(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.
(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;
(C) employ strategies grounded in the disciplines of teaching and learning that
(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.