Science and Mathematics Early Start Grant Program Act of 1995

Summary: Science and Mathematics Early Start Grant Program Act of 1995 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award Science and Mathematics Early Start Grants to organizations to support model programs that provide instruction to Head Start personnel regarding the introduction of science and mathematics activities to children enrolled in Head Start programs.  Sets forth award priorities. Requires grant recipients to report program results to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education for dissemination.  Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to each of the ten regional Head Start agencies to improve teaching and learning through professional development activities in science and mathematics at the regional and local agency levels.  Sets forth provisions for: (1) regional and within-region allocations of funds; (2) local plans and applications for improving mathematics and science teaching and learning; (3) local allocation of funds; and (4) permissible activities.  Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Science and Mathematics Early Start 
Grant Program Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) preschoolers from low-income families have very limited 
        opportunities to be exposed to science and mathematics 
        activities;
            (2) preschoolers from low-income families need basic, age-
        appropriate science and mathematics experiences in order to 
        develop educationally at a normal rate;
            (3) most preschool teachers have little experience with 
        simple science and mathematics activities;
            (4) attainment of the National Education Goal that calls 
        for United States students to be first in the world in 
        mathematics and science achievement will require a 
        comprehensive, age-appropriate science and mathematics program 
        for preschoolers from low-income families;
            (5) long-term efforts to train preschool teachers to use 
        science and mathematics activities have been limited in number; 
        and
            (6) the long-term efforts to train preschool teachers to 
        use science and mathematics activities that have been 
        implemented have shown significant positive results.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide Head Start 
teachers with training programs directed toward the use of age-
appropriate science and mathematics activities in order to increase 
their students' interest in and familiarity with science and 
mathematics. All students should have a basic exposure to science and 
mathematics activities in order to move the Nation toward the National 
Goal that United States students will be first in the world in 
mathematics and science achievement.

SEC. 3. MODEL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EARLY START PROGRAMS FOR THE 
              INTRODUCTION OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN EARLY 
              CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(hereafter referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') may award 
grants, to be known as Science and Mathematics Early Start Grants, to 
organizations to enable such organizations to support model programs 
that provide instruction to Head Start personnel regarding the 
introduction of science and mathematics activities to children enrolled 
in Head Start programs.
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate the ability to--
            (1) provide teacher training programs that involve 
        participants in hands-on activities similar to activities that 
        are intended for students;
            (2) attract broad teacher participation;
            (3) use experienced teachers as instructors;
            (4) provide the materials required by the activities 
        described in paragraph (1), but not commonly found in Head 
        Start classrooms, except that not more than 25 percent of the 
        funds awarded for each fiscal year to any organization for a 
        model program shall be used to carry out this paragraph;
            (5) provide for periodic followup activities conducted, at 
        minimum, during a 6-month period; and
            (6) provide teachers with college or university experience 
        and credits.
    (c) Dissemination.--Each recipient of a grant under this section 
shall report the results of the model program to the Eisenhower 
National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education in an 
appropriate format for dissemination.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1997 through 2000, to carry out 
this section.
    (e) Evaluation and Report.--The Secretary shall evaluate, and 
report to the Congress every 2 years (beginning 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act) regarding, the activities assisted under this 
section.
SEC. 4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants to each of 
the ten regional Head Start agencies for the purpose of improving 
teaching and learning through sustained and intensive high-quality 
professional development activities in science and mathematics at the 
region and local agency levels.
    (b) Allocation of Funds.--
            (1) Regional allocation.--From the amounts appropriated for 
        a fiscal year under subsection (f), the Secretary shall allot 
        to each of the ten regional Head Start agencies an amount that 
        bears the same ratio to the amount appropriated as the number 
        of children enrolled in the Head Start programs administered by 
        the regional agency bears to the number of children enrolled in 
        all Head Start programs, as determined by the Secretary on the 
        basis of the most recent satisfactory data. In making 
        determinations under this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
        establish a per child ratio amount.
            (2) Reallocation.--With respect to the allotment of any 
        regional agency that fails to apply for an allotment for any 
        fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot such amount to the 
        remaining regional agencies in proportion to the original 
        allotment to such agencies.
