```

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4914 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4914

 To better support our early childhood educators and elementary school 
         and secondary school teachers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2018

 Mr. Norcross (for himself and Mr. Pascrell) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
 Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To better support our early childhood educators and elementary school 
         and secondary school teachers, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting the 
Teaching profession through Revitalizing Investments in Valuable 
Educators Act'' or the ``STRIVE Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) States identified significant teacher shortages in 
        their reports to the Department of Education during the 2015-
        2016 school year, with 48 States identifying shortages in 
        special education, 42 identifying teacher shortages in 
        mathematics, and 40 identifying teacher shortages in science. 
        One reason for the shortages in these areas is because 
        mathematics and science teachers can earn significantly higher 
        starting salaries in the private sector. Further, rural 
        communities face limitations in recruiting and retaining 
        teachers for reasons such as funding issues, limited teacher 
        supply, and geographic isolation.
            (2) Students in high-poverty and high-minority schools, 
        both urban and rural, typically feel the largest impact of 
        teacher shortages. These schools often experience difficulty 
        hiring and high turnover on a regular basis, and they are the 
        most severely affected when teacher shortages become 
        widespread. This happens, in part, because inequitable funding 
        of schools leaves many low-wealth urban and rural communities 
        with inadequate resources, so they must pay lower salaries and 
        typically have poorer working conditions.
            (3) According to a study by Mathematica, when high-
        performing teachers were offered large financial incentives to 
        transfer to low-performing schools, their students' scores 
        climbed 10 points in reading and 9 points in math compared to 
        students statewide over 2 years.
            (4) According to a survey conducted by Scholastic, 97 
        percent of teachers list supportive school leadership as 
        essential or very important for retaining strong teachers and 
        improving student achievement, more than any other factor.
            (5) Research suggests that incurring postsecondary 
        education debt can decrease the likelihood that high-achieving 
        students, lower-income students, and students of color choose 
        to work in lower-wage professions in general, especially in the 
        education system. Therefore, loan forgiveness and service 
        scholarships for teachers may be especially effective for 
        recruiting teachers and school leaders from diverse, lower-
        income backgrounds.
            (6) According to the Learning Policy Institute, teacher 
        loan forgiveness and service scholarship programs can be 
        successful in both recruiting and retaining teachers. To be 
        effective, these programs should provide a financial benefit 
        that meaningfully offsets the cost of a teacher's professional 
        preparation. This includes covering licensing and certification 
        costs.
            (7) A 2015 Government Accountability Office study of 
        Federal grant and loan forgiveness programs for teachers found 
        that the structure of these programs matters. Further research 
        shows effective loan forgiveness and service scholarship 
        programs follow 5 design principles. These programs--
                    (A) cover all or a large percentage of tuition;
                    (B) target high-need fields or schools, or both;
                    (C) recruit candidates who are academically strong, 
                committed to teaching, and well-prepared;
                    (D) commit recipients to teach with reasonable 
                incentives to fulfill their commitment; and
                    (E) are bureaucratically manageable for 
                participating teachers, local educational agencies, and 
                institutions of higher education.
            (8) The TEACH grant program under subpart 9 of part A of 
        title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g 
        et seq.) provides up to $16,000 in grants to prospective 
        teachers who agree to teach in low-income schools and high-need 
        subject areas for 4 years. This is far below the Department of 
        Education's most recent estimate of the average annual cost of 
        approximately $25,409 in tuition, fees, and room and board at 
        the average full-time undergraduate 4-year institution.
            (9) The National Center for Education Statistics found that 
        more than \2/3\ of the individuals entering the education field 
        borrow money to pay for their higher education. Teachers with a 
        bachelor's degree have an average debt of $20,000 and teachers 
        with a master's degree have an average debt of $50,000. 
        Teachers also start out earning 20 percent less than their 
        peers with comparable degrees who pursue jobs outside of 
        education. These compounding factors can disincentivize 
        prospective teachers from entering the profession.
            (10) In evaluating the TEACH grant program, the Government 
        Accountability Office found that almost \2/3\ of the requests 
        for assistance under the program from October 2011 through 
        March 2014 cited problems submitting certification paperwork. 
        The Government Accountability Office recommended improvements 
        in the program's design, including reducing burdensome annual 
        paperwork, increasing awareness about the program, and 
        streamlining the dispute process.
            (11) Spending by teachers on school supplies adds up to 
        $1,600,000,000 nationally. According to the Education Market 
        Association, most teachers spend around $500, with 10 percent 
        spending $1,000 or more.
            (12) Teacher quality partnerships are designed to 
        strengthen higher education-based teacher and school leader 
        preparation. Studies show that teachers who are better prepared 
        to enter the classroom stay longer and perform better than 
        their underprepared peers. Teacher quality partnerships also 
        fund programs like induction and mentoring that have been shown 
        to increase teacher and school leader retention. Research 
        indicates that the ongoing support for teachers provided by 
        teacher quality partnerships, including mentoring and coaching, 
        is an important part of early childhood education programs.
