I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2698
To improve teacher preparation at institutions of higher education.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 22, 1997
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To improve teacher preparation at institutions of higher
education.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TEACHER PREPARATION.
(a) INITIAL TEACHER PREPARATION.—Part A of
title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1102 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘PART A—INITIAL TEACHER PREPARATION
‘‘SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; AND PURPOSES.
‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This part may be cited as the
‘‘America’s Teacher Preparation Improvement Act’’.
‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following
findings:
‘‘(1) No child should be placed in a classroom
with a teacher who has not been well prepared for
the demanding responsibilities of a professional
educator.
‘‘(2) Federal law provides opportunities for
local schools to use Federal funds to upgrade the
skills of the teaching force through school-based pro-
fessional development, yet there has been virtually
no Federal commitment to help institutions of high-
er education upgrade future teachers’ preparation
programs.
‘‘(3) Title V of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (as in effect on the
day preceding the date of enactment of the Ameri-
ca’s Teacher Preparation Improvement Act) included
17 programs, that were authorized at $598,000,000
for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, for
the initial preparation of teachers.
‘‘(4) To maintain the 1997 kindergarten
through grade 12 service levels in 2006, the Nation
will require approximately 190,000 additional teach-
ing positions. Teacher excellence must be encour-
aged, promoted, and supported if our Nation’s stu-
dents are to succeed. Enrollments in elementary and
secondary schools are at the highest level in the Na-
tion’s history and the enrollments are projected to
grow by approximately 10 percent from 1994 to
2006.
‘‘(5) The median age of teachers is increasing
and many teachers will be approaching retirement
age just as the demand for teachers reaches its high-
est level. Such trends present a historic opportunity
for the initial training of teachers to meet the de-
mand for teachers.
‘‘(c) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this part are—
‘‘(1) to strengthen the capacity of institutions
of higher education offering approved programs to
encourage excellence in teachers by assisting the ap-
proved programs in meeting or exceeding the highest
State 
or 
professional 
standards 
for 
teacher
preparation;
‘‘(2) to encourage partnerships between institu-
tions of higher education and preschools, kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, and secondary schools
to provide for systematic and professional student
training and induction;
‘‘(3) to support programs for school paraprofes-
sionals and school support personnel to become cer-
tified or licensed teachers;
‘‘(4) to recruit and support nontraditional indi-
viduals to enter the teaching profession and achieve
careers as certified or licensed teachers;
‘‘(5) to encourage the recruitment of individuals
to teach in urban and rural areas;
‘‘(6) to recruit, and support minorities seeking
to enter the teaching profession to achieve careers as
certified or licensed teachers; and
‘‘(7) to encourage partnerships between institu-
tions of higher education and other entities to meet
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through
(6).
‘‘SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this part:
‘‘(1) 2-YEAR
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘2-year institution of higher
education’ means an institution of higher education
that awards an associate’s degree.
‘‘(2) 4-YEAR
INSTITUTION
OF
HIGHER
EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘4-year institution of higher
education’ means a public or private postsecondary
institution that—
‘‘(A) awards a bachelor’s degree or higher
degree;
‘‘(B) is an eligible institution for financial
assistance under title IV of this Act; and
‘‘(C) has a teacher education program ap-
proved by the State.
‘‘(3) APPROVED
PROGRAM.—The term ‘ap-
proved program’ means a program of study ap-
proved by a State to prepare an individual to become
a certified or licensed teacher in the State.
‘‘(4) CERTIFIED OR LICENSED TEACHER.—The
term ‘certified or licensed teacher’ means an individ-
ual who possesses a document certifying that the in-
dividual has met the requirements of a State for em-
ployment as a teacher in the preschools, kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, or secondary schools, in
the State.
‘‘(5) PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘partnership’
means a teacher preparation school, college, or de-
partment in partnership with 1 or more of the fol-
lowing entities:
‘‘(A) A local educational agency.
