To authorize the National Science Foundation to provide grants to support research projects in science and technology at secondary schools, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Research in Secondary Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The quality of education in science, mathematics, and 
        engineering is the foundation of the Nation's future security 
        and prosperity.
            (2) In international tests, American secondary school 
        students score lower in science and mathematics than their 
        peers in other developed countries.
            (3) The number of undergraduate degrees awarded to American 
        students in the physical sciences, mathematics and computer 
        science, and engineering has been static or has declined over 
        the past decade, while projected demand for scientists and 
        engineers is predicted to increase four times faster than 
        overall job growth over the next ten years.
            (4) New initiatives are required to stimulate the interest 
        of students in science, mathematics, and technology and to help 
        prepare them to succeed in the college courses required for 
        careers in these fields.
            (5) Hands-on research experiences have been proven to be 
        effective in stimulating student interest in science, 
        mathematics, and technology, in building confidence in the 
        scientific method and problem solving, and in strengthening 
        understanding of scientific concepts.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation;
            (2) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
            (3) the term ``science teacher'' means a science, 
        mathematics, or technology teacher at the secondary school 
        level.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--The Director is authorized to establish a program 
to improve science, mathematics, and technology education in secondary 
schools through awards to institutions of higher education for the 
support of research projects in science and technology at secondary 
schools. Awards shall be made to institutions of higher education 
through a competitive process on the basis of merit in accordance with 
the guidelines, procedures, and criteria established under subsection 
(c).
    (b) Research Projects.--Awards provided under this section shall be 
used by the recipient institutions to--
            (1) provide training for science teachers in the design of 
        research investigations and in the preparation of research 
        project proposals;
            (2) establish requirements for the contents and procedures 
        for the submission to the institution of higher education of 
        proposals for research projects;
            (3) establish guidelines, standards, and procedures for the 
        selection of proposals for funding on the basis of merit and 
        following a competitive review process;
            (4) provide grants to secondary schools for implementing 
        research projects;
            (5) develop general guidelines for use by science teachers 
        in implementing research projects, including requirements for 
        the reporting of research results;
            (6) provide stipends for graduate students to serve as 
        advisors and consultants for research projects that include 
        such a role for such graduate students; and
            (7) assess the educational value of the research projects, 
        including by means of tracking--
                    (A) the academic performance in science, 
                mathematics, and technology of the participating 
                students; and
                    (B) the undergraduate majors later selected by 
                students who have participated in a research project 
                supported under this Act.
    (c) Guidelines, Procedures, and Criteria.--The Director shall 
establish and publish application and selection guidelines, procedures, 
and criteria for awards under the program established under subsection 
(a).
    (d) Proposal Requirements.--Each application for an award under the 
program established under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) provide for collaboration between education faculty and 
        mathematics, engineering, or science faculty at the institution 
        of higher education;
            (2) include a plan for satisfying the requirements of 
        subsection (b), including a description of the process to be 
        used for soliciting proposals for research projects and an 
        estimate of the number of research projects to be supported;
            (3) specify the number of graduate students expected to 
        receive support in accordance with subsection (b)(6); and
            (4) identify sources of non-Federal funding for the 
        proposed program in amounts at least equal to the amount of the 
        award sought under this section.

SEC. 5. COORDINATION.

    The Director shall ensure that coordination and information 
exchange, including by means of the Internet, occur on a continuing 
basis among awardees under this Act.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation to carry out this Act $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2002, 2003, and 2004.

Summary: Research in Secondary Schools Act - Authorizes the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish a program of competitive grants to institutions of higher education for specified activities in support of research projects in science and technology at secondary schools. Requires the Director to ensure that coordination and information exchange, including by means of the Internet, occur on a continuing basis among grant awardees under this Act.