S. 441 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 441 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 4, 2013 Mr. Reid (for Mr. Begich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by establishing a program to provide professional development activities for educators, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Professional Development for Educators Act of 2013. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Through careful development, teachers can build their effectiveness over time, thus improving student achievement. (2) Ongoing professional development of teachers in the subjects they teach is essential for improved student learning. (3) United States teachers generally spend more time instructing students and less time in professional learning opportunities with their peers than teachers in top-performing countries. (4) It takes time, resources, and support for teachers to become highly effective in their classrooms. Teachers participating in quality teacher professional development must be given time to implement what they have learned. 3. Professional development for educators (a) In general Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: E Professional Development for Educators 2501. Definitions In this part: (1) Eligible partner The term eligible partner means an entity that— (A) has demonstrated expertise in improving student outcomes or teacher effectiveness; and (B) is— (i) a State or local government agency; (ii) a State or local economic development agency; (iii) a statewide industry organization; (iv) a nonprofit organization; (v) a philanthropic organization; (vi) an institution of higher education; (vii) an industry association; or (viii) any other organization determined appropriate by the State or, in the case of grants awarded under section 2502(d), the Secretary. (2) Quality professional development The term quality professional development shall, for each State and local educational agency in a State, have the meaning given the term by the State in accordance with section 2503(b)(1). 2502. Program authorized; allotments (a) Program authorized From amounts appropriated to carry out this part and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary shall make allotments in accordance with subsection (c) to States to enable the States to award subgrants to local educational agencies for the purpose of providing professional development activities to educators. (b) Reservation From the amounts appropriated to carry out this part, the Secretary may reserve— (1) not more than 1 percent for national activities that support the purposes of this part, such as providing technical assistance and the costs of administering this part; and (2) not more than 1 percent for payments to outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Education, to be distributed in amounts determined by the Secretary based on relative need, to carry out the activities described in this part to benefit the schools served by the outlying areas and schools operated or funded by the Bureau. (c) State allotments (1) Formula determination For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot, to each State with an approved application, an amount that bears the same relation to the amount appropriated to carry out this part and not reserved under subsection (b) for such fiscal year, as the amount the State received under subpart 2 of part A of title I for the preceding fiscal year bears to the amounts received by all States with approved applications under such subpart for the preceding fiscal year. (2) Minimum grant amount Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no State shall receive an allotment under such paragraph for a fiscal year that is less than one-half of 1 percent of the amount appropriated to carry out this part and not reserved under subsection (b) for such fiscal year. (d) Allotments to certain local educational agencies (1) In general If a State does not submit an approvable application under this part for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the State's allotment under subsection (c) for the fiscal year to award an allotment described in paragraph (2) to each local educational agency within the State that submits an approved application. (2) Amount of allotment The allotment to a local educational agency under this subsection for a fiscal year shall be the amount that bears the same relation to the total amount of the State's allotment for such fiscal year as the amount the local educational agency received under subpart 2 of part A of title I for the preceding fiscal year bears to the amount that all local educational agencies with approved applications in the State received under such subpart for such year. (3) Notification and application process The Secretary shall notify local educational agencies in a State described in paragraph (1) of the opportunity to apply for funds under this part and of the application requirements. A local educational agency's application for an allotment under this subsection shall include the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2504(b) and shall be submitted at such time, in such manner, and containing such other information as required by the Secretary. (4) Rules and requirements The requirements of subsections (a), (c), and (d) of section 2504 shall apply to a local educational agency receiving an allotment under this subsection in the same manner as such requirements apply to a local educational agency receiving an allocation under such section. A local educational agency receiving an allotment under this subsection shall submit an annual report to the Secretary regarding the progress made under the grant and the activities carried out with grant funds. (e) Application A State desiring an allotment under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 2503. State use of funds (a) In general A State that receives an allotment under this part shall— (1) carry out the State activities described in subsection (b), except that the State may not use not more than 20 percent of the State's allotment for this purpose; and (2) use not less than 80 percent of the State's allotment to award subgrants, on a competitive basis or through allocations based on a formula that the State determines will best meet the needs of this part, to local educational agencies under section 2504 to enable the local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in such section. (b) State activities A State that receives an allotment under this part shall use funds described in subsection (a)(1) to carry out all of the following: (1) Develop, in collaboration with the local educational agencies in the State and with the input of teachers and principals employed by the local educational agencies, a definition of, and the criteria for, quality professional development activities, which shall include a requirement that such activities are regularly evaluated for their impact on increasing teacher effectiveness and improving student achievement. (2) Design and implement methods for evaluating quality professional development activities occurring in the State. (3) Make recommendations, to the State educational agency and to local educational agencies, to improve quality professional development activities in the State. (4) Design and maintain a registry that is an electronic and searchable method of storing information regarding quality professional development activities. The registry shall be searchable by relevant criteria, including— (A) subject matter; (B) grade level; (C) location; (D) credits, credentials, or certificates that may be earned; and (E) entity providing the activity. (5) Hire regional professional development coordinators to work as liaisons between the State and local educational agencies to assess existing professional development activities, assist in creating new quality professional development activities, provide to the State the quality professional development activities to be included in the registry described in paragraph (4), and carry out other activities to further the purposes of this part. (6) Evaluate the professional development activities available in the State. (7) Prepare, and submit to the Secretary, an annual report regarding the progress made under the grant under this part, including the activities carried out by the State educational agency and the local educational agencies in the State with grant funds. 2504. Local educational agency use of funds (a) In general A local educational agency that receives a subgrant under this part shall use subgrant funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (c). (b) Application A local educational agency desiring a subgrant under this part shall submit an application to the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the State may reasonably require. Each application shall include— (1) a description of any eligible partners with which the local educational agency will work to carry out the subgrant activities; and (2) a description of how the local educational agency will meet the requirement of subsection (c)(1)(B). (c) Use of funds (1) Mandatory uses of funds Each local educational agency receiving a subgrant under this part shall— (A) use grant funds to provide information to the State regarding available quality professional development activities for inclusion in the statewide registry described in section 2503(b)(4); and (B) dedicate not less than 25 percent of the subgrant funds for quality professional development activities that involve science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and career and technical education. (2) Permissive uses of funds A local educational agency receiving a subgrant under this part may, in addition to the activities described in paragraph (1), use grant funds to— (A) carry out quality professional development activities, as defined by the State under section 2503(b)(1); (B) provide updated information to teachers on changes in curricula, assessments, and educational research; (C) provide mentors to teachers or principals; (D) provide information on leadership opportunities; (E) create local educational agency-wide and school-based quality professional development plans that emphasize multiple grade levels; (F) develop new quality professional development activities to meet local and regional needs; (G) establish systematic quality professional development training opportunities for teachers and principals; (H) evaluate professional development activities; (I) evaluate the professional development activities currently being offered in the region; and (J) carry out other activities approved by the State. 2505. Supplement not supplant Funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds available to carry out the activities supported under this part. 2506. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. . (b) Conforming amendments The table of contents of section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2441 the following: Part E—Professional Development for Educators Sec. 2501. Definitions. Sec. 2502. Program authorized. Sec. 2503. State use of funds. Sec. 2504. Local educational agency use of funds. Sec. 2505. Supplement not supplant. Sec. 2506. Authorization of appropriations. .