Source: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=4271&ekfxmen_noscript=1&ekfxmensel=e9f6cb525_620_636
Timestamp: 2013-12-07 16:59:53
Document Index: 356828583

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 5']

Texas Education Agency - Title II, Part A Statute
Title II, Part A Statute
Title II - Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals Part A- Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund Sec. 2101 Purpose. Sec. 2102 Definitions. Sec. 2103 Authorizations of appropriations. Subpart 1 - Grants to States Sec. 2111 Allotments to States. Sec. 2112 State applications. Sec. 2113 State use of funds. Subpart 2 - Subgrants to Local Educational Agencies Sec. 2121 Allocations to local educational agencies. Sec. 2122 Local applications and needs assessment. Sec. 2123 Local use of funds. Subpart 3 - Subgrants to Eligible Partnerships Sec. 2131 Definitions. Sec. 2132 Subgrants. Sec. 2133 Applications. Sec. 2134 Use of funds. Subpart 4 - Accountability Sec. 2141 Technical assistance and accountability. Subpart 5 - National Activities Sec. 2151 National activities of demonstrated effectiveness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART A—TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL TRAINING AND RECRUITING FUND SEC. 2101 PURPOSE The purpose of this part is to provide grants to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, State agencies for higher education, and eligible partnerships in order to— increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools; and (2) hold local educational agencies and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement. SEC. 2102 DEFINITIONS
(1) ARTS AND SCIENCES — In this part the term ‘arts and sciences’ means— (A) when referring to an organizational unit of an institution of higher education, any academic unit that offers one or more academic majors in disciplines or content areas corresponding to the academic subjects in which teachers teach; and . (B) when referring to a specific academic subject, the disciplines or content areas in which an academic major is offered by an organizational unit described in subparagraph A). (2) CHARTER SCHOOL— The term ‘ charter school’ has the meaning given the term in section 5210. (3) HIGH NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY— The term 'high-need local educational agency' means a local educational agency— (i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families with incomes below the poverty line; or (A) (ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the children served by the agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line; and (B) (i) for which there is a high percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or grade levels that the teachers were trained to teach; or (ii) for which there is a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licensing. (4) HIGHLY QUALIFIED PARAPROFESSIONAL — The term ‘highly qualified paraprofessional’ means a paraprofessional who has not less than 2 years of— (A) experience in a classroom; and (B) postsecondary education or demonstrated competence in a field or academic subject for which there is a significant shortage of qualified teachers. (5) OUT OF FIELD TEACHER — The term ‘out-of-field teacher’ means a teacher who is teaching an academic subject or a grade level for which the teacher is not highly qualified. (6) PRINCIPAL— The term ‘principal’ includes an assistant principal. SEC. 2103 AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS
(a) GRANTS TO STATES, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, AND ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part (other than subpart 5) $3,175,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. (b) NATIONAL PROGRAMS— There Are authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 5 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. Subpart 1—Grants to States SEC. 2111 ALLOTMENTS TO STATES
(a) IN GENERAL— The Secretary shall make grants to States with applications approved under section 2112 to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out the activities specified in section 2113. Each grant shall consist of the allotment determined for a State under subsection (b). (b) DETERMINATION OF ALLOTMENTS— (1) RESERVATION OF FUNDS— (A) IN GENERAL— From the total amount appropriated under section 2103(a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve— (i) one-half of 1 percent for allotments for the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, to be distributed among those outlying areas on the basis of their relative need, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with the purpose of this part; and (ii) one-half of 1 percent for the Secretary of the Interior for programs under this part in schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (2) STATE ALLOTMENTS— (A) HOLD HARMLESS— (i) IN GENERAL— Subject to subparagraph (B), from the funds appropriated under section 2103(a) for any fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allot to each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico an amount equal to the total amount that such State received for fiscal year 2001 under— (I) section 2202(b) of this Act (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001); and (II) section 306 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001 (as enacted into law by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106–554). (ii) RATABLE REDUCTION— If the funds described in clause (i) are insufficient to pay the full amounts that all States are eligible to receive under clause (i) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall ratably reduce those amounts for the fiscal year. (B) ALLOTMENT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS— (i) IN GENERAL— Subject to clause (ii), for any fiscal year for which the funds appropriated under section 2103(a) and not reserved under paragraph (1) exceed the total amount required to make allotments under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall allot to each of the States described in subparagraph (A) the sum of— (I) an amount that bears the same relationship to 35 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals age 5 through 17 in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined; and (II) an amount that bears the same relationship to 65 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals age 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line, in the State, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in all such States, as so determined. (ii) EXCEPTION— No State receiving an allotment under clause (i) may receive less than one-half of 1 percent of the total excess amount allotted under such clause for a fiscal year. (3) REALLOTMENT— If any State does not apply for an allotment under this subsection for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot the amount of the allotment to the remaining States in accordance with this subsection. SEC. 2112 STATE APPLICATIONS
