The America COMPETES Act, a bill enacted in 2007 and reauthorized in 2010, is again up for reauthorization. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, interested in working with the science policy community, released a draft version of the bill and requested feedback from scientific societies, universities, and corporations. AIP convened with AAPT, AAS, APS, and OSA to discuss the implications this legislation would have on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. These societies have formed the Physical Sciences Education Policy Coalition, a group aimed at advocating for physics education within the broad STEM landscape and helping to shape legislation on Capitol Hill, including the COMPETES Act. STEM teacher training and professional development are among many issues of interest to the coalition. The group was able to work with the Senate Commerce Committee to promote the use of evidence-based research, content, and tools, such as physics education research, in teacher training and professional development programs. The physics societies noted the bill’s support and expansion of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, which provides funding for undergraduate and graduate students interested in becoming K-12 STEM teachers. The coalition was also pleased at the bill’s inclusion of other federal STEM programs aimed at increasing access to informal STEM education programs and broadening participation.
In addition to authorizing STEM programs at the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, NASA, and other federal science agencies, the Senate COMPETES Act also includes provisions regarding innovation and federal employees who wish to attend scientific conferences. Additionally, it establishes science agency policy for family caregivers and reauthorizes federal programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy. FYIs on the bill and the hearing provide further information.
