[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5358 Reported in House (RH)]







                                                 Union Calendar No. 293
109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5358

                          [Report No. 109-524]

 To authorize programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, 
  and technology education at the National Science Foundation and the 
    Department of Energy Office of Science, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 11, 2006

Mr. Schwarz of Michigan (for himself, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Smith of Texas, 
 Mr. Calvert, Mr. Ehlers, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, 
   and Mr. McCaul of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was 
                  referred to the Committee on Science

                             June 22, 2006

   Additional sponsors: Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Al Green of 
Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Reichert, 
   Mr. Wynn, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Ms. Hooley, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. 
   Miller of North Carolina, Mr. Honda, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
Texas, Mr. Baird, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mr. 
   Costa, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Melancon, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Price of North 
Carolina, Mr. Hall, Mr. Gutknecht, and Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida

                             June 22, 2006

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 11, 
                                 2006]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, 
  and technology education at the National Science Foundation and the 
    Department of Energy Office of Science, 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 and Mathematics Education 
for Competitiveness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The National Science Foundation has made significant 
        and valuable contributions to the improvement of K-12 and 
        undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        education throughout its 56 year history.
            (2) The National Science Foundation shall continue to carry 
        out the functions described in section 3 of the National 
        Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862).

SEC. 3. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    Section 10 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce'' in the section 
        heading and each place it appears in the text;
            (2) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``to provide scholarships, 
                stipends, and programming designed''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and to provide scholarships and 
                stipends to students participating in the program'' 
                after ``science teachers'';
            (3) in subsection (a)(3)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``encourage top college juniors and 
                seniors'' and inserting ``recruit and prepare 
                undergraduate students''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``qualified as'' after ``to 
                become'';
            (4) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)--
                    (A) by striking ``programs to help scholarship 
                recipients'' and inserting ``academic courses and early 
                field teaching experiences designed to prepare students 
                participating in the program'';
                    (B) by striking ``programs that will result in'' 
                and inserting ``such preparation as is necessary to 
                meet requirements for''; and
                    (C) by striking ``licensing; and'' and inserting 
                ``licensing;'';
            (5) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(iii)--
                    (A) by striking ``scholarship recipients'' and 
                inserting ``students participating in the program'';
                    (B) by striking ``enable the recipients'' and 
                inserting ``enable the students''; and
                    (C) by striking ``; or'' and inserting ``; and'';
            (6) in subsection (a)(3)(A) by inserting at the end the 
        following new clause:
                            ``(iv) providing summer internships for 
                        freshman and sophomore students participating 
                        in the program; or'';
            (7) in subsection (a)(3)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``encourage'' and inserting 
                ``recruit and prepare''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``qualified as'' after ``to 
                become'';
            (8) by amending clause (ii) of subsection (a)(3)(B) to read 
        as follows:
                            ``(ii) offering academic courses and field 
                        teaching experiences designed to prepare 
                        stipend recipients to teach in elementary 
                        schools and secondary schools, including such 
                        preparation as necessary to meet requirements 
                        for teacher certification or licensing;'';
            (9) in subsection (a) by inserting at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Eligibility requirement.--To be eligible for an award 
        under this section, an institution of higher education (or 
        consortia of such institutions) shall ensure that specific 
        faculty members and staff from the institution's mathematics, 
        science, or engineering departments and specific education 
        faculty are designated to carry out the development and 
        implementation of the program. An institution of higher 
        education may also include teacher leaders to participate in 
        developing the pedagogical content of the program and to 
        supervise students participating in the program in their field 
        teaching experiences. No institution of higher education shall 
        be eligible for an award unless faculty from the institution's 
        mathematics, science, or engineering departments are active 
        participants in the program.'';
            (10) in subsection (b)(1)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``scholarship or stipend'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and summer internships'' after 
                ``number of scholarships''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``the type of activities proposed 
                for the recruitment of students to the program,'' after 
                ``intends to award,'';
            (11) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``scholarship or stipend''; and
                    (B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``, which 
                may include a description of any existing programs at 
                the applicant's institution that are targeted to the 
                education of science and mathematics teachers and the 
                number of teachers graduated annually from such 
                programs;'';
            (12) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (C) and 
        inserting the following:
                    ``(C) a description of the academic courses and 
                field teaching experiences required under subsection 
                (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (B)(ii), including--
                            ``(i) a description of the undergraduate 
                        program that will enable a student to graduate 
                        in 4 years with a major in mathematics, 
                        science, or engineering and to obtain teacher 
                        certification or licensing;
                            ``(ii) a description of the field teaching 
                        experiences proposed; and
                            ``(iii) evidence of agreements between the 
                        applicant and the schools or school districts 
                        that are identified as the locations at which 
                        field teaching experiences will occur;
                    ``(D) a description of the programs required under 
                subsection (a)(3)(A)(iii) and (B)(iii), including 
                activities to assist new teachers in fulfilling their 
                service requirements under this section; and
                    ``(E) an identification of the applicant's 
                mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its 
                education faculty who will carry out the development 
                and implementation of the program as required under 
                subsection (a)(4).'';
            (13) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), 
                and (E) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F), 
                respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) a new 
                subparagraph as follows:
                    ``(B) the extent to which the applicant's 
                mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its 
                education faculty have worked or will work 
                collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that 
                recognizes the specialized pedagogy required to teach 
                mathematics and science effectively in elementary and 
                secondary schools;'';
            (14) in subsection (c)(3)--
                    (A) by striking ``$7,500'' and inserting 
                ``$10,000''; and
                    (B) by striking ``of scholarship support'' and 
                inserting ``of scholarship support, unless the Director 
                establishes a policy by which part-time students may 
                receive additional years of support'';
            (15) in subsection (c)(4)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, with a maximum service 
                requirement of 4 years'' after ``was received''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Service required under this 
                paragraph shall be performed in a high-need local 
                educational agency.'';
            (16) in subsection (c), by adding at the end a new 
        paragraph as follows:
            ``(5) Exception.--The period of service obligation under 
        paragraph (4) is reduced by 1 year for scholarship recipients 
        whose service is performed in a high-need local educational 
        agency.'';
            (17) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``to receive 
        certification or licensing to teach'' and inserting 
        ``established under subsection (a)(3)(B)'';
            (18) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and professional 
        achievement'' after ``academic merit'';
            (19) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``1 year'' and 
        inserting ``16 months'';
            (20) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``for each year a 
        stipend was received'';
            (21) in subsection (g)(2)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``Treasurer of the United States,'' 
                and inserting ``Treasurer of the United States.''; and
                    (B) by striking ``multiplied by 2.''
            (22) in subsection (i)(3), by inserting ``or had a career 
        in'' after ``is working in''; and
            (23) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Science and Mathematics Scholarship Gift Fund.--In accordance 
with section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the 
Director is authorized to accept donations from the private sector to 
support scholarships, stipends, or internships associated with programs 
under this section.
    ``(k) Assessment of Teacher Retention.--Not later than 4 years 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director shall 
transmit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the program 
carried out under this section regarding the retention of participants 
in the teaching profession beyond the service obligation required under 
this section.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--Except as provided in 
subsection (m), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Director 
for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program--
            ``(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which at least 
        $7,500,000 shall be used for capacity building activities 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (iii) and (B)(ii) and 
        (iii);
            ``(2) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which at least 
        $10,500,000 shall be used for capacity building activities 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (iii) and (B)(ii) and 
        (iii);
            ``(3) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which at least 
        $13,500,000 shall be used for capacity building activities 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (iii) and (B)(ii) and 
        (iii);
            ``(4) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which at least 
        $16,500,000 shall be used for capacity building activities 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (iii) and (B)(ii) and 
        (iii); and
            ``(5) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which at least 
        $19,500,000 shall be used for capacity building activities 
        described in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii) and (iii) and (B)(ii) and 
        (iii).
    ``(m) Exception.--For any fiscal year for which the funding 
allocated for activities under this section is less than $50,000,000, 
the amount of funding available for capacity building activities 
described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (l) shall not 
exceed 15 percent of the allocated funds.''.

