107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3785
To establish expanded teacher loan forgiveness programs under the
guaranteed and direct student loan programs for teachers of mathematics and
science, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 26, 2002
Mr. BAKER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To establish expanded teacher loan forgiveness programs under the
guaranteed and direct student loan programs for teachers of mathematics and
science, and for other purposes.
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 `Math and Science Teacher Recruitment Act of
2002'.
SEC. 2. REVISION OF TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS.
(a) GUARANTEED STUDENT LOANS- Part B of title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 is amended by--
(1) redesignating section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) as section 428L;
and
(2) by inserting after section 428J the following new section:
`SEC. 428K. EXPANDED LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS.
`(a) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to expand, subject to the
availability of appropriations, the eligibility of individuals to qualify for
loan forgiveness for teachers beyond that available under section 428J, in
order to provide additional incentives for teachers of mathematics and science
in low-income public middle and secondary schools to enter and continue in the
teaching profession.
`(1) IN GENERAL- From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (g),
the Secretary shall carry out a program, through the holder of the loan, of
assuming the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan made
under section 428 or 428H, in accordance with subsection (c), for any
borrower who--
`(A) is employed as a full-time teacher in a low-income public school
in grades 7 through 12, inclusive, as a teacher of mathematics or
science;
`(B) has entered into an agreement with the local educational agency
to continue teaching in such grades and subject matter for not less than 3
complete school years;
`(C) had mathematics, life or physical sciences, technology, or
engineering as an undergraduate academic major, or has a graduate degree
in any such field, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the
public school in which the borrower is employed;
`(D) has a State certification (which may include certification
obtained through alternative means) or a State license to teach, and has
not failed to comply with State or local accountability standards;
and
`(E) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks
forgiveness.
`(2) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS- The Secretary shall by regulation
establish a formula that ensures fairness and equality for applicants in the
selection of borrowers for loan repayment under this section, based on the
amount of funds available to carry out this section.
`(3) CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY- Any teacher who performs service in a school
that--
`(A) meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(A) in any year during
such service; and
`(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the requirements of such
paragraph,
may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for loan
forgiveness pursuant to subsection (b).
`(4) PROHIBITION OF DOUBLE BENEFITS- No borrower may, for the same
service, receive a benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
No borrower may receive a reduction of loan obligations under both this
section and section 428J, 460, or 460A.
`(c) QUALIFIED LOAN AMOUNTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall repay not more than--
`(A) $2,500 for each complete school year of teaching described in
subsection (b)(1)(A) (after the third or any succeeding such year);
or
`(2) TREATMENT OF CONSOLIDATION LOANS- A loan amount for a loan made
under section 428C may be a qualified loan amount for the purposes of this
subsection only to the extent that such loan amount was used to repay a
Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan,
or a loan made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets the
requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Secretary.
`(d) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section:
`(1) The term `year', where applied to service as a teacher, means an
academic year as defined by the Secretary.
`(2) The term `low-income public school' means a public school with high
percentages or numbers of students from low-income families, as determined
under section 1113(a)(5) or 1124(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5), 6333(c)(1)).
`(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section may be construed to
authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.
`(f) REGULATIONS- The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as
may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
`(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2003 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.'.
(b) DIRECT STUDENT LOANS- Part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 460 the following new
section:
`SEC. 460A. EXPANDED LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR TEACHERS.
`(a) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this section to expand, subject to the
availability of appropriations, the eligibility of individuals to qualify for
loan forgiveness for teachers beyond that available under section 460, in
order to provide additional incentives for teachers of mathematics and science
in low-income public middle and secondary schools to enter and continue in the
teaching profession.
`(1) IN GENERAL- From the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (g),
the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount
in accordance with subsection (c) for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans made under this part for any
borrower who--
`(A) is employed as a full-time teacher in a public school in grades 7
through 12, inclusive, as a teacher of mathematics or science;
`(B) has entered into an agreement with the local educational agency
to continue teaching in such grades and subject matter for not less than 3
complete school years;
`(C) had mathematics, life or physical sciences, technology, or
engineering as an undergraduate academic major, or has a graduate degree
in any such field, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the
public school in which the borrower is employed;
`(D) has a State certification (which may include certification
obtained through alternative means) or a State license to teach, and has
not failed to comply with State or local accountability standards;
and
`(E) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower seeks
forgiveness.
`(2) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS- The Secretary shall by regulation
establish a formula that ensures fairness and equality for applicants in the
selection of borrowers for loan repayment under this section, based on the
amount of funds available to carry out this section.
`(3) CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY- Any teacher who performs service in a school
that--
`(A) meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(A) in any year during
such service; and
`(B) in a subsequent year fails to meet the requirements of such
paragraph,
may continue to teach in such school and shall be eligible for loan
forgiveness pursuant to subsection (b).
`(4) PROHIBITION OF DOUBLE BENEFITS- No borrower may, for the same
service, receive a benefit under both this section and subtitle D of title I
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
No borrower may receive a reduction of loan obligations under both this
section and section 428J, 428K, or 460.
`(c) QUALIFIED LOAN AMOUNTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall cancel not more than--
`(A) $2,500 for each complete school year of teaching described in
subsection (b)(1)(A) (after the third or any succeeding such year);
or
`(2) TREATMENT OF CONSOLIDATION LOANS- A loan amount for a Federal
Direct Consolidation Loan may be a qualified loan amount for the purposes of
this subsection only to the extent that such loan amount was used to repay a
Federal Direct Stafford Loan, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan,
or a loan made under section 428 or 428H for a borrower who meets the
requirements of subsection (b), as determined in accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Secretary.
`(d) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section:
`(1) The term `year', where applied to service as a teacher, means an
academic year as defined by the Secretary.
`(2) The term `low-income public school' means a public school with high
percentages or numbers of students from low-income families, as determined
under section 1113(a)(5) or 1124(c)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5), 6333(c)(1)).
`(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section may be construed to
authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan.
`(f) REGULATIONS- The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as
may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
`(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2003 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.'.
SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAM.
Section 485(a)(1)(M) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1092(a)(1)(M)) is amended--
(1) by striking `, and' at the end of clause (i) and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) by inserting `and' after the semicolon at the end of clause (ii);
and
(3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new clause:
`(iii) obtain repayment or cancellation of a portion of such loan for
service as a teacher under sections 428J, 428K, 460, and 460A;'.
END