                        interventions to help students described in 
                        subparagraph (A) learn.
    ``(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) Alternatives to traditional teacher preparation and 
        state certification.--Providing prospective teachers with 
        alternative routes to State certification and traditional 
        preparation to become highly qualified teachers through--
                    ``(A) innovative approaches that reduce unnecessary 
                barriers to teacher preparation while producing highly 
                qualified teachers;
                    ``(B) programs that provide support during a 
                teacher's initial years in the profession; and
                    ``(C) alternative routes to State certification of 
                teachers for qualified individuals, including mid-
                career professionals from other occupations, former 
military personnel, and recent college graduates with records of 
academic distinction.
            ``(2) Dissemination and coordination.--Broadly 
        disseminating information on effective practices used by the 
        partnership, and coordinating with the activities of the 
        Governor, State board of education, State higher education 
        agency, and State educational agency, as appropriate.
            ``(3) Managerial and leadership skills.--Developing and 
        implementing professional development programs for principals 
        and superintendents that enable them to be effective school 
        leaders and prepare all students to meet challenging State 
        academic content and student academic achievement standards.
            ``(4) Teacher recruitment.--Activities--
                    ``(A) to encourage students to become highly 
                qualified teachers, such as extracurricular enrichment 
                activities; and
                    ``(B) activities described in section 204(d).
            ``(5) Clinical experience in science, mathematics, and 
        technology.--Creating opportunities for clinical experience and 
        training, by participation in the business, research, and work 
        environments with professionals, in areas relating to science, 
        mathematics, and technology for teachers and prospective 
        teachers, including opportunities for use of laboratory 
        equipment, in order for the teacher to return to the classroom 
        for at least 2 years and provide instruction that will raise 
        student academic achievement.
            ``(6) Coordination with community colleges.--Coordinating 
        with community colleges to implement teacher preparation 
        programs, including through distance learning, for the purposes 
        of allowing prospective teachers--
                    ``(A) to attain a bachelor's degree and State 
                certification or licensure; and
                    ``(B) to become highly qualified teachers.
            ``(7) Teacher mentoring.--Establishing or implementing a 
        teacher mentoring program that--
                    ``(A) includes minimum qualifications for mentors;
                    ``(B) provides training and stipends for mentors;
                    ``(C) provides mentoring programs for teachers in 
                their first 3 years of teaching;
                    ``(D) provides regular and ongoing opportunities 
                for mentors and mentees to observe each other's 
                teaching methods in classroom settings during the 
                school day;
                    ``(E) establishes an evaluation and accountability 
                plan for activities conducted under this paragraph that 
                includes rigorous objectives to measure the impact of 
                such activities; and
                    ``(F) provides for a report to the Secretary on an 
                annual basis regarding the partnership's progress in 
                meeting the objectives described in subparagraph (E).
            ``(8) Computer software for multilingual education.--
        Training teachers to use computer software for multilingual 
        education to address the needs of limited English proficient 
        students.
    ``(f) Special Rule.--At least 50 percent of the funds made 
available to an eligible partnership under this section shall be used 
directly to benefit the high-need local educational agency included in 
the partnership. Any entity described in subsection (b)(1)(A) may be 
the fiscal agent 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 one Governor, State board of 
education, State educational agency, local educational agency, or State 
agency for higher education.
    ``(h) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, 
State, and local funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out 
the purposes of this section.