SEC. 4. SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS 
              EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 9 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by striking ``mathematics and 
        science education partnerships'' and inserting ``school and 
        university partnerships for science and mathematics 
        education'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A)'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B);
                    (C) by inserting ``, through 1 or more of its 
                departments in science, mathematics, or engineering,'' 
                after ``institution of higher education''; and
                    (D) by striking ``a State educational agency'' and 
                inserting ``education faculty from the participating 
                institution or institutions of higher education, a 
                State educational agency,'';
            (3) in subsection (a)(3)(B) by--
                    (A) inserting ``content-specific'' before 
                ``professional development programs'';
                    (B) inserting ``which are'' before ``designed''; 
                and
                    (C) inserting ``and which may include teacher 
                training activities to prepare science and mathematics 
                teachers to teach Advanced Placement and International 
                Baccalaureate science and mathematics courses'' after 
                ``and science teachers'';
            (4) in subsection (a)(3)(C) by inserting ``and laboratory 
        experiences'' after ``technology'' and by inserting ``and 
        laboratory'' after ``provide technical'';
            (5) in subsection (a)(3)(E) by striking ``master teachers'' 
        and inserting ``teacher leaders'';
            (6) in subsection (a)(3)(I) by inserting ``including model 
        induction programs for teachers in their first 2 years of 
        teaching,'' after ``and science,'';
            (7) in subsection (a)(3)(K) by striking ``developing and 
        offering mathematics or science enrichment programs for 
        students, including after-school and summer programs;'' and 
        inserting ``developing educational programs and materials for 
        use in and conducting mathematics or science enrichment 
        programs for students, including after-school programs and 
        summer camps for students described in subsection (b)(2)(G);'';
            (8) in subsection (a)(4) by striking ``master teachers'' 
        and inserting ``teacher leaders'' in the paragraph heading and 
        each place it appears in the text;
            (9) in subsection (a) by inserting at the end the 
        following:
            ``(8) Master's degree programs.--Activities carried out in 
        accordance with paragraph (3)(B) shall include the development 
        and offering of master's degree programs for in-service 
        mathematics and science teachers that will strengthen their 
        subject area knowledge and pedagogical skills. Grants provided 
        under this section may be used to develop and implement courses 
        of instruction for the master's degree programs, which may 
        involve online learning, and develop related educational 
        materials.
            ``(9) Mentors for advanced placement courses teachers and 
        students.--Partnerships carrying out activities to prepare 
        science and mathematics teachers to teach Advanced Placement 
        and International Baccalaureate science and mathematics courses 
        in accordance with paragraph (3)(B) shall encourage companies 
        employing scientists, mathematicians, or engineers to provide 
        mentors to teachers and students and provide for the 
        coordination of such mentoring activities.
            ``(10) Inventiveness.--Activities carried out in accordance 
        with paragraph (3)(H) may include the development and 
        dissemination of curriculum tools that will help foster 
        inventiveness and innovation.'';
            (10) in subsection (b)(2) by redesignating subparagraphs 
        (E) and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively, and 
        inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(E) the extent to which the evaluation described 
                in paragraph (1)(E) will be independent and based on 
                objective measures;'';
            (11) in subsection (b)(3)(A) by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (12) in subsection (b)(3) by redesignating subparagraph (B) 
        as subparagraph (C) and inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
        following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) give priority to applications that include 
                teacher training activities as the main focus of the 
                proposal; and'';
            (13) in subsection (b) by inserting at the end the 
        following:
            ``(4)  minimum and maximum grant size.--A grant awarded 
        under this section shall be not less than $75,000 or greater 
        than $2,000,000 for any fiscal year.'';
            (14) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) 
                as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Report on model projects.--The Director shall 
        determine which completed projects funded through the program 
        under this section should be seen as models to be replicated on 
        a more expansive basis at the State or national levels. Not 
        later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
        paragraph, the Director shall transmit a report describing the 
        results of this study to the Committee on Science and the 
        Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate.
            ``(3) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 4 years after 
        the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Director shall 
        transmit a report summarizing the evaluations required under 
        subsection (b)(1)(E) of grants received under this program and 
        describing any changes to the program recommended as a result 
        of these evaluations to the Committee on Science and the 
        Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate. Such report shall be made widely 
        available to the public.''; and
            (15) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Definition.--In this section, the term `mathematics and 
science teacher' means a mathematics, science, or technology teacher at 
the elementary school or secondary school level.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 4 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) Eligible nonprofit organization.--The term `eligible 
        nonprofit organization' means a nonprofit organization, such as 
        a museum or science center, involved in the preparation, 
        training, or certification of science and mathematics 
        teachers.'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:
            ``(8) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
        need local educational agency' means a local educational agency 
        that--
                    ``(A) is receiving grants under title I of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6301 et seq) as a result of having within its 
                jurisdiction concentrations of children from low income 
                families; and
                    ``(B) is experiencing a shortage of highly 
                qualified teachers, as defined in section 9101 of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 7801), in the fields of science, mathematics, or 
                engineering.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (11) by striking ``master teacher'' and 
        inserting ``teacher leader'' in the paragraph heading and in 
        the text, and by striking ``master teachers'' and inserting 
        ``teacher leaders'' .
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation for the 
School and University Partnerships for Science and Mathematics 
Education program--
            (1) $63,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $73,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $83,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $93,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $103,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 5. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS TALENT 
              EXPANSION PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``competitive, merit-
        based'' and all that follows through ``in recent years'' and 
        inserting ``competitive, merit-reviewed multiyear grants for 
        eligible applicants to improve undergraduate education in 
        science, mathematics, engineering and technology through--
                    ``(i) the creation of programs to increase the 
                number of students studying toward and completing 
                associate's or bachelor's degrees in science, 
                mathematics, engineering and technology, particularly 
                in fields that have faced declining enrollment in 
                recent years; and
                    ``(ii) the creation of centers to develop 
                undergraduate curriculum, teaching methods for 
                undergraduate courses, and methods to better train 
                professors and teaching assistants who teach 
                undergraduate courses to increase the number of 
                students completing undergraduate courses in science, 
                mathematics, technology, and engineering, including the 
                number of nonmajors, and to improve student academic 
                achievement in those courses.
        Grants made under clause (ii) shall be awarded jointly through 
        the Education and Human Resources Directorate and at least 1 
        research directorate of the Foundation'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``under this 
        paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(i)'' before ``The types of'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vi) as 
                subclauses (I) through (VI), respectively;
                    (C) by striking ``under this paragraph'' and 
                inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(ii) The types of activities the Foundation may support 
        under subparagraph (A)(ii) include--
                    ``(I) creating model curricula and laboratory 
                programs;
                    ``(II) developing and demonstrating research-based 
                instructional methods and technologies;
                    ``(III) developing methods to train graduate 
                students and faculty to be more effective teachers of 
                undergraduates;
                    ``(IV) conducting programs to disseminate 
                curricula, instructional methods, or training methods 
                to faculty at the grantee institutions and at other 
                institutions;
                    ``(V) conducting assessments of the effectiveness 
                of the Center at accomplishing the goals described in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii); and
                    ``(VI) conducting any other activities the Director 
                determines will accomplish the goals described in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).'';
            (4) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``under this 
        paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
            (5) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``under this 
        paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
            (6) after subparagraph (D)(iii), by adding the following 
        new clause:
            ``(iv) A grant under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be awarded 
        for 5 years, and the Director may extend such a grant for up to 
        2 additional 3 year periods.'';
            (7) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``under this 
        paragraph'' both places it appears and inserting ``under 
        subparagraph (A)(i)'';
            (8) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (J); 
        and
            (9) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
        subparagraphs:
            ``(F) Grants awarded under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be 
        carried out by a department or departments of science, 
        mathematics, or engineering at institutions of higher education 
        (or a consortia thereof), which may partner with education 
        faculty. Applications for awards under subparagraph (A)(ii) 
        shall be submitted to the Director at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Director may 
        require. At a minimum, the application shall include--
                    ``(i) a description of the activities to be carried 
                out by the Center;
                    ``(ii) a plan for disseminating programs related to 
                the activities carried out by the Center to faculty at 
                the grantee institution and at other institutions;
                    ``(iii) an estimate of the number of faculty, 
                graduate students (if any), and undergraduate students 
                who will be affected by the activities carried out by 
                the Center; and
                    ``(iv) a plan for assessing the effectiveness of 
                the Center at accomplishing the goals described in 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).
            ``(G) in evaluating the applications submitted under 
        subparagraph (F), the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
                    ``(i) the ability of the applicant to effectively 
                carry out the proposed activities, including the 
                dissemination activities described in subparagraph 
                (C)(ii)(IV); and
                    ``(ii) the extent to which the faculty, staff, and 
                administrators of the applicant institution are 
                committed to improving undergraduate science, 
                mathematics, and engineering education.
            ``(H) In awarding grants under subparagraph (A)(ii), the 
        Director shall endeavor to ensure that a wide variety of 
        science, mathematics, and engineering fields and types of 
        institutions of higher education, including 2-year colleges, 
        are covered, and that--
                    ``(i) at least 1 Center is housed at a Doctoral/
                Research University as defined by the Carnegie 
                Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and
                    ``(ii) at least 1 Center is focused on improving 
                undergraduate education in an interdisciplinary area.
            ``(I) The Director shall convene an annual meeting of the 
        awardees under this paragraph to foster collaboration and to 
        disseminate the results of the Centers and the other activities 
        funded under this paragraph.''.
    (b) Report on Data Collection.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress 
a report on how the Director is determining whether current grant 
recipients in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Talent Expansion Program are making satisfactory progress as required 
by section 8(7)(D)(ii) of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 and what funding actions have been taken as a result of the 
Director's determinations.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation for the 
program described in section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002--
            (1) $44,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $4,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii);
            (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii);
            (3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii);
            (4) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and
            (5) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii).

