II

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2133

To establish a Science Start Grant program, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 19 (legislative day, MAY 16), 1994

Mr. HATFIELD introduced the following bill; which was read twice and

referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources

A BILL

To establish a Science Start Grant program, and for other

purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Science Start Grant

5 Program Act of 1994’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—

8 (1) preschoolers from low-income families have

9 very limited opportunities to be exposed to science

10 activities;
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1 (2) preschoolers from low-income families need

2 basic, age-appropriate science experiences in order to

3 develop educationally at a normal rate;

4 (3) most preschool teachers have little experi5 ence with simple science activities;

6 (4) attainment of the National Education Goal

7 that calls for United States students to be first in

8 the world in mathematics and science achievement

9 will require a comprehensive, age-appropriate science

10 program for preschoolers from low-income families;

11 (5) long-term efforts to train preschool teachers

12 to use science activities have been limited in number;

13 and

14 (6) the long-term efforts to train preschool

15 teachers to use science activities that have been im16 plemented have shown significant positive results.

17 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to provide

18 Head Start teachers with training programs directed to19 ward the use of age-appropriate science activities in order

20 to increase their students’ interest in and familiarity with

21 science. All students should have a basic exposure to

22 science activities in order to move the Nation toward the

23 National Goal that United States students will be first in

24 the world in mathematics and science achievement.
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1 SEC. 3. MODEL SCIENCE START PROGRAMS FOR THE IN2 TRODUCTION OF SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILD3 HOOD EDUCATION.

4 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may

5 award grants, to be known as Science Start Grants, to

6 organizations to enable such organizations to support

7 model programs that provide instruction to Head Start

8 personnel regarding the introduction of science activities

9 to children enrolled in Head Start programs.

10 (b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec11 tion, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that

12 demonstrate the ability to—

13 (1) provide teacher training programs that in14 volve participants in hands-on activities similar to

15 activities that are intended for students;

16 (2) attract broad teacher participation;

17 (3) use experienced teachers as instructors;

18 (4) provide the materials required by the activi19 ties described in paragraph (1), but not commonly

20 found in Head Start classrooms, except that not

21 more than 25 percent of the funds awarded for each

22 fiscal year to any organization for a model program

23 shall be used to carry out this paragraph; and

24 (5) provide for periodic followup activities con25 ducted, at minimum, during a 6-month period.
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1 (c) DISSEMINATION.—Each recipient of a grant

2 under this section shall report the results of the model

3 program to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for

4 Mathematics and Science Education in an appropriate for5 mat for dissemination.

6 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There

7 are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal

8 year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each

9 succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section.

10 (e) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—The Secretary shall

11 evaluate, and report to the Congress every 2 years (begin12 ning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act) re13 garding, the activities assisted under this section.

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