To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize the Alternate Routes to Teacher Certification and Licensure program.

Summary: Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification and Licensure Act of 2001 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish, as a new title VIII, the Alternate Routes to Teacher Certification and Licensure program. Directs the Secretary of Education to allot grants to States to develop and implement programs for alternative routes to teacher certification or licensure requirements in order to increase the supply of well-qualified elementary school and secondary school teachers, with special emphasis on participation of minority group members.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Alternative Routes to Teacher 
Certification and Licensure Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM REAUTHORIZED.

    The Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after 
title VII (20 U.S.C. 1133 et seq.) the following new title:

``TITLE VIII--ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE

``SEC. 801. FINDINGS.

    ``The Congress finds that--
            ``(1) effective elementary and secondary schools require 
        competent teachers and strong leadership;
            ``(2) school systems would benefit greatly by increasing 
        the pool of qualified individuals from which to recruit 
        teachers;
            ``(3) many talented professionals who have demonstrated a 
        high level of subject area competence outside the education 
        profession may wish to pursue careers in education, but have 
        not fulfilled the requirements to be certified or licensed as 
        teachers;
            ``(4) alternative routes can enable qualified individuals 
        to fulfill State certification or licensure requirements and 
        would allow school systems to utilize the expertise of such 
        professionals and improve the pool of qualified individuals 
        available to local educational agencies as teachers; and
            ``(5) alternative routes to certification or licensure 
        requirements that do not exclude qualified individuals from 
        teaching solely because such individuals do not meet 
        traditional certification or licensure requirements would allow 
        school systems to take advantage of these professionals and 
        improve the supply of well-qualified teachers.

``SEC. 802. 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 or licensure requirements. Such 
programs shall place special emphasis on the participation of 
individuals who are members of minority groups.

``SEC. 803. ALLOTMENTS.

    ``(a) Allotments to States.--
            ``(1) In general.--From the amount appropriated to carry 
        out this title, the Secretary shall allot to each State the 
        lesser of either the amount the State applies for under section 
        556 or an amount that is proportional to the State's share of 
        the total population of children ages 5 through 17 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 its 
        allotment, or the full amount of its allotment, under the 
        preceding paragraph, the Secretary may reallocate the excess 
        funds to one or more other States that demonstrate, to the 
        satisfaction of the Secretary, a current need for the funds.
    ``(b) Special Rule.--Notwithstanding section 412(b) of the General 
Education Provisions Act, 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. 804. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Any State desiring to receive a grant 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; 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 where 
                        applicable);
                            ``(ii) elementary and secondary school 
                        teachers, including representatives of their 
                        professional organizations;
                            ``(iii) institutions of higher education 
                        with schools or departments of education;
                            ``(iv) parents; and
                            ``(v) other interested organizations and 
                        individuals; and
                    ``(C) the State educational agency will 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.
    ``(c) GEPA Provisions Inapplicable.--Sections 435 and 436 of the 
General Education Provisions Act, except to the extent that such 
sections relate to fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, shall 
not apply to this title.

``SEC. 805. USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State educational agency shall use 
        assistance provided under this title to support programs, 
        projects, or activities that develop and implement new, or 
        expand and improve existing, programs that enable individuals 
        to move to a career in education from another occupation 
        through an alternative route to teacher certification or 
        licensure.
            ``(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, intermediate educational agencies, institutions of 
        higher education, or consortia of such agencies.
    ``(b) Uses.--Funds received under this title may be used 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 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 requirements for 
        certification or licensure;
            ``(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; 
        and
            ``(6) other appropriate programs, projects, and activities 
        designed to meet the objectives of this title.

``SEC. 806. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and each of the 3 succeeding fiscal 
years.''.