[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 100 Referred in Senate (RFS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 100


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2001

     Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Science Education Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    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'', 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, mathematicians, and engineers to continue 
        the research and development that are 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 
        Mathematics 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 science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology 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. Mathematics is more 
        than procedures to be memorized. It is a field that requires 
        reasoning, understanding, and making connections in order to 
        solve problems. Engineering is more than just designing and 
        building. It is the process of making compromises to optimize 
        design and assessing risks so that designs and products best 
        solve a given problem. Technology is more than using computer 
        applications, the Internet, and programming. Technology is the 
        innovation, change, or modification of the natural environment, 
        based on scientific, mathematical, and engineering principles.
            (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. Students should learn mathematics with 
        understanding that numeric systems have intrinsic properties 
        that can represent objects and systems in real life, and can be 
        applied in solving problems. Engineering education should 
        reflect the realities of real world design, and should involve 
        hands-on projects and require students to make trade-offs based 
        upon evidence. Students should learn technology as both a tool 
        to solve other problems and as a process by which people adapt 
        the natural world to suit their own purposes. Computers 
        represent a particularly useful form of technology, enabling 
        students and teachers to acquire data, model systems, visualize 
        phenomena, communicate and organize information, and 
        collaborate with others in powerful new ways. A background in 
        the basics of information technology is essential for success 
        in the modern workplace and the modern world.
            (8) Children are naturally curious and inquisitive. To 
        successfully tap into these innate qualities, education in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology 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. 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, contains sufficient opportunities 
        for advancement, and has continuing access to professional 
        development.
            (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. DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall review the education programs of the National Science Foundation 
that are in operation as of the date of enactment of this Act to 
determine whether any of such programs duplicate the programs 
authorized in this Act.
    (b) Implementation.--(1) As programs authorized in this Act are 
implemented, the Director shall terminate any existing duplicative 
program or merge the duplicative program into a program authorized in 
this Act.
    (2) The Director shall not establish any new program that 
duplicates a program that has been implemented pursuant to this Act.
    (c) Report.--(1) The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall review the education programs of the National 
Science Foundation to ensure compliance with the provisions of this 
section.
    (2) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
complete a report on the review carried out under this subsection and 
shall submit the report to the Committee on Science, the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives.
    (3) Beginning one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall, as part 
of the annual budget submission to Congress, submit an updated version 
of the report required by paragraph (2).