            (13) According to the Center for Education Data and 
        Research, a more diverse teaching workforce leads to better 
        student outcomes, particularly in high-poverty environments 
        with significant at-risk student populations. Further, 
        researchers from Vanderbilt University found that greater 
        racial and ethnic diversity in the principal corps benefits 
        students, especially children of color. Three commonly cited 
        rationales for this benefit are--
                    (A) students of color benefit from seeing minority 
                adult role models in a position of authority;
                    (B) the higher expectations that teachers of color 
                tend to place on students of color; and
                    (C) the effect of cultural differences between 
                teachers of different backgrounds on instructional 
                strategies and interpretation of students' behavior.
            (14) According to the report entitled ``Empowered 
        Educators: How Leading Nations Design Systems for Teaching 
        Quality'', effective teacher preparation successfully 
        integrates theory and practice components. Further, according 
        to the ``Preparing Teachers for a Changing World'' report 
        sponsored by the National Academy Foundation, highly effective 
        teachers vary in styles, yet have many teaching strategies in 
        common. Research has identified a set of knowledge, skills, and 
        dispositions essential for beginning teachers that should be 
        incorporated into the teacher education curriculum. This 
        includes the opportunity and capacity to reflect on and 
        evaluate skills and to learn from practice. Evidence-based 
        teacher preparation includes developing teacher skills, content 
        knowledge, inquiry, and the capacity to provide effective 
        learning experiences for a diverse set of students.
            (15) As it does in medicine, the Federal Government should 
        maintain a substantial, sustained program of service 
        scholarships or loan forgiveness programs that cover training 
        costs in high-quality preparation programs at the undergraduate 
        or graduate level for those who will teach in a high-need field 
        or location for at least 4 years, as candidates are much more 
        likely to remain in the profession and to make a difference for 
        student achievement after 3 years of teaching. State 
        governments can augment such an approach with programs targeted 
        to specific local needs.
            (16) Research has shown the impact cultural competence can 
        have on closing student achievement gaps and improving student 
        outcomes by incorporating racial and ethnic minority 
        contributions in curricula and diversifying pedagogical 
        practices. Cultural competence is both a moral and ethical 
        responsibility to create a welcoming environment for students 
        to succeed. The impact of having educators who have the ability 
        to challenge and motivate diverse student populations can 
        dramatically improve our educational system and student 
        outcomes.

 TITLE I--IMPROVING TEACHER SUPPORT UNDER THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                         EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

SEC. 101. MANDATORY FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS PREPARING, TRAINING, AND 
              RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, OR OTHER 
              SCHOOL LEADERS.

    Section 2003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6603) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``authorization of 
        appropriations'' and inserting ``funding''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Appropriations for Part A.--For fiscal year 2018 and each 
subsequent fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated, and 
there are appropriated, out of any funds not otherwise appropriated, 
$3,200,000,000.''.

              TITLE II--TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS AND GRANTS.

    (a) Repayment Plan for Qualifying Teachers.--
            (1) In general.--Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(r) Repayment Plan for Qualifying Teachers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall cancel a portion, in 
        accordance with paragraph (2), of the balance of interest and 
        principal due on any eligible Federal Direct Loan not in 
        default for a borrower who, in a 12-month time period--
                    ``(A) has made 12 consecutive on-time monthly 
                payments on the eligible Federal Direct Loan, in an 
                amount equal to or greater than the amount of payments 
                for the borrower under an income-based repayment plan 
                under section 493C (regardless of whether some or all 
                of those payments were made before the effective date 
                of the Supporting the Teaching profession through 
                Revitalizing Investments in Valuable Educators Act); 
                and
                    ``(B)(i) is employed in a qualifying teaching 
                position at the time of such forgiveness; and
                    ``(ii) has been employed in a qualifying teaching 
                position during the period in which the borrower made 
                each of the 12 payments described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Loan cancellation amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The portion to be cancelled 
                under this paragraph shall be--
                            ``(i) for each of--
                                    ``(I) the first 5 years that the 
                                borrower qualifies under paragraph (1), 
                                in the case of a borrower employed for 
                                such year in a full-time qualifying 
                                teaching position in the subject of 
                                English as a second language, science, 
                                technology, engineering, mathematics, 
                                special education, or career and 
                                technical education, 15 percent of the 
                                balance of principal and interest due 
                                on all of the eligible Federal Direct 
                                Loans of the borrower, as of the final 
                                day of that 1-year employment period; 
                                or
                                    ``(II) the first 6 years (or the 
                                equivalent calculated under 
                                subparagraph (B)(i)) that the borrower 
                                qualifies under paragraph (1)--
                                            ``(aa) in the case of a 
                                        borrower employed for such year 
                                        in a full-time qualifying 
                                        teaching position in a subject 
                                        that is not described in 
                                        subclause (I), 10 percent of 
                                        the balance of principal and 
                                        interest due on all of the 
                                        eligible Federal Direct Loans 
                                        of the borrower, as of the 
                                        final day of that 1-year 
                                        employment period; or
                                            ``(bb) in the case of a 
                                        borrower employed for such year 
                                        in a part-time qualifying 
                                        teaching position (regardless 
                                        of subject), 5 percent of the 
                                        balance of principal and 
                                        interest due on all of the 
                                        eligible Federal Direct Loans 
                                        of the borrower, as of the 
                                        final day of that 1-year 
                                        employment period; and
                            ``(ii) after the borrower has received 
                        partial loan cancellation described in clause 
                        (i)--
                                    ``(I) for 5 years, in the case of a 
                                borrower described in clause (i)(I), 
                                and then qualifies for loan 
                                cancellation under paragraph (1) for a 
                                sixth year, all of the borrower's 
                                remaining obligation to repay the 
                                balance of principal and interest due, 
                                as of the date of such calculation, on 
                                all of the eligible Federal Direct Loan 
                                made to a borrower; or
                                    ``(II) for 6 years (or the 
                                equivalent calculated under 
                                subparagraph (B)(i)), in the case of a 
                                borrower described in clause (i)(II), 
                                and then qualifies for loan 
                                cancellation under paragraph (1) for a 
                                seventh year (or the equivalent 
                                calculated under subparagraph (B)(ii)), 
                                all of the borrower's remaining 
                                obligation to repay the balance of 
                                principal and interest due, as of the 
                                date of such calculation, on all of the 
                                eligible Federal Direct Loan made to a 
                                borrower.
