TEACH for Tomorrow Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5691 | Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike (R-WI)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
TEACH for Tomorrow Act of 2021
This bill revises grant programs that support teacher preparation.
Specifically, the bill revises the Teacher Quality Partnership program by requiring institutions of higher education (IHEs) to report additional information on the performance of their teacher preparation programs. Further, the Department of Education (ED) must impose a fine on an IHE that fails to provide the required information related to their programs. (Currently, ED may impose such a fine but is not required to do so.)
Additionally, the bill revises the eligibility requirements for Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grants by (1) establishing a minimum pass rate for state assessments used for teacher certification or licensure, and (2) directing ED to continue to make TEACH grants to an ineligible IHE for the duration of each teacher candidate's course of study.
ED must issue or revise regulations to carry out this bill.

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to certain 
   requirements for institutions of higher education whose students 
             receive TEACH grants, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``TEACH for Tomorrow Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

    (a) Pass Rate Reporting Requirements.--Section 205(a)(1)(B) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022d(a)(1)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vii) the percentage of all students who 
                        passed such assessment on the first attempt; 
                        and
                            ``(viii) a comparison of the program's 
                        first attempt pass rates with the average first 
                        attempt pass rates for programs in the 
                        State.''.
    (b) Fine Increase.--Section 205(a)(3) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022d(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
            (2) by striking ``$27,500'' and inserting ``$150,000''.
    (c) Institutional Eligibility for TEACH Grants.--Section 420L(1) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) to have a first attempt pass rate of not less 
                than 75 percent with respect to the assessments used 
                for teacher certification or licensure by the State in 
                which the program is located.''.
    (d) Ineligible Institutions.--Section 420M of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070g-1) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(e) Continuation of Grant.--In the case of an institution that 
becomes ineligible to participate in the program under this subpart, 
the Secretary shall continue to pay such institution in accordance with 
subsection (a)(1) with respect to each teacher candidate attending such 
institution and receiving a grant under this subpart at the time such 
institution became ineligible for the duration of such candidate's 
course of study at such institution.''.
    (e) Regulations.--The Secretary of Education shall issue or revise 
regulations in accordance with the amendments made by this section, 
including section 686.4 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations.
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