1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting Providers of English Language Learning Act” or the “SPELL Act”.
Supporting Providers of English Language Learning Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide additional amounts of loan forgiveness to teachers of English learners, and for other purposes.
2. Teachers of English learners
Loan Forgiveness for Teachers— Section 428J(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10(c)(3)) is amended—
in the paragraph heading by striking “mathematics, science, or special education” and inserting “mathematics, science, special education, or English language education”;
in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (B)(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and ”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) an elementary school or secondary school teacher—
“(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b);
“(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is as a teacher of English learners (as that term is defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) whose primary responsibility is to teach such learners; and
“(iii) who, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the public or non-profit private elementary school or secondary school in which the borrower is employed, or, in the case of a teacher who is employed by an educational service agency, as certified by the chief administrative officer of such agency, is teaching English learners who correspond with the borrower's training and has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the elementary school or secondary school curriculum that the borrower is teaching.”
Loan cancellation for teachers— Section 460(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087j(c)(3)) is amended—
in the paragraph heading by striking “mathematics, science, or special education” and inserting “mathematics, science, special education, or English language education”;
in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (B)(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and ”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) an elementary school or secondary school teacher—
“(i) who meets the requirements of subsection (b);
“(ii) whose qualifying employment for purposes of such subsection is as a teacher of English learners (as that term is defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) whose primary responsibility is to teach such learners; and
“(iii) who, as certified by the chief administrative officer of the public or non-profit private elementary school or secondary school in which the borrower is employed, or, in the case of a teacher who is employed by an educational service agency, as certified by the chief administrative officer of such agency, is teaching English learners who correspond with the borrower's training and has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the content areas of the elementary school or secondary school curriculum that the borrower is teaching.”
3. Applicability
The amendments made by section 1 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to individuals who are eligible to receive teacher loan forgiveness under section 428J of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–10) or teacher loan cancellation under section 460 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087j) after such date.