                    ``(B) Special rule regarding part-time teaching.--
                            ``(i) General rule.--In the case of a 
                        borrower who qualifies for loan cancellation 
                        under subparagraph (A) for one or more years 
                        through a part-time qualifying teaching 
                        position, the Secretary shall determine when 
                        the equivalent of 6 years of partial 
                        cancellation for full-time employment has been 
                        met for purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) by 
                        giving the borrower credit for one-half of a 
                        year for each year that the borrower receives 
                        partial part-time cancellation under 
                        subparagraph (A)(i)(II)(bb).
                            ``(ii) Rule for final cancellation.--A 
                        borrower who wishes to complete the equivalent 
                        of the seventh year of teaching necessary for 
                        complete cancellation under subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(II) through employment in a part-time 
                        qualifying teaching position--
                                    ``(I) shall be required to qualify 
                                for loan cancellation through a part-
                                time qualifying teaching position for 2 
                                additional years; and
                                    ``(II) notwithstanding subparagraph 
                                (A), shall receive partial 
                                cancellation, in accordance with 
                                subparagraph (A)(i)(II)(bb), for the 
                                first of such 2 years.
            ``(3) Eligibility provisions.--
                    ``(A) Certification.--A borrower who desires to 
                participate in the repayment plan under this subsection 
                shall submit to the Secretary an employer 
                certification, as required by the Secretary, of the 
                employment dates for the qualifying service.
                    ``(B) Ineligibility for double benefits.--
                            ``(i) In general.--No borrower may, for the 
                        same service, receive a reduction of loan 
                        obligations under both this subsection and 
                        section 428J, 428K, 428L, or 460.
                            ``(ii) Ineligibility of education award.--
                        No borrower may count any payments made from an 
                        education award received under subtitle D of 
                        title I of the National and Community Service 
                        Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.) toward 
                        the payments required under paragraph (1).
                    ``(C) Continued eligibility.--A teacher who is 
                employed, for consecutive years (excluding a documented 
                medical leave of absence or military service), in a 
                qualifying teaching position at a school that meets the 
                requirements of paragraph (6)(C)(i) for a school year 
                but fails to meet such requirements in subsequent 
                years, shall be deemed to be in a qualifying teaching 
                position, for purposes of this subsection, for all of 
                the consecutive subsequent years during which the 
                teacher remains at the school.
            ``(4) State certification.--
                    ``(A) State responsibilities.--Each State 
                educational agency that receives assistance under part 
                A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 shall provide to the Secretary an annual 
                list of the elementary schools and secondary schools in 
                the State that meet the requirements of subclauses (I) 
                and (II) of paragraph (6)(C)(i).
                    ``(B) Dissemination of school lists.--The Secretary 
                shall--
                            ``(i) in coordination with the Secretary of 
                        the Interior, develop a list of elementary 
                        schools and secondary schools that meet the 
                        requirement of paragraph (6)(C)(i)(III); and
                            ``(ii) make the lists developed under 
                        clause (i) and provided under subparagraph (A) 
                        easily accessible for applicants and recipients 
                        of TEACH Grants.
            ``(5) Special deferral.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to any deferment for 
                which a borrower of an eligible Federal Direct Loan may 
                be eligible under section 455(f), a borrower shall be 
                eligible for deferment, as described in section 
                455(f)(1), for a period not in excess of 2 years if--
                            ``(i) the borrower has qualified for 
                        partial loan forgiveness under paragraph (1) 
                        for the immediately preceding year; and
                            ``(ii) the borrower is unable to continue 
                        working in a qualified teaching position during 
                        the period of deferment, due to--
                                    ``(I) extenuating or unforeseen 
                                financial circumstances or health 
                                reasons; or
                                    ``(II) other extraordinary 
                                circumstances as determined by the 
                                Secretary.
            ``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible federal direct loan.--The term 
                `eligible Federal Direct Loan' means a Federal Direct 
                Stafford Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Direct 
                Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or Federal Direct 
                Consolidation Loan.
                    ``(B) Part-time.--The term `part-time', when used 
                in reference to a teacher for a particular school year, 
                means a teacher who works in such year a number of 
                hours that is not less than 50 percent, but less than 
                100 percent, of the hours worked by an average full-
                time teacher in the local educational agency that 
                serves the area where the teacher is employed.
