Reaching English Learners Act

Summary: Reaching English Learners Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program for preparing teachers to effectively instruct English learners. Grants may be awarded for up to five years.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reaching English Learners Act''.

SEC. 2. TEACHING ENGLISH LEARNERS GRANT.

    Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1031 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

              ``Subpart 6--Teaching English Learners Grant

``SEC. 259. TEACHING ENGLISH LEARNERS GRANT.

    ``(a) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary shall award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to improve the 
preparation of teacher candidates to ensure that such teacher 
candidates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively 
instruct English learners.
    ``(b) Duration of Grants.--A grant under this section shall be 
awarded for a period of not more than 5 years.
    ``(c) Non-Federal Share.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
grant under this section shall provide not less than 25 percent of the 
cost of the activities carried out with such grant from non-Federal 
sources, which may be provided in cash or in kind.
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to--
            ``(1) develop or strengthen an undergraduate, 
        postbaccalaureate, or master's teacher preparation program by 
        integrating strategies for teaching English learners into the 
        education curriculum and academic content;
            ``(2) provide teacher candidates participating in a program 
        under paragraph (1) with skills related to--
                    ``(A) helping English learners--
                            ``(i) achieve at high levels in 
                        prekindergarten programs, and elementary 
                        schools and secondary schools so such English 
                        learners can meet the challenging State 
                        academic standards adopted under section 
                        1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)) by 
                        the State of the school attended by the English 
                        learners, which all children in the State are 
                        expected to meet; and
                            ``(ii) attain English proficiency;
                    ``(B) appropriately identifying and meeting the 
                specific learning needs of children with disabilities 
                who are English learners;
                    ``(C) recognizing and addressing the social and 
                emotional needs of English learners; and
                    ``(D) promoting parental, family, and community 
                engagement in educational programs that serve English 
                learners;
            ``(3) provide work-based learning opportunities for teacher 
        candidates participating in the program; and
            ``(4) provide teacher candidates with the required 
        coursework to qualify for an English-as-a-second-language 
        endorsement or initial teaching credential, as recognized by 
        the State of the eligible partnership.
    ``(e) Application.--An eligible partnership seeking a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a self-assessment by the eligible partnership of the 
        existing teacher preparation program at the institution of 
        higher education and the needs related to preparing teacher 
        candidates to instruct English learners in the manner described 
        in subsection (d)(2); and
            ``(2) a self-assessment by the eligible partnership of the 
        personnel needs for teachers who instruct English learners at 
        local, public prekindergarten programs, and elementary schools 
        and secondary schools.
    ``(f) Evaluations.--
            ``(1) Report from eligible partnerships.--An eligible 
        partnership receiving a grant under this section shall submit 
        to the Secretary the results of an evaluation conducted by the 
        partnership at the end of the grant period to determine--
                    ``(A) the effectiveness of teachers who completed a 
                program under subsection (d)(1) with respect to 
                instruction of English learners; and
                    ``(B) the systemic impact of the activities carried 
                out by such grant on how such partnership prepares 
                teachers to provide instruction in prekindergarten 
                programs, and elementary schools and secondary schools.
            ``(2) Report from the secretary.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the last day of the grant period under this section, the 
        Secretary shall make available to the authorizing committees 
        and the public--
                    ``(A) the findings of the evaluations submitted 
                under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) information on best practices related to 
                effective instruction of English learners.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Child with a disability.--The term `child with a 
        disability' has the meaning given the term in section 602 of 
        the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1401).
            ``(2) Eligible institution of higher education.--The term 
        `eligible institution of higher education' means an institution 
        of higher education that has a program of study--
                    ``(A) that leads to an undergraduate degree, a 
                master's degree, or completion of a postbaccalaureate 
                program required for teacher certification; and
                    ``(B) the graduates of which meet the applicable 
                State certification and licensure requirements, 
                including any requirements for certification obtained 
                through alternative routes to certification.
            ``(3) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
        partnership' means an eligible institution of higher education 
        in partnership with a high-need local educational agency.
            ``(4) English learner.--The term `English learner' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(5) Work-based learning.--The term `work-based learning' 
        means learning involving sustained interactions with teachers 
        and English learners at public prekindergarten programs, or 
        elementary schools or secondary schools, to the extent 
        practicable, or simulated environments at the eligible 
        institution of higher education involved, that foster in-depth, 
        first-hand engagement with tasks required of a teacher 
        providing instruction to English learners.''.