The Diversify Act makes changes to a federal program that gives grants to students who agree to become teachers in schools serving low-income communities. Right now, the program offers limited funding that only covers tuition, fees, and housing costs. This bill increases how much money students can receive and expands what the grants can pay for—including other education expenses like books, transportation, and living costs. It also opens up the program to people who want to teach in early childhood education programs, not just K-12 schools.

The bill also removes some penalties that currently exist. If a student receives a TEACH grant but doesn't complete their teaching commitment, the grant can currently be converted into a loan that they have to repay. Under this bill, that conversion would no longer happen, and the Department of Education would be prohibited from charging financial penalties for not completing the service requirement. Additionally, the bill ensures that students who successfully complete their teaching commitment receive an official electronic certificate recognizing their achievement.

Finally, the bill protects TEACH grant funding from automatic budget cuts that might otherwise occur. Overall, these changes are designed to make it easier and more attractive for people to become teachers in schools that serve disadvantaged students, by providing more financial support and removing some of the financial risks involved.

Diversify Act

Booker, Cory A.

Diversifying by Investing in Educators and Students To Improve Outcomes For Youth Act or the Diversify Act This bill revises the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program. The TEACH program awards grants to undergraduate and graduate students who commit to teaching in a high-need field and in an elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. First, the bill raises the maximum amount for TEACH grants. Second, the bill allows TEACH grants to cover the full cost of attendance. Currently, these grants may be used only for tuition, fees, and on-campus housing. The bill allows teaching in a high-need early education program to count toward service requirements for the program. Next, the bill eliminates the process for converting a TEACH grant to a loan if a recipient does not complete the requirements of the program. Further, the bill prohibits the Department of Education (ED) from instituting or creating a monetary penalty for failure or refusal to complete the service requirement. In addition, the bill requires ED to send an electronic certificate to grant recipients who have completed their service requirement. The bill also exempts the TEACH program from sequestration, which is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.