[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2623 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2623

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
    establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2000

Mr. Roberts (for himself and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
    establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology education, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Science 
Education Enhancement Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Assurance of continued local control.
 TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 
                                  1965

Sec. 101. Support for mentoring activities for science, mathematics, 
                            engineering, and technology teachers.
Sec. 102. Expansion of Eisenhower National Clearinghouse.
Sec. 103. Summer Professional Development Institutes.
Sec. 104. Grants for teacher technology training software and 
                            instructional materials.
Sec. 105. Reservation for after-school activities.
Sec. 106. After-school science day care at community learning centers.
                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Work-study amendments.
Sec. 202. Study.
Sec. 203. Report to Congress.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) As concluded in the report of the Committee on Science 
        of the House of Representatives, ``Unlocking Our Future Toward 
        a New National Science Policy,'' which was adopted by the House 
        of Representatives, the United States must maintain and improve 
        its preeminent position in science and technology in order to 
        advance human understanding of the universe and all it 
        contains, and to improve the lives, health, and freedoms of all 
        people.
            (2) It is estimated that more than half of the economic 
        growth of the United States today results directly from 
        research and development in science and technology. The most 
        fundamental research is responsible for investigating our 
        perceived universe, to extend our observations to the outer 
        limits of what our minds and methods can achieve, and to seek 
        answers to questions that have never been asked before. Applied 
        research continues the process by applying the answers from 
        basic science to the problems faced by individuals, 
        organizations, and governments in the everyday activities that 
        make our lives more livable. The scientific-technological 
        sector of our economy, which has driven our recent economic 
        boom and led the United States to the longest period of 
        prosperity in history, is fueled by the work and discoveries of 
        the scientific community.
            (3) The effectiveness of the United States in maintaining 
        this economic growth will be largely determined by the 
        intellectual capital of the United States. Education is 
        critical to developing this resource.
            (4) The education program of the United States needs to 
        provide for 3 different kinds of intellectual capital. First, 
        it needs scientists and engineers to continue the research and 
        development that is central to the economic growth of the 
        United States. Second, it needs technologically proficient 
        workers who are comfortable and capable dealing with the 
        demands of a science-based, high-technology workplace. Last, it 
        needs scientifically literate voters and consumers to make 
        intelligent decisions about public policy.
            (5) Student performance on the recent Third International 
        Math and Science Study highlights the shortcomings of current 
        K-12 science and mathematics education in the United States, 
        particularly when compared to other countries. We must expect 
        more from our Nation's educators and students if we are to 
        build on the accomplishments of previous generations. New 
        methods of teaching mathematics and science are required, as 
        well as better curricula and improved training of teachers.
            (6) Science is more than a collection of facts, theories, 
        and results. It is a process of inquiry built upon observations 
        and data that leads to a way of knowing and explaining in 
        logically derived concepts and theories.
            (7) Students should learn science primarily by doing 
        science. Science education ought to reflect the scientific 
        process and be object-oriented, experiment-centered, and 
        concept-based.
            (8) Children are naturally curious and inquisitive. To 
        successfully tap into these innate qualities, education in 
        science must begin at an early age and continue throughout the 
        entire school experience.
            (9) Teachers provide the essential connection between 
        students and the content they are learning. High-quality 
        prospective teachers need to be identified and recruited by 
        presenting to them a career that is respected by their peers, 
        is financially and intellectually rewarding, and contains 
        sufficient opportunities for advancement.
            (10) Teachers need to have incentives to remain in the 
        classroom and improve their practice, and training of teachers 
        is essential if the results are to be good. Teachers need to be 
        knowledgeable of their content area, of their curriculum, of 
        up-to-date research in teaching and learning, and of techniques 
        that can be used to connect that information to their students 
        in their classroom.

SEC. 3. ASSURANCE OF CONTINUED LOCAL CONTROL.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any department, 
agency, officer, or employee of the United States to exercise any 
direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of 
instruction, administration, or personnel of any educational 
institution or school system.

 TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 
                                  1965

SEC. 101. SUPPORT FOR MENTORING ACTIVITIES FOR SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, 
              ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS.

    (a) Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies 
Through Professional Development.--Section 1119(b)(1) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) include mentoring programs focusing on 
                changing science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                technology teacher behaviors and practices to help 
                novice teachers develop and gain confidence in their 
                skills, to increase the likelihood that they will 
                continue in the teaching profession, and generally to 
                improve the quality of their teaching.''.
    (b) Dissemination of Mentoring Information by Eisenhower National 
Clearinghouse.--Section 2102(a)(3)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(a)(3)(C)) is amended by striking 
``materials'' and inserting ``materials, including information on model 
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology teacher mentoring 
programs,''.
    (c) Eisenhower Professional Development Program State 
Applications.--Section 2205(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6645(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (N);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (O) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(P) describe how the State will administer a 
                mentoring system to ensure consistent implementation of 
                mentoring programs for science, mathematics, 
                engineering, and technology teachers, provide a 
                structure for local mentoring program evaluation, 
                provide technical assistance to local mentoring 
                programs, ensure compliance by local mentoring programs 
                with State teacher training requirements, and provide 
                incentives for local educational agencies to take 
                mentoring into consideration in assessing instructional 
                staff hiring needs.''.
    (d) Eisenhower Professional Development Program Local Activities.--
Section 2210(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6650(b)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) include mentoring programs focusing on 
                changing science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                technology teacher behaviors and practices to help 
                novice teachers develop and gain confidence in their 
                skills, to increase the likelihood that they will 
                continue in the teaching profession, and generally to 
                improve the quality of their teaching.''.
    (e) Accountability.--Section 2401(a) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6701(a)) is amended by 
striking ``part.'' and inserting ``part, including the impact of State 
and local mentoring programs on teaching quality and teacher retention 
rates.''.

SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF EISENHOWER NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE.

    (a) Allocation of Appropriated Amounts.--Section 2003(b)(1) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6603(b)(1)) 
is amended by striking ``2103;'' and inserting ``2103, and $10,000,000 
shall be available to carry out subparagraphs (A), (F), and (G) of 
section 2102(b)(3);''.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Section 2102(b)(3) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(including, to the 
        extent practicable,'' and inserting ``(including'';
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) by amending subparagraph (F) to read as follows:
                    ``(F) solicit and gather (in consultation with the 
                Department, national teacher associations, professional 
                associations, and other reviewers and developers of 
                education materials and programs) all qualitative and 
                evaluative materials and all programs, including full 
                text and graphics, for the Clearinghouse, review the 
                evaluation of the materials and programs, rank the 
                effectiveness of the materials and programs on the 
                basis of the evaluations, and distribute the results of 
                the reviews (in a short, standardized, and electronic 
                format that contains electronic links to an electronic 
                version of the original qualitative and evaluative 
                materials), excerpts of the materials and links to 
                Internet-based sites, and information regarding on-line 
                communities of users to teachers in an easily 
                accessible manner, except that nothing in this 
                subparagraph shall be construed to permit the 
                Clearinghouse to directly conduct an evaluation of the 
                materials or programs; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) develop and establish an Internet-based site 
                offering a search mechanism to assist site visitors in 
                identifying information available through the 
                Clearinghouse on science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                technology education instructional materials and 
                programs, including electronic links to information on 
                classroom demonstrations and experiments, teachers 
who have used materials or participated in programs, vendors, 
curricula, and textbooks.''.
    (c) Clearinghouse.--Section 2102(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6622(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(9) Effective use of technology.--In reviewing 
        evaluations of materials and programs under this subsection the 
        Clearinghouse shall give particular attention to the effective 
        use of materials and technology in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology education.''.
    (d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences, in conjunction 
with appropriate related associations and organizations, shall--
            (1) conduct a study on the Eisenhower National 
        Clearinghouse and whether the provisions enacted in the 
        amendments made by this section have resulted in the 
        Clearinghouse becoming a more effective entity; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the study, including any 
        recommendations of the Academy regarding the Clearinghouse.

SEC. 103. SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES.

    (a) In General.--Section 2211 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6651) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(d) Summer Professional Development Institutes for Teachers.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--From amounts made available to 
        carry out this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to make 
        grants to State agencies for higher education, working in 
        conjunction with the State educational agency (if such agencies 
        are separate), for activities described in paragraph (3). Such 
        grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis that includes a 
        peer review of the grant applications.
            ``(2) Subgrants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A recipient of a grant under 
                paragraph (1) shall carry out the activities described 
                in paragraph (3) by making subgrants to, or entering 
                into contracts or cooperative agreements with, 
                institutions of higher education, and nonprofit 
                organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, including 
                museums and educational partnership organizations, 
                which must work in conjunction with a local educational 
                agency, consortium of local educational agencies, or 
                schools.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In making awards under 
                subparagraph (A), a grant recipient shall give priority 
                to applicants whose application includes an assurance 
                that the applicant will use a curriculum recognized by 
                the working group established under section 17 of the 
                National Science Foundation Act of 1950, particularly 
                if the local educational agency (or agencies) described 
                in subparagraph (A), or the State educational agency 
                (if such agency is separate from the grant recipient), 
                has adopted such curriculum.
            ``(3) Allowable activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each recipient of funds under 
                paragraph (2) shall use the funds for the following:
                            ``(i) The establishment and operation of 
                        science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                        technology summer institutes that provide 
                        professional development to elementary and 
                        secondary school teachers. Such institutes 
                        shall be content-based, build on school year 
                        curricula, and focus only secondarily on 
                        pedagogy.
                            ``(ii) To provide teachers with travel 
                        expense reimbursement, a stipend, or classroom 
                        materials related to such an institute.
                            ``(iii) The establishment of a mechanism to 
                        provide supplemental assistance and follow up 
                        training during the school year for summer 
                        institute graduates.
                    ``(B) Requirements for curricula.--The curricula 
                referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) shall be object-
                centered, experiment-oriented, content-based, and 
                grounded in current research.
                    ``(C) Requirements for institutes.--The summer 
                institutes referred to in subparagraph (A)(i)--
                            ``(i) shall be conducted during a period of 
                        a minimum of two weeks;
                            ``(ii) shall provide for direct interaction 
                        between students and faculty;
                            ``(iii) shall have a component that 
                        includes use of the Internet; and
                            ``(iv) shall provide for follow-up training 
                        in the classroom during the academic year for a 
                        period of a minimum of three days, which shall 
not be required to be consecutive, except that--
                                    ``(I) if the program at the summer 
                                institute is for a period of only two 
                                weeks, the follow-up training shall be 
                                for a period of more than 3 days; and
                                    ``(II) for teachers in rural school 
                                districts, follow-up training through 
                                the Internet may be used.
            ``(4) Review of applications by national science 
        foundation.--The Secretary shall provide each application for a 
        grant under this subsection to the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation in order that such applications may undergo 
        the peer-review process described in paragraph (5)(B), and 
        shall implement the recommendations of the Director in awarding 
        grants under this subsection.
            ``(5) Requirements on national science foundation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each year, not later than 6 
                months before the application deadline for a subgrant, 
                contract, or cooperative agreement described in 
                paragraph (2), the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation shall develop a theme and structure for the 
                summer institutes supported under this subsection. Such 
                applications shall address how funds will be used in 
                accordance with the theme and structure developed by 
                the Director.
                    ``(B) Application peer-review process.--The 
                Director--
                            ``(i) shall establish a peer-review process 
                        for applications for grants received under this 
                        subsection; and
                            ``(ii) shall forward the applications 
                        selected by the Director through such process 
                        to the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Priority.--In making awards under paragraph 
                (2)(A), a grant recipient shall give priority to 
                applicants whose application includes an assurance that 
                the applicant will use a curriculum--
                            ``(i) that is recognized by the working 
                        group established under section 17 of the 
                        National Science Foundation Act of 1950, 
                        particularly if the local educational agency 
                        (or agencies) described in paragraph (2)(A), or 
                        the State educational agency (if such agency is 
                        separate from the grant recipient), has adopted 
                        such curriculum; or
                            ``(ii) that is three or four weeks in 
                        length.
            ``(6) Other requirements.--Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of 
        subsection (a), and subsection (c), shall apply to recipients 
        of funds under this subsection in the same manner as such 
        provisions apply to recipients of funds under subsection 
        (a)(1).
            ``(7) Credit for participation.--Participation in an 
        institute supported under this subsection shall earn credit 
        toward--
                    ``(A) State continuing education requirements for 
                teachers; or
                    ``(B) a post-baccalaureate degree program at an 
                institution of higher education.''.
    (b) Funding.--
            (1) Allocation of appropriated amounts.--Section 2003(b)(2) 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 6603(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``B;'' and inserting 
        ``B, of which $100,000,000, $150,000,000, $200,000,000, and 
        $200,000,000 shall be available to carry out section 2211(d) 
        for fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively;''.
            (2) Reservation of funds.--Section 2202(a) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6642(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the amount made available under section 2003(b)(2) to 
        carry out section 2211(d).''.

