such term shall not include the requirement that the 
prospective teacher acquire a master’s degree prior 
to completion of the program, but instead shall earn 
a bachelor’s or a master’s degree prior to completion 
of the program. 
SEC. 4. ADDRESSING TEACHER SHORTAGES PROGRAM. 
(a) ADDRESSING TEACHER SHORTAGES PROGRAM 
ESTABLISHED.— 
(1) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—From amounts made 
available to carry out this Act, the Secretary 
shall establish an Addressing Teacher Short-
ages Program, through which the Secretary 
shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to 
carry out activities described in subsection (d) 
in continuous consultation with the schools 
served by the eligible entity. 
(B) PLANNING GRANTS.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may use funds 
made available under this section, and not re-
quired for purposes of subsection (c)(2), to 
award, on a competitive basis, 1-year planning 
grants to eligible entities that have not received 
grants under subparagraph (A), to assist with 
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the costs of preparing and submitting an appli-
cation under subsection (b). 
(2) DURATION.—A grant awarded under para-
graph (1)(A)— 
(A) shall be for a period of at least 5 
years; and 
(B) may be renewed if the eligible entity 
demonstrates sufficient positive outcomes as de-
scribed in section 5 and evidence of potential 
for continued success in achieving the goals of 
the initial grant. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desiring a 
grant under subsection (a)(1)(A) shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(2) 
CONTENTS.—An 
application 
submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) describe the selected activities de-
scribed in subsection (d) for which assistance 
under this section is sought; 
(B) include a description of the evaluation 
plan required under section 5; 
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(C) provide such additional assurances as 
the Secretary determines to be essential to en-
sure compliance with the requirements of this 
Act; and 
(D) if seeking support for a teaching resi-
dency program, demonstrate that the institution 
of higher education that is a partner in the eli-
gible entity is approved to prepare candidates 
for State teaching licensure or certification. 
(c) AWARD BASIS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall deter-
mine the minimum number, and the dollar amount, 
of grants provided under this section based on the 
amount made available under section 7. 
(2) AWARD BASIS.—In awarding grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall— 
(A) reserve 5 percent of the grant funds 
available to carry out this section for the Sec-
retary of the Interior, to enable the Secretary 
of the Interior to carry out the purposes of this 
Act in schools supported by the Bureau of In-
dian Education; and 
(B) use, from the amount remaining after 
the application of subparagraph (A) and to the 
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extent practicable based on the applications re-
ceived under subsection (b)— 
(i) not less than 25 percent of the re-
maining amount to address teacher short-
age challenges in local educational agencies 
serving rural areas; 
(ii) not less than 25 percent of the re-
maining amount to address shortages in 
high-need subject areas; and 
(iii) not less than 25 percent of the 
grant funds available to diversify the 
teaching workforce. 
(3) PRIORITY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), in evaluating applications for grants 
under subsection (a)(1)(A), the Secretary shall 
provide a competitive priority for applications 
proposing programs that will— 
(i) address the shortages described in 
clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(B); 
and 
(ii) include partnerships with minor-
ity-serving institutions, such as historically 
Black colleges and universities, Hispanic- 
serving institutions (as defined in section 
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502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1101a)), or Tribal Colleges and 
Universities (as defined in section 316 of 
such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c)). 
(B) PRIORITY FOR TEACHING RESIDENCY 
AND GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAMS.—In review-
ing applications for grants under subsection 
(a)(1)(A) that propose to cover costs associated 
with teaching residency programs or Grow Your 
Own programs, the Secretary shall provide a 
competitive priority to eligible entities that pro-
pose to carry out a program designed to pre-
pare, for teaching licensure or certification, in-
dividuals who, as of the date of the individuals’ 
application or acceptance into the program— 
(i) are employed by a local educational 
agency participating in the eligible entity 
as a paraprofessional, substitute teacher, 
or other employee of the school community; 
and 
(ii) have been so employed for not less 
than 3 years. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of a grant under 
subsection (a)(1)(A) shall use grant funds for not less 
than one of the following activities: 
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(1) Establishing or expanding teaching resi-
dency programs, which may include covering— 
(A) all or part of a resident’s tuition in ex-
change for a commitment to teach in the com-
munity for a minimum of 3 years; 
(B) resident salaries; 
(C) mentor teacher incentives; 
(D) facilities or infrastructure for a dis-
tance learning classroom within the school for 
onsite coursework and practical learning; and 
(E) any other purpose that the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
(2) Establishing or expanding a teacher mentor 
program, which may include providing a training 
program or endorsement for school-based mentor 
teachers. 
(3) Establishing or expanding a Grow Your 
Own program. 
(4) Establishing or expanding a 2+2 program. 
(5) Establishing or expanding a program at an 
institution of higher education that encourages stu-
dents majoring in STEM fields to take courses in 
education. 
(6) Establishing or expanding teacher prepara-
tion pathways in secondary schools. 
