20 U.S.C. § 1034 — Teach to reach grants

Page 267 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1034 (3) Developing and implementing initiatives to promote retention of teachers who meet the applicable State certification and licensure re- quirements, including any requirements for certification obtained through alternative routes to certification, or, with regard to spe- cial education teachers, the qualifications de- scribed in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title, and highly qualified principals, including mi- nority teachers and principals, including pro- grams that provide— (A) teacher or principal mentoring from exemplary teachers or principals, respec- tively; or (B) induction and support for teachers and principals during their first three years of employment as teachers or principals, re- spectively. (4) Awarding scholarships based on financial need to help students pay the costs of tuition, room, board, and other expenses of completing a teacher preparation program, not to exceed the cost of attendance. (5) Disseminating information on effective practices for teacher preparation and success- ful teacher certification and licensure assess- ment preparation strategies. (6) Activities authorized under section 1022a of this title. (c) Application Any eligible institution desiring a grant under this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such a manner, and accompanied by such information as the Sec- retary may require. (d) Minimum grant amount The minimum amount of each grant under this subpart shall be $500,000. (e) Limitation on administrative expenses An eligible institution that receives a grant under this subpart may use not more than two percent of the funds provided to administer the grant. (f) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subpart. (Pub. L. 89–329, title II, § 242, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title II, § 201(3), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3158; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9214(c)(8), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2163.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 242 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1047a of this title, prior to the general amend- ment of former part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498. AMENDMENTS 2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(c)(8)(A), sub- stituted ‘‘meet the applicable State certification and licensure requirements, including any requirements for certification obtained through alternative routes to certification, or, with regard to special education teachers, the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title,’’ for ‘‘are highly qualified’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(c)(8)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘meet the applicable State certification and licensure requirements, including any requirements for certification obtained through alternative routes to certification, or, with regard to special education teachers, the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title,’’ for ‘‘are highly qualified,’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(c)(8)(C), sub- stituted ‘‘teachers who meet the applicable State cer- tification and licensure requirements, including any re- quirements for certification obtained through alter- native routes to certification, or, with regard to special education teachers, the qualifications described in sec- tion 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title, and highly qualified principals’’ for ‘‘highly qualified teachers and prin- cipals’’ in introductory provisions. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive pro- grams and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title. SUBPART 3—PREPARING GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY EDUCATE STU- DENTS WITH DISABILITIES § 1034. Teach to reach grants (a) Authorization of program (1) In general The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to improve the preparation of general edu- cation teacher candidates to ensure that such teacher candidates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively instruct stu- dents with disabilities in general education classrooms. (2) Duration of grants A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than five years. (3) Non-Federal share An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall provide not less than 25 percent of the cost of the activities carried out with such grant from non-Federal sources, which may be provided in cash or in kind. (b) Definition of eligible partnership In this section, the term ‘‘eligible partner- ship’’ means a partnership that— (1) shall include— (A) one or more departments or programs at an institution of higher education— (i) that prepare elementary or secondary general education teachers; (ii) that have a program of study that leads to an undergraduate degree, a mas- ter’s degree, or completion of a postbaccalaureate program required for teacher certification; and (iii) the graduates of which meet the ap- plicable State certification and licensure requirements, including any requirements for certification obtained through alter- native routes to certification, or, with re- gard to special education teachers, the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title; Page 268 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1034 (B) a department or program of special education at an institution of higher edu- cation; (C) a department or program at an institu- tion of higher education that provides de- grees in core academic subjects; and (D) a high-need local educational agency; and (2) may include a department or program of mathematics, earth or physical science, for- eign language, or another department at the institution that has a role in preparing teach- ers. (c) Activities An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section— (1) shall use the grant funds to— (A) develop or strengthen an under- graduate, postbaccalaureate, or master’s teacher preparation program by integrating special education strategies into the general education curriculum and academic content; (B) provide teacher candidates partici- pating in the program under subparagraph (A) with skills related to— (i) response to intervention, positive be- havioral interventions and supports, dif- ferentiated instruction, and data driven instruction; (ii) universal design for learning; (iii) determining and utilizing accom- modations for instruction and assess- ments; (iv) collaborating with special educators, related services providers, and parents, in- cluding participation in individualized education program development and im- plementation; and (v) appropriately utilizing technology and assistive technology for students with disabilities; and (C) provide extensive clinical experience for participants described in subparagraph (B) with mentoring and induction support throughout the program that continues dur- ing the first two years of full-time teaching; and (2) may use grant funds to develop and ad- minister alternate assessments of students with disabilities. (d) Application An eligible partnership seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include— (1) a self-assessment by the eligible partner- ship of the existing teacher preparation pro- gram at the institution of higher education and needs related to preparing general edu- cation teacher candidates to instruct students with disabilities; and (2) an assessment of the existing personnel needs for general education teachers who in- struct students with disabilities, performed by the local educational agency in which most graduates of the teacher preparation program are likely to teach after completion of the pro- gram under subsection (c)(1). (e) Peer review The Secretary shall convene a peer review committee to review applications for grants under this section and to make recommenda- tions to the Secretary regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the peer review committee shall be recognized experts in