Committee on Science

SHERWOOD BOEHLERT, CHAIRMAN

Ralph M. Hall, Texas, Ranking Democrat

www.house.gov/science

May 17, 2001         

Press Contacts:

Bill Steponkus (William.Steponkus@mail.house.gov)

Jeff Donald (Jeffrey.Donald@mail.house.gov)

(202)225-4275

 

BOEHLERT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) yesterday introduced a bill to expand the K-12 education programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The bill is designed to encourage colleges and universities and businesses to get more involved in improving pre-college education.

 

The bill, H.R. 1858, would authorize Mathematics and Science Partnerships, along the lines outlined by President George W. Bush; create new scholarships to attract top college junior and senior math and science majors into teaching; and establish four new university centers on research into teaching and learning.  (A summary of the bill is attached.)

 

Boehlert said, “Without question, improving math and science education has to be one of our nation’s top priorities.  International studies continue to show American students performing at an average level, at best.  That’s not good enough.  Our economic prosperity and our ability to function as a democracy require a populace that is conversant with math and science.”

 

Boehlert continued, “One of the failings of our current system is that we don’t take advantage of all the expertise residing in our universities and businesses.  Education will improve and thrive only if we bring all our intellectual resources to bear on it.  My bill is an effort to do just that.  We will encourage universities and businesses to become partners with our public schools.  I’m delighted that President Bush has taken this approach and has acknowledged that the NSF is the agency to direct it.  We are pushing and building on his proposals.” 

 

Boehlert said he planned to work on a bipartisan basis to bring the bill to the House floor next month. 

 

 

 

 

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H.R. 1858--The National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act

 

President Bush proposed in his budget to draw on the expertise of the National Science Foundation to encourage the establishment of mathematics and science education partnerships.  The Partnerships Act authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to stimulate the development of innovative elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering and technology education partnerships across the country.

 

Title I–Mathematics and Science Education Partnerships

 

Title I of the Partnerships Act authorizes the establishment by NSF of mathematics and science education partnerships to be run by universities in partnership with local education agencies. These partnerships will focus on a wide array of reform efforts ranging from professional development to curriculum reform.  The partnerships may include the state education agency and 50% of the awards must go to partnerships that include business partners.  The program is authorized at $200 million per year for each of the next five years as requested by President Bush.

 

The bill also establishes a small partnership program through which universities will provide scholarships to math and science teachers to allow them to participate in research projects at university, business, state or federal laboratories. This program is authorized at $15 million for each of the next five years.

 

Title II–National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Digital Library.

 

The National Science Foundation has begun the process of establishing a digital library for the reform of undergraduate mathematics, science, engineering and technology education.   The Partnerships Act authorizes the expansion of the National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Digital Library to include peer reviewed elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education materials.    The purpose of the Digital Library is to provide teachers with a web site through which they can easily locate peer reviewed education materials and information for use in their classrooms. The program is authorized at $20 million per year for each of the next five years.

 

Title III-Strategic Education Research Program

 

Title III of the Partnerships Act responds to several recent studies by the National Academy of Sciences.    The Act authorizes the establishment of four national centers at universities for research on learning and education improvement.   The multidisciplinary research centers will not only conduct research in cognitive science and related fields, but also will reduce the results of that research to educational practice. The program is authorized at $12 million per year for each of the next five years.

 

 

 

Title IV–Robert Noyce Scholarship Program

 

Title IV of the Partnerships Act establishes a new scholarship program designed to encourage mathematics, science, and engineering majors to pursue careers in teaching.   The program provides grants to universities to enable them to offer scholarships to mathematics, science and engineering majors. The students will be eligible for up to $7500 in each of their junior and senior years and must teach two years for each year of scholarship they receive.   The institution will also be provided funds to operate education and support programs for the scholarship recipients before and during their years of teaching service.   A smaller stipend may also be offered to math, science, or engineering professionals who need course work to enter teaching. The program is authorized at $20 million per year for each of the next four years.   (Robert Noyce was an inventor of the transistor and founder of Intel Corporation.)

 

Title V– Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Business Education Conference

 

The business community is becoming more and more engaged in efforts to improve elementary and secondary mathematics and science instruction.  Businesses seeking to establish partnerships in their own communities can learn valuable lessons from the experiences of existing successful partnerships.    The Partnerships Act authorizes the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to convene a conference to explore ways that members of the business community can expand their efforts to improve elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering and technology education.   

 

Title VI– Requirements for Research Centers

 

Title VI of the Partnerships Act recognizes that the need to improve elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education requires full participation by all segments of the research and education community.  The Partnerships Act requires the Director of NSF to ensure that any NSF grants that establish new research centers at institutions of higher education incorporate an elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering or technology education component as part of their program.