text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                SCHOOL TEACHERS.
  
      (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
  (relating to refundable credits) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating section 36 as section 37, and
              (2) by inserting after section 35 the following new 
          section:
  
  ``SEC. 36. CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                SCHOOL TEACHERS.
  
      ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an eligible teacher, 
  there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this 
  subtitle for the taxable year, an amount equal to 50 percent of so much 
  of the qualified elementary and secondary education expenses and 
  qualified professional development expenses paid or incurred by such 
  eligible teacher during the taxable year as does not exceed $300.
      ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
              ``(1) Eligible teacher.--The term `eligible teacher' means 
          an individual who is a kindergarten through grade 12 classroom 
          teacher, instructor, counselor, aide, or principal in an 
          elementary or secondary school on a full-time basis for an 
          academic year ending during a taxable year.
              ``(2) Qualified elementary and secondary education 
          expenses.--The term `qualified elementary and secondary 
          education expenses' means expenses for books, supplies (other 
          than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health 
          or physical education), computer equipment (including related 
          software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary 
          materials used by an eligible teacher in the classroom.
              ``(3) Qualified professional development expenses.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified professional 
                  development expenses' means expenses for tuition, fees, 
                  books, supplies, equipment, and transportation required 
                  for the enrollment or attendance of an individual in a 
                  qualified course of instruction.
                      ``(B) Qualified course of instruction.--The term 
                  `qualified course of instruction' means a course of 
                  instruction which--
                              ``(i) is--
                                      ``(I) directly related to the 
                                  curriculum and academic subjects in 
                                  which an eligible teacher provides 
                                  instruction, or
                                      ``(II) designed to enhance the 
                                  ability of an eligible teacher to 
                                  understand and use State standards for 
                                  the academic subjects in which such 
                                  teacher provides instruction,
                              ``(ii) may--
                                      ``(I) provide instruction in how to 
                                  teach children with different learning 
                                  styles, particularly children with 
                                  disabilities and children with special 
                                  learning needs (including children who 
                                  are gifted and talented), or
                                      ``(II) provide instruction in how 
                                  best to discipline children in the 
                                  classroom and identify early and 
                                  appropriate interventions to help 
                                  children described in subclause (I) to 
                                  learn,
                              ``(iii) is tied to challenging State or 
                          local content standards and student performance 
                          standards.
                              ``(iv) is tied to strategies and programs 
                          that demonstrate effectiveness in increasing 
                          student academic achievement and student 
                          performance, or substantially increasing the 
                          knowledge and teaching skills of an eligible 
                          teacher,
                              ``(v) is of sufficient intensity and 
                          duration to have a positive and lasting impact 
                          on the performance of an eligible teacher in 
                          the classroom (which shall not include 1-day or 
                          short-term workshops and conferences), except 
                          that this clause shall not apply to an activity 
                          if such activity is 1 component described in a 
                          long-term comprehensive professional 
                          development plan established by an eligible 
                          teacher and the teacher's supervisor based upon 
                          an assessment of the needs of the teacher, the 
                          students of the teacher, and the local 
                          educational agency involved, and
                              ``(vi) is part of a program of professional 
                          development which is approved and certified by 
                          the appropriate local educational agency as 
                          furthering the goals of the preceding clauses.
                      ``(C) Local educational agency.--The term `local 
                  educational agency' has the meaning given such term by 
                  section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                  Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)), as in 
                  effect on the date of the enactment of this section.
              ``(4) Elementary or secondary school.--The term `elementary 
          or secondary school' means any school which provides elementary 
          education or secondary education (through grade 12), as 
          determined under State law.
      ``(c) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be allowed 
  under this chapter for any expense for which a credit is allowed under 
  this section.
      ``(d) Election To Have Credit Not Apply.--A taxpayer may elect to 
  have this section not apply for any taxable year.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart C of 
  part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item 
  relating to section 36 and inserting after the item relating to section 
  35 the following new items:
  
  ``Sec. 36. Credit for education expenses of elementary and secondary 
                              school teachers.
  ``Sec. 37. Overpayments of tax.''.
      (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
  apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.
target: Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow elementary and secondary school (K-12) teachers a tax credit for 50% of their education expenses (books, supplies, computer equipment, and supplementary materials) and their professional development expenses up to $300 in any taxable year.
feat_title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a credit against income tax for certain educator expenses, and for other purposes.