Recruit and Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 2000

SECTION 1. TEACHER RECRUITMENT.

    (a) Future Math and Science Teacher Recruitment.--Title X of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1102 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new part:

         ``PART L--FUTURE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER RECRUITMENT

``SEC. 10995A. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    ``(a) Short Title.--This part may be cited as the `Recruit and 
Reward Future Math and Science Teachers of America Act of 2000'.
    ``(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) United States high school students rate 16th and 
        19th, respectively, in science and math out of 21 countries.
            ``(2) Of United States high school students who take 
        physical science and math courses, 56 percent and 27 percent, 
        respectively, are taught by teachers who did not prepare in 
        that field.
            ``(3) Teachers' knowledge and skills powerfully influence 
        student learning.
            ``(4) More than 2,000,000 teachers will need to be hired 
        over the next decade.
            ``(5) The ability of the United States to place highly 
        qualified math and science teachers specializing in their field 
        of instruction will depend on proactive policies that increase 
        funding for teacher training, recruitment, and induction.

``SEC. 10995B. PURPOSE; APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part to make grants 
available, through a pilot program, to eligible institutions described 
in section 10995C, to enable such institutions to provide 500 
scholarship awards to outstanding students enrolled in an accredited 
teacher training graduate program who are committed to pursuing careers 
teaching math and science at an urban or rural secondary level 
classroom.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part $5,000,000 in each of the fiscal 
years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

``SEC. 10995C. SCHOLARSHIP DESIGNATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA.

    ``(a) Scholarship Designation.--Funds made available under this 
part shall be designated as the `National Math and Science Teacher 
Scholarships'.
    ``(b) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary of Education may award 
funds for National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships on a 
competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with 
graduate programs in teacher training. The Secretary may not provide 
any individual higher education institution more than $100,000 per 
academic year for the purpose of the National Math and Science Teacher 
Scholarships. An institution applying for such scholarships may only be 
eligible to receive funds if such institution is ranked by the 
Secretary in the top 25 percent of schools in the State in which the 
institution is located with the highest percentage of graduates passing 
the State teacher qualification assessment for new teachers. 
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if there are fewer than 4 such 
institutions in a State, only the institution with the highest 
percentage of such graduates shall be eligible to receive funding.
    ``(c) Priorities.--The Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
institutions that meet 1 or more of the following criteria:
            ``(1) Provide a year long internship program in a 
        professional development school.
            ``(2) Provide mentoring programs for novice teachers in 
        their first 3 years.
            ``(3) Demonstrate a history of placing graduates in rural 
        and urban schools.
            ``(4) Demonstrate that there is a high retention rate of 
        teachers that the institution places in teaching positions.

``SEC. 10995D. INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.

    ``An individual may be eligible for a National Math and Science 
Teacher Scholarship only if such individual--
            ``(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or an 
        alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent 
        residence;
            ``(2) is majoring in a physical or life science or 
        mathematics graduate teacher training program;
            ``(3) is enrolled in a higher education institution that--
                    ``(A) is ranked by the Secretary in the top 25 
                percent of schools in the State in which the 
                institution is located with the highest percentage of 
                graduates passing the State teacher qualification 
                assessment for new teachers; or
                    ``(B) if there are are fewer than 4 such 
                institutions in a State, is the institution with the 
                highest percentage of such graduates; and
            ``(4) is willing to teach math or science in a rural or 
        urban public secondary school for no less than 3 full academic 
        years.

``SEC. 10995E. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.

    ``(a) Amount of Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of a scholarship awarded by 
        participating teacher training graduate programs under this 
        part for any academic year shall be $10,000 per student, except 
        that in no case shall the total amount of the scholarship 
        exceed the total cost of attendance.
            ``(2) Insufficient funds.--In any fiscal year in which the 
        amount appropriated to carry out this part is insufficient to 
        award 500 scholarships, the Secretary shall reduce the number 
        of awards to eligible institutions.
    ``(b) Assistance Not To Exceed Cost of Attendance.--No individual 
shall receive an award under this part in any academic year which 
exceeds the cost of attendance. A scholarship awarded under this part 
shall not be reduced on the basis of the student's receipt of other 
forms of Federal student financial assistance.

``SEC. 10995F. AGREEMENT; SCHOLARSHIP REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Agreement.--Recipients of the National Math and Science 
Teachers Scholarships shall agree to teach in an urban or rural public 
secondary school for no less than 3 full academic years.
    ``(b) Repayment for Failure To Fulfill Agreement.--Any recipients 
of a Scholarship found by the Secretary to be in noncompliance with the 
agreement entered into under subsection (a) of this section shall be 
required to repay a pro rata amount of the scholarship awards received, 
plus interest and, where applicable, reasonable collection fees, on a 
schedule and at a rate of interest prescribed by the Secretary by 
regulations.

``SEC. 10995G. EXCEPTIONS TO REPAYMENT PROVISIONS.

    ``An individual recipient of a Scholarship under this part shall 
not be considered in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant 
to section 10995F during any period in which the recipient--
            ``(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study in math and 
        science at an accredited institution;
            ``(2) is serving, not in excess of 3 years, as a member of 
        the armed services of the United States;
            ``(3) is temporarily disabled for a period of time not to 
        exceed 3 years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified 
        physician;
            ``(4) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment 
        for a single period not to exceed 12 months;
            ``(5) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as 
        a math and science teacher in a public or private nonprofit 
        elementary or secondary school or education program for a 
        single period not to exceed 27 months;
            ``(6) satisfies the provision of additional repayment 
        exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary in 
        regulations issued pursuant to this section; or
            ``(7) is permanently totally disabled, as established by 
        sworn affidavit of a qualified physician.

``SEC. 10995H. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``Three years after the date on which funds are first made 
available to carry out this part, the Secretary of Education shall 
submit a report to Congress evaluating the success of the National Math 
and Science Teacher Scholarships pilot program in recruiting math and 
science teachers to teach in America's public secondary schools.''.

Summary: Makes available 500 scholarship grants and stipends to outstanding students enrolled in nationally accredited teacher training graduate programs who are committed to pursuing such careers in secondary school mathematics and science teaching.
Authorizes appropriations. Designates funds under this Act as National Math and Science Teacher Scholarships. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award funds for such scholarships on a competitive basis to qualifying higher education institutions with graduate programs in teacher training. Limits the amount of such funds in any academic year which may be awarded to any individual higher education institution.
Makes an institution eligible for such funds only if it is ranked by the Secretary in the top 25 percent of schools in its State with the highest percentage of graduates passing the State teacher qualification assessment for new teachers. Directs the Secretary to give priority to eligible institutions that have one or more of these: (1) a year-long internship program in a professional development school; (2) mentoring programs for novice teachers in their first three years; (3) a history of placing graduates in rural and urban schools; and (4) a high retention rate of teachers that the institution places in teaching positions.
Sets forth eligibility requirements for individual scholarships. Limits the scholarship amount per student to $10,000 per academic year. Requires scholarship recipients to agree to teach in an urban or rural public secondary school for at least three full academic years, or repay the pro rata amount of awards received, plus interest, for any failure to fulfill such obligation. Sets forth exceptions to such repayment requirements.