Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 - Requires the President to establish, in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (STEM education) within the National Science and Technology Council.
Establishes an Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education in the Department of Education, to be administered by an Assistant Secretary. Requires the Assistant Secretary to conduct an annual evaluation of the STEM education programs administered by the department.
Requires the Secretary of Education to award a grant to establish a voluntary State Consortium on STEM Education and a grant to the National Science Digital Library to establish a National STEM Education Research Repository.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 3047 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3047
To provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2008
Mr. Reid (for Mr. Obama (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Sanders, and Mr.
Brown)) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Enhancing Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to coordinate Federal science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics education efforts and foster
cooperation between the States and Federal Government by--
(1) improving coherence of Federal STEM education programs
through the President's Office of Science and Technology
Policy;
(2) coordinating STEM education initiatives at the
Department of Education;
(3) providing an incentive to States to align STEM
education; and
(4) improving the dissemination of STEM education research,
promising practices, and exemplary programs through the
National STEM Education Research Repository.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) To preserve the competitiveness of the United States in
the global economy our Nation must continue to combine
innovation with technological advances and scientific
discovery.
(2) In 2006, the Committee on Science, Engineering, and
Public Policy of the National Academies published ``Rising
Above the Gathering Storm'' estimating that in the United
States innovations generated by STEM fields account for more
than half of the growth in gross domestic product (GDP).
(3) According to the analysis conducted by the Association
of American Universities in 2006, only 15 percent of college
graduates receive a diploma in engineering or the natural
sciences in the United States as compared with 38 percent in
South Korea, 47 percent in France, and 67 percent in Singapore.
(4) Every student deserves the opportunity to contribute to
the long-term prosperity of the United States by acquiring
skills that foster critical thinking, inventiveness, and
innovation.
(5) Highly qualified teachers are crucial to instilling
students with the values and skills necessary to preserve and
improve innovation in the United States and maintain our
Nation's leadership in the global knowledge economy.
(6) Teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher
education will enhance the preparation they provide by
incorporating promising practices and exemplary programs that
foster student learning, problem solving skills, and
inventiveness and by aligning STEM education preservice and in-
service training among States.
(7) Women and minorities in the United States are not
employed in STEM occupations in proportion to their numbers in
the population or their enrollment in higher education; efforts
must be made to increase diversity in the STEM workforce to
improve the range of viewpoints and solutions available to
address challenges presented by a diverse and global
marketplace.
(8) Many of the Federal agencies have well established
programs designed to support and improve STEM education
including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense,
Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of
Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior, National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, the
National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology.
(9) According to the Academic Competitiveness Council's
(ACC) recent report, in 2006 the United States sponsored 105
STEM education programs at a dozen different Federal agencies.
These programs devoted approximately $3,120,000,000 to STEM
education activities spanning kindergarten through postgraduate
education and outreach. It was shown that many of these Federal
agencies do not share information or work collaboratively on
similar programs. The ACC found that ``coordination among
agencies could be improved to avoid, for example, grants to
numerous projects that support the same sorts of interventions
. . . there appears to be a lack of communication among the
agencies about the work they are funding and the results that
are being generated . . . agencies are often uninformed by the
results of earlier projects.''.
(10) Strengthening partnerships between the Federal and
State governments, the private sector, nonprofit organizations,
and the education community will improve STEM education in our
Nation's schools.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Federal agencies.--The term ``Federal agencies''
means--
(A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(B) the Department of Agriculture;
(C) the Department of Commerce;
(D) the Department of Defense;
(E) the Department of Education;
(F) the Department of Energy;
(G) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(H) the Department of Labor;
(I) the Department of the Interior;
(J) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(K) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(L) the National Science Foundation;
(M) the National Institutes of Health;
(N) the National Institute of Standards and
Technology; and
(O) other agencies of the Federal Government that
administer or provide funding for STEM education
programs.
(2) NSERR.--The term ``NSERR'' means the National STEM
Education Research Repository established under section 8.
(3) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.
(a) Establishment of Committee.--The President shall establish a
Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Education within the National Science and Technology Council, which may
be referred to as the ``Committee on STEM Education''.
(b) Function.--
(1) In general.--The function of the Committee on STEM
Education shall be to coordinate the efforts of the Federal
agencies that relate to STEM education from the prekindergarten
level through the graduate level to avoid unnecessary
duplication and ensure coherence among Federal STEM education
programs.
(2) Increasing participation of minorities, persons with
disabilities, and women.--The Committee on STEM Education shall
seek to improve the quality and quantity of the STEM workforce
with consideration of increasing participation of individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering
Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(3) Coordination.--The President shall ensure that all
efforts to coordinate the efforts of the Federal agencies that
relate to STEM education are coordinated through the Committee
on STEM Education.
(c) Structure and Operation.--
(1) Membership.--The membership of the Committee on STEM
Education--
(A) shall include not less than 1 representative
from each of the Federal agencies; and
(B) may include outside experts.
(2) Meetings.--The Committee on STEM Education shall
convene not less often than quarterly.
(3) Staff.--The Committee on STEM Education shall be served
by--
(A) an Assistant Director selected by the members
of the Committee with the approval of the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
(B) a professional staff of not less than 2
individuals.
(d) Responsibilities.--The Committee on STEM Education shall have
the following responsibilities:
(1) Conducting an ongoing inventory and assessment of the
effectiveness and coherence of efforts within Federal agencies
that relate to STEM education.
(2) Coordinating and facilitating the communication and
cooperation among all Federal agencies engaged in efforts that
relate to STEM education.
(3) Developing annual goals and objectives for improving
STEM education throughout the Nation in collaboration with
relevant organizations.
(4) Not later than 30 days after developing the goals and
objectives under paragraph (3)--
(A) disseminating the goals and objectives to each
Federal agency engaged in efforts that relate to STEM
education;
(B) communicating the goals and objectives to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Science and Technology of the
House of Representatives, and relevant STEM education
organizations; and
(C) making the goals and objectives widely
available to the public, particularly to stakeholders
that represent individuals identified in section 33 or
34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(5) Annually evaluating the progress and success of each
Federal agency at achieving the goals and objectives under
paragraph (3).
(6) Consulting with the State Consortium on STEM Education
when developing Federal STEM education policy and budgets.
(7) Proposing a coordinated interagency budget for STEM
Education to the Office of Management and Budget aligned with
the goals developed under paragraph (3).
(8) Strengthening partnerships between the STEM education
community, Federal, State, and local governments, and other
countries.
(9) Implementing the program for Semiannual Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Days as set forth in
section 1004 of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-69).
(10) Hosting an annual meeting on the status of STEM
education, including the role of education in meeting the
recommendations of the report submitted by the National Science
and Technology Summit in section 1001 of the America COMPETES
Act (Public Law 110-69) in conjunction with--
(A) the State Consortium on STEM Education;
(B) the Federal agencies;
(C) States, including the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the
United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory
or possession of the United States;
(D) businesses and industries;
(E) institutions of higher education;
(F) STEM education professions and teachers from
prekindergarten through postbaccalaureate study; and
(G) other relevant stakeholders in STEM education,
including stakeholders that represent individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b).
(11) Issuing a biennial report to the Nation on the status
of STEM education that--
(A) specifies the efforts and outcomes of each
Federal agency in improving STEM education; and
(B) contains an analysis of the quality, scale, and
effectiveness of the efforts of the Federal Government
relating to improving STEM education and increasing
participation of individuals identified in section 33
or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(12) Developing, in consultation with the Secretary of
Labor, business and industry partners and other appropriate
entities, a 5-year projection of the STEM workforce, including
a demographic breakdown of individuals identified in section 33
or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act
(42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(e) Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), but
notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person shall not
be eligible to receive a grant from any Federal agency for a
project that relates to STEM education research unless the
person demonstrates that all reports, proceedings, data sets,
online modules, and other products of the project will be
submitted by their authors for consideration to be included in
the NSERR.
(2) Copyright.--The Committee on STEM Education and the
NSERR shall implement the public access policy under paragraph
(1) in a manner consistent with copyright law.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $650,000 for fiscal year 2009
and each of the succeeding fiscal years.
SEC. 6. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
(a) Assistant Secretary.--Section 202(b)(1) of the Department of
Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) an Assistant Secretary for Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (who
may be referred to as the Assistant Secretary for STEM
Education); and''.
(b) Office.--Title II of the Department of Education Organization
Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 221. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Department an Office of
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (which may
be referred to as the `Office of STEM Education'), to be administered
by the Assistant Secretary for STEM Education appointed under section
202(b).
``(b) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary for STEM
Education, acting through the Office of STEM Education, shall have the
following responsibilities:
``(1) Coordinating and overseeing all science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as
`STEM') education efforts within the Department.
``(2) Preparing the annual budget for all STEM education
programs within the Department.
``(3) Managing the following programs: Math and Science
Partnerships, Math Now, Math Skills for Secondary Students,
Minority Science and Engineering Improvement, Teachers for a
Competitive Tomorrow, and all other programs of the Department
with a focus on STEM education, including, where appropriate,
the National Science and Mathematics Access Retain Talent
(SMART grants) program, the Teacher Education Assistance for
College and Higher Education (TEACH grants) program, and the
Academic Competitiveness grants program.
``(4) Consulting with other offices within the Department
that have a STEM education focus, including those managing the
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grants.
``(5) Representing the Department as the principal
interagency liaison on the Committee on STEM Education within
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, established under
section 5 of the Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Education Act of 2008, unless otherwise
designated by the Assistant Secretary for STEM Education.
``(6) Ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for
every individual so as to increase, to the maximum extent
possible, the participation and advancement of individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering
Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in the STEM
disciplines.
``(7) Promoting the development and implementation of
quality, scientifically-valid STEM teacher preparation and
teacher professional development, and to provide technical
assistance to support STEM learning.
``(8) Providing support to institutions of higher education
and other institutions and organizations with effective
informal STEM education programs to improve teacher preparation
and teacher professional development by ensuring emphasis on
promising practices and exemplary programs in STEM education.
``(9) Providing support to local educational agencies or to
mathematics and science partnerships involving local
educational agencies, to implement effective STEM education
instruction and exemplary programs that employ promising
practices.
``(10) Consulting regularly with the State Consortium on
STEM Education with regard to developing STEM education policy
and providing technical support.
``(11) Conducting a biennial symposium with invited
stakeholders emphasizing engaging students that are identified
in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in STEM
disciplines, including--
``(A) expert STEM teachers;
``(B) the State Consortium on STEM Education and
additional States;
``(C) business and industry partners;
``(D) institutions of higher education;
``(E) institutions and organizations with an
informal STEM education focus; and
``(F) Federal agencies with STEM education
programs.
``(12) Providing periodic public statements on the status
of STEM education in the Nation.
``(13) Informing the Secretary, policymakers, the
professional societies of STEM teaching professionals, and STEM
practitioners about the effectiveness of STEM-related education
research and programs operated within the Department.
``(14) Sharing scientifically-valid education research and
promising practices and exemplary programs with the National
STEM Education Research Repository.''.
(c) Evaluation and Report.--The Assistant Secretary for STEM
Education shall conduct an annual independent evaluation, through grant
or by contract, of the STEM education programs administered by the
Department of Education, which shall include--
(1) conducting an assessment of STEM education activities
within the Department of Education by using the annual
evaluations and reports of the programs to determine the
programs' impact on--
(A) the quantity of students seeking STEM degrees,
disaggregated by subject area and individuals
identified under section 33 or 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b);
(B) student academic achievement with consideration
of problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration,
and other higher order thinking skills;
(C) improving STEM teacher quality, quantity, and
retention; and
(D) improving promising teaching practices that
show evidence of fostering student innovation; and
(2) the preparation and submission of an annual report on
the results of the assessment described in paragraph (1) to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate, the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the
House of Representatives, the Committee on Education and Labor
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2009
and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 7. STATE CONSORTIUM ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM
Education, shall award a grant to establish 1 voluntary State
Consortium on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Education, which may be referred to as the ``State Consortium on STEM
Education''.
(b) Eligibility Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, the consortium shall include not less than 5 States
representing not less than 5 of the 9 regional divisions of the United
States, according to the regional divisions used by the Bureau of the
Census.
