II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3324 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the 21st Century Act of 2008.

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.

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.

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.