``SEC. 204. TEACHER RECRUITMENT GRANTS.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts made available under 
section 210(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 subsection 
(d).
    ``(b) Eligible Applicant Defined.--In this part, the term `eligible 
applicant' means--
            ``(1) an eligible State described in section 202(b); or
            ``(2) an eligible partnership described in section 203(b).
    ``(c) 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 the activities the eligible 
        applicant will carry out with the grant, including the extent 
        to which the applicant will use funds to recruit minority 
        students to become highly qualified teachers; and
            ``(3) a description of the eligible applicant's plan for 
        continuing the activities carried out with the grant, once 
        Federal funding ceases.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--Each eligible applicant receiving a grant 
under this section shall use the grant funds--
            ``(1)(A) to award scholarships to help students, such as 
        individuals who have been accepted for their first year, or who 
        are enrolled in their first or second year, of a program of 
        undergraduate education at an institution of higher education, 
        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--
                    ``(i) to complete postsecondary education programs; 
                or
                    ``(ii) to transition from a career outside of the 
                field of education into a teaching career; and
            ``(C) for followup services provided to former scholarship 
        recipients during the recipients first 3 years of teaching; or
            ``(2) to develop and implement effective mechanisms to 
        ensure that high-need local educational agencies and schools 
        are able effectively to recruit highly qualified teachers.
    ``(e) Additional Discretionary Uses of Funds.--In addition to the 
uses described in subsection (d), each eligible applicant receiving a 
grant under this section may use the grant funds--
            ``(1) to develop and implement effective mechanisms to 
        recruit into the teaching profession employees from--
                    ``(A) high-demand industries, including technology 
                industries; and
                    ``(B) the fields of science, mathematics, and 
                engineering; and
            ``(2) to conduct outreach and coordinate with inner city 
        and rural secondary schools to encourage students to pursue 
        teaching as a career.
    ``(f) Service Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish such 
        requirements as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure 
        that recipients of scholarships under this section who complete 
        teacher education programs--
                    ``(A) subsequently teach in a high-need local 
                educational agency for a period of time equivalent to--
                            ``(i) one year; increased by
                            ``(ii) the period for which the recipient 
                        received scholarship assistance; or
                    ``(B) repay the amount of the scholarship.
            ``(2) Use of repayments.--The Secretary shall use any such 
        repayments to carry out additional activities under this 
        section.
    ``(g) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority under this 
section to eligible applicants who provide an assurance that they will 
recruit a high percentage of minority students to become highly 
qualified teachers.

``SEC. 205. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Duration; One-Time Awards; Payments.--
            ``(1) Duration.--
                    ``(A) Eligible states and eligible applicants.--
                Grants awarded to eligible States and eligible 
                applicants under this part shall be awarded for a 
                period not to exceed 3 years.
                    ``(B) Eligible partnerships.--Grants awarded to 
                eligible partnerships under this part shall be awarded 
                for a period of 5 years.
            ``(2) One-time award.--An eligible partnership may receive 
        a grant under each of sections 203 and 204, as amended by the 
        Ready to Teach Act of 2003, only once.
            ``(3) Payments.--The Secretary shall make annual payments 
        of grant funds awarded under this part.
    ``(b) Peer Review.--
            ``(1) Panel.--The Secretary shall provide the applications 
        submitted under this part to a peer review panel for 
        evaluation. With respect to each application, the peer review 
        panel shall initially recommend the application for funding or 
        for disapproval.
            ``(2) Priority.--In recommending applications to the 
        Secretary for funding under this part, the panel shall--
                    ``(A) with respect to grants under section 202, 
                give priority to eligible States that--
                            ``(i) have initiatives to reform State 
                        teacher certification requirements that are 
                        based on rigorous academic content, 
                        scientifically based research, including 
                        scientifically based reading research, and 
                        challenging State student academic content 
                        standards;
                            ``(ii) have 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) have innovative efforts aimed at 
                        reducing the shortage of highly qualified 
                        teachers in high poverty urban and rural areas; 
                        and
                    ``(B) with respect to grants under section 203--
                            ``(i) give priority to applications from 
                        broad-based eligible partnerships that involve 
                        businesses and community organizations; 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.
            ``(3) Secretarial selection.--The Secretary shall 
        determine, based on the peer review process, which application 
        shall receive funding and the amounts of the grants. In 
        determining grant amounts, the Secretary shall take into 
        account the total amount of funds available for all grants 
        under this part and the types of activities proposed to be 
        carried out.
    ``(c) Matching Requirements.--
            ``(1) State grants.--Each eligible State receiving a grant 
        under section 202 or 204 shall provide, from non-Federal 
        sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the 
        grant (in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities 
        supported by the grant.
            ``(2) Partnership grants.--Each eligible partnership 
        receiving a grant under section 203 or 204 shall provide, from 
        non-Federal sources (in cash or in kind), an amount equal to 25 
        percent of the grant for the first year of the grant, 35 
        percent of the grant for the second year of the grant, and 50 
        percent of the grant for each succeeding year of the grant.
    ``(d) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--An eligible State or 
eligible partnership that receives a grant under this part may not use 
more than 2 percent of the grant funds for purposes of administering 
the grant.

``SEC. 206. ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION.

    ``(a) State Grant Accountability Report.--An eligible State that 
receives a grant under section 202 shall submit an annual 
accountability report to the Secretary, the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives. Such 
report shall include a description of the degree to which the eligible 
State, in using funds provided under such section, has made substantial 
progress in meeting the following goals:
            ``(1) Percentage of highly qualified teachers.--Increasing 
        the percentage of highly qualified teachers in the State as 
        required by section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6319).
            ``(2) Student academic achievement.--Increasing student 
        academic achievement for all students as defined by the 
        eligible State.
            ``(3) Raising standards.--Raising the State academic 
        standards required to enter the teaching profession as a highly 
        qualified teacher.
            ``(4) Initial certification or licensure.--Increasing 
        success in the pass rate for initial State teacher 
        certification or licensure, or increasing the numbers of 
        qualified individuals being certified or licensed as teachers 
        through alternative programs.
            ``(5) Decreasing teacher shortages.--Decreasing shortages 
        of highly qualified teachers in poor urban and rural areas.
            ``(6) Increasing opportunities for professional 
        development.--Increasing opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
        professional development that--
                    ``(A) improves the academic content knowledge of 
                teachers in the subject areas in which the teachers are 
                certified or licensed to teach or in which the teachers 
                are working toward certification or licensure to teach; 
                and
                    ``(B) promotes strong teaching skills.
            ``(7) Technology integration.--Increasing the number of 
        teachers prepared effectively to integrate technology into 
        curricula and instruction and who use technology to collect, 
        manage, and analyze data to improve teaching, learning, and 
        decisionmaking for the purpose of increasing student academic 
        achievement.
    ``(b) Eligible Partnership Evaluation.--Each eligible partnership 
applying for a grant under section 203 shall establish, and include in 
the application submitted under section 203(c), an evaluation plan that 
includes strong performance objectives. The plan shall include 
objectives and measures for--
            ``(1) increased student achievement for all students, as 
        measured by the partnership;
            ``(2) increased teacher retention in the first 3 years of a 
        teacher's career;
            ``(3) increased success in the pass rate for initial State 
        certification or licensure of teachers;
            ``(4) increased percentage of highly qualified teachers; 
        and
            ``(5) increasing the number of teachers trained effectively 
        to integrate technology into curricula and instruction and who 
        use technology to collect, manage, and analyze data to improve 
        teaching, learning, and decisionmaking for the purpose of 
        improving student academic achievement.
    ``(c) Revocation of Grant.--
            ``(1) Report.--Each eligible State or eligible partnership 
        receiving a grant under section 202 or 203 shall report 
        annually on the progress of the eligible State or eligible 
        partnership toward meeting the purposes of this part and the 
        goals, objectives, and measures described in subsections (a) 
        and (b).
            ``(2) Revocation.--
                    ``(A) Eligible states and eligible applicants.--If 
                the Secretary determines that an eligible State or 
                eligible applicant is not making substantial progress 
                in meeting the purposes, goals, objectives, and 
                measures, as appropriate, by the end of the second year 
                of a grant under this part, then the grant payment 
                shall not be made for the third year of the grant.
                    ``(B) Eligible partnerships.--If the Secretary 
                determines that an eligible partnership is not making 
                substantial progress in meeting the purposes, goals, 
                objectives, and measures, as appropriate, by the end of 
                the third year of a grant under this part, then the 
                grant payments shall not be made for any succeeding 
                year of the grant.
    ``(d) Evaluation and Dissemination.--The Secretary shall evaluate 
the activities funded under this part and report annually the 
Secretary's findings regarding the activities to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives. The 
Secretary shall broadly disseminate successful practices developed by 
eligible States and eligible partnerships under this part, and shall 
broadly disseminate information regarding such practices that were 
found to be ineffective.

``SEC. 207. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE TEACHERS.

