CONTACT: Jim
Philipps
Thursday, November 8, 2001
202/225-3665
HOUSE APPROVES FUNDING FOR BOEHLERT EDUCATION INITIATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives appropriated nearly $170 million for three science and math education initiatives authored by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY).
Funding for the National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act, the Noyce Scholarship Program and the Tech Talent bill was approved as part of the FY2002 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill. The Senate is expected to endorse the legislation before the end of the week, clearing the way for Presidential approval.
"We've all spent a lot of time pointing to the studies that show how poorly our students do, compared with their international counterparts, in math and science. With these actions, we're doing something about it," said Boehlert, Chairman of the House Science Committee.
"This will allow our nation to make major forward strides in the critically important task of improving K-12 math and science education, as well as ensuring that we have a skilled and competitive workforce."
The Math and Science Education Partnerships-originally proposed by President Bush-would bring scientists and mathematicians in the nation's colleges and universities together with local school districts, and the business community, to draw upon the expertise of each in crafting innovative ways to improve K-12 math and science education. The program was funded at $160 million.
Boehlert conceived the Noyce Scholarship Program as a way to attract top college junior and senior math and science majors into teaching, and keep them there.
Statistics show that approximately 40 percent of new teachers drop out in their first two years and that the most effective teachers are those that teach in their core areas of study.
Scholarship recipients would receive up to $7,500 each year and, in exchange, would agree to teach for two years, for each year they received the scholarship.
In addition, universities would provide post-graduate mentoring and support, to help increase teacher retention.
The scholarship program was funded at $5 million.
The Tech Talent bill (H.R. 3130) is intended to address the decline in our technical workforce and to improve undergraduate math and science education.
The legislation would establish a competitive grant program for undergraduate institutions pledging to increase the number of U.S. citizens or permanent residents obtaining degrees in science, math, engineering and technology (SMET) fields.
Boehlert worked with Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) on the legislation, which was introduced in October, and funded at $5 million. The National Science Foundation would administer each of the programs.