[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4434 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4434
To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science
teachers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 6, 2005
Mr. Gordon (for himself, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Honda, Mr. Emanuel, Mr.
Inslee, Mr. Lipinski, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. Baird, Mr.
Costello, Mr. Menendez, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Price of
North Carolina, Mr. Miller of North Carolina, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Costa,
Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Ms. Eshoo,
Mr. Smith of Washington, and Mr. Udall of Colorado) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science
teachers, 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Policy objective.
Sec. 104. Science scholarship program.
Sec. 105. Science and Math Scholarship Trust Fund.
Sec. 106. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE II--SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHER PROGRAMS
Sec. 201. Summer institutes.
Sec. 202. Graduate degree program.
Sec. 203. Advanced placement preparation.
Sec. 204. Curricular materials.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given
that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(2) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the
National Science Foundation.
(3) The term ``high-need local educational agency'' means a
local educational agency that meets one or more of the
following criteria:
(A) It has at least one school in which 50 percent
or more of the enrolled students are eligible for
participation in the free and reduced price lunch
program established by the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
(B) It has at least one school in which more than
34 percent of the academic classroom teachers at the
secondary level who teach science and mathematics do
not have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor
in, or a graduate degree in, the academic field in
which they teach the largest percentage of their
classes.
(4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) The term ``mathematics and science teacher'' means a
mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary
school or secondary school level.
(6) The term ``scholarship'' means an award under section
104.
TITLE I--SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds
Science and Math Scholarship Act''.
SEC. 102. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The prosperity the United States enjoys today is due in
no small part to investments the Nation has made in research
and development over the past 50 years.
(2) Corporate, government, and national scientific and
technical leaders have raised concerns that current trends
affecting the science and technology enterprise of the Nation
could result in erosion of this past success and jeopardize
future prosperity.
(3) The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy
of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine were tasked in a
congressional request to recommend actions that the Federal
Government could take to enhance the science and technology
enterprise so the United States can successfully compete,
prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st
century.
(4) The Academies' highest priority recommendation in its
report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and
Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future'', is to
improve K-12 science and mathematics education, and the
Academies' first recommended action item is to institute a
major scholarship program to recruit and educate annually
10,000 mathematics and science teachers.
SEC. 103. POLICY OBJECTIVE.
In allocating the resources made available under section 106, the
National Science Foundation shall seek to increase by up to 10,000 per
year the number of elementary and secondary mathematics and science
teachers in the Nation's schools having both exemplary subject
knowledge and pedagogical skills.
SEC. 104. SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to
award grants to eligible institutions of higher education (or
consortia of such institutions) to provide scholarships and to
develop and implement academic programs designed to recruit and
educate mathematics and science teachers.
(2) Distribution of awards.--The Director shall, in
awarding grants under this section, consider the distribution
of awards among institutions of different sizes and geographic
locations.
(3) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this
section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(4) Use of grants.--Grants provided under this section
shall be used by eligible institutions of higher education or
consortia to develop and implement a program to encourage and
prepare undergraduate students majoring in mathematics,
science, and engineering at the grantee's institution to become
mathematics and science teachers, through--
(A) administering scholarships in accordance with
subsection (c);
(B) developing and offering undergraduate academic
degree programs in one or more fields of science,
mathematics, and engineering that will also prepare
graduates to become certified and licensed to teach in
elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(C) providing professional development programs and
mentoring activities to scholarship recipients, both
before and after they receive their baccalaureate
degree, to enable the recipients to become better
mathematics and science teachers, to fulfill the
service requirements of this section, and to exchange
ideas with others in their fields.
(5) Eligible institution of higher education.--For purposes
of this section, an eligible institution of higher education
under paragraph (1) is an institution of higher education (or
consortia of such institutions) that--
(A) in its application for a grant under the
program, identifies faculty from the institution's
mathematics, science, or engineering departments and
from its college or school of education who will
participate in the development and implementation of
the program; and
(B) has entered into a partnership with one or more
private sector entities, which--
(i) pledge to provide paid summer
internships for scholarship recipients; and
(ii) may make other financial or in-kind
contributions to provide additional scholarship
support and to assist in the development of the
program.
(6) Mentoring.--Grantees shall include among the activities
under paragraph (4)(C) mentoring for individuals carrying out
their service obligation in accordance with subsection (c)(5).
Such mentoring shall be provided through regularly scheduled
activities during the school year and through summer institutes
at the grantees' institutions. Summer institutes may also
enroll mathematics and science teachers who have not received
scholarships under the program.
(b) Selection Process.--
(1) Application.--An eligible institution of higher
education or consortium seeking funding under this section
shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Director
may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
(A) a description of the scholarship program that
the applicant intends to operate, including the number
of scholarships and the scholarship amount the
applicant intends to award, and the selection process
that will be used in awarding the scholarships;
(B) evidence that the applicant has the capability
to administer the scholarship program in accordance
with the provisions of this section;
(C) a description of the academic program or
programs that will be offered to scholarship
recipients, and identification of the faculty that will
be involved;
(D) a description of the professional development
and mentoring activities that will be provided to
scholarship recipients during and after their
matriculation in the program for which the scholarship
is received; and
(E) evidence that the requirement of subsection
(a)(4)(B) has been satisfied, including a description
of the characteristics and the total number of
internships that will be made available.
(2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications
submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, at
a minimum--
(A) the ability of the applicant to effectively
carry out the program;
(B) the degree and quality of interdepartmental
faculty involvement to which the applicant is
committed;
(C) the degree to which the proposed academic
program, or programs, and associated student support
activities will enable scholarship recipients to become
successful mathematics and science teachers;
(D) the number and quality of the students that
will be served by the program;
(E) the ability of the applicant to recruit
students who would otherwise not pursue a career in
teaching; and
(F) the extent to which the applicant has
demonstrated the active participation and financial
support of private sector entities, including the
number and characteristics of summer internships
offered.
(3) Special award criteria.--Criteria for an award under
this section shall include the impact of an award on the
overall geographic distribution of awards made under the
program, with the objective of avoiding undue concentration of
awards.
(c) Scholarship Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Scholarships under this section shall be
available only to undergraduate students who are majoring in
science, mathematics, or engineering.
(2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to receive
scholarships primarily on the basis of academic merit, with
consideration given to financial need and to the goal of
promoting the participation of individuals identified in
section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(3) Amount.--The amount to be awarded for a scholarship
under this section shall not exceed $20,000 per year, except
that no individual shall receive for any year more than the
cost of attendance at that individual's institution.
Individuals may receive a maximum of 4 years of scholarship
support.
(4) Academic performance.--Scholarships shall be terminated
for individuals who fail to maintain an acceptable level of
academic standing in the educational institution in which the
individual is enrolled, as determined by the Director.
(5) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a
scholarship, that individual shall be required to complete,
within 6 years after graduation from the baccalaureate degree
program for which the scholarship was awarded, the following
number of years of service as a mathematics or science
teacher--
(A) 5 years of service for scholarship recipients
receiving 3 or 4 years of scholarship support; or
(B) 3 years of service for scholarship recipients
receiving 1 or 2 years of scholarship support.
(6) Exception.--The period of service obligation under
paragraph (5) is reduced by 1 year for scholarship recipients
who teach in a high-need local educational agency.
(d) Conditions of Support.--As a condition of acceptance of a
scholarship under this section, a recipient shall enter into an
agreement with the institution of higher education--
(1) accepting the terms of the scholarship pursuant to
subsections (c) and (f);
(2) agreeing to provide the awarding institution of higher
education with annual certification of employment and up to-
date contact information and to participate in surveys provided
by the institution of higher education as part of an ongoing
assessment program; and
(3) establishing that any scholarship recipient shall be
liable to the United States for any amount that is required to
be repaid in accordance with subsection (f).
(e) Collection for Noncompliance.--
(1) Monitoring compliance.--An eligible institution of
higher education (or consortium thereof) receiving a grant
under this section shall, as a condition of participating in
the program, enter into an agreement with the Director to
monitor the compliance of scholarship recipients with their
respective service requirements.
(2) Collection of repayment.--(A) In the event that a
scholarship recipient is required to repay the scholarship
under subsection (f), the institution shall be responsible for
collecting the repayment amounts.
(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any such
repayment shall be returned to the Treasury of the United
States.
(C) A grantee may retain a percentage of any repayment it
collects to defray administrative costs associated with the
collection. The Director shall establish a single, fixed
percentage that will apply to all grantees.
(f) Failure to Complete Service Obligation.--
(1) General rule.--If an individual who has received a
scholarship under this section--
(A) withdraws from the baccalaureate degree program
for which the award was made before the completion of
such program;
(B) declares that the individual does not intend to
fulfill the service obligation under this section; or
(C) fails to fulfill the service obligation of the
individual under this section,
such individual shall be liable to the United States as
provided in paragraph (2).
(2) Amount of repayment.--(A) If a circumstance described
in paragraph (1) occurs before the completion of one year of a
service obligation under this section, the United States shall
be entitled to recover from the individual, within one year
after the date of the occurrence of such circumstance, an
amount equal to--
(i) the total amount of awards received by such
individual under this section; plus
(ii) the interest on the amounts of such awards
which would be payable if at the time the awards were
received they were loans bearing interest at the
prevailing rate for student loans.
(B) If a circumstance described in paragraph (1)(B) or (C)
occurs--
(i) after the completion of one year of a service
obligation under this section and for an individual who
received either 3 or 4 years of scholarship support,
the United States shall be entitled to recover from the
individual, within one year after the date of the
occurrence of such circumstance, an amount equal to the
total amount of awards received by such individual
under this section minus \1/5\ of the amount of the
award received per year for each full year of service
completed, plus the interest on such amounts which
would be payable if at the time the amounts were
received they were loans bearing interest at the
prevailing rate for student loans; or
(ii) after the completion of one year of a service
obligation under this section and for an individual who
received either 1 or 2 years of scholarship support,
the United States shall be entitled to recover from the
individual, within one year after the date of the
occurrence of such circumstance, an amount equal to the
total amount of awards received by such individual
under this section minus \1/3\ of the amount of the
award received per year for each full year of service
completed, plus the interest on such amounts which
would be payable if at the time the amounts were
received they were loans bearing interest at the
prevailing rate for student loans.
(3) Exceptions.--The Director may provide for the partial
or total waiver or suspension of any service or payment
obligation by an individual under this section whenever
compliance by the individual with the obligation is impossible
or would involve extreme hardship to the individual, or if
enforcement of such obligation with respect to the individual
would be unconscionable.
(g) Data Collection.--Institutions or consortia receiving grants
under this section shall supply to the Director any relevant
statistical and demographic data on scholarship recipients the Director
may request, including information on employment required by subsection
(c)(5).
SEC. 105. SCIENCE AND MATH SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States a trust fund to be known as the ``National Science
Foundation Science and Math Teacher Scholarship Trust Fund'' (hereafter
in this section referred to as the ``Trust Fund''). The Trust Fund
shall consist of gifts and donations accepted by the National Science
Foundation.
(b) Investment of Trust Fund.--The Director shall direct the
Secretary of the Treasury to invest and reinvest funds in the Trust
Fund in public debt securities with maturities suitable for the needs
of the Trust Fund, and bearing interest at rates determined by the
Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current
average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the
United States of comparable maturities. Interest earned shall be
credited to the Trust Fund.
(c) Purpose.--Principal and income accruing from the Trust Fund
principal shall be used to contribute to the funding of scholarships
awarded pursuant to section 104, to the extent provided in advance in
appropriation Acts.
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation for the purposes of this title, $85,000,000 for fiscal year
2007, $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $400,000,000 for fiscal year
2009, $590,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $690,000,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
TITLE II--SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHER PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. SUMMER INSTITUTES.
(a) National Science Foundation Institutes.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall increase the number of
awards under the Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century
program and shall expand the program to allow grantees to
operate 1 to 2 week summer teacher institutes with the goal of
reaching the maximum number of in-service science and
mathematics teachers, particularly elementary and middle school
teachers, to improve their content knowledge and pedagogical
skills.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the
Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century program, $37,000,000
for fiscal year 2007, $92,000,000 for fiscal year 2008,
$110,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $110,000,000 for fiscal year
2010, and $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for the
Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development program, $3,000,000
for fiscal year 2007, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2009, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 202. GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to
award grants to institutions of higher education to develop and
implement master's degree programs for in-service mathematics
and science teachers that will strengthen their subject area
knowledge and pedagogical skills. The degree program shall be
designed for current teachers, who will enroll as part-time
students, and to allow participants to obtain master's degrees
within a period of 2 years.
(2) Distribution of awards.--The Director shall, in
awarding grants under this section, consider the distribution
of awards among institutions of different sizes and geographic
locations.
(3) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this
section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(4) Use of grants.--Grants provided under this section
shall be used by institutions of higher education to develop
and implement a program of instruction, which may involve
online learning, leading to the master's degree in science and
mathematics education. Grant funds may be used to--
(A) develop courses of instruction and related
educational materials;
(B) cover the cost of attendance for students in
the degree program; and
(C) acquire computer and networking equipment
needed for implementing the program.
(b) Selection Process.--
(1) Application.--An institution of higher education
seeking funding under this section shall submit an application
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require. The application
shall include, at a minimum--
(A) a description of the master's degree program
that the applicant intends to operate, including the
number of students who can be accommodated in the
program and identification of the faculty who will be
involved in designing and implementing the program; and
(B) a description of the sequence of courses that
will be offered to students in the academic program,
including how the program will fit within a 2-year
timeframe and how it will be tailored to the needs of
part-time students.
(2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications
submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, at
a minimum--
(A) the ability of the applicant to effectively
carry out the program;
(B) the degree and quality of interdepartmental
involvement by science, mathematics, and education
faculty members in developing and implementing the
program;
(C) the number and quality of the students that
will be served by the program; and
(D) the extent to which the program is tailored to
the needs of in-service teachers, who will be
participating in the program as part-time students.
(3) Special award criteria.--Criteria for an award under
this section shall include the impact of an award on the
overall geographic distribution of awards made under the
program, with the objective of avoiding undue concentration of
awards.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of
this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $400,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008, $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $600,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 203. ADVANCED PLACEMENT PREPARATION.
(a) National Science Foundation Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall add a component to the
Teacher Professional Continuum Program to award grants to
institutions of higher education, or to supplement existing
grants, to develop and implement teacher training activities to
prepare science and mathematics teachers to teach Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate science and
mathematics courses.
(2) Distribution of awards.--The Director shall, in
awarding grants under this section, consider the distribution
of awards among institutions of different sizes and geographic
locations with the goal of reaching science and mathematics
teachers in all parts of the Nation, and in particular,
teachers from schools where few or no Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate science or mathematics courses are
now offered.
(3) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this
section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(4) Use of grants.--Grants provided under this section
shall be used by institutions of higher education to--
(A) develop training programs, which may involve
online learning, in accordance with paragraph (1),
including related educational materials and equipment;
and
(B) cover cost of attendance for teachers
participating in the training program.
(b) Selection Process.--
(1) Application.--An institution of higher education
seeking funding under this section shall submit an application
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require. The application
shall include, at a minimum--
(A) a description of the training program that the
applicant intends to operate, including the number of
teachers that can be accommodated in the program; and
(B) evidence of the intention of private sector
companies or foundations to offer to teachers who
complete the training program bonuses for each student
they teach who passes an Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate science or mathematics
course.
(2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications
submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, at
a minimum--
(A) the ability of the applicant to effectively
carry out the program;
(B) the number of teachers who will be served by
the program; and
(C) the level of support to be provided under
paragraph (1)(B).
(3) Special award criteria.--Criteria for an award under
this section shall include the impact of an award on teachers
from schools where few or no Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate science or mathematics courses are
now offered.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of
this section, $92,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $153,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008, $219,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $296,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and $357,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 204. CURRICULAR MATERIALS.
(a) Instructional Materials Development.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the
Instructional Materials Development activity, $30,000,000 for fiscal
year 2007, $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $32,000,000 for fiscal
year 2009, $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $34,000,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
(b) Assessment Panel.--The Director, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education, shall convene a national panel of experts on
science and mathematics education to identify and collect K-12 science
and mathematics teaching materials that have been demonstrated to be
effective and to recommend the development of new materials in areas
where effective materials do not exist. The Director and Secretary
shall develop ways to disseminate effective materials and support
efforts to develop new materials, in accordance with the
recommendations of the national panel.
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