State functions

Section 207 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022f) is amended to read as follows: 207. State functions (a) State assessment (1) In general In order to receive funds under this Act or under title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.), a State shall conduct an assessment to identify at-risk and low-performing teacher and school leader preparation programs in the State and to assist such programs through the provision of technical assistance. (2) Provision of low-performing list Each State described in paragraph (1) shall— (A) provide the Secretary and the general public an annual list of low-performing teacher and school leader preparation programs and an identification of those programs at risk of being placed on such list, as applicable; (B) report any teacher and school leader preparation program that has been closed and the reasons for such closure; and (C) describe the assessment, described in paragraph (1), in the report under section 205(b). (3) Determination of at-risk and low-performing programs The levels of performance and the criteria for meeting those levels for purposes of the assessment under paragraph (1) shall be determined by the State in consultation with a representative group of community stakeholders, including, at a minimum, representatives of leaders and faculty of traditional and alternative route teacher and school leader preparation programs, prekindergarten through 12th grade leaders and instructional staff, current teacher and school leader candidates participating in traditional and alternative route teacher or school leader preparation programs, the State’s standards board or other appropriate standards body, and other stakeholders identified by the State. In making such determination, the State shall consider multiple measures and the information reported by teacher preparation entities under section 205. (b) Reporting and improvement In order to receive funds under this Act or under title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.), a State shall— (1) report to the Secretary and the general public any programs described in subsection (a); (2) establish a period of improvement and redesign (as established by the State) for programs identified as at-risk under subsection (a); (3) provide programs identified as at-risk under subsection (a) with technical assistance for a period of not longer than 3 years; (4) identify at-risk programs as low-performing if there is not sufficient improvement following the period of technical assistance provided by the State; and (5) subject low-performing programs to the provisions described in subsection (c) (as determined by the State) not later than 1 year after the date of such identification as a low-performing program. (c) Termination of eligibility Any teacher or school leader preparation program that is projected to close— (1) shall be ineligible for any funding for professional development activities awarded by the Department; (2) may not be permitted to provide new awards under subpart 9 of part A of title IV; and (3) shall provide transitional support, including remedial services if necessary, for students enrolled in the program in the year prior to such closure. (d) Application of the requirements The requirements of this section shall apply to both traditional teacher preparation programs and alternative routes to State certification and licensure programs..