National Competitiveness Investment Act - American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2006 - Directs the President to: (1) convene a National Science and Technology Summit; (2) establish a President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness; and (3) establish the Innovation Acceleration Research Program.
Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to: (1) establish an Aeronautics Institute for Research; (2) coordinate basic and fundamental research activities related to physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (3) establish a Basic Research Executive Council.
Authorizes appropriations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. Requires the NIST Director to: (1) establish the Standards and Technology Acceleration Research Program; and (2) reestablish the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology.
Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to: (1) establish a program of ocean and atmospheric research and development; and (2) develop an ocean, coastal, and atmospheric science education plan.
Protecting America's Competitive Edge Through Energy Act or PACE-Energy Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) appoint a Department of Energy (DOE) Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education, and establish a Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Fund; (2) award grants for establishing specialty schools for mathematics and science; (3) establish a national laboratories summer internship program for middle and secondary school students; (4) establish Centers of Excellence in Mathematics and Science at schools in regions of national laboratories; (5) establish or expand programs to strengthen mathematics and science teaching skills of public school teachers; (6) establish a program to expand and enhance higher education nuclear science educational capabilities; (7) award grants to outstanding DOE early-career researchers; and (8) establish a program to support the appointment of distinguished scientists by institutions of higher education and national laboratories.
Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Authority-Energy.
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to: (1) develop and implement programs to provide courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, or critical foreign languages with concurrent teacher certification or to enhance teacher knowledge and teaching skills; (2) increase the number of teachers and students teaching or enrolled in advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages; (3) help low-income students performing below grade level in mathematics; (4) establish programs of study in critical foreign languages; (5) promote content knowledge requirements for secondary school graduation and establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data system.
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) expand the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program; (2) establish a clearinghouse and pilot programs relating to the creation or improvement of professional science master's degree programs; (4) establish a program to provide mentors for women interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (5) establish a program of basic research in advanced information and communications technologies.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3936 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 648
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3936
To invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of
the United States in the global economy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 26, 2006
Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Bingaman, Mr.
Stevens, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Lieberman,
Mr. Alexander, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr.
Burns, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Allen, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Kerry,
Mr. Talent, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Craig, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Isakson, Mr.
Menendez, Mr. Smith, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Coleman,
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Rockefeller) introduced the following
bill; which was read the first time
September 27, 2006
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of
the United States in the global economy.
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 ``National Competitiveness Investment
Act''.
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Divisions.--This Act is organized into 4 divisions as follows:
(1) Division a.--Commerce and Science.
(2) Division b.--Department of Energy.
(3) Division c.--Education.
(4) Division d.--National Science Foundation.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents.
DIVISION A--COMMERCE AND SCIENCE
Sec. 1001. Short title.
TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE
SCIENCE
Sec. 1101. National Science and Technology Summit.
Sec. 1102. Study on barriers to innovation.
Sec. 1103. National Innovation Medal.
Sec. 1104. Release of scientific research results.
Sec. 1105. Semiannual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Days.
Sec. 1106. Study of service science.
TITLE II--INNOVATION PROMOTION
Sec. 1201. President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
Sec. 1202. Innovation acceleration research.
TITLE III--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 1301. NASA's contribution to innovation.
Sec. 1302. Aeronautics Institute for Research.
Sec. 1303. Basic Research enhancement.
Sec. 1304. Aging workforce issues program.
Sec. 1305. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 1306. Fiscal year 2007 basic science and research funding.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 1401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 1402. Amendments to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
of 1980.
Sec. 1403. Innovation acceleration.
Sec. 1404. Manufacturing extension.
Sec. 1405. Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology.
Sec. 1406. Technical amendments to the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act and other technical
amendments.
TITLE V--OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS
Sec. 1501. Ocean and atmospheric research and development program.
Sec. 1502. NOAA ocean and atmospheric science education programs.
DIVISION B--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Sec. 2001. Short title.
Sec. 2002. Definitions.
Sec. 2003. Mathematics, science, and engineering education at the
Department of Energy.
Sec. 2004. Department of Energy early-career research grants.
Sec. 2005. Advanced Research Projects Authority-Energy.
Sec. 2006. Authorization of appropriations for the Department of Energy
for basic research.
Sec. 2007. Discovery science and engineering innovation institutes.
Sec. 2008. Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate
fellowship program.
Sec. 2009. Title IX compliance.
Sec. 2010. High-risk, high-reward research.
Sec. 2011. Distinguished scientist program.
DIVISION C--EDUCATION
Sec. 3001. Findings.
Sec. 3002. Definitions.
TITLE I--TEACHER ASSISTANCE
Subtitle A--Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow
Sec. 3111. Purpose.
Sec. 3112. Definitions.
Sec. 3113. Programs for baccalaureate degrees in mathematics, science,
engineering, or critical foreign languages,
with concurrent teacher certification.
Sec. 3114. Programs for master's degrees in mathematics, science, or
critical foreign languages education.
Sec. 3115. General provisions.
Sec. 3116. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B--Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs
Sec. 3121. Purpose.
Sec. 3122. Definitions.
Sec. 3123. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
TITLE II--MATH NOW
Sec. 3201. Math Now for elementary school and middle school students
program.
TITLE III--FOREIGN LANGUAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 3301. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 3302. Definitions.
Sec. 3303. Program authorized.
Sec. 3304. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV--ALIGNMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Sec. 3401. Alignment of secondary school graduation requirements with
the demands of 21st century postsecondary
endeavors and support for P-16 education
data systems.
DIVISION D--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sec. 4001. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 4002. Strengthening of education and human resources directorate
through equitable distribution of new
funds.
Sec. 4003. Graduate fellowships and graduate traineeships.
Sec. 4004. Professional science master's degree programs.
Sec. 4005. Increased support for science education through the National
Science Foundation.
Sec. 4006. Meeting critical national science needs.
Sec. 4007. Reaffirmation of the merit-review process of the National
Science Foundation.
Sec. 4008. Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
Sec. 4009. Encouraging participation.
Sec. 4010. Cyberinfrastructure.
Sec. 4011. Federal information and communications technology research.
Sec. 4012. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Sec. 4013. Sense of the Senate regarding the mathematics and science
partnership programs of the Department of
Education and the National Science
Foundation.
Sec. 4014. National Science Foundation teacher institutes for the 21st
century.
DIVISION A--COMMERCE AND SCIENCE
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ``American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act of 2006''.
TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE
SCIENCE
SEC. 1101. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall convene a National Science
and Technology Summit to examine the health and direction of the United
States' science and technology enterprises. The Summit shall include
representatives of industry, small business, labor, academia, State
government, Federal research and development agencies, non-profit
environmental and energy policy groups concerned with science and
technology issues, and other nongovernmental organizations.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
conclusion of the Summit, the President shall issue a report on the
results of the Summit. The report shall identify key research and
technology challenges and recommendations for areas of investment for
Federal research and technology programs to be carried out during the
5-year period beginning on the date the report is issued.
(c) Annual Evaluation.--Beginning in 2007, the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall publish and submit to
Congress an annual report that contains recommendations for areas of
investment for Federal research and technology programs, including a
justification for each area identified in the report. Each report
submitted during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the
conclusion of the Summit shall take into account any recommendations
made by the Summit.
SEC. 1102. STUDY ON BARRIERS TO INNOVATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of
Sciences to conduct and complete a study to identify, and to review
methods to mitigate, new forms of risk for businesses beyond
conventional operational and financial risk that affect the ability to
innovate, including studying and reviewing--
(1) incentive and compensation structures that could
effectively encourage long-term value creation and innovation;
(2) methods of voluntary and supplemental disclosure by
industry of intellectual capital, innovation performance, and
indicators of future valuation;
(3) means by which government could work with industry to
enhance the legal and regulatory framework to encourage the
disclosures described in paragraph (2);
(4) practices that may be significant deterrents to United
States businesses engaging in innovation risk-taking compared
to foreign competitors;
(5) costs faced by United States businesses engaging in
innovation compared to foreign competitors, including the
burden placed on businesses by high and rising health care
costs;
(6) means by which industry, trade associations, and
universities could collaborate to support research on
management practices and methodologies for assessing the value
and risks of longer term innovation strategies;
(7) means to encourage new, open, and collaborative
dialogue between industry associations, regulatory authorities,
management, shareholders, labor, and other concerned interests
to encourage appropriate approaches to innovation risk-taking;
(8) incentives to encourage participation among
institutions of higher education, especially those in rural and
underserved areas, to engage in innovation;
(9) relevant Federal regulations that may discourage or
encourage innovation;
(10) the extent to which Federal funding promotes or
hinders innovation; and
(11) the extent to which individuals are being equipped
with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the 21st
century workforce, as measured by--
(A) elementary school and secondary school student
academic achievement on the State academic assessments
required under section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, especially in
mathematics, science, and reading;
(B) the rate of student entrance into institutions
of higher education by type of institution, and
barriers to access to institutions of higher education;
(C) the rates of--
(i) students successfully completing
postsecondary education programs; and
(ii) certificates, associate degrees, and
baccalaureate degrees awarded in the fields of
science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics; and
(D) access to, and availability of, high quality
job training programs.
(b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after entering into the
contract required by subsection (a) and 4 years after entering into the
contract required by subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences
shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under such
subsection.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Academy of Sciences $1,000,000 for fiscal
year 2007 for the purpose of carrying out the study required under this
section.
SEC. 1103. NATIONAL INNOVATION MEDAL.
Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting ``sec.
16. national technology and innovation medal.''; and
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Technology Medal'' and
inserting ``Technology and Innovation Medal''.
SEC. 1104. RELEASE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RESULTS.
(a) Principles.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget and the heads of all Federal civilian agencies that conduct
scientific research, shall develop and issue an overarching set of
principles to ensure the communication and open exchange of data and
results to other agencies, policymakers, and the public of research
conducted by a scientist employed by a Federal civilian agency and to
prevent the intentional or unintentional suppression or distortion of
such research findings. The principles shall encourage the open
exchange of data and results of research undertaken by a scientist
employed by such an agency and shall be consistent with existing
Federal laws, including chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code
(commonly known as the ``Bayh-Dole Act'').
(b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall ensure that all civilian Federal agencies that
conduct scientific research develop specific policies and procedures
regarding the public release of data and results of research conducted
by a scientist employed by such an agency consistent with the
principles established under subsection (a). Such polices and
procedures shall--
(1) specifically address what is and what is not permitted
or recommended under such policies and procedures;
(2) be specifically designed for each such agency;
(3) be applied uniformly throughout each such agency; and
(4) be widely communicated and readily accessible to all
employees of each such agency and the public.
SEC. 1105. SEMIANNUAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
DAYS.
It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy should--
(1) encourage all elementary and middle schools to observe
a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Day twice
in every school year for the purpose of bringing in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics mentors to provide
hands-on lessons to excite and inspire students to pursue the
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields
(including continuing education and career paths);
(2) initiate a program, in consultation with Federal
agencies and departments, to provide support systems, tools
(from existing outreach offices), and mechanisms to allow and
encourage Federal employees with scientific, technological,
engineering, or mathematical responsibilities to reach out to
local classrooms on such Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Days to instruct and inspire school children,
focusing on real life science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics-related applicable experiences along with hands-on
demonstrations in order to demonstrate the advantages and
direct applications of studying the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics fields; and
(3) promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Days involvement by private sector and institutions
of higher education employees in a manner similar to the
Federal employee involvement described in paragraph (2).
SEC. 1106. STUDY OF SERVICE SCIENCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in order
to strengthen the competitiveness of United States enterprises and
institutions and to prepare the people of the United States for high-
wage, high-skill employment, the Federal Government should better
understand and respond strategically to the emerging management and
learning discipline known as service science.
(b) Study.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
through the National Academy of Sciences, shall conduct a study and
report to Congress regarding how the Federal Government should support,
through research, education, and training, the emerging management and
learning discipline known as service science.
(c) Outside Resources.--In conducting the study under subsection
(b), the National Academy of Sciences shall consult with leaders from
2- and 4-year institutions of higher education, as defined in section
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), leaders
from corporations, and other relevant parties.
(d) Service Science Defined.--In this section, the term ``service
science'' means curricula, training, and research programs that are
designed to teach individuals to apply scientific, engineering, and
management disciplines that integrate elements of computer science,
operations research, industrial engineering, business strategy,
management sciences, and social and legal sciences, in order to
encourage innovation in how organizations create value for customers
and shareholders that could not be achieved through such disciplines
working in isolation.
TITLE II--INNOVATION PROMOTION
SEC. 1201. PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS.
(a) In General.--The President shall establish a President's
Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
(b) Duties.--The Council's duties shall include--
(1) monitoring implementation of public laws and
initiatives for promoting innovation, including policies
related to research funding, taxation, immigration, trade, and
education that are proposed in this Act or in any other Act;
(2) providing advice to the President with respect to
global trends in competitiveness and innovation and allocation
of Federal resources in education, job training, and technology
research and development considering such global trends in
competitiveness and innovation;
(3) in consultation with the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, developing a process for using metrics
to assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and
rules that affect innovation capabilities in the United States;
(4) identifying opportunities and making recommendations
for the heads of executive agencies to improve innovation,
monitoring, and reporting on the implementation of such
recommendations;
(5) developing metrics for measuring the progress of the
Federal Government with respect to improving conditions for
innovation, including through talent development, investment,
and infrastructure improvements; and
(6) submitting to the President and Congress an annual
report on such progress.
