[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E922-E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              POST-9/11 TROOPS TO TEACHERS ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS E. PETRI

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 2011

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Post-9/11 Troops 
to Teachers Enhancement Act to improve opportunities for veterans to 
transition into second careers in teaching. I am pleased to once again 
be joined in this effort by Representatives Doris Matsui and Joe 
Courtney. I have been a supporter of the Troops to Teachers program 
since its inception in 1994, and I am proud of the fact that since this 
program was created in 1994, over 12,000 veterans have been placed in 
our nation's classrooms.
  Troops to Teachers is a unique program that provides retiring 
military with a $5,000 stipend to help cover the costs of teaching 
certification in exchange for three years service in

[[Page E923]]

a high-need school, which until recently was defined as one receiving 
grants under part A of Title I. To further encourage participants to 
teach in schools with the greatest need, a $10,000 bonus is offered to 
those who agree to teach for three years in a school with 50 percent of 
students below the poverty level.
  This structure has proven very effective in transitioning qualified 
retiring military personnel into second careers in teaching. Indeed, 
Troops participants fill several critical needs among educators: A 2005 
study found that eighty-two percent are male, over one-third ethnic 
minorities, and a majority bring an expertise in science and math to 
the classroom. In an increasingly globalized economy, these valuable 
characteristics provide a vital resource for schools across the 
country.
  However, this success is now in jeopardy due to a drafting error in 
the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act which has inadvertently restricted 
the number of schools at which participants may fulfill their service. 
The applicable definition for ``high-need local education agencies'' 
for Troops to Teachers was inadvertently changed as it was included in 
the section of the legislation regarding other alternative programs 
that had a different definition. This stricter definition requires a 
higher threshold for ``high-need,'' requiring the school to have either 
10,000 students or 20 percent of students from families below the 
poverty level. However, the original Title I definition of high-need 
was also retained in the law in the section specifically detailing the 
Troops program. Essentially, Congress inadvertently created two 
conflicting definitions of ``high-need'' with regard to this program.
  Early on, the Department of Education and the Troops to Teachers 
program recognized this unintended change in law and worked together to 
address it. From 2003 to 2005, while discussions were being held on how 
to reconcile this discrepancy, the program continued to operate under 
the original and intended definition. However, after the completion of 
a negotiated rulemaking process in September 2005, the Department 
issued a regulation stating that the new, stricter definition was not 
an error but congressional intent. As one of the leading supporters of 
this program during the drafting of No Child Left Behind, I can assure 
my colleagues that this clearly was not the intent of the supporters of 
the program.
  Mr. Speaker, the unfortunate result of this, aside from limiting the 
number of schools at which veterans may teach and honor their 
obligation of three-years service, is that it has disproportionately 
impacted western and rural states. In my home state of Wisconsin, the 
number of eligible school districts has been reduced from approximately 
395 to 11. Not surprisingly, participation in the program has fallen 
significantly since the implementation of the new definition. This 
decision, although understandable given the conflicting definitions 
contained in the law, is a disservice both to veterans wishing to 
continue their service to our nation as educators as well as children 
who stand to benefit from their unique expertise.
  The bottom line is that we are losing out on great teachers because 
they cannot accept the certification stipend due to a lack of schools 
meeting the higher needs threshold in their communities. The more we 
restrict opportunities for participation, the fewer teachers we will be 
able to bring into public education, and the fewer teachers we will 
eventually be able to attract to the schools with the greatest need. 
Further, given the nation's need for more math and science teachers, we 
should be removing, not creating, restrictions that prevent qualified 
teachers in these areas from teaching in our nation's classrooms.
  Mr. Speaker, with Troops to Teachers, the Department already has an 
established program that is well-funded and successful. Rather than 
restricting it, we should be maximizing this program's potential. This 
legislation would correct this error and restore the original intent of 
the Troops to Teachers program. Our bill would ensure that veterans 
participating in the Troops to Teachers program may receive a $5,000 
stipend for teaching for three years in any school that is in a 
district receiving grants under part A of Title I. This change would 
more than double the number of eligible schools for the program.
  The legislation would retain the current criteria for troops to 
receive an additional bonus of $5,000 for teaching in a high need 
school, defined as in a school district that has at least 10 percent or 
greater who come from families living below the poverty level and a 
school where at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or 
reduced lunch or have a ``high percentage'' of students with 
disabilities.
  This legislation will also increase the number of service personnel 
who would qualify to participate in Troops to Teachers. Currently, 
eligibility for Troops to Teachers requires that members of the 
military have six years of service, and that members of the National 
Guard and reserves have 10 years of service with a commitment to serve 
an additional three years. This legislation will change the years of 
service requirement from six to four years for members of the active 
duty military to accommodate the many men and women who have served 
honorably and well in the difficult conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Additionally, it will create a ``years of service'' exemption for any 
member of the reserve, National Guard, or active duty military who has 
served on active duty since September 11, 2001, similar to eligibility 
requirements for the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
  I urge my colleagues to join me and Representatives Matsui and 
Courtney in supporting this successful program and restoring the 
opportunity to ``serve again'' to our nation's veterans.

                          ____________________