    ``(a) State Report Card on the Quality of Teacher Preparation.--
Each State that receives funds under this Act shall provide to the 
Secretary annually, in a uniform and comprehensible manner that 
conforms with the definitions and methods established by the Secretary, 
a State report card on the quality of teacher preparation in the State, 
both for traditional certification or licensure programs and for 
alternative certification or licensure programs, which shall include at 
least the following:
            ``(1) A description of the teacher certification and 
        licensure assessments, and any other certification and 
        licensure requirements, used by the State.
            ``(2) The standards and criteria that prospective teachers 
        must meet in order to attain initial teacher certification or 
        licensure and to be certified or licensed to teach particular 
        subjects or in particular grades within the State.
            ``(3) A description of the extent to which the assessments 
        and requirements described in paragraph (1) are aligned with 
        the State's standards and assessments for students.
            ``(4) The percentage of students who have completed at 
        least 50 percent of the requirements for a teacher preparation 
        program at an institution of higher education or alternative 
        certification program and who have taken and passed each of the 
        assessments used by the State for teacher certification and 
        licensure, and the passing score on each assessment that 
        determines whether a candidate has passed that assessment.
            ``(5) For students who have completed at least 50 percent 
        of the requirements for a teacher preparation program at an 
        institution of higher education or alternative certification 
        program, and who have taken and passed each of the assessments 
        used by the State for teacher certification and licensure, each 
        such institution's and each such program's average raw score, 
        ranked by teacher preparation program, which shall be made 
        available widely and publicly.
            ``(6) A description of each State's alternative routes to 
        teacher certification, if any, and the number and percentage of 
        teachers certified through each alternative certification route 
        who pass State teacher certification or licensure assessments.
            ``(7) For each State, a description of proposed criteria 
        for assessing the performance of teacher preparation programs 
        in the State, including indicators of teacher candidate skills 
        and academic content knowledge and evidence of gains in student 
        academic achievement.
            ``(8) For each teacher preparation program in the State, 
        the number of students in the program, the average number of 
        hours of supervised practice teaching required for those in the 
        program, and the number of full-time equivalent faculty and 
        students in supervised practice teaching.
    ``(b) Report of the Secretary on the Quality of Teacher 
Preparation.--
            ``(1) Report card.--The Secretary shall provide to 
        Congress, and publish and make widely available, a report card 
        on teacher qualifications and preparation in the United States, 
        including all the information reported in paragraphs (1) 
        through (8) of subsection (a). Such report shall identify 
        States for which eligible States and eligible partnerships 
        received a grant under this part. Such report shall be so 
        provided, published and made available annually.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall report to 
        Congress--
                    ``(A) a comparison of States' efforts to improve 
                teaching quality; and
                    ``(B) regarding the national mean and median scores 
                on any standardized test that is used in more than 1 
                State for teacher certification or licensure.
            ``(3) Special rule.--In the case of programs with fewer 
        than 10 students who have completed at least 50 percent of the 
        requirements for a teacher preparation program taking any 
single initial teacher certification or licensure assessment during an 
academic year, the Secretary shall collect and publish information with 
respect to an average pass rate on State certification or licensure 
assessments taken over a 3-year period.
    ``(c) Coordination.--The Secretary, to the extent practicable, 
shall coordinate the information collected and published under this 
part among States for individuals who took State teacher certification 
or licensure assessments in a State other than the State in which the 
individual received the individual's most recent degree.
    ``(d) Institution and Program Report Cards on Quality of Teacher 
Preparation.--
            ``(1) Report card.--Each institution of higher education or 
        alternative certification program that conducts a teacher 
        preparation program that enrolls students receiving Federal 
        assistance under this Act shall report annually to the State 
        and the general public, in a uniform and comprehensible manner 
        that conforms with the definitions and methods established by 
        the Secretary, both for traditional certification or licensure 
        programs and for alternative certification or licensure 
        programs, the following information:
                    ``(A) Pass rate.--(i) For the most recent year for 
                which the information is available, the pass rate of 
                each student who has completed at least 50 percent of 
                the requirements for the teacher preparation program on 
                the teacher certification or licensure assessments of 
                the State in which the institution is located, but only 
                for those students who took those assessments within 3 
                years of receiving a degree from the institution or 
                completing the program.
                    ``(ii) A comparison of the institution or program's 
                pass rate for students who have completed at least 50 
                percent of the requirements for the teacher preparation 
                program with the average pass rate for institutions and 
                programs in the State.
                    ``(iii) A comparison of the institution or 
                program's average raw score for students who have 
                completed at least 50 percent of the requirements for 
                the teacher preparation program with the average raw 
                scores for institutions and programs in the State.
                    ``(iv) In the case of programs with fewer than 10 
                students who have completed at least 50 percent of the 
                requirements for a teacher preparation program taking 
                any single initial teacher certification or licensure 
                assessment during an academic year, the institution 
                shall collect and publish information with respect to 
                an average pass rate on State certification or 
                licensure assessments taken over a 3-year period.
                    ``(B) Program information.--The number of students 
                in the program, the average number of hours of 
                supervised practice teaching required for those in the 
                program, and the number of full-time equivalent faculty 
                and students in supervised practice teaching.
                    ``(C) Statement.--In States that require approval 
                or accreditation of teacher education programs, a 
                statement of whether the institution's program is so 
                approved or accredited, and by whom.
                    ``(D) Designation as low-performing.--Whether the 
                program has been designated as low-performing by the 
                State under section 208(a).
            ``(2) Requirement.--The information described in paragraph 
        (1) shall be reported through publications such as school 
        catalogs and promotional materials sent to potential 
        applicants, secondary school guidance counselors, and 
        prospective employers of the institution's program graduates, 
        including materials sent by electronic means.
            ``(3) Fines.--In addition to the actions authorized in 
        section 487(c), the Secretary may impose a fine not to exceed 
        $25,000 on an institution of higher education for failure to 
        provide the information described in this subsection in a 
        timely or accurate manner.
    ``(e) Data Quality.--Either--
            ``(1) the Governor of the State; or
            ``(2) in the case of a State for which the constitution or 
        law of such State designates another individual, entity, or 
        agency in the State to be responsible for teacher certification 
        and preparation activity, such individual, entity, or agency;
shall attest annually, in writing, as to the reliability, validity, 
integrity, and accuracy of the data submitted pursuant to this section.

