Student and Teachers Excellence in Education Act

Summary: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I:  Tax Incentives for Teachers 
     Title II:  Other Incentives for Teachers 
Student and Teachers Excellence in Education Act - 
Title I:  Tax Incentives for Teachers
 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable tax credit of $2,000 (pro rated if appropriate) for full-time elementary and secondary public school teachers. 
(Sec. 102) Allows tax deductions of up to $2,000 for the expenses paid by elementary and secondary public school teachers in connection with receiving accreditation from National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 
Title II:  Other Incentives for Teachers
 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for cancellation of student loans for public elementary and secondary school teachers, under the Federal Family Education Loan program and the direct student loan program, with rates of discharge based on one to three years of teaching service. 
(Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies that have improved student achievement in mathematics and English as demonstrated by improved national standardized test results of students completing the 4th, 8th, and 12th grades.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 203) Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide for teacher technology training.  Requires professional development activities to include instruction in the use of technology.  Adds technology to the list of core subject areas for the National Teacher Training Project grants program (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program).  Requires local plans for improving teaching and learning to include descriptions of how their core subject area programs will incorporate technologies which meet the educational needs of individuals who are from historically underrepresented groups, or are economically disadvantaged, or have limited English language abilities, or have disabilities.  Requires authorized professional development activities to incorporate effective technology for meeting the educational needs of diverse groups of students.  Includes technological innovation as a higher education activity to improve teacher education programs. 
(Sec. 204) Expresses the sense of Congress that:  (1) local educational agencies should use national standardized tests to evaluate student performance in mathematics and English at the end of each school year; and (2) schools should end social promotion of students to the next grade level.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Student and Teachers Excellence in 
Education Act''.

                  TITLE I--TAX INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS

SEC. 101. NONREFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PUBLIC 
              SCHOOL TEACHERS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable 
personal credits) is amended by inserting after section 25A the 
following new section:

``SEC. 25B. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual who is an 
eligible elementary or secondary public school teacher, there shall be 
allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for a 
taxable year an amount equal to the full-time teaching amount.
    ``(b) Full-Time Teaching Amount.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
        full-time teaching amount is the amount equal to----
                    ``(A) $2,000, multiplied by
                    ``(B) the fraction--
                            ``(i) the numerator of which is the number 
                        of months credited with full-time teaching, and
                            ``(ii) the denominator of which is 9.
            ``(2) Special rules.--For purposes of paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) a month is credited with full-time teaching 
                if the teacher is teaching in at least one of the 
                grades K through 12 on a full-time basis for more than 
                half of the business days in such month, and
                    ``(B) not more than 9 months of a taxable year 
                shall be taken into account under paragraph 
                (1)(B)(i).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 25A the following new 
item:

                              ``Sec. 25B. Elementary and secondary 
                                        public school teachers.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.

SEC. 102. DEDUCTIONS FOR EXPENSES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PUBLIC 
              SCHOOL TEACHERS BECOMING ACCREDITED FROM NATIONAL BOARD 
              FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 62 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to definition of adjusted gross income) 
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph:
            ``(18) National board for professional teaching standards 
        accreditation.--In the case of an individual who is an eligible 
        elementary or secondary public school teacher (as defined in 
        section 25B), the deductions (not to exceed $2,000) allowed by 
        section 162 which consist of expenses paid by the taxpayer in 
        connection with receiving accreditation from the National Board 
        for Professional Teaching Standards.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.

                TITLE II--OTHER INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS

SEC. 201. CANCELLATION OF STUDENT LOANS FOR TEACHERS.

