To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to State and local educational agencies to pay such agencies for one-half of the salary of a teacher who uses approved sabbatical leave to pursue a course of study that will improve his or her classroom teaching.

Summary: Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to State and local educational agencies to pay for one-half of the salaries of teachers who use approved sabbatical leave to pursue courses of study to improve their classroom teaching. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE USE OF SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR PROFESSIONAL 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 2212. GRANTS FOR SALARY DURING SABBATICAL LEAVE.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may make grants to State 
educational agencies and local educational agencies to pay such 
agencies for one-half of the amount of the salary that otherwise would 
be earned by an eligible teacher described in subsection (b), if, in 
lieu of fulfilling the teacher's ordinary teaching assignment, the 
teacher completes a course of study described in subsection (c) during 
a sabbatical term described in subsection (d).
    ``(b) Eligible Teachers.--An eligible teacher described in this 
subsection is a teacher who--
            ``(1) is employed by an agency receiving a grant under this 
        section to provide classroom instruction to children at an 
        elementary or secondary school that provides free public 
        education;
            ``(2) has secured from such agency, and any other person or 
        agency whose approval is required under State law, approval to 
        take sabbatical leave for a sabbatical term described in 
        subsection (d);
            ``(3) has submitted to the agency an application for a 
        subgrant at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the agency may require, including--
                    ``(A) written proof--
                            ``(i) of the approval described in 
                        paragraph (2); and
                            ``(ii) of the teacher's having been 
                        accepted for enrollment in a course of study 
                        described in subsection (c); and
                    ``(B) assurances that the teacher--
                            ``(i) will notify the agency in writing 
                        within a reasonable time if the teacher 
                        terminates enrollment in the course of study 
                        described in subsection (c) for any reason;
                            ``(ii) in the discretion of the agency, 
                        will reimburse to the agency some or all of the 
                        amount of the subgrant if the teacher fails to 
                        complete the course of study; and
                            ``(iii) otherwise will provide the agency 
                        with proof of having completed such course of 
                        study not later than 60 days after such 
                        completion; and
                    ``(4) has been selected by the agency to receive a 
                subgrant based on the agency's plan for meeting its 
                classroom needs.
    ``(c) Course of Study.--A course of study described in this 
subsection is a course of study at an institution of higher education 
that--
            ``(1) requires not less than one academic semester and not 
        more than one academic year to complete;
            ``(2) is open for enrollment for professional development 
        purposes to an eligible teacher described in subsection (b); 
        and
            ``(3) is designed to improve the classroom teaching of such 
        teachers through academic and child development studies.
    ``(d) Sabbatical Term.--A sabbatical term described in this 
subsection is a leave of absence from teaching duties granted to an 
eligible teacher for not less than one academic semester and not more 
than one academic year, during which period the teacher receives--
            ``(1) one-half of the amount of the salary that otherwise 
        would be earned by the teacher, if the teacher had not been 
        granted a leave of absence, from State or local funds made 
        available by a State educational agency or a local educational 
        agency; and
            ``(2) one-half of such amount from Federal funds received 
        by such agency through a grant under this section.
    ``(e) Payments.--
            ``(1) To eligible teachers.--In making a subgrant to an 
        eligible teacher under this section, a State educational agency 
        or a local educational agency shall agree to pay the teacher, 
        for tax and administrative purposes, as if the teacher's 
        regular employment and teaching duties had not been suspended.
            ``(2) Repayment of secretary.--A State educational agency 
        or a local educational agency receiving a grant under this 
        section shall agree to pay over to the Secretary the Federal 
        share of any amount recovered by the agency pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii).
    ``(f) Funding.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, there 
are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2001 through 2004. Such 
sums shall be in addition to the amount authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this part under section 2003.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect beginning with fiscal year 2000.