quired for the completion of the first undergraduate 
baccalaureate course of study being pursued by that 
student at the institution at which the student is in 
attendance except that— 
‘‘(A) any period during which the student 
is enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of 
study as defined in paragraph (3) shall not be 
counted for the purpose of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(B) the total amount that a student may 
receive under this subpart for undergraduate 
study shall not exceed $16,000 with respect to 
a student who receives only TEACH Grants, 
and $18,000 with respect to a student who re-
ceives TEACH Grants and Bonus TEACH 
Grants. 
‘‘(2) GRADUATE STUDENTS.—The period dur-
ing which a graduate student may receive grants 
under this subpart shall be the period required for 
the completion of a master’s degree course of study 
being pursued by that student at the institution at 
which the student is in attendance, except that the 
total amount that a student may receive under this 
subpart for graduate study shall not exceed $8,000 
with respect to a student who receives only TEACH 
Grants, and $10,000 with respect to a student who
receives TEACH Grants and Bonus TEACH 
Grants. 
‘‘(3) REMEDIAL
COURSE; STUDY
ABROAD.— 
Nothing in this section shall exclude from eligibility 
courses of study which are noncredit or remedial in 
nature (including courses in English language acqui-
sition) which are determined by the institution to be 
necessary to help the student be prepared for the 
pursuit of a first undergraduate baccalaureate de-
gree or certificate or, in the case of courses in 
English language instruction, to be necessary to en-
able the student to utilize already existing knowl-
edge, training, or skills. Nothing in this section shall 
exclude from eligibility programs of study abroad 
that are approved for credit by the home institution 
at which the student is enrolled. 
‘‘SEC. 420M. ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATIONS; SELECTION. 
‘‘(a) APPLICATIONS; DEMONSTRATION
OF ELIGI-
BILITY.— 
‘‘(1) FILING REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall 
from time to time set dates by which students shall 
file applications for grants under this subpart. Each 
student desiring a grant under this subpart for any 
year shall file an application containing such infor-
mation and assurances as the Secretary may deem
necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out the 
functions and responsibilities of this subpart. 
‘‘(2) DEMONSTRATION OF TEACH GRANT ELIGI-
BILITY.—Each application submitted under para-
graph (1) for a TEACH Grant shall contain such in-
formation as is necessary to demonstrate that— 
‘‘(A) if the applicant is an enrolled stu-
dent— 
‘‘(i) the student is an eligible student 
for purposes of section 484; 
‘‘(ii) the student— 
‘‘(I) has a grade point average 
that is determined, under standards 
prescribed by the Secretary, to be 
comparable to a 3.25 average on a 
zero to 4.0 scale, except that, if the 
student is in the first year of a pro-
gram of undergraduate education, 
such grade point average shall be de-
termined on the basis of the student’s 
cumulative high school grade point av-
erage; or 
‘‘(II) displayed high academic ap-
titude by receiving a score above the 
75th percentile on at least one of the
batteries in an undergraduate or 
graduate school admissions test; and 
‘‘(iii) 
the 
student 
is 
completing 
coursework and other requirements nec-
essary to begin a career in teaching, or 
plans to complete such coursework and re-
quirements prior to graduating; or 
‘‘(B) if the applicant is a current or pro-
spective teacher applying for a grant to obtain 
a graduate degree— 
‘‘(i) the applicant is a teacher or a re-
tiree from another occupation with exper-
tise in a field in which there is a shortage 
of teachers, such as math, science, special 
education, English language acquisition, or 
another high-need subject; or 
‘‘(ii) the applicant is or was a teacher 
who is using high-quality alternative cer-
tification routes, such as Teach for Amer-
ica, to get certified. 
‘‘(3) DEMONSTRATION OF BONUS TEACH GRANT 
ELIGIBILITY.—Each application submitted under 
paragraph (1) for a Bonus TEACH Grant shall con-
tain such information as is necessary to demonstrate 
that—
‘‘(A) the applicant is eligible for, and has 
applied for, a TEACH Grant; and 
‘‘(B) the applicant is— 
‘‘(i) a student pursuing an under-
graduate degree in mathematics, science, 
or a science-related field; and 
‘‘(ii) a student enrolled in a qualified 
teacher preparation program, as defined in 
section 420N. 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS TO SERVE.—Each application 
under subsection (a) shall contain or be accompanied by 
an agreement by the applicant that— 
‘‘(1) the applicant will— 
‘‘(A) serve as a full-time teacher for a total 
of not less than 4 academic years within 8 
years after completing the course of study for 
which the applicant received a TEACH Grant 
under this subpart; 
‘‘(B) teach in a school described in section 
465(a)(2)(A); 
‘‘(C) with respect to an applicant for— 
‘‘(i) TEACH Grants, teach in any of 
the following fields: mathematics, science, 
a foreign language, bilingual education, or 
special education, or as a reading spe-
cialist, or another field documented as 
high-need by the Federal Government, 
State government, or local education agen-
cy and approved by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(ii) TEACH Grants and Bonus 
TEACH 
Grants, 
teach 
mathematics, 
science, or a science-related field; 
‘‘(D) submit evidence of such employment 
in the form of a certification by the chief ad-
ministrative officer of the school upon comple-
tion of each year of such service; and 
‘‘(E) comply with the requirements for 
being a highly qualified teacher as defined in 
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965; and 
‘‘(2) in the event that the applicant is deter-
mined to have failed or refused to carry out such 
service obligation, the sum of the amounts of any 
TEACH Grants and Bonus TEACH Grants received 
by such applicant will be treated as a loan and col-
lected from the applicant in accordance with sub-
section (c) and the regulations thereunder. 
‘‘(c) REPAYMENT
FOR
FAILURE
TO
COMPLETE 
SERVICE.—In the event that any recipient of a grant 
under this subpart fails or refuses to comply with the serv-
ice obligation in the agreement under subsection (b), the 
sum of the amounts of any TEACH Grants and Bonus 
TEACH Grants received by such recipient shall be treated 
as a Direct Loan under part D of title IV, and shall be 
subject to repayment, together with interest thereon ac-
cruing after the period of service, in accordance with terms 
and conditions specified by the Secretary in regulations 
under this subpart. 
‘‘SEC. 420N. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For the purposes of this subpart: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi-
ble institution’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation as defined in section 102, except that such 
term does not include an institution described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A) of that section. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFIED TEACHER PREPARATION PRO-
GRAM.—The term ‘qualified teacher preparation pro-
gram’ means a program for students described in 
subsection (a)(2)(A) of section 420M or teachers de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2)(B) of such section (re-
ferred to jointly in this paragraph as ‘teacher can-
didates’) that— 
‘‘(A) recruits and prepares teacher can-
didates who major in science, technology fields, 
engineering, or mathematics disciplines to be-
come certified as elementary and secondary 
teachers in those disciplines, with the goals of 
improving teacher knowledge and effectiveness 
and increasing elementary and secondary stu-
dent academic achievement; 
‘‘(B) is implemented by an institution of 
higher education in partnership with high-need 
local educational agencies; 
‘‘(C) offers a baccalaureate degree with a 
concurrent teacher certification to teacher can-
didates; 
‘‘(D) is implemented in coordination with 
the faculty of the education, sciences, and 
mathematics departments of the institution of 
higher education; 
‘‘(E) utilizes experienced teachers who 
have a demonstrated record of success in teach-
ing underserved students to instruct teacher 
candidates in science, technology fields, engi-
neering, or mathematics disciplines; 
‘‘(F) provides teacher candidates with— 
‘‘(i) support services, including men-
toring by experienced teachers who have a 
demonstrated record of success in teaching 
underserved students;
‘‘(ii) exposure to, and field experience 
in, the classroom within the first year of 
entering the qualified teacher preparation 
program; and 
‘‘(iii) other related support practices 
while the teacher candidates are partici-
pating in the program, and after such can-
didates graduate from the isntitution of 
higher education and are employed as 
teachers; 
‘‘(G) participates in partnerships which in-
clude the institution of higher education and 
local educational agencies and charter districts 
to provide opportunities for teacher candidate 
field work; 
‘‘(H) focuses on increasing the number of 
teachers in the science, technology fields, engi-
neering, or mathematics disciplines; and 
‘‘(I) encourages individuals from underrep-
resented populations to enter into the teaching 
profession. 
‘‘SEC. 420O. PROGRAM PERIOD AND FUNDING. 
‘‘There shall be available to the Secretary to carry 
out this subpart, from funds not otherwise appropriated, 
such sums as may be necessary to provide TEACH Grants
and Bonus TEACH Grants in accordance with this sub-
part to each eligible student.’’. 
PART B—CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE 
SEC. 311. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
Title II (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘PART C—CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE 
‘‘SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘As used in this part: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘eligi-
ble institution’ means— 
‘‘(A) an institution of higher education 
that has a teacher preparation program that 
meets the requirements of section 203(b)(2) 
and that is— 
‘‘(i) a part B institution (as defined in 
section 322); 
‘‘(ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as 
defined in section 502); 
‘‘(iii) a Tribal College or University 
(as defined in section 316); 
‘‘(iv) an Alaska Native-serving institu-
tion (as defined in section 317(b)); or 
‘‘(v) a Native Hawaiian-serving insti-
tution (as defined in section 317(b));
‘‘(B) a consortium of institutions described 
in subparagraph (A); or 
‘‘(C) an institution described in subpara-
graph (A), or a consortium described in sub-
paragraph (B), in partnership with any other 
institution of higher education, but only if the 
center of excellence established under section 
232 is located at an institution described in 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(2) HIGHLY
QUALIFIED.—The term ‘highly 
qualified’ when used with respect to an individual 
means that the individual is highly qualified as de-
termined under section 9101 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) 
or section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401). 
‘‘(3) SCIENTIFICALLY
BASED
READING
RE-
SEARCH.—The term ‘scientifically based reading re-
search’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1208 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368). 
‘‘(4) SCIENTIFICALLY BASED RESEARCH.—The 
term ‘scientifically based research’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7801). 
‘‘SEC. 232. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—From the amounts 
appropriated to carry out this part, the Secretary is au-
thorized to award competitive grants to eligible institu-
tions to establish centers of excellence. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants provided by the Sec-
retary under this part shall be used to ensure that current 
and future teachers are highly qualified, by carrying out 
one or more of the following activities: 
‘‘(1) Implementing reforms within teacher prep-
aration programs to ensure that such programs are 
preparing teachers who are highly qualified, are able 
to understand scientifically based research, and are 
able to use advanced technology effectively in the 
classroom, including use for instructional techniques 
to improve student academic achievement, by— 
‘‘(A) retraining faculty; and 
‘‘(B) designing (or redesigning) teacher 
preparation programs that— 
‘‘(i) prepare teachers to close student 
achievement gaps, are based on rigorous 
academic content, scientifically based re-
search (including scientifically based read-
ing research), and challenging State stu-
dent academic content standards; and 
‘‘(ii) promote strong teaching skills. 
‘‘(2) Providing sustained and high-quality 
preservice clinical experience, including the men-
toring of prospective teachers by exemplary teachers, 
substantially increasing interaction between faculty 
at institutions of higher education and new and ex-
perienced teachers, principals, and other administra-
tors at elementary schools or secondary schools, and 
providing support, including preparation time, for 
such interaction. 
‘‘(3) Developing and implementing initiatives to 
promote retention of highly qualified teachers and 
principals, including minority teachers and prin-
cipals, including programs that provide— 
‘‘(A) teacher or principal mentoring from 
exemplary teachers or principals; or 
‘‘(B) induction and support for teachers 
and principals during their first 3 years of em-
ployment as teachers or principals, respectively. 
‘‘(4) Awarding scholarships based on financial 
need to help students pay the costs of tuition, room, 
board, and other expenses of completing a teacher 
preparation program.
‘‘(5) Disseminating information on effective 
practices for teacher preparation and successful 
teacher certification and licensure assessment prepa-
ration strategies. 
‘‘(6) Activities authorized under sections 202, 
203, and 204. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—Any eligible institution desiring 
a grant under this section shall submit an application to 
the Secretary at such a time, in such a manner, and ac-
companied by such information the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—The minimum 
amount of each grant under this part shall be $500,000. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 
An eligible institution that receives a grant under this part 
may not use more than 2 percent of the grant funds for 
purposes of administering the grant. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe 
such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this 
part. 
‘‘SEC. 233. APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There shall be available to the Secretary, from funds 
not otherwise appropriated, $50,000,000 for the period 
beginning with fiscal year 2008 and ending with fiscal 
year 2012, to carry out this part beginning with academic 
year 2008–2009, which shall remain available until ex-
100 
pended. The authority to carry out this part shall expire 
at the end of fiscal year 2012.’’. 
TITLE IV—COLLEGE ACCESS 
CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM 
SEC. 401. COLLEGE ACCESS CHALLENGE GRANTS. 
(a) CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.— 
(1) PROGRAM
ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary 
shall establish a program to award matching grants 
to philanthropic organizations to increase the num-
ber of eligible students from underserved populations 
who enter and complete college by providing grants 
to philanthropic organizations who are members of 
eligible consortia to carry out the activities of the 
consortia to achieve this purpose, including— 
(A) providing need-based grants to eligible 
students; 
(B) providing support to eligible students 
through school- or institution-based mentoring 
programs; and 
(C) conducting outreach programs to en-
courage eligible students to pursue higher edu-
cation. 
(2) GRANT
PERIOD; RENEWABILITY.—Grants 
under this section shall be awarded for one 5-year 
period, and may not be renewed.
101 
(3) GRANT AMOUNTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A grant awarded under 
this part for a given fiscal year to a philan-
thropic organization shall be in an amount 
equal to lesser of— 
(i) 200 percent of the amount of char-
itable gifts received in the preceding fiscal 
year by the eligible consortia, including 
charitable gifts received by the individual 
members of the consortia; or 
(ii) the maximum grant amount estab-
lished by the Secretary by regulation, pur-
suant to subsection (f). 
(B) GIFTS
PROVIDED
IN
CASH
OR
IN- 
KIND.—For the purposes of subparagraph (A), 
the charitable gifts received by an eligible con-
sortia and its members may be provided in cash 
or in-kind, including physical non-cash con-
tributions of monetary value such as property, 
facilities, and equipment, but excluding services. 
(b) USES OF GRANT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A philanthropic organization 
receiving a grant under this section shall— 
(A) provide grants to eligible students; and
102 
(B) distribute grants to members of the 
consortia with which the philanthropic organiza-
tion is affiliated, in accordance with the plan 
described in subsection (c)(2)(A), to fund the 
activities of such consortia in accordance with 
the application under subsection (c). 
(2) LIMITATION.—Not more than 15 percent of 
the funds made available annually through a grant 
under this section may be used for administrative 
purposes. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—A philanthropic organization de-
siring a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion 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 an eligible consortia that 
meets the requirements of subsection (d), with which 
the philanthropic organization is affiliated, in ac-
cordance with subsection (g). 
(2) A detailed description of— 
(A) the philanthropic organization’s plans 
for distributing the matching grant funds 
among the members of the eligible consortia; 
and