    (a) FFEL Loans.--Section 437 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 101087) amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking out the period at 
        the end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon and 
        ``loan forgiveness for teaching.'';
            (2) by amending the heading for subsection (c) to read as 
        follows: ``Discharge Related to School Closure or False 
        Certification.--''; and
            (3) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(e) Cancellation of Loans for Teaching.--
            ``(1) Functions of secretary.--The Secretary shall 
        discharge the liability of a borrower of a qualifying loan by 
        repaying the amount owed on the loan, to the extent specified 
        in paragraph (4), for service described in paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Qualifying loans.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, 
                a loan is a qualifying loan if--
                            ``(i) the loan was made under section 428 
                        on or after the date of enactment of the Higher 
                        Education Amendments of 1998 to a borrower who, 
                        on the date of entering into the note or other 
                        written evidence of the loan, had no 
                        outstanding balance of principal or interest on 
                        any loan made before such date; and
                            ``(ii) the loan was obtained to cover the 
                        cost of instruction for an academic year after 
                        the first and second year of undergraduate 
                        education.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may not repay 
                loans described in subparagraph (A) to cover the costs 
                of instruction for more than two academic years, or 
                three academic years in the case of a program of 
                instruction normally requiring five years.
                    ``(C) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan 
                made under section 428C may be a qualifying loan for 
                the purposes of this subsection only to the extent that 
                such loan was used to repay a loan or loans that meet 
                the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B), as 
                determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by 
                the Secretary.
            ``(3) Qualifying service.--A loan shall be discharged under 
        paragraph (1) for service by the borrower as a full-time 
        teacher for each complete academic year of service, after 
        completion of the second academic year of service, in a public 
        elementary or secondary school.
            ``(4) Rate of discharge.--(A) Loans shall be discharged 
        under this subsection at the rate of--
                    ``(i) 30 percent for the first or second complete 
                academic year of qualifying service as described in 
                paragraph (3) (after completion of two years of 
                service); and
                    ``(ii) 40 percent for the third complete year of 
                such qualifying service.
            ``(B) The total amount that may be discharged under this 
        subsection for any borrower shall not exceed $17,750.
            ``(C) If a portion of a loan is discharged under 
        subparagraph (A) for any year, the entire amount of interest on 
        that loan that accrues for that year shall also be discharged 
        by the Secretary.
            ``(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
        authorize refunding of any repayment of a loan.
            ``(5) Limitation on teacher eligibility.--
                    ``(A) Secondary school teachers.--A borrower may 
                not receive assistance under this subsection by virtue 
                of teaching in a secondary school unless such borrower 
                majored in the subject area in which they are teaching.
                    ``(B) Elementary school teachers.--A borrower may 
                not receive assistance under this subsection by virtue 
                of teaching in a elementary school unless such borrower 
                demonstrates, in accordance with State teacher 
                certification or licensing requirements, subject matter 
                knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, 
                mathematics, and other subjects taught in elementary 
                schools.
            ``(6) Prevention of double benefits.--No borrower may, for 
        the same service, receive a benefit under both this subsection 
        and subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service 
        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
            ``(7) Method of payment.--The Secretary shall specify in 
        regulations the manner in which lenders shall be reimbursed for 
        loans made under this part, or portions thereof, that are 
        discharged under this subsection.
            ``(8) List.--If the list of schools in which a teacher may 
        perform service pursuant to paragraph (3) is not available 
        before May 1 of any year, the Secretary may use the list for 
        the year preceding the year for which the determination is made 
        to make such service determination.
            ``(9) Continuing eligibility.--Any teacher who performs 
        service in a school which--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of paragraph (3) in 
                any year during such service; and
                    ``(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the 
                requirements of such subsection,
        may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for 
        loan cancellation pursuant to this subsection with respect to 
        such subsequent years.''.
    (b) Direct Student Loans.--Part D of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 455 (20 
U.S.C. 1087h) the following new section:

``SEC. 459. CANCELLATION OF LOANS FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICE.

