[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8203-S8204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. Frist (for himself and Mr. Roberts):
  S. 2901. A bill to promote mathematics and science education through 
a mathematics and science partnership and through the establishment of 
a grant program to increase student academic achievement in mathematics 
and science, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President. I rise today to introduce ``The Math and 
Science Education Excellence Act.'' I have worked with my colleague 
from Kansas, Senator Roberts, to make sure we do everything possible to 
give math and science education the attention, funding and assistance 
it deserves. Today, I introduce a bill to authorize programs at the 
National Science Foundation that will help achieve that goal.
  Under the authority of the No Child Left Behind Act, NCLBA, the 
Department of Education is authorized to implement a Mathematics and 
Science Partnership Program, a program I am very interested in making 
sure is a success. That program is designed to improve the academic 
achievement of students in the areas of math and science. It will 
encourage States, universities, school districts and schools to work 
together to: 1. improve the status of math and science teaching and 2. 
develop more rigorous math and science curricula.
  The NCLBA authorized $450 million for Fiscal Year 2002 for this 
program, but only $12.5 million was appropriated for 2002. That level 
of funding is a huge disappointment to me, and I believe it is a 
mistake. However, last year, NSG initiated its own Program at a level 
of $160 million. Because the bulk of the funding for the Math and 
Science program is at NSF, I believe it is appropriate, even necessary, 
to authorize the MSP Program at NSF as well.
  This is not the preferred choice. I would prefer that we fund the 
program at the Department of Education. In the meantime, this bill will 
give us an opportunity to re-assert how important this program is.
  As we all know, the No Child Left Behind Act requires that schools be 
determined as failing based in part on their math scores. If they are 
failing, there will be consequences, such as public school choice, 
supplemental services and eventual reorganization. That means that math 
teaching and math curriculum are more important than ever. And, by 
2007, science assessments will be added to the mix.
  So I want to be sure that we are getting these funds to our neediest 
schools. I worry that without more descriptive language, NSF will not 
focus on awarding grants to those that need it the most. I also worry 
that the Math and Science Partnership program is not getting the 
funding it needs. Reading, math's counterpart on the yearly tests, 
receives over $1 billion in funding. Any many other programs authorized 
in the No Child Left Behind Act are receiving appropriations that meet, 
or even exceed the authorization levels.
  Not the Math and Science program. Despite the importance of math and 
the fact that schools will be determined as failing based on their math 
scores, the Math and Science Partnership Program is received a total of 
only $172.5 million in 2002, with only $12.5 million of those funds 
targeted to those based on need. $160 million from NSF and $12.5 
million from the Department of Education. For 2003, the Senate 
Appropriations Committee recommends that only $120 million be provided 
for the MSP program. Why? Apparently, some $30 million in funds is left 
over from last year's appropriation because NSF did not believe the 
applications met the rigors the grant program requires.
  I am very concerned that we are leaving States, schools districts, 
schools and students confused and bewildered due to the complicated 
bureaucratic process that has been created. I believe we should make 
sure that every dollar of the math and science partnership program 
money is appropriately administered to ensure results. I also believe 
that we should work toward appropriately funding this initiative. My 
amendment will accomplish those two goals.
  My bill would insert the exact Math and Science Partnership language 
from the No Child Left Behind Act, language which we members of the 
HELP Committee have already agreed to, with only minor changes. That 
language requires targeting of the $450 million in funds to those who 
need it the most, and it also requires accountability.
  I have also added a section requiring the NSF to provide technical 
assistance to those eligible applicants that request it. If the quality 
of the applications is not high, the NSF should help applicants develop 
high-quality programs. Otherwise, applicants must guess how to improve, 
forcing math and science education to suffer in the meantime.
  The bill also authorizes $12 million for NSF to conduct and evaluate 
research related to the science of learning and teaching math and 
science. It directs NSF to develop ways to apply, duplicate and scale 
up the results of such research for use in low-performing elementary 
and secondary classrooms to improve the teaching and student 
achievement levels of mathematics and science. This investment will 
make sure that we find out the best ways to teach math and science. 
With that knowledge, we will have the building blocks we need to 
effectively argue for, and demand, more funding for the Math and 
Science Partnership Program.
  This bill attempts to make the best out of a not ideal predicament 
for math and science education. I believe it is the right thing to do, 
and I respectfully request my fellow Senators support.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2902

       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 ``Mathematics and Science 
     Education Excellence Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to--
       (1) upgrade the status and stature of mathematics and 
     science teaching as a profession 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 and advising such teachers;
       (2) focus on the education of mathematics and science 
     teachers as a career-long process that should continuously 
     stimulate teachers' intellectual growth and upgrade teachers' 
     knowledge and skills;
       (3) bring together mathematics and science teachers in 
     elementary schools and secondary schools with scientists, 
     mathematicians, and engineers to increase teacher content 
     knowledge and improve teaching skills through the use of more 
     sophisticated laboratory space and equipment, computing 
     facilities, libraries, and other resources that colleges and 
     universities are more able to provide;
       (4) develop more rigorous mathematics and science curricula 
     that are aligned with challenging State academic content 
     standards and intended to prepare students for postsecondary 
     study in mathematics and science; and
       (5) conduct and evaluate research related to the science of 
     learning and teaching in order to develop ways in which the 
     results of such research can be applied, duplicated, and 
     scaled up for use in low-performing elementary schools and 
     secondary schools to improve the teaching and student 
     achievement levels in mathematics and science.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation.

[[Page S8204]]

       (2) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (4) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

     SEC. 4. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP.

       (a) Competitive Grant Program.--During fiscal years 2003 
     and 2004, the Director shall carry out a mathematics and 
     science partnership program in accordance with the 
     requirements of sections 2201 and 2202 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661 and 6662), by 
     awarding competitive grants to eligible partnerships (as 
     defined under section 2201 of such Act) in accordance with 
     section 2202(a)(1) of such Act without regard to the amount 
     of funds appropriated for such program under section 2203 of 
     such Act.
       (b) Formula grant program.--During fiscal years 2005, 2006, 
     and 2007, the Director shall carry out a mathematics and 
     science partnership program in accordance with the 
     requirements of sections 2201 and 2202 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661 and 6662), by 
     awarding grants to State educational agencies in accordance 
     with section 2202(a)(2) of such Act without regard to the 
     amount of funds appropriated for such program under section 
     2203 of such Act.
       (c) Shared Plan.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director and the Secretary of 
     Education shall prepare a plan for the joint administration 
     of this section and submit such plan to Congress for review 
     and comment.
       (d) Technical Assistance.--The Director shall provide an 
     eligible partnership or State educational agency, at the 
     request of the eligible partnership or State educational 
     agency, with technical assistance in meeting any requirements 
     of the mathematics and science partnership program carried 
     out by the Director, including providing advice from experts 
     on how to develop--
       (1) a high-quality application for a grant or subgrant 
     under the program; and
       (2) high-quality activities from funds received from a 
     grant or subgrant under the program.

     SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                   LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.

       (a) Establishment.--From funds appropriated under 
     subsection (g), the Director shall award grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to eligible recipients to--
       (1) conduct and evaluate research in cognitive science, 
     education, and related fields associated with the science of 
     learning and teaching mathematics and science; and
       (2) develop ways in which the results of such research can 
     be applied, duplicated, and scaled up for use in low-
     performing elementary schools and secondary schools to 
     improve the teaching and student achievement levels in 
     mathematics and science.
       (b) Eligible Recipient.--In this section, the term 
     ``eligible recipient'' means an institution of higher 
     education, a nonprofit organization, or a consortium of such 
     entities.
       (c) Application.--An eligible recipient desiring to receive 
     a grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Director at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Director may require.
       (d) Evaluation.--
       (1) In general.--In evaluating the applications submitted 
     under subsection (c), the Director shall consider, at a 
     minimum--
       (A) the ability of the eligible recipient to effectively 
     carry out the research program and reduce the eligible 
     recipient's results to effective educational practice;
       (B) the experience of the eligible recipient in conducting 
     research on the science of teaching and learning and the 
     capacity of the applicant to foster new multidisciplinary 
     collaborations; and
       (C) the capacity of the eligible recipient to attract and 
     provide adequate support for graduate students to pursue 
     research at the intersection of educational practice and 
     basic research on human cognition and learning.
       (2) Current practices.--Not less than 1 of the grants 
     awarded by the Director under subsection (a) shall include a 
     comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of current 
     mathematics and science teaching practices.
       (e) Activities.--An eligible recipient receiving a grant 
     under this section shall--
       (1) include, in such recipient's research, the active 
     participation of elementary school and secondary school 
     administrators and mathematics and science teachers; and
       (2) submit the results of such recipient's research to the 
     Director.
       (f) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with the 
     Secretary of Education and the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy in--
       (1) carrying out this section;
       (2) disseminating the results of the research conducted 
     pursuant to grants awarded under this section to elementary 
     school teachers and secondary school teachers; and
       (3) providing programming, guidance, and support to ensure 
     that such teachers--
       (A) understand the implications of the research 
     disseminated under paragraph (1) for classroom practice; and
       (B) can use the research to improve such teachers 
     performance in the classroom.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $12,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     of the succeeding fiscal years.

     SEC. 6. DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall review the education 
     programs of the National Science Foundation that are in 
     operation as of the date of enactment of this Act to 
     determine whether any of such programs duplicate the programs 
     authorized under this Act.
       (b) Implementation.--As programs authorized under this Act 
     are implemented, the Director shall--
       (1) terminate any existing duplicative program being 
     carried out by the National Science Foundation or merge the 
     existing duplicative program into a program authorized under 
     this Act; and
       (2) not establish any new program that duplicates a program 
     that has been implemented pursuant to this Act.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) Review.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall review the education programs of the 
     National Science Foundation to ensure compliance with the 
     provisions of this section.
       (2) Submission.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter as part of the 
     annual Office of Science and Technology Policy's budget 
     submission to Congress, the Director of the Office of Science 
     and Technology Policy shall complete a report on the review 
     carried out under this subsection and shall submit the report 
     to--
       (A) the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the 
     House of Representatives;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (D) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
     of the Senate; and
       (E) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

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