[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 362 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                  Union Calendar No. 50
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 362

                          [Report No. 110-85]

To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science 
                   teachers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 10, 2007

Mr. Gordon of Tennessee (for himself and Mr. Hall of Texas) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and 
                               Technology

                             April 16, 2007

Additional sponsors: Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Baird, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Honda, 
Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Hirono, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Mr. 
 Davis of Alabama, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Wexler, Ms. Giffords, 
  Ms. Matsui, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Costello, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Moore of 
 Kansas, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Lampson, Mr. Ehlers, Ms. Hooley, Mr. Wu, 
Mr. Ross, Mr. Carnahan, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson 
of Texas, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, 
                      Mr. Shays, and Mr. Chandler

                             April 16, 2007

  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 January 
                               10, 2007]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science 
                   teachers, 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.

                     TITLE I--SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Policy objective.
Sec. 104. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

        TITLE II--MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 201. Mathematics and science education partnerships amendments.
Sec. 202. Teacher institutes.
Sec. 203. Graduate degree program.
Sec. 204. Curricular materials.
Sec. 205. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent 
                            Expansion Program.
Sec. 206. High-need local educational agency definition.
Sec. 207. Teacher leaders.
Sec. 208. Laboratory science pilot program.
Sec. 209. Study on laboratory equipment donations for schools.

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) Under section 3 of the National Science Foundation Act 
        of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862), the National Science Foundation is 
        explicitly required to strengthen science, mathematics, and 
        engineering research potential and education programs at all 
        levels.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
            (2) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation.
            (3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (4) The term ``mathematics and science teacher'' means a 
        mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary 
        school or secondary school level.

                     TITLE I--SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds 
Science and Math Scholarship Act''.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The prosperity the United States enjoys today is due in 
        no small part to investments the Nation has made in research 
        and development over the past 50 years.
            (2) Corporate, government, and national scientific and 
        technical leaders have raised concerns that current trends 
        affecting the science and technology enterprise of the Nation 
        could result in erosion of this past success and jeopardize 
        future prosperity.
            (3) The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy 
        of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine were tasked in a 
        congressional request to recommend actions that the Federal 
        Government could take to enhance the science and technology 
        enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, 
        prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st 
        century.
            (4) The Academies' highest priority recommendation in its 
        report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and 
        Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future'', is to 
        improve K-12 mathematics and science education, and the 
        Academies' first recommended action item is to institute a 
        major scholarship program to recruit and educate annually 
        10,000 mathematics and science teachers.

SEC. 103. POLICY OBJECTIVE.

    In carrying out the program under section 104, the National Science 
Foundation shall seek to increase by up to 10,000 per year the number 
of elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers in the 
Nation's schools having both exemplary subject knowledge and 
pedagogical skills.

SEC. 104. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Program Amendments.--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;
            (2) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``to provide scholarships, 
                stipends, and programming designed'';
                    (B) by inserting ``and to provide scholarships and 
                stipends to students participating in the program'' 
                after ``science teachers''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce'';
            (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 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 is necessary to meet 
                        requirements for teacher certification or 
                        licensing; and'';
            (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 mathematics and science 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 
                        within 5 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;
                    (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, science, and technology effectively in 
                elementary and secondary schools;''; and
                    (C) by amending subparagraph (F), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to 
                read as follows:
                    ``(F) the ability of the applicant to recruit 
                students who are individuals identified in section 33 
                or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
                Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).'';
            (14) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``2 years'' and 
        inserting ``3 years'';
            (15) in subsection (c)(3)--
                    (A) by striking ``$7,500'' and inserting 
                ``$10,000''; and
                    (B) by striking ``2 years of scholarship support'' 
                and inserting ``3 years of scholarship support, unless 
                the Director establishes a policy by which part-time 
                students may receive additional years of support'';
            (16) in subsection (c)(4)--
                    (A) by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``8 
                years'';
                    (B) by inserting ``, with a maximum service 
                requirement of 6 years'' after ``was received''; and
                    (C) by striking ``Service required under this 
                paragraph shall be performed in a high-need local 
                educational agency.'';
            (17) 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.'';
            (18) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``to receive 
        certification or licensing to teach'' and inserting 
        ``established under subsection (a)(3)(B)'';
            (19) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and professional 
        achievement'' after ``academic merit'';
            (20) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``1 year'' and 
        inserting ``16 months'';
            (21) in subsection (d)(4)--
                    (A) by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``4 
                years''; and
                    (B) by striking ``for each year a stipend was 
                received'';
            (22) 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.'';
            (23) in subsection (i)(3), by inserting ``or had a career 
        in'' after ``is working in'';
            (24) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (4);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (5) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) the term `teacher leader' means a mathematics or 
        science teacher who works to improve the instruction of 
        mathematics or science in kindergarten through grade 12 
        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;
                    ``(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, for the 
                purposes of training other teacher leaders, to 
                mathematics and science teachers.''; and
            (25) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Mathematics and Science 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 Service and 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. The report shall include the proportion 
of individuals receiving scholarships or stipends under the program who 
--
            ``(1) fulfill their service obligation required under this 
        section in a high-need local educational agency;
            ``(2) elect to fulfill their service obligation in a high-
        need local educational agency but fail to complete it, as 
        defined in subsection (g);
            ``(3) remain in the teaching profession beyond their 
        service obligation; and
            ``(4) remain in the teaching profession in a high-need 
        local educational agency beyond their service obligation.
    ``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship 
Program--
            ``(1) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            ``(2) $101,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            ``(3) $133,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(4) $164,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            ``(5) $196,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 8(6) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading by inserting ``Teacher'' after 
        ``Noyce''; and
            (2) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce''.

        TITLE II--MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 201. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AMENDMENTS.

    Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
            (1) 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,'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(3)(B)--
                    (A) by inserting ``content-specific'' before 
                ``professional development programs'';
                    (B) by inserting ``which are'' before ``designed''; 
                and
                    (C) by inserting ``and which may include teacher 
                training activities to prepare mathematics and science 
                teachers to teach challenging mathematics, science, and 
                technology college-preparatory courses, including 
                Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate 
                courses'' after ``and science teachers'';
            (3) in subsection (a)(3)(C)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and laboratory experiences'' 
                after ``technology''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and laboratory'' after ``provide 
                technical'';
            (4) in subsection (a)(3)(I) by inserting ``including model 
        induction programs for teachers in their first 2 years of 
        teaching,'' after ``and science,'';
            (5) 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 and 
        conducting mathematics, science, and technology enrichment 
        programs for students, including after-school programs and 
        summer camps for students described in subsection (b)(2)(G);'';
            (6) 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, as described in 
        section 203 of the Act enacting this paragraph. 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 teachers and students of challenging 
        courses.--Partnerships carrying out activities to prepare 
        mathematics and science teachers to teach challenging 
        mathematics, science, and technology college-preparatory 
        courses, including Advanced Placement and International 
        Baccalaureate 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.'';
            (7) 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;'';
            (8) 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.'';
            (9) 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 
        Technology and the Committee on Education and Labor 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 Technology 
        and the Committee on Education and Labor 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
            (10) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `mathematics and science teacher' means a 
        mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary 
        school or secondary school level; and
            ``(2) the term `science', in the context of elementary and 
        secondary education, includes technology and pre-
        engineering.''.

SEC. 202. TEACHER INSTITUTES.

    (a) National Science Foundation Institutes.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall establish a grant 
        program to provide for summer or academic year teacher 
        institutes or workshops authorized by section 9(a)(3)(B) of the 
        National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
        U.S.C. 1862n(a)(3)(B)) and shall allow grantees under the 
        Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century program to operate 1 to 
        2 week summer teacher institutes with the goal of reaching the 
        maximum number of in-service mathematics and science teachers, 
        particularly elementary and middle school teachers, to improve 
        their content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
            (2) Preparation to teach challenging courses.--The Director 
        shall ensure that activities supported for awards under 
        paragraph (1) include the development and implementation of 
        teacher training activities to prepare mathematics and science 
        teachers to teach challenging mathematics, science, and 
        technology college-preparatory courses, including Advanced 
        Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.
            (3) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Director shall give priority to applications that propose 
        programs that will attract mathematics and science teachers 
        from local educational agencies that--
                    (A) are 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 their 
                jurisdictions concentrations of children from low 
                income families; and
                    (B) are 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 technology.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the 
        purposes of this section, $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
        $35,200,000 for fiscal year 2009, $38,700,000 for fiscal year 
        2010, $42,600,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $46,800,000 for 
        fiscal year 2012.
    (b) Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the 
Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development program, $3,000,000 
for fiscal year 2008, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $10,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2010, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $10,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 203. GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall ensure that master's degree 
programs for in-service mathematics and science teachers that will 
strengthen their subject area knowledge and pedagogical skills are 
instituted in accordance with section 9(a)(8) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n(a)(8)). The 
degree programs shall be designed for current teachers, who will enroll 
as part-time students, and to allow participants to obtain master's 
degrees within a period of 3 years.
    (b) Distribution of Awards.--The Director shall, in awarding grants 
to carry out subsection (a), consider the distribution of awards among 
institutions of higher education of different sizes and geographic 
locations.
    (c) Program Activities.--Activities supported through master's 
degree programs established under subsection (a) may include--
            (1) development of courses of instruction and related 
        educational materials;
            (2) stipends to defray the cost of attendance for students 
        in the degree program; and
            (3) acquisition of computer and networking equipment needed 
        for online instruction under the degree program.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of 
this section $46,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $50,600,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, $55,700,000 for fiscal year 2010, $61,200,000 for fiscal 
year 2011, and $67,300,000 for fiscal year 2012.

SEC. 204. CURRICULAR MATERIALS.

    The Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, 
shall convene a national panel of experts on mathematics and science 
education to identify and collect K-12 mathematics, science, and 
technology teaching materials that have been demonstrated to be 
effective and to recommend the development of new materials in areas 
where effective materials do not exist. The Director and Secretary 
shall develop ways to disseminate effective materials and support 
efforts to develop new materials, in accordance with the 
recommendations of the national panel. Recommendations made under this 
section shall not be considered a mandate of specific K-12 curricula.

SEC. 205. 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, 
                technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly 
                in fields that have faced declining enrollment in 
                recent years; and
                    ``(ii) the creation of centers (in this paragraph 
                referred to as `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, technology, engineering, and mathematics, 
                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) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
            ``(B) In selecting projects under subparagraph (A)(i), the 
        Director shall strive to increase the number of students 
        studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees, 
        concentrations, or certificates in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, or technology who are--
                    ``(i) individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
                the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b); or
                    ``(ii) graduates of a secondary school that is 
                administered by a local educational agency that 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.'';
            (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 at the end 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, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and 
        types of institutions of higher education, including 2-year 
        colleges and minority-serving institutions, 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 National Science Foundation for the program 
described in paragraph (7) of section 8 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002--
            (1) $44,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which $4,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
        that paragraph;
            (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
        that paragraph;
            (3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
        that paragraph;
            (4) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
        that paragraph; and
            (5) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, of which $10,000,000 
        shall be for the grants described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of 
        that paragraph.

SEC. 206. HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINITION.

    Section 4(8) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act 
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note) is amended 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.''.

SEC. 207. TEACHER LEADERS.

    The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is 
amended--
            (1) in section 4(11)--
                    (A) by striking ``master teacher'' and inserting 
                ``teacher leader'';
                    (B) by striking ``master teacher'' and inserting 
                ``teacher leader''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``master 
                teachers'' and inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
            (2) in section 9--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(3)(E), by striking ``master 
                teachers'' and inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
                    (B) in subsection (a)(4)--
                            (i) by striking ``master teachers'' and 
                        inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``master teachers'' each 
                        place it appears and inserting ``teacher 
                        leaders''.

SEC. 208. LABORATORY SCIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) To remain competitive in science and technology in the 
        global economy, the United States must increase the number of 
        students graduating from high school prepared to pursue 
        postsecondary education in science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics.
            (2) There is broad agreement in the scientific community 
        that learning science requires direct involvement by students 
        in scientific inquiry and that laboratory experience is so 
        integral to the nature of science that it must be included in 
        every science program for every science student.
            (3) In America's Lab Report, the National Research Council 
        concluded that the current quality of laboratory experiences is 
        poor for most students and that educators and researchers do 
        not agree on how to define high school science laboratories or 
        on their purpose, hampering the accumulation of research on how 
        to improve labs.
            (4) The National Research Council found that schools with 
        higher concentrations of non-Asian minorities and schools with 
        higher concentrations of poor students are less likely to have 
        adequate laboratory facilities than other schools.
            (5) The Government Accountability Office reported that 49.1 
        percent of schools where the minority student population is 
        greater than 50.5 percent reported not meeting functional 
        requirements for laboratory science well or at all.
            (6) 40 percent of those college students who left the 
        science fields reported some problems related to high school 
        science preparation, including lack of laboratory experience 
        and no introduction to theoretical or to analytical modes of 
        thought.
            (7) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
        Government to invest in research and demonstration projects to 
        improve the teaching of laboratory science in the Nation's high 
        schools.
    (b) Grant Program.--Section 8(8) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as 
        clauses (i) through (vi), respectively;
            (2) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``A program of 
        competitive''; and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following new 
        subparagraphs:
            ``(B) In accordance with subparagraph (A)(v), the Director 
        shall establish a research pilot program designated as 
        `Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science' to award grants 
        to partnerships to improve laboratories and provide 
        instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance 
        the quality of mathematics, science, engineering, and 
        technology instruction at the secondary school level. Grants 
        under this subparagraph may be used for--
                    ``(i) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment, 
                instrumentation, and other scientific educational 
                materials;
                    ``(ii) maintenance, renovation, and improvement of 
                laboratory facilities;
                    ``(iii) development of instructional programs 
                designed to integrate the laboratory experience with 
                classroom instruction and to be consistent with State 
                mathematics and science academic achievement standards;
                    ``(iv) training in laboratory safety for school 
                personnel;
                    ``(v) design and implementation of hands-on 
                laboratory experiences to encourage the interest of 
                individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
                Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
                U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in mathematics, science, 
                engineering, and technology and help prepare such 
                individuals to pursue postsecondary studies in these 
                fields; and
                    ``(vi) assessment of the activities funded under 
                this subparagraph.
            ``(C) Grants may be made under subparagraph (B) only to a 
        partnership--
                    ``(i) for a project that includes significant 
                teacher training and professional development 
                components; or
                    ``(ii) that establishes that appropriate teacher 
                training and professional development is being 
                addressed, or has been addressed, through other means.
            ``(D) Grants awarded under subparagraph (B) shall be to a 
        partnership that--
                    ``(i) includes an institution of higher education 
                or a community college;
                    ``(ii) includes a high-need local educational 
                agency;
                    ``(iii) includes a business or eligible nonprofit 
                organization; and
                    ``(iv) may include a State educational agency, 
                other public agency, National Laboratory, or community-
                based organization.
            ``(E) The Federal share of the cost of activities carried 
        out using amounts from a grant under subparagraph (B) shall not 
        exceed 50 percent.
            ``(F) The Director shall require grant recipients to submit 
        a report to the Director on the results of the project 
        supported by the grant.''.
    (c) Report.--The Director shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under the research pilot projects funded by the 
grant program established pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
(b) in improving student performance in mathematics, science, 
engineering, and technology. A report documenting the results of that 
evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committees on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best practices and 
materials developed and demonstrated by grant awardees.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section and the amendments made by this section $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 3 
succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 209. STUDY ON LABORATORY EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR SCHOOLS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director 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.
                                                  Union Calendar No. 50

110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 362

                          [Report No. 110-85]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science 
                   teachers, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             April 16, 2007

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