(c) Membership and Coordination.--
(1) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the
Secretary or head of each of the following:
(A) The Department of Commerce.
(B) The Department of Defense.
(C) The Department of Education.
(D) The Department of Energy.
(E) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(F) The Department of Homeland Security.
(G) The Department of Labor.
(H) The Department of the Treasury.
(I) The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
(J) The Securities and Exchange Commission.
(K) The National Science Foundation.
(L) The Office of the United States Trade
Representative.
(M) The Office of Management and Budget.
(N) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(O) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(P) Any other department or agency designated by
the President.
(2) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Commerce shall serve as
Chairperson of the Council.
(3) Coordination.--The Chairperson of the Council shall
ensure appropriate coordination between the Council and the
National Economic Council, the National Security Council, and
the National Science and Technology Council.
(4) Meetings.--The Council shall meet on a semi-annual
basis at the call of the Chairperson and the initial meeting of
the Council shall occur not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(d) Development of Innovation Agenda.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall develop a comprehensive
agenda for strengthening the innovation and competitiveness
capabilities of the Federal Government, State governments,
academia, and the private sector in the United States.
(2) Contents.--The comprehensive agenda required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of current strengths and
weaknesses of the United States investment in research
and development.
(B) Recommendations for addressing weaknesses and
maintaining the United States as a world leader in
research and development and technological innovation.
(C) Recommendations for strengthening the
innovation and competitiveness capabilities of the
Federal government, State governments, academia, and
the private sector in the United States.
(3) Advisors.--
(A) Recommendation.--Not later than 30 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the National Academy
of Sciences, in consultation with the National Academy
of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the
National Research Council, shall develop and submit to
the President a list of 50 individuals that are
recommended to serve as advisors to the Council during
the development of the comprehensive agenda required by
paragraph (1). The list of advisors shall include
appropriate representatives from the following:
(i) The private sector of the economy.
(ii) Labor.
(iii) Various fields including information
technology, energy, engineering, high-
technology manufacturing, health care, and
education.
(iv) Scientific organizations.
(v) Academic organizations and other
nongovernmental organizations working in the
area of science or technology.
(B) Designation.--Not later than 30 days after the
date that the National Academy of Sciences submits the
list of recommended individuals to serve as advisors,
the President shall designate 50 individuals to serve
as advisors to the Council.
(C) Requirement to consult.--The Council shall
develop the comprehensive agenda required by paragraph
(1) in consultation with the advisors.
(4) Initial submission and updates.--
(A) Initial submission.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Council
shall submit to Congress and the President the
comprehensive agenda required by paragraph (1).
(B) Updates.--At least once every 2 years, the
Council shall update the comprehensive agenda required
by paragraph (1) and submit each such update to
Congress and the President.
(e) Technical Amendment.--Section 101(b) of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(b)) is amended by striking ``an''
in the first sentence and inserting ``a distinct''.
(f) Optional Assignment.--Notwithstanding subsection (a) and
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), the President may designate
an existing council to carry out the requirements of this section.
SEC. 1202. INNOVATION ACCELERATION RESEARCH.
(a) Program Established.--The President, through the head of each
Federal research agency, shall establish a program, to be known as the
Innovation Acceleration Research Program, to support and promote
innovation in the United States through research projects that can
yield results with far-ranging or wide-ranging implications but are
considered too novel or span too diverse a range of disciplines to fare
well in the traditional peer review process. Priority in the awarding
of grants under this program shall be given to research projects that--
(1) meet fundamental technology or scientific challenges;
(2) involve multidisciplinary work; and
(3) involve a high degree of novelty.
(b) Departments and Agencies.--
(1) Funding goals.--The President shall ensure that it is
the goal of each Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of
title 5, United States Code) that finances research in science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology to allocate
approximately 8 percent of the agency's total annual research
and development budget to funding research, including grants,
under the Innovation Acceleration Research Program.
(2) Administration.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the head of each
Executive agency participating in the Innovation
Acceleration Research Program under paragraph (1) shall
submit to the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget a plan for implementing the
research program within such Executive agency. An
implementation plan may incorporate existing
initiatives of the Executive agencies that promote
research in innovation as described in subsection (a).
(B) Required metrics.--
(i) In general.--The head of each Executive
agency submitting an implementation plan
pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include
metrics upon which grant funding decisions will
be made and metrics for assessing the success
of the grants awarded.
(ii) Metrics for basic research.--The
metrics developed under clause (i) to assess
basic research programs shall assess management
of the programs and shall not assess specific
scientific outcomes of the research conducted
by the programs.
(C) Grant duration and renewals.--
(i) In general.--Any grants issued by an
Executive agency under this section shall be
for a period not to exceed 3 years.
(ii) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days
prior to the expiration of a grant issued under
this section, the Executive agency that
approved the grant shall complete an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the grant based on the
metrics established pursuant to subparagraph
(B). In its evaluation, the Executive agency
shall consider the extent to which the program
funded by the grant met the goals of quality
improvement and job creation.
(iii) Publication of review.--The Executive
agency shall publish and make available to the
public the review of each grant approved
pursuant to this section.
(iv) Failure to meet metrics.--Any grant
that the Executive agency awarding the grant
determines has failed to satisfy any of the
metrics developed pursuant to subparagraph (B),
shall not be eligible for a renewal.
(v) Renewal.--A grant issued under this
section that satisfies all of the metrics
developed pursuant to subparagraph (B), may be
renewed once for a period of not more than 3
years. Additional renewals may be considered
only if the head of the Executive agency makes
a specific finding that the program being
funded involves a significant technology or
scientific advance that requires a longer time
frame to complete critical research, and the
research satisfies all the metrics developed
pursuant to subparagraph (B).
(vi) Waiver.--The head of the Executive
agency may authorize a waiver of the
requirement of clauses (iv) and (v) related to
satisfying metric requirements if he or she
determines that the grant failed to meet a
small number of metrics and the failure was not
significant for the overall performance of the
grant.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal research agency.--The term ``Federal research
agency'' means a major organizational component of a department
or agency of the Federal Government, or other establishment of
the Federal Government operating with appropriated funds, that
has as its primary purpose the performance of scientific
research.
(2) Major organizational component.--The term ``major
organizational component'', with respect to a department,
agency, or other establishment of the Federal Government, means
a component of the department, agency, or other establishment
that is administered by an individual whose rate of basic pay
is not less than the rate of basic pay payable under level V of
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United
States Code.
TITLE III--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
SEC. 1301. NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.
(a) Participation in Interagency Activities.--The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be a full participant in any
interagency effort to promote innovation and economic competitiveness
through near-term and long-term basic scientific research and
development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education.
(b) Historic Foundation.--In order to carry out the participation
described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall build on the historic role
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in stimulating
excellence in the advancement of physical science and engineering
disciplines and in providing opportunities and incentives for the
pursuit of academic studies in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
(c) Balanced Science Program and Robust Authorization Levels.--The
balanced science program authorized by section 101(d) of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public
Law 109-155; 42 U.S.C. 16611) shall be an element of the contribution
by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to such
interagency programs. It is the sense of Congress that a robust
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, funded at the levels
authorized for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 under sections 202 and 203 of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 16631 and 16632) and at appropriate levels in
subsequent fiscal years would enable a fair balance among science,
aeronautics, education, exploration, and human space flight programs
and allow full participation in any interagency efforts to promote
innovation and economic competitiveness.
(d) Annual Report.--
(1) Requirement.--The Administrator shall submit to
Congress and the President an annual report describing the
activities conducted pursuant to this section, including a
description of the goals and the objective metrics upon which
funding decisions were made.
(2) Content.--Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph
(1) shall include, with regard to science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education programs, at a minimum,
the following:
(A) A description of each program.
(B) The amount spent on each program.
(C) The number of students or teachers served by
each program.
(D) Measurement of how each program improved
student achievement, including with regard to
challenging State achievement standards.
SEC. 1302. AERONAUTICS INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall establish within the
Administration an Aeronautics Institute for Research for the
purpose of managing the aeronautics research carried out by the
Administration.
(2) Director.--The Institute shall be headed by a Director
with appropriate experience in aeronautics research and
development.
(b) Duties.--The Institute shall implement the programs authorized
under title IV of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155; 42 U.S.C. 16701 et
seq.).
(c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Institute shall operate in conjunction
with relevant programs in the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, and the
Department of Homeland Security, including the activities of
the Joint Planning and Development Office established under the
Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law
108-176; 117 Stat. 2490).
(2) Resources.--The Director of the Institute may accept
assistance, staff, and funding from those Departments and other
Federal agencies. Any such funding shall be in addition to
funds authorized for aeronautics under the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law
109-155; 119 Stat. 2895).
(3) Other coordination.--The Director of the Institute may
utilize the Next Generation Air Transportation Senior Policy
Committee established under section 710 of the Vision 100--
Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176; 49
U.S.C. 40101 note) to coordinate its programs with other
Departments and agencies.
(d) Partnerships.--In developing and carrying out its plans, the
Institute shall consult with the public and ensure the participation of
experts from the private sector including representatives of commercial
aviation, general aviation, aviation labor groups, aviation research
and development entities, aircraft and air traffic control suppliers,
and the space industry.
SEC. 1303. BASIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Director of the National Science Foundation,
the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of
Commerce shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate basic and
fundamental research activities related to physical sciences,
technology, engineering and mathematics.
(b) Establishment of Basic Research Executive Council.--In order to
ensure effective application of resources to basic science activity and
to facilitate cooperative basic and fundamental research activities
with other governmental organizations, the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall establish within
the Administration a Basic Research Executive Council to oversee the
distribution and management of programs and resources engaged in
support of basic research activity.
(c) Membership.--The membership of the Basic Research Executive
Council shall consist of the most senior agency official representing
each of the following areas of research:
(1) Space Science.
(2) Earth Science.
(3) Life and Microgravity Sciences.
(4) Aeronautical Research.
(d) Leadership.--The Basic Research Executive Council shall be
chaired by an individual appointed for that purpose who shall have, as
a minimum, a appropriate graduate degree in a recognizable discipline
in the physical sciences, and appropriate experience in the conduct and
management of basic research activity. The Chairman of the Council
shall report directly to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration.
(e) Supporting Resources and Personnel.--The Chairman of the Basic
Research Executive Council shall be provided with adequate
administrative staff support to conduct the activity and functions of
the Council.
(f) Duties.--The Basic Research Executive Council shall have, at
minimum, the following duties:
(1) To establish criteria for the identification of
research activity as basic in nature.
(2) To establish, in consultation with the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation,
the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of
Health, and other appropriate external organizations, a
prioritization of fundamental research activity to be conducted
by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to be
reviewed and updated on an annual basis, taking into
consideration evolving national research priorities.
(3) To monitor, review, and evaluate all basic research
activity of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
for compliance with basic research priorities established under
paragraph (2).
(4) To make recommendations to the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration regarding
adjustments in the basic research activities of the
Administration to ensure consistency with the research
priorities established under this section.
(5) To provide an annual report to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives outlining
the activities of the Council during the preceding year and the
status of basic research activity within the Administration.
The initial such report, to serve as a baseline document, shall
be provided within 90 days after the establishment and initial
operations of the Council.
SEC. 1304. AGING WORKFORCE ISSUES PROGRAM.
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration should implement a program to
address aging work force issues in aerospace that--
(1) documents technical and management experiences before
senior people leave the Administration, including--
(A) documenting lessons learned;
(B) briefing organizations;
(C) providing opportunities for archiving lessons
in a database; and
(D) providing opportunities for near-term retirees
to transition out early from their primary assignment
in order to document their career lessons learned and
brief new employees prior to their separation from the
Administration;
(2) provides incentives for retirees to return and teach
new employees about their career lessons and experiences; and
(3) provides for the development of an award to recognize
and reward outstanding senior employees for their contributions
to knowledge sharing.
SEC. 1305. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
Section 101(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155; 42 U.S.C. 16611(d)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph
(2)(B);
(2) by striking ``Act.'' in paragraph (2)(C) and inserting
``Act; and'';
(3) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the following:
``(D) the number and content of science activities
which are undertaken in support of science missions
described in subparagraph (A), and the number and
content of science activities which may be considered
as fundamental, or basic research, whether incorporated
within specific missions or conducted independently of
any specific mission.''; and
(4) by adding at the end of paragraph (3) the following:
``(H) How NASA science activities can best be
structured to ensure that basic and fundamental
research can be effectively maintained and coordinated
in response to national goals in competitiveness and
innovation, and in contributing to national scientific,
technology, engineering and mathematics leadership.''.
SEC. 1306. FISCAL YEAR 2007 BASIC SCIENCE AND RESEARCH FUNDING.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall increase
funding for basic science and research, including for the Explorer
Program, for fiscal year 2007 by $160,000,000 by transferring such
amount for such purpose from accounts of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. The transfer shall be contingent upon the
availability of unobligated balances to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 1401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce for the use of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology--
(1) for fiscal year 2007, $639,646,000, of which
$110,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program;
(2) for fiscal year 2008, $703,611,000, of which
$115,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program;
(3) for fiscal year 2009, $773,972,000, of which
$120,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program;
(4) for fiscal year 2010, $851,369,000, of which
$125,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program; and
(5) for fiscal year 2011, $936,506,000, of which
$130,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program.