SEC. 4. MASTER TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) The term ``sponsoring school'' means an elementary or 
        secondary school that employs a teacher who is participating in 
        a program funded in accordance with this section.
            (2) The term ``nonclassroom time'' means time during 
        regular school hours that is not utilized by a master teacher 
        for instructing elementary or secondary school children in the 
        classroom.
            (3) The term ``master teacher'' means a mathematics or 
        science teacher who works to improve the instruction of 
        mathematics or science in kindergarten through 9th grade 
        through--
                    (A) participating in the development or revision of 
                science, mathematics, engineering, or technology 
                curricula;
                    (B) serving as a mentor to mathematics or science 
                teachers at the sponsoring school or other schools;
                    (C) coordinating and assisting teachers in the use 
                of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies, 
                and when appropriate, supervising acquisition and 
                repair of such materials;
                    (D) providing in-classroom teaching assistance to 
                mathematics or science teachers; and
                    (E) providing professional development, including 
                for the purposes of training other master teachers, to 
                mathematics and science teachers.
            (4) The term ``mathematics or science teacher'' means a 
        teacher of mathematics, science, engineering, or technology in 
        an elementary or secondary school.
    (b) Program Authorized.--(1) The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall establish a program to award competitive, merit-
reviewed grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia 
thereof) to train master teachers and assist elementary and secondary 
schools to design and implement master teacher programs.
    (2) Institutions of higher education receiving grants under this 
section shall offer programs to train master teachers. As part of such 
programs, a grantee shall--
            (A) recruit and select teachers to receive training;
            (B) ensure that training covers both content and pedagogy;
            (C) ensure that participating teachers have mentors; and
            (D) assist participating teachers with the development and 
        implementation of master teacher programs at their sponsoring 
        schools.
    (3) Grants awarded under this section may be used to--
            (A) develop and implement professional development programs 
        to train elementary or secondary school teachers to become 
        master teachers and to train existing master teachers;
            (B) provide stipends and reimbursement for travel to allow 
        teachers to participate in professional development programs in 
        the summer and throughout the year;
            (C) provide guidance to sponsoring schools to enable them 
        to develop and implement a plan for the use of master teachers;
            (D) support participating teachers during the summer in 
        research programs conducted at institutions of higher 
        education, private entities, or government facilities;
            (E) provide educational materials and equipment to master 
        teachers;
            (F) provide computer equipment and network connectivity 
        necessary to enable master teachers to collaborate with other 
        master teachers, to access educational materials available 
        online, and to communicate with scientists or other mentors at 
        remote locations; and
            (G) fund any other activities the Director determines will 
        accomplish the goals of this section.
    (c) Selection Process.--(1) An institution of higher education 
seeking funding under this section shall submit an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
            (A) a description of which classroom subjects and grade 
        levels the training will address;
            (B) a description of the activities to be carried out, 
        including--
                    (i) how such activities will be aligned with State 
                and local standards and with other activities that 
                promote student achievement in mathematics and science; 
                and
                    (ii) how such activities will be based on a review 
                of relevant research and why such activities are 
                expected to strengthen the quality of mathematics and 
                science instruction;
            (C) a description of how the applicant will ensure the 
        active participation of its mathematics, science, or 
        engineering departments in the development and implementation 
        of the program;
            (D) an explanation of how the program will ensure that 
        teachers are given instruction in both content and pedagogy;
            (E) a description of how the applicant will recruit 
        teachers to participate in the program and the criteria that 
        will be used to select the participants;
            (F) a description of the type and amount of any financial 
        assistance that will be provided to teachers to enable them to 
        participate; and
            (G) a description of how the applicant will work with 
        schools to ensure the success of the participating teachers.
    (2) In evaluating the applications submitted under this subsection, 
the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
            (A) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out 
        the proposed program;
            (B) the experience the applicant has in developing and 
        implementing high-quality professional development programs for 
        mathematics or science teachers; and
            (C) the extent to which the applicant is committed to 
        making the program a central organizational focus.
    (3) In evaluating the applications submitted under this subsection, 
the Director shall give priority to those applications that demonstrate 
the greatest participation of mathematics, science, or engineering 
departments.
    (d) Teacher Eligibility.--(1) To be eligible to participate in a 
program funded under this section, a mathematics or science teacher 
shall submit to the Director, at such time and in such manner as the 
Director may require, an assurance executed by the sponsoring school, 
that, after completing the program funded by this section, the 
participating teacher will be provided sufficient non-classroom time to 
serve as a master teacher. A copy of this assurance must be submitted 
to the institution of higher education as part of the teacher's 
application to participate in the master teacher program.
    (2) No funds authorized by this section may be used to train any 
teacher who has not complied with paragraph (1).
    (e) Accountability and Dissemination.--(1) The Director shall 
evaluate the activities carried out under this section. At a minimum 
such evaluations shall use a common set of benchmarks and assessment 
tools to identify best practices and materials developed and 
demonstrated with funds provided under this section.
    (2) The results of the evaluations required under this subsection 
shall be made available to the public, including through the National 
Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Digital 
Library, and shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate.
    (3) Materials developed under the program established under this 
section that are demonstrated to be effective shall be made available 
through the National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology 
Education Digital Library.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2004.

SEC. 5. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON REQUIRED COURSE OF STUDY FOR 
              CAREERS IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, AND 
              TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall, jointly with the Secretary of Education, compile and disseminate 
information (including through outreach, school counselor education, 
and visiting speakers) regarding--
            (1) typical standard prerequisites for middle school and 
        high school students who seek to enter a course of study at an 
        institution of higher education in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, or technology education for purposes of teaching 
        in an elementary or secondary school; and
            (2) the licensing requirements in each State for science, 
        mathematics, engineering, or technology elementary or secondary 
        school teachers.
    (b) Local Control.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government to direct, 
review, or control the instructional content, curriculum, or related 
activities of a State or local educational agency or a school.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2004.

SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT STUDY EVALUATION.

    (a) Study Required.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of 
Sciences and Engineering under which the Academies shall review 
existing studies on the effectiveness of technology in the classroom on 
learning and student performance, using various measures of learning 
and teaching outcome including standardized tests of student 
achievement, and explore the feasibility of one or more methodological 
frameworks to be used in evaluations of technologies that have 
different purposes and are used by schools and school systems with 
diverse educational goals. The study evaluation shall include, to the 
extent available, information on the type of technology used in each 
classroom, the reason that such technology works, and the teacher 
training that is conducted in conjunction with the technology.
    (b) Deadline for Completion.--The study evaluation required by 
subsection (a) shall be completed not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Definition of Technology.--In this section, the term 
``technology'' has the meaning given that term in section 3113(11) of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6813(11)).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purpose of 
conducting the study evaluation required by subsection (a), $600,000.

SEC. 7. SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS 
              EDUCATION CONFERENCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall convene the first of an annual 3- to 5-day conference for 
kindergarten through 12th grade science, mathematics, engineering, and 
technology education stakeholders, including--
            (1) representatives from Federal, State, and local 
        governments, private industries, private businesses, and 
        professional organizations;
            (2) educators;
            (3) science, mathematics, engineering, and technology 
        educational resource providers;
            (4) students; and
            (5) any other stakeholders the Director determines would 
        provide useful participation in the conference.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the conference convened under 
subsection (a) shall be to--
            (1) identify and gather information on existing science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology education programs and 
        resource providers, including information on distribution, 
        partners, cost assessment, and derivation;
            (2) determine the extent of any existing coordination 
        between providers of curricular activities, initiatives, and 
        units; and
            (3) identify the common goals and differences among the 
        participants at the conference.
    (c) Report and Publication.--At the conclusion of the conference 
the Director shall--
            (1) transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the outcome and 
        conclusions of the conference, including an inventory of 
        curricular activities, initiatives, and units, the content of 
        the conference, and strategies developed that will support 
        partnerships and leverage resources; and
            (2) ensure that a similar report is published and 
        distributed as widely as possible to stakeholders in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology education.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section--
            (1) $300,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
            (2) $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004.

SEC. 8. DISTANCE LEARNING GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall establish a program to award competitive, merit-based grants to 
institutions of higher education to provide distance learning 
opportunities in mathematics or science to elementary or secondary 
school students.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
by institutions of higher education to establish programs under which 
elementary or secondary school students can participate in research 
activities in mathematics or science occurring at the grantees' 
institution via the Internet.
    (c) Selection Process.--(1) An institution of higher education 
seeking funding under this section shall submit an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
            (A) a description of the research opportunities that will 
        be offered;
            (B) a description of how the applicant will publicize these 
        research opportunities to schools and teachers;
            (C) a description of how the applicant will involve 
        teachers of participating students in the program;
            (D) a description of how students will be selected to 
        participate;
            (E) a description of how the institution of higher 
        education will ensure that the research is enhancing the 
        participants' education and will make it more likely that the 
        participants will continue their studies in mathematics or 
        science; and
            (F) a description of how the funds will be spent.
    (2) In evaluating the applications submitted under this subsection, 
the Director shall consider--
            (A) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out 
        the proposed program;
            (B) the extent to which the proposed program will enhance 
        the participants' education and encourage them to continue the 
        study of mathematics or science; and
            (C) the extent to which the proposed program will provide 
        opportunities that would not otherwise be available to 
        students.
    (3) The Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the 
program established under this section serves students in a wide range 
of geographic areas and in rural, suburban, and urban schools.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2004.

SEC. 9. COORDINATION.

    In carrying out the activities authorized by this Act, the Director 
of the National Science Foundation shall consult and coordinate with 
the Secretary of Education to ensure close cooperation with programs 
authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(Public Law 89-10).

SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``elementary school'' has the meaning given 
        that term by section 14101(14) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801(14)).
            (2) The term ``secondary school'' has the meaning given 
        that term by section 14101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801(26)).
            (3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given that term by section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

            Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.