[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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