(a) IN GENERAL— For a State to be eligible to receive a grant under this part, the State educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. (b) CONTENTS— Each application submitted under this section shall include the following: (1) A description of how the activities to be carried out by the State educational agency under this subpart will be based on a review of scientifically based research and an explanation of why the activities are expected to improve student academic achievement. (2) A description of how the State educational agency will ensure that a local educational agency receiving a subgrant to carry out subpart 2 will comply with the requirements of such subpart. (3) A description of how the State educational agency will ensure that activities assisted under this subpart are aligned with challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards, State assessments, and State and local curricula. (4) A description of how the State educational agency will use funds under this part to improve the quality of the State’s teachers and principals. (5)(A) A description of how the State educational agency will coordinate professional development activities authorized under this part with professional development activities provided under other Federal, State, and local programs. (B) A description of the comprehensive strategy that the State educational agency will use, as part of such coordination effort, to ensure that teachers are trained in the use of technology so that technology and applications of technology are effectively used in the classroom to improve teaching and learning in all curricula and academic subjects, as appropriate. (6) A description of how the State educational agency will encourage the development of proven, innovative strategies to deliver intensive professional development programs that are both cost-effective and easily accessible, such as strategies that involve delivery through the use of technology, peer networks, and distance learning. (7)(A) A description of how the State educational agency will ensure compliance with the requirements for professional development activities described in section 9101 and how the activities to be carried out under the grant will be developed collaboratively and based on the input of teachers, principals, parents, administrators, paraprofessionals, and other school personnel. (B) In the case of a State in which the State educational agency is not the entity responsible for teacher professional standards, certification, and licensing, an assurance that the State activities carried out under this subpart are carried out in conjunction with the entity responsible for such standards, certification, and licensing under State law. (8) A description of how the State educational agency will ensure that the professional development (including teacher mentoring) needs of teachers will be met using funds under this subpart and subpart 2. (9) A description of the State educational agency’s annual measurable objectives under section 1119(a)(2). (10) A description of how the State educational agency will use funds under this part to meet the teacher and paraprofessional requirements of section 1119 and how the State educational agency will hold local educational agencies accountable for meeting the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2). (11) In the case of a State that has a charter school law that exempts teachers from State certification and licensing requirements, the specific portion of the State law that provides for the exemption. (12) An assurance that the State educational agency will comply with section 9501 (regarding participation by private school children and teachers). (c) DEEMED APPROVAL— An application submitted by a State educational agency pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary makes a written determination, prior to the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary received the application, that the application is not in compliance with this subpart. (d) DISAPPROVAL— The Secretary shall not finally disapprove the application, except after giving the State educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing. (e) NOTIFICATION— If the Secretary finds that the application is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with this subpart, the Secretary shall— (1) give the State educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing; and (2) notify the State educational agency of the finding of noncompliance and, in such notification, shall— (A) cite the specific provisions in the application that are not in compliance; and (B) request additional information, only as to the noncompliant provisions, needed to make the application compliant. (f) RESPONSE— If the State educational agency responds to the Secretary’s notification described in subsection (e)(2) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, and resubmits the application with the requested information described in subsection (e)(2)(B), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove such application prior to the later of— (1) the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the application is resubmitted; or (2) the expiration of the 120-day period described in subsection (c). (g) FAILURE TO RESPOND— If the State educational agency does not respond to the Secretary’s notification described in subsection (e)(2) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, such application shall be deemed to be disapproved. SEC. 2113 STATE USE OF FUNDS
(a) IN GENERAL— A State that receives a grant under section 2111 shall— (1) reserve 95 percent of the funds made available through the grant to make subgrants to local educational agencies as described in subpart 2; (2) reserve 2.5 percent (or, for a fiscal year described in subsection (b), the percentage determined under subsection (b)) of the funds to make subgrants to local partnerships as described in subpart 3; and (3) use the remainder of the funds for State activities described in subsection (c). (b) SPECIAL RULE— For any fiscal year for which the total amount that would be reserved by all States under subsection (a)(2), if the States applied a 2.5 percentage rate, exceeds $125,000,000, the Secretary shall determine an alternative percentage that the States shall apply for that fiscal year under subsection (a)(2) so that the total amount reserved by all States under subsection (a)(2) equals $125,000,000. (c) STATE ACTIVITIES— The state educational agency for a State that receives a grant under section 2111 shall use the funds described in subsection (a)(3) to carry out one or more of the following activities, which may be carried out through a grant or contract with a for-profit or nonprofit entity: (1) Reforming teacher and principal certification (including recertification) or licensing requirements to ensure that— (A)(i) teachers have the necessary subject matter knowledge and teaching skills in the academic subjects that the teachers teach; and (ii) principals have the instructional leadership skills to help teachers teach and students learn; (B) teacher certification (including recertification) or licensing requirements are aligned with challenging State academic content standards; and (C) teachers have the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills, including technology literacy, and principals have the instructional leadership skills, necessary to help students meet challenging State student academic achievement standards. (2) Carrying out programs that provide support to teachers or principals, including support for teachers and principals new to their profession, such as programs that— (A) provide teacher mentoring, team teaching, reduced class schedules, and intensive professional development; and (B) use standards or assessments for guiding beginning teachers that are consistent with challenging State student academic achievement standards