Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998

SECTION 1. TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

    (a) Future Math and Science Teacher Recruitment.--Title V of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1102 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new part:

         ``PART G--FUTURE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER RECRUITMENT

``SEC. 599A. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This part may be cited as the `Recruit and 
Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998'.
    ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) United States high school students rank 12th and 
        19th, respectively, in science and math out of 25 countries.
            ``(2) Of United States high school students who take 
        physical science and math courses, 48 percent and 49 percent, 
        respectively, are taught by teachers who did not prepare in 
        that field.
            ``(3) Teachers' knowledge and skills powerfully influence 
        student learning.
            ``(4) More than 2,000,000 teachers will need to be hired 
        over the next decade.
            ``(5) The ability of the United States to place highly 
        qualified math and science teachers specializing in their field 
        of instruction will depend on proactive policies that increase 
        funding for teacher training, recruitment, and induction.

``SEC. 599B. PURPOSE; APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part to make available, 
through a pilot program, 500 scholarship grants and stipends to 
outstanding students enrolled in a nationally accredited teacher 
training graduate program who are committed to pursuing careers 
teaching math and science at an urban or rural secondary level 
classroom.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part $5,000,000 in each of the fiscal 
years 1999, 2000, and 2001.

``SEC. 599C. SCHOLARSHIP DESIGNATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA.

    ``(a) Scholarship Designation.--Funds made available under this 
part shall be designated as the `National Math and Science Teacher 
Scholarships'.
    ``(b) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary of Education may award 
funds for National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships on a 
competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with 
graduate programs in teacher training. The Secretary may not provide 
any individual higher education institution more than $100,000 per 
academic year for the purpose of the National Math and Science Teacher 
Scholarships. An institution applying for such Scholarships may only be 
eligible to receive funds if such institution--
            ``(1) meets nationally accredited teacher training graduate 
        program standards; or
            ``(2) demonstrates to the Secretary that at least 90 
        percent of the graduates of such a graduate teacher training 
        program take, and on their first attempt pass, the State 
        teacher qualification assessments for new teachers.

``SEC. 599D. INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.

    ``An individual may be eligible for a National Math and Science 
Teacher Scholarship only if such individual--
            ``(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or an 
        alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent 
        residence;
            ``(2) is majoring in a physical or life science or 
        mathematics graduate teacher training program;
            ``(3) is enrolled in a higher education institution that--
                    ``(A) meets nationally accredited teacher training 
                graduate program standards; or
                    ``(B) demonstrates to the Secretary that at least 
                90 percent of the graduates of such a graduate teacher 
                training program who enter the field of teaching take, 
                and on their first attempt pass, the State teacher 
                qualification assessments for new teachers; and
            ``(4) is willing to be teacher certified or licensed and 
        commit themselves to teaching math or science in a rural or 
        urban public secondary school for no less than 3 full academic 
        years.

``SEC. 599E. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.

    ``(a) Amount of Award.--The amount of scholarship awarded by 
participating teacher training graduate programs under this part for 
any academic year shall be $10,000 per student.
    ``(b) Assistance Not To Exceed Cost of Attendance.--No individual 
shall receive an award under this part in any academic year which 
exceeds the cost of attendance. A scholarship awarded under this part 
shall not be reduced on the basis of the student's receipt of other 
forms of Federal student financial assistance, but shall be taken into 
account in determining the eligibility of the student for those forms 
of Federal student financial assistance.

``SEC. 599F. AGREEMENT; GRANT AND STIPEND REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Agreement.--Recipients of the National Math and Science 
Teachers Scholarships shall agree to teach in an urban or rural public 
secondary school for no less than 3 full academic years.
    ``(b) Repayment for Failure To Fulfill Agreement.--Any recipients 
of a Scholarship found by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the 
agreement entered into under subsection (a) of this section shall be 
required to repay a pro rata amount of the scholarship awards received, 
plus interest and, where applicable, reasonable collection fees, on a 
schedule and at a rate of interest prescribed by the Secretary by 
regulations.

``SEC. 599G. EXCEPTIONS TO REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.

    ``An individual recipient of a Scholarship under this part shall 
not be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant 
to section 599F during any period in which the recipient--
            ``(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study in math and 
        science at an accredited institution;
            ``(2) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of 
        the armed services of the United States;
            ``(3) is totally disabled for a period of time not to 
        exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified 
        physician;
            ``(4) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment 
        for a single period not to exceed 12 months;
            ``(5) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as 
        a math and science teacher in a public or private nonprofit 
        elementary or secondary school or education program for a 
        single period not to exceed 27 months; or
            ``(6) satisfies the provision of additional repayment 
        exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary in 
        regulations issued pursuant to this section.

``SEC. 599H. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``On or before January 29, 2002, the Secretary of Education shall 
submit a report to Congress evaluating the success of the National Math 
and Science Teacher Scholarships pilot program in recruiting math and 
science teachers to teach in America's public secondary schools.''.

Summary: Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 1998 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a pilot program for recruitment and training of future secondary school mathematics and science teachers. Makes available 500 scholarship grants and stipends to outstanding students enrolled in nationally accredited teacher training graduate programs who are committed to pursuing such careers in secondary school mathematics and science teaching. Authorized appropriations. Designates funds under this Act as National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award funds for such scholarships on a competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with graduate programs in teacher training. Limits the amount of such funds in any academic year which may be awarded to any individual higher education institution. Requires such institutions to: (1) meet nationally accredited teacher training graduate program standards. Or (2) demonstrate to the Secretary that at least 90 percent of the graduates of the graduate teacher training program take, and on their first attempt pass, the State teacher qualification assessments for new teachers. Sets forth eligibility requirements for individual scholarships. Limits the scholarship amount per student to $10,000 per academic year. Requires scholarship recipients to agree to teach in an urban or rural public secondary school for at least three full academic years, or repay the pro rata amount of awards received, plus interest, for any failure to fulfill such obligation. Sets forth exceptions to such repayment requirements.