National Science Education Act

1/16/2023, 10:18 PM
National Science Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSFA) to establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education.

Establishes in NSF a working group to review and coordinate regular and supplemental curricula in kindergarten through the 12th grade for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.

Requires the NSF Director to: (1) make grants to State or local educational agencies (SEAs or LEAs) or private elementary or middle schools to hire master teachers to provide support for teachers of mathematics, science, engineering, or technology programs, and in-classroom assistance and oversight of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies; (2) subject to appropriations, make demonstration project grants to eligible LEAs; (3) with the Secretary of Education, compile and disseminate information on standard prerequisites for middle school and high school students who seek to enter a course of study at an institution of higher education in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education to teach in an elementary or secondary school, and State licensing requirements for such teachers; (4) make an agreement for National Academy of Sciences compilation and evaluation of studies on the effectiveness of technology in the classroom on learning and student performance; (5) establish a program under which grants may be made for instruction of teachers for grades kindergarten through the 12th grade in the use of technology in the classroom; (6) convene a National Science Education Forum; and (7) make available through the Internet a complete field-test version of any curricular program developed with NSF funds.

Authorizes the Director to award grants to: (1) secondary school and college students working with university faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology, or to such faculty, developers, and experts working with such students, to develop high-quality educational software and Internet web sites, with priority given to mathematics, science, engineering, and technology software and sites; (2) States for assisting middle school teacher training in technology, to help reach the goal of making all middle school graduates technology-literate; and (3) SEAs or LEAs or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, under any NSF education and human resources grant program, for distance learning integration into the education process in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

Directs the President, acting through the NSF, to provide scholarships to teachers at public and private schools in kindergarten through the 12th grade to participate in Federal, State, or private research programs. Requires the Director to establish an Internet web site for use by students and teachers participating in such program.

Congress
107

Number
HR - 100

Introduced on
2001-01-03

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

7/31/2001

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

National Science Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSFA) to establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education.

Establishes in NSF a working group to review and coordinate regular and supplemental curricula in kindergarten through the 12th grade for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.

Requires the NSF Director to: (1) make grants to State or local educational agencies (SEAs or LEAs) or private elementary or middle schools to hire master teachers to provide support for teachers of mathematics, science, engineering, or technology programs, and in-classroom assistance and oversight of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies; (2) subject to appropriations, make demonstration project grants to eligible LEAs; (3) with the Secretary of Education, compile and disseminate information on standard prerequisites for middle school and high school students who seek to enter a course of study at an institution of higher education in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education to teach in an elementary or secondary school, and State licensing requirements for such teachers; (4) make an agreement for National Academy of Sciences compilation and evaluation of studies on the effectiveness of technology in the classroom on learning and student performance; (5) establish a program under which grants may be made for instruction of teachers for grades kindergarten through the 12th grade in the use of technology in the classroom; (6) convene a National Science Education Forum; and (7) make available through the Internet a complete field-test version of any curricular program developed with NSF funds.

Authorizes the Director to award grants to: (1) secondary school and college students working with university faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology, or to such faculty, developers, and experts working with such students, to develop high-quality educational software and Internet web sites, with priority given to mathematics, science, engineering, and technology software and sites; (2) States for assisting middle school teacher training in technology, to help reach the goal of making all middle school graduates technology-literate; and (3) SEAs or LEAs or private elementary, middle, or secondary schools, under any NSF education and human resources grant program, for distance learning integration into the education process in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

Directs the President, acting through the NSF, to provide scholarships to teachers at public and private schools in kindergarten through the 12th grade to participate in Federal, State, or private research programs. Requires the Director to establish an Internet web site for use by students and teachers participating in such program.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Education

Potential Impact
Academic performance•
Computer literacy•
Computer-assisted instruction•
Computers in education•
Conferences•
Congress•
Congressional reporting requirements•
Continuing education•
Curricula•
Directories•
Distance education•
Economics and Public Finance•
Educational accountability•
Educational planning•
Educational research•
Educational technology•
Educational tests•
Electronic government information•
Elementary and secondary education•
Elementary education•
Engineering•
Engineers•
Executive reorganization•
Federal advisory bodies•
Federal aid to education•
Federal aid to higher education•
Government Operations and Politics•
Government publications•
Government publicity•
Governmental investigations•
Higher education•
Infrastructure•
Internet•
Kindergarten•
Labor and Employment•
Law•
Learning•
Licenses•
Mathematics•
Mentoring•
Middle schools•
Scholarships•
Science, Technology, Communications•
Scientific education•
Secondary education•
Standards•
State laws•
Strategic planning•
Teacher education•
Teacher supply and demand•
Teaching•
Teaching materials•
Technical education•
Technology assessment•
Web sites

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/28/2006
National Science Education Act - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (NSFA) to establish and expand programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education.

Establishes in NSF a working group to review and co...


Latest Action7/31/2001
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.