                    ``(C) Qualifying teaching position.--The term 
                `qualifying teaching position' means part-time or full-
                time employment (not including a substitute teaching 
                assignment)--
                            ``(i) in--
                                    ``(I) a public or nonprofit private 
                                elementary school or secondary school, 
                                that, for the purpose of this paragraph 
                                and for that year--
                                            ``(aa) has been determined 
                                        by the Secretary (pursuant to 
                                        regulations of the Secretary 
                                        and after consultation with the 
                                        State educational agency of the 
                                        State in which the school is 
                                        located) to be a school in 
                                        which the number of children 
                                        meeting a measure of poverty 
                                        under section 1113(a)(5) of the 
                                        Elementary and Secondary 
                                        Education Act of 1965, exceeds 
                                        70 percent of the total number 
                                        of children enrolled in such 
                                        school; and
                                            ``(bb) is in the school 
                                        district of a local educational 
                                        agency that is eligible in such 
                                        year for assistance pursuant to 
                                        part A of title I of the 
                                        Elementary and Secondary 
                                        Education Act of 1965;
                                    ``(II) a public or nonprofit 
                                private elementary school or secondary 
                                school served by an educational service 
                                agency, or a location operated by an 
                                educational service agency, that, for 
                                the purpose of this paragraph and for 
                                that year, has been determined by the 
                                Secretary (pursuant to regulations of 
                                the Secretary and after consultation 
                                with the State educational agency of 
                                the State in which the educational 
                                service agency operates) to be a school 
                                or location at which the number of 
                                children taught who meet a measure of 
                                poverty under section 1113(a)(5) of the 
                                Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                                of 1965, exceeds 30 percent of the 
                                total number of children taught at such 
                                school or location;
                                    ``(III) an elementary school or 
                                secondary school that is funded by the 
                                Bureau of Indian Education; or
                                    ``(IV) in the case of an individual 
                                who is an early childhood educator, an 
                                early childhood education program;
                            ``(ii) through which the individual 
                        provides direct classroom teaching, or 
                        classroom-type teaching in a nonclassroom 
                        setting, including--
                                    ``(I) special education teachers;
                                    ``(II) career and technical 
                                education teachers;
                                    ``(III) teachers in the field of 
                                science, technology, engineering, 
                                mathematics, or other subjects;
                                    ``(IV) early childhood educators; 
                                and
                                    ``(V) English as a second language 
                                teachers; and
                            ``(iii) with respect to which the 
                        individual meets the requirements of an 
                        effective teacher or effective early childhood 
                        educator, as determined by the State in 
                        accordance with part A of title I and title II 
                        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq., 6601 et 
                        seq.).''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
        shall be effective on the date that is 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
    (b) Tax Treatment of Cancellation of Student Loans.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (f) of section 108 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) Cancellations under strive act teacher loan 
        forgiveness programs.--In the case of an individual, gross 
        income does not include any amount which (but for this 
        subsection) would be includible in gross income for the taxable 
        year by reasons of the cancellation (in whole or in part) under 
        section 455(r) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 of any 
        eligible Federal Direct Loan (as defined in section 
        455(r)(6)(A) of such Act).''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by this subsection 
        shall apply to cancellations of indebtedness after the date 
        that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 202. TEACH GRANTS.

    (a) Amendments.--Subpart 9 of part A of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 420M (20 U.S.C. 1070g-1)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$4,000'' 
                and inserting ``$12,000''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking 
                        ``$16,000'' and inserting ``$48,000''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                        ``$8,000'' and inserting ``$16,000''; and
            (2) in section 420N (20 U.S.C. 1070g-2)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2)(B), in the matter 
                preceding clause (i), by inserting ``, including an 
                early childhood teacher (defined in this section as a 
                teacher who has primary responsibility for the learning 
                and development of children within an early childhood 
                education program),'' after ``prospective teacher'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``4 
                        academic years within 8 years'' and inserting 
                        ``8 academic years within 10 years''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) 
                        and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) teach in an elementary school, secondary 
                school, or an early childhood education program;
                    ``(C) teach in--
                            ``(i) a school described in section 
                        465(a)(2)(A); and
                            ``(ii) any of the following fields--
                                    ``(I) mathematics;
                                    ``(II) science;
                                    ``(III) technology;
                                    ``(IV) engineering;
                                    ``(V) career and technical 
                                education;
                                    ``(VI) a foreign language;
                                    ``(VII) bilingual education;
                                    ``(VIII) special education;
                                    ``(IX) as a reading specialist;
                                    ``(X) as a writing specialist; or
                                    ``(XI) another field designated as 
                                high need by the most recent list 
                                described in subsection (d)(1);'';
                    (C) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) by striking ``Service'' and all that 
                        follows through ``event'' and inserting the 
                        following: ``Service.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the event'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``paragraph (2) and the'' 
                        after ``in accordance with''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Partial forgiveness of repayment.--In the event that 
        a recipient described in paragraph (1) has fulfilled a portion 
        of the service obligation in the agreement under subsection 
        (b), the amount that is treated as a Federal Direct 
        Unsubsidized Stafford Loan under part D of title IV and subject 
        to repayment (together with the interest thereon) for that 
        recipient shall be reduced by an amount that bears the same 
        ratio to the total amount of the recipient's grant under this 
        subpart as the amount of time the recipient has fulfilled of 
        the recipient's service obligation bears to the total amount of 
        time of the service obligation in the agreement under 
        subsection (b).''; and
                    (D) in subsection (d)--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) 
                        as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by 
                        clause (i), by striking ``subsection 
                        (b)(1)(C)(vii)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
                        (1)''; and
                            (iii) by inserting before paragraph (2), as 
                        redesignated by clause (i), the following:
            ``(1) High-need designation.--The Secretary shall develop, 
        periodically update, and publish a list of designated high-need 
        fields for purposes of this subpart.''.
    (b) Simplification of the Application Process and Streamlining the 
Teach Grant Dispute Process.--Section 420P of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g-4) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``; program 
        improvement'' after ``program report'';
            (2) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Program Report.--Not later''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Program Improvement.--By not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of the Supporting the Teaching profession through 
Revitalizing Investments in Valuable Educators Act, and periodically 
thereafter, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) work with States to identify and implement a process 
        for increasing awareness of, and simplifying the application 
        process for--
                    ``(A) TEACH Grants;
                    ``(B) loan forgiveness, in accordance with section 
                420N(c)(2), for any amount of a TEACH Grant to a 
                student that is converted to a loan under section 
                420N(c)(1); and
                    ``(C) waivers of the service obligation for TEACH 
                Grants, in accordance with section 420N(d)(3); and
            ``(2)(A) review the procedures, including the dispute 
        resolution procedures, of the process through which the service 
        obligation of a recipient of a TEACH grant is converted to a 
        loan under section 420N(c)(1) or waived under such 420N(d)(3); 
        and
            ``(B) disseminate and make publicly available and easily 
        accessible to the appropriate audiences clear, consistent 
        information on the procedures, including--
                    ``(i) an explanation that recipients have an option 
                to dispute the conversion or waiver decision;
                    ``(ii) how a recipient can initiate a dispute; and
                    ``(iii) the specific criteria considered in the 
                adjudicating process.''.
    (c) Data Regarding Federal Loan Forgiveness and Service Scholarship 
Programs.--Each year, the Secretary of Education shall prepare and make 
publicly available data on the Federal loan forgiveness and service 
scholarship programs administered by the Secretary, including, for each 
program and for the most recent year for which data are available, the 
rates of loan cancellation under such program, the rates of completion 
of any service requirement required for the program, and the conversion 
rate regarding how many grants or scholarships are converted to loans 
for repayment based on the student's failure to complete the program or 
any required service obligation.
    (d) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments made by this 
section, shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

SEC. 203. PROGRAM TO SUBSIDIZE TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING 
              FEES.

    (a) In General.--Subpart 9 of part A of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g et seq.), as amended by this 
title, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 420Q. PROGRAM TO SUBSIDIZE TEACHER CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING 
              FEES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Low-income individual.--The term `low-income 
        individual' has the meaning given the term in section 402A(h).
            ``(2) Teaching profession.--The term `teaching profession' 
        includes elementary education, secondary education, and early 
        childhood education.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under 
subsection (g), the Secretary shall carry out a program of awarding 
grants to State educational agencies, through allotments described in 
subsection (c), to enable the State educational agencies to subsidize 
teacher certification and licensing fees for low-income individuals who 
are entering the teaching profession.
    ``(c) Allotments.--Each State submitting an approved application 
under this section for a fiscal year shall receive an allotment that 
bears the same ratio to the total amount made available under this 
section for such fiscal year as the number of local educational 
agencies located in the State bears to the total number of local 
educational agencies in all States with approved applications.
    ``(d) Application.--A State educational agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State educational agency receiving a 
        grant under this section for a fiscal year shall use grant 
        funds to reimburse or subsidize the teacher or early childhood 
        educator examination and other certification or licensure fees 
        for a low-income individual entering the teaching profession 
        who resides in, and attended a teacher preparation program in, 
        the State, which may include fees for--
                    ``(A) additional certification or licensure for the 
                individual in a high-need field included on the list 
                described in section 420N(d)(1);
                    ``(B) National Board certification;
                    ``(C) maintaining active status with a professional 
                disciplinary organization aligned with the high-need 
                field included on the list described in section 
                420N(d)(1); or
                    ``(D) in the case of early childhood educators, 
                further education necessary in order to become highly 
                competent and successfully take such examination or 
                obtain such certification or licensure (such as English 
                as a second language classes, community college 
                courses, and continuing and distance education).
            ``(2) Priority in reimbursement.--A State educational 
        agency receiving a grant under this section shall, in 
        reimbursing or subsidizing fees in accordance with paragraph 
        (1), give a priority to teachers and early childhood educators 
        who are members of populations underrepresented in the teaching 
        or early childhood care profession, respectively.
    ``(f) Additional Funds.--Grant funds made available under this 
section to a State educational agency shall remain available to the 
State until expended.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 
and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take 
effect on July 1, 2018.

                TITLE III--TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS

SEC. 301. PURPOSE.

    The purposes of this title are--
            (1) to ensure that early childhood educators have the 
        financial and academic support needed to remain in the 
        profession; and
            (2) to strengthen the quality of early childhood education 
        teaching supports.