and with the requirements for professional development activities described in section 9101. (3) Carrying out programs that establish, expand, or improve alternative routes for State certification of teachers and principals, especially in the areas of mathematics and science, for highly qualified individuals with a baccalaureate or master’s degree, including mid-career professionals from other occupations, paraprofessionals, former military personnel, and recent college or university graduates with records of academic distinction who demonstrate the potential to become highly effective teachers or principals. (4) Developing and implementing mechanisms to assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, including specialists in core academic subjects, principals, and pupil services personnel, except that funds made available under this paragraph may be used for pupil services personnel only— (A) if the State educational agency is making progress toward meeting the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2); and (B) in a manner consistent with mechanisms to assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and principals. (5) Reforming tenure systems, implementing teacher testing for subject matter knowledge, and implementing teacher testing for State certification or licensing, consistent with title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965. (6) Providing professional development for teachers and principals and, in cases in which a State educational agency determines support to be appropriate, supporting the participation of pupil services personnel in the same type of professional development activities as are made available to teachers and principals. (7) Developing systems to measure the effectiveness of specific professional development programs and strategies to document gains in student academic achievement or increases in teacher mastery of the academic subjects the teachers teach. (8) Fulfilling the State educational agency’s responsibilities concerning proper and efficient administration of the programs carried out under this part, including provision of technical assistance to local educational agencies. (9) Funding projects to promote reciprocity of teacher and principal certification or licensing between or among States, except that no reciprocity agreement developed under this paragraph or developed using funds provided under this part may lead to the weakening of any State teaching certification or licensing requirement. (10) Developing or assisting local educational agencies in the development and use of proven, innovative strategies to deliver intensive professional development programs that are both cost-effective and easily accessible, such as strategies that involve delivery through the use of technology, peer networks, and distance learning. (11) Encouraging and supporting the training of teachers and administrators to effectively integrate technology into curricula and instruction, including training to improve the ability to collect, manage, and analyze data to improve teaching, decisionmaking, school improvement efforts, and accountability. (12) Developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing, merit-based performance systems, and strategies that provide differential and bonus pay for teachers in highneed academic subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science and teachers in high-poverty schools and districts. (13) Providing assistance to local educational agencies for the development and implementation of professional development programs for principals that enable the principals to be effective school leaders and prepare all students to meet challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards, and the development and support of school leadership academies to help exceptionally talented aspiring or current principals and superintendents become outstanding managers and educational leaders. (14) Developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing, teacher advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize multiple career paths (such as paths to becoming a career teacher, mentor teacher, or exemplary teacher) and pay differentiation. (15) Providing assistance to teachers to enable them to meet certification, licensing, or other requirements needed to become highly qualified by the end of the fourth year for which the State receives funds under this part (as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001). (16) Supporting activities that ensure that teachers are able to use challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards, and State assessments, to improve instructional practices and improve student academic achievement. (17) Funding projects and carrying out programs to encourage men to become elementary school teachers. (18) Establishing and operating a center that— (A) serves as a statewide clearinghouse for the recruitment and placement of kindergarten, elementary school, and secondary school teachers; and (B) establishes and carries out programs to improve teacher recruitment and retention within the State. (d) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS— A state educational agency or State agency for higher education receiving a grant under this part may use not more than 1 percent of the grant funds for planning and administration related to carrying out activities under subsection (c) and subpart 3. (e) COORDINATION— A state that receives a grant to carry out this subpart and a grant under section 202 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall coordinate the activities carried out under this subpart and the activities carried out under that section. (f) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT— Funds received under this subpart shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this subpart. Subpart 2—Subgrants to Local Educational SEC. 2121 ALLOCATIONS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES (a) SUBGRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES— (1) IN GENERAL— The Secretary may make a grant to a State under subpart 1 only if the State educational agency agrees to distribute the funds described in this subsection as subgrants to local educational agencies under this subpart. (2) HOLD HARMLESS— (A) IN GENERAL— From the funds reserved by a State under section 2113(a)(1), the State educational agency shall allocate to each local educational agency in the State an amount equal to the total amount that such agency received for fiscal year 2001 under— (i) section 2203(1)(B) of this Act (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001); and (ii) section 306 of the Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2001 (as enacted into law by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106–554). (B) NONPARTICIPATING AGENCIES— In the case of a local educational agency that did not receive any funds for fiscal year 2001 under one or both of the provisions referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), the amount allocated to the agency under such subparagraph shall be the total amount that the agency would have received for fiscal year 2001 if the agency had elected to participate in all of the programs for which the agency was eligible under each of the provisions referred to in those clauses. (C) RATABLE REDUCTION— If the funds described in subparagraph (A) are insufficient to pay the full amounts that all local educational agencies in the