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CLINTON LIBRARY PHOTOCOPY
Bethany hutte
STATEMENT
OF
12/6/99
INDICATION
*
*
UNITED
AMERICA
STATES
OF
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education
Washington, D.C. 20202-6100
"Deshpande, Connie" <[email protected]>
12/08/99 04:00:04 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
"Rosenfelt, Phil" <[email protected]>, "Corwin, Thomas" <[email protected]>
CC:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
Subject: specific questions to consider in light of NDAA--National Defense
Authorization Act
As a follow-up to the memo I sent you, I have enclosed the type of questions
that Mike and I have specifically regarding the transfer of function. I am
referring specifically to PL 106-65, NDAA, signed 10/5/99, sections 1701
through 1709. The transfer of function is addressed in Sec. 1707: specific
date of transfer is at 1707(b)(2).
What can ED do/not do that is still within the scope of this law? As a
result of this law, what does ED have to begin doing and how is it done?
Can ED simply assume "oversight" of the Troops To Teachers program and let
the functioning responsibilities remain at the DOD? At the same time you
are pondering these questions, so is the OGC and others at the DOD. Senator
McCain's office has made several phone calls to the DOD inquiring about the
implementation of this new law and asked specifically how it was going!
Please advise at your soonest. I suspect we'll try to pull together a small
meeting on this.
Mike, to answer an earlier question, this is just a one year authorization
which remains the law unless something else replaces any of the
language--just as was the case with the original USC 1151 of Troops To
Teachers--Senator Nunn's brainchild.
Message Copied To:
"Cohen, Mike" <[email protected]>
"Kristy, Jack" <[email protected]>
Bethany Little/OPD/EOP
"Wetmore, Cynthia" <[email protected]>
"Dozier, Terry" <[email protected]>
"Maglienti, Leanna" <[email protected]>
Office of Elementary &
Secondary Education
Memo
To:
Mike Cohen
From: Connie Deshpande
CC: Bethany Little, Diana Phillips, Budget Office
Date: 12/06/99
Re: Troops To Teachers Update
Greetings: Enclosed is for your information. Please read carefully in its
entirety and advise on next steps. We need to confer with the
Department of Defense as soon as possible, as they are waiting for our
response, as is Senator McCain's staff.
Page 1
Troops To Teachers
Program Update: 12/6/99
1. Current TTT Program Status
2. TTT Program and ED's Appropriation Bill
3. Pending TTT Legislation
4. Action need to be taken-Urgent?
5. Recommended Next Steps
1. TTT current operations & budget history¹
FY99
FY00
FY01
New Grant Award Funds
0
0
$18,000,000²
Total (estimate)
0
0
3,000*
Stipend Awards for
Troops To Teachings &
Transition To Teaching
Grant Stipend
0
0
1,200 *TTT
1,800 Transition
To Teaching
Stipend numbers to date
1,491
Average Stipend ($) amt.
$4,455.00
State office costs
$1,700,000
$1,700,000
2,000,000
Overhead costs (5%)
850,000
850,000
$900,000
What started as the McCain bill has passed, albeit in altered form-
Public Law 106-65, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),
sections 1701 through 1709 was signed on 10/5/99. These
provisions repeal entirely what was the legislative base for Troops to
Teachers, 10 USC 1151,³ and have substituted new language. The
transfer of function is addressed in Section 1707 and the specific
date of transfer is at 1707 (b) (2). 4
1 Please see attachment A for a quick historical overview of TTT through my PowerPoint presentation.
2 Troops To Teachers received no appropriations for FY 96, 97, 98 and 99. Therefore, there were no stipends
awarded last your or in the last four years.
3 Please see attachment B
4 Please see attachment C
Secretary Riley sent a letter to the Honorable Floyd Spence,
Chairman on the Committee on Armed Services June 6, 1999 that
addressed two important provisions of the NDAA. The Secretary
strongly opposed Section #579 of the bill because it didn't allow for
the flexibility to "enhance and expand" the program as stated in the
"Educational Excellence for All children Act of 1999"-introduced as
H.R. 1960 and S. 1180 respectively. The second primary concern
was that Section #579 would transfer day-to-day responsibility for
the TTT program to the Secretary of Education. The "Educational
Excellence for All Children Act" would continue those functions in the
DOD, where, based on its experience in running the program,
existing programmatic infrastructure and access to military
personnel and retirees, should be maintained. The DOD issued an
official appeal to the conferees regarding Section $579 as well.
Nonetheless, the following is what became law through NDAA.
The following is the final summary of the NDAA:
$3 million was authorized not appropriated. Even if the $3 million
was appropriated, the legislative language called for three
thousand $5,000 stipends and one thousand $10,000 bonuses
(3,000 X $5,000 stipends) + 1,000 X $10,000 bonuses) = $25
million.
