Part B - Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Programs

subpart 1 - pilot program of grants to specialty schools for science and mathematics

42 USC 7381h - Pilot program of grants to specialty schools for science and mathematics

(a) Purpose
The purpose of this section is to establish a pilot program of grants to States to help establish or expand public, statewide specialty secondary schools that provide comprehensive science and mathematics (including technology and engineering) education to improve the academic achievement of students in science and mathematics.

(b) Definition of specialty school for science and mathematics
In this subpart, the term specialty school for science and mathematics means a public secondary school (including a school that provides residential services to students) that

(1) serves students residing in the State in which the school is located; and

(2) offers to those students a high-quality, comprehensive science and mathematics (including technology and engineering) curriculum designed to improve the academic achievement of students in science and mathematics.

(1) In general
From the amounts authorized under subsection (i), the Secretary, acting through the Director and in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to States in order to provide assistance to the States for the costs of establishing or expanding public, statewide specialty schools for science and mathematics.

(2) Resources
The Director shall ensure that appropriate resources of the Department, including the National Laboratories, are available to schools funded under this section in order to

(A) increase experiential, hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for students attending such schools; and

(B) provide ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers employed at such schools.

(3) Assistance
Consistent with sections 7381b and 7381c of this title, the Director shall make available from^[1] funds authorized in this section to carry out a program using scientific and engineering staff of the National Laboratories, during which the staff

(A) assists teachers in teaching courses at the schools funded under this section;

(B) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in teaching the courses; and

(C) uses distance education and other technologies to provide assistance described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to schools funded under this section that are not located near the National Laboratories.

(4) Restrictions

(A) Maximum number of funded specialty schools per State
No State shall receive funding for more than 1 specialty school for science and mathematics for a fiscal year.

(B) Maximum amount and duration of grants
A grant awarded to a State for a specialty school for science and mathematics under this section

(i) shall not exceed $2,000,000 for a fiscal year; and

(ii) shall not be provided for more than 3 fiscal years.

(d) Federal and non-Federal shares

(1) Federal share
The Federal share of the costs described in subsection (c)(1) shall not exceed 33 percent.

(2) Non-Federal share
The non-Federal share of the costs described in subsection (c)(1) shall be

(A) not less than 67 percent; and

(B) provided from non-Federal sources, in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including services.

(e) Application
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require that describes

(1) the process by which and selection criteria with which the State will select and designate a school as a specialty school for science and mathematics in accordance with this section;

(2) how the State will ensure that funds made available under this section are used to establish or expand a specialty school for science and mathematics

(A) in accordance with the activities described in subsection (g); and

(B) that has the capacity to improve the academic achievement of all students in all core academic subjects, and particularly in science and mathematics;

(3) how the State will measure the extent to which the school increases student academic achievement on State academic achievement standards in science, mathematics, and, to the maximum extent applicable, technology and engineering;

(4) the curricula and materials to be used in the school;

(5) the availability of funds from non-Federal sources for the costs of the activities authorized under this section; and

(6) how the State will use technical assistance and support from the Department, including the National Laboratories, and other entities with experience and expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, including institutions of higher education.

(f) Distribution
In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall

(1) ensure a wide, equitable distribution among States that propose to serve students from urban and rural areas; and

(2) provide equal consideration to States without National Laboratories.

(g) Uses of funds

(1) Requirement
A State that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds made available through the grant to

(A) employ proven strategies and methods for improving student learning and teaching in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;

(B) integrate into the curriculum of the school comprehensive science and mathematics education, including instruction and assessments in science, mathematics, and to the extent applicable, technology and engineering that are aligned with the academic content and student academic achievement standards of the State, within the meaning of section 6311 of title 20;

(C) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers that improves the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content knowledge of the teachers; and

(D) design and implement hands-on laboratory experiences to help prepare students to pursue postsecondary studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

(2) Special rule
Grant funds under this section may be used for activities described in paragraph (1) only if the activities are directly relating to improving student academic achievement in science, mathematics, and to the extent applicable, technology and engineering.

(h) Evaluation and report

(1) State evaluation and report

(A) Evaluation
Each State that receives a grant under this section shall develop and carry out an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded through the grant that measures the impact of the activities, including measurable objectives for improved student academic achievement on State science, mathematics, and, to the maximum extent applicable, technology and engineering assessments.

(B) Report
The State shall submit to the Director a report containing the results of the evaluation and accountability plan.

(2) Report to Congress
Not later than 2 years after August 9, 2007, the Director shall submit a report detailing the impact of the activities assisted with funds made available under this section to

(A) the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives;

(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(i) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

(1) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(2) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and

(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

[1] So in original. The word “from” probably should not appear.

subpart 2 - experiential-based learning opportunities

42 USC 7381j - Experiential-based learning opportunities

(a) Internships authorized

(1) In general
From the amounts authorized under subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish a summer internship program for middle school and secondary school students that shall

(A) provide the students with internships at the National Laboratories;

(B) promote experiential, hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and

(2) Residential services
The Director may provide residential services to students participating in the internship program authorized under paragraph (1).

(b) Selection criteria

(1) In general
The Director shall establish criteria to determine the sufficient level of academic preparedness necessary for a student to be eligible for an internship under this section.

(2) Participation
The Director shall ensure the participation of students from a wide distribution of States, including States without National Laboratories.

(3) Student achievement
The Director may consider the academic achievement of middle and secondary school students in determining eligibility under this section, in accordance with paragraphs (1) and (2).

(1) In general
The Director shall give priority for an internship under this section to a student who meets the eligibility criteria described in subsection (b) and who attends a school

(A)

(i) in which not less than 30 percent of the children enrolled in the school are from low-income families; or

(ii) that is designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary of Education; and

(B) for which there is

(i) a high percentage of teachers who are not teaching in the academic subject areas or grade levels in which the teachers were trained to teach;

(ii) a high teacher turnover rate; or

(iii) a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licenses.

(2) Coordination
The Director shall consult with the Secretary of Education in order to determine whether a student meets the priority requirements of this subsection.

(d) Outreach and experiential-based programs for minority students

(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, in cooperation with Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions and nonprofit">nonprofit entities with substantial experience relating to outreach and experiential-based learning projects, shall establish outreach and experiential-based learning programs that will encourage underrepresented minority students in kindergarten through grade 12 to pursue careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.

(2) Community involvement
The Secretary shall ensure that the programs established under paragraph (1) involve, to the maximum extent practicable

(A) participation by parents and educators; and

(B) the establishment of partnerships with business organizations and appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies.

(3) Distribution
The Secretary shall ensure that the programs established under paragraph (1) are located in diverse geographic regions of the United States, to the maximum extent practicable.

(e) Evaluation and accountability plan
The Director shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded under this subpart that objectively measures the impact of the activities.

(f) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

subpart 3 - national laboratories centers of excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education

42 USC 7381l - National Laboratories Centers of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education

(a) Definition of high-need public secondary school
In this section, the term high-need public secondary school means a secondary school

(1) with a high concentration of low-income individuals (as defined in section 6537 of title 20); or

(2) designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary of Education.

(b) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish at each of the National Laboratories a program to support a Center of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (referred to in this section as a Center of Excellence) in at least 1 high-need public secondary school located in the region served by the National Laboratory to provide assistance in accordance with subsection (f).

(1) In general
To comply with subsection (g), each high-need public secondary school selected as a Center of Excellence and the National Laboratory shall form a partnership with a school, department, or program of education at an institution of higher education.

(2) Nonprofit entities
The partnership may include a nonprofit">nonprofit entity with demonstrated experience and effectiveness in science or mathematics, as agreed to by other members of the partnership.

(d) Selection

(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish criteria to guide the National Laboratories in selecting the sites for Centers of Excellence.

(2) Process
A National Laboratory shall select a site for a Center of Excellence through an open, widely-publicized, and competitive process.

(e) Goals
The Secretary shall establish goals and performance assessments for each Center of Excellence authorized under subsection (b).

(f) Assistance
Consistent with sections 7381b and 7381c of this title, the Director shall make available necessary assistance for a program established under this section through the use of scientific and engineering staff of a National Laboratory, including the use of staff

(1) to assist teachers in teaching a course at a Center of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and

(2) to use National Laboratory scientific equipment in the teaching of the course.

(g) Special rules
A Center of Excellence in a region shall ensure

(1) provision of clinical practicum, student teaching, or internship experiences for science, technology, and mathematics teacher candidates as part of the teacher preparation program of the Center of Excellence;

(2) provision of supervision and mentoring for teacher candidates in the teacher preparation program; and

(3) to the maximum extent practicable, provision of professional development for veteran teachers in the public secondary schools in the region.

(h) Evaluation
The Secretary shall consider the results of performance assessments required under subsection (e) in determining the contract award fee of a National Laboratory management and operations contractor.

(i) Plan
The Director shall

(1) develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded under this section that objectively measures the impact of the activities; and

(2) disseminate information obtained from those measurements.

(j) No effect on similar programs
Nothing in this section displaces or otherwise affects any similar program being carried out as of August 9, 2007, at any National Laboratory under any other provision of law.

subpart 4 - summer institutes

42 USC 7381n - Summer institutes

(a) Definitions
In this section:

(1) Eligible partner
The term eligible partner means

(A) the science, engineering, or mathematics department at an institution of higher education, acting in coordination with a school, department, or program of education at an institution of higher education that provides training for teachers and principals; or

(B) a nonprofit">nonprofit entity with expertise in providing professional development for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teachers.

(2) Summer institute
The term summer institute means an institute, operated during the summer, that

(A) is hosted by a National Laboratory or an eligible partner;

(B) is operated for a period of not less than 2 weeks;

(C) includes, as a component, a program that provides direct interaction between students and faculty, including personnel of 1 or more National Laboratories who have scientific expertise;

(D) provides for follow-up training, during the academic year, that is conducted in the classroom; and

(E) provides hands-on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics laboratory experience for not less than 2 days.

(b) Summer institute programs authorized

(1) Programs at the National Laboratories
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish or expand programs of summer institutes at each of the National Laboratories to provide additional training to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed at public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance with the activities authorized under paragraphs (3) and (4).

(2) Programs with eligible partners

(A) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall identify and provide assistance as described in subparagraph (C) to eligible partners to establish or expand programs of summer institutes that provide additional training to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed at public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).

(B) Selection criteria
In identifying eligible partners under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall require that partner institutions describe

(i) how the partner institution has the capability to administer the program in accordance with this section, which may include a description of any existing programs at the institution of the applicant that are targeted at education of science and mathematics teachers and the number of teachers graduated annually from the programs; and

(ii) how the partner institution will assist the National Laboratory in carrying out the activities described in paragraphs (3) and (4).

(C) Assistance
Consistent with sections 7381b and 7381c of this title, the Director shall make available funds authorized under this section to carry out a program using scientific and engineering staff of the National Laboratories, during which the staff

(i) assists in providing training to teachers at summer institutes; and

(ii) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the training.

(3) Required activities
Funds authorized under this section shall be used for

(A) creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers that improves the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content knowledge of the teachers;

(B) training to improve the ability of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers to translate content knowledge and recent developments in pedagogy into classroom practice, including training to use curricula that are

(i) based on scientific research; and

(ii) aligned with challenging State academic content standards;

(D) supplemental and follow-up professional development activities as described in subsection (a)(2)(D).

(4) Additional uses of funds
Funds authorized under this section may be used for

(A) training and classroom materials to assist in carrying out paragraph (3);

(B) expenses associated with scientific and engineering staff at the National Laboratories assisting in providing training to teachers at summer institutes;

(D) stipends and travel expenses for teachers participating in the program.

(c) Priority
To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that each summer institute program authorized under subsection (b) provides training to

(1) teachers from a wide range of school districts;

(2) teachers from high-need school districts; and

(3) teachers from groups underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching, including women and members of minority groups.

(d) Coordination and consultation
The Director shall consult and coordinate with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the National Science Foundation regarding the implementation of the programs authorized under subsection (b).

(e) Evaluation and accountability plan

(1) In general
The Director shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded under this section that measures the impact of the activities.

(2) Contents
The evaluation and accountability plan shall include

(A) measurable objectives to increase the number of science, technology, and mathematics teachers who participate in the summer institutes involved; and

(B) measurable objectives for improved student academic achievement on State science, mathematics, and to the maximum extent applicable, technology and engineering assessments.

(3) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall submit to Congress with the annual budget submission of the Secretary a report on how the activities assisted under this section improve the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of participating teachers.

(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and

(3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

subpart 5 - national energy education development

42 USC 7381p - National energy education development

(a) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director and in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall establish a program to coordinate and make available to teachers and students web-based kindergarten through high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education resources relating to the science and energy mission of the Department, including existing instruction materials and protocols for classroom laboratory experiments.

(b) Energy education
The materials and other resources required under subsection (a) shall include instruction relating to

(1) the science of energy;

(2) the sources of energy;

(3) the uses of energy in society; and

(4) the environmental consequences and benefits of all energy sources and uses.

(c) Dissemination
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall take all steps necessary, such as through participation in education association conferences, to advertise the program authorized under this section to K12 teachers and science education coordinators across the United States.

(d) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section

(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2008; and

(2) such sums as necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.

subpart 6 - administration

42 USC 7381r - Mentoring program

(a) In general
As part of the programs established under subparts 1, 3, and 4, the Director shall establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) Pairing
The program shall pair mentors with women and minorities who are in programs of study at specialty schools for science and mathematics, Centers of Excellence, and summer institutes established under subparts 1, 3, and 4, respectively.

(1) use metrics to evaluate the success of the programs established under subsection (a); and

(2) submit to Congress a report that describes the results of each evaluation.

42 USC 7381g - Definitions

In this part:

(1) Director
The term Director means the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education.

(2) National Laboratory
The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 15801 of this title.