IB
Union Calendar No. 76
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1858
[Report No. 107–134, Part I]
To make improvements in mathematics and science education, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 16, 2001
Mr. BOEHLERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned
JULY 11, 2001
Additional sponsors: Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Ms. EDDIE
BERNICE
JOHNSON
of Texas, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. GORDON, Mrs.
MORELLA, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr.
CALVERT, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. UDALL of
Colorado, Mr. GUTKNECHT, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. BACA,
Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. ISRAEL,
Mr. GRUCCI, Mr. HONDA, and Ms. HART
JULY 11, 2001
Reported from the Committee on Science with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
JULY 11, 2001
Referral to the Committee on Education and the Workforce extended for a
period ending not later than July 11, 2001
JULY 11, 2001
The Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered
to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 16, 2001]
A BILL
To make improvements in mathematics and science
education, 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 ‘‘National Mathematics
and Science Partnerships Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) 12 years ago the President of the United
States convened the Nation’s Governors to establish
common goals for the improvement of elementary and
secondary education.
(2) Among the National Education Goals estab-
lished was the goal that by the year 2000 United
States students would be first in the world in mathe-
matics and science achievement.
(3) Despite these goals, 8th graders in the United
States showed just average performance in mathe-
matics and science in the Third International Mathe-
matics and Science Study-Repeat and demonstrated
lower relative performance than the cohort of 4th
graders 4 years earlier.
(4) The United States must redouble its efforts to
provide all of its students with a world-class edu-
cation in mathematics, science, engineering, and tech-
nology.
(5) The American economy has become the most
robust in the world, not through state planning and
government intervention, but through the hard work
and innovation of its citizens. This success is founded
in our Constitutional tradition of respect for indi-
vidual liberty to pursue personal career objectives.
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 such term in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
(3) the term ‘‘eligible nonprofit organization’’
means a nonprofit research institute or a nonprofit
professional association with demonstrated experience
delivering mathematics or science education as deter-
mined by the Director;
(4) the term ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the
meaning given such term in section 1401 of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801);
(5) the term ‘‘State educational agency’’ has the
meaning given such term in section 1401 of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801);
(6) the term ‘‘elementary school’’ has the mean-
ing given that term by section 14101(14) of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801(14)); and
(7) the term ‘‘secondary school’’ has the meaning
given that term by section 14101(25) of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 8801(25)).
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Any authorization of appropriations in this Act shall
be considered to be in addition to amounts otherwise au-
thorized or appropriated for the National Science Founda-
tion.
SEC. 5. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.
The Director may establish matching fund require-
ments for any programs authorized by this Act except those
established in title IV.
TITLE 
I—MATHEMATICS 
AND
SCIENCE EDUCATION PART-
NERSHIPS
Subtitle A—Mathematics and
Science Education Partnerships
SEC. 101. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Director shall establish a
program to award grants to institutions of higher education
or eligible nonprofit organizations (or consortia thereof) to
establish mathematics and science education partnership
programs to improve the instruction of elementary and sec-
ondary science education.
(2) Grants shall be awarded under this section on a
merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—(1) In order to be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, an institution of higher
education or eligible nonprofit organization (or consortium
thereof) shall enter into a partnership with one or more
local educational agencies that may also include a State
educational agency or one or more businesses, or both.
(2) A participating institution of higher education
shall include mathematics, science, or engineering depart-
ments in the programs carried out through a partnership
under this subsection.
(6) developing assessment tools to measure stu-
dent mastery of content and cognitive skills;
(7) developing or adapting elementary and sec-
ondary school curricular materials, aligned to State
standards, that incorporate contemporary research on
the science of learning;
(8) developing undergraduate mathematics and
science courses for education majors;
(9) using mathematicians, scientists, and engi-
neers employed by private businesses to help recruit
and train mathematics and science teachers;
(10) developing a cadre of master teachers who
will promote reform and improvement in schools;
(11) developing and offering mathematics or
science enrichment programs for students, including
after-school and summer programs;
(12) providing research opportunities in business
or academia for students and teachers;
(13) bringing mathematicians, scientists and en-
gineers from business and academia into elementary
and secondary school classrooms; and
(14) any other activities the Director determines
will accomplish the goals of this section.
(d) SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR GIRLS.—
Activities carried out in accordance with subsections (c)(11)
and (12) shall include elementary and secondary school pro-
grams to encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science,
mathematics, engineering and technology and to prepare
girls to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and ca-
reers in science, mathematics, engineering or technology.
Funds made available through awards to partnerships for
the purposes of this subsection may support programs for—
(1) encouraging girls to pursue studies in
science, mathematics, engineering and technology and
to major in such fields in postsecondary education;
(2) tutoring girls in science, mathematics, engi-
neering and technology;
(3) providing mentors for girls in person and
through the Internet to support such girls in pursuing
studies in science, mathematics, engineering and tech-
nology;
(4) educating the parents of girls about the dif-
ficulties faced by girls to maintain an interest and
desire to achieve in science, mathematics, engineering
and technology, and enlisting the help of parents in
overcoming these difficulties; and
(5) acquainting girls with careers in science,
mathematics, engineering and technology and encour-
aging girls to plan for careers in such fields.
(e) RESEARCH IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.—Activities
carried out in accordance with subsection (c)(11) may in-
clude support for research projects performed by students
at secondary schools. Uses of funds made available through
awards to partnerships for purposes of this subsection may
include—
(1) training secondary school mathematics and
science teachers in the design of research projects for
students;
(2) establishing a system for students and teach-
ers involved in research projects funded under this
section to exchange information about their projects
and research results; and
(3) assessing the educational value of the student
research projects by such means as tracking the aca-
demic performance and choice of academic majors of
students conducting research.
(f) STIPENDS.—Grants awarded under this section
may be used to provide stipends for teachers or students
participating in training or research activities that would
not be part of their typical classroom activities.
SEC. 102. SELECTION PROCESS.
(a) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher education
or an eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium
thereof) seeking funding under section 101 shall submit an
application to the Director at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Director may re-
quire. The application shall include, at a minimum—
(1) a description of the partnership and the role
that each member will play in implementing the pro-
posal;
(2) a description of each of the activities to be
carried out, including—
(A) how such activities will be aligned with
State and local standards and with other activi-
ties that promote student achievement in mathe-
matics and science; and
(B) how such activities will be based on a
review of relevant research, how such activities
will encourage the interest of women and mi-
norities in science, mathematics, engineering and
technology and will help prepare women and mi-
norities to pursue postsecondary studies in these
fields, and why such activities are expected to
improve student performance and strengthen the
quality of mathematics and science instruction;
(3) a description of the number, size and nature
of any stipends that will be provided to students or
teachers and the reasons such stipends are needed;
(4) how the partnership will serve as a catalyst
for reform of mathematics and science education pro-
grams; and
(5) how the partnership will assess its success.
(b) REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.—In evaluating the ap-
plications submitted under subsection (a), the Director shall
consider, at a minimum—
(1) the ability of the partnership to effectively
carry out the proposed programs;
(2) the extent to which the members of the part-
nership are committed to making the partnership a
central organizational focus;
(3) the degree to which activities carried out by
the partnership are based on relevant research and
likely to result in increased student achievement;
(4) the degree to which such activities are
aligned with State or local standards; and
(5) the likelihood that the partnership will dem-
onstrate activities that can be widely implemented as
part of larger scale reform efforts.
(c) AWARDS.—(1) The Director shall ensure, to the ex-
tent practicable, that partnership grants be awarded under
section 101 in a wide range of geographic areas and that
the partnership program include rural, suburban, and
urban local educational agencies.
(2) Not less than 50 percent of the partnerships funded
under section 101 shall include businesses.
(3) The Director shall award grants under this subtitle
for a period not to exceed 5 years.
SEC. 103. ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.
(a) ASSESSMENT
REQUIRED.—The Director shall
evaluate the partnerships program established under section
101. At a minimum, such evaluations shall—
(1) use a common set of benchmarks and assess-
ment tools to identify best practices and materials de-
veloped and demonstrated by the partnerships; and
(2) to the extent practicable, compare the effec-
tiveness of practices and materials developed and
demonstrated by the partnerships authorized under
this subtitle with those of partnerships funded by
other State or Federal agencies.
(b) DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS.—(1) The results of
the evaluations required under subsection (a) shall be made
available to the public, including through the National
Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Edu-
cation Digital Library, and shall be provided to the Com-
mittee on Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate.