text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Community College Teacher 
  Preparation Enhancement Act of 2004''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) Well qualified teachers and paraprofessionals are 
          critical to the success of the Nation's students.
              (2) In order to meet the changing demands of their jobs and 
          the Federal requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act of 
          2001 (Public Law 107-110), teachers and prospective teachers 
          must have access to high-quality teacher training.
              (3) The 1,200 community colleges across the United States 
          play an important role in training teachers, offering 
          professional development, and continuing education.
              (4) Community colleges enroll more than 6,000,000 credit 
          students or 44 percent of all undergraduates in the United 
          States.
              (5) At least 25 percent of undergraduates receiving a 
          teaching degree began their postsecondary education at a 
          community college.
              (6) Due to teacher attrition, teacher retirement, and a 
          growing student population, the Nation will require an 
          additional 2,400,000 teachers over the next decade.
              (7) If left unchanged, the production rate of teachers is 
          200,000 short of meeting the expected future demand.
              (8) In subjects such as mathematics, science, special 
          education, and bilingual education, the Nation risks a severe 
          teacher shortfall.
              (9) Community colleges offer accessibility and a link to 
          education opportunities present at 4-year institutions of 
          higher education.
              (10) There is no systematic infrastructure or resources in 
          place to advance more students from community colleges to 4-
          year institutions of higher education and into the teaching 
          profession.
              (11) Many 4-year institutions of higher education and 
          community colleges have engaged in collaborative agreements for 
          teacher training.
              (12) To meet the Nation's needs for highly qualified 
          teachers, it is appropriate that the community college role in 
          teacher training be enhanced and that cooperation between 
          community colleges and 4-year institutions of higher education 
          be increased.
  
  SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
  
      The purposes of this Act are to--
              (1) foster collaboration between 4-year institutions of 
          higher education and community colleges to enhance teacher 
          preparation as required under the No Child Left Behind Act of 
          2001 (Public Law 107-110);
              (2) enhance the opportunity for community college students 
          in teacher training programs to complete a baccalaureate degree 
          in kindergarten through grade 12 education;
              (3) promote the development of best practices for 
          coordinating teacher training between community colleges and 4-
          year institutions of higher education; and
              (4) expand community college teaching infrastructure to 
          provide, among other things, professional development as called 
          for under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-
          110) to existing teachers.
  
  SEC. 4. TEACHER TRAINING ENHANCEMENT.
  
      Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et 
  seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
                   ``PART C--TEACHER TRAINING ENHANCEMENT
  
  ``SEC. 231. DEFINITIONS.
  
      ``In this part:
              ``(1) 4-year institution of higher education.--The term `4-
          year institution of higher education' means an institution of 
          higher education, as defined in section 101(a), whose highest 
          undergraduate degree offered is predominantly the baccalaureate 
          degree.
              ``(2) Community college.--The term `community college' has 
          the meaning given the term `junior or community college' in 
          section 312(f).
              ``(3) Eligible entity.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible entity' 
                  means--
                              ``(i) a statewide governing or coordinating 
                          board with jurisdiction over community colleges 
                          and 4-year institutions of higher education;
                              ``(ii) a partnership between a statewide 
                          governing or coordinating board with 
                          jurisdiction over community colleges and a 
                          statewide governing or coordinating board with 
                          jurisdiction over 4-year institutions of higher 
                          education;
                              ``(iii) a partnership between 1 or more 
                          community colleges and 1 or more 4-year 
                          institutions of higher education; or
                              ``(iv) a community college offering a 
                          teacher preparation program that provides all, 
                          or a significant portion of, teacher training, 
                          postbaccalaureate certification, and 
                          professional development.
                      ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `eligible entity' under 
                  clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) may include 
                  other institutions with responsibility for teacher 
                  preparation or teacher standards.
              ``(4) Highly qualified.--The term `highly qualified' has 
          the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
          and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
              ``(5) Professional development.--The term `professional 
          development' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of 
          the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
  
  ``SEC. 232. GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      ``The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible entities 
  to enable such entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of 
  carrying out teacher training or preparation programs.
  
  ``SEC. 233. APPLICATION.
  
      ``An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this 
  part shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
  manner, and containing such information or assurances as the Secretary 
  may require.
  
  ``SEC. 234. AWARDING OF GRANTS.
  
      ``(a) Priority.--In awarding grants under this part, the Secretary 
  shall give priority to eligible entities that propose any of the 
  following:
              ``(1) Grant funds will be used to provide for teacher 
          preparation in geographic areas with shortages of highly 
          qualified teachers.
              ``(2) Grant funds will be used to prepare teachers in 
          kindergarten through grade 12 subject content areas that have a 
          shortage of highly qualified teachers.
              ``(3) Grant funds will be used to carry out innovative 
          programs to address teacher training or teacher preparation.
              ``(4) Grant funds will be used to conduct outreach into 
          secondary schools.
              ``(5) Grant funds will be used to carry out a plan to 
          disseminate information.
      ``(b) Geographic Diversity.--The Secretary shall ensure that grants 
  are awarded in a geographically diverse manner.
      ``(c) Duration.--Grants awarded under this part shall be for 5 
  years in duration.
  
  ``SEC. 235. USES OF FUNDS.
  
      ``(a) Mandatory Use.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
  under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out not less than 
  1 of the following:
              ``(1) Enhancing the collaboration of teacher training 
          between community colleges and 4-year institutions of higher 
          education.
              ``(2) The development of programs that provide 
          opportunities for community college students to complete a 
          baccalaureate degree in kindergarten through grade 12 
          education.
              ``(3) The establishment of partnerships in teacher training 
          between community colleges and 4-year institutions of higher 
          education.
              ``(4) The establishment of programs at community colleges 
          that prepare students to enter teacher preparation programs at 
          4-year institutions of higher education.
              ``(5) Developing programs to provide pathways for secondary 
          school students to pursue careers in teaching.
              ``(6) Establishing postbaccalaureate teacher certification 
          programs.
      ``(b) Permissive Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a 
  grant under this section may use the grant funds to carry out any of 
  the following:
              ``(1) The creation of kindergarten through grade 12 teacher 
          education programs and teacher aid programs to meet 
          requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
          of 1965.
              ``(2) The coordination of teacher and paraprofessional 
          curricula for use at community colleges and 4-year institutions 
          of higher education.
              ``(3) The establishment of curricula and programs for 
          professional development for teachers.
  
  ``SEC. 236. REPORT AND EVALUATION.
  
      ``(a) Annual Report.--An eligible entity that receives a grant 
  under this section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary on--
              ``(1) the progress made toward the goals of the grant;
              ``(2) the activities supported by the grant;
              ``(3) the number of students served;
              ``(4) when applicable, the ability to place students 
          graduating from schools supported by a grant under this part; 
          and
              ``(5) when applicable, the number of students graduating 
          from schools supported by a grant under this part who meet the 
          requirements for highly qualified teachers under the Elementary 
          and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
      ``(b) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall review and evaluate the 
  reports submitted under subsection (a).
  
  ``SEC. 237. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.
  
      ``(a) In General.--The Federal share of the costs of carrying out a 
  teacher training or preparation program shall be--
              ``(1) 65 percent for the first year of the grant;
              ``(2) 60 percent for the second year of the grant;
              ``(3) 55 percent for the third year of the grant;
              ``(4) 50 percent for the fourth year of the grant; and
              ``(5) 45 percent for the fifth year of the grant.
      ``(b) In Cash or In-Kind.--The non-Federal share of the costs of 
  carrying out a teacher training or preparation program may be provided 
  in cash or in the form of in-kind contributions.
  
  ``SEC. 238. REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.
  
      ``The Secretary shall review and submit an annual report to 
  Congress on the activities supported under this part and the impact of 
  this part with respect to--
              ``(1) producing highly qualified teachers and teachers 
          aids;
              ``(2) helping address teacher shortages, particularly in 
          rural and urban areas; and
              ``(3) enhancing the diversity of the Nation's teaching 
          force.
  
  ``SEC. 239. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
  $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and such sums as may be necessary for 
  each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.
target: Community College Teacher Preparation Enhancement Act of 2004 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a teacher training enhancement program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to eligible entities for teacher training or preparation.
  
  Includes among eligible entities: (1) statewide boards with jurisdiction over community colleges and four-year institutions of higher education (IHEs); (2) partnerships between statewide boards with jurisdiction over community colleges and statewide boards with jurisdiction over four-year IHEs; (3) partnerships between community colleges and four-year IHEs; or (4) community colleges offering teacher preparation programs that provide all, or a significant portion of, teacher training, postbaccalaureate certification, and professional development.
  
  Gives priority to proposals for using grants for: (1) teacher preparation in geographic areas with shortages of highly qualified teachers; (2) preparing teachers in kindergarten through grade 12 subject content areas that have a shortage of highly qualified teachers; (3) innovative programs to address teacher training or teacher preparation; (4) outreach into secondary schools; or (5) plans to disseminate information. Requires grantees to use grant funds for at least one of specified mandatory uses. Sets forth permissive uses of grants.
feat_title: A bill to amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhance teacher training programs, and for other purposes.