DISTANCE Act

To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Diversity in Science Technology and Nurturing Capable Educators Act DISTANCE Act 2. Teacher recruiting (a) Purpose It is the purpose of this section to encourage individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to enter and continue in the teaching profession, with the goal of attracting 10,000 of America’s brightest students to the teaching profession over the next 5 years. (b) Scholarships Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq. (1) by redesignating part C as part E; (2) by redesignating section 261 as section 281; and (3) by inserting after part B the following new part: C STEM Teacher Scholarships 261. Program established The Secretary shall award scholarships, on a competitive basis and in accordance with this part, to students who are enrolled in studies leading to bachelor’s degrees, with concurrent certification as kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers, in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and who have agreed to perform qualified service. 262. Selection of recipients (a) Selection criteria The Secretary shall develop selection criteria that the Secretary will use to award scholarships, and to renew those awards, based on established measurements of merit available to secondary students who wish to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (b) Applications Any student desiring to receive a scholarship under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Duration of Scholarships; Renewal Scholarships shall be awarded for only one academic year of study at a time, and shall be renewable on an annual basis for the established length of the recipient’s academic program, not to exceed 6 academic years. The Secretary shall condition the renewal of scholarships on measures of academic progress and achievement. 263. Qualified service requirement (a) Qualified service agreement Any student who receives a scholarship under this part shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to complete no less than 5 academic years of qualified service during a 7-year period, to begin no later than 12 months following the completion of a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. (b) Requirement enforced The Secretary shall establish such requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients of scholarships under this subsection who complete bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with teacher certification, subsequently perform 5 academic years of qualified service during a 7-year period, or repay the portion of the scholarship received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified service, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any such repayments to carry out additional activities under this part. (c) Definition For the purpose of this section, the term qualified service 264. Awards (a) Scholarship award The Secretary shall provide each recipient with a scholarship in the amount of up to $20,000 to pay for the cost of attendance of the student for each academic year the student is eligible to receive the scholarship. The Secretary shall transfer such funds to the institution of higher education at which the recipient is enrolled. (b) Bonus award (1) Option for bonus award Any student who receives a scholarship under this part may elect to enter into a bonus agreement with the Secretary, in accordance with this subsection, for any academic year during which the student receives a scholarship under this part. (2) Bonus agreement A bonus agreement under paragraph (1) (A) the student shall perform one academic year of the qualified service agreed to under section 263(a) in a high-need local educational agency, as defined in section 200; and (B) the Secretary shall provide $10,000, in addition to the amount the student receives under subsection (a) (3) Service requirement enforced The Secretary shall establish such requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients of bonuses under this subsection fulfill the qualified service requirement in a high-need local educational agency, as defined in section 200, for a period of time equivalent to the period for which the recipient receives the bonus, or repays the portion of the bonus received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified service in a high-need local educational agency, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any such repayments to carry out additional activities under this subsection. (c) Maximum award The maximum award any student may receive under this section for an academic year shall be the student’s cost of attendance minus any grant aid such student receives from sources other than this section. 265. Regulations The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. . (c) Institutional grants for Integrated Degree Programs Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq. subsection (b) D Integrated Degree Programs 271. Program authorized (a) In general The Secretary is authorized to award grants to institutions of higher education, on a competitive basis, in order to pay for the Federal share of the cost of projects to establish, strengthen, and operate 4-year undergraduate degree programs through which students may concurrently— (1) earn a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and (2) be certified to teach kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school. (b) Grant amount; Award period The Secretary may award grants to no more than 50 institutions of higher education each fiscal year, and a grant to an institution for a fiscal year shall not exceed $1,000,000. Grants shall be awarded for only one fiscal year at a time, and shall be renewable on an annual basis for up to 5 years. 272. Selection of grant recipients (a) Criteria The Secretary shall set criteria to evaluate the applications for grants under this part and the projects proposed to establish, strengthen, and operate 4-year integrated undergraduate degree programs. (b) Equitable distribution of grants To the extent practicable and consistent with the criteria under subsection (a) 273. Application requirements In order to receive a grant under this part, an institution of higher education shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include the following: (1) A description of the proposed project. (2) A demonstration of— (A) the commitment, including the financial commitment, of the institution for the proposed project; and (B) the active support of the leadership of the institution for the proposed project. (3) A description of how the proposed project will be continued after Federal funds are no longer awarded under this part for the project. (4) A plan for the evaluation of the project, which shall include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project objectives. 274. Matching requirement Each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this part shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to the amount of the grant (in cash or in-kind) to carry out the project supported by the grant. 275. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2021. .

Summary: Diversity in Science Technology and Nurturing Capable Educators Act or the DISTANCE Act This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive merit-based scholarships to students who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with concurrent certification as kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers. It requires scholarship recipients to work for at least five academic years as a full-time STEM teacher at a public or private kindergarten or elementary or secondary school during the seven-year period beginning within one year after they complete their studies. It awards scholarships for one academic year of study at a time, but makes them renewable on an annual basis if their recipients meet certain measures of academic progress. Scholarship recipients may enter into agreements with ED that provide them with a bonus in exchange for performing their service in a high-need local educational agency for a period equivalent to the period for which they receive the bonus. This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize ED to award competitive matching grants to up to 50 institutions of higher education to establish, strengthen, and operate four-year undergraduate degree programs that enable students to concurrently: (1) earn a STEM bachelor's degree; and (2) be certified to teach kindergarten, elementary, or secondary school. It awards those grants one fiscal year at a time, but makes them renewable on an annual basis for up to five years.