    ``(a) Cancellation of Percentage of Debt Based on Years of 
Qualifying Service.--
            ``(1) Functions of secretary.--The percent specified in 
        paragraph (4) of the total amount of any qualifying loan shall 
        be canceled for each complete year of service by the borrower 
        described in paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Qualifying loans.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, 
                a loan is a qualifying loan if--
                            ``(i) the loan was a Federal Direct 
                        Stafford Loan made on or after the date of 
                        enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 
                        1998 to a borrower who, on the date of entering 
                        into the note or other written evidence of the 
                        loan, had no outstanding balance of principal 
                        or interest on any loan made before such date; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the loan was obtained to cover the 
                        cost of instruction for an academic year after 
                        the first and second year of undergraduate 
                        education.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may not repay 
                loans described in subparagraph (A) to cover the costs 
                of instruction for more than two academic years, or 
                three academic years in the case of a program of 
                instruction normally requiring five years.
                    ``(C) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A Federal 
                Direct Consolidation Loan may be a qualifying loan for 
                the purposes of this subsection only to the extent that 
                such loan was used to repay a loan or loans that meet 
                the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B), as 
                determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by 
                the Secretary.
            ``(3) Qualifying service.--A loan shall be canceled under 
        paragraph (1) for service by the borrower as a full-time 
        teacher for each complete academic year of service, after 
        completion of the second academic year of service, in a public 
        elementary or secondary school.
            ``(4) Percentage of cancellation.--(A) The percent of a 
        loan which shall be canceled under paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection is at the rate of--
                    ``(i) 30 percent for the first or second complete 
                academic year of qualifying service as described in 
                paragraph (3) (after completion of two years of 
                service); and
                    ``(ii) 40 percent for the third complete year of 
                such qualifying service.
            ``(B) The total amount that may be canceled under this 
        subsection for any borrower shall not exceed $17,750.
            ``(C) If a portion of a loan is canceled under this 
        subsection for any year, the entire amount of interest on such 
        loan which accrues for such year shall be canceled.
            ``(D) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
        authorize refunding of any repayment of a loan.
            ``(5) Limitation on teacher eligibility.--
                    ``(A) Secondary school teachers.--A borrower may 
                not receive assistance under this subsection by virtue 
                of teaching in a secondary school unless such borrower 
                majored in the subject area in which they are teaching.
                    ``(B) Elementary school teachers.--A borrower may 
                not receive assistance under this subsection by virtue 
                of teaching in a elementary school unless such borrower 
                demonstrates, in accordance with State teacher 
                certification or licensing requirements, subject matter 
                knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, 
                mathematics, and other subjects taught in elementary 
                schools.
            ``(6) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the 
        term `year' where applied to service as a teacher means an 
        academic year as defined by the Secretary.
            ``(7) Prevention of double benefits.--No borrower may, for 
        the same volunteer service, receive a benefit under both this 
        section and subtitle D of title I of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
    ``(b)  Special Rules.--
            ``(1) List.--If the list of schools in which a teacher may 
        perform service pursuant to subsection (a)(3) is not available 
        before May 1 of any year, the Secretary may use the list for 
        the year preceding the year for which the determination is made 
        to make such service determination.
            ``(2) Continuing eligibility.--Any teacher who performs 
        service in a school which--
                    ``(A) meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3) 
                in any year during such service; and
                    ``(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the 
                requirements of such subsection,
        may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for 
        loan cancellation pursuant to subsection (a)(1) with respect to 
        such subsequent years.''.

SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN MATH, EDUCATION, AND SCIENCE.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to provide 
grants to local educational agencies that have improved student 
achievement in mathematics and English as demonstrated by improved 
national standardized test results of students completing the 4th, 8th, 
and 12th grades.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a local educational agency shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time and in such form as the Secretary may reasonable 
require.
    (c) Requirements.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, by notice issued in the 
Federal Register, establish any requirements necessary to implement 
this section.
    (d) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Education.
    (e) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999 
through 2004.

SEC. 203. TEACHER TECHNOLOGY TRAINING.

    (a) Statement of Purpose for Title I.--Section 1001(d)(4) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301(d)(4)) 
is amended by inserting ``, giving attention to the role technology can 
play in professional development and improved teaching and learning'' 
before the semicolon.
    (b) School Improvement.--Section 1116(c)(3) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
6317(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(D) In carrying out professional development under this 
        paragraph a school shall give attention to professional 
        development that incorporates technology used to improve 
        teaching and learning.''.
    (c) Professional Development.--Section 1119(b) of such Act (20 
U.S.C. 6320(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) include instruction in the use of 
                technology.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (D); and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (I) 
                as subparagraphs (D) through (H), respectively.
    (d) Purposes for Title II.--Section 2002(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
6602(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) uses technology to enhance the teaching and 
                learning process.''.
    (e) National Teacher Training Project.--Section 2103(b)(2) of such 
Act (20 U.S.C. 6623(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(J) Technology.''.
    (f) Local Plan for Improving Teaching and Learning.--Section 
2208(d)(1)(F) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 6648(d)(1)(F)) is amended by 
inserting ``, technologies,'' after ``strategies''.
    (g) Authorized Activities.--Section 2210(b)(2)(C) of such Act (20 
U.S.C. 6650(b)(2)(C)) is amended by striking ``and practices'' and 
inserting ``practices, and technology''.
    (h) Higher Education Activities.--Section 2211(a)(1)(C) of such Act 
(20 U.S.C. 6651(a)(1)(C)) is amended by inserting ``, including 
technological innovation,'' after ``innovation''.

SEC. 204. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) local educational agencies should use national 
        standardized tests to evaluate student performance in 
        mathematics and English at the end of each school year; and
            (2) schools should end social promotion of students to the 
        next grade level.