I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1669
To establish a Science and Mathematics Early Start Grant program, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 18, 1995
Ms. FURSE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Economic and Educational Opportunities
A BILL
To establish a Science and Mathematics Early Start Grant
program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Science and Mathe-
matics Early Start Grant Program Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) preschoolers from low-income families have
very limited opportunities to be exposed to science
and mathematics activities;
(2) preschoolers from low-income families need
basic, age-appropriate science and mathematics ex-
periences in order to develop educationally at a nor-
mal rate;
(3) most preschool teachers have little experi-
ence with simple science and mathematics activities;
(4) attainment of the National Education Goal
that calls for United States students to be first in
the world in mathematics and science achievement
will require a comprehensive, age-appropriate science
and mathematics program for preschoolers from low-
income families;
(5) long-term efforts to train preschool teachers
to use science and mathematics activities have been
limited in number; and
(6) the long-term efforts to train preschool
teachers to use science and mathematics activities
that have been implemented have shown significant
positive results.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to provide
Head Start teachers with training programs directed to-
ward the use of age-appropriate science and mathematics
activities in order to increase their students’ interest in
and familiarity with science and mathematics. All students
should have a basic exposure to science and mathematics
activities in order to move the Nation toward the National
Goal that United States students will be first in the world
in mathematics and science achievement.
SEC. 3. MODEL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EARLY START
PROGRAMS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF
SCIENCE 
AND 
MATHEMATICS 
IN 
EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Health
and Human Services (hereafter referred to in this Act as
the ‘‘Secretary’’) may award grants, to be known as
Science and Mathematics Early Start Grants, to organiza-
tions to enable such organizations to support model pro-
grams that provide instruction to Head Start personnel
regarding the introduction of science and mathematics ac-
tivities to children enrolled in Head Start programs.
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants that
demonstrate the ability to—
(1) provide teacher training programs that in-
volve participants in hands-on activities similar to
activities that are intended for students;
(2) attract broad teacher participation;
(3) use experienced teachers as instructors;
(4) provide the materials required by the activi-
ties described in paragraph (1), but not commonly
found in Head Start classrooms, except that not
more than 25 percent of the funds awarded for each
fiscal year to any organization for a model program
shall be used to carry out this paragraph;
(5) provide for periodic followup activities con-
ducted, at minimum, during a 6-month period; and
(6) provide teachers with college or university
experience and credits.
(c) DISSEMINATION.—Each recipient of a grant
under this section shall report the results of the model
program to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for
Mathematics and Science Education in an appropriate for-
mat for dissemination.
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for fiscal
year 1996, and such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 2000, to carry out this
section.
(e) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—The Secretary shall
evaluate, and report to the Congress every 2 years (begin-
ning 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act) re-
garding, the activities assisted under this section.
SEC. 4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary may
award grants to each of the ten regional Head Start agen-
cies for the purpose of improving teaching and learning
through sustained and intensive high-quality professional
development activities in science and mathematics at the
region and local agency levels.
(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—
(1) 
REGIONAL
ALLOCATION.—From 
the
amounts appropriated for a fiscal year under sub-
section (f), the Secretary shall allot to each of the
ten regional Head Start agencies an amount that
bears the same ratio to the amount appropriated as
the number of children enrolled in the Head Start
programs administered by the regional agency bears
to the number of children enrolled in all Head Start
programs, as determined by the Secretary on the
basis of the most recent satisfactory data. In making
determinations under this paragraph, the Secretary
shall establish a per child ratio amount.
(2) REALLOCATION.—With respect to the allot-
ment of any regional agency that fails to apply for
an allotment for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall
reallot such amount to the remaining regional agen-
cies in proportion to the original allotment to such
agencies.
(c) WITHIN-REGION ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amounts
received by a regional agency under this section for any
fiscal year—
(1) not less than 90 percent of such amounts
shall be made available for local permissible activi-
ties (hereafter referred to in this Act as ‘‘flow-
through funds’’); and
(2) not to exceed 10 percent of such amounts
may be retained by the regional agency, of which—
(A) not to exceed 3 percent of such
amounts may be used for the administrative
costs of the regional agency; and
(B) the remaining amounts shall be used
to fund or expand exemplary and innovative
science and mathematics professional develop-
ment programs.
(d) LOCAL PLAN AND APPLICATION FOR IMPROVING
MATHEMATICS
AND SCIENCE TEACHING
AND LEARN-
ING.—
(1) LOCAL APPLICATION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A local Head Start
agency that desires to receive a grant under
this section shall prepare and submit to the ap-
propriate regional Head Start agency an appli-
cation (singly or as a consortium) at such time
as the regional agency shall require.
(B) INDICATORS.—As part of an applica-
tion submitted under subparagraph (a), a local
Head Start agency shall establish specific goals
and objectives for improving mathematics and
science teaching and learning through profes-
sional development.
(2) NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—As part of an applica-
tion submitted under paragraph (1), a local
Head Start agency shall include an assessment
of local needs for professional development as
identified by the local Head Start agency and
staff.
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—A needs assessment
to be included in an application under subpara-
graph (A) shall be carried out with the involve-
ment of teachers, and shall take into account
the activities that need to be conducted in order
to give teachers and, where appropriate, admin-
istrators, the means, including the knowledge
and skills, to provide Head Start children with
the opportunity to develop a strong foundation
in mathematics and science.