SEC. 1402. AMENDMENTS TO THE STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT
OF 1980.
(a) In General.--Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Title 5, united states code.--Section 5314 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``Under Secretary of
Commerce for Technology.''.
(2) Definitions.--Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (13) as
paragraphs (1) through (11), respectively.
(3) Repeal of authorization.--Section 21(a) of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3713(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``sections 5,
11(g), and 16'' and inserting ``sections 11(g) and
16''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$500,000 is
authorized only for the purpose of carrying out the
requirements of the Japanese technical literature
program established under section 5(d) of this Act;''.
(4) High-performance computing act of 1991.--Section 208 of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is
amended by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection
(d) as subsection (c).
(5) Assistive technology act of 1998.--Section
6(b)(4)(B)(v) of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29
U.S.C. 3005(b)(4)(B)(v)) is amended by striking ``the
Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce,'' and
inserting ``the National Institute of Standards and
Technology,''.
SEC. 1403. INNOVATION ACCELERATION.
(a) Program.--In order to implement section 1202 of this Act, the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall--
(1) establish a program linked to the goals and objectives
of the measurement laboratories, to be known as the ``Standards
and Technology Acceleration Research Program'', to support and
promote innovation in the United States through high-risk,
high-reward research; and
(2) set aside, from funds available to the measurement
laboratories, an amount equal to not less than 8 percent of the
funds available to the Institute each fiscal year for such
Program.
(b) External Funding.--The Director shall ensure that at least 80
percent of the funds available for such Program shall be used to award
competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements, or
contracts to public or private entities, including businesses and
universities. In selecting entities to receive such assistance, the
Director shall ensure that the project proposed by an entity has
scientific and technical merit and that any resulting intellectual
property shall vest in a United States entity that can commercialize
the technology in a timely manner. Each external project shall involve
at least one small or medium-sized business and the Director shall give
priority to joint ventures between small or medium-sized businesses and
educational institutions. Any grant shall be for a period not to exceed
3 years.
(c) Competitions.--The Director shall solicit proposals annually to
address areas of national need for high-risk, high-reward research, as
identified by the Director.
(d) Annual Report.--Each year the Director shall issue an annual
report describing the program's activities, including include a
description of the metrics upon which grant funding decisions were made
in the previous fiscal year, any proposed changes to those metrics,
metrics for evaluating the success of ongoing and completed grants, and
an evaluation of ongoing and completed grants. The first annual report
shall include best practices for management of programs to stimulate
high-risk, high-reward research.
(e) Administrative Expenses.--No more than 5 percent of the finding
available to the program may be used for administrative expenses.
(f) High-Risk, High-Reward Research Defined.--In this section, the
term ``high-risk, high-reward research'' means research that--
(1) has the potential for yielding results with far-ranging
or wide-ranging implications;
(2) addresses critical national needs related to
measurement standards and technology; and
(3) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of
disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review
process.
SEC. 1404. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION.
(a) Manufacturing Center Evaluation.--Section 25(c)(5) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``A Center that has not received a
positive evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be notified by the
panel of the deficiencies in its performance and shall be placed on
probation for one year, after which time the panel shall reevaluate the
Center. If the Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by
the panel, or shown a significant improvement in its performance, the
Director shall conduct a new competition to select an operator for the
Center or may close the Center.'' after ``at declining levels.''.
(b) Federal Share.--Strike section 25(d) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(d)) and insert the
following:
``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may be
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Centers
program, the Secretary and Director also may accept funds from other
Federal departments and agencies and under section 2(c)(7) from the
private sector for the purpose of strengthening United States
manufacturing. Such funds from the private sector, if allocated to a
Center or Centers, shall not be considered in the calculation of the
Federal share of capital and annual operating and maintenance costs
under subsection (c).''.
SEC. 1405. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of
Standards and Technology shall re-establish the Experimental Program to
Stimulate Competitive Technology. The purpose of the program shall be
to strengthen the technological competitiveness of those States that
have historically received less Federal research and development funds
than a majority of the States have received.
(b) Arrangements.--In carrying out the program, the Director shall
cooperate with State, regional, or local science and technology-based
economic development organization and with representatives of small
business firms and other appropriate technology-based businesses.
(c) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out the
program, the Director may make grants or enter into cooperative
agreements to provide for--
(1) technology research and development;
(2) technology transfer from university research;
(3) technology deployment and diffusion; and
(4) the strengthening of technological and innovation
capabilities through consortia comprised of--
(A) technology-based small business firms;
(B) industries and emerging companies;
(C) institutions of higher education including
community colleges; and
(D) State and local development agencies and
entities.
(d) Requirements for Making Awards.--
(1) In general.--In making awards under this section, the
Director shall ensure that the awards are awarded on a
competitive basis that includes a review of the merits of the
activities that are the subject of the award, giving special
emphasis to those projects which will increase the
participation of women, Native Americans (including Native
Hawaiians and Alaska Natives), and underrepresented groups in
science and technology.
(2) Matching requirement.--The non-Federal share of the
activities (other than planning activities) carried out under
an award under this subsection shall be not less than 50
percent of the cost of those activities.
(e) Criteria for States.--The Director shall establish criteria for
achievement by each State that participates in the program. Upon the
achievement of all such criteria, a State shall cease to be eligible to
participate in the program.
(f) Coordination.--To the extent practicable, in carrying out this
subsection, the Director shall coordinate the program with other
programs of the Department of Commerce.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall prepare and submit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives a report that meets the requirements of this
subsection.
(2) Requirements for report.--The report required by this
subsection shall contain--
(A) a description of the structure and procedures
of the program;
(B) a management plan for the program;
(C) a description of the merit-based review process
to be used in the program;
(D) milestones for the evaluation of activities to
be assisted under the program in fiscal year 2008;
(E) an assessment of the eligibility of each State
that participates in the Experimental Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research of the National Science
Foundation to participate in the program under this
subsection; and
(F) the evaluation criteria with respect to which
the overall management and effectiveness of the program
will be evaluated.
SEC. 1406. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS
AND TECHNOLOGY ACT AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) Research Fellowships.--Section 18 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) is amended by striking
``up to 1 per centum of the'' in the first sentence.
(b) Financial Agreements.--
(1) Clarification.--Section 2(b)(4) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)(4))
is amended by inserting ``and grants and cooperative
agreements,'' after ``arrangements,''.
(2) Memberships.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in
paragraph (21);
(B) by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph
(23); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (21) the
following:
``(22) notwithstanding subsection (b)(4) of this section,
the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act (31 U.S.C. 6301-
6308), the Competition in Contracting Act (31 U.S.C. 3551-
3556), and the Federal Acquisition Regulations set forth in
title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, to expend appropriated
funds for National Institute of Standards and Technology
memberships in scientific organizations, registration fees for
attendance at conferences, and sponsorship of conferences in
furtherance of technology transfer; and''.
(c) Working Capital Fund.--Section 12 of the National Institute of
Standards and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 278b) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(g) Amount and Source of Transfers.--Not to exceed one-quarter
per centum of the amounts appropriated to the Institute for any fiscal
year may be transferred to the fund, in addition to any other transfer
authority. In addition, funds provided to the Institute from other
Federal agencies for the purpose of production of Standard Reference
Materials may be transferred to the fund.''.
(d) Outdated Specifications.--
(1) Redefinition of metric system.--Section 2 of the Act of
July 28, 1866, entitled ``An Act to authorize the Use of the
Metric System of Weights and Measures'' (15 U.S.C. 205; 14
Stat. 339, 340) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 2. METRIC SYSTEM DEFINED.
``The metric system of measurement shall be defined as the
International System of Units as established in 1960, and subsequently
maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and Measures, and as
interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of
Commerce.''.
(2) Repeal of redundant and obsolete authority.--The Act of
July 21, 1950, entitled, ``An Act To redefine the units and
establish the standards of electrical and photometric
measurements of 1950'' (15 U.S.C. 223, 224) is hereby repealed.
(3) Idaho time zone.--Section 3 of the Act of March 19,
1918, (15 U.S.C. 264; commonly known as the Calder Act) is
amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``third
zone'' and inserting ``fourth zone''; and
(B) by striking ``third zone'' and inserting
``fourth zone''.
(4) Standard time.--The first section of the Act of March
19, 1918, (15 U.S.C. 261; commonly known as the Calder Act) is
amended--
(A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``For
the purpose'';
(B) by striking the second sentence and the extra
period after it and inserting ``Except as provided in
section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, the
standard time of the first zone shall be Coordinated
Universal Time retarded by 4 hours; that of the second
zone retarded by 5 hours; that of the third zone
retarded by 6 hours; that of the fourth zone retarded
by 7 hours; that of the fifth zone retarded 8 hours;
that of the sixth zone retarded by 9 hours; that of the
seventh zone retarded by 10 hours; that of the eighth
zone retarded by 11 hours; and that of the ninth zone
shall be Coordinated Universal Time advanced by 10
hours.''; and
(C) adding at the end the following:
``(b) Coordinated Universal Time Defined.--In this section, the
term `Coordinated Universal Time' means the time scale maintained
through the General Conference of Weights and Measures and interpreted
or modified for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce in
coordination with the Secretary of the Navy.''.
(e) Retention of Depreciation Surcharge.--Section 14 of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278d) is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Within'';
and
(2) adding at the end the following:
``(b) Retention of Fees.--The Director is authorized to retain all
building use and depreciation surcharge fees collected pursuant to OMB
Circular A-25. Such fees shall be collected and credited to the
Construction of Research Facilities Appropriation Account for use in
maintenance and repair of National Institute of Standards and
Technology's existing facilities.''.
(f) Non-Energy Inventions Program.--Section 27 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278m) is repealed.
TITLE V--OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS
SEC. 1501. OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, in consultation with the Director of the National
Science Foundation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, shall establish a coordinated program of
ocean and atmospheric research and development, in collaboration with
academic institutions and other nongovernmental entities, that shall
focus on the development of advanced technologies and analytical
methods that will promote United States leadership in ocean and
atmospheric science and competitiveness in the applied uses of such
knowledge.
SEC. 1502. NOAA OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall conduct, develop, support, promote,
and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels
to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, and
atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public and other
coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean and
atmospheric science and policy careers. In conducting those activities,
the Administrator shall build upon the educational programs and
activities of the agency.
(b) NOAA Science Education Plan.--The Administrator, appropriate
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs, ocean
atmospheric science and education experts, and interested members of
the public shall develop a science education plan setting forth
education goals and strategies for the Administration, as well as
programmatic actions to carry out such goals and priorities over the
next 20 years, and evaluate and update such plan every 5 years.
(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
affect the application of section 438 of the General Education
Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232a) or sections 504 and 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 and 794d).
DIVISION B--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
SEC. 2001. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ``Protecting America's
Competitive Edge Through Energy Act'' or the ``PACE-Energy Act''.
SEC. 2002. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given in
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a)).
(3) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy, acting through the Under Secretary for Science
appointed under section 202(b) of the Department of Energy
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7132(b)).
SEC. 2003. MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
(a) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the Department of
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as
subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Organization of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
Education Programs.--
``(1) Director of mathematics, science and engineering
education.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science
(referred to in this subsection as the `Under Secretary'),
shall appoint a Director of Mathematics, Science, and
Engineering Education (referred to in this subsection as the
`Director') with the principal responsibility for administering
mathematics, science, and engineering education programs across
all functions of the Department.
``(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual,
who by reason of professional background and experience, is
specially qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all
matters pertaining to mathematics, science, and engineering
education at the Department.
``(3) Duties.--The Director shall--
``(A) oversee all mathematics, science, and
engineering education programs of the Department;
``(B) represent the Department as the principal
interagency liaison for all mathematics, science, and
engineering education programs, unless otherwise
represented by the Secretary or the Under Secretary;
``(C) prepare the annual budget and advise the
Under Secretary on all budgetary issues for
mathematics, science, and engineering education
programs of the Department;
``(D) increase, to the maximum extent practicable,
the participation and advancement of women and
underrepresented minorities at every level of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics education; and
``(E) perform other such matters related to
mathematics, science, and engineering education as are
required by the Secretary or the Under Secretary.
``(4) Staff and other resources.--The Secretary shall
assign to the Director such personnel and other resources as
the Secretary considers necessary to permit the Director to
carry out the duties of the Director.
``(5) Assessment.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to
enter into a contract with the National Academy of
Sciences under which the National Academy, not later
than 5 years after, and not later than 10 years after,
the date of enactment of this paragraph, shall assess
the performance of the mathematics, science, and
engineering education programs of the Department.
``(B) Considerations.--An assessment under this
paragraph shall be conducted taking into consideration,
where applicable, the effect of mathematics, science,
and engineering education programs of the Department on
student academic achievement in math and science.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to
carry out this subsection.''; and
(3) by striking subsection (d) (as redesignated by
paragraph (1)) and inserting the following:
``(d) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Fund.--The
Secretary shall establish a Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made
available to the Department for research, development, demonstration,
and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out sections
3165, 3166, and 3167.''.
(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall--
(1) consult with the Secretary of Education regarding
activities authorized under subpart B of the Department of
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (as added by
subsection (d)(3)) to improve mathematics and science
education; and
(2) otherwise make available to the Secretary of Education
reports associated with programs authorized under that section.
(c) Definition.--Section 3168 of the Department of Energy Science
Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381d) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(5) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory'
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
(d) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Programs.--The
Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381
et seq.) is amended--
(1) by inserting after section 3162 the following:
``Subpart A--Science Education Enhancement'';
(2) in section 3169, by striking ``part'' and inserting
``subpart''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``Subpart B--Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Programs
``SEC. 3170. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subpart:
``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education.
``(2) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory'
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
``CHAPTER 1--ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND
SCIENCE
``SEC. 3171. SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
assistance to States to establish or expand public, statewide specialty
secondary schools that provide comprehensive mathematics and science
(including engineering) education to improve the academic achievement
of students in mathematics and science.
``(b) Definition of Specialty School for Mathematics and Science.--
In this chapter, the term `specialty school for mathematics and
science' 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 mathematics and science (including engineering)
curriculum designed to improve the academic achievement of
students in mathematics and science.
``(c) Grants Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--From the amounts authorized under
subsection (i), the Secretary, acting through the Director,
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 mathematics and science.
``(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 mathematics and science for students
attending such schools; and
``(B) provide ongoing professional development
opportunities for teachers employed at such schools.
``(3) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166,
the Director shall make available necessary funds for 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) Restriction.--No State shall receive funding for more
than 1 specialty school for mathematics and science for a
fiscal year.
``(d) Federal and Non-Federal Shares.--
``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs
described in subsection (c)(1) shall not exceed 50 percent.
``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the
costs described in subsection (c)(1) shall be--
``(A) not less than 50 percent; and
``(B) provided from non-Federal sources, in cash or
in kind, fairly evaluated, including services.
``(e) Application.--Each State desiring a grant under this section
shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by 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 mathematics and science 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 mathematics and science--
``(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 mathematics and science;
``(3) how the State will measure the extent to which the
school increases student academic achievement on State academic
achievement standards in mathematics and science;
``(4) the curricula and materials to be used in the school;
``(5) the availability of funds from non-Federal sources
for the non-Federal share of 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 mathematics and science 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) In general.--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 mathematics
and science;
``(B) integrate into the curriculum of the school
comprehensive mathematics and science education,
including instruction and assessments that are aligned
with the State's academic content and student academic
achievement standards (within the meaning of section
1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311)), classroom management,
professional development, parental involvement, and
school management; and
``(C) provide high-quality and continuous teacher
and staff professional development.
``(2) Special rule.--Grant funds under this section may be
used for activities described in paragraph (1) only if the
activities are directly related to improving student academic
achievement in mathematics and science.
``(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
mathematics and science 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 the
date of enactment of the PACE-Energy Act, the Director shall
submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress
detailing the impact of the activities assisted with funds made
available under this section.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
``(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(4) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``CHAPTER 2--EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
``SEC. 3175. 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; and
``(B) promote experiential, hands-on learning in
mathematics or science.
``(2) Residential services.--The Director may provide
residential services to students participating in the
Internship authorized under this chapter.
``(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.
``(c) Priority.--
``(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 6, 7, or 8, 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 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 math,
science, and engineering.
``(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 chapter that objectively measures the impact of the
activities.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2007 through 2011.
``CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS
AND SCIENCE EDUCATION
``SEC. 3181. NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS
AND SCIENCE EDUCATION.
``(a) Definition of High-Need Public Secondary School.--In this
chapter, the term `high-need public secondary school' means a secondary
school--
``(1) with a high concentration of low-income individuals
(as defined in section 1707 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537)); or
``(2) designated with a school locale code of 6, 7, or 8,
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
Mathematics and Science at 1 high-need public secondary school located
in the region of the National Laboratory to provide assistance in
accordance with subsection (f).
``(c) Partnership.--Each high-need public secondary school selected
as a Center of Excellence shall form a partnership with a department
that provides training for teachers and principals at an institution of
higher education for purposes of compliance with subsection (g).
``(d) Selection.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director, shall establish criteria to guide the National
Laboratories in selecting the sites of the Centers of
Excellence.
``(2) Process.--The National Laboratories shall select the
sites of the Centers 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 3165 and 3166, the
Director shall make available necessary funds for a program using
scientific and engineering staff of the National Laboratories, during
which the staff--
``(1) assists teachers in teaching courses at the Centers
of Excellence in Mathematics and Science; and
``(2) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the
teaching of the courses.
``(g) Special Rule.--Each Center of Excellence shall ensure--
``(1) provision of clinical practicum, student teaching, or
internship experiences for math and science teacher candidates
as part of its teacher preparation program;
``(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 chapter 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 the date of enactment of this subpart at any National Laboratory
under any other provision of law.
``CHAPTER 4--SUMMER INSTITUTES
``SEC. 3185. SUMMER INSTITUTES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible partner.--The term `eligible partner'
means--
``(A) the mathematics or science (including
engineering) department at an institution of higher
education, acting in coordination with a department at
an institution of higher education that provides
training for teachers and principals; or
``(B) a nonprofit entity with expertise in
providing professional development for mathematics or
science teachers.
``(2) Summer institute.--The term `summer institute' means
an institute, conducted during the summer, that--
``(A) is conducted for a period of not less than 2
weeks;
``(B) 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; and
``(C) provides for follow-up training, during the
academic year, that is conducted in the classroom.
``(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
mathematics and science teaching skills of teachers employed at
public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance
with the activities authorized under subsections (c) and (d).
``(2) Programs with eligible partners.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through
the Director, shall identify and provide assistance to
eligible partners to establish or expand programs of
summer institutes that provide additional training to
strengthen the mathematics and science teaching skills
of teachers employed at public schools for kindergarten
through grade 12, in accordance with the activities
authorized under subsections (c) and (d).
``(B) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165
and 3166, the Director shall make available necessary
funds for 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.
``(C) Limitation of amount.--To carry out this
paragraph, the Director may use not more than 50
percent of the amounts authorized under subsection (h)
for a fiscal year.
``(c) Required Activities.--Each program authorized under
subsection (b) shall--
``(1) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing
professional development for teachers that improves the
mathematics and science content knowledge of such teachers;
``(2) include material pertaining to recent developments in
mathematics and science pedagogy;
``(3) provide training on the use and integration of
technology in the classroom;
``(4) directly relate to the curriculum and academic areas
in which the teachers provide instruction;
``(5) enhance the ability of the teachers to understand and
use the challenging State academic content standards for
mathematics and science and to select appropriate curricula;
``(6) train teachers to use curricula that are--
``(A) based on scientific research;
``(B) aligned with challenging State academic
content standards; and
``(C) object-centered, experiment-oriented, and
concept- and content-based;
``(7) provide professional development activities,
including supplemental and follow-up activities; and
``(8) allow for the exchange of best practices among the
participants.
``(d) Permissible Activities.--A program authorized under
subsection (b) may include--
``(1) a program that provides teachers with opportunities
to work under the guidance of experienced teachers and college
faculty;
``(2) instruction in the use and integration of data and
assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice; and
``(3) extended master teacher programs.
``(e) 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 disadvantaged school districts; and
``(3) teachers from groups underrepresented in the fields
of mathematics and science teaching, including women and
members of minority groups.
``(f) 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).
``(g) 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 mathematics and science teachers who participate in
the summer institutes involved; and
``(B) measurable objectives for improved student
academic achievement on State mathematics and science
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 mathematics and science teaching skills of
participating teachers.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
``(2) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(5) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``CHAPTER 5--NUCLEAR SCIENCE EDUCATION
``SEC. 3191. NUCLEAR SCIENCE TALENT EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to address the decline in the number of and resources
available to nuclear science programs of institutions of higher
education; and
``(2) to increase the number of graduates with degrees in
nuclear science, an area of strategic importance to the
economic competitiveness and energy security of the United
States.
``(b) Definition of Nuclear Science.--In this section, the term
`nuclear science' includes--
``(1) nuclear science;
``(2) nuclear engineering;
``(3) nuclear chemistry;
``(4) radio chemistry; and
``(5) health physics.
``(c) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Director,
shall establish in accordance with this section a program to expand and
enhance institution of higher education nuclear science educational
capabilities.
``(d) Nuclear Science Program Expansion Grants for Institutions of
Higher Education.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director, shall award up to 3 competitive grants for each
fiscal year to institutions of higher education that establish
new academic degree programs in nuclear science.
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this
subsection, an applicant shall partner with a National
Laboratory or other eligible nuclear-related entity, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(3) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this
subsection shall be based on--
``(A) the potential to attract new students to the
program;
``(B) academic rigor; and
``(C) the ability to offer hands-on learning
opportunities.
``(4) Duration and amount.--
``(A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection
shall be 5 years in duration.
``(B) Amount.--An institution of higher education
that receives a grant under this subsection shall be
eligible for up to $1,000,000 for each year of the
grant period.
``(5) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education
that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant
to--
``(A) recruit and retain new faculty;
``(B) develop core and specialized course content;
``(C) encourage collaboration between faculty and
researchers in the nuclear science field; or
``(D) support outreach efforts to recruit students.
``(e) Nuclear Science Competitiveness Grants for Institutions of
Higher Education.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director shall award up to 10 competitive grants for each
fiscal year to institutions of higher education with existing
academic degree programs that produce graduates in nuclear
science.
``(2) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this
subsection shall be based on the potential for increasing the
number and academic quality of graduates in the nuclear
sciences who enter into careers in nuclear-related fields.
``(3) Duration and amount.--
``(A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection
shall be 5 years in duration.
``(B) Amount.--An institution of higher education
that receives a grant under this subsection shall be
eligible for up to $500,000 for each year of the grant
period.
``(4) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education
that receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant
to--
``(A) increase the number of graduates in nuclear
science that enter into careers in the nuclear science
field;
``(B) enhance the teaching of advanced nuclear
technologies;
``(C) aggressively pursue collaboration
opportunities with industry and National Laboratories;
``(D) bolster or sustain nuclear infrastructure and
research facilities of the institution of higher
education, such as research and training reactors or
laboratories; and
``(E) provide tuition assistance and stipends to
undergraduate and graduate students.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) Nuclear science program expansion grants for
institutions of higher education.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (d)--
``(A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
``(B) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(C) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(D) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(E) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``(2) Nuclear science competitiveness grants for
institutions of higher education.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out subsection (e)--
``(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
``(B) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(C) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(D) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(E) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.
SEC. 2004. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to authorize
research grants in the Department for early-career scientists and
engineers for purposes of pursuing independent research.
(b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In this
section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' means an
individual who--
(1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more
than 10 years before the date of application for a grant
authorized under this section, except as provided in subsection
(c)(3); and
(2) has demonstrated promise in the field of science,
technology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, or
computational science.
(c) Grant Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award not less than 65
grants per year to outstanding eligible early-career
researchers to support the work of such researchers in the
Department, particularly at the National Laboratories, or other
federally-funded research and development centers.
(2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who
desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.
(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may find eligible a candidate
who has completed a doctorate more than 10 years prior to the
date of application if the candidate was unable to conduct
research for a period of time because of extenuating
circumstances, including military service or family
responsibilities.
(4) Duration and amount.--
(A) Duration.--A grant under this section shall be
5 years in duration.
(B) Amount.--An eligible early career-researcher
who receives a grant under this section shall receive
up to $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
(5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who
receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds
for basic research in natural sciences, engineering,
mathematics, or computer sciences at the Department,
particularly the National Laboratories, or other federally-
funded research and development center.
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section--
(A) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(C) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(D) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(E) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 2005. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AUTHORITY-ENERGY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advisory board.--The term ``Advisory Board'' means the
Advisory Board established under subsection (d).
(2) Authority.--The term ``Authority'' means the Advanced
Research Projects Authority--Energy established under
subsection (b).
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Authority appointed under subsection (c)(1).
(4) Energy technology.--The term ``energy technology''
means technology, including carbon-neutral technology, used
for--
(A) fossil energy;
(B) carbon sequestration;
(C) nuclear energy;
(D) renewable energy;
(E) energy distribution; or
(F) energy efficiency technology.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Advanced
Research Projects Authority-Energy to overcome the long-term and high-
risk technological barriers in the development of energy technologies.
(c) Director.--
(1) Appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint a Director of
the Authority.
(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual
who, by reason of professional background and experience, is
especially qualified to advise the Secretary on matters
pertaining to long-term, high-risk programs to overcome long-
term and high-risk technological barriers to the development of
energy technologies.
(3) Duties.--The Director shall--
(A) employ such qualified technical staff as are
necessary to carry out the duties of the Authority,
including providing staff for the Advisory Committee;
(B) serve as the selection official for proposals
relating to energy technologies that are solicited
within the Department;
(C) develop metrics to assist in developing funding
criteria and for assessing the success of existing
programs;
(D) terminate programs carried out under this
section that are not achieving the goals of the
programs; and
(E) perform such duties relating to long-term and
high-risk technological barriers in the development of
energy technologies as are determined to be appropriate
by the Secretary.
