§9303. Eligible members of the Armed Forces

(a) Eligible members

Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the following members of the Armed Forces shall be eligible for selection to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program:

(1) Any member who-

(A) during the period beginning on October 1, 1990, and ending on September 30, 1999, was involuntarily discharged or released from active duty for purposes of a reduction of force after six or more years of continuous active duty immediately before the discharge or release; and

(B) satisfies such other criteria for selection as the administering Secretary may prescribe.

(2) Any member who applied for the teacher placement program administered under section 1151 of title 10, as in effect before its repeal by section 9307 of this title, and who satisfies the eligibility criteria specified in subsection (c) of such section 1151.

(3) Any member who-

(A) on or after October 1, 1999, becomes entitled to retired or retainer pay in the manner provided in title 10 or title 14;

(B) has the educational background required by subsection (b) of this section; and

(C) satisfies the criteria prescribed under paragraph (1)(B).

(b) Educational background

(1) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a)(3) of this section who is applying for assistance for placement as an elementary or secondary school teacher, the administering Secretary shall require the member to have received a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

(2) In the case of a member described in subsection (a)(3) of this section who is applying for assistance for placement as a vocational or technical teacher, the administering Secretary shall require the member-

(A) to have received the equivalent of one year of college from an accredited institution of higher education and have 10 or more years of military experience in a vocational or technical field; or

(B) to otherwise meet the certification or licensure requirements for a vocational or technical teacher in the State in which the member seeks assistance for placement under the program.

(c) Ineligible members

A member of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) of this section is eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program only if the member's last period of service in the Armed Forces was characterized as honorable.

(d) Information regarding program

(1) The administering Secretary shall provide information regarding the Troops-to-Teachers Program, and make applications for the program available, to members of the Armed Forces as part of preseparation counseling provided under section 1142 of title 10.

(2) The information provided to members shall-

(A) indicate the local educational agencies identified under section 9302(b) of this title; and

(B) identify those States surveyed under section 9302(c) of this title that have alternative certification or licensure requirements for teachers, including those States that grant credit for service in the Armed Forces toward satisfying such requirements.

( Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title XVII, §1703, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 818 .)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 9304 of this title.