text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Teaching Standards and 
  License Portability Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. TEACHING STANDARDS AND LICENSE PORTABILITY.
  
      Part C of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
  1965 (20 U.S.C. 6671 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
  following:
  
          ``Subpart 6--Teaching Standards and License Portability
  
  ``SEC. 2371. PURPOSES.
  
      ``The purposes of this subpart are the following:
              ``(1) To support the development of rigorous kindergarten 
          through grade 12 teaching standards that incorporate 21st 
          century learning skills.
              ``(2) To create incentives for States to adopt, pilot, and 
          implement such rigorous kindergarten through grade 12 teaching 
          standards.
              ``(3) To create incentives for States to align the States' 
          teacher licensing systems to such rigorous kindergarten through 
          grade 12 teaching standards.
              ``(4) To create incentives for States to develop policies 
          to facilitate teacher license portability across States in 
          order to improve the capacity of States to collaboratively 
          address teacher shortages.
  
  ``SEC. 2372. DEFINITIONS.
  
      ``In this subpart:
              ``(1) Core teaching standards.--The term `core teaching 
          standards' means standards that all beginning teachers should 
          know and be able to teach in order to practice responsibly, 
          regardless of the subject matter or grade level being taught.
              ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an 
          organization representing administrators of State educational 
          agencies in partnership with 1 or more independent professional 
          organizations with expertise in the following areas:
                      ``(A) Teacher preparation and licensure.
                      ``(B) Assessment of teacher knowledge, skills, and 
                  competencies.
              ``(3) 21st century learning skills.--The term `21st century 
          learning skills' means the skills, knowledge, and competencies 
          that students should master to succeed in postsecondary 
          education and the workforce of the 21st century, including 
          creativity and innovation skills, critical thinking and 
          problem-solving skills, communication and collaboration skills, 
          information and technology literacy, civic and health literacy, 
          adaptability, social and cross-cultural skills, and leadership 
          skills.
  
  ``SEC. 2373. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
  
      ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to award a 
  competitive grant to an eligible entity to enable such entity to carry 
  out the following:
              ``(1) The development or updating of core teaching 
          standards and content-specific kindergarten through grade 12 
          teaching standards that are rigorous and incorporate 21st 
          century learning skills and recent research and expert 
          knowledge on teaching practices.
              ``(2) The development of teacher assessments linked to the 
          kindergarten through grade 12 teaching standards that can be 
          used for licensing, are valid and reliable, and are 
          performance-based.
              ``(3) The awarding of subgrants as described in subsection 
          (b)(2) to State educational agencies.
              ``(4) The provision of technical assistance to States in 
          the adoption, pilot testing, and implementation of kindergarten 
          through grade 12 teaching standards and teacher assessments as 
          described in paragraph (2).
              ``(5) The provision of technical assistance to States to 
          facilitate teacher license portability across States through 
          changes in relevant State policies or the creation of new 
          policies for such purpose.
      ``(b) Uses of Funds.--
              ``(1) Direct activities.--
                      ``(A) First and second years.--An eligible entity 
                  that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use 
                  100 percent of the funds made available through the 
                  grant for the first and second fiscal years--
                              ``(i) to develop or update the core 
                          teaching standards and content-specific 
                          kindergarten through grade 12 teaching 
                          standards; and
                              ``(ii) to develop and pilot test teacher 
                          performance assessments that can be used to 
                          supplement or supplant current State licensing 
                          exams.
                      ``(B) Third year and beyond.--An eligible entity 
                  that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use 
                  not more than 40 percent of the funds made available 
                  through the grant for the third fiscal year, not more 
                  than 30 percent of the funds made available through the 
                  grant for the fourth fiscal year, and not more than 20 
                  percent of the funds made available through the grant 
                  for the fifth fiscal year--
                              ``(i) to continue pilot testing and 
                          validating the teacher performance assessments;
                              ``(ii) to disseminate the kindergarten 
                          through grade 12 teaching standards, 
                          assessments, and any other materials that 
                          States may need to properly evaluate and adopt 
                          such standards, assessments, and materials;
                              ``(iii) to provide technical assistance to 
                          States in--
                                      ``(I) adopting the kindergarten 
                                  through grade 12 teaching standards;
                                      ``(II) pilot testing the teacher 
                                  assessments; and
                                      ``(III) reliably and accurately 
                                  administering and interpreting the 
                                  teacher assessments; and
                              ``(iv) to fund research activities that 
                          further the development of kindergarten through 
                          grade 12 teaching standards and assessments.
              ``(2) Subgrants.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
          under subsection (a) shall use not less than 60 percent of the 
          funds made available through the grant for the third fiscal 
          year, not less than 70 percent of the funds made available 
          through the grant for the fourth fiscal year, and not less than 
          80 percent of the funds made available through the grant for 
          the fifth fiscal year to award subgrants to State educational 
          agencies to pay the Federal share of the costs of carrying out 
          the following activities in the States:
                      ``(A) To adopt the core teaching standards and 
                  content-specific kindergarten through grade 12 teaching 
                  standards developed or updated by the eligible entity.
                      ``(B) To align the States' teacher licensing 
                  systems to such standards, which may include the pilot 
                  testing and use of teacher assessments developed by the 
                  eligible entity under paragraph (1)(A)(ii).
                      ``(C) To change relevant policies or introduce new 
                  policies to facilitate teacher license portability 
                  across the States.
  