``SEC. 208. STATE FUNCTIONS.

    ``(a) State Assessment.--In order to receive funds under this Act, 
a State shall have in place a procedure to identify and assist, through 
the provision of technical assistance, low-performing programs of 
teacher preparation within institutions of higher education. Such State 
shall provide the Secretary an annual list of such low-performing 
institutions that includes an identification of those institutions at 
risk of being placed on such list. Such levels of performance shall be 
determined solely by the State and may include criteria based upon 
information collected pursuant to this part. Such assessment shall be 
described in the report under section 207(a).
    ``(b) Termination of Eligibility.--Any institution of higher 
education that offers a program of teacher preparation in which the 
State has withdrawn the State's approval or terminated the State's 
financial support due to the low performance of the institution's 
teacher preparation program based upon the State assessment described 
in subsection (a)--
            ``(1) shall be ineligible for any funding for professional 
        development activities awarded by the Department of Education; 
        and
            ``(2) shall not be permitted to accept or enroll any 
        student who receives aid under title IV of this Act in the 
        institution's teacher preparation program.

``SEC. 209. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Methods.--In complying with sections 207 and 208, the 
Secretary shall ensure that States and institutions of higher education 
use fair and equitable methods in reporting and that the reporting 
methods do not allow identification of individuals.
    ``(b) Special Rule.--For each State in which there are no State 
certification or licensure assessments, or for States that do not set 
minimum performance levels on those assessments--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
        collect data comparable to the data required under this part 
        from States, local educational agencies, institutions of higher 
        education, or other entities that administer such assessments 
        to teachers or prospective teachers; and
            ``(2) notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the 
        Secretary shall use such data to carry out requirements of this 
        part related to assessments or pass rates.
    ``(c) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Federal control prohibited.--Nothing in this part 
        shall be construed to permit, allow, encourage, or authorize 
        any Federal control over any aspect of any private, religious, 
        or home school, whether or not a home school is treated as a 
        private school or home school under State law. This section 
        shall not be construed to prohibit private, religious, or home 
        schools from participation in programs or services under this 
        part.
            ``(2) No change in state control encouraged or required.--
        Nothing in this part shall be construed to encourage or require 
        any change in a State's treatment of any private, religious, or 
        home school, whether or not a home school is treated as a 
        private school or home school under State law.
            ``(3) National system of teacher certification 
        prohibited.--Nothing in this part shall be construed to permit, 
        allow, encourage, or authorize the Secretary to establish or 
        support any national system of teacher certification.

``SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$300,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, of which--
            ``(1) 45 percent shall be available for each fiscal year to 
        award grants under section 202;
            ``(2) 45 percent shall be available for each fiscal year to 
        award grants under section 203; and
            ``(3) 10 percent shall be available for each fiscal year to 
        award grants under section 204.''.

SEC. 3. PREPARING TOMORROW'S TEACHERS TO USE TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Eligibility.--Section 222(a)(3)(D) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1042(a)(3)(D)) is amended by inserting ``nonprofit 
telecommunications entity,'' after ``community-based organization,''.
    (b) Permissible Uses of Funds.--Section 223(b)(1)(E) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1043(b)(1)(E)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(E) To use technology to collect, manage, and 
                analyze data to improve teaching, learning, and 
                decisionmaking for the purpose of increasing student 
                academic achievement.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 224 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1044) is amended by striking ``each of 
fiscal years 2002 and 2003.'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2004 and each 
of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.

SEC. 4. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                    ``PART C--CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

``SEC. 231. PURPOSES; DEFINITIONS.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are--
            ``(1) to help recruit and prepare teachers, including 
        minority teachers, to meet the national demand for a highly 
        qualified teacher in every classroom; and
            ``(2) to increase opportunities for Americans of all 
        educational, ethnic, class, and geographic backgrounds to 
        become highly qualified teachers.
    ``(b) Definitions.--As used in this part:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means--
                    ``(A) an institution of higher education that has a 
                teacher preparation program that meets the requirements 
                of section 203(b)(2) and that is--
                            ``(i) a part B institution (as defined in 
                        section 322);
                            ``(ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as 
                        defined in section 502);
                            ``(iii) a Tribal College or University (as 
                        defined in section 316);
                            ``(iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b)); or
                            ``(v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b));
                    ``(B) a consortium of institutions described in 
                subparagraph (A); or
                    ``(C) an institution described in subparagraph (A), 
                or a consortium described in subparagraph (B), in 
                partnership with any other institution of higher 
                education, but only if the center of excellence 
                established under section 232 is located at an 
                institution described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Highly qualified.--The term `highly qualified' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(3) Scientifically based reading research.--The term 
        `scientifically based reading research' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1208 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368).
            ``(4) Scientifically based research.--The term 
        `scientifically based research' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

``SEC. 232. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to carry 
out this part, the Secretary is authorized to award competitive grants 
to eligible institutions to establish centers of excellence.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Grants provided by the Secretary under this 
part shall be used to ensure that current and future teachers are 
highly qualified, by carrying out one or more of the following 
activities:
            ``(1) Implementing reforms within teacher preparation 
        programs to ensure that such programs are preparing teachers 
        who are highly qualified, are able to understand scientifically 
        based research, and are able to use advanced technology 
        effectively in the classroom, including use for instructional 
        techniques to improve student academic achievement, by--
                    ``(A) retraining faculty; and
                    ``(B) designing (or redesigning) teacher 
                preparation programs that--
                            ``(i) prepare teachers to close student 
                        achievement gaps, are based on rigorous 
                        academic content, scientifically based research 
                        (including scientifically based reading 
                        research), and challenging State student 
                        academic content standards; and
                            ``(ii) promote strong teaching skills.
            ``(2) Providing sustained and high-quality preservice 
        clinical experience, including the mentoring of prospective 
        teachers by exemplary teachers, substantially increasing 
        interaction between faculty at institutions of higher education 
        and new and experienced teachers, principals, and other 
        administrators at elementary schools or secondary schools, and 
        providing support, including preparation time, for such 
        interaction.
            ``(3) Developing and implementing initiatives to promote 
        retention of highly qualified teachers and principals, 
        including minority teachers and principals, including programs 
        that provide--
                    ``(A) teacher or principal mentoring from exemplary 
                teachers or principals; or
                    ``(B) induction and support for teachers and 
                principals during their first 3 years of employment as 
                teachers or principals, respectively.
            ``(4) Awarding scholarships based on financial need to help 
        students pay the costs of tuition, room, board, and other 
        expenses of completing a teacher preparation program.
            ``(5) Disseminating information on effective practices for 
        teacher preparation and successful teacher certification and 
        licensure assessment preparation strategies.
            ``(6) Activities authorized under sections 202, 203, and 
        204.
    ``(c) Application.--Any eligible institution desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such a 
time, in such a manner, and accompanied by such information the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Minimum Grant Amount.--The minimum amount of each grant under 
this part shall be $500,000.
    ``(e) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--An eligible 
institution that receives a grant under this part may not use more than 
2 percent of the grant funds for purposes of administering the grant.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out this part.

``SEC. 233. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.

SEC. 5. TRANSITION.

    The Secretary of Education shall take such actions as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate to provide for the orderly implementation 
of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.