    (c) Within-Region Allocations.--Of the amounts received by a 
regional agency under this section for any fiscal year--
            (1) not less than 90 percent of such amounts shall be made 
        available for local permissible activities (hereafter referred 
        to in this Act as ``flow-through funds''); and
            (2) not to exceed 10 percent of such amounts may be 
        retained by the regional agency, of which--
                    (A) not to exceed 3 percent of such amounts may be 
                used for the administrative costs of the regional 
                agency; and
                    (B) the remaining amounts shall be used to fund or 
                expand exemplary and innovative science and mathematics 
                professional development programs.
    (d) Local Plan and Application for Improving Mathematics and 
Science Teaching and Learning.--
            (1) Local application.--
                    (A) In general.--A local Head Start agency that 
                desires to receive a grant under this section shall 
                prepare and submit to the appropriate regional Head 
                Start agency an application (singly or as a consortium) 
                at such time as the regional agency shall require.
                    (B) Indicators.--As part of an application 
                submitted under subparagraph (a), a local Head Start 
                agency shall establish specific goals and objectives 
                for improving mathematics and science teaching and 
                learning through professional development.
            (2) Needs assessment.--
                    (A) In general.--As part of an application 
                submitted under paragraph (1), a local Head Start 
                agency shall include an assessment of local needs for 
                professional development as identified by the local 
                Head Start agency and staff.
                    (B) Requirements.--A needs assessment to be 
                included in an application under subparagraph (A) shall 
                be carried out with the involvement of teachers, and 
                shall take into account the activities that need to be 
                conducted in order to give teachers and, where 
                appropriate, administrators, the means, including the 
                knowledge and skills, to provide Head Start children 
                with the opportunity to develop a strong foundation in 
                mathematics and science.
            (3) Application contents.--An application submitted under 
        this section shall include the plans of the local Head Start 
        agency for professional development that--
                    (A) focus on teaching and learning in mathematics 
                and science;
                    (B) have been developed with the extensive 
                participation of Head Start teachers, administrators, 
                staff, and pupil services personnel;
                    (C) include a time line for the professional 
                development activities indicating duration and 
                schedule; and
                    (D) will be periodically reviewed and revised by 
                the local Head Start agency, as necessary, to reflect 
                changes in the strategies and programs of the local 
                Head Start agency under this section.
    (e) Local Allocation of Funds and Permissible Activities.--
            (1) Amount of allocation.--The maximum amount of a grant 
        for which a local Head Start agency may apply under this 
        section shall equal the product of--
                    (A) the number of children served by the local 
                agency; and
                    (B) the per child ratio amount determined under 
                subsection (b)(1).
            (2) Reallocation.--If a local Head Start agency does not 
        apply for a grant prior to the grant allocation deadline that 
        is established by the regional Head Start agency involved, the 
        regional agency shall reallocate the amount that any such local 
        agency would have received to the remaining local agencies in 
        proportion to their original grant allocations.
            (3) Local allocation of funds.--A local Head Start agency 
        that receives a grant under this section for any fiscal year--
                    (A) shall use not less than 70 percent of the 
                amount received under such grant for the professional 
                development of teachers, and, where appropriate, 
                administrators, and, where appropriate, pupil services 
                personnel, parents, and other staff of individual 
                schools to pay for direct program costs to include--
                            (i) stipends;
                            (ii) tuition, registrations, and fees;
                            (iii) related travel, food, and lodging;
                            (iv) child care; and
                            (v) training supplies, books, and 
                        materials; and
                    (B) may use not to exceed 30 percent of the amount 
                received under such grant for mathematics and science 
                classroom supplies, equipment, and materials.
            (4) Authorized activities.--
                    (A) In general.--A local Head Start agency that 
                receives a grant under this section shall use amounts 
                received under such grant for activities that give Head 
                Start teachers and administrators the knowledge and 
                skills to provide children with the opportunity to 
                develop a strong foundation in mathematics and science.
