S. 883

Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Teachers Act of 2007

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II

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 883

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 14, 2007

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Voinovich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend loan forgiveness for certain loans to Head Start teachers.

1.

Loan forgiveness for Head Start teachers

(a)

Short title

This section may be cited as the Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Teachers Act of 2007.

(b)

Head Start teachers

Section 428J of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

(1)
(A)

has been employed—

(i)

as a full-time teacher for 5 consecutive complete school years in a school that qualifies under section 465(a)(2)(A) for loan cancellation for Perkins loan recipients who teach in such a school; or

(ii)

as a Head Start teacher for 5 consecutive complete program years under the Head Start Act; and

(B)(i)

if employed as an elementary school or secondary school teacher, is highly qualified as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, or meets the requirements of subsection (g)(3); and

(ii)

if employed as a Head Start teacher, has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, early childhood development, and other areas of a preschool curriculum, with a focus on cognitive learning; and

;

(2)

in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Head start

An individual shall be eligible for loan forgiveness under this section for service described in clause (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(A) only if such individual received a baccalaureate or graduate degree on or after the date of enactment of the Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Teachers Act of 2007.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011 and succeeding fiscal years to carry out loan repayment under this section for service described in clause (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(A).

.

(c)

Direct student loan forgiveness

(1)

In general

Section 460 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

(A)
(i)

has been employed—

(I)

as a full-time teacher for 5 consecutive complete school years in a school that qualifies under section 465(a)(2)(A) for loan cancellation for Perkins loan recipients who teach in such a school; or

(II)

as a Head Start teacher for 5 consecutive complete program years under the Head Start Act; and

(ii)
(I)

if employed as an elementary school or secondary school teacher, is highly qualified as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, or meets the requirements of subsection (g)(3); and

(II)

if employed as a Head Start teacher, has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in reading, writing, early childhood development, and other areas of a preschool curriculum, with a focus on cognitive learning; and

;

(B)

in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Head start

An individual shall be eligible for loan forgiveness under this section for service described in subclause (II) of subsection (b)(l)(A)(i) only if such individual received a baccalaureate or graduate degree on or after the date of enactment of the Loan Forgiveness for Head Start Teachers Act of 2007.

; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011 and succeeding fiscal years to carry out loan repayment under this section for service described in subclause (II) of subsection (b)(1)(A)(i).

.

(d)

Conforming Amendments

(1)

FFEL program

Section 428J of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (c)(1), by inserting or fifth complete program year after fifth complete school year of teaching;

(B)

in subsection (f), by striking subsection (b) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(A)(i);

(C)

in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking subsection (b)(1)(A) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(A)(i); and

(D)

in subsection (h), by inserting except as part of the term program year, before where.

(2)

Direct Loan Program

Section 460 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (c)(1), by inserting or fifth complete program year after fifth complete school year of teaching;

(B)

in subsection (f), by striking subsection (b) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)(I);

(C)

in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking subsection (b)(1)(A) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)(I); and

(D)

in subsection (h), by inserting except as part of the term program year, before where.