HR 1119 IH

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to State and local educational agencies to pay such agencies for one-half of the salary of a teacher who uses approved sabbatical leave to pursue a course of study that will improve his or her classroom teaching.

March 20, 2001

Mrs. MINK of Hawaii introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to State and local educational agencies to pay such agencies for one-half of the salary of a teacher who uses approved sabbatical leave to pursue a course of study that will improve his or her classroom teaching.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Teacher Sabbatical Leave Grants Act'.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE USE OF SABBATICAL LEAVE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- Part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 2212. GRANTS FOR SALARY DURING SABBATICAL LEAVE.

`(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED- The Secretary may make grants to State educational agencies and local educational agencies to pay such agencies for one-half of the amount of the salary that otherwise would be earned by an eligible teacher described in subsection (b), if, in lieu of fulfilling the teacher's ordinary teaching assignment, the teacher completes a course of study described in subsection (c) during a sabbatical term described in subsection (d).

`(b) ELIGIBLE TEACHERS- An eligible teacher described in this subsection is a teacher who--

`(1) is employed by an agency receiving a grant under this section to provide classroom instruction to children at an elementary or secondary school that provides free public education;

`(2) has secured from such agency, and any other person or agency whose approval is required under State law, approval to take sabbatical leave for a sabbatical term described in subsection (d);

`(3) has submitted to the agency an application for a subgrant at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the agency may require, including--

`(A) written proof--

`(i) of the approval described in paragraph (2); and

`(ii) of the teacher's having been accepted for enrollment in a course of study described in subsection (c); and

`(B) assurances that the teacher--

`(i) will notify the agency in writing within a reasonable time if the teacher terminates enrollment in the course of study described in subsection (c) for any reason;

`(ii) in the discretion of the agency, will reimburse to the agency some or all of the amount of the subgrant if the teacher fails to complete the course of study; and

`(iii) otherwise will provide the agency with proof of having completed such course of study not later than 60 days after such completion; and

`(4) has been selected by the agency to receive a subgrant based on the agency's plan for meeting its classroom needs.

`(c) COURSE OF STUDY- A course of study described in this subsection is a course of study at an institution of higher education that--

`(1) requires not less than one academic semester and not more than one academic year to complete;

`(2) is open for enrollment for professional development purposes to an eligible teacher described in subsection (b); and

`(3) is designed to improve the classroom teaching of such teachers through academic and child development studies.

`(d) SABBATICAL TERM- A sabbatical term described in this subsection is a leave of absence from teaching duties granted to an eligible teacher for not less than one academic semester and not more than one academic year, during which period the teacher receives--

`(1) one-half of the amount of the salary that otherwise would be earned by the teacher, if the teacher had not been granted a leave of absence, from State or local funds made available by a State educational agency or a local educational agency; and

`(2) one-half of such amount from Federal funds received by such agency through a grant under this section.

`(e) PAYMENTS-

`(1) TO ELIGIBLE TEACHERS- In making a subgrant to an eligible teacher under this section, a State educational agency or a local educational agency shall agree to pay the teacher, for tax and administrative purposes, as if the teacher's regular employment and teaching duties had not been suspended.

`(2) REPAYMENT OF SECRETARY- A State educational agency or a local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall agree to pay over to the Secretary the Federal share of any amount recovered by the agency pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii).

`(f) FUNDING- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2003 through 2006. Such sums shall be in addition to the amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part under section 2003.'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 2002.

END