State are eligible to receive under subparagraph (A) for any fiscal year, the State educational agency shall ratably reduce such amounts for the fiscal year. (3) ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS— For any fiscal year for which the funds reserved by a State under section 2113(a)(1) exceed the total amount required to make allocations under paragraph (2), the State educational agency shall allocate to each of the eligible local educational agencies in the State the sum of— (A) an amount that bears the same relationship to 20 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals age 5 through 17 in the geographic area served by the agency, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in the geographic areas served by all the local educational agencies in the State, as so determined; and (B) an amount that bears the same relationship to 80 percent of the excess amount as the number of individuals age 5 through 17 from families with incomes below the poverty line in the geographic area served by the agency, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent satisfactory data, bears to the number of those individuals in the geographic areas served by all the local educational agencies in the State, as so determined. SEC. 2122 LOCAL APPLICATIONS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT (a) IN GENERAL— To be eligible to receive a subgrant under this subpart, a local educational agency shall submit an application to the State educational agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State educational agency may reasonably require. (b) CONTENTS— Each application submitted under this section shall be based on the needs assessment required in subsection (c) and shall include the following: (1)(A) A description of the activities to be carried out by the local educational agency under this subpart and how these activities will be aligned with— (i) challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards, and State assessments; and (ii) the curricula and programs tied to the standards described in clause (i). (B) A description of how the activities will be based on a review of scientifically based research and an explanation of why the activities are expected to improve student academic achievement. (2) A description of how the activities will have a substantial, measurable, and positive impact on student academic achievement and how the activities will be used as part of a broader strategy to eliminate the achievement gap that separates low-income and minority students from other students. (3) An assurance that the local educational agency will target funds to schools within the jurisdiction of the local educational agency that— (A) have the lowest proportion of highly qualified teachers; (B) have the largest average class size; or (C) are identified for school improvement under section 1116(b). (4) A description of how the local educational agency will coordinate professional development activities authorized under this subpart with professional development activities provided through other Federal, State, and local programs. (5) A description of the professional development activities that will be made available to teachers and principals under this subpart and how the local educational agency will ensure that the professional development (which may include teacher mentoring) needs of teachers and principals will be met using funds under this subpart. (6) A description of how the local educational agency will integrate funds under this subpart with funds received under part D that are used for professional development to train teachers to integrate technology into curricula and instruction to improve teaching, learning, and technology literacy. (7) A description of how the local educational agency, teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, other relevant school personnel, and parents have collaborated in the planning of activities to be carried out under this subpart and in the preparation of the application. (8) A description of the results of the needs assessment described in subsection (c). (9) A description of how the local educational agency will provide training to enable teachers to— (A) teach and address the needs of students with different learning styles, particularly students with disabilities, students with special learning needs (including students who are gifted and talented), and students with limited English proficiency; (B) improve student behavior in the classroom and identify early and appropriate interventions to help students described in subparagraph (A) learn; (C) involve parents in their child’s education; and (D) understand and use data and assessments to improve classroom practice and student learning. (10) A description of how the local educational agency will use funds under this subpart to meet the requirements of section 1119. (11) An assurance that the local educational agency will comply with section 9501 (regarding participation by private school children and teachers). (c) NEEDS ASSESSMENT— (1) IN GENERAL— To be eligible to receive a subgrant under this subpart, a local educational agency shall conduct an assessment of local needs for professional development and hiring, as identified by the local educational agency and school staff. (2) REQUIREMENTS— Such needs assessment shall be conducted with the involvement of teachers, including teachers participating in programs under part A of title I, and shall take into account the activities that need to be conducted in order to give teachers the means, including subject matter knowledge and teaching skills, and to give principals the instructional leadership skills to help teachers, to provide students with the opportunity to meet challenging State and local student academic achievement standards. SEC. 2123 LOCAL USE OF FUNDS (a) IN GENERAL— A local educational agency that receives a subgrant under section 2121 shall use the funds made available through the subgrant to carry out one or more of the following activities, including carrying out the activities through a grant or contract with a for-profit or nonprofit entity: (1) Developing and implementing mechanisms to assist schools in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, including specialists in core academic subjects, principals, and pupil services personnel, except that funds made available under this paragraph may be used for pupil services personnel only— (A) if the local educational agency is making progress toward meeting the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2); and (B) in a manner consistent with mechanisms to assist schools in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and principals. (2)(A) providing scholarships, signing bonuses, or other financial incentives, such as differential pay, for teachers to teach— (i) in academic subjects in which there exists a shortage of highly qualified teachers within a school or within the local educational agency; and (ii) in schools in which there exists a shortage of highly qualified teachers; (B) recruiting and hiring highly qualified teachers to reduce class size, particularly in the early grades; and (C) establishing programs that— (i) train and hire regular and special education teachers (which may include hiring special education teachers to team-teach in classrooms that contain both children with disabilities and nondisabled children); (ii) train and hire highly qualified teachers of special