A bill to provide assistance for rural school districts, and for other purposes.

Summary: Rural Teacher Retention Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a five-year pilot program of making allotments to applicant rural local educational agencies for: (1) one-time signing bonuses of up to $2,000 for teachers who begin employment with them on or after enactment of this Act; and (2) bonuses of up to $3,000 to qualified teachers who work in them for at least three consecutive years (or nonconsecutive years under certain circumstances).

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Teacher Retention Act of 
2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) More than 8,000,000 children, representing 21 percent 
        of all public school children in the United States, attend 
        public schools in rural areas.
            (2) There are 24,123 public schools in rural areas of the 
        United States, representing 31 percent of all public schools.
            (3) More than 400,000 educators, or 31 percent of all 
        public school teachers, teach in rural schools.
            (4) Rural school teachers earn approximately 14 percent 
        less than their counterparts in other regions.
            (5) Despite lower salaries, rural school teachers typically 
        teach multiple subjects and perform their jobs with fewer 
        resources than their counterparts in other regions.
            (6) One of the most critical challenges facing rural school 
        districts is in attracting and retaining qualified teachers.
            (7) Rural school districts tend to have higher teacher 
        turnover rates than school districts in other regions.
            (8) High teacher turnover has a negative impact on student 
        performance, school district performance, and the ability of 
        teachers to become highly qualified.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Rural local educational agency.--The term ``rural local 
        educational agency'' means a local educational agency that--
                    (A) is described in section 6211(b) or 6221(b)(1) 
                of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 7345(b) and 7351(b)(1)); and
                    (B) has experienced a teacher turnover rate of not 
                less than 5 percent of all the teachers teaching in 
                schools served by the agency in any of the 3 years 
                preceding the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--From funds appropriated under section 5, the 
Secretary shall make an allotment to each rural local educational 
agency having an application approved under subsection (b) according to 
a formula based on the number of students in average daily attendance 
(as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) in the schools served by the rural local 
educational agency.
    (b) Application.--A rural local educational agency that desires to 
receive an allotment under subsection (a) shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--A rural local educational agency that 
        receives an allotment under this section shall use the funds 
        for the following:
                    (A) Provide one-time signing bonuses of not more 
                than $2,000 to teachers who commence employment with 
                the rural local educational agency on or after the date 
                of enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Provide bonuses of not more than $3,000 to 
                qualified teachers who work in the rural local 
                educational agency for not less than 3 consecutive 
                years (except as provided in paragraph (2)).
            (2) Exception from consecutive service.--The 3 year period 
        of service working in the rural local educational agency 
        provided under paragraph (1)(B) may be nonconsecutive if the 
        break in service is due to the qualified teacher taking leave 
        from the rural local educational agency and such leave is--
                    (A) in compliance with the Family and Medical Leave 
                Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611); or
                    (B) due to the qualified teacher being called or 
                ordered to active duty as a member of the National 
                Guard or other reserve component of the Armed Forces of 
                the United States, or a member of such Armed Forces in 
                a retired status.
            (3) Consideration.--In determining the provision of bonuses 
        under paragraph (1), a rural local educational agency shall 
        consider such factors as the need for teachers in certain 
        subjects, the value that a teacher brings to the agency, 
        teacher performance and qualifications, and the unique needs of 
        the agency.
            (4) Only one bonus in one year.--A teacher may receive only 
        1 bonus pursuant to this Act during a calendar year.
    (d) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out this section as a 
pilot program for a 5-year period.
    (e) Relation to Other Federal Education Programs.--Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
affect the eligibility for assistance or the amount of assistance 
otherwise available under any other Federal education program for a 
rural local educational agency that receives an allotment under this 
section or a teacher who receives a bonus pursuant to this section.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal year 2007 and 2008.