the fields of spe- cial education, teacher preparation, and general education and shall not be in a position to ben- efit financially from any grants awarded under this section. (f) Evaluations (1) By the partnership (A) In general An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section shall conduct an evalua- tion at the end of the grant period to deter- mine— (i) the effectiveness of the general edu- cation teachers who completed a program under subsection (c)(1) with respect to in- struction of students with disabilities in general education classrooms; and (ii) the systemic impact of the activities carried out by such grant on how each in- stitution of higher education that is a member of the partnership prepares teach- ers for instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools. (B) Report to the Secretary Each eligible partnership performing an evaluation under subparagraph (A) shall re- port the findings of such evaluation to the Secretary. (2) Report by the Secretary Not later than 180 days after the last day of the grant period under this section, the Sec- retary shall make available to Congress and the public the findings of the evaluations sub- mitted under paragraph (1), and information on best practices related to effective instruc- tion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms. (Pub. L. 89–329, title II, § 251, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title II, § 201(3), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3159; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9214(c)(9), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2163.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1034, Pub. L. 89–329, title II, § 224, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title II, § 201, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 470, required Secretary to consult with appro- priate library and information science professional bod- ies in determining critical needs and priorities under former sections 1032 and 1033 of this title, prior to re- peal by Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 708(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–312. Another prior section 1034, Pub. L. 89–329, title II, § 224, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title II, § 201, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1385, authorized special purpose grants, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–498, title II, § 204(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1289. Another prior section 1034, Pub. L. 89–329, title II, § 223, formerly § 224, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1228, Pub. L. 91–230, title IV, § 401(h)(4), Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 174, and renumbered Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 111(b)(3)(D), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 240, related to grants for research and demonstration projects, prior to the general amend- ment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 96–374. Page 269 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1035 A prior section 251 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1047j of this title, prior to the general amend- ment of former part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498. AMENDMENTS 2015—Subsec. (b)(1)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 114–95 substituted ‘‘meet the applicable State certification and licensure requirements, including any requirements for certifi- cation obtained through alternative routes to certifi- cation, or, with regard to special education teachers, the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title’’ for ‘‘are highly qualified’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive pro- grams and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title. SUBPART 4—ADJUNCT TEACHER CORPS § 1035. Adjunct teacher corps (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to create oppor- tunities for professionals and other individuals with subject matter expertise in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages to provide such subject matter expertise to secondary school students on an adjunct basis. (b) Program authorized The Secretary is authorized to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to identify, recruit, and train qualified individuals with subject matter expertise in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages to serve as adjunct content specialists. (c) Duration of grants The Secretary may award grants under this section for a period of not more than five years. (d) Eligible entity In this section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— (1) a local educational agency; or (2) a partnership consisting of a local edu- cational agency, serving as a fiscal agent, and a public or private educational organization or business. (e) Uses of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section is authorized to use such grant to carry out one or both of the following activities: (1) To develop the capacity of the eligible en- tity to identify, recruit, and train individuals with subject matter expertise in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages who are not employed in the elementary and secondary education system (including individuals in business and government, and individuals who would participate through distance-learning arrangements) to become adjunct content spe- cialists. (2) To provide preservice training and on- going professional development to adjunct content specialists. (f) Applications (1) Application required An eligible entity that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a description of— (i) the need for, and expected benefits of using, adjunct content specialists in the schools served by the local educational agency, which may include information on the difficulty the local educational agency faces in recruiting qualified faculty in mathematics, science, and critical foreign language courses; (ii) measurable objectives for the activi- ties supported by the grant, including the number of adjunct content specialists the eligible entity intends to place in schools and classrooms, and the gains in academic achievement expected as a result of the ad- dition of such specialists; (iii) how the eligible entity will establish criteria for and recruit the most qualified individuals and public or private organiza- tions and businesses to participate in the activities supported by the grant; (iv) how the eligible entity will provide preservice training and on-going profes- sional development to adjunct content spe- cialists to ensure that such specialists have the capacity to serve effectively; (v) how the eligible entity will use funds received under this section, including how the eligible entity will evaluate the suc- cess of the activities supported by the grant; and (vi) how the eligible entity will support and continue the activities supported by the grant after the grant has expired, in- cluding how such entity will seek support from other sources, such as State and local government and the private sector; and (B) an assurance that the use of adjunct content specialists will not result in the dis- placement or transfer of currently employed teachers nor a reduction in the number of overall teachers in the district. (g) Priorities In awarding grants under this section, the Sec- retary shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate in the application for such a grant a plan to— (1) serve the schools served by the local edu- cational agency that have a large number or percentage of students performing below grade level in mathematics, science, or critical for- eign language courses; (2) serve local educational agencies that have a large number or percentage of students from low-income families; and (3) recruit and train individuals to serve as adjunct content specialists in schools that have an insufficient number of teachers in mathematics, science, or critical foreign lan- guages. (h) Matching requirement Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Fed-