needs children, as well as teaching specialists in core academic subjects who will provide increased individualized instruction to students; (iii) recruit qualified professionals from other fields, including highly qualified paraprofessionals, and provide such professionals with alternative routes to teacher certification, including developing and implementing hiring policies that ensure comprehensive recruitment efforts as a way to expand the applicant pool, such as through identifying teachers certified through alternative routes, and using a system of intensive screening designed to hire the most qualified applicants; and (iv) provide increased opportunities for minorities, individuals with disabilities, and other individuals underrepresented in the teaching profession. (3) Providing professional development activities— (A) that improve the knowledge of teachers and principals and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals, concerning— (i) one or more of the core academic subjects that the teachers teach; and (ii) effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills, and use of challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards, and State assessments, to improve teaching practices and student academic achievement; and (B) that improve the knowledge of teachers and principals and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals, concerning effective instructional practices and that— (i) involve collaborative groups of teachers and administrators; (ii) provide training in how to teach and address the needs of students with different learning styles, particularly students with disabilities, students with special learning needs (including students who are gifted and talented), and students with limited English proficiency; (iii) provide training in methods of— (I) improving student behavior in the classroom; and (II) identifying early and appropriate interventions to help students described in clause (ii) learn; (iv) provide training to enable teachers and principals to involve parents in their child’s education, especially parents of limited English proficient and immigrant children; and (v) provide training on how to understand and use data and assessments to improve classroom practice and student learning. (4) Developing and implementing initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers and principals, particularly within elementary schools and secondary schools with a high percentage of low-achieving students, including programs that provide— (A) teacher mentoring from exemplary teachers, principals, or superintendents; (B) induction and support for teachers and principals during their first 3 years of employment as teachers or principals, respectively; (C) incentives, including financial incentives, to retain teachers who have a record of success in helping lowachieving students improve their academic achievement; or (D) incentives, including financial incentives, to principals who have a record of improving the academic achievement of all students, but particularly students from economically disadvantaged families, students from racial and ethnic minority groups, and students with disabilities. (5) Carrying out programs and activities that are designed to improve the quality of the teacher force, such as— (A) innovative professional development programs (which may be provided through partnerships including institutions of higher education), including programs that train teachers and principals to integrate technology into curricula and instruction to improve teaching, learning, and technology literacy, are consistent with the requirements of section 9101, and are coordinated with activities carried out under part D; (B) development and use of proven, cost-effective strategies for the implementation of professional development activities, such as through the use of technology and distance learning; (C) tenure reform; (D) merit pay programs; and (E) testing of elementary school and secondary school teachers in the academic subjects that the teachers teach. (6) Carrying out professional development activities designed to improve the quality of principals and superintendents, including the development and support of academies to help talented aspiring or current principals and superintendents become outstanding managers and educational leaders. (7) Hiring highly qualified teachers, including teachers who become highly qualified through State and local alternative routes to certification, and special education teachers, in order to reduce class size, particularly in the early grades. (8) Carrying out teacher advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize multiple career paths (such as paths to becoming a career teacher, mentor teacher, or exemplary teacher) and pay differentiation. (9) (10) Carrying out programs and activities related to exemplary teachers. (b) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT— Funds received under this subpart shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this subpart. Subpart 3—Subgrants to Eligible Partnerships SEC. 2131 DEFINITIONS
In this subpart: (1) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP— The term ‘eligible partnership’ means an entity that— (A) shall include— (i) a private or State institution of higher education and the division of the institution that prepares teachers and principals; (iii) a high-need local educational agency; and (B) may include another local educational agency, a public charter school, an elementary school or secondary school, an educational service agency, a nonprofit educational organization, another institution of higher education, a school of arts and sciences within such an institution, the division of such an institution that prepares teachers and principals, a nonprofit cultural organization, an entity carrying out a prekindergarten program, a teacher organization, a principal organization, or a business. (2) LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOL— The term ‘low-performing school’ means an elementary school or secondary school that is identified under section 1116. SEC. 2132 SUBGRANTS
(a) IN GENERAL— The State agency for higher education for a State that receives a grant under section 2111, working in conjunction with the State educational agency (if such agencies are separate), shall use the funds reserved under section 2113(a)(2) to make subgrants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to enable such partnerships to carry out the activities described in section 2134. (b) DISTRIBUTION— The State agency for higher education shall ensure that— (1) such subgrants are equitably distributed by geographic area within a State; or (c) SPECIAL RULE— No single participant in an eligible partnership may use more than 50 percent of the funds made available to the partnership under this section. SEC. 2133 APPLICATIONS To be eligible to receive a subgrant under this subpart, an eligible partnership shall submit an application to the State agency for higher education at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the agency may require. SEC. 2134 USE OF FUNDS (a) IN GENERAL— An eligible partnership that receives a subgrant under section 2132 shall use the subgrant funds for— (1) professional development activities in core academic subjects to ensure that— (A) teachers and highly qualified paraprofessionals, and, if appropriate, principals have subject matter knowledge in the academic subjects that