Part A - Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow

20 USC 9811 - Purpose

The purpose of this part is

(1) to develop and implement programs to provide integrated courses of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages, and teacher education, that lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, with concurrent teacher certification;

(2) to develop and implement 2- or 3-year part-time masters degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education for teachers in order to enhance the teachers content knowledge and pedagogical skills; and

(3) to develop programs for professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education that lead to a masters degree in teaching that results in teacher certification.

20 USC 9812 - Definitions

In this part:

(1) Children from low-income families
The term children from low-income families means children described in section 6333 (c)(1)(A) of this title.

(2) Eligible recipient
The term eligible recipient means an institution of higher education that receives grant funds under this part on behalf of a department of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, or on behalf of a department or school with a competency-based degree program (in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language) that includes teacher certification, for use in carrying out activities assisted under this part.

(3) High-need local educational agency
The term high-need local educational agency means a local educational agency or educational service agency

(A)

(i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from low-income families;

(ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the children served by the agency are children from low-income families; 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 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary; and

(B)

(i) for which there is a high percentage of teachers providing instruction in academic subject areas or grade levels for which the teachers are not highly qualified; or

(ii) for which there is a high teacher turnover rate or a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licensure.

(4) Highly qualified
The term highly qualified has the meaning given such term in section 7801 of this title and, with respect to special education teachers, in section 1401 of this title.

(5) Partnership
The term partnership means a partnership that

(A) shall include

(i) an eligible recipient;

(ii)

(I)

(aa) a department within the eligible recipient that provides a program of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language; and

(bb) a school, department, or program of education within the eligible recipient, or a 2-year institution of higher education that has a teacher preparation offering or a dual enrollment program with the eligible recipient; or

(II) a department or school within the eligible recipient with a competency-based degree program (in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language) that includes teacher certification; and

(iii) not less than 1 high-need local educational agency and a school">public school or a consortium of public schools served by the agency; and

(B) may include a nonprofit">nonprofit organization that has a demonstrated record of providing expertise or support to meet the purposes of this part.

(6) Teaching skills
The term teaching skills means the ability to

(A) increase student achievement and learning and increase a students ability to apply knowledge;

(B) effectively convey and explain academic subject matter;

(i) are based on scientifically valid research;

(ii) are specific to academic subject matter; and

(iii) focus on the identification of students specific learning needs, particularly students with disabilities, students who are limited English proficient, students who are gifted and talented, and students with low literacy levels, and the tailoring of academic instruction to such needs;

(D) conduct ongoing assessment of student learning;

(E) effectively manage a classroom; and

(F) communicate and work with parents and guardians, and involve parents and guardians in their childrens education.

20 USC 9813 - Programs for baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages, with concurrent teacher certification

(a) Program authorized
From the amounts made available to carry out this section under section 9816 (1) of this title and not reserved under section 9815 (d) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable partnerships served by the eligible recipients to develop and implement programs to provide courses of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages that

(1) are integrated with teacher education; and

(2) lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language with concurrent teacher certification.

(b) Application
Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application shall

(1) describe the program for which assistance is sought;

(2) describe how a department of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language participating in the partnership will ensure significant collaboration with a teacher preparation program in the development of undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, with concurrent teacher certification, including providing student teaching and other clinical classroom experiences or how a department or school participating in the partnership with a competency-based degree program has ensured, in the development of a baccalaureate degree program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, the provision of concurrent teacher certification, including providing student teaching and other clinical classroom experiences;

(3) describe the high-quality research, laboratory, or internship experiences, integrated with coursework, that will be provided under the program;

(4) describe how members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages will be encouraged to participate in the program;

(5) describe how program participants will be encouraged to teach in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need, and the assistance in finding employment in such schools that will be provided;

(6) describe the ongoing activities and services that will be provided to graduates of the program;

(7) describe how the activities of the partnership will be coordinated with any activities funded through other Federal grants, and how the partnership will continue the activities assisted under the program when the grant period ends;

(8) describe how the partnership will assess the content knowledge and teaching skills of the program participants; and

(9) provide any other information the Secretary may reasonably require.

(c) Priority
Priority shall be given to applications whose primary focus is on placing participants in high-need local educational agencies.

