II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2190 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a scholarship 

program for educators of rural students and provide for loan forgiveness 

for rural educators, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education 

Act of 1965 to provide professional development grants for rural elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 21, 2015 

Mr. TESTER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish 

a scholarship program for educators of rural students 

and provide for loan forgiveness for rural educators, to 

amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 

of 1965 to provide professional development grants for 

rural elementary schools and secondary schools, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Educator Sup5 port and Training Act’’ or the ‘‘REST Act’’. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 2190 IS

1 TITLE I—STUDENT ASSISTANCE 

2 Subtitle A—Scholarships for the 

3 Study of Education and School 

4 Administration 

5 SEC. 101. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATORS OF 

6 RURAL STUDENTS. 

7 Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 

8 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.) is amended by adding at 

9 the end the following: 

10 ‘‘Subpart 6—Rural Educator Scholarship Program 

11 ‘‘SEC. 259. PURPOSE; DEFINITION OF BUREAU-FUNDED 

12 SCHOOL. 

13 ‘‘(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subpart is to 

14 provide a more stable base of education professionals to 

15 serve in rural public elementary schools and secondary 

16 schools, local educational agencies, and State educational 

17 agencies. 

18 ‘‘(b) BUREAU-FUNDED SCHOOL.—In this subpart, 

19 the term ‘Bureau-funded school’ has the meaning given 

20 the term in section 1141 of the Education Amendments 

21 of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021). 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘SEC. 259A. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTS FOR 

2 SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS. 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Unless otherwise specified, a 

4 scholarship grant under this subpart shall have the terms 

5 and conditions described in this section. 

6 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS OF CONTRACT.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The written contract be8 tween the Secretary and the individual receiving a 

9 scholarship grant under this subpart shall contain 

10 the following: 

11 ‘‘(A) A statement that the Secretary 

12 agrees to provide the individual with a scholar13 ship in accordance with section 259B or 259C, 

14 as the case may be. 

15 ‘‘(B) A statement that the individual 

16 agrees— 

17 ‘‘(i) to accept the relevant scholarship 

18 under this subpart; 

19 ‘‘(ii) to maintain enrollment in the 

20 course of study for which the scholarship 

21 was awarded until the individual completes 

22 the course of study; 

23 ‘‘(iii) while enrolled in such course of 

24 study, to maintain an acceptable level of 

25 academic standing (as determined by the 

26 Secretary, taking into account the requireVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Oct 22, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2190.IS S2190

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 2190 IS

1 ments of the institution of higher edu2 cation offering such course of study); and 

3 ‘‘(iv) to serve, through full-time em4 ployment at an eligible school or eligible 

5 service employer (as described under sec6 tion 259B or 259C, as the case may be), 

7 for a time period (referred to in this sec8 tion as the ‘period of obligated service’) 

9 equal to the greater of— 

10 ‘‘(I) 1 year for the equivalent of 

11 each school year for which the indi12 vidual was provided a scholarship 

13 under this subpart; or 

14 ‘‘(II) 3 years. 

15 ‘‘(C) A statement of the damages to which 

16 the United States is entitled, under subsection 

17 (d), for the individual’s breach of the contract. 

18 ‘‘(D) Any other relevant statements of the 

19 rights and liabilities of the Secretary and of the 

20 individual, in accordance with the provisions of 

21 this subpart. 

22 ‘‘(2) PERIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICE.— 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The recipient of a 

24 scholarship grant under this subpart shall be 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 2190 IS

1 required to carry out a period of obligated serv2 ice, as described in paragraph (1)(B)(iv). 

3 ‘‘(B) DEFERMENT.— 

4 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—At the request of 

5 an individual who has entered into a con6 tract described in this subsection, the Sec7 retary shall grant a deferment for the pe8 riod of obligated service of such individual 

9 under such contract for any of the fol10 lowing reasons: 

11 ‘‘(I) ADVANCED STUDY.—For ad12 vanced study to enable such individual 

13 to complete a course of study leading 

14 to an advanced degree in elementary 

15 or secondary education or school ad16 ministration, or needed to become cer17 tified by a State or Indian tribe to 

18 teach, for an appropriate period (in 

19 years, as determined by the Sec20 retary). 

