Mathematics and Science Proficiency Partnership Act of 1999

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mathematics and Science Proficiency 
Partnership Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Mathematics and science education is a vital link to 
        connect today's students with the information age and to the 
        workplace of tomorrow.
            (2) American students consistently place below their 
        international peers when it comes to demonstrating their skills 
        in mathematics and science.
            (3) Proficiency in mathematics, science, and information 
        technology is necessary to prepare American students for 
        participation in the 21st Century and to guarantee that the 
        United States economy remains vibrant and competitive.
            (4) Students in urban and rural America share a common need 
        to receive a quality education, but often their schools lack 
        the needed resources to lift these students into the 
        information age.
            (5) The schools and businesses serving these communities 
        are strategically positioned to form a unique partnership with 
        urban and rural students that will increase their mathematics, 
        science, and information technology proficiency for the benefit 
        of the Nation.

SEC. 3. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) General Authority.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Grant program.--The Director shall, subject to 
                appropriations, carry out a demonstration project under 
                which the Director awards grants in accordance with 
                this Act to 5 eligible local educational agencies in 
                urban areas and 5 eligible local educational agencies 
                in rural areas.
                    (B) Uses of funds.--A local educational agency that 
                receives a grant under this Act may use such grant 
                funds to develop an information technology program that 
                builds or expands mathematics, science, and information 
                technology curricula, to purchase equipment necessary 
                to establish such program, and to provide teacher 
                training in such fields.
            (2) Program requirements.--The program described in 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) train teachers specifically in information 
                technology, mathematics, and science; and
                    (B) provide students with specialized training in 
                mathematics, science, and information technology.
    (b) Eligible Local Educational Agency.--For purposes of this Act, a 
local educational agency is eligible to receive a grant under this Act 
if the agency--
            (1) is located in one of the localities which has received 
        an award from the National Science Foundation under the Urban 
        Systemic Initiative or the Rural Systemic Initiative program;
            (2) provides assurances that it has executed conditional 
        agreements with representatives of the private sector to 
        provide services and funds described in subsection (c); and
            (3) agrees to enter into an agreement with the Director to 
        comply with the requirements of this Act.
    (c) Private Sector Participation.--The conditional agreement 
referred to in subsection (b)(2) shall describe participation by the 
private sector, including--
            (1) the donation of computer hardware and software;
            (2) the establishment of internship and mentoring 
        opportunities for students who participate in the information 
        technology program; and
            (3) the donation of scholarship funds for eligible students 
        who have participated in the information technology program.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible local educational agency 
        desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Director in accordance with guidelines established by the 
Director pursuant to paragraph (2).
            (2) Guidelines.--
                    (A) Requirements.--The guidelines referred to in 
                paragraph (1) shall require, at a minimum, that the 
                application include--
                            (i) a description of proposed activities 
                        consistent with the uses of funds and program 
                        requirements under subsection (a)(1)(B) and 
                        (a)(2);
                            (ii) a description of the scholarship 
                        program, including criteria for selection, 
                        duration of scholarship, number of scholarships 
                        to be awarded each year, and funding levels for 
                        scholarships; and
                            (iii) evidence of private sector 
                        participation and financial support to 
                        establish an internship, mentoring, and 
                        scholarship program.
                    (B) Guideline publication.--The Director shall 
                issue and publish such guidelines not later than 6 
                months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Selection.--The Director shall select a local 
        educational agency to receive an award under this Act in 
accordance with subsection (e) and on the basis of merit to be 
determined after conducting a comprehensive review.
    (e) Priority.--The Director shall give special priority in awarding 
grants under this Act to eligible local educational agencies that 
demonstrate the greatest ability to obtain commitments from 
representatives of the private sector to provide services and funds 
described under subsection (c).

SEC. 4. ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING.

    (a) Assessment.--The Director shall assess the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under this Act. Such assessment shall be 
included as part of the assessment and reporting process used for the 
Urban and Rural Systemic Initiatives programs.
    (b) Study.--The Director shall initiate a longitudinal study of 
eligible students selected for scholarships pursuant to this Act and 
shall report such findings to Congress not later than 4 years after the 
award of the first scholarship. Such report shall include the number of 
students graduating from an institution of higher education with a 
major in mathematics, science, or information technology and the number 
of students who find employment in such fields.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    Except as otherwise provided, for purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation;
            (2) the term ``eligible student'' means a student enrolled 
        in the 12th grade who--
                    (A) would be a first-generation college student;
                    (B) has participated in an information technology 
                program established pursuant to this Act;
                    (C) has demonstrated a commitment to pursue a 
                career in information technology, mathematics, science, 
                or engineering; and
                    (D) has attained high academic standing and 
                maintains a grade point average of not less than 3.0 on 
                a 4.0 scale for the last 2 years of secondary school 
                (11th and 12th grades); and
            (3) the term ``local educational agency'' has the same 
        meaning given such term in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801);

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Science Foundation to carry out this Act, $3,000,000.
    (b) Maximum Grant Award.--An award made to an eligible local 
educational agency under this Act may not exceed $300,000.

Summary: Mathematics and Science Proficiency Partnership Act of 1999 - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), subject to appropriations, to carry out a demonstration project under which grants are awarded to five eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) in urban areas and five eligible LEAs in rural areas, for: (1) developing information technology programs that build or expand mathematics, science, and information technology curricula, (2) purchasing equipment necessary to establish such programs. And (3) providing teacher training in such fields. Makes eligible for grants LEAs that: (1) are located in localities that have received an award from the NSF under the Urban Systemic Initiative or the Rural Systemic Initiative program. (2) provide assurances that they have executed conditional agreements with representatives of the private sector to provide services and scholarship funds. And (3) agree to enter into an agreement with the Director to comply with this Act. Sets forth application requirements. Requires the Director to give special priority for grants to LEAs that demonstrate the greatest ability to obtain commitments from the private sector for services and funds. Requires the Director to: (1) assess the effectiveness of activities under this Act. And (2) initiate a longitudinal study of students selected for scholarships and report findings to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the maximum grant awarded to an LEA.