‘‘(B) A preschool, kindergarten, elementary
school, or secondary school.
‘‘(C) A 2-year institution of higher
education.
‘‘(D) An academic department or division
within an institution of higher education.
‘‘(E) A nonprofit agency or organization.
‘‘(F) Any other entity that will assist in
the achievement of the purposes of this title as
determined by the State educational agency.
‘‘(6) INDUCTION.—The term ‘induction’ means
the provision of assistance to a student or teacher
during the period that begins with the student’s
training period and ends at the conclusion of the
second year of teaching.
‘‘(7) KINDERGARTEN.—The term ‘kindergarten’
means a nonprofit institutional day or residential
school that provides kindergarten education, as de-
termined by State law.
‘‘(8) PRESCHOOL.—The term ‘preschool’ means
a nonprofit institutional day or residential school
that provides preschool education, as determined by
State law.
‘‘(9) SCHOOL PARAPROFESSIONAL.—The term
‘school paraprofessional’ means an individual with at
least a secondary school diploma or its recognized
equivalent who is employed in a preschool, kinder-
garten, elementary school, or secondary school under
the supervision of a certified or licensed teacher.
‘‘(10) SCHOOL
SUPPORT
PERSONNEL.—The
term ‘school support personnel’ means an individual
with at least a secondary school diploma or its rec-
ognized equivalent who is employed by a local edu-
cational agency.
‘‘(11) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of
the several States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American
Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the Repub-
lic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
‘‘(12) TEACHER
PREPARATION
SCHOOL, COL-
LEGE, OR DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘teacher prepa-
ration school, college, or department’ means the
school, college, department, or other division within
an institution of higher education that specializes in
the training of individuals to serve as certified or li-
censed teachers.
‘‘SEC. 503. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
‘‘(a) GRANTS BY THE SECRETARY.—For any fiscal
year for which the amount appropriated to carry out this
part does not equal or exceed $50,000,000, the Secretary
‘‘(B) MINIMUM
ALLOTMENT.—No State
educational agency shall receive an allotment
under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year in an
amount that is less than $500,000.
‘‘(c) ALLOCATION WITHIN STATES.—
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—Each State educational agency
receiving an allotment under subsection (b) shall use
not less than 90 percent of the allotted funds to
award grants under section 504.
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—Each State educational
agency awarding grants under this section shall con-
sult with representatives of the higher education
community in the State, including the State higher
education agency if such an agency exists, with re-
spect to awarding grants under section 504.
‘‘(3) RESERVATION FOR STATE ACTIVITIES.—
From the amount allotted to a State educational
agency under subsection (b) and not used under
paragraph (1), not less than 7 percent of the
amount shall be used for State activities that the
State educational agency determines advance the
purposes of this part and are necessary to prepare
exceptional teachers, such as—
‘‘(A) assisting local educational agencies in
filling teaching vacancies in urban and rural
areas, including filling the vacancies with indi-
viduals who have become certified or licensed
teachers pursuant to activities assisted under
this part;
‘‘(B) supporting programs to encourage—
‘‘(i) students to aspire to, and to pre-
pare for, teaching careers in preschools,
kindergartens, elementary schools, or sec-
ondary schools; and
‘‘(ii) local educational agencies to re-
cruit qualified individuals for such teaching
careers in rural and urban areas;
‘‘(C) reviewing teacher certification and li-
censure requirements to facilitate the transfer
of academic credit from 2-year institutions of
higher education to 4-year institutions of higher
education; and
‘‘(D) developing new teacher assessments
in accordance with higher State standards for
teacher certification and licensure.
‘‘SEC. 
504. 
GRANTS 
TO 
ENHANCE 
INITIAL 
TEACHER
PREPARATION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary or a State edu-
cational agency may award grants under this section, on
a competitive basis, to 4-year institutions of higher edu-
cation to establish or maintain partnerships to carry out
the activities described in subsection (b).