21 ‘‘(II) FAMILY AND MEDICAL

22 LEAVE.—For family or medical leave 

23 for a period in alignment with section 

24 102 of the Family and Medical Leave 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•S 2190 IS

1 Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612) and as 

2 approved by the Secretary. 

3 ‘‘(III) MILITARY SERVICE.—If 

4 the individual is a member of the Na5 tional Guard or other reserve compo6 nent of the Armed Forces of the 

7 United States, or a member of such 

8 Armed Forces in a retired status, and 

9 such individual is called or ordered to 

10 active duty (as defined in section 

11 101(d)(1) of title 10, United States 

12 Code), such individual shall be eligible 

13 for a deferment during the period of 

14 active duty and for an appropriate pe15 riod (as determined by the Secretary) 

16 after returning from active duty. 

17 ‘‘(ii) CONDITIONS OF DEFERMENT.— 

18 A deferment granted under clause (i) shall 

19 be subject to the following conditions: 

20 ‘‘(I) The deferment period shall 

21 not be counted as satisfying any pe22 riod of obligated service that is re23 quired under this section. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(II) The period of obligated 

2 service of the individual shall com3 mence at the later of— 

4 ‘‘(aa) 90 days after the com5 pletion of the deferment period; 

6 ‘‘(bb) the commencement of 

7 the first school year at the school 

8 where the individual has been 

9 hired that begins after the com10 pletion of the deferment; or 

11 ‘‘(cc) a date specified by the 

12 Secretary. 

13 ‘‘(C) PART-TIME STUDY.—In the case of 

14 an individual receiving a scholarship under this 

15 subpart who is enrolled part-time in an ap16 proved course of study— 

17 ‘‘(i) a scholarship under this subpart 

18 shall be for a period of years not to exceed 

19 the part-time equivalent of 4 years, as de20 termined by the Secretary; 

21 ‘‘(ii) the period of obligated service 

22 shall be equal to the greater of— 

23 ‘‘(I) 1 year for the equivalent of 

24 each full-time academic year for which 

25 the individual was provided a scholarVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Oct 22, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2190.IS S2190

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•S 2190 IS

1 ship (as determined by the Secretary 

2 by adding the fractions of a full-time 

3 academic year that each period of 

4 part-time attendance comprises); or 

5 ‘‘(II) 3 years; and 

6 ‘‘(iii) the amount of the monthly sti7 pend specified in subsection (c) shall be re8 duced pro rata, as determined by the Sec9 retary, based on the number of hours of 

10 study in which such individual is enrolled. 

11 ‘‘(c) SCHOLARSHIP.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A scholarship provided to a 

13 student under this subpart for a school year shall 

14 equal the amount of— 

15 ‘‘(A) the tuition of the student; 

16 ‘‘(B) all other reasonable educational ex17 penses incurred by the student in such school 

18 year, including fees, books, laboratory expenses, 

19 and other expenses as determined by the Sec20 retary; and 

21 ‘‘(C) a stipend of $800 per month (ad22 justed in accordance with paragraph (3)) for 

23 each of the 12 consecutive months beginning 

24 with the first month of such school year. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(2) PAYMENT TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER

2 EDUCATION.—The Secretary may contract with an 

3 institution of higher education in which a participant 

4 in the scholarship program under this subpart is en5 rolled for the payment to such institution on behalf 

6 of the student of the amounts of tuition and other 

7 reasonable educational expenses described in sub8 paragraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). Payment 

9 to such institution may be made without regard to 

10 subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of title 31, 

11 United States Code. 

12 ‘‘(3) STIPEND.—The amount of the monthly 

13 stipend described in paragraph (1)(C) shall be in14 creased by the Secretary for each school year ending 

15 in a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2016, 

16 by the amount (rounded to the next highest multiple 

17 of $1) equal to the amount of such stipend multi18 plied by the percentage adjustment in the rates of 

19 pay under the General Schedule taking effect under 

20 section 5303 of title 5, United States Code, during 

21 the fiscal year in which such school year ends (if 

22 such adjustment is an increase). 

23 ‘‘(d) LIABILITY; FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE PE24 RIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICE; REPAYMENT.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(1) LIABILITY.—An individual who has en2 tered into a written contract with the Secretary 

3 under this section shall be liable to the United 

4 States for the amount that has been paid to, or on 

5 behalf of, such individual under the contract, if such 

6 individual— 

7 ‘‘(A) fails to maintain an acceptable level 

8 of academic standing in the institution of high9 er education in which the individual is enrolled 

10 (as determined by the Secretary taking into ac11 count the requirements of the institution of 

12 higher education offering such course of study); 

13 ‘‘(B) is dismissed from such institution of 

14 higher education for disciplinary reasons; 

15 ‘‘(C) voluntarily terminates the training in 

16 such institution of higher education for which 

17 such individual is provided a scholarship under 

18 such contract before the completion of such 

19 training; or 

20 ‘‘(D) fails to accept payment, or instructs 

21 the institution of higher education in which 

22 such individual is enrolled not to accept pay23 ment, under this section. 

24 ‘‘(2) FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE PERIOD OF

25 OBLIGATED SERVICE.—An individual who has enVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Oct 22, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2190.IS S2190

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•S 2190 IS

1 tered into a written contract with the Secretary 

2 under this section may petition the Secretary to 

3 delay the date on which the individual would other4 wise be required to begin the period of obligated 

5 service if such individual has not succeeded in ob6 taining employment required by this section. In sup7 port of such petition, the individual shall supply 

8 such reasonable information as the Secretary may 

9 require. The Secretary shall retain full discretion re10 garding the decision about whether to grant or de11 cline such a delay and to determine the duration of 

12 any delay that is granted. 

13 ‘‘(3) REPAYMENT.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual who has 

15 entered into a written contract with the Sec16 retary under this section and who is liable for 

17 any amount of damages which the United 

18 States is entitled to recover under this sub19 section shall— 

20 ‘‘(i) begin payment of such damages 

21 to the United States within 1 year of the 

22 date of the breach or on such later date as 

23 specified by the Secretary; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(ii) repay the amount of such dam2 ages in full following a schedule and by a 

3 deadline determined by the Secretary. 

4 ‘‘(B) RECOVERY OF DAMAGES.—If dam5 ages described in subparagraph (A) are delin6 quent for 3 months, the Secretary shall, for the 

7 purpose of recovering such damages— 

8 ‘‘(i) utilize collection agencies con9 tracted with by the Administrator of the 

10 General Services Administration; or 

11 ‘‘(ii) enter into contracts for the re12 covery of such damages with collection 

13 agencies selected by the Secretary. 

14 ‘‘(C) CONTRACTS FOR RECOVERY OF DAM15 AGES.—Each contract for recovering damages 

16 pursuant to this paragraph shall provide that 

17 the contractor will, not less than once every 6 

18 months, submit to the Secretary a status report 

19 on the success of the contractor in collecting 

20 such damages. Section 3718 of title 31, United 

21 States Code, shall apply to any such contract to 

22 the extent not inconsistent with this subsection. 

23 ‘‘(4) DEATH.—Upon the death of an individual 

24 who receives, or has received, a scholarship under 

25 this subpart, any obligation of such individual for 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•S 2190 IS

1 service or payment that relates to such scholarship 

2 shall be canceled. 

3 ‘‘(5) WAIVER.— 

4 ‘‘(A) REQUIRED WAIVER.—The Secretary 

5 shall provide for the partial or total waiver or 

6 suspension of any obligation of service or pay7 ment of a recipient of a scholarship under this 

8 subpart, if the Secretary determines that— 

9 ‘‘(i) it is not possible for the recipient 

10 to meet the obligation or make the pay11 ment; 

12 ‘‘(ii) requiring the recipient to meet 

13 the obligation or make the payment would 

14 result in extreme hardship to the recipient; 

15 or 

16 ‘‘(iii) the enforcement of the require17 ment to meet the obligation or make the 

18 payment would be unconscionable. 

19 ‘‘(B) PERMISSIBLE WAIVER.—Notwith20 standing any other provision of law, for other 

21 good cause shown, the Secretary may waive, in 

22 whole or in part, the right of the United States 

23 to recover funds made available under this sec24 tion. 

25 ‘‘(6) BANKRUPTCY.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara2 graph (B), and notwithstanding any other pro3 vision of law, with respect to a recipient of a 

4 scholarship under this subpart, no obligation 

5 for payment may be released by a discharge in 

6 bankruptcy under title 11. 

7 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition de8 scribed in subparagraph (A) shall not apply if— 

9 ‘‘(i) such discharge is granted after 

10 the expiration of the 5-year period begin11 ning on the initial date on which that pay12 ment is due; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) the bankruptcy court finds that 

14 the nondischarge of the obligation would be 

15 unconscionable. 

16 ‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS.—Not17 withstanding any other provision of law, an individual re18 ceiving a scholarship under this subpart shall continue to 

19 be eligible for any other grant programs and loan forgive20 ness programs for which the individual would otherwise 

21 be eligible. 

22 ‘‘SEC. 259B. RURAL STUDENT EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP 

23 PROGRAM. 

24 ‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
15 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

2 to each eligible applicant who is accepted for a schol3 arship under this section with a scholarship grant in 

4 each school year or years for a period during which 

5 such individual is pursuing a course of study in ele6 mentary or secondary education or school adminis7 tration at an institution of higher education. 

8 ‘‘(2) DESIGNATION.—Scholarships made under 

9 paragraph (1) shall be designated ‘rural student ed10 ucator scholarships’. 

11 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 

13 which eligible applicants will receive a rural student 

14 educator scholarship under subsection (a). 

15 ‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—In order to be eligible to re16 ceive a rural student educator scholarship, an indi17 vidual shall— 

18 ‘‘(A) be accepted for enrollment, or be en19 rolled, as a full-time or part-time student in a 

20 course of study in elementary or secondary edu21 cation or school administration at an institution 

22 of higher education; 

23 ‘‘(B) submit an application to participate 

24 in the rural educator scholarship program at 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
16 

•S 2190 IS

1 such time and in such manner as the Secretary 

2 shall determine; and 

3 ‘‘(C) sign and submit to the Secretary, at 

4 the time that such application is submitted, a 

5 written contract as described in section 

6 259A(b), which shall include a commitment to 

7 serve through full-time employment at an eligi8 ble school for the period of obligated service. 

9 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS.—An individual shall be 

10 considered to be serving, through full-time employment at 

11 an eligible school, as required under section 

12 259A(b)(1)(B)(iv), if the individual is employed full-time 

13 in a public elementary school or secondary school that is 

14 served by a local educational agency that is eligible to re15 ceive assistance under part B of title VI of the Elementary 

16 and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 

17 ‘‘(d) PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

18 assist the recipient of a rural educator scholarship in 

19 learning about placement opportunities in eligible schools 

20 by transmitting the name and educational credentials of 

21 such recipient to— 

22 ‘‘(1) State educational agency clearinghouses 

23 for recruitment and placement of kindergarten, ele24 mentary school, and secondary school teachers and 

25 administrators in States receiving assistance under 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
17 

•S 2190 IS

1 title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education 

2 Act of 1965; 

3 ‘‘(2) elementary schools and secondary schools 

4 that are Bureau-funded schools; and 

5 ‘‘(3) tribal education agencies. 

