A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a credit against income tax for certain educator expenses, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              SCHOOL TEACHERS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
(relating to refundable credits) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 36 as section 37, and
            (2) by inserting after section 35 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 36. CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
              SCHOOL TEACHERS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible teacher, 
there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this 
subtitle for the taxable year, an amount equal to 50 percent of so much 
of the qualified elementary and secondary education expenses and 
qualified professional development expenses paid or incurred by such 
eligible teacher during the taxable year as does not exceed $300.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Eligible teacher.--The term `eligible teacher' means 
        an individual who is a kindergarten through grade 12 classroom 
        teacher, instructor, counselor, aide, or principal in an 
        elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis for an 
        academic year ending during a taxable year.
            ``(2) Qualified elementary and secondary education 
        expenses.--The term `qualified elementary and secondary 
        education expenses' means expenses for books, supplies (other 
        than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health 
        or physical education), computer equipment (including related 
        software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary 
        materials used by an eligible teacher in the classroom.
            ``(3) Qualified professional development expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified professional 
                development expenses' means expenses for tuition, fees, 
                books, supplies, equipment, and transportation required 
                for the enrollment or attendance of an individual in a 
                qualified course of instruction.
                    ``(B) Qualified course of instruction.--The term 
                `qualified course of instruction' means a course of 
                instruction which--
                            ``(i) is--
                                    ``(I) directly related to the 
                                curriculum and academic subjects in 
                                which an eligible teacher provides 
                                instruction, or
                                    ``(II) designed to enhance the 
                                ability of an eligible teacher to 
                                understand and use State standards for 
                                the academic subjects in which such 
                                teacher provides instruction,
                            ``(ii) may--
                                    ``(I) provide instruction in how to 
                                teach children with different learning 
                                styles, particularly children with 
                                disabilities and children with special 
                                learning needs (including children who 
                                are gifted and talented), or
                                    ``(II) provide instruction in how 
                                best to discipline children in the 
                                classroom and identify early and 
                                appropriate interventions to help 
                                children described in subclause (I) to 
                                learn,
                            ``(iii) is tied to challenging State or 
                        local content standards and student performance 
                        standards.
                            ``(iv) is tied to strategies and programs 
                        that demonstrate effectiveness in increasing 
                        student academic achievement and student 
                        performance, or substantially increasing the 
                        knowledge and teaching skills of an eligible 
                        teacher,
                            ``(v) is of sufficient intensity and 
                        duration to have a positive and lasting impact 
                        on the performance of an eligible teacher in 
                        the classroom (which shall not include 1-day or 
                        short-term workshops and conferences), except 
                        that this clause shall not apply to an activity 
                        if such activity is 1 component described in a 
                        long-term comprehensive professional 
                        development plan established by an eligible 
                        teacher and the teacher's supervisor based upon 
                        an assessment of the needs of the teacher, the 
                        students of the teacher, and the local 
                        educational agency involved, and
                            ``(vi) is part of a program of professional 
                        development which is approved and certified by 
                        the appropriate local educational agency as 
                        furthering the goals of the preceding clauses.
                    ``(C) Local educational agency.--The term `local 
                educational agency' has the meaning given such term by 
                section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)), as in 
                effect on the date of the enactment of this section.
            ``(4) Elementary or secondary school.--The term `elementary 
        or secondary school' means any school which provides elementary 
        education or secondary education (through grade 12), as 
        determined under State law.
    ``(c) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be allowed 
under this chapter for any expense for which a credit is allowed under 
this section.
    ``(d) Election To Have Credit Not Apply.--A taxpayer may elect to 
have this section not apply for any taxable year.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart C of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item 
relating to section 36 and inserting after the item relating to section 
35 the following new items:

``Sec. 36. Credit for education expenses of elementary and secondary 
                            school teachers.
``Sec. 37. Overpayments of tax.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.

Summary: Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow elementary and secondary school (K-12) teachers a tax credit for 50% of their education expenses (books, supplies, computer equipment, and supplementary materials) and their professional development expenses up to $300 in any taxable year.