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) REQUIRED.—Grants under this section
shall be used as follows:
‘‘(A) 
TEACHER
PREPARATION.—To
strengthen approved programs. Such activities
may include—
‘‘(i) cooperative arrangements between
teacher preparation schools, colleges, or de-
partments and other academic departments
or divisions within an institution of higher
education to strengthen an approved
program;
‘‘(ii) programs designed to implement
the successful integration of technology
into teaching and learning;
‘‘(iii) encouraging the improvement of
curriculum to provide additional prepara-
tion for new teachers to work with student
populations; and
‘‘(iv) in consultation with local edu-
cational agencies, creating opportunities
for faculty at institutions of higher edu-
cation to engage in professional develop-
ment, including strengthening teaching
skills by increased exposure to local
preschools, 
kindergartens, 
elementary
schools, or secondary schools, or students
attending such schools.
‘‘(B) INDUCTION EXPERIENCE.—To estab-
lish and sustain partnerships, for the purpose
of creating sites that provide the highest quality
induction experience for new teachers, among—
‘‘(i) an institution of higher education;
and
‘‘(ii) 1 or more preschools, kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, secondary
schools, or nonprofit agencies or organiza-
tions.
‘‘(2) PERMISSIVE.—Grants under this section
may be used as follows:
‘‘(A) TARGETED PROGRAMS.—To establish
rigorous, targeted programs for nontraditional
students who seek to become teachers. Such in-
dividuals may include school paraprofessionals,
former members of the Armed Forces who were
discharged or otherwise separated under honor-
able conditions, or other individuals seeking to
change careers. Such programs may differ from
programs for traditional students, but shall
meet or exceed the highest professional stand-
ards for approved programs.
‘‘(B) RECRUITMENT.—To recruit individ-
uals to teach in urban and rural areas. Such ac-
tivities may include—
‘‘(i) providing extended and multiple
clinical experiences for potential teachers
in urban or rural preschools, kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, or secondary
schools;
‘‘(ii) establishing partnerships between
institutions of higher education offering
approved programs, and community groups
in urban and rural areas, to recruit indi-
viduals into teaching in the areas; and
‘‘(iii) developing partnership agree-
ments between 4-year institutions of higher
education offering approved programs and
2-year institutions of higher education to
facilitate movement of future teachers
from the 2-year institutions of higher edu-
cation to the 4-year institutions of higher
education.
‘‘(C) SYSTEM OF INITIAL TEACHER PREPA-
RATION.—To support partnerships, for the pur-
pose of establishing a system of initial teacher
preparation that meets or exceeds the highest
State or professional standards for teacher
preparation, among—
‘‘(i) an institution of higher education
offering approved programs; and
‘‘(ii) 1 or more preschools, kinder-
gartens, elementary schools, secondary
schools, community groups, 2-year institu-
tions of higher education, or nonprofit or-
ganizations.
‘‘SEC. 505. STATE AGREEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS.
‘‘(a) AGREEMENTS.—Each State educational agency
receiving an allotment under this part shall enter into an
agreement with the Secretary. Each such agreement shall
include provisions to ensure that—
‘‘(1) the State educational agency will keep
such records and provide such information to the
Secretary as may be required for fiscal audit and
program evaluation;
‘‘(2) the State educational agency will establish
a system for the evaluation of the activities assisted
under this part; and
‘‘(3) all public and private institutions of higher
education offering approved programs will be eligible
to apply for and receive assistance under section
504.
‘‘(b) STATE APPLICATIONS.—Each State desiring to
receive funds under this title shall, through its State edu-
cational agency, submit an application to the Secretary of
Education at such time and in such manner as the Sec-
retary shall require. Such application shall describe—
‘‘(1) the manner in which funds under this title
for State activities and competitive grants will be
used to fulfill the purposes of this title;
‘‘(2) the manner in which the activities and
projects supported by this title will advance and be
coordinated with statewide, standards-based reform,
including improved teaching and learning, by ena-
bling teachers to achieve the highest State or profes-
sional teaching standards and increasing the num-
bers of students who achieve high standards of per-
formance;
‘‘(3) the manner in which the activities and
projects supported through this title will be coordi-
nated with State plans under Goals 2000: Educate
America Act and title I of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965, as well as other Fed-
eral and State sources of funding for professional
development; and
‘‘(4) the criteria which will be used to deter-
mine the impact and effectiveness of the funds used
pursuant to this title.
‘‘SEC. 506. PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS; REPORT.
‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each 4-year institution of
higher education desiring a grant under this part
shall submit an application to the Secretary or the
State educational agency, as appropriate, at such
time, in such manner, and accompanied by such in-
formation as the Secretary or State educational
agency, respectively, may require.
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted
under paragraph (1) shall—
‘‘(A) include a description of the members
of the partnership, the goals and intended out-
comes for the partnership, and the respective
roles and responsibilities of each of the mem-
bers of the partnership, including how grant re-
sources shall be allocated among the members
in order to carry out the roles and responsibil-
ities of the members under this part;
‘‘(B) include a description of how the
members of the partnership will collaborate to
provide enhanced learning opportunities for
nontraditional students and preservice edu-
cators;
‘‘(C) indicate how the proposed activities
will lead to meeting or achieving the highest
State or professional standards for teacher
preparation;
‘‘(D) indicate how the proposed activities
will further the alignment of standards for
teacher preparation with the State’s standards
for the kindergarten through grade 12 schools
and students;
‘‘(E) indicate how proposed activities are
linked to State goals for educational improve-
ment; and
‘‘(F) indicate how the proposed activities
will reinforce Federal activities assisted under
part A of title II of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6621
et seq.).
‘‘(b) REPORT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to assure Federal
accountability, a 4-year institution of higher edu-
cation that receives a grant under this part shall
submit a progress report to the Secretary or State
educational agency, as appropriate, that illustrates
the advancements made by the partnership regard-
ing the initial preparation of teachers.
‘‘(2) SUBMISSION.—The report described in
paragraph (1) shall be submitted 3 years after the
date of enactment of the America’s Teacher Prepa-
ration Improvement Act and every 3 years there-
after.
‘‘SEC. 507. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
‘‘A State educational agency, in utilizing the proceeds
of an allotment received under this part, shall maintain
the expenditures of the State for enhancing initial teacher
preparation, and for encouraging minority students to be-
come teachers, at a level equal to not less than the level
of such expenditures maintained by the State for the fiscal
year preceding the fiscal year for which the allotment is
received.
‘‘SEC. 508. PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN
AND TEACHERS.
‘‘Private school children and teachers seeking to par-
ticipate in activities under this part shall be eligible for
such participation in the same manner and to the same
extent as private school children and teachers are eligible
to participate in activities under the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).
Nothing in this section shall affect the eligibility of such
children and teachers to participate in any program under
any other provision of this title.
‘‘SEC. 509. CONSTRUCTION.
‘‘Nothing in this part shall be construed to affect
home schools.
‘‘SEC. 510. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; USE OF
FUNDS TO SUPPORT MINORITY TEACHER RE-
CRUITMENT.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this part $250,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal
years. From any amount appropriated to carry out this
part for any such fiscal year, 5 percent shall be available
to carry out subpart 2 of part E of title V.’’.
(b) REPEALS.—Section 500, parts B, C, D, and F,
and subpart 1 of part E, of title V of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101, 1103 et seq., 1104
et seq., 1107 et seq., 1113 et seq., and 1111 et seq.) are
repealed.
(c) MINORITY TEACHER RECRUITMENT.—Section
580B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1112e) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 580B. ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘From any amount made available to carry out this
subpart pursuant to section 510, not more than two-thirds
shall be available to carry out programs under section 578,
and not less than one-third shall be available to carry out
programs under section 580A.’’.
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