6 ‘‘SEC. 259C. RURAL EDUCATOR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP 

7 PROGRAM. 

8 ‘‘(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make 

10 scholarship grants in accordance with this section to 

11 individuals who are enrolled on a full-time or part12 time basis in institutions of higher education and 

13 pursuing a graduate level course of study in edu14 cation or school administration. 

15 ‘‘(2) DESIGNATION.—Scholarships made under 

16 paragraph (1) shall be designated ‘rural educator 

17 graduate fellowships’. 

18 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.— 

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select 

20 which eligible applicants will receive a rural educator 

21 graduate fellowship under subsection (a). 

22 ‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—In order to be eligible to re23 ceive a rural educator graduate fellowship, an indi24 vidual shall— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
18 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(A) be accepted for enrollment, or be en2 rolled, as a full-time or part-time student in a 

3 graduate level course of study in education or 

4 school administration at an institution of higher 

5 education; 

6 ‘‘(B) submit an application to participate 

7 in the rural educator graduate fellowship pro8 gram at such time and in such manner as the 

9 Secretary shall determine; and 

10 ‘‘(C) sign and submit to the Secretary, at 

11 the time that such application is submitted, a 

12 written contract as described in section 259A, 

13 which shall include a commitment to serve 

14 through full-time employment at an eligible 

15 service employer for the period of obligated 

16 service. 

17 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE SERVICE EMPLOYERS.—An individual 

18 shall be considered to be serving, through full-time em19 ployment at an eligible service employer, as required under 

20 section 259A(b)(1)(B)(iv), if the individual is employed 

21 full-time in a public elementary school or secondary school 

22 that is served by a local educational agency that is eligible 

23 to receive assistance under part B of title VI of the Ele24 mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
19 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(d) PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 

2 assist the recipient of a rural educator graduate fellowship 

3 in learning about placement opportunities in eligible serv4 ice employers in such manner as the Secretary determines 

5 appropriate.’’. 

6 Subtitle B—Loan Forgiveness for 

7 Rural Educators 

8 SEC. 111. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR EDUCATORS TEACHING 

9 IN RURAL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. 

10 (a) PART B LOANS.—Section 428J of the Higher 

11 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10) is amend12 ed— 

13 (1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘subject 

14 to subsection (c)(4),’’ before ‘‘has been employed’’; 

15 and 

16 (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 

17 following: 

18 ‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FOR TEACHERS IN

19 RURAL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.—Notwith20 standing the amount specified in paragraph (1) and 

21 the requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (B) 

22 of subsection (b)(1), the aggregate amount that the 

23 Secretary shall repay under this section shall be not 

24 more than $17,500 in the case of a borrower who 

25 has been employed as a full-time teacher for 5 conVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Oct 22, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2190.IS S2190

SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
20 

•S 2190 IS

1 secutive complete school years in a public elementary 

2 school or secondary school that is served by a local 

3 educational agency that is eligible to receive assist4 ance under part B of title VI of the Elementary and 

5 Secondary Education Act of 1965.’’. 

6 (b) PART D LOANS.—Section 460 of the Higher Edu7 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j(c)) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (b)(1) by inserting ‘‘subject to 

9 paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (c),’’ before 

10 ‘‘has been employed’’; and 

11 (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the 

12 following: 

13 ‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FOR TEACHERS IN

14 RURAL LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.—Notwith15 standing the amount specified in paragraph (1) and 

16 the requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (B) 

17 of subsection (b)(1), the aggregate amount that the 

18 Secretary shall cancel under this section shall be not 

19 more than $17,500 in the case of a borrower who 

20 has been employed as a full-time teacher for 5 con21 secutive complete school years in a public elementary 

22 school or secondary school that is served by a local 

23 educational agency that is eligible to receive assist24 ance under part B of title VI of the Elementary and 