(c) Peer Review and Selection of Grant Recipient.--The Secretary of
Education shall--
(1) establish a peer-review process to assist in the review
and approval of a grant proposal submitted under this section;
(2) appoint individuals to participate in the peer-review
process who are educators and experts in identifying,
evaluating, and implementing effective STEM education programs
and practices, including areas of teaching and learning,
educational standards and assessments, professional
development, curriculum, and increasing the participation of
individuals identified under section 33 or 34 of the Science
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b), English language learners, and students with
disabilities, including recognized exemplary teachers and
school administrators who have been recognized at the national
or State level for exemplary work or contributions to the STEM
education field;
(3) approve 1 grant from the proposals submitted under this
section not later than 120 days after the deadline for
submission and acceptance of the proposals, as determined by
the Secretary, unless the Secretary determines that none of the
grant proposals submitted meet the requirements of this
section;
(4) if only 1 grant proposal is submitted pursuant to this
section, not decline to approve the grant proposal before--
(A) offering the applicant an opportunity to revise
the proposal of the applicant if the proposal does not
meet the requirements of this section; and
(B) providing the applicant with technical
assistance in order to submit a successful proposal;
and
(5) direct the Inspector General of the Department of
Education to--
(A) review--
(i) the process used for screening the
individuals appointed to the peer-review
process under this section to avoid both
financial conflicts of interest and non-
financial interests that would impair
objectivity in peer review; and
(ii) the objectivity of the process used in
reviewing and awarding the grant under this
section; and
(B) report the findings of the review under
subparagraph (A) to Congress.
(d) Amount of Grant.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2),
the grant awarded to the consortium under this section shall be
not more than $20,000,000.
(2) Additional funds.--For each fiscal year of the grant
period, the Secretary of Education shall award to the
consortium awarded a grant under this section $2,000,000 for
each additional State that is a member of the consortium beyond
the minimum 5 States required under subsection (b).
(e) Use of Grant Funds.--The consortium shall use the grant funds
awarded under this section for the following purposes:
(1) To establish the State Consortium on STEM Education.
(2) To convene an Interstate Council on Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, which may
be referred to as the ``Interstate Council on STEM Education'',
that includes a diverse group of individuals representing a
variety of perspectives on STEM education, the STEM
disciplines, business, curriculum, assessments, English
language learners, and special education, including the
following:
(A) Representatives from States that shall include
not less 1 State Governor, 1 Chief State School
Officer, and 1 representative of a State educational
agency or such agency's designee.
(B) Representatives from local educational agencies
that shall include not less than 1 current school
administrator, and 3 expert STEM educators that
represent early childhood, elementary, middle, and
secondary school perspectives.
(C) Not less than 4 representatives from STEM
education and the STEM fields at institutions of higher
education that include community colleges, and public
and private 4-year institutions of higher education.
(D) Not less than 1 representative from a STEM
education professional organization, such as the
National Science Teachers Association, the National
Council for Teachers of Mathematics, or those
representing career and technical education
organizations that represent underrepresented
communities in STEM.
(E) Not less than 1 representative from each of the
following categories of relevant STEM related
organizations:
(i) Informal STEM education.
(ii) Business and industry.
(iii) A STEM disciplinary or professional
society.
(iv) A private or corporate foundation.
(v) Other relevant organizations.
(3) To support not less than 1 full-time staff member for
each State.
(4) To share STEM education research, promising practices
and exemplary programs, and programs through the NSERR.
