[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4705 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4705
To establish the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2006
Mr. Saxton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
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 Teaching
Corps Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Mathematics and science are the bases for almost every
technical competence in the modern marketplace, including
fields as diverse as computer programming, physics,
engineering, manufacturing, and oil exploration.
(2) Cultivating a workforce with strong mathematics and
science skills is necessary both to keep the United States
competitive in a global economy and for its national security.
China's long-term growth rate has surpassed that of the United
States in the time since Chinese economic reform focused on the
development of science and technology.
(3) Secondary school students in the United States rank
near the bottom when compared to their counterparts in other
developed countries. Of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development nations participating in the 2003
Program for International Student Assessment, the United States
ranked 24th of 29 in mathematics and 23rd of 29 in science,
while Korea and Japan ranked in the top 5 in both categories.
(4) Research shows that teacher quality is the most
important factor in determining student achievement, especially
in the technical fields of mathematics and science. Researchers
from Penn State, the Urban Institute, and the RAND Corporation
have all found higher student achievement in secondary school
for those students whose teachers had taken more coursework
related to their subject area.
(5) According to the Center for Teaching and Policy, 38
percent of secondary school mathematics classes, 28 percent of
general science classes, 45 percent of life science classes,
and 60 percent of physical science classes are taught by
individuals lacking a major or a minor in such discipline.
(6) College graduates with strong mathematics or science
backgrounds have many career opportunities that are more
financially attractive than teaching. According to the National
Science Foundation, recent college graduates in 2001 were
offered between $10,000 and $20,000 more for their first year
in a technical occupation other than teaching.
(7) Sophisticated mathematics and science teachers are
needed in all classrooms across the Nation in order to raise
student achievement and ultimately help the United States
maintain its competitiveness in the global economy.
(8) Individuals who are strong in mathematics and science
need financial incentives, peer mentoring, and professional
development for proper recruitment and retainment in the field
of teaching.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) recruit up to 8,000 new, outstanding mathematics and
science secondary school teachers each year who might otherwise
begin different careers; and
(2) reward up to 8,000 existing and outstanding mathematics
and science secondary school teachers each year who might
otherwise leave the teaching profession.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
(2) Hard-to-staff school.--The term ``hard-to-staff
school'' means a secondary school that has great difficulty in
finding and retaining qualified and effective teachers, as
determined by the Director.
(3) Participating local educational agency.--The term
``participating local educational agency'' means a local
educational agency that has been certified by the Director as
offering an induction program for individuals receiving
fellowships under this Act that meets adequate standards,
including--
(A) clustering Math and Science Teaching Corps
Fellows in individual or nearby schools;
(B) providing multi-year mentoring and coaching;
(C) offering new teacher seminars on a monthly
basis;
(D) reducing the course load for such Fellows;
(E) allowing time for joint lesson planning and
other constructive collaborative activities;
(F) providing professional development
opportunities for such Fellows and Math and Science
Teaching Corps Master Fellows on content knowledge and
pedagogy; and
(G) facilitating relationships between Math and
Science Teaching Corps Fellows and Math and Science
Teaching Corps Master Fellows.
(4) Partner institution.--The term ``partner institution''
means an institution of higher education that has been
certified by the Director as meeting adequate standards for--
(A) offering a teacher preparation program that--
(i) is modeled on the Master of Arts in
Teaching program, which provides a full-time,
1-year course of study leading to teacher
certification and a master's degree; and
(ii) includes pedagogical courses and a
minimum of 1 semester of student teaching
experience;
(B) offering a part-time master's degree program in
mathematics or science education for teachers who are
certified to teach;
(C) offering a graduate degree program in
mathematics and science; and
(D) establishing an explicit collaboration between
the teacher preparation and mathematics and science
departments of the institution to provide graduate-
level mathematics and science content courses that are
appropriate for secondary school teachers.
(5) Standardized test.--The term ``standardized test''
means the test required by the Director of each individual who
applies for a fellowship under this Act that evaluates each
individual's mathematics or science subject area knowledge. The
science subject area tests shall include a section to assess
mathematics skills appropriate to each subject. The
standardized tests shall be approved and reviewed periodically
by the National Academy of Sciences to ensure that the tests
meet rigorous standards and remain appropriate for the intended
use, and cut-off scores shall be set at the national level.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS.
Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C.
3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 221. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Department a Math and
Science Teaching Corps to be administered by the Director of the Math
and Science Teaching Corps in accordance with the Mathematics and
Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006.
``(b) Director.--The Director of the Math and Science Teaching
Corps shall--
``(1) administer the Math and Science Teaching Corps
program established under the Mathematics and Science Teaching
Corps Act of 2006; and
``(2) report directly to the Secretary and shall perform
such additional functions as the Secretary may prescribe.
``(c) Purpose.--The Math and Science Teaching Corps is established
in order to significantly improve mathematics and science achievement
among secondary school students in the United States by ensuring that
such students are taught by well-prepared mathematics and science
teachers with superior subject area knowledge.''.
SEC. 5. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS FELLOWSHIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE
TEACHERS.
(a) Establishment.--The Director shall carry out a program through
which the Director awards--
(1) Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for
Prospective Teachers (referred to in this part as ``MSTC
Fellowships'') to eligible individuals;
(2) grants to partner institutions to pay the tuition and
fees and overhead costs at such institutions of individuals
receiving MSTC Fellowships under this section; and
(3) grants to participating local educational agencies to
pay the costs of the activities described in subsection (e)(4).
(b) Definition of Eligible Individual.--In this section, the term
``eligible individual'' means an individual who--
(1) is a recent college graduate or a mid-career
professional outside of the teaching field; and
(2) possesses a strong content area knowledge, including a
baccalaureate (or higher) degree in mathematics, science,
engineering, technology, or a related field.
(c) Application.--An individual, partner institution, or
participating local educational agency that desires to receive a MSTC
Fellowship or grant, as applicable, 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) Recruitment and Selection of Individuals for MSTC
Fellowships.--
(1) Recruitment.--The Director shall recruit eligible
individuals for the MSTC Fellowships.
(2) Selection.--The Director shall establish criteria to
ensure that individuals who receive MSTC Fellowships under this
section possess--
(A) a comprehensive knowledge of the subject area
to be taught as evidenced by performing at a
satisfactory level on a standardized test;
(B) strong verbal and communication skills; and
(C) other attributes that are linked to effective
teaching.
(e) Activities.--
(1) In general.--An individual who receives a MSTC
Fellowship under this section shall--
(A) receive pedagogical training as described in
paragraph (2); and
(B) for 4 years, within a 7-year period of first
receiving the Fellowship, teach mathematics or science
in a secondary school, as described in paragraph (3).
(2) Pedagogical training.--
(A) In general.--An individual who receives a MSTC
Fellowship under this section shall--
(i) if the individual is not certified to
teach--
(I) attend, during the first year
of the MSTC Fellowship, a 1-year, full-
time graduate education program of a
partner institution that receives a
grant under this section; and
(II) receive, during that 1 year, a
stipend that is in an amount that is
equal to the Graduate Research
Fellowship stipend awarded by the
National Science Foundation; or
(ii) if the individual holds appropriate
teacher certification credentials when granted
the MSTC Fellowship, then during any of the 4
years of the MSTC Fellowship--
(I) attend a part-time graduate
education program leading to a master's
degree in mathematics or science
education; or
(II) enroll at an institution of
higher education in not more than 24
credit hours of courses in mathematics,
science, or education.
(B) Grants to partner institutions.--A partner
institution that receives a grant under this section--
(i) shall use the grant funds to pay the
tuition and fees at such institution of
individuals receiving MSTC Fellowships under
this section; and
(ii) may use not more than 10 percent of
the grant funds for overhead costs incurred by
the partner institution in administering the
grant.
(3) Teaching, mentoring, and professional development.--An
individual who receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section--
(A) shall, for 4 years, teach mathematics or
science in a secondary school served by a participating
local educational agency;
(B) shall, for such 4 years, participate in
induction programs offered by the participating local
educational agency;
(C) shall, for such 4 years, receive a stipend that
is equal to--
(i) for the first year of teaching
described in subparagraph (A), $11,000;
(ii) for the second year of teaching
described in subparagraph (A), $14,000;
(iii) for the third year of teaching
described in subparagraph (A), $17,000; and
(iv) for the fourth year of teaching
described in subparagraph (A), $20,000; and
(D) if the school in which the individual is
teaching is determined by the Director to be a hard-to-
staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a
uniform amount determined by the Director, in each year
of teaching as described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Grants to participating local educational agencies.--A
participating local educational agency that receives a grant
under this section--
(A) shall use the grant funds to pay the expenses
associated with facilitating the induction and
professional development services for individuals
receiving fellowships under this Act; and
(B) may not reduce the salary of an individual who
receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section and is
employed in a secondary school served by such agency
below the salary normally paid for an individual with a
similar background and experience solely because such
individual receives a stipend under paragraph (3).
(f) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to
Congress that evaluates the effectiveness of the program under
this section.
(2) Subsequent reports.--The Director shall submit an
updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is
submitted under paragraph (1).
(g) Repayment.--In the event that an individual receiving a MSTC
Fellowship under this section does not complete the activities
described in subsection (e), the Director shall require repayment of
the stipends granted to the individual under this section according to
the regulations established by the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $137,000,000 for fiscal year
2007, $410,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $683,000,000 for fiscal year
2009, $956,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $1,092,000,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
SEC. 6. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS FELLOWSHIPS FOR EXPERIENCED
TEACHERS.
(a) Establishment.--The Director shall carry out a program in which
the Director awards Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for
Experienced Teachers (referred to in this part as ``MSTC Master
Fellowships'') to eligible individuals.
(b) Eligible Individual.--In this section, the term ``eligible
individual'' means an individual who--
(1) has been teaching mathematics or science in a public
secondary school for not less than 3 years;
(2) possessed certification in the field and level in which
the individual primarily taught during the 3 years preceding
the year for which the determination is made; and
(3) is employed as a full-time, secondary mathematics or
science teacher in a participating local educational agency.
(c) Applications.--An eligible individual who desires to receive a
MSTC Master Fellowship 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) Recruitment and Selection of MSTC Master Fellows.--
(1) Recruitment.--The Director shall recruit eligible
individuals for MSTC Master Fellowships.
(2) Selection.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall establish
criteria to ensure that individuals who receive MSTC
Master Fellowships under this section--
(i) demonstrate expertise in mathematics or
science content by taking a standardized test;
(ii) demonstrate mastery of mathematics or
science pedagogy and have a strong record of
positively affecting academic achievement, as
demonstrated by observations from supervisors,
student data (as available), or other
information as determined by the Director; and
(iii) demonstrate other attributes that are
linked to effective teaching.
(e) Activities.--
(1) In general.--An eligible individual who receives a MSTC
Master Fellowship under this section--
(A) shall--
(i) continue to teach mathematics or
science in a public secondary school in a
participating local educational agency for not
less than an additional 5 years during the
subsequent 7 years after receiving such a MSTC
Master Fellowship under this section;
(ii) serve as a leader within the
individual's department and school;
(iii) mentor MSTC Fellows, as appropriate;
(iv) receive a stipend of $20,000 for each
year the eligible individual continues to
teach, as described in clause (i), but for not
more than 5 years; and
(v) attend lectures, seminars, or workshops
on content area knowledge or pedagogy provided
by the participating local educational agency
that employs such eligible individual; and
(B) if the school in which the individual is
teaching is determined by the Director to be a hard-to-
staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a
uniform amount determined by the Director, in each year
of teaching as described in subparagraph (A)(i).
(f) Renewal of MSTC Master Fellowships.--An individual who has
received a MSTC Fellowship or MSTC Master Fellowships and has completed
the requirements associated with such fellowship may re-apply for a
MSTC Master Fellowship (or apply for a MSTC Master Fellowship in the
case of an individual who has received a MSTC Fellowship) if such
individual is an eligible individual under this section.
(g) Repayment.--In the event that an individual receiving a MSTC
Master Fellowship under this section does not complete the activities
described in subsection (e), the Director shall require repayment of
the stipends granted to the individual under this section according to
the regulations established by the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
(h) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to
Congress that evaluates the effectiveness of the program under
this section.
(2) Subsequent reports.--The Director shall submit an
updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is
submitted under paragraph (1).
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2007, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $500,000,000 for fiscal year
2009, $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $800,000,000 for fiscal
year 2011.
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