Rural Education Investment Act
Bill: H.R.1903 | Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike (R-IL)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Rural Education Investment Act
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to annually determine the percentage of students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are served by local educational agencies (LEAs) located in rural areas. ED must then reserve at least an equal percentage of Teacher Quality Partnership grants for partnerships with such LEAs.

To amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to 
 partnership grants for the establishment of rural teaching residency 
                   programs, 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 ``Rural Education Investment Act''.

SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIP GRANTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RURAL TEACHING 
              RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definition.--Section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1021) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (16) through (23) as 
        paragraphs (17) through (24), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(16) Local educational agency located in a rural area.--
        The term `local educational agency located in a rural area' 
        means a local educational agency that meets the eligibility 
        requirements for funding under--
                    ``(A) the Small, Rural School Achievement Program 
                under section 5211(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965; or
                    ``(B) the Rural and Low-Income School Program under 
                section 5221(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965.''.
    (b) Grant Awards.--Section 202(e) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022a(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
            ``(3) Selection of grantees.--
                    ``(A) Percentage of rural local educational 
                agencies.--Before the start of each award year, the 
                Secretary shall determine, based on the number of 
                students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are 
                served by all local educational agencies, the 
                percentage of students in kindergarten through grade 12 
                who are served by local educational agencies located in 
                rural areas.
                    ``(B) Grant reservation for rural local educational 
                agencies.--Beginning with the first award year that 
                begins after the date of enactment of the `Rural 
                Education Investment Act', the Secretary shall ensure 
                that, of the total amount awarded for grants under this 
                subsection for an award year, the percentage of such 
                total amount that is awarded to eligible partnerships 
                that are in partnership with a local educational agency 
                located in a rural area shall not be less than the 
                percentage determined by the Secretary under 
                subparagraph (A) for such award year.''.
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