All Roll Calls
Yes: 406 • No: 16
117-s-848117th CongressWALLET
Consider Teachers Act of 2021
Sponsored By: Senator Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Became Law
Summary
This Act strengthens TEACH Grant service verification and remedies for converted grants. It clarifies when service must be finished, requires stronger employer certification, and adds pandemic-era extensions and administrative flexibilities.
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- Teachers and recipients: Schools must have the chief administrative officer certify employment and recipients must meet State teaching requirements, including alternative certification routes. Recipients get a 90-day reconsideration right if a grant was converted to a loan and can have the grant reinstated, interest or fees discharged, and related negative credit reporting removed; remaining time to complete service is set at eight years minus full academic years already taught.
- Schools and program administrators: The Department must notify recipients annually about certification procedures and deadlines. The Secretary must publish and update searchable lists of qualifying schools and high-need fields to guide placements and certifications.
- Emergency and implementation rules: Service-obligation windows can be extended by up to three years for qualifying emergencies or recessions and certain CARES Act treatments for Perkins Loans are codified. The Secretary may waive specific administrative requirements to speed implementation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
More TEACH Grant loan relief and time
If your TEACH Grant was turned into a loan, you can ask for reconsideration, and the Department must review within 90 days. If you met or are meeting the service rules and the conversion happened for listed reasons, the grant is restored, the loan is canceled, interest and fees are wiped, payments are moved or refunded, and the Department asks to remove any negative credit marks. After reinstatement, your time left equals 8 years minus the full academic years you already taught, and those years count. If your service window began during or includes a qualifying emergency or related recession, the Secretary can add up to 3 extra years; this applies as if it started with the CARES Act.
Emergency credit for Perkins loan service
If an emergency interrupted your Perkins loan service, the Department treats that incomplete year as a full year and waives the full‑time service rule. This applies as if it started with the CARES Act. This helps you keep eligibility for cancellation.
New TEACH certification rules and deadlines
You must submit yearly employment certifications signed by your school’s chief administrator. The Department tells you how and when to submit and adjusts deadlines if your service window is extended; there is an alternative if a school closed or will not cooperate. Your teaching must meet your State’s certification rules, including approved alternative routes. The law also defines the “service obligation window” so timing is clear.
More TEACH-eligible jobs and public lists
More teaching jobs count because the law adds geographic areas to the reasons a job qualifies. The Department also posts searchable, yearly updated lists of qualifying schools and high‑need fields to help you find eligible work. Payment amounts do not change.
Faster rollout with Education rule waivers
The Education Department can waive some paperwork and rulemaking steps to put these changes in place faster. It can waive parts of the Paperwork Reduction Act, certain timelines, and some Privacy Act notices, which must be published within 180 days. This speeds implementation but does not change who gets benefits.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Braun, Mike [R-IN]
IN • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ-9]
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/18/2021
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 3/23/2021
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/23/2021
Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/27/2021
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 9/28/2021
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
Yes: 406 • No: 16