[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E302-E303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE SCIENCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing today the 
Science Teacher Scholarships for Scientists and Engineers Act. The bill 
is cosponsored by my colleague Mr. Wu, and I appreciate his support.
  The bill would authorize a program of one-year, $7500 scholarships to 
those with bachelors degrees in science, mathematics, or engineering, 
or those nearing completion of such degrees, to enable them to take the 
courses they need to become certified as K-12 science or math teachers.
  From a series of Science Committee hearings last year about the state 
of science and math education, and from talking to constituents, 
students, and educators at home, it has become clear to me that we need 
to improve science and math education in this country.
  In particular, I've come to understand that poor student performance 
in science and math has much to do with the fact that teachers often 
have little or no training in the disciplines they are teaching. While 
the importance of teacher expertise in determining student

[[Page E303]]

achievement is widely acknowledged, it is also the case that 
significant numbers of K-12 students are being taught science and math 
by unqualified teachers.
  Not only do we need to ensure a high quality of science and math 
education for our students, but we also need to ensure there is 
sufficient quantity of trained teachers available to teach them. The 
bill I am introducing today would begin to address the shortage of 
qualified science and math teachers by providing an incentive for 
individuals with the content knowledge to try teaching as a career.
  Most students emerge from college with a heavy debt load--and studies 
have shown that average debt has tended upward, since college tuition 
costs have been increasing faster than inflation. So scholarships would 
be particularly beneficial for those considering entering the teaching 
field where starting salaries are relatively low.
  Mr. Speaker, to keep economic growth strong in the long-term, we need 
continued innovation. But innovation doesn't happen by itself--it 
requires a steady flow of scientists and engineers. My bill can begin 
to help provide this steady flow and ensure that our future workforce 
will be prepared to succeed in our increasingly technologically based 
world. With estimates of 240,000 new science and math elementary and 
secondary teachers needed over the next decade, we must work to provide 
the incentives now to bring these teachers into our schools.
  For the information of our colleagues I am submitting a summary of 
the bill.

     Science Teacher Scholarships for Scientists and Engineers Act


                                SUMMARY

       This bill would authorize a program of one-year, $7500 
     scholarships to those with bachelors degrees in science, 
     mathematics, or engineering, or those nearing completion of 
     such degrees, to enable them to take the courses they need to 
     become certified as K-12 science or math teachers. Such 
     awards would be made through competitive, merit-based 
     procedures.
       The purpose: To ensure not only high quality of science and 
     math education but also a sufficient quantity of trained 
     teachers available to teach them.


                               Background

       The Science Committee held a series of hearings in the 
     106th Congress on various aspects of math and science 
     education. From these hearings it became clear that student 
     performance in these areas is weak and that no single factor 
     is the key to improving student performance. But the 
     testimony did suggest that a necessary, if not sufficient, 
     condition for improved student performance is teachers with 
     both good content knowledge and pedagogical skills. Current 
     problems in the realm of math and science teaching are 
     difficulties in attracting and retaining math and science 
     teachers and deficiencies in the training of new teachers and 
     in professional development activities for existing teachers.


                           What the bill does

       Authorization: The bill would authorize the director of the 
     National Science Foundation to make awards to institutions of 
     higher education to provide scholarships to those with 
     bachelors degrees in science, mathematics, or engineering, or 
     those nearing completion of such degrees, to enable them to 
     take the courses they need to become certified as K-12 
     science or math teachers. Such awards would be made through 
     competitive, merit-based procedures. The bill would authorize 
     $20 million to be appropriated to NSF for each of the fiscal 
     years 2002, 2003, and 2004.
       Eligibility: Institutions of higher education offering 
     bachelors degrees in science, math, and engineering and 
     coursework toward teacher certification are eligible to apply 
     for awards under the program. Individuals provided 
     scholarships shall be undergraduate students majoring in 
     science, math, or engineering who are within one academic 
     year of completion of degree requirements or graduates of 
     bachelors or advanced degree programs in science, math, or 
     engineering.
       Requirements for Application: Each scholarship application 
     would include a plan specifying the course of study that 
     would allow the applicant to fulfill the academic 
     requirements for obtaining a teaching certification during 
     the scholarship period.
       Work Requirement: As a condition of acceptance of a 
     scholarship under this Act, a recipient would agree to work 
     as a science teacher for a minimum of two years following 
     certification as such a teacher or to repay the amount of the 
     scholarship to NSF.

     

                          ____________________