HR 3950 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 relating to mathematics and science instruction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 28, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. EHLERS (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr. BARTLETT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 relating to mathematics and science instruction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Improving Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIPS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

(a) Subpart Heading- The heading for part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Part B--Partnerships for Mathematics and Science Teacher Quality Improvement’.

(b) Purpose; Definitions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PURPOSE- Subsection (a) of section 2201 such Act (20 U.S.C. 2201(a)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘businesses, informal science education centers,’ after ‘higher education,’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘and informal science education centers’ after ‘higher education’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) at the end of paragraph (4), by striking ‘and’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) at the end of paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) replicate and apply the effectiveness of model mathematics and science professional development programs on a broader level.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DEFINITIONS- Subsection (b) of such section is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking clause (i) and redesignating clause (ii) as clause (i);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by inserting after clause (i) (as so redesignated) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a teacher training department of an institution of higher education; and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (1)(B)(i), by striking ‘science, or teacher training’ and inserting ‘or science’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (1)(B)(iii), before the semicolon insert ‘or a consortium of businesses’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (1)(B)(iv), after ‘organization’ insert ‘, including an informal science education center,’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHER- The term ‘mathematics and science teacher’ means a mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary school or secondary school level.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) SCIENCE- The term ‘science’, in the context of elementary and secondary education, includes technology and pre-engineering.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.

(a) Section Heading- The section heading for section 2202 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6662) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 2202. GRANTS FOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.’.

(b) Grants- Subsection (a) of such section is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary is authorized to award grants to State educational agencies to enable such agencies to award subgrants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (d).’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘subparagraph (A)(i)’ in subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘subsection (f)(3)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Application Requirements- Subsection (b) of such section is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Each eligible partnership desiring a subgrant under this part shall submit an application to the State educational agency, at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the State educational agency may require.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by amending paragraph (2)(C) to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a description of how the activities to be carried out by the eligible partnership will be based on a review of scientifically based research or modeled after programs identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, to be replicated on a more expansive basis, and an explanation of how the activities are expected to improve student academic achievement and strengthen the quality of mathematics and science instruction;’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (2)(D)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘subsection (c)’ in clause (i) and inserting ‘subsection (d)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘subsection (e)’ in clause (ii) and inserting ‘subsection (f)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Priority- Such section 2202 is amended by redesignating subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Priority- In awarding grants under this part, a State educational agency shall give priority to eligible partnerships that carry out activities modeled after programs identified by the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the Director of the National Science Foundation, to be replicated on a more expansive basis.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Authorized Activities- Subsection (d) of such section (as so redesignated) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting before the period at the end of paragraph (1) the following: ‘, including activities to replicate model math and science professional development programs’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking paragraphs (4), (5), and (10) and redesignating paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by inserting ‘, such as an exemplary teacher (as defined in section 9109) or a building leader’ after ‘teacher’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) National Science Foundation- Subsection (e)(2) of such section (as so redesignated) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION- In carrying out the activities authorized by this part, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) consult and coordinate with the Director of the National Science Foundation, particularly with respect to the appropriate roles for the Department and the Foundation in the conduct of summer workshops, institutes, or partnerships to improve mathematics and science teaching in elementary schools and secondary schools;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) collaborate with the Director of the National Science Foundation to make widely available, including through dissemination on the Internet and to all State educational agencies and other recipients of funds under this part, information on model programs identified by the Director of the National Science Foundation to be replicated on a more expansive basis; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) in collaboration with the Director of the National Science Foundation, hold an annual summit with partnership grantees from this part and from the National Science Foundation’s Mathematics and Science Partnership program to review the progress and results of awarded grants.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Evaluation and Accountability Plan- Subsection (f) of such section (as so redesignated) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘an evaluation’ and inserting ‘a scientifically valid and rigorous evaluation’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- The Secretary shall reserve one-half of one percent of the funding authorized under this part to provide training and technical assistance to eligible partnerships in conducting a scientifically valid and rigorous evaluation to measure the impact of activities funded under this part.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Report- Subsection (g) of such section (as so redesignated) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking ‘subsection (e)’ and inserting ‘subsection (f)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘The Secretary shall place this report on the Department’s Web site.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) Grants to States, Local Educational Agencies, and Eligible Partnerships- Subsection (a) of section 2103 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6603) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) Grants to States, Local Educational Agencies, and Eligible Partnerships-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part (other than subpart 5) and part B such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010 and for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) RESERVATION- From the funds appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve not less than 15 nor more than 20 percent to carry out part B.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) National Programs- Subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking ‘2002’ and inserting ‘2010’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Conforming Amendment- Section 2203 of such Act is repealed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink