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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2248 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2248

           To establish the Math and Science Teaching Corps.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 7, 2006

  Mr. Schumer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
           To establish the Math and Science Teaching Corps.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mathematics and Science Teaching 
Corps Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Mathematics and science are the bases for almost every 
        technical competence in the modern marketplace, including 
        fields as diverse as computer programming, physics, 
        engineering, manufacturing, and oil exploration.
            (2) Cultivating a workforce with strong mathematics and 
        science skills is necessary both to keep the United States 
        competitive in a global economy and for its national security. 
        China's long-term growth rate has surpassed that of the United 
        States in the time since Chinese economic reform focused on the 
        development of science and technology.
            (3) Secondary school students in the United States rank 
        near the bottom when compared to their counterparts in other 
        developed countries. Of the Organization for Economic 
        Cooperation and Development nations participating in the 2003 
        Program for International Student Assessment, the United States 
        ranked 24th of 29 in mathematics and 23rd of 29 in science, 
        while Korea and Japan ranked in the top 5 in both categories.
            (4) Research shows that teacher quality is the most 
        important factor in determining student achievement, especially 
        in the technical fields of mathematics and science. Researchers 
        from Penn State, the Urban Institute, and the RAND Corporation 
        have all found higher student achievement in secondary school 
        for those students whose teachers had taken more coursework 
        related to their subject area.
            (5) According to the Center for Teaching and Policy, 38 
        percent of secondary school mathematics classes, 28 percent of 
        general science classes, 45 percent of life science classes, 
        and 60 percent of physical science classes are taught by 
        individuals lacking a major or a minor in such discipline.
            (6) College graduates with strong mathematics or science 
        backgrounds have many career opportunities that are more 
        financially attractive than teaching. According to the National 
        Science Foundation, recent college graduates in 2001 were 
        offered between $10,000 and $20,000 more for their first year 
        in a technical occupation other than teaching.
            (7) Sophisticated mathematics and science teachers are 
        needed in all classrooms across the Nation in order to raise 
        student achievement and ultimately help the United States 
        maintain its competitiveness in the global economy.
            (8) Individuals who are strong in mathematics and science 
        need financial incentives, peer mentoring, and professional 
        development for proper recruitment and retainment in the field 
        of teaching.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) recruit up to 8,000 new, outstanding mathematics and 
        science secondary school teachers each year who might otherwise 
        begin different careers; and
            (2) reward up to 8,000 existing and outstanding mathematics 
        and science secondary school teachers each year who might 
        otherwise leave the teaching profession.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
            (2) Hard-to-staff school.--The term ``hard-to-staff 
        school'' means a secondary school that has great difficulty in 
        finding and retaining qualified and effective teachers, as 
        determined by the Director.
            (3) Participating local educational agency.--The term 
        ``participating local educational agency'' means a local 
        educational agency that has been certified by the Director as 
        offering an induction program for individuals receiving 
        fellowships under this Act that meets adequate standards, 
        including--
                    (A) clustering Math and Science Teaching Corps 
                Fellows in individual or nearby schools;
                    (B) providing multi-year mentoring and coaching;
                    (C) offering new teacher seminars on a monthly 
                basis;
                    (D) reducing the course load for such Fellows;
                    (E) allowing time for joint lesson planning and 
                other constructive collaborative activities;
                    (F) providing professional development 
                opportunities for such Fellows and Math and Science 
                Teaching Corps Master Fellows on content knowledge and 
                pedagogy; and
                    (G) facilitating relationships between Math and 
                Science Teaching Corps Fellows and Math and Science 
                Teaching Corps Master Fellows.
            (4) Partner institution.--The term ``partner institution'' 
        means an institution of higher education that has been 
        certified by the Director as meeting adequate standards for--
                    (A) offering a teacher preparation program that--
                            (i) is modeled on the Master of Arts in 
                        Teaching program, which provides a full-time, 
                        1-year course of study leading to teacher 
                        certification and a master's degree; and
                            (ii) includes pedagogical courses and a 
                        minimum of 1 semester of student teaching 
                        experience;
                    (B) offering a part-time master's degree program in 
                mathematics or science education for teachers who are 
                certified to teach;
                    (C) offering a graduate degree program in 
                mathematics and science; and
                    (D) establishing an explicit collaboration between 
                the teacher preparation and mathematics and science 
                departments of the institution to provide graduate-
                level mathematics and science content courses that are 
                appropriate for secondary school teachers.
            (5) Standardized test.--The term ``standardized test'' 
        means the test required by the Director of each individual who 
        applies for a fellowship under this Act that evaluates each 
        individual's mathematics or science subject area knowledge. The 
        science subject area tests shall include a section to assess 
        mathematics skills appropriate to each subject. The 
        standardized tests shall be approved and reviewed periodically 
        by the National Academy of Sciences to ensure that the tests 
        meet rigorous standards and remain appropriate for the intended 
        use, and cut-off scores shall be set at the national level.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS.

    Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 
3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 221. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS.

    ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Department a Math and 
Science Teaching Corps to be administered by the Director of the Math 
and Science Teaching Corps in accordance with the Mathematics and 
Science Teaching Corps Act of 2006.
    ``(b) Director.--The Director of the Math and Science Teaching 
Corps shall--
            ``(1) administer the Math and Science Teaching Corps 
        program established under the Mathematics and Science Teaching 
        Corps Act of 2006; and
            ``(2) report directly to the Secretary and shall perform 
        such additional functions as the Secretary may prescribe.
    ``(c) Purpose.--The Math and Science Teaching Corps is established 
in order to significantly improve mathematics and science achievement 
among secondary school students in the United States by ensuring that 
such students are taught by well-prepared mathematics and science 
teachers with superior subject area knowledge.''.

SEC. 5. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS FELLOWSHIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE 
              TEACHERS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director shall carry out a program through 
which the Director awards--
            (1) Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for 
        Prospective Teachers (referred to in this part as ``MSTC 
        Fellowships'') to eligible individuals;
            (2) grants to partner institutions to pay the tuition and 
        fees and overhead costs at such institutions of individuals 
        receiving MSTC Fellowships under this section; and
            (3) grants to participating local educational agencies to 
        pay the costs of the activities described in subsection (e)(4).
    (b) Definition of Eligible Individual.--In this section, the term 
``eligible individual'' means an individual who--
            (1) is a recent college graduate or a mid-career 
        professional outside of the teaching field; and
            (2) possesses a strong content area knowledge, including a 
        baccalaureate (or higher) degree in mathematics, science, 
        engineering, technology, or a related field.
    (c) Application.--An individual, partner institution, or 
participating local educational agency that desires to receive a MSTC 
Fellowship or grant, as applicable, under this section shall submit an 
application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
accompanied by such information as the Director may require.
    (d) Recruitment and Selection of Individuals for MSTC 
Fellowships.--
            (1) Recruitment.--The Director shall recruit eligible 
        individuals for the MSTC Fellowships.
            (2) Selection.--The Director shall establish criteria to 
        ensure that individuals who receive MSTC Fellowships under this 
        section possess--
                    (A) a comprehensive knowledge of the subject area 
                to be taught as evidenced by performing at a 
                satisfactory level on a standardized test;
                    (B) strong verbal and communication skills; and
                    (C) other attributes that are linked to effective 
                teaching.
    (e) Activities.--
            (1) In general.--An individual who receives a MSTC 
        Fellowship under this section shall--
                    (A) receive pedagogical training as described in 
                paragraph (2); and
                    (B) for 4 years, within a 7-year period of first 
                receiving the Fellowship, teach mathematics or science 
                in a secondary school, as described in paragraph (3).
            (2) Pedagogical training.--
                    (A) In general.--An individual who receives a MSTC 
                Fellowship under this section shall--
                            (i) if the individual is not certified to 
                        teach--
                                    (I) attend, during the first year 
                                of the MSTC Fellowship, a 1-year, full-
                                time graduate education program of a 
                                partner institution that receives a 
                                grant under this section; and
                                    (II) receive, during that 1 year, a 
                                stipend that is in an amount that is 
                                equal to the Graduate Research 
                                Fellowship stipend awarded by the 
                                National Science Foundation; or
                            (ii) if the individual holds appropriate 
                        teacher certification credentials when granted 
                        the MSTC Fellowship, then during any of the 4 
                        years of the MSTC Fellowship--
                                    (I) attend a part-time graduate 
                                education program leading to a master's 
                                degree in mathematics or science 
                                education; or
                                    (II) enroll at an institution of 
                                higher education in not more than 24 
                                credit hours of courses in mathematics, 
                                science, or education.
                    (B) Grants to partner institutions.--A partner 
                institution that receives a grant under this section--
                            (i) shall use the grant funds to pay the 
                        tuition and fees at such institution of 
                        individuals receiving MSTC Fellowships under 
                        this section; and
                            (ii) may use not more than 10 percent of 
                        the grant funds for overhead costs incurred by 
                        the partner institution in administering the 
                        grant.
            (3) Teaching, mentoring, and professional development.--An 
        individual who receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section--
                    (A) shall, for 4 years, teach mathematics or 
                science in a secondary school served by a participating 
                local educational agency;
                    (B) shall, for such 4 years, participate in 
                induction programs offered by the participating local 
                educational agency;
                    (C) shall, for such 4 years, receive a stipend that 
                is equal to--
                            (i) for the first year of teaching 
                        described in subparagraph (A), $11,000;
                            (ii) for the second year of teaching 
                        described in subparagraph (A), $14,000;
                            (iii) for the third year of teaching 
                        described in subparagraph (A), $17,000; and
                            (iv) for the fourth year of teaching 
                        described in subparagraph (A), $20,000; and
                    (D) if the school in which the individual is 
                teaching is determined by the Director to be a hard-to-
                staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a 
                uniform amount determined by the Director, in each year 
                of teaching as described in subparagraph (A).
            (4) Grants to participating local educational agencies.--A 
        participating local educational agency that receives a grant 
        under this section--
                    (A) shall use the grant funds to pay the expenses 
                associated with facilitating the induction and 
                professional development services for individuals 
                receiving fellowships under this Act; and
                    (B) may not reduce the salary of an individual who 
                receives a MSTC Fellowship under this section and is 
                employed in a secondary school served by such agency 
                below the salary normally paid for an individual with a 
                similar background and experience solely because such 
                individual receives a stipend under paragraph (3).
    (f) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to 
        Congress that evaluates the effectiveness of the program under 
        this section.
            (2) Subsequent reports.--The Director shall submit an 
        updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is 
        submitted under paragraph (1).
    (g) Repayment.--In the event that an individual receiving a MSTC 
Fellowship under this section does not complete the activities 
described in subsection (e), the Director shall require repayment of 
the stipends granted to the individual under this section according to 
the regulations established by the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $137,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007, $410,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $683,000,000 for fiscal year 
2009, $956,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $1,092,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2011.

SEC. 6. MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHING CORPS FELLOWSHIPS FOR EXPERIENCED 
              TEACHERS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director shall carry out a program in which 
the Director awards Math and Science Teaching Corps Fellowships for 
Experienced Teachers (referred to in this part as ``MSTC Master 
Fellowships'') to eligible individuals.
    (b) Eligible Individual.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
individual'' means an individual who--
            (1) has been teaching mathematics or science in a public 
        secondary school for not less than 3 years;
            (2) possessed certification in the field and level in which 
        the individual primarily taught during the 3 years preceding 
        the year for which the determination is made; and
            (3) is employed as a full-time, secondary mathematics or 
        science teacher in a participating local educational agency.
    (c) Applications.--An eligible individual who desires to receive a 
MSTC Master Fellowship under this section shall submit an application 
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Director may require.
    (d) Recruitment and Selection of MSTC Master Fellows.--
            (1) Recruitment.--The Director shall recruit eligible 
        individuals for MSTC Master Fellowships.
            (2) Selection.--
                    (A) In general.--The Director shall establish 
                criteria to ensure that individuals who receive MSTC 
                Master Fellowships under this section--
                            (i) demonstrate expertise in mathematics or 
                        science content by taking a standardized test;
                            (ii) demonstrate mastery of mathematics or 
                        science pedagogy and have a strong record of 
                        positively affecting academic achievement, as 
                        demonstrated by observations from supervisors, 
                        student data (as available), or other 
                        information as determined by the Director; and
                            (iii) demonstrate other attributes that are 
                        linked to effective teaching.
    (e) Activities.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible individual who receives a MSTC 
        Master Fellowship under this section--
                    (A) shall--
                            (i) continue to teach mathematics or 
                        science in a public secondary school in a 
                        participating local educational agency for not 
                        less than an additional 5 years during the 
                        subsequent 7 years after receiving such a MSTC 
                        Master Fellowship under this section;
                            (ii) serve as a leader within the 
                        individual's department and school;
                            (iii) mentor MSTC Fellows, as appropriate;
                            (iv) receive a stipend of $20,000 for each 
                        year the eligible individual continues to 
                        teach, as described in clause (i), but for not 
                        more than 5 years; and
                            (v) attend lectures, seminars, or workshops 
                        on content area knowledge or pedagogy provided 
                        by the participating local educational agency 
                        that employs such eligible individual; and
                    (B) if the school in which the individual is 
                teaching is determined by the Director to be a hard-to-
                staff school, may receive enhanced stipends, of a 
                uniform amount determined by the Director, in each year 
                of teaching as described in subparagraph (A)(i).
    (f) Renewal of MSTC Master Fellowships.--An individual who has 
received a MSTC Fellowship or MSTC Master Fellowships and has completed 
the requirements associated with such fellowship may re-apply for a 
MSTC Master Fellowship (or apply for a MSTC Master Fellowship in the 
case of an individual who has received a MSTC Fellowship) if such 
individual is an eligible individual under this section.
    (g) Repayment.--In the event that an individual receiving a MSTC 
Master Fellowship under this section does not complete the activities 
described in subsection (e), the Director shall require repayment of 
the stipends granted to the individual under this section according to 
the regulations established by the Math and Science Teaching Corps.
    (h) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to 
        Congress that evaluates the effectiveness of the program under 
        this section.
            (2) Subsequent reports.--The Director shall submit an 
        updated report every 5 years after the date the first report is 
        submitted under paragraph (1).
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007, $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 
2009, $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $800,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2011.
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