II

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2122

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve

provisions relating to initial teaching experiences and alternative routes

to certification.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 29, 2000

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

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

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

of 1965 to improve provisions relating to initial teaching

experiences and alternative routes to certification.

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

3 SECTION 1. STATE ACTIVITIES.

4 Section 2207 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu5 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6647) is amended—

6 (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and

7 inserting a semicolon;

8 (2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period

9 and inserting a semicolon; and
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1 (3) by adding at the end the following:

2 ‘‘(14) carrying out programs that include sup3 port during the initial teaching experience, such as

4 mentoring programs that—

5 ‘‘(A) provide mentoring to beginning teach6 ers from veteran teachers with expertise in the

7 subject matter that the beginning teachers will

8 be teaching;

9 ‘‘(B) provide mentors time for activities

10 such as coaching, observing, and assisting the

11 teachers who are mentored; and

12 ‘‘(C) use standards or assessments for

13 guiding beginning teachers that are consistent

14 with the State’s student performance standards

15 and with the requirements for professional de16 velopment activities described in section

17 2210(b)(2); and

18 ‘‘(15) carrying out programs that establish, ex19 pand, or improve alternative routes to State certifi20 cation of teachers for highly qualified individuals

21 with a baccalaureate degree, including mid-career

22 professionals from other occupations, paraprofes23 sionals, former military personnel, and recent college

24 or university graduates with records of academic dis-
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1 tinction, who demonstrate the potential to become

2 highly effective teachers.’’.

3 SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

4 Section 2207 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu5 cation Act of 1965 is amended—

6 (1) by inserting ‘‘(a) ACTIVITIES.—’’ before

7 ‘‘Each State’’; and

8 (2) by adding at the end the following:

9 ‘‘(b) COMPONENTS OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO

10 STATE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.—To the extent appro11 priate, programs carried out under subsection (a)(15)

12 shall—

13 ‘‘(1) include strong academic and teaching-re14 lated course work that provides teachers with the

15 academic subject knowledge and teaching knowledge

16 needed to help students meet State content stand17 ards;

18 ‘‘(2) provide intensive field experience in the

19 form of an internship, or student teaching, under

20 the direct daily supervision of an expert, veteran

21 teacher; and

22 ‘‘(3) provide that, before entry into teaching,

23 candidates shall be fully qualified.’’.
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1 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

2 Section 2402 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu3 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6702) is amended—

4 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through

5 (4) as paragraphs (2), (5), (6), and (3) respectively;

6 (2) by inserting paragraph (3) (as so redesig7 nated) after paragraph (2);

8 (3) by inserting before paragraph (2) the fol9 lowing:

10 ‘‘(1) the term ‘beginning teacher’ means an ed11 ucator in a public school who has not yet been teach12 ing 3 full school years;’’;

13 (4) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so re14 designated) the following:

15 ‘‘(4) the term ‘mentoring program’ means a

16 program to provide professional support and devel17 opment, instruction, and guidance to beginning

18 teachers, not including a teacher or individual who

19 begins to work in a supervisory position;’’;

20 (5) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by

21 striking the period and inserting a semicolon;

22 (6) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by

23 striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ‘‘;

24 and’’; and
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1 (7) in subparagraph (E) of paragraph (6) (as

2 so redesignated), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting

3 a period.

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