§1154. Assistance to eligible members and former members to obtain employment as teachers: Troops-to-Teachers Program
(a)
(1)
(2)
(A) a public school, including a charter school, at which-
(i) at least 30 percent of the students enrolled in the school are from families with incomes below 185 percent of poverty level (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised at least annually in accordance with section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)) applicable to a family of the size involved; or
(ii) at least 13 percent of the students enrolled in the school qualify for assistance under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.);
(B) a Bureau-funded school as defined in section 1141(3) of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021(3)); or
(C) a Job Corps center as defined in section 147 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197).
(3)
(A) an elementary or middle school in which at least 50 percent of the enrolled students are children from low-income families, based on the number of children eligible for free and reduced priced lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), the number of children in families receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the number of children eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program, or a composite of these indicators;
(B) a high school in which at least 40 percent of enrolled students are children from low-income families, which may be calculated using comparable data from feeder schools;
(C) a school that is in a local educational agency that is eligible under section 5211(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or
(D) a Job Corps center as defined in section 147 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197).
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(b)
(1) to assist eligible members of the armed forces described in subsection (d) to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in a school described in paragraph (2); and
(2) to facilitate the employment of such members-
(A) by local educational agencies or charter schools that the Secretary of Education identifies as-
(i) receiving grants under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) as a result of having within their jurisdictions concentrations of children from low-income families; or
(ii) experiencing a shortage of teachers, in particular a shortage of science, mathematics, special education, foreign language, or career or technical teachers;
(B) in elementary schools or secondary schools, or as career or technical teachers; and
(C) as administrators and instructors of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps under section 2031(d) of this title.
(c)
(d)
(1)
(A) Any member who-
(i) on or after October 1, 1999, becomes entitled to retired or retainer pay under this title or title 14;
(ii) has an approved date of retirement that is within one year after the date on which the member submits an application to participate in the Program; or
(iii) has been transferred to the Retired Reserve.
(B) Any member who, on or after January 8, 2002-
(i)(I) is separated or released from active duty after four or more years of continuous active duty immediately before the separation or release; or
(II) has completed a total of at least six years of active duty service, six years of service computed under section 12732 of this title, or six years of any combination of such service; and
(ii) executes a reserve commitment agreement for a period of not less than three years under paragraph (5)(B).
(C) Any member who, on or after January 8, 2002, is retired or separated for physical disability under chapter 61 of this title.
(2)
(B) In the case of an eligible member of the armed forces described in subparagraph (A)(i), (A)(iii), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), an application shall be considered to be submitted on a timely basis if the application is submitted not later than three years after the date on which the member is retired, transferred to the Retired Reserve, or separated or released from active duty, whichever applies to the member.
(3)
(B) If a member of the armed forces is applying for the Program to receive assistance for placement as an elementary school or secondary school teacher, the Secretary shall require the member to have received a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
(C) If a member of the armed forces is applying for the Program to receive assistance for placement as a career or technical teacher, the Secretary shall require the member-
(i) to have received the equivalent of one year of college from an accredited institution of higher education or the equivalent in military education and training as certified by the Department of Defense; or
(ii) to otherwise meet the certification or licensing requirements for a career or technical teacher in the State in which the member seeks assistance for placement under the Program.
(D) A member of the armed forces is eligible to participate in the Program only if the member's last period of service in the armed forces was honorable, as characterized by the Secretary concerned. A member selected to participate in the Program before the retirement of the member, the transfer of the member to the Retired Reserve, or the separation or release of the member from active duty may continue to participate in the Program after the retirement, transfer, separation, or release only if the member's last period of service is characterized as honorable by the Secretary concerned.
(4)
(A) shall give priority to members who-
(i) have educational or military experience in science, mathematics, special education, foreign language, or career or technical subjects; and
(ii) agree to seek employment as science, mathematics, foreign language, or special education teachers in elementary schools or secondary schools or Job Corps centers or in other schools under the jurisdiction of a local educational agency; and
(B) may give priority to members who agree to seek employment in a high-need school.
(5)
(B) The Secretary may not select an eligible member of the armed forces described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) to participate in the Program and receive financial assistance under subsection (e) unless the member executes a written agreement to serve as a member of the Selected Reserve of a reserve component of the armed forces for a period of not less than three years.
(e)
(1)
(i) within such time as the Secretary may require, to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in a school described in subsection (b)(2); and
(ii) to accept an offer of full-time employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or technical teacher for not less than three school years in an eligible school to begin the school year after obtaining that certification or licensing.
(B) The Secretary may waive the three-year commitment described in subparagraph (A)(ii) for a participant if the Secretary determines such waiver to be appropriate. If the Secretary provides the waiver, the participant shall not be considered to be in violation of the agreement and shall not be required to provide reimbursement under subsection (f), for failure to meet the three-year commitment.
(2)
(A) is pursuing a full-time course of study related to the field of teaching at an institution of higher education;
(B) is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces;
(C) is temporarily totally disabled for a period of time not to exceed three years as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician;
(D) is unable to secure employment for a period not to exceed 12 months by reason of the care required by a spouse who is disabled;
(E) is unable to find full-time employment as a teacher in an eligible elementary school or secondary school or Job Corps center or as a career or technical teacher for a single period not to exceed 27 months; or
(F) satisfies the provisions of additional reimbursement exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary.
(3)
(B)(i) Subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary may pay a bonus to a participant who agrees in the participation agreement under paragraph (1) to accept full-time employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or technical teacher for not less than three school years in an eligible school.
(ii) The amount of the bonus may not exceed $5,000, unless the eligible school is a high-need school, in which case the amount of the bonus may not exceed $10,000. Within such limits, the bonus may vary by participant and may take into account the priority placements as determined by the Secretary.
(C)(i) The total number of stipends that may be paid under subparagraph (A) in any fiscal year may not exceed 5,000.
(ii) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under subparagraph (B) in any fiscal year may not exceed 3,000.
(iii) A participant may not receive a stipend under subparagraph (A) if the participant is eligible for benefits under chapter 33 of title 38.
(iv) The combination of a stipend under subparagraph (A) and a bonus under subparagraph (B) for any one participant may not exceed $10,000.
(4)
(f)
(1)
(A) The participant fails to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in a school described in subsection (b)(2) or to obtain employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or technical teacher as required by the participation agreement under subsection (e)(1).
(B) The participant voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause from, employment as an elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or technical teacher during the three years of required service in violation of the participation agreement.
(C) The participant executed a written agreement with the Secretary concerned under subsection (d)(5)(B) to serve as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces for a period of three years and fails to complete the required term of service.
(2)
(3)
(4) Exceptions to reimbursement requirement.-A participant shall be excused from reimbursement under this subsection if the participant becomes permanently totally disabled as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. The Secretary may also waive the reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the participant, as determined by the Secretary.
(g)
(h)
(1)
(2)
(B) The total amount of grants made under subparagraph (A) in any fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000.
(i)
(2) The report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following elements:
(A) The total cost of the Program for the most recent fiscal year.
(B) The total number of teachers placed during such fiscal year and the locations of such placements.
(C) An assessment of the STEM backgrounds of the teachers placed, the number of placements in high-need schools, and any other metric or information the Secretary considers appropriate to illustrate the cost and benefits of the program to members of the armed forces, veterans, and local educational agencies.
(3) In this subsection, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means-
(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Help, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.
(j)
(k)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (3)(C), (8) and (b)(2)(A)(i), is
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii), is title VI of
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is act June 4, 1946, ch. 281,
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531,
The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (e)(4), is
Amendments
2023-Subsec. (a)(2)(C).
Subsec. (a)(3)(D).
Subsec. (b)(2)(C).
Subsec. (d)(4)(A)(ii).
Subsec. (e)(2)(E).
Subsec. (k).
2021-Subsec. (b).
Subsecs. (i), (j).
Subsec. (k).
2018-Subsec. (d)(2)(B).
Subsec. (d)(3)(D).
2015-Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C).
Subsec. (a)(8).
2014-Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by
Transfer of Functions for Troops-to-Teachers Program; Existing Agreements
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) Disseminate information about the Troops-to-Teachers Program to eligible schools (as defined in subsection (a) of section 1154 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (b)).
"(B) Advise the Department of Defense on how to prepare eligible members of the Armed Forces described in subsection (d) of such section 1154 to become participants in the Program, to meet the requirements necessary to become a teacher in a school described in subsection (b)(2) of such section 1154, and to find post-service employment in an eligible school.
"(C) Advise the Department of Defense on how to identify teacher preparation programs for participants in the Program.
"(D) Inform the Department of Defense of academic subject areas with critical teacher shortages.
"(E) Identify geographic areas with critical teacher shortages, especially in high-need schools (as defined in subsection (a) of such section 1154).
"(3)
"(A) on the first day of the first month beginning more than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 2, 2013]; or
"(B) on such earlier date as the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense may jointly provide."
"(A) the validity or terms of any agreement entered into under such chapter, as in effect immediately before such repeal, before the effective date of the transfer of the Troops-to-Teachers Program under subsection (a) [set out as a note above]; or
"(B) the authority to pay assistance, make grants, or obtain reimbursement in connection with such an agreement as in effect before the effective date of the transfer of the Troops-to-Teachers Program under subsection (a)."