To increase the amount of student loans that may be forgiven for teachers in mathematics, science, and special education.

January 29, 2003

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. COLE, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. BAKER, Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico, and Mr. GRAVES) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

To increase the amount of student loans that may be forgiven for teachers in mathematics, science, and special education.

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 Recruitment and Retention Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED LOAN AMOUNTS.

(a) FFEL LOANS- Section 428J(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-10(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(3) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FOR TEACHERS IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, OR SPECIAL EDUCATION- Notwithstanding the amount specified in paragraph (1), the aggregate amount that the Secretary shall repay under this section shall not be more than $17,500 in the case of--

`(A) a secondary school teacher--

`(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b); and

`(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is teaching mathematics or science; and

`(B) an elementary or secondary school teacher--

`(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b), other than paragraphs (1)(B) and (C);

`(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is teaching special education; and

`(iii) who, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the public or nonprofit private elementary or secondary school in which the borrower is employed, is teaching children with disabilities that correspond with the borrower's training and has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the elementary or secondary school curriculum that the borrower is teaching.'.

(b) DIRECT LOANS- Section 460(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(3) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS FOR TEACHERS IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, OR SPECIAL EDUCATION- Notwithstanding the amount specified in paragraph (1), the aggregate amount that the Secretary shall repay under this section shall not be more than $17,500 in the case of--

`(A) a secondary school teacher--

`(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b)(1); and

`(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is teaching mathematics or science; and

`(B) an elementary or secondary school teacher--

`(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b)(1), other than subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (iii);

`(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is teaching special education; and

`(iii) who, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the public or nonprofit private elementary or secondary school in which the borrower is employed, is teaching children with disabilities that correspond with the borrower's training and has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the elementary or secondary school curriculum that the borrower is teaching.'.

END