CONTACT: Jim
Philipps
Wednesday, June 13, 2001
202/225-3665
BOEHLERT'S K-12 MATH & SCIENCE BILL PASSES SCIENCE COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill introduced by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New Hartford) to establish mathematics and science education partnerships, create new scholarships to attract top college math and science majors into teaching, and establish four new university centers for teaching research was passed today by the House Science Committee, chaired by Boehlert.
The Science Partnerships Act was introduced by Boehlert May 17. It is built upon President Bush's proposal to foster partnerships between universities and businesses with public schools.
"The need for improvements in science and math education is undeniable," Boehlert said. "Our economic prosperity and indeed our status as a world leader are contingent on successfully educating children in science and mathematics. Many of the school district in our area are already doing an excellent job, but as a nation we are falling behind in K-12 science and math education."
Boehlert's bill would:
• Draw on the expertise of the National Science Foundation to encourage the establishment of mathematics and science education partnerships as proposed by President Bush. The program – $200 million each year over five years – would focus on a wide array of reform efforts ranging from professional development to curriculum reform.
• Establish a small partnership program ($15 million each year over five years) 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.
• Expand the National Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education Digital Library, ($20 million each year over five years), to include peer reviewed elementary and secondary mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education materials.
• Authorize the establishment of four national centers at universities for research on learning and education improvement ($12 million each year over five years). 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.
• Create new scholarships (up to $7,500 in each of their junior and senior years) 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.
The bill now will be considered by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.