[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3324 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3324

 To provide leadership regarding science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics education programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 24 (legislative day, July 23), 2008

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide leadership regarding science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics education programs, 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, Technology, Engineering, 
and Mathematics Education for the 21st Century Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
              MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a federally chartered 
corporation to be known as the National Council for Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (referred to in this 
section as the ``STEM Council'') which shall be incorporated under the 
laws of the District of Columbia and which shall have the powers 
granted in this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the STEM Council is a private entity and is not an agency, 
instrumentality, authority, entity, or establishment of the United 
States Government.
    (b) Mission.--The mission of the STEM Council is to--
            (1) provide guidance and coordinate and facilitate the flow 
        of information about science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics (referred to in this section as ``STEM'') education 
        among State, local, and private entities, as well as the 
        general public;
            (2) provide leadership by identifying critical deficiencies 
        in the Nation's STEM education systems and proposing strategies 
        for members of the STEM Council to collaborate to address such 
        deficiencies;
            (3) serve as a primary focal point for Federal agencies to 
        improve their coordination with, and service to, State and 
        local school systems; and
            (4) promote STEM fields and educate the general public 
        about the value of a STEM education.
    (c) Board of Directors.--
            (1) In general.--The management of the STEM Council shall 
        be vested in a Board of Directors composed of 23 voting members 
        and 10 nonvoting members, who shall meet not less frequently 
        than quarterly.
            (2) Initial appointments.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation, in consultation with the Chairmen and 
        Ranking Members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
        and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Education 
        and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
        Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, shall 
        appoint, in accordance with this subsection, the initial voting 
        members of the Board of Directors of the STEM Council.
            (3) Appointments.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, in consultation with the STEM Council, shall 
        appoint, in accordance with this subsection, a new voting 
        member of the Board of Directors of the STEM Council after a 
        voting member has completed service on the STEM Council.
            (4) Representatives on the stem council.--
                    (A) Voting seats.--The Board of Directors of the 
                STEM Council shall consist of the following voting 
                members:
                            (i) Two State Governors or former 
                        Governors.
                            (ii) Two chief State school officers.
                            (iii) One local school board 
                        representative.
                            (iv) One representative from the National 
                        Science Board.
                            (v) One active classroom teacher in science 
                        or mathematics.
                            (vi) One active classroom teacher in 
                        engineering.
                            (vii) One school administrator.
                            (viii) One representative from 
                        organizations representing community colleges.
                            (ix) One representative from organizations 
                        representing research universities.
                            (x) One representative from technological 
                        institutes or organizations representing 
                        technological institutes.
                            (xi) One representative from informal STEM 
                        education organizations.
                            (xii) Three representatives from local 
                        school boards, State legislatures, and other 
                        State and local officials.
                            (xiii) Two representatives from various 
                        teacher, parent-teacher, and STEM education 
                        organizations.
                            (xiv) Three representatives from various 
                        organizations representing industry and 
                        business associations with an interest in 
                        hiring a STEM-educated workforce.
                            (xv) Two representatives from various 
                        organizations that support educational 
                        initiatives, the Nation's global 
                        competitiveness, or STEM education 
                        specifically.
                    (B) Nonvoting seats.--The Board of Directors of the 
                STEM Council shall consist of nonvoting members for the 
                following seats:
                            (i) The two co-chairs of the STEM Committee 
                        established under section 3.
                            (ii) One representative from the majority 
                        party and 1 representative from the minority 
                        party from each of the following committees:
                                    (I) The Committee on Health, 
                                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
                                Senate.
                                    (II) The Committee on Commerce, 
                                Science, and Transportation of the 
                                Senate.
                                    (III) The Committee on Education 
                                and Labor of the House of 
                                Representatives.
                                    (IV) The Committee on Science and 
                                Technology of the House of 
                                Representatives.
                    (C) Co-chairs.--The Board of Directors of the STEM 
                Council shall have 2 co-chairs who shall be a Governor, 
                or former Governor, and a chief State school officer 
                appointed by the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation in consultation with the Chairmen and 
                Ranking Members of the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
                the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives, and the Committee on Science and 
                Technology of the House of Representatives.
            (5) National academy of sciences support.--The Director of 
        the National Science Foundation shall enter into an agreement 
        with the National Academy of Sciences--
                    (A) to provide staff support to the Board of 
                Directors of the STEM Council; and
                    (B) to carry out any projects proposed by the Board 
                of Directors or required under this Act.
    (d) Activities.--
            (1) Mandatory activities.--
                    (A) In general.--The STEM Council shall carry out 
                the following activities:
                            (i) Provide leadership by identifying 
                        critical deficiencies in the Nation's STEM 
                        education systems and proposing strategies for 
                        members of the STEM Council to collaborate to 
                        address such deficiencies.
                            (ii) Not later than 18 months after the 
                        date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
                        thereafter, the STEM Council shall submit a 
                        report that highlights the status of STEM 
                        education in the Nation and the States to the 
                        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                        Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on 
                        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
                        Senate, the Committee on Education and Labor of 
                        the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
                        Science and Technology of the House of 
                        Representatives, the Governor of each of the 50 
                        States, and the STEM Committee established in 
                        section 3. Each report submitted under this 
                        clause shall be widely available to the public 
                        and posted on the website of the STEM Council.
                            (iii) Evaluate progress toward the goals 
                        described in the National Action Plan of the 
                        National Science Board on a regular and 
                        sustained basis, including the effectiveness of 
                        the STEM Committee, established under section 
                        3, in coordinating kindergarten through 
                        graduate-level Federal STEM education programs.
                            (iv) Serve as a national resource by 
                        disseminating through the Department of 
                        Education to State and local educational 
                        agencies information on research on teaching 
                        and learning, including best educational 
                        practices, and encouraging the adoption of such 
                        practices.
                            (v) Help States establish or strengthen 
                        existing P-16 or P-20 STEM councils and serve 
                        as a technical resource center for P-16 or P-20 
                        STEM councils.
                            (vi) Utilize scientifically valid studies 
                        to determine programs that raise student 
                        achievement or interest in STEM fields.
                            (vii) Direct the Department of Education to 
                        promote the programs described in clause (vi) 
                        to State educational agencies and local 
                        educational agencies.
                            (viii) Work with all stakeholders to 
                        address--
                                    (I) the removal of barriers that 
                                exist throughout the Nation in 
                                recruiting and retaining effective STEM 
                                educators; and
                                    (II) the removal of barriers 
                                imposed by local educational agencies 
                                on the movement of STEM educators 
                                between local educational agencies both 
                                within and across States.
                            (ix) Propose models for effective teacher 
                        professional development.
                            (x) Launch a public education initiative 
                        to--
                                    (I) promote STEM fields to the 
                                general public, especially to 
                                stakeholders that represent individuals 
                                identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
                                Science and Engineering Equal 
                                Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 
                                1885b); and
                                    (II) raise awareness that STEM 
                                education is essential for the Nation's 
                                success.
                    (B) Database on federal and non-federal science, 
                technology, engineering, and mathematics educational 
                initiatives.--
                            (i) Establishment and maintenance of 
                        database.--
                                    (I) Database.--The STEM Council 
                                shall establish and maintain, on a 
                                public website of the STEM Council, a 
                                database consisting of information on 
                                Federal scholarships, fellowships, and 
                                other Federal STEM and relevant non-
                                STEM education programs recommended by 
                                the STEM Committee established under 
                                section 3, as well as non-Federal STEM 
                                and relevant non-STEM programs that 
                                have been recommended by the Board of 
                                Directors of the STEM Council. The 
                                database may include information on 
                                grants, fellowships, internships, and 
                                summer programs at the primary through 
                                graduate levels.
                                    (II) Specific information.--The 
                                database established under subclause 
                                (I) shall include specific information 
                                on any programs of financial assistance 
                                that are targeted to individuals of a 
                                particular gender, ethnicity, or other 
                                demographic group, especially 
                                individuals identified in section 33 or 
                                34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
                                Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
                                1885b).
                            (ii) Dissemination of information on 
                        database.--The STEM Council shall take such 
                        actions as may be necessary on an ongoing 
                        basis, including sending notices to educational 
                        institutions, to disseminate information on the 
                        database established and maintained under this 
                        subparagraph.
                            (iii) Listing direct contact information.--
                        The database established under clause (i) shall 
                        provide contact information for awards, 
                        including the sponsor's website.
                            (iv) Approval.--The STEM Council shall 
                        review submissions for inclusion on the 
                        database established under clause (i) from 
                        prospective sponsors to exclude fraudulent 
                        scholarship offers and scholarship programs 
                        that require the payment of an application fee 
                        or other charge. The STEM Council may--
                                    (I) remove information from the 
                                database if the STEM Council determines 
                                the information is not in accordance 
                                with the purpose of the database; or
                                    (II) promote those programs most 
                                effective at improving student 
                                achievement or interest in STEM fields.
                            (v) Accuracy.--Information on scholarships 
                        included in the database established under 
                        clause (i) shall be updated not less often than 
                        quarterly in order to provide current and 
                        accurate information regarding available 
                        scholarships.
                            (vi) Links.--The database established under 
                        clause (i) may have links to other privately 
                        operated online tools designed to help students 
                        find scholarships and educational opportunities 
                        that are approved by the STEM Council.
            (2) Permissive activities.--The STEM Council may carry out 
        any of the following activities:
                    (A) Coordinate the development and maintenance of 
                integrated data management systems to consolidate and 
                share information among States on STEM educational 
                practices, research, and outcomes, including student 
                assessment results, teacher quality measures, and high 
                school graduation requirements.
                    (B) Assemble a database of opportunities for 
                teachers interested in summer research in a STEM field 
                in a Government research laboratory, institution of 
                higher education, or STEM-related business or industry.
                    (C) Assemble a database of grants and other funding 
                opportunities for STEM classroom resources to be used 
                by teachers and local educational agencies.
    (e) Corporate Powers.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the STEM Council shall become a body corporate 
and as such shall have the authority to do the following:
            (1) To adopt and use a corporate seal.
            (2) To have succession until dissolved by an Act of 
        Congress.
            (3) To appoint, through the actions of its Board of 
        Directors, officers and employees of the STEM Council, to 
        define their duties and responsibilities, fix their 
        compensations, and to dismiss at will such officers or 
        employees.
            (4) To prescribe, through the actions of its Board of 
        Directors, bylaws not inconsistent with Federal law and the 
        laws of the District of Columbia, regulating the manner in 
        which its general business may be conducted and the manner in 
        which the privileges granted to it by law may be exercised.
            (5) To exercise, through the actions of its Board of 
        Directors, all powers specifically granted by the provisions of 
        this section, and such incidental powers as shall be necessary.
            (6) To develop a source of revenue that is in addition to 
        Federal funds provided under this section and that extends 
        later than fiscal year 2013.
            (7) To pay for a small personnel staff, office space, 
        equipment, and travel, including employing not less than 1 
        executive staff member and 2 professional staff members.
    (f) Corporate Funds.--
            (1) Deposit of funds.--The Board of Directors shall deposit 
        all funds of the STEM Council in federally chartered and 
        insured depository institutions until such funds are disbursed 
        under paragraph (2).
            (2) Disbursement of funds.--Funds of the STEM Council may 
        be disbursed only for purposes that are--
                    (A) approved by the chief executive of the STEM 
                Council; and
                    (B) in accordance with the mission of the STEM 
                Council as specified in subsection (b).
    (g) Use of Mails.--The STEM Council may use the United States mails 
in the same manner and under the same conditions as the departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (h) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall not apply to the STEM 
Council.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the STEM Council to carry out this section $2,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.

SEC. 3. COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
              EDUCATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the National 
Science and Technology Council a standing committee on science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education (referred to in this 
section as the ``STEM Committee'').
    (b) Members.--
            (1) In general.--The STEM Committee shall be composed of 
        representatives from all Federal departments and agencies 
        involved in STEM education, including the National 
        Laboratories.
            (2) Co-chairs.--The STEM Committee shall have 2 co-chairs--
                    (A) one of whom shall be a representative from the 
                National Science Foundation; and
                    (B) one of whom shall be the Secretary of Education 
                or a designee of the Secretary.
    (c) Duties and Responsibilities.--The STEM Committee shall--
            (1) coordinate all programs related to education in 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to 
        in this section as ``STEM'') fields funded or administered by 
        the Federal Government;
            (2) conduct an ongoing inventory and assessment of the 
        effectiveness of all Federal education initiatives related to 
        STEM fields, especially with regard to how the initiatives are 
        serving those individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
        Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1885a, 1885b);
            (3) disseminate the annual report received from the STEM 
        Council under section 2(d)(1)(A)(ii) to each Federal Agency 
        engaged in STEM education efforts;
            (4) coordinate among all Federal departments and agencies 
        involved in STEM education research and programs to inventory 
        and assess the effectiveness and coherence of Federally funded 
        STEM education programs; and
            (5) represent all Federal agencies on the National Council 
        for STEM Education and coordinate the STEM education efforts of 
        the Federal government with State and local governments through 
        the National Council for STEM Education.
    (d) Meetings.--The STEM Committee shall meet not less frequently 
than quarterly.

SEC. 4. EVALUATION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
              PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall conduct, directly 
or though contract, a comprehensive evaluation of all science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education (referred to in this 
section as ``STEM education'') programs of the Department of Education.
    (b) Programs To Evaluate.--The STEM education programs that shall 
be evaluated under subsection (a) shall include the following:
            (1) The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program.
            (2) The Math Now for Elementary School and Middle School 
        Students program.
            (3) The Math Skills for Secondary School Students program.
            (4) The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement 
        program.
            (5) The Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program.
            (6) The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain 
        Talent grant program (the National SMART grant program).
            (7) The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher 
        Education Grants program (the TEACH Grants program).
            (8) The Academic Competitiveness Grant program.
            (9) Grant programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins 
        Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
    (c) Content of Evaluation.--The evaluation conducted under 
subsection (a) shall--
            (1) examine the coherence of the Department of Education in 
        administering STEM education programs, including identifying 
        unnecessary or harmful overlap;
            (2) identify the unmet State and local education needs that 
        could be filled with reorganization or expansion of STEM 
        education programs existing on the date of the evaluation;
            (3) evaluate the ease of access to information on STEM 
        education programs by students, educators, and others target 
        populations;
            (4) evaluate the ability of the Department of Education to 
        disseminate information from the STEM Council established under 
        section 2; and
            (5) propose how the Department of Education can address any 
        needs or problems identified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Education, or the entity with whom the 
Secretary contracts to conduct the evaluation under subsection (a), 
shall submit to Congress a report of such evaluation.
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