the teachers teach, including the use of computer related technology to enhance student learning; and (B) principals have the instructional leadership skills that will help such principals work most effectively with teachers to help students master core academic subjects; and (2) developing and providing assistance to local educational agencies and individuals who are teachers, highly qualified paraprofessionals, or principals of schools served by such agencies, for sustained, high-quality professional development activities that— (A) ensure that the individuals are able to use challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement standards, and State assessments, to improve instructional practices and improve student academic achievement; (B) may include intensive programs designed to prepare such individuals who will return to a school to provide instruction related to the professional development described in subparagraph (A) to other such individuals within such school; and (C) may include activities of partnerships between one or more local educational agencies, one or more schools served by such local educational agencies, and one or more institutions of higher education for the purpose of improving teaching and learning at low-performing schools. (b) COORDINATION— An eligible partnership that receives a subgrant to carry out this subpart and a grant under section 203 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 shall coordinate the activities carried out under this subpart and the activities carried out under that section 203. Subpart 4—Accountability SEC. 2141 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
(a) IMPROVEMENT PLAN— After the second year of the plan described in section 1119(a)(2), if a State educational agency determines, based on the reports described in section 1119(b)(1), that a local educational agency in the State has failed to make progress toward meeting the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2), for 2 consecutive years, such local educational agency shall develop an improvement plan that will enable the agency to meet such annual measurable objectives and that specifically addresses issues that prevented the agency from meeting such annual measurable objectives. (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE— During the development of the improvement plan described in subsection (a) and throughout implementation of the plan, the State educational agency shall— (1) provide technical assistance to the local educational agency; and (2) provide technical assistance, if applicable, to schools served by the local educational agency that need assistance to enable the local educational agency to meet the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2). (c) ACCOUNTABILITY— After the third year of the plan described in section 1119(a)(2), if the State educational agency determines, based on the reports described in section 1119(b)(1), that the local educational agency has failed to make progress toward meeting the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2), and has failed to make adequate yearly progress as described under section 1111(b)(2)(B), for 3 consecutive years, the State educational agency shall enter into an agreement with such local educational agency on the use of that agency’s funds under this part. As part of this agreement, the State educational agency— (1) shall develop, in conjunction with the local educational agency, teachers, and principals, professional development strategies and activities, based on scientifically based research, that the local educational agency will use to meet the annual measurable objectives described in section 1119(a)(2) and require such agency to utilize such strategies and activities; and (2)(A) except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), shall prohibit the use of funds received under part A of title I to fund any paraprofessional hired after the date such determination is made; (B) shall allow the use of such funds to fund a paraprofessional hired after that date if the local educational agency can demonstrate that the hiring is to fill a vacancy created by the departure of another paraprofessional funded under title I and such new paraprofessional satisfies the requirements of section 1119(c); and (C) may allow the use of such funds to fund a paraprofessional hired after that date if the local educational agency can demonstrate— (i) that a significant influx of population has substantially increased student enrollment; or (ii) that there is an increased need for translators or assistance with parental involvement activities. (d) SPECIAL RULE— During the development of the strategies and activities described in subsection (c)(1), the State educational agency shall, in conjunction with the local educational agency, provide from funds allocated to such local educational agency under subpart 2 directly to one or more schools served by such local educational agency, to enable teachers at the schools to choose, with continuing consultation with the principal involved, professional development activities that— (1) meet the requirements for professional development activities described in section 9101; and (2) are coordinated with other reform efforts at the schools. Subpart 5—National Activities SEC. 2151 NATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF DEMONSTRATED EFFECTIVENESS (a) NATIONAL TEACHER RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN— The Secretary is authorized to establish and carry out a national teacher recruitment campaign, which may include activities carried out through the National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse, to assist high-need local educational agencies in recruiting teachers (particularly those activities that are effective in retaining new teachers) and training teachers and to conduct a national public service campaign concerning the resources for, and the routes to, entering the field of teaching. In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary may promote and link the activities of the campaign to the information and referral activities of the National Teacher Recruitment Clearinghouse. The Secretary shall coordinate activities under this subsection with State and regional recruitment activities. (b) SCHOOL LEADERSHIP— (1) IN GENERAL— The Secretary is authorized to establish and carry out a national principal recruitment program to assist high-need local educational agencies in recruiting and training principals (including assistant principals) through such activities as— (A) providing financial incentives to aspiring new principals; (B) providing stipends to principals who mentor new principals; (C) carrying out professional development programs in instructional leadership and management; and (D) providing incentives that are appropriate for teachers or individuals from other fields who want to become principals and that are effective in retaining new principals. (2) GRANTS— If the Secretary uses sums made available under section 2103(b) to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall carry out such paragraph by making grants, on a competitive basis, to— (A) high-need local educational agencies; (B) consortia of high-need local educational agencies; and (C) partnerships of high-need local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. (c) ADVANCED CERTIFICATION OR ADVANCED CREDENTIALING— (1) IN GENERAL— The Secretary is authorized to