Congress passes bill to improve math and science education

The America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act awaits the President’s signature.

The legislation (H.R.2271) provides scholarships to teachers, promotes more rigorous high school courses, provides speciality high schools targeted to STEM education, and encourages curricula based on 21st century skills.

The bill incorporates the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act” sponsored by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.). This measure, supported by NSBA, “can help increase the supply of know­­ledgeable and well-supported math and science teachers with targeted assistance to encourage them to commit to teaching in high-need schools where shortages of qualified teachers are most acute,” Associate Executive Director Michael A. Resnick wrote to members of the House.

The bill authorizes scholarships of up to $10,000 a year for three years for prospective teachers to earn a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field while simultaneously earning a teaching credential.

America COMPETES also supports professional development, mentoring, and induction programs for these teachers and provides financial assistance to help existing STEM teachers earn master’s degrees.

The bill calls for the Secretary of Education to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to convene a national panel within a year to identify best practices in the teaching of STEM subjects.

NSBA is pleased that the bill states that the panel’s recommendations will not constitute a mandate on a specific K-12 curriculum and will not limit school boards’ authority on curriculum matters.

America COMPETES authorizes new grant programs to expand access to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, enhance math education in elementary and middle schools, and help districts hire qualified staff, expand targeted professional development, and supply instructional materials and assessments.

NSBA supports the provisions to increase the availability of advanced courses in high-need schools. “Research has shown that students who take AP courses are more competitive with their international peers on international assessments and are more likely to pursue higher education degrees in STEM.subjects,” Resnick said.

But he expressed disappointment that this program carries such high matching fund requirements -- 200 percent or 100 percent in high-need areas -- and urged the Education Department to waive this provision “in cases where it would result in serious hardship.”

Among other programs, the legislation also includes:

• a pilot program of grants to states to help establish or expand statewide specialty high schools in STEM education;

• a program to provide internship opportunities and summer institutes for low-income middle and high school students at the national labs;

• competitive grants to increase the number of students -- from kindergarten through postsecondary education -- studying languages critical to the nation’s security and economic competitiveness; and

• competitive grants to states to promote better alignment of elementary and secondary education with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education and the 21st century work force.

NSBA supports these provisions, and Resnick said the new resources to help districts implement a rigorous math curriculum will be particularly helpful to districts challenged by a lack of qualified teachers or struggling to meet their goals under No Child Left Behind.