II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 959 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2007 Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To award a grant to enable Teach for America, Inc., to implement and expand its teaching program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Teach For America Act of 2007.
2.
Purposes
The purposes of this Act are— (1)to increase the number of highly accomplished recent graduates of 4-year institutions of higher education teaching in underserved urban and rural communities in the United States; (2)to increase the number of school districts and communities served by a nationally recruited corps of outstanding new teachers; and (3)to build a broader pipeline of talented and experienced future leaders in public education and education reform.
3.
Definitions
In this Act: (1)
In general
The terms highly qualified, local educational agency, and Secretary have the meanings given the terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (2)
Grantee
The term grantee means Teach For America, Inc. (3)
High-need
The term high-need, when used with respect to a local educational agency, means a local educational agency that serves a substantial percentage of students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). (4)
Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
4.
Grant program authorized
The Secretary is authorized to award a grant to Teach For America, Inc., the national corps of outstanding recent graduates of 4-year institutions of higher education who commit to teach for 2 years in underserved communities in the United States, to enable the grantee to implement and expand its program of recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting new teachers.
5.
Grant requirements
In carrying out the grant program under this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the grantee under which the grantee agrees to use the grant funds— (1)to provide highly qualified teachers to high-need local educational agencies in urban and rural communities; (2)to pay the cost of recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting new teachers; and (3)to serve a substantial percentage of students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
6.
Authorized activities
Grant funds provided under this Act shall be used by the grantee to carry out each of the following activities: (1)Recruiting and selecting teachers through a highly selective national process. (2)Providing preservice training to selected teachers through a rigorous summer institute that includes hands-on teaching experience and significant exposure to education coursework and theory. (3)Placing selected teachers in schools and positions in high-need local educational agencies. (4)Providing ongoing professional development activities for the selected teachers in the classroom, including regular classroom observations and feedback, and ongoing training and support.
7.
Evaluation
(a)
Annual report
The grantee shall provide to the Secretary an annual report that includes— (1)data on the number and characteristics of the teachers provided to high-need local educational agencies through the grant under this part; (2)an externally conducted analysis of the satisfaction of local educational agencies and principals with the teachers so provided; and (3)comprehensive data on the background of the selected teachers, the training such teachers received, the placement sites of the teachers, the professional development of the teachers, and the retention of the teachers. (b)
Study
From amounts appropriated under section 8, the Secretary shall provide for a study comparing the academic achievement of students taught by the teachers selected, trained, and placed by the grantee under this Act with the academic achievement of students taught by other teachers in the same schools and positions. The Secretary shall provide for such a study not less than once every 3 years, and each such study shall include multiple local educational agencies. Each such study shall meet the peer-review standards of the education research community.
8.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1)$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; (2)$18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; (3)$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and (4)such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2011 and 2012.