Future teachers could get aid for serving in high-need schools

The Education Department would establish a National Educator Service Corps and provide scholarships and stipends to eligible students. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents in approved programs for high-need teaching fields or school library media work. Teacher programs must include a clinical residency of at least one school year. Students must apply, make satisfactory academic progress, and agree to the service requirement. Aid depends on available funding and is limited to four years. Tuition aid is capped at $15,000 per year after Pell Grants; monthly stipends are $1,500 for students without dependents and $2,500 for students with dependents. A required one-year clinical residency carries a $25,000 stipend. Benefits apply for each year of enrollment in an eligible program, for no more than four years.

Corps participants would serve in a qualifying high-need school as a full-time teacher in a high-need field or as a school library media specialist. The service rules apply to Corps participants who receive aid and sign a service agreement. Participants must serve at least one academic year for each year of aid; part-time work requires an equivalent period of service. The school must qualify when employment begins. Continued work there counts if the school later loses that status. The Secretary may require repayment in proportion to uncompleted service, and participants may ask the Secretary to reconsider a decision to convert aid into a federal loan. Service must begin within six months after the participant completes the eligible program.

The Education Department would offer grants to educator partnerships and states for training projects and workforce plans. Partnerships must include a high-need local education agency, a high-need school or early childhood program, and a higher education institution. State grants are for states and the Bureau of Indian Education. Partnership grants would support demonstration projects. Planning grants would help states assess workforce needs and make plans; implementation grants would help states carry out those plans and may fund local partnership projects. Grants depend on available funding. States must use them to add to, rather than replace, non-federal funds. State planning grants would last one year, and implementation grants would last three years.