(d) Authorized activities

(1) In general
Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to enable a partnership to develop and implement a program to provide courses of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language that

(A) are integrated with teacher education programs that promote effective teaching skills; and

(B) lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language with concurrent teacher certification.

(2) Program requirements
The program shall

(A) provide high-quality research, laboratory, or internship experiences for program participants;

(B) provide student teaching or other clinical classroom experiences that

(i) are integrated with coursework; and

(ii) lead to the participants ability to demonstrate effective teaching skills;

(C) if implementing a program in which program participants are prepared to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language courses, include strategies for improving student literacy;

(D) encourage the participation of individuals who are members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages;

(E) encourage participants to teach in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need, and actively assist the participants in finding employment in such schools;

(F) offer training in the use of and integration of educational technology;

(G) collect data regarding and evaluate, using measurable objectives and benchmarks, the extent to which the program succeeded in

(i) increasing the percentage of highly qualified mathematics, science, or critical foreign language teachers, including increasing the percentage of such teachers teaching in those schools determined by the partnership to be most in need;

(ii) improving student academic achievement in mathematics, science, and where applicable, technology and engineering;

(iii) increasing the number of students in secondary schools enrolled in upper level mathematics, science, and, where available, technology and engineering courses; and

(iv) increasing the numbers of elementary school and secondary school students enrolled in and continuing in critical foreign language courses;

(H) collect data on the employment placement and retention of all graduates of the program, including information on how many graduates are teaching and in what kinds of schools;

(I) provide ongoing activities and services to graduates of the program who teach elementary school or secondary school, by

(i) keeping the graduates informed of the latest developments in their respective academic fields; and

(ii) supporting the graduates of the program who are employed in schools in the local educational agency participating in the partnership during the initial years of teaching through

(I) induction programs;

(II) promotion of effective teaching skills; and

(III) providing opportunities for regular professional development; and

(J) develop recommendations to improve the school, department, or program of education participating in the partnership.

(e) Annual report
Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall collect and report to the Secretary annually such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including

(1) the number of participants in the program;

(2) information on the academic majors of participating students;

(3) the race, gender, income, and disability status of program participants;

(4) the placement of program participants as teachers in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need;

(5) the extent to which the program succeeded in meeting the objectives and benchmarks described in subsection (d)(2)(G); and

(6) the data collected under subparagraphs (G) and (H) of subsection (d)(2).

(f) Technical assistance
From the funds made available under section 9816 (1) of this title, the Secretary may provide technical assistance to an eligible recipient developing a baccalaureate degree program with concurrent teacher certification, including technical assistance provided through a grant or contract awarded on a competitive basis to an institution of higher education or a technical assistance center.

(g) Compliance with FERPA
Any activity under this section shall be carried out in compliance with section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).

(h) Induction program defined
In this section, the term induction program means a formalized program for new teachers during not less than the teachers first 2 years of teaching that is designed to provide support for, and improve the professional performance and advance the retention in the teaching field of, beginning teachers. Such program shall promote effective teaching skills and shall include the following components:

(1) High-quality teacher mentoring.

(2) Periodic, structured time for collaboration with teachers in the same department or field, as well as time for information-sharing among teachers, principals, administrators, and participating faculty in the partner institution.

(3) The application of empirically based practice and scientifically valid research on instructional practices.

(4) Opportunities for new teachers to draw directly upon the expertise of teacher mentors, faculty, and researchers to support the integration of empirically based practice and scientifically valid research with practice.

(5) The development of skills in instructional and behavioral interventions derived from empirically based practice and, where applicable, scientifically valid research.

(6) Faculty who

(A) model the integration of research and practice in the classroom; and

(B) assist new teachers with the effective use and integration of technology in the classroom.

(7) Interdisciplinary collaboration among exemplary teachers, faculty, researchers, and other staff who prepare new teachers on the learning process and the assessment of learning.

(8) Assistance with the understanding of data, particularly student achievement data, and the datas applicability in classroom instruction.

(9) Regular evaluation of the new teacher.

20 USC 9814 - Programs for masters degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education

(a) Program authorized
From the amounts made available to carry out this section under section 9816 (2) of this title and not reserved under section 9815 (d) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable the partnerships served by the eligible recipients to develop and implement

(1) 2- or 3-year part-time masters degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education for teachers in order to enhance the teachers content knowledge and teaching skills; or

(2) programs for professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language that lead to a 1-year masters degree in teaching that results in teacher certification.