(f) Functions.--The State Consortium on STEM Education--
(1) shall--
(A) establish small working groups comprised of
members of the State Council on STEM Education and
outside experts in appropriate fields consulting widely
to address the functions outlined in this subsection;
(B) identify points of weakness and strength in the
STEM education efforts, prioritize strategies for
addressing problem areas, and communicate State needs
to the Committee on STEM Education and the Assistant
Secretary for STEM Education;
(C) develop rigorous common content standards in
STEM education for prekindergarten through grade 12
reflecting common elements between disciplines with
consideration of--
(i) established international standards and
21st century skills; and
(ii) the needs of English language learners
and special education students;
(D) develop and implement strategies to integrate
STEM education into other subject areas, such as
language arts, social studies, physical and health
education, music and other performing arts, and
environmental education;
(E) develop innovative STEM assessment practices
that include a substantial proportion of extended
constructed response items, such as performance-based
measures, that measure higher order thinking skills and
understanding, application and transferability
knowledge, problemsolving, analysis, and synthesis, and
include administration through a variety of modalities,
such as audio-visual and interactive technology;
(F) develop strategies to increase the
participation and success of individuals identified in
section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in STEM
fields with consideration of first generation students;
(G) identify and utilize, to the maximum extent
possible, the expertise and resources of educators,
institutions of higher education, business and
industry, and Federal agencies in the development and
implementation of functions outlined in this
subsection;
(H) issue periodic reports on the status of STEM
education in the States; and
(I) make STEM education research, promising
practices and exemplary programs, and effective STEM
programs widely available through the NSERR; and
(2) may--
(A) establish and strengthen partnerships between
2-year institutions of higher education and minority
serving institutions and research institutions to
provide STEM students at 2-year institutions of higher
education and minority serving institutions expanded
degree possibilities and opportunities to access
research facilities and mentors, including--
(i) conducting a needs assessment of how to
enhance the flow of STEM students from 2-year
institutions of higher education and minority
serving institutions to research institutions;
and
(ii) establishing articulation agreements
that shall address pathways and credit
transfers between the institutions;
(B) improve and align STEM preservice teacher
training among the member States, including developing
common--
(i) STEM preservice teacher training degree
programs;
(ii) STEM teacher credentials; and
(iii) alternative pathways to STEM teacher
certification;
(C) promote and develop curriculum tools and
professional development for in-service teachers that
foster innovation and inventiveness;
(D) evaluate the impact that STEM education
professional development organizations have on
classroom instruction and student learning in member
States;
(E) provide technical support to States that are
members of the Consortium to establish or strengthen
existing P-16 or P-20 Councils and to align secondary
school graduation requirements with the demands of 21st
century postsecondary education endeavors and support
P-16 education data systems established by States under
section 6401 of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C.
9871);
(F) develop STEM Career Awareness Programs in
collaboration with school guidance counselors that
reflect the projected STEM workforce needs of the 21st
century that may include mentoring programs and STEM
professional outreach; and
(G) develop STEM-related workforce education and
training programs to enhance the skills of workers to
meet the needs of business and industry.
(g) Outside Funds.--The State Consortium on STEM Education shall be
permitted to accept and solicit outside funds.
(h) Evaluation and Report.--The State Consortium on STEM Education
shall conduct an annual independent evaluation, by grant or by
contract, of the State Consortium on STEM Education's effectiveness at
accomplishing the functions outlined in subsection (f), which shall
include--
(1) an assessment of the impact of such activities on STEM
teaching and learning; and
(2) the preparation and submission of an annual report on
the results of the assessment described in paragraph (1) to the
Assistant Secretary for STEM Education.
(i) Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--In implementing this section, the
Secretary may not--
(A) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM
curriculum designed for use in any school; or
(B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or
activities that will require the adoption of a specific
STEM program or instructional materials by a State,
local educational agency, or school.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL STEM EDUCATION RESEARCH REPOSITORY.
(a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM
Education, shall make a grant to the National Science Digital Library
for use by the Library to establish a National STEM Education Research
Repository, which may be referred to as the ``NSERR'', to coordinate
and organize scientifically-valid STEM education research, and STEM
education programs that demonstrate promising practices and exemplary
programs, among governmental and nongovernmental agencies.
(b) Use of Grant Amounts.--The recipient of the grant under
subsection (a) shall use the grant to provide basic operational support
to the NSERR, including content development and maintenance, office
space, equipment, personnel, and other operational costs.
(c) Responsibilities.--The NSERR shall have the following
responsibilities:
(1) Integrating existing STEM education collections,
teacher professional development opportunities, and student
programs available through the Federal agencies, including the
Science Education Resource Center, Research from Institutions
of Higher Education, Regional Education Centers (labs,
comprehensive centers, and technical assistance centers),
Applied Math and Science Repository, Education Resources
Information Center (ERIC), State initiatives, national experts,
and others.
(2) Developing criteria for STEM education research and
promising practices and exemplary programs, in collaboration
with relevant STEM education experts, for inclusion in the
NSERR.
(3) Publishing, not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the criteria developed under paragraph
(2).
(4) Ensuring that STEM education research, promising
practices, and exemplary programs have been evaluated by
experts, and that those meeting the established minimum
criteria in paragraph (2) are made widely available.
(5) Providing summaries of STEM education research and
promising practices and exemplary programs that were submitted
and evaluated under paragraph (4), including providing contact
information, examples of successful implementation, and other
information that may be beneficial to educators.
(d) Outside Funds.--The NSERR shall be permitted to accept and
solicit outside funds.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2009
and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
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