SEC. 302. PROVIDING ACCESS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS TO TRAINING 
              PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definition of Early Childhood Education Program.--Section 
103(8)(C)(i) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1003(8)(C)(i)) is amended by striking ``age six'' and inserting ``age 
six, or the age of entry into elementary school, and''.
    (b) Broadening Definitions.--Section 200 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and includes an 
        individual employed as a master teacher, lead teacher, or 
        classroom aide'' before the period at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii)(II), by striking ``as 
        applicable,'';
            (3) in paragraph (14)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, and for new early 
                        childhood educators during not less than the 
                        educators' first two years of teaching,'' after 
                        ``two years of teaching''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or beginning early 
                        childhood educators'' after ``beginning 
                        teachers'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``teacher 
                mentoring'' and inserting ``teacher and educator 
                mentoring'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or early childhood 
                        educators, as the case may be,'' after ``with 
                        teachers'';
                            (ii) by striking ``mentor teachers'' and 
                        inserting ``mentor teachers or early childhood 
                        educators''; and
                            (iii) by inserting ``or early childhood 
                        educators'' after ``among teachers'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``new 
                teachers'' and inserting ``new teachers and new early 
                childhood educators'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by inserting ``and 
                early childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
                    (F) in subparagraph (G)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and exemplary early 
                        childhood educators'' after ``exemplary 
                        teachers''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and early childhood 
                        educators'' after ``new teachers''; and
                    (G) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ``and early 
                childhood educators'' after ``new teachers'';
            (4) in paragraph (21)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Teacher 
                mentoring'' and inserting ``Teacher and educator 
                mentoring'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``teacher mentoring'' and 
                        inserting ``teacher and educator mentoring''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and early childhood 
                        educators'' after ``prospective teachers'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``teacher 
                mentors'' and inserting ``mentor teachers or, in the 
                case of prospective early childhood educators, mentor 
                early childhood educators,''; and
                    (D) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, or in a 
                high-need early childhood education program,'' after 
                ``local educational agency''; and
            (5) in paragraph (22)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                ``teaching residency program'' and inserting ``teacher 
                and educator residency program'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding subclause (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``teaching residency 
                        program'' and inserting ``teacher or educator 
                        residency program'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``, or an early childhood 
                        education program-based preparation program for 
                        early childhood educators,'' after ``teacher 
                        preparation program''; and
                            (iii) by inserting ``or early childhood 
                        educator'' after ``prospective teacher'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``mentor 
                teacher'' and inserting ``mentor teacher or early 
                childhood educator'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or early 
                childhood educator'' after ``the teacher''; and
                    (E) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(D) prior to completion of the program--
                            ``(i) in the case of a prospective 
                        teacher--
                                    ``(I) attains full State 
                                certification or licensure and, with 
                                respect to a special education teacher, 
                                meets the qualifications described in 
                                section 612(a)(14)(C) of the 
                                Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                                Act; and
                                    ``(II) acquires a master's degree 
                                not later than 18 months after 
                                beginning the program; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of a prospective early 
                        childhood educator--
                                    ``(I) becomes highly competent;
                                    ``(II) attains full State 
                                certification or licensure; and
                                    ``(III) acquires a baccalaureate 
                                degree or an associate's degree not 
                                later than 6 years after beginning the 
                                program.''.
    (c) Expanding Purposes.--Section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and early childhood educators'' 
                after ``prospective and new teachers'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and early childhood educators'' 
                after ``prospective teachers''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``and early childhood educators'' 
                after ``for new teachers'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and early childhood 
        educators'' after ``preparing teachers''; and
            (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and early childhood 
        education'' before ``force''.
    (d) Including Early Childhood Educators in Partnership Grants.--
Section 202 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022a) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, as 
                applicable,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and early 
                childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and early 
                childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or 
                        early childhood educator'' after ``teacher''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or 
                        early childhood educator'' after ``teacher'';
                    (E) in paragraph (6)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (E)(i), by striking ``, 
                        as appropriate,'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F), by inserting 
                        ``and early childhood educators'' after 
                        ``general education teachers''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (G), by inserting 
                        ``and early childhood educators'' after 
                        ``special education teachers''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (7)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and 
                        early childhood educators'' after ``prepare 
                        teachers''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) by striking ``new teachers'' 
                                each place the term appears and 
                                inserting ``new teachers and new early 
                                childhood educators'';
                                    (II) by striking ``high-need local 
                                educational agency'' each place the 
                                term appears and inserting ``high-need 
                                local educational agency or early 
                                childhood education program''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``new teachers' 
                                teaching skills'' and inserting 
                                ``teaching skills of the new teachers 
                                and new early childhood educators'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and early childhood educators'' 
                after ``teachers''; and
                    (B) by striking ``teaching residency program'' and 
                inserting ``teacher and educator residency program'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by striking ``, as applicable,'';
                                    (II) in clause (i)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (II), by 
                                        striking ``, as applicable,''; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) in subclause (III), by 
                                        striking ``as applicable,''; 
                                        and
                                    (III) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``and, as applicable, techniques for 
                                early childhood educators'' and 
                                inserting ``and, for early childhood 