(1) how a department of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language will ensure significant collaboration with a school, department, or program of education in the development of the masters degree programs authorized under subsection (a), or how a department or school with a competency-based degree program has ensured, in the development of a masters degree program, the provision of rigorous studies in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language that enhance the teachers content knowledge and teaching skills;

(2) the role of the local educational agency in the partnership in developing and administering the program and how feedback from the local educational agency, school, and participants will be used to improve the program;

(3) how the program will help increase the percentage of highly qualified mathematics, science, or critical foreign language teachers, including increasing the percentage of such teachers teaching in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need;

(4) how the program will

(A) improve student academic achievement in mathematics, science, and, where applicable, technology and engineering and increase the number of students taking upper-level courses in such subjects; or

(B) increase the numbers of elementary school and secondary school students enrolled and continuing in critical foreign language courses;

(5) how the program will prepare participants to become more effective science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language teachers;

(6) how the program will prepare participants to assume leadership roles in their schools;

(7) how teachers (or science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language professionals) who are members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages and teachers from schools determined by the partnership to be most in need will be encouraged to apply for and participate in the program;

(8) the ongoing activities and services that will be provided to graduates of the program;

(9) how the partnership will continue the activities assisted under the grant when the grant period ends;

(10) how the partnership will assess, during the program, the content knowledge and teaching skills of the program participants; and

(11) methods to ensure applicants to the masters degree program for professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language demonstrate advanced knowledge in the relevant subject.

(c) Authorized activities
Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to develop and implement a 2- or 3-year part-time masters degree program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education for teachers in order to enhance the teachers content knowledge and teaching skills, or programs for professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language that lead to a 1-year masters degree in teaching that results in teacher certification. The program shall

(1) promote effective teaching skills so that program participants become more effective science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language teachers;

(2) prepare teachers to assume leadership roles in their schools by participating in activities such as teacher mentoring, development of curricula that integrate state of the art applications of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language into the classroom, working with school administrators in establishing in-service professional development of teachers, and assisting in evaluating data and assessments to improve student academic achievement;

(3) use high-quality research, laboratory, or internship experiences for program participants that are integrated with coursework;

(4) provide student teaching or clinical classroom experience;

(5) if implementing a program in which participants are prepared to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language courses, provide strategies for improving student literacy;

(6) align the content knowledge in the masters degree program with challenging student academic achievement standards and challenging academic content standards established by the State in which the program is conducted;

(7) encourage the participation of

(A) individuals who are members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages;

(B) members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning to civilian life; and

(8) offer tuition assistance, based on need, as appropriate;

(9) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers that improves the science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and critical foreign language content knowledge and teaching skills of such teachers; and

(10) evaluate and report on the impact of the program, in accordance with subsection (d).

(d) Evaluation and report
Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall evaluate, using measurable objectives and benchmarks, and provide an annual report to the Secretary regarding, the extent to which the program assisted under this section succeeded in the following:

(1) Increasing the number and percentage of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language teachers who have a masters degree and meet 1 or more of the following requirements:

(A) Are teaching in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need, and taught in such schools prior to participation in the program.

(B) Are teaching in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need, and did not teach in such schools prior to participation in the program.

(C) Are members of a group underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language.

(2) Bringing professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language into the field of teaching.

(3) Retaining teachers who participate in the program.

20 USC 9815 - General provisions

(a) Duration of grants
The Secretary shall award each grant under this part for a period of not more than 5 years.

(b) Matching requirement
Each eligible recipient that receives a grant under this part shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant.

(c) Supplement, not supplant
Grant funds provided under this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal or State funds.

(d) Evaluation
From amounts made available for any fiscal year under section 9816 of this title, the Secretary shall reserve such sums as may be necessary

(1) to provide for the conduct of an annual independent evaluation, by grant or by contract, of the activities assisted under this part, which shall include an assessment of the impact of the activities on student academic achievement; and

(2) to prepare and submit an annual report on the results of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives.

20 USC 9816 - Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section^[1] $276,200,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years, of which

(1) $151,200,000 shall be available to carry out section 9813 of this title for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year; and

(2) $125,000,000 shall be available to carry out section 9814 of this title for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.

[1] So in original. Probably should be “this part”.