[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SCIENCE IS THE FOUNDATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 18, 1998

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, strong math and 
science curricula is crucial to our American youths' education. The 
results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study 
(TIMSS) shows that American high school seniors rank near the bottom in 
math and science education when compared to their international 
counterparts. In addition, there are 346,000 unfilled information 
technology jobs nationwide. In each of our districts, there is a lack 
of skilled professionals for information technology jobs particularly 
related to the lack of specialized math, science, and technology high 
school curriculum.
  In order to solve both of these problems, I am introducing The 
Information Technology Partnership Act. This bill creates a partnership 
between Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and local businesses to provide 
a sound math, science, and technology curriculum coupled with college 
internships and scholarships through the National Science Foundation. 
The Information Technology Partnership Act creates an additional grant 
program through the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Urban Systemic 
Initiative (USI) Program. The USI Program focuses primarily on math and 
science by using mentor teachers to help educators introduce an 
innovative and engaging math and science curriculum to K-12 students in 
the inner city.
  This ``IT Partnership'' grant is aimed at improving scientific and 
mathematical literacy of all students in urban communities while 
fostering a student's career in the information technology field. This 
partnership consists of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and local 
businesses investing in the educational development of the youth in 
their district. The specialized curriculum and scholarships would 
assist students in filling future information technology jobs. 
Specifically, the ``IT Partnership'' grant focuses on math and science 
curricula for students in grades 10-12, and offers internships and 
scholarship opportunities for students majoring in fields related to 
information technology.
  Under the NSF's USI Program, eligibility for the ``IT Partnership'' 
grant is limited to the cities with the largest number of school-age 
children (ages 5 to 17) living in economic poverty, as determined by 
the 1990 census. The following cities are eligible for this grant: 
Atlanta, Baltimore, Bayamon, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, 
Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, El Paso, Fresno, Houston, Indianapolis, 
Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New 
York City, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Ponce, San Antonio, San Diego, San 
Juan, and St. Louis.
  This grant awards five LEAs $300,000 to develop math and science, and 
technology curricula for grades 10-12, and to train teachers in 
technology. In order for LEAs to win this grant, they must enter into a 
partnership with businesses in their community. These businesses would 
commit to provide to LEAs, at a minimum, internships, scholarships, 
mentoring programs, and computer products. Local businesses would 
promise a LEA scholarship money which would be awarded to high school 
seniors who will be majoring in fields associated with information 
technology (math, computer science, engineering) at 2-year or 4-year 
colleges. The partnership between the LEAs and local business sponsors 
would determine the amount and number of scholarships given.
  It is important to note that the LEAs will have direct responsibility 
for overseeing the program. NSF's role is limited to determining which 
five (5) cities meet the criteria for eligibility. The NSF Director 
will award the ``IT Partnership'' grants to the 5 cities with the best 
package of business sponsorship and curricula development. In addition, 
priority will be given to LEAs which grant scholarships to students who 
are first generation college students, have a strong desire to pursue a 
career in the information technology field, show scholastic 
achievement, and submit teacher recommendations.
  In addition to the NSF's USI's reporting guidelines, a longitudinal 
study will be submitted to Congress after four years from the awarding 
of the grant.

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