                                educators, techniques,''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding 
                                subclause (I), by striking ``, as 
                                applicable,''; and
                                    (II) in subclause (IV)--
                                            (aa) in item (aa), by 
                                        striking ``and'' after the 
                                        semicolon;
                                            (bb) in item (bb), by 
                                        inserting ``and'' after the 
                                        semicolon; and
                                            (cc) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                            ``(cc) provide culturally 
                                        responsive and inclusive 
                                        learning environments for all 
                                        students;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``, as applicable,'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking 
                        ``(as applicable)''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``teacher mentoring'' and inserting ``teacher 
                        and educator mentoring'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting 
                        ``and early childhood educator'' after 
                        ``Teacher'';
                            (ii) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``or early 
                                childhood educators'' after ``become 
                                teachers''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``teaching 
                                profession'' and inserting ``teaching 
                                and early childhood education 
                                profession''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
                        ``or early childhood educator'' after 
                        ``teacher''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (6), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and early childhood 
                educators'' after ``teachers'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Teaching Residency'' and inserting ``Teacher and 
                Educator Residency'';
                    (B) by striking ``teaching residency'' each place 
                the term appears and inserting ``teacher and educator 
                residency'';
                    (C) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or 
                        high-need early childhood education program'' 
                        before ``in the partnership'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``or early 
                                childhood education program'' after 
                                ``receiving school''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``mentor 
                                teachers'' and inserting ``mentor 
                                teachers or early childhood 
                                educators''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by striking ``teaching residents'' 
                                and inserting ``teacher or early 
                                childhood educator residents'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``teacher mentoring'' and inserting 
                                ``teacher and educator mentoring''; and
                                    (III) in clause (iii), by striking 
                                ``new teachers'' and inserting ``new 
                                teachers or early childhood 
                                educators''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                        ``Teaching'' and inserting ``Teacher and 
                        educator'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``teaching 
                                        residencies'' and inserting 
                                        ``teacher and educator 
                                        residencies'';
                                            (bb) by inserting ``and 
                                        early childhood educators'' 
                                        after ``teachers''; and
                                            (cc) by inserting ``and 
                                        high-need early childhood 
                                        education programs'' after 
                                        ``high-need schools'';
                                    (II) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``teacher mentoring'' and inserting 
                                ``teacher and educator mentoring'';
                                    (III) in clause (iii)--
                                            (aa) in the matter 
                                        preceding subclause (I), by 
                                        striking ``mentor teacher'' and 
                                        inserting ``mentor teacher or 
                                        early childhood educator'';
                                            (bb) in subclause (II), by 
                                        inserting ``and early childhood 
                                        educators'' after ``new 
                                        teachers'';
                                            (cc) in subclause (III), by 
                                        striking ``teaching duties'' 
                                        and inserting ``teaching or 
                                        educating duties''; and
                                            (dd) in subclause (IV), by 
                                        inserting ``or early childhood 
                                        educators'' after ``teachers'';
                                    (IV) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``mentor teachers'' and inserting 
                                ``mentor teachers and early childhood 
                                educators'';
                                    (V) in clause (vi)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (I)--

                                                    (AA) by inserting 
                                                ``or early childhood 
                                                education program'' 
                                                after ``local 
                                                educational agency''; 
                                                and

                                                    (BB) by inserting 
                                                ``or program'' after 
                                                ``such agency''; and

                                            (bb) in subclause (II), by 
                                        inserting ``or early childhood 
                                        education'' after ``teaching''; 
                                        and
                                    (VI) in clause (vii)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``teaching 
                                        residents'' and inserting 
                                        ``teacher or educator 
                                        residents'';
                                            (bb) by inserting ``or 
                                        early childhood educators'' 
                                        after ``teachers''; and
                                            (cc) by inserting ``or work 
                                        as an early childhood 
                                        educator'' after ``two years of 
                                        teaching''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``teaching residents'' and inserting 
                                ``teacher and educator residents'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``teacher residency'' and inserting 
                                ``teacher or educator residency'';
                                    (III) in clause (iii)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (I), by 
                                        inserting ``or early childhood 
                                        educator'' after ``teacher'';
                                            (bb) by striking subclause 
                                        (II) and inserting the 
                                        following:
                                    ``(II)(aa) in the case of a teacher 
                                applicant, fulfill the requirement 
                                under subclause (I) by teaching in a 
                                high-need school served by the high-
                                need local educational agency in the 
                                eligible partnership and teach a 
                                subject or area that is designated as 
                                high need by the partnership; or
                                    ``(bb) in the case of an early 
                                childhood educator applicant, fulfill 
                                the requirement under subclause (I) by 
                                teaching in a high-need early childhood 
                                education program;''; and
                                            (cc) in subclause (IV), by 
                                        inserting ``, or, in the case 
                                        of an early childhood educator, 
                                        will be highly competent,'' 
                                        after ``Act,''; and
                                    (IV) in clause (iv)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (I), by 
                                        striking ``A grantee carrying 
                                        out'' and inserting ``Subject 
                                        to subclause (II), a grantee 
                                        carrying out'';
                                            (bb) by redesignating 
                                        subclauses (II) and (III) as 
                                        subclauses (III) and (IV), 
                                        respectively;
                                            (cc) by inserting after 
                                        subclause (I) the following:
                                    ``(II) Exceptions to repayment 
                                requirement.--An eligible partnership 
                                carrying out a teacher and educator 
                                residency program under this paragraph 
                                shall not require repayment under this 
                                clause by a recipient if the recipient 
                                is unable to complete the teacher and 
                                educator residency program, or the 
                                service requirement, due to--
                                            ``(aa) extenuating or 
                                        unforeseen financial 
                                        circumstances, health reasons, 
                                        or personal or family 
                                        obligations;
                                            ``(bb) incapacitation;
                                            ``(cc) inability to secure 
                                        employment in a school served 
                                        by the eligible partnership;
                                            ``(dd) being called to 
                                        active duty in the armed forces 
                                        of the United States; or
                                            ``(ee) other extraordinary 
                                        circumstances.''; and
                                            (dd) in subclause (III), as 
                                        redesignated by item (bb), by 
                                        striking ``on grounds'' and all 
                                        that follows through the period 
                                        at the end and inserting ``on 
                                        grounds not covered under 
                                        subclause (II).'';
            (5) in subsection (f)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``or early 
                        childhood education program'' after ``school'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by inserting ``or 
                        early childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
                            (iii) in clause (iii), by striking 
                        ``teacher instruction and drive teacher and 
                        student learning'' and inserting ``teacher or 
                        early childhood educator instruction and drive 
                        the learning of teachers or early childhood 
                        educators, and students''; and
                            (iv) in clause (iv), by striking ``school 
                        environment'' and inserting ``school or early 
                        childhood education program environment''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (D)(i)--
                            (i) in subclause (I), by inserting ``, or 
                        in high-need early childhood education 
                        programs'' before the semicolon at the end; and
                            (ii) in subclause (II)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``or early 
                                childhood educators'' after 
                                ``teachers''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``or high-need 
                                early childhood education programs'' 
                                before the period at the end; and
            (6) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or early childhood educator'' 
                after ``pre-baccalaureate teacher''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``or early childhood educators'' 
                before the period at the end.
    (e) Accountability, Evaluation, and Information.--Section 204 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or early 
                childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, and early 
                childhood educator retention in the first three years 
                of an early childhood educator's career'' before the 
                semicolon at the end;
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(A)'' before 
                        ``improvement''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) in the case of eligible partnerships offering 
                programs that lead to State certification or licensure 
                of early childhood educators, improvement in the pass 
                rates and scaled scores for initial State certification 
                or licensure of early childhood educators; and''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (4)(F), by striking ``as 
                applicable,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall ensure'' and inserting the 
                following: ``shall--
            ``(1) ensure''; and
                    (B) by striking ``part.'' and inserting the 
                following: ``part; and
            ``(2) in the case of an eligible partnership that offers an 
        early childhood education program that does not lead to State 
        licensure or certification as an early childhood educator, 
        clearly indicate that fact in the information provided 
        regarding the early childhood program through the grant and any 
        reports submitted under this part.''.
    (f) Accountability for Preparation Programs.--Section 205 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022d) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and early 
        childhood educators'' after ``teachers'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) State Report Card on the Quality of Early Childhood 
Educators.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State that receives funds under 
        this Act shall provide to the Secretary, and make widely 
        available to the general public, in a uniform and 
        comprehensible manner that conforms with the definitions and 
        methods established by the Secretary, an annual State report 
        card on the quality of early childhood educator preparation 
        programs that lead to early childhood educator licensure or 
        certification in the State.
            ``(2) Additional content.--Each State report card issued 
        under this subsection shall also include an explanation of--
                    ``(A) how the State is making early childhood 
                educators aware of available tax credit programs, 
                scholarship programs, and loan programs; and
                    ``(B) how the State is implementing or designing 
                flexible early childhood educator preparation 
                programs.''; and
            (4) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and on early 
                childhood educator qualifications and preparation in 
                the United States, including the information described 
                in subsection (c)(2)'' after ``subsection (b)(1)''; and
                    (B) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
                paragraph (2), by striking ``teaching force'' and 
                inserting ``teacher and early childhood educator 
                force''.

SEC. 303. MANDATORY FUNDING FOR TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

    Section 209 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022h) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 209. AUTHORIZATION AND APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part, 
and there are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each 
subsequent fiscal year.''.

     TITLE IV--INCREASING AND EXPANDING TAX DEDUCTION FOR TEACHERS

SEC. 401. INCREASE IN AND EXPANSION OF DEDUCTION FOR EXPENSES OF 
              ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

    (a) Increase.--
            (1) In general.--Subparagraph (D) of section 62(a)(2) of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
        ``$250'' and inserting ``$500 ($1,500 in the case of an 
        eligible educator teaching in a high-need school, as described 
        in section 465(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, or as 
        an early childhood educator)''.
            (2) Inflation adjustment.--Section 62(d)(3) of such Code is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``2015'' and inserting ``2018'';
                    (B) by striking ``the $250 amount'' and inserting 
                ``each of the dollar amounts''; and
                    (C) by striking ``2014'' in subparagraph (B) 
                thereof and inserting ``2017''.
    (b) Expansion to Early Childhood Educators.--Section 62(d)(1) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``who is a kindergarten'' and inserting 
        ``who is--
                    ``(A) a kindergarten'';
            (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``, 
        and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) an early childhood educator (as defined in 
                section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1021)) in an early childhood education program 
                (as defined in section 103 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1003)) for at least 1,020 hours during a year.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>
```