SEC. 6. INTEGRATIVE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Funding.--For each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall allocate at least 1.5 
percent of funds appropriated for Research and Related Activities to 
the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program.
    (b) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with Federal 
departments and agencies, as appropriate, to expand the 
interdisciplinary nature of the Integrative Graduate Education and 
Research Traineeship program.
    (c) Authority to Accept Funds From Other Agencies.--The Director is 
authorized to accept funds from other Federal departments and agencies 
to carry out the Integrative Graduate Education and Research 
Traineeship program.

SEC. 7. CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.

    The Director of the National Science Foundation shall continue to 
carry out the program of Centers for Research on Learning and Education 
Improvement as established in section 11 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-2).

SEC. 8. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    The Director of the National Science Foundation shall continue to 
carry out programs in undergraduate education, including those 
authorized in section 17 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6). Funding for these 
programs shall increase as funding for the National Science Foundation 
grows.

SEC. 9. EVALUATION OF PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTERS.

    Not earlier than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of the National Science Foundation shall enter into an 
agreement with an appropriate party to assess the impact of the 
Professional Science Master's (PSM) degree at a variety of 
institutions, including the extent to which the degree is 
interdisciplinary and targeted to emerging fields, such as services 
sciences, the ability of graduates to obtain employment in industry 
relative to those who receive traditional science master's degrees, 
salary ranges for graduates relative to traditional science masters 
graduates, the extent to which the degree is terminal or graduates go 
on to continue their education, and the success of the degree in 
attracting traditionally underrepresented populations, including women 
and minorities. The results of such study, together with any 
recommendations for Federal support for Professional Science Master's 
programs, shall be transmitted to the Congress not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 10. REPORT ON BROADER IMPACTS CRITERION.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall transmit to Congress 
a report on the impact of the broader impacts grant criterion used by 
the National Science Foundation. The report shall---
            (1) identify the criteria that each division and 
        directorate of the Foundation uses to evaluate the broader 
        impacts aspects of research proposals;
            (2) provide a breakdown of the types of activities by 
        division that awardees have proposed to carry out to meet the 
        broader impacts criterion;
            (3) provide any evaluations performed by the National 
        Science Foundation to assess the degree to which the broader 
        impacts aspects of research proposals were carried out and how 
        effective they have been at meeting the goals described in the 
        research proposals;
            (4) describe what national goals, such as improving 
        undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering education, 
        improving K-12 science and mathematics education, promoting 
        university-industry collaboration and technology transfer, and 
        broadening participation of underrepresented groups, the 
        broader impacts criterion is best suited to promote; and
            (5) describe what steps the National Science Foundation is 
        taking and should take to use the broader impacts criterion to 
        improve undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering 
        education.

SEC. 11. STUDY ON LABORATORY EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR SCHOOLS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation shall transmit a report to 
the Congress examining the extent to which institutions of higher 
education are donating used laboratory equipment to elementary and 
secondary schools. The Director, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall survey institutions of higher education to determine--
            (1) how often, how much, and what type of equipment is 
        donated;
            (2) what criteria or guidelines the institutions are using 
        to determine what types of equipment can be donated, what 
        condition the equipment should be in, and which schools receive 
        the equipment;
            (3) whether the institutions provide any support to, or 
        follow-up with the schools; and
            (4) how appropriate donations can be encouraged.

SEC. 12. ASSESSMENTS OF NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    In conducting assessments of National Science Foundation education 
programs, the Director shall use assessment methods that allow 
Foundation programs to be compared to education programs supported by 
other Federal agencies.

SEC. 13. EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

    (a) Authorization of Education Programs.--The Secretary of Energy, 
acting through the Office of Science, shall carry out education 
programs and activities in fields related to the Office of Science's 
mission, which may include awarding scholarships or fellowships for 
study and research, providing research experiences at National 
Laboratories for undergraduates, and operating summer institutes to 
improve the content knowledge of science and mathematics teachers.
    (b) Inventory and Evaluation.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit a 
        report to the Congress which shall contain--
                    (A) an inventory of existing education programs and 
                activities at the Department and at the National 
                Laboratories, which shall include a description of each 
                education program or activity supported by the 
                Department or the National Laboratories, a description 
                of the intended beneficiaries, and the amount of 
                Federal funding used to support it; and
                    (B) a schedule for conducting independent 
                evaluations of the education programs and activities 
                identified under subparagraph (A) to assess the impact 
                of such programs and activities on the intended 
                beneficiaries and the larger mission of the Office of 
                Science that shall result in all evaluations of the 
                programs being completed not later than 4 years after 
                the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Implementation of schedule.--The Secretary shall 
        implement the schedule provided under paragraph (1)(B) and 
        shall transmit each evaluation to the Congress as it is 
        completed, along with a description of any actions the 
        Secretary intends to take as a result of the evaluation.
    (c) National Laboratories.--The Secretary shall include the conduct 
of education programs at the National Laboratories and the results of 
any evaluations of such programs as a factor in the annual setting of 
the performance and other incentive fees for a National Laboratories 
management and operations contractor.

SEC. 14. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); and
            (2) the term ``National Laboratory'' has the meaning given 
        the term ``nonmilitary energy laboratory'' in section 903(3) of 
        the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16182(3)).
                                                 Union Calendar No. 293

109th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 5358

                          [Report No. 109-524]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To authorize programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, 
  and technology education at the National Science Foundation and the 
    Department of Energy Office of Science, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             June 22, 2006

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed