[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3243 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3243

 To provide support for K-12 teacher professional development programs 
 at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education in 
    the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
                   education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2013

   Ms. Esty introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the 
    Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide support for K-12 teacher professional development programs 
 at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education in 
    the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
                   education, 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 ``Supporting Teachers and Enhancing 
Manufacturing (STEM) Jobs Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) There is broad consensus that increasing the number and 
        quality of workers in STEM fields is critical to maintaining 
        United States economic leadership and global competitiveness.
            (2) Scientific innovation has produced approximately half 
        of all United States economic growth since 1950.
            (3) Due to shortages of skilled workers, approximately 
        600,000 United States manufacturing jobs remained vacant in 
        2011.
            (4) Over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs in the 
        United States was three times greater than that of non-STEM 
        jobs. Additionally, STEM jobs are forecasted to grow at an even 
        faster rate in the next decade.
            (5) United States employees in STEM fields earn higher 
        wages, receiving 26 percent more on average than their non-STEM 
        counterparts.
            (6) Employment in engineering fields is expected to grow by 
        11 percent by 2018. Among individuals holding undergraduate 
        degrees, engineers earn some of the highest starting salaries 
        on average.
            (7) Employment in computer systems design and related 
        services, which is dependent on high-level math and problem-
        solving skills, is projected to grow by 45 percent by 2018.
            (8) In 2008, 31 percent of United States college graduates 
        majored in science or engineering fields, as opposed to 61 
        percent of graduates in Japan and 51 percent of graduates in 
        China.
            (9) In 2011, the World Economic Forum ranked the United 
        States 48th in quality of mathematics and science K-12 teacher 
        instruction.
            (10) Recent reports on standardized testing show that 
        students in the United States perform average or below average 
        in mathematics and science as compared to their international 
        peers.
            (11) In 2011, only 45 percent of United States high school 
        graduates were ready for college-level math, and only 30 
        percent were ready for college-level science.
            (12) In 2007, 33 percent of public middle school science 
        teachers and 36 public of public middle school math teachers 
        either did not have a college degree in the subject or were not 
        certified to teach the subject.
            (13) United States teachers generally spent more time in 
        the classroom with students and less time on professional 
        development than their counterparts in top-performing 
        countries.
            (14) United States teachers cite inadequate support from 
        administrators on curriculum development as one of the top 
        reasons for leaving their jobs.
            (15) Exposure to projects and problem-based learning give 
        high school students the skills that they need to be successful 
        in engineering undergraduate and graduate programs of study as 
        well as future careers.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MASTER TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS TRACK.

    The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
U.S.C. 1862n et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 10A the 
following:

``SEC. 10B. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS AND MASTER 
              TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As part of the Robert Noyce 
                Teacher Scholarship Program established under section 
                10, the Director shall establish a separate program to 
                award grants to eligible entities to enable such 
                entities to administer fellowships in accordance with 
                this section.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--The terms used in this section 
                have the meanings given the terms in section 10.
            ``(2) Fellowships.--Fellowships under this section shall be 
        available only to--
                    ``(A) science, technology, engineering, or 
                mathematics professionals, who shall be referred to as 
                `National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows' and who, 
                in the first year of the fellowship, are enrolled in a 
                master's degree program leading to teacher 
                certification or licensing; and
                    ``(B) mathematics and science elementary and 
                secondary school teachers, who shall be referred to as 
                `National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellows', 
                and who possess a master's degree in their field or who 
                do not possess a master's degree in education and/or 
                their respective field but possess potential to become 
                highly effective mathematics and science teachers and 
                leaders in their respective schools.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall enter into a partnership 
that--
            ``(1) shall include--
                    ``(A) not less than 1 high need local educational 
                agency and a public school or a consortium of public 
                schools served by the agency;
                    ``(B) a department within an institution of higher 
                education participating in the partnership that 
                provides an advanced program of study in mathematics 
                and science; and
                    ``(C)(i) a school or department within an 
                institution of higher education participating in the 
                partnership that provides a teacher preparation 
                program; or
                    ``(ii) a 2-year institution of higher education 
                that has a teacher preparation offering or a dual 
                enrollment program with an institution of higher 
                education participating in the partnership; and
            ``(2) may include 1 or more nonprofit organizations that 
        have a demonstrated record of capacity to provide expertise or 
        support to meet the purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
used by the eligible entity (and participating institutions of higher 
education of the consortium, if applicable) to develop and implement a 
program for National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows or National 
Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellows, through--
            ``(1) administering fellowships in accordance with this 
        section, including providing teaching fellowship salary 
        supplements;
            ``(2) in the case of National Science Foundation Teaching 
        Fellowships--
                    ``(A) offering academic courses and clinical 
                teaching experiences leading to a master's degree and 
                designed to prepare individuals to teach in elementary 
                schools and secondary schools, including such 
                preparation as is necessary to meet the requirements 
                for certification or licensing; and
                    ``(B) offering programs both during and after 
                matriculation in the program for which the fellowship 
                is received to enable fellows to become highly 
                effective mathematics and science teachers, including 
                mentoring, training, induction, and professional 
                development activities, to fulfill the service 
                requirements of this section, including the 
                requirements of subsection (e), and to exchange ideas 
                with others in their fields; and
            ``(3) in the case of National Science Foundation Master 
        Teaching Fellowships--
                    ``(A) in the case of fellows who have a master's 
                degree in education or in their respective field--
                            ``(i) offering academic courses and 
                        leadership training to prepare individuals to 
                        become master teachers in elementary schools 
                        and secondary schools; and
                            ``(ii) offering programs both during and 
                        after matriculation in the program for which 
                        the fellowship is received to enable fellows to 
                        become highly effective mathematics and science 
                        teachers, including mentoring, training, 
                        induction, and professional development 
                        activities, to fulfill the service requirements 
                        of this section, including the requirements of 
                        subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with 
                        others in their fields; and
                    ``(B) in the case of fellows who do not have a 
                master's degree in education or in their respective 
                field--
                            ``(i) offering academic courses for 
                        individuals to earn a master's degree;
                            ``(ii) offering programs both during and 
                        after matriculation in the program for which 
                        the fellowship is received to enable fellows to 
                        become highly effective mathematics and science 
                        teachers, including mentoring, training, and 
                        induction, to fulfill the service requirements 
                        of this section, including the requirements of 
                        subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with 
                        others in their fields; and
                            ``(iii) offering professional development 
                        programs that provide for continuous followup 
                        training during the academic year that may 
                        include--
                                    ``(I) an online forum that may 
                                include--
                                            ``(aa) a discussion forum 
                                        for Master fellows to share 
                                        best practices with other 
                                        fellows; and
                                            ``(bb) a question and 
                                        answer forum for Master fellows 
                                        to ask questions of faculty 
                                        from the institution of higher 
                                        education or any other member 
                                        of the partnership;
                                    ``(II) a summer workshop training 
                                of no less than 2 weeks; and
                                    ``(III) direct interaction with 
                                faculty throughout the year.''.

SEC. 4. TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL TRAINING AND RECRUITING FUND.

    Sections 2101, 2012, and 2013 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601, 6602, 6603) are amended to read 
as follows:

``SEC. 2101. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this part is to provide grants to State 
educational agencies, local educational agencies, State agencies for 
higher education, and eligible partnerships that may include nonprofit 
organizations or private corporations in order to--
            ``(1) increase student academic achievement through 
        strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and 
        increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the 
        classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant 
        principals in schools; and
            ``(2) hold local educational agencies and schools 
        accountable for improvements in student academic achievement.

``SEC. 2102. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Arts and sciences.--The term `arts and sciences' 
        means--
                    ``(A) when referring to an organizational unit of 
                an institution of higher education, any academic unit 
                that offers one or more academic majors in disciplines 
                or content areas corresponding to the academic subjects 
                in which teachers teach; and
                    ``(B) when referring to a specific academic 
                subject, the disciplines or content areas in which an 
                academic major is offered by an organizational unit 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Charter school.--The term `charter school' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 5210.
            ``(3) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
        need local educational agency' means a local educational 
        agency--
                    ``(A)(i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children 
                from families with incomes below the poverty line; or
                    ``(ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the 
                children served by the agency are from families with 
                incomes below the poverty line; and
                    ``(B)(i) for which there may be a high percentage 
                of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or 
                grade levels that the teachers were trained to teach; 
                or
                    ``(ii) for which there may be a high percentage of 
                teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary 
                certification or licensing.
            ``(4) Highly qualified paraprofessional.--The term `highly 
        qualified paraprofessional' means a paraprofessional who has 
        not less than 2 years of--
                    ``(A) experience in a classroom; and
                    ``(B) postsecondary education or demonstrated 
                competence in a field or academic subject for which 
                there is a significant shortage of qualified teachers.
            ``(5) Out-of-field teacher.--The term `out-of-field 
        teacher' means a teacher who is teaching an academic subject or 
        a grade level for which the teacher is not highly qualified.
            ``(6) Principal.--The term `principal' includes an 
        assistant principal.

``SEC. 2103. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Grants to States, Local Educational Agencies, and Eligible 
Partnerships.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this part (other than subpart 5) $3,175,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal 
years.
    ``(b) National Programs.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out subpart 5 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
2014 and each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.

SEC. 5. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS.

    Part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

             ``Part B--Mathematics and Science Partnerships

``SEC. 2201. PURPOSES; DEFINITIONS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this part is to improve the academic 
achievement of students in the areas of mathematics and science by 
encouraging State educational agencies, institutions of higher 
education, local educational agencies, elementary schools, and 
secondary schools to participate in programs that--
            ``(1) improve and upgrade the status and stature of 
        mathematics and science teaching by encouraging institutions of 
        higher education to assume greater responsibility for improving 
        mathematics and science teacher education through the 
        establishment of a comprehensive, integrated system of 
        recruiting, training, and advising mathematics and science 
        teachers;
            ``(2) focus on the education of mathematics and science 
        teachers as a career-long process that continuously stimulates 
        teachers` intellectual growth and upgrades teachers' knowledge 
        and skills in order to better retain good teachers;
            ``(3) bring mathematics and science teachers in elementary 
        schools and secondary schools together with scientists, 
        mathematicians, and engineers to increase the subject matter 
        knowledge of mathematics and science teachers to foster 
        relationships and improve such teachers' teaching skills 
        through the use of sophisticated laboratory equipment and work 
        space, computing facilities, libraries, and other resources 
        that institutions of higher education are better able to 
        provide than the elementary schools and secondary schools;
            ``(4) develop more rigorous mathematics and science 
        curricula that are aligned with challenging State and local 
        academic content standards and with the standards expected for 
        postsecondary study and careers in engineering, mathematics, 
        and science; and
            ``(5) improve and expand training of mathematics and 
        science teachers, including training such teachers in the 
        effective integration of technology and project-based learning 
        units into curricula and instruction.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this part:
            ``(1) Eligible partnership.--The term `eligible 
        partnership' means a partnership that--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) if grants are awarded under section 
                        2202(a)(1), a State educational agency;
                            ``(ii) an engineering, mathematics, or 
                        science department of an institution of higher 
                        education; and
                            ``(iii) a high-need local educational 
                        agency; and
                    ``(B) may include--
                            ``(i) another engineering, mathematics, 
                        science, or teacher training department of an 
                        institution of higher education;
                            ``(ii) additional local educational 
                        agencies, public charter schools, public or 
                        private elementary schools or secondary 
                        schools, or a consortium of such schools;
                            ``(iii) a business; or
                            ``(iv) a nonprofit or for-profit 
                        organization of demonstrated effectiveness in 
                        improving the quality of mathematics and 
                        science teachers.
            ``(2) Summer workshop or institute.--The term `summer 
        workshop or institute' means a workshop or institute, conducted 
        during the summer, that--
                    ``(A) is conducted for a period of not less than 2 
                weeks;
                    ``(B) includes, as a component, a program that 
                provides direct interaction between teachers and 
                faculty from institution of higher education;
                    ``(C) provides for followup training during the 
                academic year that is conducted in the classroom with 
                direct interaction with partnership participants for a 
                period of not less than 3 consecutive or nonconsecutive 
                days, except that if the followup training is for 
                teachers in rural school districts, the followup 
                training may be conducted entirely through distance 
                learning; and
                    ``(D) may provide for continuous followup training 
                during the academic year that is conducted via an 
                online forum that may include--
                            ``(i) a discussion forum for teachers to 
                        share best practices; and
                            ``(ii) a question and answer forum for 
                        teachers to ask questions of any other member 
                        of the partnership.

``SEC. 2202. GRANTS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) Authorized Activities.--An eligible partnership shall use 
funds provided under this part for one or more of the following 
activities related to elementary schools or secondary schools:
            ``(1) Creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
        professional development of mathematics and science teachers 
        that improves the subject matter knowledge of such teachers.
            ``(2) Promoting strong teaching skills for mathematics and 
        science teachers and teacher educators, including integrating 
        reliable scientifically based research teaching methods and 
        technology-based teaching methods into the curriculum.
            ``(3) Establishing and operating mathematics and science 
        summer workshops or institutes, including followup training, 
        for elementary school and secondary school mathematics and 
        science teachers that--
                    ``(A) shall--
                            ``(i) directly relate to the curriculum and 
                        academic areas in which the teacher provides 
                        instruction, and focus only secondarily on 
                        pedagogy;
                            ``(ii) enhance the ability of the teacher 
                        to understand and use the challenging State 
                        academic content standards for mathematics and 
                        science and to select appropriate curricula; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) train teachers to use curricula 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) are based on scientific 
                                research;
                                    ``(II) align with challenging State 
                                academic content standards;
                                    ``(III) incorporate project-based 
                                learning techniques; and
                                    ``(IV) are object-centered, 
                                experiment-oriented, and concept- and 
                                content-based; and
                    ``(B) may include--
                            ``(i) programs that provide teachers and 
                        prospective teachers with opportunities to work 
                        under the guidance of experienced teachers and 
                        college faculty;
                            ``(ii) instruction in the use of data and 
                        assessments to inform and instruct classroom 
                        practice; and
                            ``(iii) professional development 
                        activities, including supplemental and followup 
                        activities, such as curriculum alignment, 
                        distance learning, and activities that train 
                        teachers to utilize technology in the 
                        classroom.
            ``(4) Recruiting and retaining quality mathematics, 
        engineering, and science majors to teaching through the use 
        of--
                    ``(A) signing and performance incentives that are 
                linked to activities proven effective in retaining 
                teachers, or for recruiting individuals with 
                demonstrated professional experience in mathematics, 
                engineering, or science into teaching;
                    ``(B) stipends provided to mathematics and science 
                teachers for certification through alternative routes;
                    ``(C) scholarships for teachers to pursue advanced 
                course work in mathematics, engineering, or science; 
                and
                    ``(D) other programs that the State educational 
                agency determines to be effective in recruiting and 
                retaining individuals with strong mathematics, 
                engineering, or science backgrounds.
            ``(5) Developing or redesigning more rigorous mathematics 
        and science curricula that are aligned with challenging State 
        and local academic content standards and with the standards 
        expected for postsecondary study in mathematics and science.
            ``(6) Establishing distance learning programs for 
        mathematics and science teachers using curricula that are 
        innovative, content-based, and based on scientifically based 
        research that is current as of the date of the program 
        involved.
            ``(7) Designing programs to prepare a mathematics or 
        science teacher at a school to provide professional development 
        to other mathematics or science teachers at the school and to 
        assist beginning and other teachers at the school, including 
        (if applicable) a mechanism to integrate the teacher's 
        experiences from a summer workshop or institute into the 
        provision of professional development and assistance.
            ``(8) Establishing and operating programs to bring 
        mathematics and science teachers into contact with working 
        scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, to expand such 
        teachers' subject matter knowledge of and research in science 
        and mathematics.
            ``(9) Designing programs to identify and develop exemplary 
        mathematics and science teachers in the kindergarten through 
        grade 8 classrooms.
            ``(10) Training mathematics and science teachers and 
        developing programs to encourage young women and other 
        underrepresented individuals in mathematics and science careers 
        (including engineering and technology) to pursue postsecondary 
        degrees in majors leading to such careers.
    ``(b) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible partnership receiving a 
        grant or subgrant under this part shall develop an evaluation 
        and accountability plan for activities assisted under this part 
        that includes rigorous objectives that measure the impact of 
        activities funded under this part.
            ``(2) Contents.--The plan developed pursuant to paragraph 
        (1)--
                    ``(A) shall include measurable objectives to 
                increase the number of mathematics and science teachers 
                who participate in content-based professional 
                development activities;
                    ``(B) shall include measurable objectives for 
                improved student academic achievement on State 
                mathematics and science assessments or, where 
                applicable, an International Mathematics and Science 
                Study assessment; and
                    ``(C) may include objectives and measures for--
                            ``(i) increased participation by students 
                        in advanced courses in mathematics and science; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) increased percentages of elementary 
                        and secondary school teachers with academic 
                        majors or minors, or group majors or minors, in 
                        mathematics, engineering, or the sciences.
    ``(c) Report.--Each eligible partnership receiving a grant or 
subgrant under this part shall report annually to the Secretary 
regarding the eligible partnership's progress in meeting the objectives 
described in the accountability plan of the partnership under 
subsection (b).

``SEC. 2203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.''.

SEC. 6. SPECIAL RULE RELATING TO SUBGRANTS TO ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS.

    Section 2132(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6632(c)) is amended by striking ``50'' and inserting 
``75''.
                                 <all>