SEC. 104. GRANTS FOR TEACHER TECHNOLOGY TRAINING SOFTWARE AND 
              INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.

    Section 3134 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6844) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) providing technology training software and 
        instructional materials to teachers.''.

SEC. 105. RESERVATION FOR AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

    Section 10904(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 8244) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
        (2);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) an assurance that if awarded a grant under this part, 
        the grant recipient shall use not less than 5 percent of the 
        amount received to provide after-school day care services that 
        focus on science activities.''.

SEC. 106. AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE DAY CARE AT COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS.

    Section 10905(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 8245(3)) is amended by striking ``services.'' and 
inserting ``services, including after-school day care services that 
focus on science activities for children in grades kindergarten through 
the sixth grade.''.

                       TITLE II--OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. WORK-STUDY AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Technology Training Treated as Community Service.--Section 
441(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2751(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``technology training,'' 
        after ``literacy training,''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting before the semicolon 
        at the end the following: ``, including tutoring teachers in 
        the uses of classroom technology''.
    (b) Additional Spending for Technology Training.--Section 
443(b)(2)(B) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 2753(b)(2)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``7 percent'' and inserting ``10 percent'';
            (2) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``shall ensure that''; and
            (3) by inserting after ``requirement of this subparagraph'' 
        the following: ``, and (ii) at least 3 percent of the total 
        amount of funds granted to such institution under this section 
        for such fiscal year is used to compensate students employed in 
        technology training or tutoring teachers in the uses of 
        classroom technology (or both),''.

SEC. 202. STUDY.

    The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other Government 
agencies, appropriate organizations, and private businesses and 
corporations, shall conduct a study of--
            (1) the feasibility and effectiveness of various 
        incentives, including tax credits, for corporations and 
        businesses to provide--
                    (A) personnel with regular compensation for time 
                spent as volunteers engaged in the technological 
                training of teachers; and
                    (B) facilities for the provision of such training 
                of teachers;
            (2) alternative methods of providing financial support, 
        through income tax credits, loan forgiveness, or otherwise, to 
        individuals seeking training or retraining in mathematics, 
        science, and technology education;
            (3) the effectiveness of colleges and universities in 
        training teachers who are able to use technology and able to 
        integrate technology into lesson plans and curricula, including 
        distance learning;
            (4) methods to coordinate a working alliance at various 
        levels of government between the business and academic 
        community; and
            (5) additional means of improving the efficiency of the 
        technological training of teachers.

SEC. 203. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall transmit to the Congress a report 
outlining the results of the study conducted under section 202. Such 
report shall include proposals for a comprehensive approach to 
providing technologically competent teachers to our Nation's schools. 
With respect to any objectives described in paragraphs (1) though (5) 
of section 202 that the Secretary determines are feasible and 
effective, such report shall include a plan for the accomplishing such 
objectives.
                                 <all>