[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 210 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 210

  To establish a commission to review, and make recommendations with 
            respect to, leadership in mathematics education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 1999

 Mrs. Morella introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and 
   the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a commission to review, and make recommendations with 
            respect to, leadership in mathematics education.

    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 ``Commission for American Mathematics 
Leadership Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Students in the United States should be the world 
        leaders in mathematics achievement within the next decade.
            (2) The Third International Mathematics and Science Study 
        (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``TIMSS''), the 
        largest international study ever undertaken of how students 
        perform in mathematics and science, demonstrated that the 
        mathematics skills of students in the United States (including 
        the top 10 percent of students in the United States) lag far 
        behind the skills of students in many other nations, even 
        though students in the United States spend more class time on 
        mathematics and science and usually are assigned more homework.
            (3) Research indicates that the problems of mathematics and 
        science education in the United States stem largely from the 
        lack of a coherent and focused curriculum designed for high-
        level learning goals, the lack of assessment instruments 
        aligned with such curricula, and the lack of a sufficient 
        commitment by colleges and universities in the United States to 
        high-quality teacher preparation and professional development 
        programs.
            (4) Core problems exist with the courses of study and the 
        teaching style on which many schools in the United States rely 
        to instruct students in mathematics and science, as reflected 
        in the conclusion of the National Science Foundation that 
        schools in the United States teach math concepts in 
        superficial, and ultimately ineffective, ways.
            (5) A developed framework for mathematics and science 
        should be coherent, focused, and give balanced attention to 
        basic skills, conceptual understanding, problem solving, 
        reasoning, and communication skills, and appropriate uses of 
        technology.
            (6) The failure of mathematics and science teaching methods 
        in the United States requires a systemic retraining of, and an 
        increased emphasis on the professional development of, teachers 
        in the United States.
            (7) Teachers of mathematics and science should be well-
        trained professionals who combine sound knowledge of subject 
        matter with the necessary skills and a good understanding of 
        student learning and assessment.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a commission to be 
known as the ``Commission for American Mathematics Leadership'' (in 
this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as 
follows:
            (1) Four members appointed by the President.
            (2) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, in consultation with the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives.
            (3) Four members appointed by the President pro tempore of 
        the Senate, in consultation with the minority leader of the 
        Senate.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall, in coordination with the National Academy of 
Sciences--
            (1) review the existing research base on mathematics 
        education leadership, including the status of mathematics 
        education in the United States relative to international 
        competitors;
            (2) propose professional development priorities to assure 
        that the teaching of mathematics at all educational levels in 
        the United States is strengthened; and
            (3) formulate an implementation proposal, including 
        specific recommendations which can be implemented by 
        appropriate public and private agencies, for assuring world 
        class achievement of the United States in mathematics education 
        within a decade.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Commission shall submit to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and to the President pro tempore of the Senate a report 
including the findings and recommendations of the Commission under 
section 4.

SEC. 6. POWERS.

    The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties, 
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers 
appropriate.

SEC. 7. COMMISSION PROCEDURES.

    (a) Chairman.--A chairman of the Commission shall be elected by the 
members of the Commission.
    (b) Quorum.--Seven members of the Commission shall constitute a 
quorum for the purpose of conducting meetings.

SEC. 8. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Pay of Members.--Members of the Commission shall not be paid by 
reason of their service as members.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
allowed, while away from their homes or regular places of business in 
the performance of services for the Commission, travel expenses 
(including per diem in lieu of subsistence) in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently in Government service are allowed 
expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

    The National Academy of Sciences shall provide the administrative 
support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its duties 
under this Act.

SEC. 10. FUNDING.

    Out of any amounts appropriated for the National Science 
Foundation, $750,000 shall be available for activities of the 
Commission.

SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the report 
required under section 5.
                                 <all>