1.This Act may be cited as
the Mathematics and Science Teaching
Corps Act of 2006
.
2.
(a)Congress finds the following:
(1)Mathematics and
science are the bases for almost every technical competence in the modern
marketplace, including fields as diverse as computer programming, physics,
engineering, manufacturing, and oil exploration.
(2)Cultivating a
workforce with strong mathematics and science skills is necessary both to keep
the United States competitive in a global economy and for its national
security. China’s long-term growth rate has surpassed that of the United States
in the time since Chinese economic reform focused on the development of science
and technology.
(3)Secondary school
students in the United States rank near the bottom when compared to their
counterparts in other developed countries. Of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development nations participating in the 2003 Program for
International Student Assessment, the United States ranked 24th of 29 in
mathematics and 23rd of 29 in science, while Korea and Japan ranked in the top
5 in both categories.
(4)Research shows
that teacher quality is the most important factor in determining student
achievement, especially in the technical fields of mathematics and science.
Researchers from Penn State, the Urban Institute, and the RAND Corporation have
all found higher student achievement in secondary school for those students
whose teachers had taken more coursework related to their subject area.
(5)According to the
Center for Teaching and Policy, 38 percent of secondary school mathematics
classes, 28 percent of general science classes, 45 percent of life science
classes, and 60 percent of physical science classes are taught by individuals
lacking a major or a minor in such discipline.
(6)College graduates
with strong mathematics or science backgrounds have many career opportunities
that are more financially attractive than teaching. According to the National
Science Foundation, recent college graduates in 2001 were offered between
$10,000 and $20,000 more for their first year in a technical occupation other
than teaching.
(7)Sophisticated
mathematics and science teachers are needed in all classrooms across the Nation
in order to raise student achievement and ultimately help the United States
maintain its competitiveness in the global economy.
(8)Individuals who
are strong in mathematics and science need financial incentives, peer
mentoring, and professional development for proper recruitment and retainment
in the field of teaching.
(b)The
purposes of this Act are to—
(1)recruit up to
8,000 new, outstanding mathematics and science secondary school teachers each
year who might otherwise begin different careers; and
(2)reward up to
8,000 existing and outstanding mathematics and science secondary school
teachers each year who might otherwise leave the teaching profession.
3.In this Act:
(1)The
term Director means the Director of the Math and Science Teaching
Corps.
(2)The term hard-to-staff school means a
secondary school that has great difficulty in finding and retaining qualified
and effective teachers, as determined by the Director.
(3)Participating
local educational agencyThe term participating local
educational agency means a local educational agency that has been
certified by the Director as offering an induction program for individuals
receiving fellowships under this Act that meets adequate standards,
including—
(A)clustering Math
and Science Teaching Corps Fellows in individual or nearby schools;
(B)providing
multi-year mentoring and coaching;
(C)offering new
teacher seminars on a monthly basis;
(D)reducing the
course load for such Fellows;
(E)allowing time for
joint lesson planning and other constructive collaborative activities;
(F)providing
professional development opportunities for such Fellows and Math and Science
Teaching Corps Master Fellows on content knowledge and pedagogy; and
(G)facilitating
relationships between Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellows and Math and
Science Teaching Corps Master Fellows.
(4)The term partner institution means an
institution of higher education that has been certified by the Director as
meeting adequate standards for—
(A)offering a
teacher preparation program that—
(i)is
modeled on the Master of Arts in Teaching program, which provides a full-time,
1-year course of study leading to teacher certification and a master’s degree;
and
(ii)includes
pedagogical courses and a minimum of 1 semester of student teaching
experience;
(B)offering a
part-time master’s degree program in mathematics or science education for
teachers who are certified to teach;
(C)offering a
graduate degree program in mathematics and science; and
(D)establishing an
explicit collaboration between the teacher preparation and mathematics and
science departments of the institution to provide graduate-level mathematics
and science content courses that are appropriate for secondary school
teachers.
(5)The term standardized test means the test
required by the Director of each individual who applies for a fellowship under
this Act that evaluates each individual’s mathematics or science subject area
knowledge. The science subject area tests shall include a section to assess
mathematics skills appropriate to each subject. The standardized tests shall be
approved and reviewed periodically by the National Academy of Sciences to
ensure that the tests meet rigorous standards and remain appropriate for the
intended use, and cut-off scores shall be set at the national level.
4.Establishment of
the Math and Science Teaching CorpsTitle II of the Department of Education
Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
221.Math and
Science Teaching Corps
(a)There shall be in the
Department a Math and Science Teaching Corps to be administered by the Director
of the Math and Science Teaching Corps in accordance with the Mathematics and
Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006.
(b)The Director of the Math and Science
Teaching Corps shall—
(1)administer the Math and Science Teaching
Corps program established under the Mathematics and Science Teaching Corps Act
of 2006; and
(2)report directly to the Secretary and shall
perform such additional functions as the Secretary may prescribe.
(c)The Math and Science Teaching Corps is
established in order to significantly improve mathematics and science
achievement among secondary school students in the United States by ensuring
that such students are taught by well-prepared mathematics and science teachers
with superior subject area
knowledge.
.
5.Math and Science
Teaching Corps fellowships for prospective teachers
(a)The
Director shall carry out a program through which the Director awards—
(1)Math and Science
Teaching Corps Fellowships for Prospective Teachers (referred to in this part
as MSTC Fellowships
) to eligible individuals;
(2)grants to partner
institutions to pay the tuition and fees and overhead costs at such
institutions of individuals receiving MSTC Fellowships under this section;
and
(3)grants to
participating local educational agencies to pay the costs of the activities
described in subsection (e)(4).
(b)Definition of
eligible individualIn this section, the term eligible
individual means an individual who—
(1)is a recent
college graduate or a mid-career professional outside of the teaching field;
and
(2)possesses a
strong content area knowledge, including a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in
mathematics, science, engineering, technology, or a related field.
(c)An
individual, partner institution, or participating local educational agency that
desires to receive a MSTC Fellowship or grant, as applicable, under this
section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Director may require.
(d)Recruitment and
selection of individuals for MSTC fellowships
(1)The
Director shall recruit eligible individuals for the MSTC Fellowships.
(2)The
Director shall establish criteria to ensure that individuals who receive MSTC
Fellowships under this section possess—
(A)a comprehensive
knowledge of the subject area to be taught as evidenced by performing at a
satisfactory level on a standardized test;
(B)strong verbal and
communication skills; and
(C)other attributes
that are linked to effective teaching.
(e)
(1)An individual who receives a MSTC Fellowship under this
section shall—
(A)receive
pedagogical training as described in paragraph (2); and
(B)for 4 years,
within a 7-year period of first receiving the Fellowship, teach mathematics or
science in a secondary school, as described in paragraph (3).
(2)
(A)An individual who receives a MSTC Fellowship under this
section shall—
(i)if
the individual is not certified to teach—
(I)attend, during
the first year of the MSTC Fellowship, a 1-year, full-time graduate education
program of a partner institution that receives a grant under this section;
and
(II)receive, during
that 1 year, a stipend that is in an amount that is equal to the Graduate
Research Fellowship stipend awarded by the National Science Foundation;
or
(ii)if
the individual holds appropriate teacher certification credentials when granted
the MSTC Fellowship, then during any of the 4 years of the MSTC
Fellowship—
(I)attend a
part-time graduate education program leading to a master’s degree in
mathematics or science education; or
(II)enroll at an
institution of higher education in not more than 24 credit hours of courses in
mathematics, science, or education.
(B)Grants to
partner institutionsA partner institution that receives a grant
under this section—
(i)shall use the
grant funds to pay the tuition and fees at such institution of individuals
receiving MSTC Fellowships under this section; and
(ii)may use not more
than 10 percent of the grant funds for overhead costs incurred by the partner
institution in administering the grant.
(3)Teaching,
mentoring, and professional developmentAn individual who
receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section—
(A)shall, for 4
years, teach mathematics or science in a secondary school served by a
participating local educational agency;
(B)shall, for such 4
years, participate in induction programs offered by the participating local
educational agency;
(C)shall, for such 4
years, receive a stipend that is equal to—
(i)for
the first year of teaching described in subparagraph (A), $11,000;
(ii)for the second
year of teaching described in subparagraph (A), $14,000;
(iii)for the third
year of teaching described in subparagraph (A), $17,000; and
(iv)for the fourth
year of teaching described in subparagraph (A), $20,000; and
(D)if the school in
which the individual is teaching is determined by the Director to be a
hard-to-staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a uniform amount
determined by the Director, in each year of teaching as described in
subparagraph (A).
(4)Grants to
participating local educational agenciesA participating local
educational agency that receives a grant under this section—
(A)shall use the
grant funds to pay the expenses associated with facilitating the induction and
professional development services for individuals receiving fellowships under
this Act; and
(B)may not reduce
the salary of an individual who receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section
and is employed in a secondary school served by such agency below the salary
normally paid for an individual with a similar background and experience solely
because such individual receives a stipend under paragraph (3).
(f)
(1)Not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a
report to Congress that evaluates the effectiveness of the program under this
section.
(2)The Director shall
submit an updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is
submitted under paragraph (1).
(g)In the event that an individual receiving a
MSTC Fellowship under this section does not complete the activities described
in subsection (e), the Director shall require repayment of the stipends granted
to the individual under this section according to the regulations established
by the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
(h)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $137,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $410,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, $683,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $956,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and $1,092,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
6.Math and Science
Teaching Corps Fellowships for Experienced Teachers
(a)The
Director shall carry out a program in which the Director awards Math and
Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for Experienced Teachers (referred to in
this part as MSTC Master Fellowships
) to eligible
individuals.
(b)In this section, the term eligible
individual
means an individual who—
(1)has been teaching
mathematics or science in a public secondary school for not less than 3
years;
(2)possessed
certification in the field and level in which the individual primarily taught
during the 3 years preceding the year for which the determination is made;
and
(3)is employed as a
full-time, secondary mathematics or science teacher in a participating local
educational agency.
(c)An
eligible individual who desires to receive a MSTC Master Fellowship under this
section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Director may require.
(d)Recruitment and
selection of MSTC master fellows
(1)The
Director shall recruit eligible individuals for MSTC Master Fellowships.
(2)
(A)The Director shall establish criteria to ensure that
individuals who receive MSTC Master Fellowships under this section—
(i)demonstrate
expertise in mathematics or science content by taking a standardized
test;
(ii)demonstrate
mastery of mathematics or science pedagogy and have a strong record of
positively affecting academic achievement, as demonstrated by observations from
supervisors, student data (as available), or other information as determined by
the Director; and
(iii)demonstrate
other attributes that are linked to effective teaching.
(e)
(1)An eligible individual who receives a MSTC Master
Fellowship under this section—
(A)shall—
(i)continue to teach
mathematics or science in a public secondary school in a participating local
educational agency for not less than an additional 5 years during the
subsequent 7 years after receiving such a MSTC Master Fellowship under this
section;
(ii)serve as a
leader within the individual's department and school;
(iii)mentor MSTC
Fellows, as appropriate;
(iv)receive a
stipend of $20,000 for each year the eligible individual continues to teach, as
described in clause (i), but for not more than 5 years; and
(v)attend lectures,
seminars, or workshops on content area knowledge or pedagogy provided by the
participating local educational agency that employs such eligible individual;
and
(B)if the school in
which the individual is teaching is determined by the Director to be a
hard-to-staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a uniform amount
determined by the Director, in each year of teaching as described in
subparagraph (A)(i).
(f)Renewal of MSTC
master fellowshipsAn individual who has received a MSTC
Fellowship or MSTC Master Fellowships and has completed the requirements
associated with such fellowship may re-apply for a MSTC Master Fellowship (or
apply for a MSTC Master Fellowship in the case of an individual who has
received a MSTC Fellowship) if such individual is an eligible individual under
this section.
(g)In
the event that an individual receiving a MSTC Master Fellowship under this
section does not complete the activities described in subsection (e), the
Director shall require repayment of the stipends granted to the individual
under this section according to the regulations established by the Math and
Science Teaching Corps.
(h)
(1)Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall submit a report to Congress that evaluates the
effectiveness of the program under this section.
(2)The Director shall
submit an updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is
submitted under paragraph (1).
(i)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $300,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $700,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.