§7442 — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§7442 Professional development for teachers and education professionals

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 70— - STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - INDIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATION › Part Part A— - Indian Education › Subpart subpart 2— - special programs and projects to improve educational opportunities for indian children › § 7442

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Lets federal grants pay for training and support so more qualified Indian teachers and school leaders work with Indian students. The grants help people become or improve as teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, and similar school staff. The grants also fund programs to keep good teachers and leaders who help low-achieving Indian students get better grades and get ready for college or jobs. Colleges (including Tribal Colleges), state or local school agencies working with a college, Indian tribes or groups working with a college, and Bureau-funded schools working with a Tribal College can apply. Grant money can pay for classes, workshops, mentoring in the first 3 years of teaching, direct financial help, and training for cultural leaders who mentor school staff. Teacher training can be before or during work. Training for other jobs must lead to a graduate degree. Applications must explain how they will recruit Indian candidates (including nontraditional students), support them in districts with many Indian students, and meet the work-or-repay rule. The Secretary may give Tribal Colleges priority, must consider past success, and cannot bar past grantees. Grants last up to 3 years and can be renewed for up to 2 more. People who get training must work in a related job serving Indian students in high-Indian districts or repay all or part of the help. Grant recipients must report within 12 months after training ends and later as required.

Title 20, §7442

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The purposes of this section are—

(1)to increase the number of qualified Indian teachers and administrators serving Indian students;

(2)to provide pre- and in-service training and support to qualified Indian individuals to enable such individuals to become effective teachers, principals, other school leaders, administrators, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, and specialized instructional support personnel;

(3)to improve the skills of qualified Indian individuals who serve in the capacities described in paragraph (2); and

(4)to develop and implement initiatives to promote retention of effective teachers, principals, and school leaders who have a record of success in helping low-achieving Indian students improve their academic achievement, outcomes, and preparation for postsecondary education or employment.

(b)For the purpose of this section, the term “eligible entity” means—

(1)an institution of higher education, including a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title;

(2)a State educational agency or local educational agency, in consortium with an institution of higher education;

(3)an Indian tribe or organization, in consortium with an institution of higher education; and

(4)a Bureau-funded school (as defined in section 2026 11 See References in Text note below. of title 25) in a consortium with at least one Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title, where feasible.

(c)The Secretary is authorized to award grants to eligible entities having applications approved under this section to enable those entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).

(d)(1)Grant funds under this section shall be used for activities to provide support and training for Indian individuals in a manner consistent with the purpose of this section. Such activities may include—

(A)continuing education programs, symposia, workshops, and conferences;

(B)teacher mentoring programs, professional guidance, and instructional support provided by educators, local traditional leaders, or cultural experts, as appropriate for teachers during their first 3 years of employment as teachers;

(C)direct financial support; and

(D)programs designed to train traditional leaders and cultural experts to assist those personnel referenced in subsection (a)(2), as appropriate, with relevant Native language and cultural mentoring, guidance, and support.

(2)(A)For education personnel, the training received pursuant to a grant under this section may be inservice or preservice training.

(B)For individuals who are being trained to enter any field other than teaching, the training received pursuant to a grant under this section shall be in a program that results in a graduate degree.

(e)Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, an application under this section shall describe how the eligible entity will—

(1)recruit qualified Indian individuals, such as students who may not be of traditional college age, to become teachers, principals, or school leaders;

(2)use funds made available under the grant to support the recruitment, preparation, and professional development of Indian teachers or principals in local educational agencies that serve a high proportion of Indian students; and

(3)assist participants in meeting the requirements under subsection (h).

(f)In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary—

(1)may give priority to Tribal Colleges and Universities;

(2)shall consider the prior performance of the eligible entity; and

(3)may not limit eligibility to receive a grant under this section on the basis of the length of any period for which the eligible entity has received a grant.

(g)The Secretary shall award grants under this section for an initial period of not more than 3 years, and may renew such grants for an additional period of not more than 2 years if the Secretary finds that the grantee is achieving the objectives of the grant.

(h)(1)The Secretary shall require, by regulation, that an individual who receives training pursuant to a grant made under this section—

(A)perform work—

(i)related to the training received under this section; and

(ii)that benefits Indian students in a local educational agency that serves a high proportion of Indian students; or

(B)repay all or a prorated part of the assistance received.

(2)The Secretary shall establish, by regulation, a reporting procedure under which a grant recipient under this section shall, not later than 12 months after the date of completion of the training, and periodically thereafter, provide information concerning compliance with the work requirement under paragraph (1).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2026 of title 25, referred to in subsec. (b)(4), was omitted in the general amendment of chapter 22 of Title 25, Indians, by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1042, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2007. See section 2021 of Title 25.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6122 of Pub. L. 89–10 was renumbered section 5102 and is classified to section 7305a of this title.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(1)(A), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “to increase the number of qualified Indian individuals in teaching or other education professions that serve Indian people;”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(1)(B), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “to provide training to qualified Indian individuals to enable such individuals to become teachers, administrators, teacher aides, social workers, and ancillary educational personnel; and”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(1)(C), (D), added par. (4). Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(2)(A), substituted “including a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title” for “including an Indian institution of higher education”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(2)(B), inserted before period at end “in a consortium with at least one Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title, where feasible”. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(3), substituted “purpose of this section.” for “purposes of this section.” and “Such activities may include—” and subpars. (A) to (D) for “Such activities may include continuing programs, symposia, workshops, conferences, and direct financial support, and may include programs designed to train tribal elders and seniors.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(4), added subsec. (e) and struck out former subsec. (e). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information, as the Secretary may reasonably require.” Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(5), added par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as (2) and (3), respectively, and, in par. (3), substituted “basis of the length of any period for which the eligible entity has received a grant.” for “basis of— “(A) the number of previous grants the Secretary has awarded such entity; or “(B) the length of any period during which such entity received such grants.” Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(6), added subsec. (g) and struck out former subsec. (g). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Each grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 5 years.” Subsec. (h)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 6002(l)(7), substituted “students in a local educational agency that serves a high proportion of Indian students” for “people”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.