(d) Advisory Board.--
(1) Appointment.--The Secretary shall, consistent with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), establish, and
appoint members to, an Advisory Board to make recommendations
to the Secretary and the Director on actions necessary to carry
out this section.
(2) Qualifications.--The Advisory Board shall consist of
individuals who, by reason of professional background and
experience, are especially qualified to advise the Secretary
and the Director on matters pertaining to long-term and high-
risk technological barriers in the development of energy
technologies.
(3) Term.--A member of the Advisory Board shall be
appointed for a term of 5 years.
(4) Information.--Each fiscal year, individuals who carry
out energy technology programs of the Department and staff of
the Authority shall provide to the Advisory Board written
proposals and oral briefings on long-term and high-risk
technological barriers that are critical to overcome for the
successful development of energy technologies.
(5) Duties.--Each fiscal year, the Advisory Board shall--
(A) recommend to the Secretary and the Director--
(i) in order of priority, proposals of
energy programs of the Department that are
critical to overcoming long-term and high-risk
technological barriers to enable the successful
development of energy technologies; and
(ii) additional programs not covered in the
proposals that are critical to overcoming the
barriers described in clause (i); and
(B) based on the metrics described in subsection
(c)(3)(C), make recommendations to the Secretary and
the Directory concerning whether programs funded under
this section are achieving the goals of the programs.
(e) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National
Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall--
(1) conduct reviews during each of calendar years 2009 and
2011 to determine the success of the activities carried out
under this section; and
(2) submit to Congress, the Secretary, and the Director a
report describing the results of each review.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for
each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.
SEC. 2006. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
FOR BASIC RESEARCH.
Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16311(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``$5,200,000,000'' and inserting
``$4,800,000,000''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) $4,945,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(5) $5,265,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.
SEC. 2007. DISCOVERY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INNOVATION INSTITUTES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish distributed,
multidisciplinary institutes (referred to in this section as
``Institutes'') centered at National Laboratories to apply fundamental
science and engineering discoveries to technological innovations
related to the missions of the Department and the global
competitiveness of the United States.
(b) Topical Areas.--The Institutes shall support scientific and
engineering research and education activities on critical emerging
technologies determined by the Secretary to be essential to global
competitiveness, including activities related to--
(1) sustainable energy technologies;
(2) multi-scale materials and processes;
(3) micro- and nano-engineering;
(4) computational and information engineering; and
(5) genomics and proteomics.
(c) Partnerships.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall establish partnerships between the Institutes and--
(1) institutions of higher education to--
(A) train undergraduate and graduate engineering
and science students;
(B) develop innovative educational curricula; and
(C) conduct research within the topical areas
described in subsection (b);
(2) private industry to develop innovative technologies
within the topical areas described in subsection (b);
(3) State and local governments to promote regionally-based
commercialization and entrepreneurship; and
(4) financing entities to guide successful technology
commercialization.
(d) Merit-Based Selection.--The selection of Institutes under this
section shall be merit-based and made through an open, competitive
selection process.
(e) Restriction.--Not more than 3 Institutes shall receive grants
for a fiscal year.
(f) Review.--The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the
National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall, not later
than 3 and 6 years after the date of enactment of this Act--
(1) review the performance of the Institutes under this
section; and
(2) submit to Congress and the Secretary a report
describing the results of the review.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the activities of each Institute selected
under this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through
2011.
SEC. 2008. PROTECTING AMERICA'S COMPETITIVE EDGE (PACE) GRADUATE
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Definition of Eligible Student.--In this section, the term
``eligible student'' means a student who attends an institution of
higher education that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a
mission area of the Department.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a graduate
fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in
a mission area of the Department.
(c) Selection.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award fellowships to
eligible students under this section through a competitive
merit review process (involving written and oral interviews)
that will result in a wide distribution of awards throughout
the United States.
(2) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish selection
criteria for awarding fellowships under this section that
require an eligible student to--
(A) pursue a field of science or engineering of
importance to the mission area of the Department;
(B) rank in the upper 10 percent of the class of
the eligible student;
(C) demonstrate to the Secretary--
(i) the capacity to understand technical
topics related to the fellowship that can be
derived from the first principles of the
technical topics;
(ii) imagination and creativity;
(iii) leadership skills in organizations or
intellectual endeavors, demonstrated through
awards and past experience; and
(iv) excellent verbal and communication
skills to explain, defend, and demonstrate an
understanding of technical subjects related to
the fellowship; and
(D) be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the
United States.
(d) Awards.--
(1) Amount.--A fellowship awarded under this section
shall--
(A) provide an annual living stipend; and
(B) cover--
(i) graduate tuition at an institution of
higher education; and
(ii) incidental expenses associated with
curricula and research at the institution of
higher education (including books, computers
and software).
(2) Duration.--A fellowship awarded under this section
shall be for a period of not greater than 5 years.
(3) Portability.--A fellowship awarded under this section
shall be portable with the fellow.
(e) Administration.--The Secretary (acting through the Director of
Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education)--
(1) shall administer the program established under this
section; and,
(2) may enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity to
administer the program, including the selection and award of
fellowships.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) Fellowships.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to award fellowships under this section--
(A) $4,500,000 for 100 fellowships for fiscal year
2007;
(B) $9,300,000 for 200 fellowships for fiscal year
2008 (including non-expiring fellowships for the prior
fiscal year);
(C) $14,500,000 for 300 fellowships for fiscal year
2009 (including non-expiring fellowships for prior
fiscal years);
(D) $25,000,000 for 500 fellowships for fiscal year
2010 (including non-expiring fellowships for prior
fiscal years); and
(E) $35,500,000 for 700 fellowships for fiscal year
2011 (including non-expiring fellowships for prior
fiscal years).
(2) Administration.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for administrative expenses incurred in carrying
out this section--
(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(C) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(D) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(E) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 2009. TITLE IX COMPLIANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report
that describes actions taken by the Department of Energy to implement
the recommendations in the report of the Government Accountability
Office numbered 04-639.
(b) Compliance.--To comply with title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Secretary of Energy
shall annually conduct compliance reviews of at least 2 recipients of
Department of Energy grants.
SEC. 2010. HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD RESEARCH.
(a) Definition of High-Risk, High-Reward Research.--In this
section, the term ``high-risk, high reward research'' means research
that--
(1) has the potential for yielding results with far-ranging
implications;
(2) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of
disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review
process; and
(3) is supportive of the missions of the sponsoring agency.
(b) Establishment of Grant Programs.--
(1) Energy grant program.--The Secretary shall establish a
grant program to encourage the conduct of high-risk, high-
reward research at the Department.
(2) Geological grant program.--The Director of the United
States Geological Survey shall establish a grant program to
encourage the conduct of high-risk, high-reward research at the
United States Geological Survey.
SEC. 2011. DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote scientific
and academic excellence through collaborations between institutions of
higher education and the National Laboratories.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
support the joint appointment of distinguished scientists by
institutions of higher education and National Laboratories.
(c) Qualifications.--Successful candidates under this section shall
be persons who, by reason of professional background and experience,
are able to bring international recognition to the appointing
institution of higher education and National Laboratory in their field
of scientific endeavor.
(d) Selection.--A distinguished scientist appointed under this
section shall be selected through an open, competitive process.
(e) Appointment.--
(1) Institution of higher education.--An appointment by an
institution of higher education under this section shall be
filled within the tenure allotment of the institution of higher
education at a minimum rank of professor.
(2) National laboratory.--An appointment by a National
Laboratory under this section shall be at the rank of the
highest grade of distinguished scientist or technical staff of
the National Laboratory.
(f) Duration.--An appointment under this section shall be for 6
years, consisting of 2 3-year funding allotments.
(g) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this section may be
used for--
(1) the salary of the distinguished scientist and support
staff;
(2) undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral
appointments;
(3) research-related equipment;
(4) professional travel; and
(5) such other requirements as the Director determines are
necessary to carry out the purpose of the program.
(h) Review.--
(1) In general.--The appointment of a distinguished
scientist under this section shall be reviewed at the end of
the first 3-year allotment for the distinguished scientist
through an open peer-review process to determine whether the
appointment is meeting the purpose of this section under
subsection (a).
(2) Funding.--Funding of the appointment of the
distinguished scientist for the second 3-year allotment shall
be determined based on the review conducted under paragraph
(1).
(i) Cost Sharing.--To be eligible for assistance under this
section, an appointing institution of higher education shall pay at
least 50 percent of the total costs of the appointment.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 (to support up to 15
appointments under this section);
(2) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 (to support up to 30
such appointments);
(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 (to support up to 60
such appointments); and
(4) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2011
(to support up to 100 such appointments).
DIVISION C--EDUCATION
SEC. 3001. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) A well-educated population is essential to retaining
America's competitiveness in the global economy.
(2) The United States needs to build on and expand the
impact of existing programs by taking additional, well-
coordinated steps to ensure that all students are able to
obtain the knowledge the students need to obtain postsecondary
education and participate successfully in the workforce or the
Armed Forces.
(3) The next steps must be informed by independent
information on the effectiveness of current programs in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education,
and by identification of best practices that can be replicated.
(4) Teacher preparation and elementary school and secondary
school programs and activities must be aligned with the
requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the requirements of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
(5) The ever increasing knowledge and skill demands of the
21st century require that secondary school preparation and
requirements be better aligned with the knowledge and skills
needed to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce,
and States need better data systems to track educational
achievement from prekindergarten through baccalaureate degrees.
SEC. 3002. DEFINITIONS.
(a) ESEA Definitions.--Unless otherwise specified in this division,
the terms used in this division have the meanings given the terms in
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
(b) Other Definitions.--In this division:
(1) Critical foreign language.--The term ``critical foreign
language'' means a foreign language that the Secretary
determines, in consultation with the heads of such Federal
departments and agencies as the Secretary determines
appropriate, is critical to the national security and economic
competitiveness of the United States.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
TITLE I--TEACHER ASSISTANCE
Subtitle A--Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow
SEC. 3111. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this subtitle is--
(1) to develop and implement programs to provide integrated
courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, or
critical foreign languages, and teacher education, that lead to
a baccalaureate degree with concurrent teacher certification;
and
(2) to develop and implement 2- or 3-year part-time
master's degree programs in mathematics, science, or critical
foreign language education for teachers in order to enhance the
teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
SEC. 3112. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Children from low-income families.--The term ``children
from low-income families'' means children described in section
1124(c)(1)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(1)(A)).
(2) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient''
means an institution of higher education that receives grant
funds under this subtitle on behalf of a department of
mathematics, engineering, science, or critical foreign language
for use in carrying out activities assisted under this
subtitle.
(3) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-
need local educational agency'' means a local educational
agency or educational service agency--
(A)(i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children
from low-income families;
(ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the
children served by the agency are children from low-
income families; or
(iii) with a total of less than 600 students in
average daily attendance at the schools that are served
by the agency and all of whose schools are designated
with a school locale code of 6, 7, or 8, as determined
by the Secretary; and
(B)(i) for which there is a high percentage of
teachers providing instruction in academic subject
areas or grade levels for which the teachers are not
highly qualified; or
(ii) for which there is a high teacher turnover
rate or a high percentage of teachers with emergency,
provisional, or temporary certification or licensure.
(4) Highly qualified.--The term ``highly qualified'' has
the meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) and, with
respect to special education teachers, in section 602 of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).
(5) Partnership.--The term ``partnership'' means a
partnership that--
(A) shall include--
(i) an eligible recipient;
(ii) a department within the eligible
recipient that provides a program of study in
mathematics, engineering, science, or critical
foreign languages;
(iii)(I) a school or department within the
eligible recipient that provides a teacher
preparation program; or
(II) a 2-year institution of higher
education that has a teacher preparation
offering or a dual enrollment program with the
eligible recipient; and
(iv) not less than 1 high-need local
educational agency and a public school or a
consortium of public schools served by the
agency; and
(B) may include a nonprofit organization that has
the capacity to provide expertise or support to meet
the purposes of this subtitle.
(6) Teaching skills.--The term ``teaching skills'' means
the ability to--
(A) increase student achievement;
(B) effectively convey and explain academic subject
matter;
(C) employ strategies that--
(i) are based on scientifically based
research;
(ii) are specific to academic subject
matter; and
(iii) focus on the identification of, and
tailoring of academic instruction to, students'
specific learning needs, particularly children
with disabilities, students who are limited
English proficient, and students who are gifted
and talented;
(D) conduct ongoing assessment of student learning;
(E) effectively manage a classroom; and
(F) communicate and work with parents and
guardians, and involve parents and guardians in their
children's education.
SEC. 3113. PROGRAMS FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING, OR CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES, WITH
CONCURRENT TEACHER CERTIFICATION.
(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts made available to carry
out this section under section 3116(1) and not reserved under section
3115(d) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants,
on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable partnerships
served by the eligible recipients to develop and implement programs to
provide courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, or
critical foreign languages that--
(1) are integrated with teacher education; and
(2) lead to a baccalaureate degree with concurrent teacher
certification.
(b) Application.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time
and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application
shall--
(1) describe the program for which assistance is sought;
(2) describe how a department of mathematics, science,
engineering, or a critical foreign language participating in
the partnership will ensure significant collaboration with a
teacher preparation program in the development of undergraduate
degrees in mathematics, science, engineering, or a critical
foreign language, with concurrent teacher certification,
including providing student teaching and other clinical
classroom experiences;
(3) describe the high-quality research, laboratory, or
internship experiences, integrated with coursework, that will
be provided under the program;
(4) describe how members of groups that are
underrepresented in the teaching of mathematics, science, or
critical foreign languages will be encouraged to participate in
the program;
(5) describe how program participants will be encouraged to
teach in schools determined by the partnership to be most in
need, and what assistance in finding employment in such schools
will be provided;
(6) describe the ongoing activities and services that will
be provided to graduates of the program;
(7) describe how the activities of the partnership will be
coordinated with any activities funded through other Federal
grants, and how the partnership will continue the activities
assisted under the program when the grant period ends;
(8) describe how the partnership will assess the content
knowledge and teaching skills of the program participants; and
(9) provide any other information the Secretary may
reasonably require.
(c) Authorized Activities.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible recipient receiving a grant
under this section shall use the grant funds to enable a
partnership to develop and implement a program to provide
courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, or a
critical foreign language that--
(A) are integrated with teacher education programs
that promote effective teaching skills; and
(B) lead to a baccalaureate degree in mathematics,
science, engineering, or a critical foreign language
with concurrent teacher certification.
(2) Program requirements.--The program shall--
(A) provide high-quality research, laboratory, or
internship experiences for program participants;
(B) provide student teaching or other clinical
classroom experiences that--
(i) are integrated with coursework; and
(ii) lead to the participants' ability to
demonstrate effective teaching skills;
(C) if implementing a program in which program
participants are prepared to teach mathematics or
science courses, include strategies for improving
student literacy;
(D) encourage the participation of individuals who
are members of groups that are underrepresented in the
teaching of mathematics, science or critical foreign
languages;
(E) encourage participants to teach in schools
determined by the partnership to be most in need, and
actively assist the participants in finding employment
in such schools;
(F) offer training in the use of and integration of
educational technology;
(G) collect data regarding and evaluate, using
measurable objectives and benchmarks, the extent to
which the program succeeded in--
(i) increasing the percentage of highly
qualified mathematics, science, or critical
foreign language teachers, including increasing
the percentage of such teachers teaching in
those schools determined by the partnership to
be most in need;
(ii) improving student academic achievement
in mathematics and science;
(iii) increasing the number of students in
secondary schools enrolled in upper level
mathematics and science courses; and
(iv) increasing the numbers of elementary
school, middle school, and secondary school
students enrolled in and continuing in critical
foreign language courses;
(H) collect data on the employment placement of all
graduates of the program, including information on how
many graduates are teaching and in what kinds of
schools;
(I) provide ongoing activities and services to
graduates of the program who teach elementary school,
middle school, or secondary school, by--
(i) keeping the graduates informed of the
latest developments in their respective
academic fields; and
(ii) supporting the graduates of the
program who are employed in schools in the
local educational agency participating in the
partnership during the initial years of
teaching through--
(I) induction programs;
(II) promotion of effective
teaching skills; and
(III) providing opportunities for
regular professional development; and
(J) develop recommendations to improve the teacher
preparation program participating in the partnership.
(d) Annual Report.--Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under
this section shall collect and report to the Secretary annually such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including--
(1) the number of participants in the program;
(2) information on the academic majors of participating
students;
(3) the race, gender, income, and disability status of
program participants;
(4) the employment placement of program participants as
teachers in schools determined by the partnership to be most in
need;
(5) the extent to which the program succeeded in meeting
the objectives and benchmarks described in subsection
(c)(2)(G); and
(6) the data collected under subparagraphs (G) and (H) of
subsection (c)(2).
(e) Technical Assistance.--From the funds made available under
section 3116(1), the Secretary may provide technical assistance to an
eligible recipient developing a baccalaureate degree program with
concurrent teacher certification, including technical assistance
provided through a grant or contract awarded on a competitive basis to
an institution of higher education or a technical assistance center.
SEC. 3114. PROGRAMS FOR MASTER'S DEGREES IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, OR
CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES EDUCATION.
(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts made available to carry
out this section under section 3116(2) and not reserved under section
3115(d) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants,
on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable the
partnerships served by the eligible recipients to develop and implement
2- or 3-year part-time master's degree programs in mathematics,
science, or critical foreign language education for teachers in order
to enhance the teacher's content knowledge and teaching skills.
(b) Application.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time
and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application shall
describe--
(1) how a department of mathematics, science, or a critical
foreign language will ensure significant collaboration with a
teacher preparation program in the development of master's
degree programs in mathematics, science, or a critical foreign
language for teachers that enhance the teachers' content
knowledge and teaching skills;
(2) the role of the local educational agency in the
partnership in developing and administering the program and how
feedback from the local educational agency, school, and
participants will be used to improve the program;
(3) how the program will help increase the percentage of
highly qualified mathematics, science, or critical foreign
language teachers, including increasing the percentage of such
teachers teaching in schools determined by the partnership to
be most in need;
(4) how the program will--
(A) improve student academic achievement in
mathematics and science and increase the number of
students taking upper-level courses in such subjects;
or
(B) increase the numbers of elementary school,
middle school, and secondary school students enrolled
and continuing in critical foreign language courses;
(5) how the program will prepare teachers to become more
effective mathematics, science, or critical foreign language
teachers;
(6) how the program will prepare teachers to assume
leadership roles in their schools;
(7) how teachers who are members of groups that are
underrepresented in the teaching of mathematics, science, or
critical foreign languages and teachers from schools determined
by the partnership to be most in need will be encouraged to
apply for and participate in the program;
(8) the ongoing activities and services that will be
provided to graduates of the program;
(9) how the partnership will continue the activities
assisted under the grant when the grant period ends; and
(10) how the partnership will assess, during the program,
the content knowledge and teaching skills of teachers
participating in the program.
(c) Authorized Activities.--Each eligible recipient receiving a
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to develop and
implement a 2- or 3-year part-time master's degree program in
mathematics, science, or critical foreign language education for
teachers in order to enhance the teachers' content knowledge and
teaching skills. The program shall--
(1) promote effective teaching skills so the teachers
participating in the program become more effective mathematics,
science, or critical foreign language teachers;
(2) prepare teachers to assume leadership roles in their
schools by participating in activities such as teacher
mentoring, development of curricula that integrate state of the
art applications of mathematics and science into the classroom,
working with school administrators in establishing in-service
professional development of teachers, and assisting in
evaluating data and assessments to improve student academic
achievement;
(3) use high-quality research, laboratory, or internship
experiences for program participants that are integrated with
coursework;
(4) provide student teaching or clinical classroom
experience;
(5) if implementing a program in which participants are
prepared to teach mathematics or science courses, provide
strategies for improving student literacy;
(6) align the content knowledge in the master's degree
program with challenging student academic achievement standards
and challenging academic content standards established by the
State in which the program is conducted;
(7) encourage the participation of--
(A) individuals who are members of groups that are
underrepresented in the teaching of mathematics,
science, or critical foreign languages; and
(B) teachers teaching in schools determined by the
partnership to be most in need;
(8) offer tuition assistance, based on need, as
appropriate; and
(9) evaluate and report on the impact of the program, in
accordance with subsection (d).
(d) Evaluation and Report.--Each eligible recipient receiving a
grant under this section shall evaluate, using measurable objectives
and benchmarks, and provide an annual report to the Secretary
regarding, the extent to which the program assisted under this section
succeeded in increasing the following:
(1) The number and percentage of mathematics, science, or
critical foreign language teachers who have a master's degree
and meet 1 or more of the following requirements:
(A) Are teaching in schools determined by the
partnership to be most in need, and taught in such
schools prior to participation in the program.
(B) Are teaching in schools determined by the
partnership to be most in need, and did not teach in
such schools prior to participation in the program.
(C) Are members of a group underrepresented in the
teaching of mathematics, science, or a critical foreign
language.
(2) The retention of teachers who participate in the
program.
SEC. 3115. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary shall award each grant under
this subtitle for a period of not more than 5 years.
(b) Matching Requirement.--Each eligible recipient that receives a
grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an
amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be
provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by
the grant.
(c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
subtitle shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal
or State funds.
(d) Evaluation.--From amounts made available for any fiscal year
under section 3116, the Secretary shall reserve such sums as may be
necessary--
(1) to provide for the conduct of an annual independent
evaluation, by grant or by contract, of the activities assisted
under this subtitle, which shall include an assessment of the
impact of the activities on student academic achievement; and
(2) to prepare and submit an annual report on the results
of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
SEC. 3116. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$180,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2008,
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 3 succeeding fiscal
years, of which--
(1)(A) 55.5 percent shall be available to carry out section
3113 for fiscal year 2007; and
(B) 57.1 percent shall be available to carry out section
3113 for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year; and
(2)(A) 44.5 percent shall be available to carry out section
3114 for fiscal year 2007; and
(B) 42.9 percent shall be available to carry out section
3114 for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Subtitle B--Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs
SEC. 3121. PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this subtitle--
(1) to raise academic achievement through Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate programs by
increasing, by 70,000, over a 5-year period beginning in 2007,
the number of teachers serving high-need schools who are
qualified to teach Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, and critical
foreign languages;
(2) to increase, to 700,000 per year, the number of
students attending high-need schools who--
(A) take and score a 3, 4, or 5 on an Advanced
Placement examination in mathematics, science, or a
critical foreign language administered by the College
Board; or
(B) achieve a passing score on an examination
administered by the International Baccalaureate
Organization in such a subject;
(3) to increase the availability of, and enrollment in,
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in
mathematics, science, and critical foreign languages, and pre-
Advanced Placement or pre-International Baccalaureate courses
in such subjects, in high-need schools; and
(4) to support statewide efforts to increase the
availability of, and enrollment in, Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science,
and critical foreign languages, and pre-Advanced Placement or
pre-International Baccalaureate courses in such subjects, in
high-need schools.
SEC. 3122. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Advanced placement or international baccalaureate
course.--The term ``Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate course'' means a course of college-level
instruction provided to middle or secondary school students,
terminating in an examination administered by the College Board
or the International Baccalaureate Organization, or another
such examination approved by the Secretary.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State educational agency;
(B) a local educational agency; or
(C) a partnership consisting of--
(i) a national, regional, or statewide
nonprofit organization, with expertise and
experience in providing Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate services; and
(ii) a State educational agency or local
educational agency.
(3) Low-income student.--The term ``low-income student''
has the meaning given the term ``low-income individual'' in
section 1707(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537(3)).
(4) High concentration of low-income students.--The term
``high concentration of low-income students'' has the meaning
given the term in section 1707(2) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537(2)).
(5) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-
need local educational agency'' means a local educational
agency or educational service agency described in 3112(3)(A).
(6) High-need school.--The term ``high-need school'' means
a middle school or secondary school--
(A) with a pervasive need for Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics,
science, or critical foreign languages, or for
additional Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in such a subject; and
(B)(i) with a high concentration of low-income
students; or
(ii) designated with a school locale code of 6, 7
or 8, as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3123. ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS.
(a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated under
subsection (l), the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities
to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (g).
(b) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary may award grants under this
section for a period of not more than 5 years.
(c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the activities
carried out under this section with the activities carried out under
section 1705 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6535).
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to eligible entities that are part of a statewide
strategy for increasing the availability of Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, and
critical foreign languages, and pre-Advanced Placement or pre-
International Baccalaureate courses in such subjects, in high-need
schools.
(e) Equitable Distribution.--The Secretary, to the extent
practicable, shall--
(1) ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grants
under this section among the States; and
(2) promote an increase in participation in Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate mathematics, science,
and critical foreign language courses and examinations in all
States.
(f) Application.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(2) Contents.--The application shall, at a minimum, include
a description of--
(A) the goals and objectives for the project,
including--
(i) increasing the number of teachers
serving high-need schools who are qualified to
teach Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science,
or critical foreign languages;
(ii) increasing the number of qualified
teachers serving high-need schools who are
teaching Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science,
or critical foreign languages to students in
the high-need schools;
(iii) increasing the number of Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses in mathematics, science, and critical
foreign languages that are available to
students attending high-need schools; and
(iv) increasing the number of students
attending a high-need school, particularly low-
income students, who enroll in and pass--
(I) Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in
mathematics, science, or critical
foreign languages; and
(II) pre-Advanced Placement or pre-
International Baccalaureate courses in
such a subject (where provided in
accordance with subparagraph (B));
(B) how the eligible entity will ensure that
students have access to courses, including pre-Advanced
Placement and pre-International Baccalaureate courses,
that will prepare the students to enroll and succeed in
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses in mathematics, science, or critical foreign
languages;
(C) how the eligible entity will provide
professional development for teachers assisted under
this section;
(D) how the eligible entity will ensure that
teachers serving high-need schools are qualified to
teach Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses in mathematics, science, or critical foreign
languages;
(E) how the eligible entity will provide for the
involvement of business and community organizations and
other entities, including institutions of higher
education, in the activities to be assisted; and
(F) how the eligible entity will use funds received
under this section, including how the eligible entity
will evaluate the success of its project.
