The House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, chaired by Rep. Howard P.
"Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.), on June 4 passed by unanimous voice vote H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, and H.R. 2211, the Ready to Teach Act. The measures were the first in what will be a series of bills to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA).
If it becomes law, H.R. 438, the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act, would increase the level of higher education loan forgiveness for trained teachers who opt to teach math, science, and special education. Lawmakers have identified these three subjects as "critical shortage areas."
Under the new legislation, eligible "highly qualified" math, science, and special education teachers who serve in a Title I school with more than 30% of its students from families at or below the poverty line can qualify for total loan forgiveness of up to $17,500. The loan forgiveness is available to qualified teachers who teach for five consecutive years. Current maximum loan forgiveness for these teachers is $5,000.
"The effect of a good teacher on a child is undisputed," McKeon said in his opening statement. "By offering financial support for teachers who have made a commitment to teach in Title I schools, this bill can make it possible for more disadvantaged students to be taught by caring and competent teachers."
The new law would not have any effect on teachers currently receiving loan forgiveness who do not meet the "highly qualified" standard set out by the No Child Left Behind Act. However, teachers applying for the increased loan forgiveness amount must meet the "highly qualified" definition before receiving any loan forgiveness.
Several amendments to the bill were either voted down or withdrawn. An amendment offered by Reps. John Tierney (D-Mass.) and Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) was the subject of extended debate. The amendment would have included pre-Kindergarten and Head Start teachers in the list of teachers eligible to apply for the increased loan forgiveness amount.
The 15-12 vote on the amendment was split along party lines, with Democrats noting that increased loan forgiveness for Headstart teachers would result in decreased need for special education further down the line, and Republicans arguing that the amendment would dilute the intent to the bill as laid out by President Bush: to encourage highly qualified individuals to teach math, science, or special education.
H.R. 2211, the Ready to Teach Act, was also passed after the committee acted on a series of amendments. H.R. 2211 would amend Title II of the HEA to strengthen and improve teacher training programs to ensure that they are graduating highly qualified teachers. The bill authorizes state grants for programs that reform teacher preparation requirements, and work to improve teacher quality and thereby improve students learning.
It would also authorize partnership grants that bring together (1) teacher preparation programs, (2) a school of the arts and sciences, (3) a high-need local education agency, and (4)a public or private educational organization. Finally, the bill would create teacher recruitment grants for citizens--minorities in particular--who wish to teach.
In his opening statement, McKeon said that "in addition to strengthening accountability measures" H.R. 2211 "increases the effectiveness and quality in teacher training programs by including provisions to focus training on the skills and knowledge needed to prepare highly qualified teachers."
Both pieces of legislation will next be considered by the full House Committee on Education and the Workforce. At press time a date for that event had not been set.
By Elizabeth B. Guerard
NASFAA Assistant Director of Communications
Posted June 5, 2003 on
www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
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