(3) APPLICATION
CONTENTS.—An application
submitted under this section shall include the plans
of the local Head Start agency for professional de-
velopment that—
(A) focus on teaching and learning in
mathematics and science;
(B) have been developed with the extensive
participation of Head Start teachers, adminis-
trators, staff, and pupil services personnel;
(C) include a time line for the professional
development activities indicating duration and
schedule; and
(D) will be periodically reviewed and re-
vised by the local Head Start agency, as nec-
essary, to reflect changes in the strategies and
programs of the local Head Start agency under
this section.
(e) LOCAL ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND PERMIS-
SIBLE ACTIVITIES.—
(1) AMOUNT OF ALLOCATION.—The maximum
amount of a grant for which a local Head Start
agency may apply under this section shall equal the
product of—
(A) the number of children served by the
local agency; and
(B) the per child ratio amount determined
under subsection (b)(1).
(2) REALLOCATION.—If a local Head Start
agency does not apply for a grant prior to the grant
allocation deadline that is established by the regional
Head Start agency involved, the regional agency
shall reallocate the amount that any such local agen-
cy would have received to the remaining local agen-
cies in proportion to their original grant allocations.
(3) LOCAL
ALLOCATION
OF
FUNDS.—A local
Head Start agency that receives a grant under this
section for any fiscal year—
(A) shall use not less than 70 percent of
the amount received under such grant for the
professional development of teachers, and,
where appropriate, administrators, and, where
appropriate, pupil services personnel, parents,
and other staff of individual schools to pay for
direct program costs to include—
(i) stipends;
(ii) tuition, registrations, and fees;
(iii) related travel, food, and lodging;
(iv) child care; and
(v) training supplies, books, and ma-
terials; and
(B) may use not to exceed 30 percent of
the amount received under such grant for math-
ematics and science classroom supplies, equip-
ment, and materials.
(4) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A local Head Start
agency that receives a grant under this section
shall use amounts received under such grant for
activities that give Head Start teachers and ad-
ministrators the knowledge and skills to provide
children with the opportunity to develop a
strong foundation in mathematics and science.
(B) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVI-
TIES.—Professional development activities fund-
ed under this section shall—
(i) take into account recent research
on the teaching and learning of mathe-
matics and science;
(ii) provide professional development
that incorporates effective strategies, tech-
niques, methods, and practices for meeting
the educational needs of diverse groups of
students, including females, minorities,
children with disabilities, limited English
proficient children, and economically dis-
advantaged children;
(iii) include preparation for future
mathematics and science content and peda-
gogical components; and
(iv) be of sufficient intensity and du-
ration to have a positive and lasting im-
pact on the Head Start teacher’s perform-
ance in the classroom.
(C) ACTIVITIES.—Amounts received under
a grant under this section may be used for pro-
fessional development activities such as—
(i) professional development for teams
of teachers, and, where appropriate, ad-
ministrators, pupil services personnel, or
other staff, to support the teaching of
mathematics and science using devel-
opmentally appropriate activities;
(ii) to enable Head Start teachers and
appropriate staff to participate in profes-
sional development in mathematics and
science programs that are offered through
professional associations, universities, com-
munity-based organizations, and other pro-
viders, such as educational partnership or-
ganizations, science centers, and museums,
including financial support and time off;
(iii) activities that provide follow up
for teachers who have participated in pro-
fessional development activities that are
designed to ensure that the knowledge and
skills learned by the teacher are imple-
mented in the classroom;
(iv) support for partnerships between
Head Start agencies, consortia of agencies,
and institutions of higher education, in-
cluding schools of education, which shall
encourage teachers to participate in inten-
sive, ongoing mathematics and science pro-
grams, both academic and pedagogical, at
institutions of higher education;
(v) the establishment and mainte-
nance of local professional networks that
provide a forum for interaction among
teachers and that allow exchange of infor-
mation on advances in mathematics and
science content and teaching pedagogy;
(vi) professional development to en-
able teachers, and, where appropriate,
pupil services personnel and other school
staff, to ensure that females, minorities,
limited English proficient children, chil-
dren with disabilities, and the economically
disadvantaged have full opportunity to de-
velop a strong foundation in mathematics
and science;
(vii) preparing teachers, and, where
appropriate, pupil services personnel to
work with parents and families on foster-
ing student achievement in mathematics
and science;
(viii) professional development activi-
ties and other support for new teachers as
such teachers move into the Head Start
classroom to provide practical support and
to increase mathematics and science con-
tent and teaching pedagogy for such teach-
ers;
(ix) 
professional 
development 
for
teachers, parents, early childhood edu-
cators, administrators, and other staff to
support activities and services related to
preschool transition programs to raise stu-
dent performance in mathematics and
science; and
(2) LOCAL HEAD START AGENCIES.—Not later
than 3 months after the conclusion of the grant pe-
riod, the local Head Start agency that receives the
grant under this section shall prepare and submit to
the appropriate regional Head Start agency a report
concerning the progress of such local agency toward
meeting the goals and objectives identified in the
local application and plan of such local agency, as
well as concerning the effectiveness of the activities
of the agency under this section.
(3) FEDERAL EVALUATION.—Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President
and the appropriate committees of Congress a report
concerning the effectiveness of the programs and ac-
tivities conducted under this section.
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