  ``SEC. 2374. APPLICATIONS.
  
      ``(a) Grant Application.--
              ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that desires a grant 
          under this subpart shall submit to the Secretary an application 
          at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
          information as the Secretary may require.
              ``(2) Contents.--In an application submitted under 
          paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall include, at a minimum, 
          a description of the capability of the entity to carry out 
          section 2373(b).
      ``(b) Subgrant Application.--
              ``(1) In general.--A State educational agency that desires 
          a subgrant under this subpart shall submit an application to 
          the eligible entity at such time, in such manner, and 
          accompanied by such information as the eligible entity may 
          require.
              ``(2) Contents.--In an application submitted under 
          paragraph (1), a State educational agency shall include, at a 
          minimum, a description of how the agency plans to carry out the 
          activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
          section 2373(b)(2).
  
  ``SEC. 2375. FEDERAL SHARE.
  
      ``(a) Federal Share.--For State educational agencies receiving a 
  subgrant under section 2371(b)(2), the Federal share of the cost of 
  carrying out the activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and 
  (C) of section 2371(b)(2) shall be 50 percent.
      ``(b) Payment of Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share may be 
  paid in cash or in kind (fairly evaluated).
  
  ``SEC. 2376. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
  
      ``Not later than 2 years after the date funds are first made 
  available to carry out this subpart, and again 2 years thereafter, the 
  Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
  appropriate committees of Congress a report regarding activities 
  assisted under this subpart.
  
  ``SEC. 2377. SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.
  
      ``Funds made available to carry out this subpart shall be used to 
  supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds 
  available to carry out the [purposes described in section 2371].
  
  ``SEC. 2378. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
  subpart--
              ``(1) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009; 
          and
              ``(2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 
          2012.''.
target: Enhancing Teaching Standards and License Portability Act of 2007 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award a competitive grant to a partnership between an organization representing state educational agency administrators and one or more independent professional organizations that have teacher preparation, licensure, and assessment expertise to: (1) enhance kindergarten through grade 12 teaching standards; (2) develop performance-based teaching assessments that are linked to such standards and can be used for licensing; and (3) provide technical assistance and matching subgrants to states to adopt such teaching standards and assessments, align their licensing systems to such standards, and facilitate teacher license portability across the states.
feat_title: A bill to amend title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to enhance teaching standards and provide for license portability.