The NSF Reauthorization bill (H.R. 4664) just passed by Congress contains
a number of provisions dealing with science, math, engineering and technology
(SMET) education, both at the K-12 and at the undergraduate level. The
bill authorizes, within NSF, a program of Mathematics and Science Education
Partnerships to improve K-12 science and math education, as well as
a Noyce Scholarship program to encourage SMET majors to pursue teaching
careers, a Talent Expansion program to encourage college students to
pursue SMET careers, Centers for Research on Learning and Education
Improvement, and other programs to improve secondary and undergraduate
SMET instruction. While an earlier version of the bill attempted to
terminate the Education Department's Math and Science Partnership program
and consolidate all such partnerships within NSF (see FYI
#105), the final version of the bill preserves the separate partnership
programs within NSF and the Education Department.
Keep in mind that, as pointed out in FYI
#129, an authorization bill approves programs and sets funding limits,
but does not provide the actual money. When available, the authorization
levels are given below, along with highlights from the bill authorizing
specific education programs. (The bill does not include language on
all of NSF's pre-existing education programs.)
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS: The NSF Director
is authorized to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants to institutions
of higher education, eligible nonprofit organizations, or consortia
thereof, working with science, math or engineering departments, at least
one local educational agency, and possibly businesses and a State educational
agency, "to establish mathematics and science education partnership
programs to improve elementary and secondary mathematics and science
instruction." Approved programs and activities include those to
recruit, prepare and retain K-12 science and math teachers; teacher
professional development and research opportunities; distance learning
programs; Master teacher programs; and alternative certification programs
for SMET professionals. Activities should be based on contemporary educational
research and aligned with State academic achievement standards. The
Director should "give priority to applications in which the partnership
includes a high-need local educational agency." The Director, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education, is directed to report
annually on how this program is being coordinated with the Math and
Science Partnership program within the Education Department. The bill
authorizes the Math and Science Partnerships at the following levels:
FY03: $200 million; FY04: $300 million; FY05: $400 million.
ROBERT NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: In this program, competitive,
merit-reviewed grants would be awarded to institutions of higher education
or consortia thereof, to provide scholarships, stipends, and other programs
to students majoring in science, math or engineering, to encourage them
to pursue careers in K-12 science and math teaching. Institutions may
continue aid and support to stipend recipients after they have received
their degrees. Within six years after graduation, recipients are required
to complete a two-year service obligation, as a science or math teacher
in a high-need local education agency, for each year of the scholarship
or stipend. The bill authorizes the Noyce Scholarships at the following
levels: FY03: $20 million; FY04: $20 million; FY05: $20 million.
SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY TALENT EXPANSION
PROGRAM: This program would award "competitive, merit-based,
multi-year grants" to higher education institutions or consortia
"to increase the number of students studying toward and completing
associate's or bachelor's degrees" in SMET fields, "particularly
in fields that have faced declining enrollment in recent years."
Projects can promote such activities as undergraduate-conducted research;
interdisciplinary teaching; mentor relationships for students; bridge
programs for community college students; internship partnerships with
industry; or innovative uses of digital technologies. Applicants are
expected to "establish targets to increase the number of students"
pursuing SMET degrees. The Talent Expansion Program is authorized at
the following levels: FY03: $25 million; FY04: $30 million; FY05:
$35 million.
CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT:
The bill authorizes competitive, merit-reviewed grants to institutions
of higher education or consortia, to establish multidisciplinary centers
"to conduct and evaluate research in cognitive science, education,
and related fields and to develop ways in which the results of such
research can be applied in elementary school and secondary school classrooms
to improve the teaching of mathematics and science."
SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEMIC INITIATIVE: This program would award
competitive, merit-based grants for State or local educational agencies
to support "the planning and implementation of agency-wide secondary
school reform initiatives designed to promote scientific and technological
literacy, meet the mathematics and science education needs of students
at risk of not achieving State student academic achievement standards,
reduce the need for basic skill training by employers, and heighten
college completion rates" through a number of approved activities.
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION REFORM: The NSF Director is authorized
to award competitive, merit-based grants "to institutions of higher
education to expand previously implemented reforms of undergraduate
science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education that have
been demonstrated to have been successful in increasing the number and
quality of students studying toward and completing associate's or baccalaureate
degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology."
MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM: The NSF
Director "is authorized to establish a new program to award grants
on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to Hispanic-serving institutions,
Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions,
and other institutions of higher education serving a substantial number
of minority students to enhance the quality of undergraduate science,
mathematics, and engineering education at such institutions and to increase
the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing associate's
or baccalaureate degrees" in SMET fields.
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