What DOD'cannot do in light.of NDAA: The director of TTT
estimated that 1,200 new recruits could have been attracted
for FY2000 if given the $5,000 stipend incentive
($6,000,000 needed just for recruits). TTT receives 150
inquiries at per/month, but none can formally become a
participant because there is no money to obligate for
stipends. Without the money, many of these potential
recruits do not follow through with the process to become
certified teachers.
2
DOD was in holding pattern contingent upon ED's appropriation
bill that might pass on money to implement program. There was
no money appropriated in ED's FIE funds. As you know, ED
requested $18 million for TTT for FY2000 under FIE. This
was to be divided among stipends for TTT recruits and for
starting to put in place a system based on TTT model of
recruiting even more mid-career professionals other than
those in the military to meet the increasing student demand.
According to Carol Cichowski, Congress appropriated more
than ED requested for FIE, but has earmarked much of it.
According to Scot Flemming Shelley Amdur et. al there is no
money in FIE for Troops To Teachers. They indicated that
"the authorizers objected, saying the program, including the
Defense portion, is not authorized." OMB advised that ED
not use any of the remaining funds for new initiatives like
TTT. Cheryl Smith cautioned that the issue was addressed
by the conferees and that ED should not fund TTT out of
FIE, even if ED thinks it has the authority. Apparently, she
thought it would be too similar to what happened with
voluntary testing.
What DOD cannot do inlight of NDAA:
DOD cannot recruit, through stipends (bonuses, N/A. as they were
not offered in ED FIE funds) any new military or armed services
personnel to start alternative certification classes towards become
classroom teachers. Furthermore, the TTT program cannot give
State offices the incentives to continue their operations into the next
fiscal year because there remains uncertainty in continued funding
for the program. It isn't clear whether or not all or some of the State
offices will continue under these circumstances, which is a threat to
losing the heart of the TTT recruitment successes through State
office efforts.
3
3.Pending TTT legislation⁵
4. Action needed to be taken-urgent/not.
It is important to keep in mind a bit of the history to all the pending
legislation regarding TTT. DOD never requested any legislation
regarding TTT. None of the related bills, i.e., S.389, H.R. 1326,
S.667 or Section 579 of S. 1060 are "DOD" bills. DOD was
prepared to end the program FY99 and this announcement was
probably the catalyst to the congressional flurry on TTT. Since
the President's press conference on teacher quality earlier this
year (Feb.), DOD was following ED's lead in establishing a broad
teacher recruitment effort-Transition To Teaching.
Recommended that immediate action be taken to reiterate with
OMB or Assistant Secretary's selected contacts on Capitol Hill,
the importance of providing some FIE funding for TTT to at a
minimum offer $5,000 stipends to recruit 1,200 new teachers into
the profession for FY2000 ($6,000 million).
5. Recommended Next Steps:
Assistant Secretary, Mike Cohen act on
aforementioned "immediate action".
Mike Cohen place a call to Gail McGinn, in the Office of
the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Management
5
Please refer to the PowerPoint Presentation in attachment A.
4
Policy, to offer our continued support for ED's
proposed language in the "Educational Excellence for
All Children Act of 1999" under Title II, Part B-
Transition To Teaching: Troops To Teaching. 6 Despite
its FIE defeat, DOD needs to know that ED is still
committed to keeping Troops To Teachers operating as
one teaching recruitment tool in their effort to recruit
mid-career professionals in Transition to Teaching.
Although the authorizes objected to including money in
FIE for Troops To Teachers, ED is still optimistic that
there will be money for Transition To Teaching: Troops
To Teachers in reauthorization.
Mike Cohen should also advise that DOD should
maintain the status quo for FY2000, since neither DOD
nor ED has been given the appropriations to do
anything different that what was stated in the original
TTT language.
⁶Please refer to attachment D
5
Troops To Teachers
Attachment
A
Transition to Teaching
Troops
Teachers
Troops To Teachers (TTT)
How did ED become interested in a
Department of Defense (DOD) program?
When did ED become involved in TTT?
Exactly what is Troops to Teachers?
Exactly what is Transition to Teaching?
Troops To Teachers
Former Assistant Secretary Gerald Tirozzi
was impetus for ED to learn more of TTT.
OttoThomas, Office of Assistant Secretary
of Defense, Force Management Policy
contacted Dr. Tirozzi just over a year ago.
DOD, although recognizing TTT as a vital
teacher recruitment program, noted it was
not part of it's mission--FY99 it would end.
Troops To Teachers
The goal of this legislation was to help
improve American education by providing
mature, motivated, experienced, and
dedicated personnel for nation's classrooms.
10 USC Sec. 1151 of the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA).
Troops To Teachers
Brainchild of former Senator Nunn (D-GA)
concerned about military downsizing.
Officially authorized on January 19, 1994
by P.L. 102-484 by the National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA).
$65 million--appropriated for FY94 to
provide $5,000 stipends to separating
servicemembers and $50,000 grants to
school districts that hired participants.
Troops To Teachers
An amendment for FY94 authorized DOD
to use 10% of the appropriation to
establish/support State liaison offices.
An additional $65 million was appropriated
and committed during FY 95.
By law, the program for military personnel
was to last through FY99, but no money
was appropriated for FY96. A Senate floor
amendment to authorize $42 M failed.
Troops To Teachers
DOD is prohibited from selecting anyone to
participate unless it has sufficient
appropriations to satisfy obligations to be
incurred. No one has been selected for
stipends and grants since the end of
appropriations September 30, 1995.
Since 1996, DOD has continued to operate
TTT through its own funding.
Troops To Teachers
FY96: $800,000
FY97: $635,000
FY98: $1,900,000
FY99: $800,000
Troops To Teachers
?
What exactly is TTT?
Teacher recruitment program of DOD.
Operated by DANTES--Defense Activity
for Non-Traditional Education Support--
whose mission is to support the voluntary
education functions of the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, including the Military
Services, Reserves & other DOD
components.
Troops To Teachers
Department of Defense
William Cohen
Secretary
Frank Rush
Assistant Secretary
Office of Force Management Policy
Otto Thomas
Chief, DOD Continuing Education
John Gantz
Chief, TTT
DANTES
Headquarters staff
and 20 State offices
Troops To Teachers
Program Function: Referral & Placement
Assistance. State support offices have been
established in 20 states to assist participants
with both certification requirements and
program leads.
Troops To Teachers
TTT in Public Schools
Teachers in Public Schools
90% are male
26% are male
29% are math teachers
13% teach math
8% teach science
3% teach science
10% teach special ed
5% teach special ed
15% teach vocational
3% teach vocational
technology
technology
30% are minority
10% are minority
39% prefer inner city
16% teach inner city
68% prefer rural areas
23% teach in rural
Troops To Teachers
Melvin Early,
retired Army Major.
5th grade class at a
Dayton, Ohio inner-
city school.
Troops To Teachers
Randy Shelton,
retired LTC, Army.
3rd Grade in Prince
William County.
Troops To Teachers
Franklin Davis,
retired NCO, Air
Forcena.
Junior High Social
Studies class.
Troops To Teachers
Troops To Teachers IS a program that:
Assists participants in finding employment
opportunities.
Assists school districts in locating potential
teachers.
Maintains an Internet Job Referral web site.
Provides personal counseling services via
phone and e-mail.
Troops To Teachers
Troops To Teachers IS a program that:
Promotes teaching as a second career
through printed material and the web.
Markets to military personnel exploring
second career options.
Provides potential participant links to other
"troops" turned teacher--Mentor Program.
Troops To Teachers
Troops To Teachers IS a program that:
Provides placement assistance and
certification counseling at the State level
through a network of 24 State offices.
Promotes public education w/in community.
Troops To Teachers
Troops To Teachers is NOT:
A teacher certification program.
A teacher placement service.
A program that currently provides
financial assistance for teacher
certification.
Troops To Teachers
Troops To Teachers is NOT:
A program that provides new teacher
induction services.
A program that interferes with
employer/employee relationships.
Transition To Teaching
The military personnel fills a
fraction of the increasing student demand.
2.2 million qualified teachers are needed in
the next decade, especially in Math/Science.
Other pathways to recruiting teachers.
Transition To Teaching
Corporations
Classrooms
Engineers
Educators
Transition To Teaching
Peace Corps
Public Schools
18888881
Transition To Teaching
Steps from Troops To Teachers to Transition
To Teaching
Strong interest from Secretary Riley to
former Assistant Secretary Tirozzi as well as
from the Administration kept the Troops To
Teachers teacher recruitment effort alive.
Transition To Teaching
January 1999: President Clinton announced
ED would continue the TTT program and
extend teaching opportunities to other mid-
career professionals.
THANK
Transition To Teaching
ESEA reauthorization
Title II Part B
Education Excellence for All Children Act of 1999
Continues the work of TTT program to recruit,
prepare and support military personnel as teachers
in high need areas.
Builds on the success of TTT by recruiting,
preparing, and supporting talented mid-career
professionals from diverse fields to teach.
Transition To Teaching
The race to introduce TTT legislation
Senator McCain (S.389) on 2/99; and
(S667) on 3/99.
Reps Hefley/Edwards (H.R.1326) on 3/99
Rep McKeon (H.R.1995) in May.
Reps Davis/Roemer (H. R. 2344) on 6/99
Transition To Teaching
Senator Kennedy (S. 1180 )--Educational
Excellence for All Children Act of 1999 on
5/99.
Rep Clay (HR 1960)--Educational
Excellence for All Children Act of 1999 on
5/99.
Troops To Teachers:
Transition To Teaching
Progress to date: result of good communication
between DOD, TTT and ED.
Troops To Teachers:
Transition To Teaching
Current legislative activity as of August 9, 1999
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
of 1999 which includes McCain's provisions
has worked out a "holding pattern" for DOD.
Other action will be determined through
pending Transition To Teaching legislation.
Troops To Teachers:
Transition To Teaching
Specifically the DOD NDAA will:
Continue Troops To Teachers for 1 year under
original NDAA 1151 legislation with $3 million
appropriated;
Requires DOD and ED to discuss transitioning
Troops To Teachers to ED.
Troops To Teachers:
Transition To Teaching
Program (FY2000) will be terminated that by
repealing 10 USC 1151, and requires that
DOD transfer to ED all responsibility for TTT
by October 1, 2000.
Troops to Teachers Code
10 USC Sec. 1151. Assistance to separated members to obtain certification and employment as
teachers or employment as teachers' aides.
(g) Stipend for Participants. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense, and the
Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, shall pay to each participant in the placement
program a stipend in the amount equal to the lesser of -
(A)
$5,000; or
(B)
the total costs of the type described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (8) and (9) of section
472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 108711) incurred by the participant while
obtaining teacher certification or licensure or the necessary credentials to serve as a teacher's
aide and employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or teacher aide.
(2) A member who is separated under the special separation benefits program under section 1174a
of this title, receives voluntary separation payments under section 1175 of this title, or retires
pursuant to the authority provided in section 4403 of the National Defer Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1993 (Public Law 102-484; 10 USC 1293 note) shall not be p.
under
paragraph (1).
(3) A stipend paid under paragraph (1) shall be taken into account in determining the eligibility of
the participant for Federal student financial assistance provided under title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1070 et seq.).
(h) Grants to Facilitate Placement.
(1)
In the case of a participant in the placement program obtaining teacher certification
or licensure, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation may offer to enter
into an agreement under this subsection with the first local educational agency identified
under subsection (b)(2) that employs the participant as a full-time elementary or secondary
school teacher after the participant obtains teacher certification or licensure.
(2)
In the case of a participant in the program obtaining credentials to serve as a
teacher's aide, the Secretary concerned may offer to enter into an agreement under this
subsection with the first local educational agency identified under subsection (b)(3) that
employs the participant as a full-time teacher's aide.
(3)
Under an agreement referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) -
(A)
the local educational agency shall agree to employ the participant full time
for not less than five consecutive school years (at a basic salar; to be certified to the
Secretary concerned) in a school of the local educational agency serving a concentration
of children from low-income families; and
(B)
the Secretary concerned shall agree to pay to the local educational agency
an amount based upon the basic salary paid by the local educational agency to the
participant as a teacher or teacher" aide. The rate of payment by the Secretary concerned
shall be as follows:
(i)
For the first school year of employment, 50 percent of the
basic salary, except that the payment may not exceed $25,000.
(ii)
For the second school year of employment, 40 percent of the
basic salary, except that the payment may not exceed $10,000.
(iii)
For the third school year of employment, 30 percent of the
basic salary, except that the payment may not exceed $7,500.
(iii)
For the fourth school year of employment, 20 percent of the
basic salary, except that the payment may not exceed $5,000.
(iv)
For the fifth school year of employment, 10 percent of the
basic salary, except that the payment may not exceed $2,500.
(5)
Payments required under paragraph (2) may be made by the Secretary concerned in
such installments as the Secretary concerned may determine.
(6)
If a participant leaves the employment of a local educational agency before the end
of the five years of required service, the local educational agency shall reimburse the
Secretary concerned in an amount that bears the same ratio to the total amount already paid
under the agreement as the unserved portion bears to the five years of required service.
(7)
The Secretary concerned may not make a grant under this subsection to a local
educational agency if the Secretary concerned determines that the agency terminated the
employment of another employee in order to fill the vacancy so created with a participant.
DEC-01-1999 18:06
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Tachmont
FY
2000
PL PL 106-65
10/5/99
S. 1059-306
(c) NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION.-The Secretary of
Defense, in consultation with the Director of Central Intelligence,
shall assume responsibility for the handling and disposition of
national security information received and used by the Commission.
SEC. 1629. FUNDING.
Funds for activities of the Commission shall be provided from
amounts appropriated for the Department of Defense for operation
and maintenance for Defense-wide activities for fiscal year 2000.
Upon receipt of a written certification from the chairman of the
Commission specifying the funds required for the activities of the
Commission, the Secretary of Defense shall promptly disburse to
the Commission, from such amounts, the funds required by the
Commission as stated in such certification.
SEC. 1630. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the date of
the submission of its report under section 1623.
TITLE XVII-TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS
PROGRAM
Sec. 1701. Short title; definitions.
Sec. 1702. Authorization of Troops-to-Teachers Program.
Sec. 1703. Eligible members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 1704. Selection of participants.
Sec. 1705. Stipend and bonus for participants.
Sec. 1706. Participation by States.
Sec. 1707. Termination of original program; transfer of functions.
Sec. 1708. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 1709. Funds for fiscal year 2000.
SEC. 1701. SHORT TITLE; DEFINITIONS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.-This title may be cited as the "Troops-to-
Teachers Program Act of 1999".
(b) DEFINITIONS.-In this title:
(1) The term "administering Secretary", with respect to
the Troops-to-Teachers Program, means the following:
(A) The Secretary of Defense with respect to the Armed
Forces (other than the Coast Guard) for the period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and ending
on the date of the completion of the transfer of responsi-
bility for the Troops-to-Teachers Program to the Secretary
of Education under section 1707.
(B) The Secretary of Transportation with respect to
the Coast Guard for the period referred to in subparagraph
(A).
(C) The Secretary of Education for any period after
the period referred to in subparagraph (A).
(2) The term "alternative certification or licensure require-
ments" means State or local teacher certification or licensure
requirements that permit a demonstrated competence in appro-
priate subject areas gained in careers outside of education
to be substituted for traditional teacher training course work.
(3) The term "member of the Armed Forces" includes 8.
former member of the Armed Forces.
(4) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia,
American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam,
DEC-01-1999 18:06
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P.002/008
1059-307
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin
Islands.
SEC. 1702. AUTHORIZATION OF TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM.
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.-The administering Secretary may
carry out a program (to be known as the "Troops-to-Teachers Pro-
gram")-
(1) to assist eligible members of the Armed Forces after
their discharge or release, or retirement, from active duty to
obtain certification or licensure as elementary or secondary
school teachers or as vocational or technical teachers; and
(2) to facilitate the employment of such members by local
educational agencies identified under subsection (b)(1).
(b) IDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES WITH
TEACHER SHORTAGES.-(1) In carrying out the Troops-to-Teachers
Program, the administering Secretary shall periodically identify
local educational agencies that-
(A) are receiving grants under title I of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.)
as a result of having within their jurisdictions concentrations
of children from low-income families; or
(B) are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers, in
particular a shortage of science, mathematics, special education,
or vocational or technical teachers.
(2) The administering Secretary may identify local educational
agencies under paragraph (1) through surveys conducted for that
purpose or by using information on local educational agencies that
is available to the administering Secretary from other sources.
(c) IDENTIFICATION OF STATES WITH ALTERNATIVE CERTIFI-
CATION REQUIREMENTS.-In carrying out the Troops-to-Teachers
Program, the administering Secretary shall also conduct a survey
of States to identify those States that have alternative certification
or licensure requirements for teachers, including those States that
grant credit for service in the Armed Forces toward satisfying
certification or licensure requirements for teachers.
(d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT INFRA-
STRUCTURE.-The administering Secretary may utilize not more
than five percent of the funds available to carry out the Troops-
to-Teachers Program for a fiscal year for purposes of establishing
and maintaining the management infrastructure necessary to sup-
port the program.
SEC. 1703. ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) ELIGIBLE MEMBERS.-Subject to subsection (c), the following
members of the Armed Forces shall be eligible for selection to
participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program:
(1) Any member who-
(A) during the period beginning on October 1, 1990,
and ending on September 30, 1999, was involuntarily dis-
charged or released from active duty for purposes of a
reduction of force after six or more years of continuous
active duty immediately before the discharge or release;
and
(B) satisfies such other criteria for selection as the
administering Secretary may prescribe.
DEC-01-1999 18:06
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S.1059-308
(2) Any member who applied for the teacher placement
program administered under section 1151 of title 10, United
States Code, as in effect before its repeal by section 1707,
and who satisfies the eligibility criteria specified in subsection
(c) of such section 1151.
(3) Any member who-
(A) on or after October 1, 1999, becomes entitled to
retired or retainer pay in the manner provided in title
10 or title 14, United States Code;
(B) has the educational background required by sub-
section (b); and
(C) satisfies the criteria prescribed under paragraph
(1)(B).
(b) EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.-(1) In the case of a member
of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a)(3) who is applying
for assistance for placement as an elementary or secondary school
teacher, the administering Secretary shall require the member to
have received a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accred-
ited institution of higher education.
(2) In the case of a member described in subsection (a)(3)
who is applying for assistance for placement as a vocational or
technical teacher, the administering Secretary shall require the
member-
(A) to have received the equivalent of one year of college
from an accredited institution of higher education and have
10 or more years of military experience in a vocational or
technical field; or
(B) to otherwise meet the certification or licensure require-
ments for a vocational or technical teacher in the State in
which the member seeks assistance for placement under the
program.
(c) INELIGIBLE MEMBERS.-A member of the Armed Forces
described in subsection (a) is elígible to participate in the Troops-
to-Teachers Program only if the member's last period of service
in the Armed Forces was characterized as honorable.
(d) INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAM.-(1) The administering
Secretary shall provide information regarding the Troops-to-
Teachers Program, and make applications for the program available,
to members of the Armed Forces as part of preseparation counseling
provided under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code.
(2) The information provided to members shall-
(A) indicate the local educational agencies identified under
section 1702(b); and
(B) identify those States surveyed under section 1702(c)
that have alternative certification or licensure requirements
for teachers, including those States that grant credit for service
in the Armed Forces toward satisfying such requirements.
SEC. 1704. SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.
(a) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS.-Selection of eligible mem-
bers of the Armed Forces to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers
Program shall be made on the basis of applications submitted
to the administering Secretary on a timely basis. An application
shall be in such form and contain such information as the admin-
istering Secretary may require.
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(b) TIMELY APPLICATIONS.-An application shall be considered
to be submitted on a timely basis if the application is submitted
as follows:
(1) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces who
is eligible under section 1703(a)(1) or 1703(a)(2), not later than
September 30, 2003.
(2) In the case of a member who is eligible under section
1703(a)(3), not later than four years after the date on which
the member first receives retired or retainer pay under title
10 or title 14, United States Code.
(c) SELECTION PRIORITIES.-In selecting eligible members of
the Armed Forces to receive assistance for placement as elementary
or secondary school teachers or vocational or technical teachers,
the administering Secretary shall give priority to members who-
(1) have educational or military experience in science,
mathematics, special education, or vocational or technical sub-
jects and agree to seek employment as science, mathematics,
or special education teachers in elementary or secondary schools
or in other schools under the jurisdiction of a local educational
agency; or
(2) have educational or military experience in another sub-
ject area identified by the administering Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the National Governors Association, as important
for national educational objectives and agree to seek employ-
ment in that subject area in elementary or secondary schools.
(d) SELECTION SUBJECT TO FUNDING-The administering Sec-
retary may not select a member of the Armed Forces to participate
in the Troops-to-Teachers Program unless the administering Sec-
retary has sufficient appropriations for the program available at
the time of the selection to satisfy the obligations to be incurred
by the United States under section 1705 with respect to that
member.
(e) PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.-A member of the Armed Forces
selected to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program shall
be required to enter into an agreement with the administering
Secretary in which the member agrees—
(1) to obtain, within such time as the administering Sec-
retary may require, certification or licensure as an elementary
or secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher;
and
(2) to accept an offer of full-time employment as an
elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or tech-
nical teacher for not less than four school years with a local
educational agency identified under section 1702, to begin the
school year after obtaining that certification or licensure.
(f) EXCEPTIONS TO VIOLATION DETERMINATION.-A participant
in the Troops-to-Teachers Program shall not be considered to be
in violation of an agreement entered into under subsection (e)
during any period in which the participant-
(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study related to the
field of teaching at an eligible institution;
(2) is serving on active duty as a member of the Armed
Forces;
(3) is temporarily totally disabled for a period of time
not to exceed three years as established by sworn affidavit
of a qualified physician;
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(4) is unable to secure employment for a period not to
exceed 12 months by reason of the care required by a spouse
who is disabled;
(5) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment
as a teacher in an elementary or secondary school or as a
vocational or technical teacher for a single period not to exceed
27 months; or
(6) satisfies the provisions of additional reimbursement
exceptions that may be prescribed by the administering Sec-
retary.
SEC. 1705. STIPEND AND BONUS FOR PARTICIPANTS.
(a) STIPEND AUTHORIZED.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the
administering Secretary shall pay to each participant in the Troops-
to-Teachers Program a stipend in an amount equal to $5,000.
(2) The total number of stipends that may be paid under
paragraph (1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 3,000.
(b) BONUS AUTHORIZED.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the
administering Secretary may, in lieu of paying a stipend under
subsection (a), pay a bonus of $10,000 to each participant in the
Troops-to-Teachers Program who agrees under section 1704(e) to
accept full-time employment as an elementary or secondary school
teacher or vocational or technical teacher for not less than four
years in a high need school.
(2) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under para-
graph (1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 1,000.
(3) In this subsection, the term "high need school" means an
elementary school or secondary school that meets one or more
of the following criteria:
(A) The school has a drop out rate that exceeds the national
average school drop out rate.
(B) The school has a large percentage of students (as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Education in consultation with the
National Assessment Governing Board) who speak English as
a second language.
(C) The school has a large percentage of students (as so
determined) who are at risk of educational failure by reason
of limited proficiency in English, poverty, race, geographic loca-
tion, or economic circumstances.
(D) At least one-half of the students of the school are
from families with an income below the poverty line (as that
term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget and
revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the
Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))
applicable to a family of the size involved.
(E) The school has a large percentage of students (as so
determined) who qualify for assistance under part B of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411
et seq.).
(F) The school meets any other criteria established by
the administering Secretary in consultation with the National
Assessment Governing Board.
(c) TREATMENT OF STIPEND AND BONUS.-Stipends and bonuses
paid under this section shall be taken into account in determining
the eligibility of the participant concerned for Federal student finan-
cial assistance provided under title IV of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
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(d) REIMBURSEMENT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.-(1) If
a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program fails to obtain
teacher certification or licensure or employment as an elementary
or secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher as
required by the agreement under section 1704(e) or voluntarily
leaves, or is terminated for cause, from the employment during
the four years of required service in violation of the agreement,
the participant shall be required to reimburse the administering
Secretary for any stipend paid to the participant under subsection
(a) in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of
the stipend as the unserved portion of required service bears to
the four years of required service.
(2) If a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program who
is paid a bonus under subsection (b) fails to obtain employment
for which the bonus was paid as required by the agreement under
section 1704(e), or voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause
from the employment during the four years of required service
in violation of the agreement, the participant shall be required
to reimburse the administering Secretary for any bonus paid to
the participant under that subsection in an amount that bears
the same ratio to the amount of the bonus as the unserved portion
of required service bears to the four years of required service.
(3) The obligation to reimburse the administering Secretary
under this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United
States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, United States
Code, shall not release a participant from the obligation to
reimburse the administering Secretary.
(4) Any amount owed by a participant under this subsection
shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being
paid by the United States on the day on which the reimbursement
is determined to be due for securities having maturities of ninety
days or less and shall accrue from the day on which the participant
is first notified of the amount due.
(e) EXCEPTIONS TO REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENT.-A partici-
pant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program shall be excused from
reimbursement under subsection (d) if the participant becomes
permanently totally disabled as established by sworn affidavit of
a qualified physician. The administering Secretary may also waive
reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the participant,
as determined by the administering Secretary.
(f) RELATIONSHIP TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONT-
GOMERY GI BILL.-The receipt by a participant in the Troops-
to-Teachers Program of any assistance under the program shall
not reduce or otherwise affect the entitlement of the participant
to any benefits under chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code,
or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code.
SEC. 1706. PARTICIPATION BY STATES.
(a) DISCHARGE OF STATE ACTIVITIES THROUGH CONSORTIA OF
STATES.-The administering Secretary may permit States partici-
pating in the Troops-to-Teachers Program to carry out activities
authorized for such States under the program through one or more
consortia of such States.
(b) ASSISTANCE TO STATES.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the
administering Secretary may make grants to States participating
in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, or to consortia of such States,
in order to permit such States or consortia of States to operate
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offices for purposes of recruiting eligible members of the Armed
Forces for participation in the program and facilitating the employ-
ment of participants in the program in schools in such States
or consortia of States.
(2) The total amount of grants under paragraph (1) in any
fiscal year may not exceed $4,000,000.
SEC. 1707. TERMINATION OF ORIGINAL PROGRAM; TRANSFER OF
FUNCTIONS.
(a) TERMINATION.-(1) Section 1151 of title 10, United States
Code, is repealed.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of
such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1151.
(3) The repeal of such section shall not affect the validity
or terms of any agreement entered into before the date of the
enactment of this Act under subsection (f) of such section, or to
pay assistance, make grants, or obtain reimbursement in connection
with such an agreement under subsections (g), (h), and (i) of such
section, as in effect before its repeal.
(b) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS.-(1) The Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Education
shall provide for the transfer to the Secretary of Education of
any on-going functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to
(A) the program authorized by section 1151 of title 10,
United States Code, before its repeal by subsection (a)(1); and
(B) the Troops-to-Teachers Program for the period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending
on September 30, 2000.
(2) The Secretaries referred to in paragraph (1) shall complete
the transfer under such paragraph not later than October 1, 2000.
(3) After completion of the transfer, the Secretary of Education
shall discharge that Secretary's functions and responsibilities with
respect to the program in consultation with the Secretary of Defense
and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast
Guard.
SEC. 1708. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.-Not later than March 31, 2001, the
Secretary of Education (in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Transportation) and the Comptroller
General shall each submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness
of the Troops-to-Teachers Program in the recruitment and retention
of qualified personnel by local educational agencies identified under
section 1702(b).
(b) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.-The report under subsection (a)
shall include information on the following:
(1) The number of participants in the Troops-to-Teachers
Program.
(2) The schools in which such participants are employed.
(3) The grade levels at which such participants teach.
(4) The subject matters taught by such participants.
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(5) The effectiveness of the teaching of such participants,
as indicated by any relevant test scores of the students of
such participants.
(6) The extent of any academic improvement in the schools
in which such participants teach by reason of their teaching.
(7) The rates of retention of such participants by the local
educational agencies employing such participants.
(8) The effect of any stipends or bonuses under section
1705 in enhancing participation in the program or in enhancing
recruitment or retention of participants in the program by
the local educational agencies employing such participants.
(9) Such other matters as the Secretary of Education or
the Comptroller General, as the case may be, considers appro-
priate.
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS-The report of the Comptroller General
under this section shall also include any recommendations of the
Comptroller General as to means of improving the Troops-to-
Teachers Program, including means of enhancing the recruitment
and retention of participants in the program.
SEC. 1709. FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.
Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 301
for operation and maintenance for fiscal year 2000, $3,000,000
shall be available for purposes of carrying out the Troops-to-
Teachers Program.
DIVISION B-MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
AUTHORIZATIONS
SEC. 2001. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the "Military Construction
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000".
TITLE XXI-ARMY
Sec. 2101. Authorized Army construction and land acquisition projects.
Sec. 2102. Family housing.
Sec. 2103. Improvements to military family housing units.
Sec. 2104. Authorization of appropriations, Army.
SEC. 2101. AUTHORIZED ARMY CONSTRUCTION AND LAND ACQUISI-
TION PROJECTS.
(a) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.-Using amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in section
2104(a)(1), the Secretary of the Army may acquire real property
and carry out military construction projects for the installations
and locations inside the United States, and in the amounts, set
forth in the following table:
TOTAL P.008
Attachment
D
TITLE II, PART B - TRANSITION TO TEACHING:
TROOPS TO TEACHERS
What's New
The Educational Excellence for All Children Act of 1999:
Continues the work of the Troops to Teachers program in recruiting, preparing, and
supporting retired military personnel as teachers in high-need areas; and
Builds on the success of Troops to Teachers by recruiting, preparing, and supporting talented
midcareer professionals from diverse fields as classroom teachers through the Transition to
Teaching initiative.
The Transition to Teaching initiative continues and builds upon the highly successful work of the
Department of Defense's Troops to Teachers program. Troops to Teachers was created in 1994
to help improve public school education by injecting the talent, skills, and experience of military
service members and other federal civilian personnel into high-poverty schools.
Transition to Teaching would retain Troops to Teachers and provide funds to recruit and support
a wide range of talented career-changing professionals - such as engineers and scientists,
corporate professionals, and returning Peace Corps volunteers - as teachers, particularly in
high-poverty school districts and high-need subject areas. Former members of the military
services would continue to be a key focus of the new program's recruitment efforts.
What We've Learned
The Troops to Teachers program has been a particularly effective vehicle for recruiting former
members of the military services and placing them as teachers in high-need subject areas and
school districts. 14 Since the program was established in January 1994, over 3,300 former
military personnel have been hired as teachers in 48 states and the District of Columbia. More
than 83 percent of the participants are still in the classroom today. The average participant is 41
years old. Teachers recruited through Troops to Teachers are twice as likely as traditional public
school teachers to teach mathematics, science, or special education and three times as likely to be
members of minority groups. On surveys, they also indicate a greater willingness to teach in
inner cities or rural communities.
As a result of increasing enrollments, natural teacher turnover, and the retirement of many
veteran teachers, our nation faces the challenge of hiring more than 2 million teachers over the
next 10 years. 15 High attrition rates further complicate the challenge of providing all of
America's students with high-quality teachers. The problem of attrition is particularly acute
among new teachers, approximately 22 percent of whom leave the profession after teaching for
three years or less. 16 In addition, research shows that highly qualified teachers are not evenly
distributed across academic disciplines or geographic areas.
17, 18
Midcareer professionals interested in changing jobs are an important and largely untapped
resource for addressing teacher shortages. Recent studies have found that a significant number
of midcareer professionals who possess strong subject matter skills are interested in beginning a
teaching career.
19, 20
What We Propose
The Educational Excellence for All Children Act of 1999 would:
Continue the successful Troops to Teachers program for recruiting, preparing, and supporting
retired military personnel as teachers in high-need subject areas and school districts.
Build on the Troops to Teachers approach to support similar programs for other midcareer
professionals by awarding grants to public agencies, institutions of higher education, and
nonprofit organizations to recruit, prepare, and support career-changing professionals from
diverse fields whose knowledge and experience could help them become successful teachers.
Title II of the Educational Excellence for All Children Act of 1999
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