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(7) Establishing or expanding other evidence- 
based strategies to increase teacher retention and 
support teachers, including— 
(A) increasing access to, and the effective 
use of, technology for the purpose of providing 
professional development to educators in rural 
or remote areas; 
(B) supporting teachers in fulfilling addi-
tional credit requirements needed for a teacher 
to— 
(i) become licensed or certified in ad-
ditional subject areas; 
(ii) earn an additional qualification or 
licensure or certification endorsement that 
meets a specific need of the school in 
which the teacher is employed; 
(iii) earn additional qualifications to 
obtain National Board Certification; or 
(iv) qualify to teach Advanced Place-
ment, International Baccalaureate, or dual 
or concurrent enrollment programs; 
(C) providing opportunities for career ad-
vancement that offer increased pay for teachers 
who demonstrate expertise and take on addi-
tional leadership roles; 
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(D) establishing induction programs for 
novice teachers during their first 2 years in the 
profession; 
(E)(i) providing tuition assistance, a sti-
pend, or a housing allowance during student 
teaching to student teachers participating in the 
program who commit to teaching placements 
that would address any of the shortages de-
scribed in clause (i) or (ii) of subsection 
(c)(2)(B); and 
(ii) if the eligible entity chooses to do so, 
and only after assisting student teachers under 
clause (i), providing a stipend or housing allow-
ance to teachers in their first or second year of 
teaching who commit to teaching placements 
that would address any of the shortages de-
scribed in clause (i) or (ii) of subsection 
(c)(2)(B); or 
(F) providing professional development for 
school administrators focusing on teacher lead-
ership or teacher retention. 
(e) MATCHING FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that re-
ceives a grant under subsection (a)(1)(A) shall pro-
vide, toward the cost of the activities assisted under 
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the grant and from non-Federal sources, an amount 
equal to or greater than the amount of the grant, 
subject to paragraph (2). 
(2) REDUCTION
OR
WAIVER
OF
MATCHING 
FUNDS.—If the Secretary determines necessary 
based on the economic condition of the eligible enti-
ty, the Secretary may— 
(A) determine that a lesser matching 
amount than described in paragraph (1) is re-
quired, based on a sliding scale; or 
(B) waive the requirements of paragraph 
(1). 
(f) 
DESIGNATED
PERSONNEL
FOR
UNDER- 
RESOURCED APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate not less than 1 employee who, during and preceding 
the application period for a grant under this Act, will ex-
clusively support under-resourced eligible entities with the 
preparation of grant applications under subsection 
(a)(1)(A). 
SEC. 5. EVALUATION AND REPORTING. 
(a) EVALUATION.—Each entity submitting an appli-
cation for a grant under section 4(a)(1)(A) shall establish, 
and include in such application, an evaluation plan that 
includes relevant and measurable performance objectives. 
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At a minimum, the plan shall include objectives and meas-
ures for— 
(1) educator retention rates in the first 3 and 
5 years for teachers, principals, and other educators 
participating in the program supported under the 
grant; 
(2)(A) pass rates and scaled scores for initial 
State licensure or certification of teachers for par-
ticipating teachers; or 
(B) pass rates and average scores on valid and 
reliable teacher performance assessments for partici-
pating teachers; 
(3) the number of participating teachers, prin-
cipals, and other educators who are hired by the 
high-need local educational agency; 
(4) the percentage of participating teachers, 
principals, and other educators who are members of 
underrepresented groups; 
(5) the percentage of participating teachers who 
teach high-need fields or academic subject areas 
such as STEM fields, language instruction edu-
cational programs for limited English proficient stu-
dents, and special education; and 
(6) the percentage of participating teachers and 
other educators who teach in high-need schools, 
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disaggregated by the elementary school and sec-
ondary school levels. 
(b) REPORTING.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY REPORTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—At the end of the third 
year and the fifth year of a grant awarded 
under section 4(a)(1)(A), each eligible entity re-
ceiving such grant shall prepare and submit to 
the Secretary a report regarding the program 
carried out under this Act, including the pro-
gram’s performance with respect to the objec-
tives and measures described in subsection (a). 
(B) ADDITIONAL REPORTS.—In the case of 
an eligible entity whose grant under section 
4(a)(1)(A) was renewed or was for an initial pe-
riod of more than 5 years, the eligible entity 
shall submit a report described in subparagraph 
(A) on an annual basis for each year of the re-
newal or each year after the fifth year of the 
grant, respectively. 
(2) SECRETARY REPORTS.—By not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Com-
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mittee on Education and Labor of the House of 
Representatives about the strengths and weaknesses 
of the grant program carried out under section 4. 
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that teaching should be 
formally recognized as a career pathway that is part of 
career and technical education, as defined in section 3 of 
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act 
of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302), allowing early career pathway 
programs in education (especially in STEM education) to 
be eligible for funds available through programs that sup-
port career and technical education. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2029. 
Æ 
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