[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2091. Mrs. McCASKILL submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed to amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself 
and Mrs. Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title II, insert the following:

     SEC. 2007. PROGRAM FOR INTERSTATE TEACHING APPLICATIONS.

       Part F of title II, as added by section 2006, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 2602. PROGRAM FOR INTERSTATE TEACHING APPLICATIONS.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish and carry 
     out a program to allow States to voluntarily participate in 
     an interstate teaching application process that allows 
     teachers who are licensed or certified in any participating 
     State--
       ``(1) to be eligible for licensure or certification in 
     other participating States without subsequently completing 
     additional licensure or certification requirements; and
       ``(2) to be able to apply for open teaching positions in 
     schools that receive funds under part A of title I in other 
     participating States, unless the open position falls outside 
     the applicant's content area or grade level for which the 
     applicant is already licensed or certified.
       ``(b) Program Requirements.--In carrying out a program 
     established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) create an application for eligible teachers licensed 
     or certified in a State participating in the program who wish 
     to teach in other States participating in the program;
       ``(2) require each participating State to recognize a 
     teaching licensure or certification of each such teacher who 
     meets the application requirements under subsection (c)(1), 
     and allow such teacher to teach in an open teaching position 
     described in subsection (a)(2), without requiring such 
     teacher to complete additional requirements for licensure or 
     certification;
       ``(3) ensure that participating States maintain the 
     eligibility requirements described in subsection (d);
       ``(4) provide technical assistance to participating States; 
     and
       ``(5) provide an electronic application process for 
     teachers to apply for the program.
       ``(c) Participating Teachers.--
       ``(1) In general.--Each teacher seeking to participate in a 
     program established under subsection (a) shall submit an 
     application containing--
       ``(A) proof of an active teaching license or certification 
     in a participating State;
       ``(B) the teacher's results on each of the assessments 
     described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection 
     (d)(1) that are required by the initial licensing or 
     certifying participating State; and
       ``(C) such other information as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(2) Contract.--The Secretary shall award a contract to a 
     qualified entity to collect the teacher applications 
     submitted under paragraph (1).
       ``(d) Participating States.--A State shall be eligible to 
     participate in a program established under subsection (a) 
     if--
       ``(1) such State, in awarding a teaching license or 
     certification to an individual, requires--
       ``(A) an assessment of the content knowledge necessary for 
     postsecondary education and a career before a teacher begins 
     teaching in a classroom;
       ``(B) an assessment of pedagogical skills not later than 1 
     year after the date on which a teacher first begins teaching 
     in a classroom; and
       ``(C) a performance assessment not later than one year 
     after the date on which a teacher first begins teaching, 
     which may include a performance assessment completed as part 
     of a teacher preparation program; and
       ``(2) the assessments described in paragraph (1) and 
     required by such State are identified as sufficiently 
     rigorous by an organization such as the Council of Chief 
     State School Officers.
       ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary may issue such 
     regulations as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out 
     this section.''.
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