[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2133 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2133

  To establish a Science Start Grant program, and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 19 (legislative day, May 16), 1994

 Mr. Hatfield introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a Science Start Grant program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Science Start Grant Program Act of 
1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) preschoolers from low-income families have very limited 
        opportunities to be exposed to science activities;
            (2) preschoolers from low-income families need basic, age-
        appropriate science experiences in order to develop 
        educationally at a normal rate;
            (3) most preschool teachers have little experience with 
        simple science activities;
            (4) attainment of the National Education Goal that calls 
        for United States students to be first in the world in 
        mathematics and science achievement will require a 
        comprehensive, age-appropriate science program for preschoolers 
        from low-income families;
            (5) long-term efforts to train preschool teachers to use 
        science activities have been limited in number; and
            (6) the long-term efforts to train preschool teachers to 
        use science activities that have been implemented have shown 
        significant positive results.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide Head Start 
teachers with training programs directed toward the use of age-
appropriate science activities in order to increase their students' 
interest in and familiarity with science. All students should have a 
basic exposure to science activities in order to move the Nation toward 
the National Goal that United States students will be first in the 
world in mathematics and science achievement.

SEC. 3. MODEL SCIENCE START PROGRAMS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF SCIENCE IN 
              EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants, to be known 
as Science Start Grants, to organizations to enable such organizations 
to support model programs that provide instruction to Head Start 
personnel regarding the introduction of science activities to children 
enrolled in Head Start programs.
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate the ability to--
            (1) provide teacher training programs that involve 
        participants in hands-on activities similar to activities that 
        are intended for students;
            (2) attract broad teacher participation;
            (3) use experienced teachers as instructors;
            (4) provide the materials required by the activities 
        described in paragraph (1), but not commonly found in Head 
        Start classrooms, except that not more than 25 percent of the 
        funds awarded for each fiscal year to any organization for a 
        model program shall be used to carry out this paragraph; and
            (5) provide for periodic followup activities conducted, at 
        minimum, during a 6-month period.
    (c) Dissemination.--Each recipient of a grant under this section 
shall report the results of the model program to the Eisenhower 
National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education in an 
appropriate format for dissemination.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be 
necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section.
    (e) Evaluation and Report.--The Secretary shall evaluate, and 
report to the Congress every 2 years (beginning 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act) regarding, the activities assisted under this 
section.

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