support activities to encourage and support teachers seeking advanced certification or advanced credentialing through high quality professional teacher enhancement programs designed to improve teaching and learning. (2) IMPLEMENTATION— In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make grants to eligible entities to— (A) develop teacher standards that include measures tied to increased student academic achievement; and (B) promote outreach, teacher recruitment, teacher subsidy, or teacher support programs, related to teacher certification or credentialing by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the National Council on Teacher Quality, or other nationally recognized certification or credentialing organizations. (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES— In this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ includes— (A) a State educational agency; (B) a local educational agency; (C) the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, in partnership with a high-need local educational agency or a State educational agency; (D) the National Council on Teacher Quality, in partnership with a high-need local educational agency or a State educational agency; or (E) another recognized entity, including another recognized certification or credentialing organization, in partnership with a high-need local educational agency or a State educational agency. (d) SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING— The Secretary is authorized to award a grant to the University of Northern Colorado to enable such university to provide, to other institutions of higher education, assistance in training special education teachers. (e) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. (1) PURPOSE— The purpose of this subsection is to enhance the school readiness of young children, particularly disadvantaged young children, and to prevent young children from encountering difficulties once the children enter school, by improving the knowledge and skills of early childhood educators who work in communities that have high concentrations of children living in poverty. (2) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED— (A) GRANTS TO PARTNERSHIPS— The Secretary is authorized to carry out the purpose of this subsection by awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to partnerships consisting of— (i)(I) one or more institutions of higher education that provide professional development for early childhood educators who work with children from lowincome families in high-need communities; or (II) another public or private entity that provides such professional development; (ii) one or more public agencies (including local educational agencies, State educational agencies, State human services agencies, and State and local agencies administering programs under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.), Head Start agencies, or private organizations; and (iii) to the extent feasible, an entity with demonstrated experience in providing training to educators in early childhood education programs concerning identifying and preventing behavior problems or working with children identified as or suspected to be victims of abuse. (B) DURATION AND NUMBER OF GRANTS— (i) DURATION— The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection for periods of not more than 4 years. (ii) NUMBER— No partnership may receive more than one grant under this subsection. (3) APPLICATIONS— (A) APPLICATIONS REQUIRED— Any partnership that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (B) CONTENTS— Each such application shall include— (i) a description of the high-need community to be served by the project proposed to be carried out through the grant, including such demographic and socioeconomic information as the Secretary may request; (ii) information on the quality of the early childhood educator professional development program currently conducted (as of the date of the submission of the application) by the institution of higher education or another provider in the partnership; (iii) the results of a needs assessment that the entities in the partnership have undertaken to determine the most critical professional development needs of the early childhood educators to be served by the partnership and in the broader community, and a description of how the proposed project will address those needs; (iv) a description of how the proposed project will be carried out, including a description of— (I) how individuals will be selected to participate; (II) the types of professional development activities, based on scientifically based research, that will be carried out; (III) how research on effective professional development and on adult learning will be used to design and deliver project activities; (IV) how the project will be coordinated with and build on, and will not supplant or duplicate, early childhood education professional development activities in the high-need community; (V) how the project will train early childhood educators to provide developmentally appropriate school-readiness services that are based on the best available research on early childhood pedagogy and child development and learning domains; (VI) how the project will train early childhood educators to meet the diverse educational needs of children in the community, including children who have limited English proficiency, children with disabilities, or children with other special needs; and (VII) how the project will train early childhood educators in identifying and preventing behavioral problems in children or working with children identified as or suspected to be victims of abuse; (v) a description of— (I) the specific objectives that the partnership will seek to attain through the project, and the methods that the partnership will use to measure progress toward attainment of those objectives; and (II) how the objectives and the measurement methods align with the achievement indicators established by the Secretary under paragraph (6)(A); (vi) a description of the partnership’s plan for continuing the activities carried out under the project after Federal funding ceases; (vii) an assurance that, where applicable, the project will provide appropriate professional development to volunteers working directly with young children, as well as to paid staff; and (viii) an assurance that, in developing the application and in carrying out the project, the partnership has consulted with, and will consult with, relevant agencies, early childhood educator organizations, and early childhood providers that are not members of the partnership. (4) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS— (A) CRITERIA— The Secretary shall select partnerships to receive grants under this subsection on the basis of the degree to which the communities proposed to be served require assistance and the quality of the applications submitted under paragraph (3). (B) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION— In selecting partnerships to receive grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to ensure that communities in different regions of the Nation, as well as both urban and rural communities, are served. (5) USES OF FUNDS— (A) IN GENERAL— Each partnership receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to carry out activities that will improve the knowledge and skills of early childhood educators who are working in early childhood programs that are located in high-need communities and serve concentrations of children from low-income families. (B) ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES— Such activities may include— (i) professional development for early childhood educators, particularly to familiarize those educators with the application of recent research on child, language, and literacy development and on early childhood pedagogy; (ii) professional development for early childhood educators in working with parents, so that the educators and parents can work together to provide and support developmentally appropriate school-readiness services that are based on scientifically based research on early childhood pedagogy and child development and learning domains; (iii) professional development for early childhood educators to work with children who have limited English proficiency, children with disabilities, and children with other special needs; (v) activities that assist and support early childhood educators during their first 3 years in the field; (vi) development and implementation of early childhood educator professional development programs that make use of distance learning and other technologies; (vii) professional development activities related to the selection and use of screening and diagnostic assessments to improve teaching and learning; and (viii) data collection, evaluation, and reporting needed to meet the requirements of paragraph (6) relating to accountability. (6) ACCOUNTABILITY— (A) ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS— On the date on which the Secretary first issues a notice soliciting applications for grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall announce achievement indicators for this subsection, which shall be designed— (i) to measure the quality and accessibility of the professional development provided; (ii) to measure the impact of that professional development on the early childhood education provided by the individuals who receive the professional development; and (iii) to provide such other measures of program impact as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (B) ANNUAL REPORTS; TERMINATION— (i) ANNUAL REPORTS— Each partnership receiving a grant under this subsection shall report annually to the Secretary on the partnership’s progress toward attaining the achievement indicators. (ii) TERMINATION— The Secretary may terminate a grant under this subsection at any time if the Secretary determines that the partnership receiving the grant is not making satisfactory progress toward attaining the achievement indicators. (7) COST-SHARING— (A) IN GENERAL— Each partnership carrying out a project through a grant awarded under this subsection shall provide, from sources other than the program carried out under this subsection, which may include Federal sources— (i) at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project for the grant period; and (ii) at least 20 percent of the project cost for each year. (B) ACCEPTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS— A partnership may meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) by providing contributions in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, and services. (C) WAIVERS— The Secretary may waive or modify the requirements of subparagraph (A) for partnerships in cases of demonstrated financial hardship. (8) FEDERAL COORDINATION— The Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall coordinate activities carried out through programs under this subsection with activities carried out through other early childhood programs administered by the Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (9) DEFINITIONS— In this subsection: (A) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR— The term ‘early childhood educator’ means a person providing, or employed by a provider of, nonresidential child care services (including center-based, family-based, and in-home child care services) that is legally operating under State law, and that complies with applicable State and local requirements for the provision of child care services to children at any age from birth through the age at which a child may start kindergarten in that State. (B) HIGH-NEED COMMUNITY— (i) IN GENERAL— The term ‘high-need community’ means— (I) a political subdivision of a State, or a portion of a political subdivision of a State, in which at least 50 percent of the children are from low-income families; or (II) a political subdivision of a State that is among the 10 percent of political subdivisions of the State having the greatest numbers of such children. (ii) DETERMINATION— In determining which communities are described in clause (i), the Secretary shall use such data as the Secretary determines are most accurate and appropriate. (C) LOW-INCOME FAMILY— The term ‘low-income family’ means a family with an income below the poverty line for the most recent fiscal year for which satisfactory data are available. (f) TEACHER MOBILITY— (1) ESTABLISHMENT— The Secretary is authorized to establish a panel to be known as the National Panel on Teacher Mobility (referred to in this subsection as the ‘panel’). (2) MEMBERSHIP— The panel shall be composed of 12 members appointed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall appoint the members from among practitioners and experts with experience relating to teacher mobility, such as teachers, members of teacher certification or licensing bodies, faculty of institutions of higher education that prepare teachers, and State policymakers with such experience. (3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES— Members shall be appointed for the life of the panel. Any vacancy in the panel shall not affect the powers of the panel, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. (4) DUTIES— (A) STUDY— (i) IN GENERAL— The Panel shall study strategies for increasing mobility and employment opportunities for highly qualified teachers, especially for States with teacher shortages and States with school districts or schools that are difficult to staff. (ii) DATA AND ANALYSIS— As part of the study, the panel shall evaluate the desirability and feasibility of State initiatives that support teacher mobility by collecting data and conducting effective analysis concerning— (I) teacher supply and demand; (II) the development of recruitment and hiring strategies that support teachers; and (III) increasing reciprocity of certification and licensing across States. (B) REPORT— Not later than 1 year after the date on which all members of the panel have been appointed, request of a majority of the members of the panel, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the panel. (C) POSTAL SERVICES— The panel may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. (5) (6) PERSONNEL— (A) TRAVEL EXPENSES— The members of the panel shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the panel, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the panel. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the panel. (B) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES— Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the panel without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (7) PERMANENT COMMITTEE— Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the panel. For additional information, contact: Division of NCLB Program Coordination1701 North Congress AvenueAustin, TX 78701512/463-9374 nclb@tea.state.tx.us
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