To award competitive grants to minority serving institutions to establish centers of excellence for teacher education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Teacher Diversity Act''.

SEC. 2. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                    ``PART C--CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

``SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS.

    ``As used in this part:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means--
                    ``(A) an institution of higher education that has a 
                teacher preparation program that meets the requirements 
                of section 203(b)(2) and that is--
                            ``(i) a part B institution (as defined in 
                        section 322);
                            ``(ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as 
                        defined in section 502);
                            ``(iii) a Tribal College or University (as 
                        defined in section 316);
                            ``(iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b)); or
                            ``(v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b));
                    ``(B) a consortium of institutions described in 
                subparagraph (A); or
                    ``(C) an institution described in subparagraph (A), 
                or a consortium described in subparagraph (B), in 
                partnership with any other institution of higher 
                education, but only if the center of excellence 
                established under section 232 is located at an 
                institution described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Highly qualified.--The term `highly qualified' when 
        used with respect to an individual means that the individual is 
        highly qualified as determined under section 9101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) 
        or section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).
            ``(3) Scientifically based reading research.--The term 
        `scientifically based reading research' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 1208 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368).
            ``(4) Scientifically based research.--The term 
        `scientifically based research' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

``SEC. 232. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated to carry 
out this part, the Secretary is authorized to award competitive grants 
to eligible institutions to establish centers of excellence.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Grants provided by the Secretary under this 
part shall be used to ensure that current and future teachers are 
highly qualified, by carrying out one or more of the following 
activities:
            ``(1) Implementing reforms within teacher preparation 
        programs to ensure that such programs are preparing teachers 
        who are highly qualified, are able to understand scientifically 
        based research, and are able to use advanced technology 
        effectively in the classroom, including use for instructional 
        techniques to improve student academic achievement, by--
                    ``(A) retraining faculty; and
                    ``(B) designing (or redesigning) teacher 
                preparation programs that--
                            ``(i) prepare teachers to close student 
                        achievement gaps, are based on rigorous 
                        academic content, scientifically based research 
                        (including scientifically based reading 
                        research), and challenging State student 
                        academic content standards; and
                            ``(ii) promote strong teaching skills.
            ``(2) Providing sustained and high-quality preservice 
        clinical experience, including the mentoring of prospective 
        teachers by exemplary teachers, substantially increasing 
        interaction between faculty at institutions of higher education 
        and new and experienced teachers, principals, and other 
        administrators at elementary schools or secondary schools, and 
        providing support, including preparation time, for such 
        interaction.
            ``(3) Developing and implementing initiatives to promote 
        retention of highly qualified teachers and principals, 
        including minority teachers and principals, including programs 
        that provide--
                    ``(A) teacher or principal mentoring from exemplary 
                teachers or principals; or
                    ``(B) induction and support for teachers and 
                principals during their first 3 years of employment as 
                teachers or principals, respectively.
            ``(4) Awarding scholarships based on financial need to help 
        students pay the costs of tuition, room, board, and other 
        expenses of completing a teacher preparation program.
            ``(5) Disseminating information on effective practices for 
        teacher preparation and successful teacher certification and 
        licensure assessment preparation strategies.
            ``(6) Activities authorized under sections 202, 203, and 
        204.
    ``(c) Application.--Any eligible institution desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such a 
time, in such a manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Minimum Grant Amount.--The minimum amount of each grant under 
this part shall be $500,000.
    ``(e) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--An eligible 
institution that receives a grant under this part may not use more than 
2 percent of the grant funds for purposes of administering the grant.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out this part.

``SEC. 233. APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There shall be available to the Secretary, from funds not 
otherwise appropriated, $50,000,000 for the period beginning with 
fiscal year 2008 and ending with fiscal year 2012, to carry out this 
part beginning with academic year 2008-2009, which shall remain 
available until expended. The authority to carry out this part shall 
expire at the end of fiscal year 2012.''.

Summary: Improving Teacher Diversity Act - Amends title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to certain minority-serving institutions of higher education (IHEs), or partnerships between such IHEs and other IHEs, to establish centers of excellence for teacher education. Requires the use of such grants to ensure that current and future teachers are highly qualified by: (1) reforming teacher preparation programs so that teachers are able to understand scientifically-based research and use advanced technology effectively in the classroom. (2) providing preservice clinical experience and mentoring to prospective teachers, and increased interaction between IHE faculty and new and experienced elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators. (3) implementing initiatives to promote the retention of highly qualified teachers and principals, (4) awarding need-based scholarships for students in teacher preparation programs, (5) disseminating information on effective teacher preparation practices, and (6) conducting certain other activities authorized under title II.