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A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a scholarship program for educators of rural students and provide for loan forgiveness for rural educators, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide professional development grants for rural elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-457| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2017
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Tim Kaine (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Rural Educator Support and Training Act or the REST Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) establish several new grant programs for students training to become educators in rural schools, and (2) enhance federal student loan forgiveness for rural educators. The Department of Education (ED) shall award undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students who are studying to become educators in rural schools. To be eligible, a recipient must maintain acceptable academic standing and shall agree to fulfill a service obligation of three or more years, depending on the number of years for which funding is provided. ED may also award grants to eligible educational agencies for the purpose of: (1) reimbursing eligible rural educators for out-of-pocket costs associated with obtaining national board certification, and (2) increasing annual compensation for eligible rural educators who have become certified. Rural educators shall also be eligible for additional student loan forgiveness. Specifically, a teacher who is employed for five consecutive years in a rural school shall be eligible for up to $17,500 in federal student loan forgiveness. Under current law, a highly qualified teacher who is employed for five consecutive years in a high-poverty school is eligible for up to $5,000 in federal student loan forgiveness; such a teacher who teaches mathematics, science, or special education is eligible for up to $17,500.
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Timeline
Feb 27, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • February 27, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Education

Education programs fundingElementary and secondary educationHigher educationIndian social and development programsLicensing and registrationsMinority educationRural conditions and developmentSchool administrationStudent aid and college costsTeaching, teachers, curricula

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a scholarship program for educators of rural students and provide for loan forgiveness for rural educators, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide professional development grants for rural elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-457| Senate 
| Updated: 2/27/2017
Rural Educator Support and Training Act or the REST Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to: (1) establish several new grant programs for students training to become educators in rural schools, and (2) enhance federal student loan forgiveness for rural educators. The Department of Education (ED) shall award undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to students who are studying to become educators in rural schools. To be eligible, a recipient must maintain acceptable academic standing and shall agree to fulfill a service obligation of three or more years, depending on the number of years for which funding is provided. ED may also award grants to eligible educational agencies for the purpose of: (1) reimbursing eligible rural educators for out-of-pocket costs associated with obtaining national board certification, and (2) increasing annual compensation for eligible rural educators who have become certified. Rural educators shall also be eligible for additional student loan forgiveness. Specifically, a teacher who is employed for five consecutive years in a rural school shall be eligible for up to $17,500 in federal student loan forgiveness. Under current law, a highly qualified teacher who is employed for five consecutive years in a high-poverty school is eligible for up to $5,000 in federal student loan forgiveness; such a teacher who teaches mathematics, science, or special education is eligible for up to $17,500.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Feb 27, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Feb 27, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • February 27, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 27, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (2)
Tim Kaine (Democratic)Al Franken (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Education

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Education programs fundingElementary and secondary educationHigher educationIndian social and development programsLicensing and registrationsMinority educationRural conditions and developmentSchool administrationStudent aid and college costsTeaching, teachers, curricula