To make enhancements to the Troops-to-Teachers program.

1. Adds SEC. 561. TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS at the end of subtitle F of title V of division A

   Adds a section

   In S. 3254 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (7) A description of the plans of the Armed Forces to retain or disestablish Reserve Officers' Training Corps program units that do not meet productivity standards.

   Inserted: SEC. 561. TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS.

   Inserted: (a) Transfer of Functions.--

   Inserted: (1) Transfer.--The responsibility and authority for operation and administration of the Troops-to-Teachers Program under chapter A of subpart 1 of part C of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6671 et seq.) is transferred from the Secretary of Education to the Secretary of Defense.

   Inserted: (2) Memorandum of agreement.--In connection with the transfer of responsibility and authority for operation and administration of the Troops-to-Teachers Program from the Secretary of Education to the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall enter into a memorandum of agreement pursuant to which the Secretary of Education will undertake the following:

   Inserted: (A) Disseminate information about the Troops-to-Teachers Program to eligible schools (as defined in section 2301(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6671(3)), as added by subsection (b)(2)).

   Inserted: (B) Advise the Department of Defense on how to prepare eligible members of the Armed Forces described in section 2303(a) of such Act to become participants in the Program to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in an eligible school.

   Inserted: (C) Advise the Department of Defense on how to identify teacher preparation programs for participants in the Program.

   Inserted: (D) Inform the Department of Defense of academic subject areas with critical teacher shortages.

   Inserted: (E) Identify geographic areas with critical teacher shortages, especially in high-need schools (as defined in section 2301(4) of such Act, as added by subsection (b)(2)).

   Inserted: (3) Effective date.--The transfer of responsibility and authority for operation and administration of the Troops-to-Teachers Program under paragraph (1) shall take effect--

   Inserted: (A) on the first day of the first month beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; or

   Inserted: (B) on such earlier date as the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense may jointly provide.

   Show 29 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: (b) Definitions.--Section 2301 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6671) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively; and

   Inserted: (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

   Inserted: "(2) Charter school.--The term 'charter school' has the meaning given that term in section 5210.

   Inserted: "(3) Eligible school.--The term 'eligible school' means--

   Inserted: "(A) a public school, including a charter school, at which--

   Inserted: "(i) at least 30 percent of the students enrolled in the school are from families with incomes below 185 percent of poverty level (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised at least annually in accordance with section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)) applicable to a family of the size involved; or

   Inserted: "(ii) at least 13 percent of the students enrolled in the school qualify for assistance under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; or

   Inserted: "(B) a Bureau-funded school as defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).

   Inserted: "(4) High-need school.--Except for purposes of section 2304(d), the term 'high-need school' means--

   Inserted: "(A) an elementary school or middle school in which at least 50 percent of the enrolled students are children from low-income families, based on the number of children eligible for free and reduced priced lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), the number of children in families receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the number of children eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program, or a composite of these indicators;

   Inserted: "(B) a high school in which at least 40 percent of enrolled students are children from low-income families, which may be calculated using comparable data from feeder schools; or

   Inserted: "(C) a school that is in a local educational agency that is eligible under section 6211(b).".

   Inserted: (c) Program Authorization.--Section 2302 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6672(b)) is amended by striking subsections (b) through (e) and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(b) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may carry out a program (to be known as the 'Troops-to-Teachers Program') to assist eligible members of the Armed Forces described in section 2303(a) to obtain certification or licensing as elementary school teachers, secondary school teachers, or vocational or technical teachers to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in an eligible school.

   Inserted: "(c) Authority for Program.--In accordance with section 561(a) of division A of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, the Secretary of Defense shall have the responsibility and authority for operation and administration of the program under this chapter. All references to the term 'Secretary' with respect to the Troops-to-Teachers Program under this chapter shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary of Defense, notwithstanding section 9101(39), except as provided in section 2301(8) or as otherwise specified.".

   Inserted: (d) Years of Service Requirements.--Section 2303(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6673(a)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by striking "6 or more years" and inserting "4 or more years".

   Inserted: (e) Participation Agreement.--

   Inserted: (1) Amendment.--Section 2304 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6674) is amended--

   Inserted: (A) by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(1) In general.--An eligible member of the Armed Forces selected to participate in the Program under section 2303 and to receive financial assistance under this section shall be required to enter into an agreement with the Secretary in which the member agrees--

   Inserted: "(A) within such time as the Secretary may require, to obtain certification or licensing as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or vocational or technical teacher to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in an eligible school; and

   Inserted: "(B) to accept an offer of full-time employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or vocational or technical teacher for not less than 3 school years in an eligible school, to begin the school year after obtaining that certification or licensing."; and

   Inserted: (B) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(f) Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances.--A participant who is paid a stipend or bonus shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 373 of title 37, United States Code under the following circumstances:

   Inserted: "(1) Failure to obtain qualifications or employment.--The participant fails to obtain teacher certification or licensing or to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in an eligible school or to obtain employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or vocational or technical teacher as required by the participation agreement.

   Inserted: "(2) Termination of employment.--The participant voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause from, employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or vocational or technical teacher during the 3 years of required service in violation of the participation agreement.

   Inserted: "(3) Failure to complete service under reserve commitment agreement.--The participant executed a written agreement with the Secretary concerned under section 2303(e)(2) to serve as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces for a period of 3 years and fails to complete the required term of service.".

   Inserted: (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (b) through (e) shall take effect beginning on the date upon which the transfer of authority and responsibility for operation and administration of the Troops-to-Teachers Program takes effect, in accordance with subsection (a)(3).

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle F of title V of division A, add the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed