I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 210

To establish a commission to review, and make recommendations with respect

to, leadership in mathematics education.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 6, 1999

Mrs. MORELLA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and

the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To establish a commission to review, and make recommendations with respect to, leadership in mathematics education.

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 ‘‘Commission for Amer5 ican Mathematics Leadership Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds the following:
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1 (1) Students in the United States should be the

2 world leaders in mathematics achievement within the

3 next decade.

4 (2) The Third International Mathematics and

5 Science Study (hereinafter in this Act referred to as

6 the ‘‘TIMSS’’), the largest international study ever

7 undertaken of how students perform in mathematics

8 and science, demonstrated that the mathematics

9 skills of students in the United States (including the

10 top 10 percent of students in the United States) lag

11 far behind the skills of students in many other na12 tions, even though students in the United States

13 spend more class time on mathematics and science

14 and usually are assigned more homework.

15 (3) Research indicates that the problems of

16 mathematics and science education in the United

17 States stem largely from the lack of a coherent and

18 focused curriculum designed for high-level learning

19 goals, the lack of assessment instruments aligned

20 with such curricula, and the lack of a sufficient com21 mitment by colleges and universities in the United

22 States to high-quality teacher preparation and pro23 fessional development programs.

24 (4) Core problems exist with the courses of

25 study and the teaching style on which many schools
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1 in the United States rely to instruct students in

2 mathematics and science, as reflected in the conclu3 sion of the National Science Foundation that schools

4 in the United States teach math concepts in super5 ficial, and ultimately ineffective, ways.

6 (5) A developed framework for mathematics

7 and science should be coherent, focused, and give

8 balanced attention to basic skills, conceptual under9 standing, problem solving, reasoning, and commu10 nication skills, and appropriate uses of technology.

11 (6) The failure of mathematics and science

12 teaching methods in the United States requires a

13 systemic retraining of, and an increased emphasis on

14 the professional development of, teachers in the

15 United States.

16 (7) Teachers of mathematics and science should

17 be well-trained professionals who combine sound

18 knowledge of subject matter with the necessary skills

19 and a good understanding of student learning and

20 assessment.

21 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

22 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a

23 commission to be known as the ‘‘Commission for American

24 Mathematics Leadership’’ (in this Act referred to as the

25 ‘‘Commission’’).
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1 (b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com2 posed of 12 members as follows:

3 (1) Four members appointed by the President.

4 (2) Four members appointed by the Speaker of

5 the House of Representatives, in consultation with

6 the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

7 (3) Four members appointed by the President

8 pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation with the

9 minority leader of the Senate.

10 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

11 The Commission shall, in coordination with the Na12 tional Academy of Sciences—

13 (1) review the existing research base on mathe14 matics education leadership, including the status of

15 mathematics education in the United States relative

16 to international competitors;

17 (2) propose professional development priorities

18 to assure that the teaching of mathematics at all

19 educational levels in the United States is strength20 ened; and

21 (3) formulate an implementation proposal, in22 cluding specific recommendations which can be im23 plemented by appropriate public and private agen24 cies, for assuring world class achievement of the
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1 United States in mathematics education within a

2 decade.

3 SEC. 5. REPORT.

4 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact5 ment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the

6 Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the Presi7 dent pro tempore of the Senate a report including the find8 ings and recommendations of the Commission under sec9 tion 4.

10 SEC. 6. POWERS.

11 The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out

12 its duties, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times

13 and places, take such testimony, and receive such evi14 dence, as the Commission considers appropriate.

15 SEC. 7. COMMISSION PROCEDURES.

16 (a) CHAIRMAN.—A chairman of the Commission shall

17 be elected by the members of the Commission.

18 (b) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Commission

19 shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting

20 meetings.

21 SEC. 8. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

22 (a) PAY OF MEMBERS.—Members of the Commission

23 shall not be paid by reason of their service as members.

24 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com25 mission shall be allowed, while away from their homes or
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1 regular places of business in the performance of services

2 for the Commission, travel expenses (including per diem

3 in lieu of subsistence) in the same manner as persons em4 ployed intermittently in Government service are allowed

5 expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States

6 Code.

7 SEC. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

8 The National Academy of Sciences shall provide the

9 administrative support services necessary for the Commis10 sion to carry out its duties under this Act.

11 SEC. 10. FUNDING.

12 Out of any amounts appropriated for the National

13 Science Foundation, $750,000 shall be available for activi14 ties of the Commission.

15 SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

16 The Commission shall terminate 30 days after sub17 mitting the report required under section 5.

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