(g) Authorized Activities.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out
activities designed to increase--
(A) the number of qualified teachers serving high-
need schools who are teaching Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics,
science, or critical foreign languages; and
(B) the number of students attending high-need
schools who enroll in, and pass, the examinations for
such Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses.
(2) Permissive activities.--The activities described in
paragraph (1) may include--
(A) teacher professional development, in order to
expand the pool of teachers in the participating State,
local educational agency, or high-need school who are
qualified to teach Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or
critical foreign languages;
(B) pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International
Baccalaureate course development and professional
development;
(C) coordination and articulation between grade
levels to prepare students to enroll and succeed in
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses in mathematics, science, or critical foreign
languages;
(D) purchase of instructional materials;
(E) activities to increase the availability of, and
participation in, online Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics,
science, and critical foreign languages;
(F) reimbursing low-income students attending high-
need schools for part or all of the cost of Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate examination
fees;
(G) carrying out subsection (j), relating to
collecting and reporting data;
(H) in the case of a State educational agency that
receives a grant under this section, awarding subgrants
to local educational agencies to enable the local
educational agencies to carry out authorized activities
described in subparagraphs (A) through (G); and
(I) providing salary increments or bonuses to
teachers serving high-need schools who--
(i) become qualified to teach, and teach,
Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science,
or a critical foreign language; or
(ii) increase the number of low-income
students, who take Advanced Placement or
International Baccalaureate examinations in
mathematics, science, or a critical foreign
language with the goal of successfully passing
such examinations.
(h) Matching Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), each eligible
entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide,
toward the cost of the activities assisted under the grant,
from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the
amount of the grant, except that an eligible entity that is a
high-need local educational agency shall provide an amount
equal to not more than 100 percent of the amount of the grant.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the
matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal
year for an eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) or
(B) of section 3122(2), if the Secretary determines that
applying the matching requirement to such eligible entity would
result in serious hardship or an inability to carry out the
authorized activities described in subsection (g).
(i) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and
non-Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in
subsection (g).
(j) Collecting and Reporting Requirements.--
(1) Report.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant under
this section shall collect and report to the Secretary annually
such data on the results of the grant as the Secretary may
reasonably require, including data regarding--
(A) the number of students enrolling in Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in
mathematics, science, or a critical foreign language,
and pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International
Baccalaureate courses in such a subject, and the
distribution of grades those students receive;
(B) the number of students taking Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate examinations
in mathematics, science, or a critical foreign
language, and the distribution of scores on those
examinations;
(C) the number of teachers receiving training in
teaching Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or a
critical foreign language who will be teaching such
courses in the next school year;
(D) the number of teachers becoming qualified to
teach Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
courses in mathematics, science, or a critical foreign
language; and
(E) the number of qualified teachers who are
teaching Advanced Placement or International
Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or
critical foreign languages to students in a high-need
school.
(2) Reporting of data.--Each eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section shall report data required under
paragraph (1)--
(A) disaggregated by subject area;
(B) in the case of student data, disaggregated in
the same manner as information is disaggregated under
section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6311(h)(1)(C)(i)); and
(C) to the extent feasible, in a manner that allows
comparison of conditions before, during, and after the
project.
(k) Evaluation and Report.--From the amount made available for any
fiscal year under subsection (l), the Secretary shall reserve such sums
as may be necessary--
(1) to conduct an annual independent evaluation, by grant
or by contract, of the program carried out under this section,
which shall include an assessment of the impact of the program
on student academic achievement; and
(2) to prepare and submit an annual report on the results
of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $58,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2007 and 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each
of the 3 succeeding fiscal years.
TITLE II--MATH NOW
SEC. 3201. MATH NOW FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to enable all students
to reach or exceed grade-level academic achievement standards and to
prepare the students to enroll in and pass algebra courses by--
(1) improving instruction in mathematics for students in
kindergarten through grade 9 through the implementation of
mathematics programs and the support of comprehensive
mathematics initiatives that are based on the best available
evidence of effectiveness; and
(2) providing targeted help to low-income students who are
struggling with mathematics and whose achievement is
significantly below grade level.
(b) Definition of Eligible Local Educational Agency.--In this
section, the term ``eligible local educational agency'' means a high-
need local educational agency (as defined in section 3112(3)) serving 1
or more schools--
(1) with significant numbers or percentages of students
whose mathematics skills are below grade level;
(2) that are not making adequate yearly progress in
mathematics under section 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)); or
(3) in which students are receiving instruction in
mathematics from teachers who do not have mathematical content
knowledge or expertise in the teaching of mathematics.
(c) Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under
subsection (k) for any fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized
to award grants, on a competitive basis, for not more than 5
years, to State educational agencies to enable the State
educational agencies to award grants to eligible local
educational agencies to carry out the activities described in
subsection (e).
(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects that
will implement statewide strategies for improving mathematics
instruction and raising the mathematics achievement of
students, particularly students in grades 4 through 8.
(d) State Uses of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Each State educational agency that
receives a grant under this section for a fiscal year--
(A) shall expend not more than a total of 10
percent of the grant funds to carry out the activities
described in paragraphs (2) or (3) for the fiscal year;
and
(B) shall use not less than 90 percent of the grant
funds to award grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible local educational agencies to enable the
eligible local educational agencies to carry out the
activities described in subsection (e) for the fiscal
year.
(2) Mandatory uses of funds.--A State educational agency
shall use the grant funds made available under paragraph (1)(A)
to carry out each of the following activities:
(A) Planning and administration.--Planning and
administration, including--
(i) evaluating applications from eligible
local educational agencies using peer review
teams described in subsection (f)(1)(D);
(ii) administering the distribution of
grants to eligible local educational agencies;
and
(iii) assessing and evaluating, on a
regular basis, eligible local educational
agency activities assisted under this section,
with respect to whether the activities have
been effective in increasing the number of
children--
(I) making progress toward meeting
grade-level mathematics achievement;
and
(II) meeting or exceeding grade-
level mathematics achievement.
(B) Reporting.--Annually providing the Secretary
with a report on the implementation of this section as
described in subsection (i).
(3) Permissive use of funds; technical assistance.--
(A) In general.--A State educational agency may use
the grant funds made available under paragraph (1)(A)
for 1 or more of the following technical assistance
activities that assist an eligible local educational
agency, upon request by the eligible local educational
agency, in accomplishing the tasks required to design
and implement a project under this section, including
assistance in--
(i) selecting and implementing a program of
mathematics instruction, or materials and
interventions, based on the best available
evidence of effectiveness;
(ii) evaluating and selecting diagnostic
and classroom based instructional mathematics
assessments; and
(iii) identifying eligible professional
development providers to conduct the
professional development activities described
in subsection (e)(1)(B).
(B) Guidance.--The technical assistance described
in subparagraph (A) shall be guided by researchers with
expertise in the pedagogy of mathematics,
mathematicians, and mathematics educators from high-
risk, high-achievement schools and eligible local
educational agencies.
(e) Local Uses of Funds.--
(1) Mandatory uses of funds.--Each eligible local
educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall
use the grant funds to carry out each of the following
activities:
(A) To implement mathematics instructional
materials and interventions (including intensive and
systematic instruction)--
(i) for students in the grades of a
participating school as identified in the
application submitted under subsection
(f)(2)(A); and
(ii) that are based on the best available
evidence of effectiveness.
(B) To provide professional development and
instructional leadership activities for teachers and,
if appropriate, for administrators and other school
staff, on the implementation of comprehensive
mathematics initiatives designed--
(i) to improve the achievement of students
performing significantly below grade level;
(ii) to improve the mathematical content
knowledge of the teachers, administrators, and
other school staff;
(iii) to increase the use of effective
instructional practices; and
(iv) to monitor student progress.
(C) To conduct continuous progress monitoring,
which may include the adoption and use of assessments
that--
(i) measure student progress and identify
areas in which students need help in learning
mathematics; and
(ii) reflect mathematics content that is
consistent with State academic achievement
standards in mathematics described in section
1111(b) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)).
(2) Permissive uses of funds.--An eligible local
educational agency may use grant funds under this section to--
(A) adopt and use mathematics instructional
materials and assessments;
(B) implement classroom-based assessments,
including diagnostic or formative assessments;
(C) provide remedial coursework and interventions
for students, which may be provided before or after
school;
(D) provide small groups with individualized
instruction in mathematics;
(E) conduct activities designed to improve the
content knowledge and expertise of teachers, such as
the use of a mathematics coach, enrichment activities,
and interdisciplinary methods of mathematics
instruction; and
(F) collect and report performance data.
(f) Applications.--
(1) State educational agency.--Each State educational
agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as
the Secretary may require. Each application shall include--
(A) an assurance that the core mathematics
instructional materials or program, supplemental
instructional materials, and intervention programs used
by the eligible local educational agencies for the
project, are based on the best available evidence of
effectiveness and are aligned with State academic
achievement standards;
(B) an assurance that eligible local educational
agencies will meet the requirements described in
paragraph (2);
(C) an assurance that local applications will be
evaluated using a peer review process; and
(D) a description of the qualifications of the peer
review teams, which shall consist of--
(i) researchers with expertise in the
pedagogy of mathematics;
(ii) mathematicians; and
(iii) mathematics educators serving high-
risk, high-achievement schools and eligible
local educational agencies.
(2) Eligible local educational agency.--Each eligible local
educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall
submit an application to the State educational agency at such
time and in such manner as the State educational agency may
require. Each application shall include--
(A) an assurance that the eligible local
educational agency will provide assistance to 1 or more
schools that are--
(i) served by the eligible local
educational agency; and
(ii) described in section 3201(b);
(B) a description of the grades kindergarten
through grade 9, and of the schools, that will be
served;
(C) information, on an aggregate basis, on each
school to be served by the project, including such
demographic, socioeconomic, and mathematics achievement
data as the State educational agency may request;
(D) a description of the core mathematics
instructional materials or program, supplemental
instructional materials, and intervention programs or
strategies that will be used for the project, including
an assurance that the programs or strategies and
materials are based on the best available evidence of
effectiveness and are aligned with State academic
achievement standards;
(E) a description of the activities that will be
carried out under the grant, including a description of
the professional development that will be provided to
teachers, and, if appropriate, administrators and other
school staff, and a description of how the activities
will support achievement of the purpose of this
section;
(F) an assurance that the eligible local
educational agency will report to the State educational
agency all data on student academic achievement that is
necessary for the State educational agency's report
under subsection (i);
(G) a description of the eligible entity's plans
for evaluating the impact of professional development
and leadership activities in mathematics on the content
knowledge and expertise of teachers, administrators, or
other school staff; and
(H) any other information the State educational
agency may reasonably require.
(g) Prohibition on Endorsement of Curriculum.--
(1) In general.--In implementing this section, the
Secretary shall not--
(A) endorse, approve, or sanction any mathematics
curriculum designed for use in any school; or
(B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or
activities that will require the adoption of a specific
mathematics program or instructional materials by a
State, local educational agency, or school.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this title shall be
construed to authorize or permit the Department of Education,
or a Department of Education contractor, to mandate, direct,
control, or suggest the selection of a mathematics curriculum,
supplemental instructional materials, or program of instruction
by a State, local educational agency, or school.
(h) Matching Requirements.--
(1) State educational agency.--A State educational agency
that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from
non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the
amount of the grant, in cash or in kind, to carry out the
activities supported by the grant, of which not more than 20
percent of such 50 percent may be provided by local educational
agencies within the State.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all of or a portion of
the matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any
fiscal year, if the Secretary determines that--
(A) the application of the matching requirement
will result in serious hardship for the State
educational agency; or
(B) providing a waiver best serves the purpose of
the program assisted under this section.
(i) Program Performance and Accountability.--
(1) Information.--Each State educational agency receiving a
grant under this section shall collect and report to the
Secretary annually such information on the results of the grant
as the Secretary may reasonably require, including information
on--
(A) mathematics achievement data that show the
progress of students participating in projects under
this section (including, to the extent practicable,
comparable data from students not participating in such
projects), based primarily on the results of State,
school district wide, or classroom-based, assessments,
including--
(i) specific identification of those
schools and eligible local educational agencies
that report the largest gains in mathematics
achievement; and
(ii) evidence on whether the State
educational agency and eligible local
educational agencies within the State have--
(I) significantly increased the
number of students achieving at grade
level or above in mathematics;
(II) significantly increased the
percentages of students described in
section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II)) who are achieving
at grade level or above in mathematics;
(III) significantly increased the
number of students making significant
progress toward meeting grade-level
mathematics achievement standards; and
(IV) successfully implemented this
section;
(B) the percentage of students in the schools
served by the eligible local educational agency who
enroll in algebra courses and the percentage of such
students who pass algebra courses; and
(C) the progress made in increasing the quality and
accessibility of professional development and
leadership activities in mathematics, especially
activities resulting in greater content knowledge and
expertise of teachers, administrators, and other school
staff, except that the Secretary shall not require such
information until after the third year of a grant
awarded under this section.
(2) Reporting and disaggregation.--The information required
under paragraph (1) shall be--
(A) reported in a manner that allows for a
comparison of aggregated score differentials of student
academic achievement before (to the extent feasible)
and after implementation of the project assisted under
this section; and
(B) disaggregated in the same manner as information
is disaggregated under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6311(h)(1)(C)(i)).