                    (B) Professional development activities.--
                Professional development activities funded under this 
                section shall--
                            (i) take into account recent research on 
                        the teaching and learning of mathematics and 
                        science;
                            (ii) provide professional development that 
                        incorporates effective strategies, techniques, 
                        methods, and practices for meeting the 
                        educational needs of diverse groups of 
                        students, including females, minorities, 
                        children with disabilities, limited English
                         proficient children, and economically 
disadvantaged children;
                            (iii) include preparation for future 
                        mathematics and science content and pedagogical 
                        components; and
                            (iv) be of sufficient intensity and 
                        duration to have a positive and lasting impact 
                        on the Head Start teacher's performance in the 
                        classroom.
                    (C) Activities.--Amounts received under a grant 
                under this section may be used for professional 
                development activities such as--
                            (i) professional development for teams of 
                        teachers, and, where appropriate, 
                        administrators, pupil services personnel, or 
                        other staff, to support the teaching of 
                        mathematics and science using developmentally 
                        appropriate activities;
                            (ii) to enable Head Start teachers and 
                        appropriate staff to participate in 
                        professional development in mathematics and 
                        science programs that are offered through 
                        professional associations, universities, 
                        community-based organizations, and other 
                        providers, such as educational partnership 
                        organizations, science centers, and museums, 
                        including financial support and time off;
                            (iii) activities that provide follow up for 
                        teachers who have participated in professional 
                        development activities that are designed to 
                        ensure that the knowledge and skills learned by 
                        the teacher are implemented in the classroom;
                            (iv) support for partnerships between Head 
                        Start agencies, consortia of agencies, and 
                        institutions of higher education, including 
                        schools of education, which shall encourage 
                        teachers to participate in intensive, ongoing 
                        mathematics and science programs, both academic 
                        and pedagogical, at institutions of higher 
                        education;
                            (v) the establishment and maintenance of 
                        local professional networks that provide a 
                        forum for interaction among teachers and that 
                        allow exchange of information on advances in 
                        mathematics and science content and teaching 
                        pedagogy;
                            (vi) professional development to enable 
                        teachers, and, where appropriate, pupil 
                        services personnel and other school staff, to 
                        ensure that females, minorities, limited 
                        English proficient children, children with 
                        disabilities, and the economically 
                        disadvantaged have full opportunity to develop 
                        a strong foundation in mathematics and science;
                            (vii) preparing teachers, and, where 
                        appropriate, pupil services personnel to work 
                        with parents and families on fostering student 
                        achievement in mathematics and science;
                            (viii) professional development activities 
                        and other support for new teachers as such 
                        teachers move into the Head Start classroom to 
                        provide practical support and to increase 
                        mathematics and science content and teaching 
                        pedagogy for such teachers;
                            (ix) professional development for teachers, 
                        parents, early childhood educators, 
                        administrators, and other staff to support 
                        activities and services related to preschool 
                        transition programs to raise student 
                        performance in mathematics and science; and
                            (x) developing professional development 
                        strategies and programs to more effectively 
                        involve parents in helping their children 
                        achieve in mathematics and science.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 
1996, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
1997 through 2000.
    (g) Reporting and Accountability.--
            (1) Regions.--Not later than September 30, 1996, and each 
        September 30 thereafter, a regional Head Start agency that 
        receives funds under this section shall prepare and submit to 
        the Secretary a report concerning--
                    (A) the status of the activities and grants 
                completed and currently in operation during the year 
                for which the report is submitted;
                    (B) an evaluation of the implementation of this 
                section; and
                    (C) an evaluation of the effectiveness of local 
                Head Start agency activities assisted under this 
                section.
            (2) Local head start agencies.--Not later than 3 months 
        after the conclusion of the grant period, the local Head Start 
        agency that receives the grant under this section shall prepare 
        and submit to the appropriate regional Head Start agency a 
        report concerning the progress of such local agency toward 
        meeting the goals and objectives identified in the local 
        application and plan of such local agency, as well as 
        concerning the effectiveness of the activities of the agency 
        under this section.
            (3) Federal evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and 
        submit to the President and the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report concerning the effectiveness of the programs 
        and activities conducted under this section.