Date: 1998-03-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I think my colleague has pointed out a problem. and I think there is at least one other. There are 346.000 unfilled information technology jobs nationwide. And one of the problems is that the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. called the TIMSS. shows that American high school seniors rank near the bottom in math and science education when compared to their international counterparts. I am attempting to find a solution. so I have introduced House Resolution 3496 that was heard in committee today. the Information Technology Partnership Act. which creates an additional grant program through the National Science Foundation and the Urban Systemic Initiative Program. The Urban Systemic Initiative Program focuses primarily on math and science by using mentor teachers to help educators introduce an innovative and engaging math and science curriculum to K through 12 students in the inner city. The IT Partnership. that is. the information technology partnership grant is aimed at improving scientific and mathematical literacy of all students in urban communities while fostering a students career in the information technology field. This partnership consists of local education agencies and local businesses investing in the educational development of the youth in their districts. Specialized curricula and scholarships would assist students in filling future information technology jobs. My district is driven by technology. and so we see firsthand not having enough people trained in thIs country. And. yes. people are being brought in and information is being developed outside this country. but not because of trade and not because of avoiding any other type of barrier. It is simply because we do not have them available right now. So specifically. the IT Partnership Grant focuses on math and science curricula for students in grades 10 through 12 and offers internships and scholarship opportunity for students majoring in fields relating to information technology. Under this program. eligibility for the IT Partnership Grant is limited to the cities with the largest number of school age children. ages 5 to 17. living in economic poverty as determined by the 1990 census. The following cities are eligible for this grant: Atlanta. Baltimore. Bayamo. Boston. Chicago. Cincinnati. Cleveland. . Columbus. Ohio. Dallas. Texas. Detroit. El Paso. Fresno. Houston. Indianapolis. Jacksonville. Los Angeles. Memphis. Miami. Milwaukee. New Orleans. New York City. Phoenix. Philadelphia. Ponce. San Antonio. San Diego. San Juan. and St. Louis. The grant awards five local education agencies $300.000 to develop . math. science. and technology curricula for grades 10 through 12 and to train teachers in technology. That is a problem we have throughout this Nation. In order for the local education agencies to win this grant. they must enter into a partnership with businesses in their community. These businesses would commit to provide to the local education agencies a minimum of at least internships. scholarships. and nientoring programs and- computer products. Local businesses would promise the local education agencies scholarship money. which would be awarded to high school seniors. You see. because these businesses have a stake. their future depends on having qualifled people to do the job. and seniors who would be majoring in these fields associated with information technology. that is. math. computer science. and engineering at 2- and 4year colleges. The partnership between the local education agencies and local business sponsors would determine the amount and the number of scholarships given. It is important to note that the local education agencies will have direct responsibility for overseeing the program. and the National Science Foundations role is limited to determining which 5 cities meet the criteria for eligibility. We would like to award them all. but are trying to think about staying in the budget even though we are not doing what we should for education if we are going to have a cuttingedge Nation in the future. The National Science Foundation director will award the IT Partnership Grants to 5 cities with the best package of business sponsorship and curricular development. In addition. priority will be given to those local education agencies that grant scholarships to students who are first generation college students. I hope. Mr. Speaker. that we can get up support for this legislation. Because there are companies. and I have many in my district. that are screaming out for these people to be qualified so they can give them jobs.