1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reaching English Learners Act . 2. Teaching English learners grant Part B of title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1031 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 6 Teaching English learners grant 259. Teaching English learners grant (a) Authorization of program The Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to improve the preparation of teacher candidates to ensure that such teacher candidates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively instruct English learners. (b) Duration of grants A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 5 years. (c) Preference In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible partnerships that recruit and enroll teacher candidates who are from underrepresented populations or former English learners. (d) Non-Federal share An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall provide not less than 50 percent of the cost of the activities carried out with such grant from non-Federal sources, which may be provided in cash or in kind. (e) Uses of funds An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to— (1) develop, or strengthen, an undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, or master’s teacher preparation program that enables the graduate to meet the State’s licensure or certification requirements to teach English learners and incorporates evidence-based strategies for teaching English learners (including bilingual, immersion, and dual-language education) into the education curriculum and academic content