25 Secondary Education Act of 1965.’’. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
21 

•S 2190 IS

1 TITLE II—INSTITUTIONAL AID 

2 SEC. 201. NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE 

3 PROGRAM. 

4 Part B of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary 

5 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7341 et seq.) is amend6 ed by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘Subpart 4—National Board Certification Incentive 

8 Program 

9 ‘‘SEC. 6241. NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE 

10 PROGRAM. 

11 ‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 

12 ‘‘(1) to improve the skills of qualified individ13 uals who teach rural students; 

14 ‘‘(2) to provide an incentive for qualified teach15 ers to continue to utilize their enhanced skills in ele16 mentary schools and secondary schools serving rural 

17 communities; and 

18 ‘‘(3) to increase the retention of highly skilled 

19 teachers in rural elementary schools and secondary 

20 schools. 

21 ‘‘(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 ‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS.—The term ‘eligible 

23 educator’ means a teacher who teaches in a public 

24 elementary school or secondary school that is served 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
22 

•S 2190 IS

1 by a local educational agency that is eligible to re2 ceive assistance under this part. 

3 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The term ‘eligible 

4 entity’ means— 

5 ‘‘(A) a State educational agency that is eli6 gible to receive assistance under this part, in 

7 consortium with an institution of higher edu8 cation; 

9 ‘‘(B) a local educational agency that is eli10 gible to receive assistance under this part, in 

11 consortium with an institution of higher edu12 cation; or 

13 ‘‘(C) an Indian tribe or organization, in 

14 consortium with a local educational agency that 

15 is eligible to receive assistance under this part 

16 and an institution of higher education. 

17 ‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ 

18 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 

19 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

20 Act. 

21 ‘‘(c) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary is au22 thorized to award grants to eligible entities having applica23 tions approved under this section to enable such eligible 

24 entities to— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
23 

•S 2190 IS

1 ‘‘(1) reimburse eligible educators for out-of2 pocket costs associated with obtaining teacher cer3 tification or credentialing by the National Board for 

4 Professional Teaching Standards; and 

5 ‘‘(2) provide an increase in annual compensa6 tion, in an amount equal to not less than $5,000 

7 and not more than a $10,000, for eligible educators 

8 with a certification from the National Board for 

9 Professional Teaching Standards for the duration of 

10 the grant under this section. 

11 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—Each eligible entity desiring a 

12 grant under this section shall submit an application to the 

13 Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 

14 by such information, as the Secretary may reasonably re15 quire. 

16 ‘‘(e) AWARDING OF GRANTS.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants under 

18 this section, the Secretary shall determine the 

19 amount and length of each grant, which shall be for 

20 an initial period of not more than 5 years. 

21 ‘‘(2) EXTENSION.—The Secretary may extend 

22 an initial grant period under paragraph (1) for an 

23 additional period of not more than 5 years, which 

24 amount shall be used to provide an increase in an25 nual compensation described in subsection (c)(2) for 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
24 

•S 2190 IS

1 educators who obtained certification or credentialing 

2 during the initial grant period. 

3 ‘‘(f) RESTRICTIONS ON COMPENSATION IN4 CREASES.—The Secretary shall require and ensure that 

5 individuals who obtain a certification from the National 

6 Board for Professional Teaching Standards under this 

7 section continue to teach at a school served by the eligible 

8 entity through which funding for such certification was ob9 tained as a condition of receiving annual compensation in10 creases provided for in this section. 

11 ‘‘(g) PROGRESS REPORTS.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For every year for which 

13 Congress appropriates funds for grants under this 

14 section, the Secretary shall provide a report on the 

15 progress of the eligible entities receiving grants 

16 under this section in meeting applicable progress 

17 standards, as determined by the Secretary. 

18 ‘‘(2) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary shall dis19 seminate the report described in this subsection to 

20 each of the following: 

21 ‘‘(A) The Committee on Health, Edu22 cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. 

23 ‘‘(B) The Committee on Education and the 

24 Workforce of the House of Representatives.’’. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS