Supporting Future Educators Act of 2017

To support the preparation and retention of outstanding educators in all fields to ensure a bright future for children in under-resourced, underserved communities in the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Future Educators Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) ESEA definitions The terms dual or concurrent enrollment program elementary school local educational agency secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Certified teacher The term certified teacher (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (4) Qualified mentor teacher The term qualified mentor teacher (5) Teaching residency program The term teaching residency program 20 U.S.C. 1021 (6) Rural area The term rural area 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A) (7) Rural school district The term rural school district (8) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Strengthen-Our-Schools Grant Program (a) Strengthen-Our-Schools Grant Program Established (1) Grants authorized From amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a Strengthen-Our-Schools Grant Program, through which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities. (2) Duration A grant awarded under this section— (A) shall be for a period of 5 years; and (B) may be renewed if the eligible entity demonstrates sufficient positive outcomes and evidence of potential for continued success in achieving the goals of the initial grant. (b) Application and approval (1) Application (A) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (B) Contents An application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; (ii) provide such additional assurances as the Secretary determines to be essential to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section; and (iii) if seeking support for a teaching residency program, demonstrate that the institution of higher education that is a partner in the eligible entity is approved to prepare candidates for State teaching licensure. (2) Approval The Secretary shall approve any application for a program that includes the components described in paragraph (1). (c) Use of funds A recipient of a grant under this section may use the grant fund to help cover the costs associated with— (1) teaching residency programs, including— (A) resident tuition; (B) resident salaries; (C) mentor teacher incentives; (D) facilities or infrastructure for a distance learning classroom within the school for onsite coursework and practical learning; and (E) any other purpose that the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) fulfilling additional credit requirements needed for a teacher to become licensed in a second subject area or earn an additional qualification that meets a specific need of the school in which the teacher is employed; (3) fulfilling additional credit requirements needed to qualify teachers to teach dual or concurrent enrollment programs; and (4) housing supplements or special housing programs to support prospective teachers who complete student teaching placements in high-need districts. (d) Priority In awarding grants that propose to cover costs associated with teacher residency programs, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to carry out a program designed to prepare the following school employees for teaching licensure: (1) Paraprofessionals. (2) Other employees of the school community employed on the date of the determination. (e) Award basis In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable based on the applications received under subsection (b), not less than 10 percent of the grant funds available to carry out this section are designated for uses that address teacher shortage challenges in rural school districts. 4. National Database of Qualified Mentor Teachers (a) In general The Secretary shall create a national database of qualified mentor teachers who can provide student teacher supervision to participants in teacher preparation programs during their student teaching placement. (b) Database Each qualified mentor teacher database entry shall include— (1) basic information on the educational background and professional experience of the mentor, including details of the subject areas and grade levels the mentor is licensed to teach; (2) a description of the subject areas and grade levels the mentor feels most comfortable mentoring; and (3) a brief teaching philosophy statement. (c) Availability The database shall be available as a resource for teacher preparation programs to allow for prospective teachers to complete student teaching in a location outside of the staffing area of the teacher preparation program. 5. Sense of the Senate It is the sense of the Senate that teaching be formally recognized as a career pathway that is part of career and technical education 20 U.S.C. 2302

Summary: Supporting Future Educators Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to establish the Strengthen-Our-Schools Grant Program, which shall award competitive, renewable five-year grants to local education agencies to fund: teaching residency programs, including distance-learning facilities or infrastructure, mentor teacher incentives, resident salaries, and resident tuition; additional credit requirements for a teacher to become licensed in a second subject area or earn an additional qualification that meets a specific need of the school; additional credit requirements needed to qualify teachers to teach dual or concurrent enrollment programs; and housing supplements or special housing programs to support prospective teachers in high-need districts. Not less than 10% of available grant funds shall be directed to programs that address teacher shortages in rural school districts. ED must create a national database of qualified mentor teachers who can provide student-teacher supervision to participants in teacher preparation programs.