(3) Privacy protection.--The data in the report shall be
reported in a manner that--
(A) protects the privacy of individuals; and
(B) complies with the requirements of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
1232g).
(j) Evaluation and Technical Assistance.--
(1) Evaluation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an
annual independent evaluation, by grant or by contract,
of the program assisted under this section, which shall
include an assessment of the impact of the program on
student academic achievement and teacher performance,
and may use funds available to carry out this section
to conduct the evaluation.
(B) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit,
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Education and
the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of
Representatives, a report on the results of the
evaluation.
(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may use funds made
available under paragraph (3) to provide technical assistance
to prospective applicants and to eligible local educational
agencies receiving a grant under this section.
(3) Reservation of funds.--The Secretary may reserve not
more than 2.5 percent of funds appropriated under subsection
(k) for a fiscal year to carry out this subsection.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $146,700,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2007 and 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each
of the 3 succeeding fiscal years.
TITLE III--FOREIGN LANGUAGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
SEC. 3301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States faces a shortage of skilled
professionals with higher levels of proficiency in foreign
languages and area knowledge critical to the Nation's security.
(2) Given the Nation's economic competitiveness interests,
it is crucial that our Nation expand the number of Americans
who are able to function effectively in the environments in
which critical foreign languages are spoken.
(3) Students' ability to become proficient in foreign
languages can be addressed by starting language learning at a
younger age and expanding opportunities for continuous foreign
language education from elementary school through postsecondary
education.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is to significantly
increase--
(1) the opportunities to study critical foreign languages
and the context in which the critical foreign languages are
spoken; and
(2) the number of American students who achieve the highest
level of proficiency in critical foreign languages.
SEC. 3302. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient''
means an institution of higher education that receives grant
funds under this title on behalf of a partnership for use in
carrying out the activities assisted under this title.
(2) Partnership.--The term ``partnership'' means a
partnership that--
(A) shall include--
(i) an institution of higher education; and
(ii) 1 or more local educational agencies;
and
(B) may include 1 or more entities that support the
purposes of this title.
(3) Superior level of proficiency.--The term ``superior
level of proficiency'' means level 3, the professional working
level, as measured by the Federal Interagency Language
Roundtable (ILR) or by other generally recognized measures of
superior standards.
SEC. 3303. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
(a) Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to eligible recipients to enable partnerships served by
the eligible recipients to establish articulated programs of
study in critical foreign languages that will enable students
to advance successfully from elementary school through
postsecondary education and achieve higher levels of
proficiency in a critical foreign language.
(2) Duration.--A grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall be
for a period of not more than 5 years. A grant may be renewed
for not more than 2 additional 5-year periods, if the Secretary
determines that the partnership's program is effective and the
renewal will best serve the purposes of this title.
(b) Applications.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
(2) Contents.--Each application shall--
(A) identify each local educational agency partner,
including contact information and letters of
commitment, and describe the responsibilities of each
member of the partnership, including--
(i) how each of the partners will be
involved in planning, developing, and
implementing--
(I) program curriculum and
materials; and
(II) teacher professional
development;
(ii) what resources each of the partners
will provide; and
(iii) how the partners will contribute to
ensuring the continuity of student progress
from elementary school through the
postsecondary level;
(B) describe how an articulated curriculum for
students will be developed and implemented, which may
include the use and integration of technology into such
curriculum;
(C) identify target proficiency levels for students
at critical benchmarks (such as grades 4, 8, and 12),
and describe how progress toward those proficiency
levels will be assessed at the benchmarks, and how the
program will use the results of the assessments to
ensure continuous progress toward achieving a superior
level of proficiency at the postsecondary level;
(D) describe how the partnership will--
(i) ensure that students from a program
assisted under this title who are beginning
postsecondary education will be assessed and
enabled to progress to a superior level of
proficiency;
(ii) address the needs of students already
at, or near, the superior level of proficiency,
which may include diagnostic assessments for
placement purposes, customized and
individualized language learning opportunities,
and experimental and interdisciplinary language
learning; and
(iii) identify and describe how the
partnership will work with institutions of
higher education outside the partnership to
provide participating students with multiple
options for postsecondary education consistent
with the purposes of this title;
(E) describe how the partnership will support and
continue the program after the grant has expired,
including how the partnership will seek support from
other sources, such as State and local governments,
foundations, and the private sector; and
(F) describe what assessments will be used or, if
assessments not available, how assessments will be
developed.
(c) Uses of Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this title--
(1) shall be used to develop and implement programs at the
elementary school level through postsecondary education,
consistent with the purpose of this title, including--
(A) the development of curriculum and instructional
materials; and
(B) recruitment of students; and
(2) may be used for--
(A) teacher recruitment (including recruitment from
other professions and recruitment of native-language
speakers in the community) and professional development
directly related to the purposes of this title at the
elementary school through secondary school levels;
(B) development of appropriate assessments;
(C) opportunities for maximum language exposure for
students in the program, such as the creation of
immersion environments (such as language houses,
language tables, immersion classrooms, and weekend and
summer experiences) and special tutoring and academic
support;
(D) dual language immersion programs;
(E) scholarships and study-abroad opportunities,
related to the program, for postsecondary students and
newly recruited teachers who have advanced levels of
proficiency in a critical foreign language, except that
not more than 20 percent of the grant funds provided to
an eligible recipient under this section for a fiscal
year may be used to carry out this subparagraph;
(F) activities to encourage community involvement
to assist in meeting the purposes of this title;
(G) summer institutes for students and teachers;
(H) bridge programs that allow dual enrollment for
secondary school students in institutions of higher
education;
(I) programs that expand the understanding and
knowledge of historic, geographic, and contextual
factors within countries with populations who speak
critical foreign languages, if such programs are
carried out in conjunction with language instruction;
(J) research on, and evaluation of, the teaching of
critical foreign languages;
(K) data collection and analysis regarding the
results of--
(i) various student recruitment strategies;
(ii) program design; and
(iii) curricular approaches; and
(L) the impact of the strategies, program design,
and curricular approaches described in subparagraph (K)
on increasing--
(i) the number of students studying
critical foreign languages; and
(ii) the proficiency of the students in the
critical foreign languages.
(d) Matching Requirement.--
(1) In general.--An eligible recipient that receives a
grant under this title shall provide, toward the cost of
carrying out the activities supported by the grant, from non-
Federal sources, an amount equal to--
(A) 20 percent of the amount of the grant payment
for the first fiscal year for which a grant payment is
made;
(B) 30 percent of the amount of the grant payment
for the second such fiscal year;
(C) 40 percent of the amount of the grant payment
for the third such fiscal year; and
(D) 50 percent of the amount of the grant payment
for each of the fourth and fifth such fiscal years.
(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share required
under paragraph (1) may be provided in cash or in-kind.
(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the
matching requirement of paragraph (1), for any fiscal year, if
the Secretary determines that--
(A) the application of the matching requirement
will result in serious hardship for the partnership; or
(B) the waiver will best serve the purposes of this
title.
(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this title
shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and non-
Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in
subsection (c).
(f) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall enter into a
contract to establish a technical assistance center to provide
technical assistance to partnerships developing critical foreign
language programs assisted under this section. The center shall--
(1) assist the partnerships in the development of critical
foreign language instructional materials and assessments; and
(2) disseminate promising foreign language instructional
practices.
(g) Program Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 5
percent of the total amount appropriated for this title for any
fiscal year to annually evaluate the programs under this title.
(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and annually
submit, to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the Committees
on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, a
report on the results of any program evaluation conducted under
this subsection.
SEC. 3304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purpose of carrying out this title, there are authorized to
be appropriated $22,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008,
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 3 succeeding fiscal
years.
TITLE IV--ALIGNMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS
SEC. 3401. ALIGNMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS WITH
THE DEMANDS OF 21ST CENTURY POSTSECONDARY ENDEAVORS AND
SUPPORT FOR P-16 EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section--
(1) to promote more accountability with respect to
preparation for higher education, the 21st century workforce,
and the Armed Forces, by aligning--
(A) student knowledge, student skills, State
academic content standards and assessments, and
curricula, in elementary and secondary education,
especially with respect to mathematics, science,
reading, and, where applicable, engineering and
technology; with
(B) the demands of higher education, the 21st
century workforce, and the Armed Forces;
(2) to support the establishment or improvement of
statewide P-16 education data systems that--
(A) assist States in improving the rigor and
quality of elementary and secondary education content
knowledge requirements and assessments;
(B) ensure students are prepared to succeed in--
(i) academic credit-bearing coursework in
higher education without the need for
remediation;
(ii) the 21st century workforce; or
(iii) the Armed Forces; and
(3) enable States to have valid and reliable information to
inform education policy and practice.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(2) P-16 education.--The term ``P-16 education'' means the
educational system from prekindergarten through the conferring
of a baccalaureate degree.
(3) Statewide partnership.--The term ``statewide
partnership'' means a partnership that--
(A) shall include--
(i) the Governor of the State or the
designee of the Governor;
(ii) the heads of the State systems for
public higher education, or, if such a position
does not exist, not less than 1 representative
of a public degree-granting institution of
higher education;
(iii) not less than 1 representative of a
technical school;
(iv) not less than 1 representative of a
public secondary school;
(v) the chief State school officer;
(vi) the chief executive officer of the
State higher education coordinating board;
(vii) not less than 1 public elementary
school teacher employed in the State;
(viii) not less than 1 public elementary
school teacher certified in early childhood
education;
(ix) not less than 1 public secondary
school teacher employed in the State;
(x) not less than 1 representative of the
business community in the State; and
(xi) not less than 1 member of the Armed
Forces; and
(B) may include other individuals or
representatives of other organizations, such as a
school administrator, a faculty member at an
institution of higher education, a member of a civic or
community organization, a representative from a private
institution of higher education, a dean or similar
representative of a school of education at an
institution of higher education or a similar teacher
certification or licensure program, or the State
official responsible for economic development.
(c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants, on a competitive basis, to States to enable each such State to
work with a statewide partnership--
(1) to promote better alignment of content knowledge
requirements for secondary school graduation with the knowledge
and skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education, the
21st century workforce, or the Armed Forces; or
(2) to establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data
system.
(d) Period of Grants; Non-Renewability.--
(1) Grant period.--The Secretary shall award a grant under
this section for a period of not more than 3 years.
(2) Non-renewability.--The Secretary shall not award a
State more than 1 grant under this section.
(e) Authorized Activities.--
(1) Grants for p-16 alignment.--Each State receiving a
grant under subsection (c)(1)--
(A) shall use the grant funds for--
(i) identifying and describing the content
knowledge and skills students who enter
institutions of higher education, the
workforce, and the Armed Forces need to have in
order to succeed without any remediation based
on detailed requirements obtained from
institutions of higher education, employers,
and the Armed Forces;
(ii) identifying and making changes that
need to be made to a State's secondary school
graduation requirements, academic content
standards, academic achievement standards, and
assessments preceding graduation from secondary
school in order to align the requirements,
standards, and assessments with the knowledge
and skills necessary for success in academic
credit-bearing coursework in postsecondary
education, in the 21st century workforce, and
in the Armed Forces without the need for
remediation;
(iii) convening stakeholders within the
State and creating a forum for identifying and
deliberating on education issues that--
(I) involve prekindergarten through
grade 12 education, postsecondary
education, the 21st century workforce,
and the Armed Forces; and
(II) transcend any single system of
education's ability to address; and
(iv) implementing activities designed to
ensure the enrollment of all elementary school
and secondary school students in rigorous
coursework, which may include--
(I) specifying the courses and
performance levels necessary for
acceptance into institutions of higher
education; and
(II) developing curricula and
assessments aligned with State academic
content standards, which assessments
may be used as measures of student
academic achievement in secondary
school as well as for entrance or
placement at institutions of higher
education, including through
collaboration with institutions of
higher education in, or State
educational agencies serving, other
States; and
(B) may use the grant funds for--
(i) developing and making available
specific opportunities for extensive
professional development for teachers,
paraprofessionals, principals, and school
administrators, including collection and
dissemination of effective teaching practices
to improve instruction and instructional
support mechanisms;
(ii) identifying changes in State academic
content standards, academic achievement
standards, and assessments for students in
grades preceding secondary school in order to
ensure the students are adequately prepared
when the students enter secondary school;
(iii) developing a plan to provide
remediation and additional learning
opportunities for students who are performing
below grade level to ensure that all students
will have the opportunity to meet secondary
school graduation requirements; or
(iv) identifying and addressing teacher
certification needs.
(2) Grants for statewide p-16 education data systems.--
(A) Establishment of system.--Each State that
receives a grant under subsection (c)(2) shall
establish a statewide P-16 education longitudinal data
system that--
(i) provides each student, upon enrollment
in a public elementary school or secondary
school in the State, with a unique identifier,
such as a bar code, that--
(I) does not permit a student to be
individually identified by users of the
system; and
(II) is retained throughout the
student's enrollment in P-16 education
in the State; and
(ii) meets the requirements of
subparagraphs (B) through (E).
(B) Improvement of existing system.--Each State
that receives a grant under subsection (c)(2) for the
improvement of a statewide P-16 education data system
may employ, coordinate, or revise an existing statewide
data system to establish a statewide longitudinal P-16
education data system that meets the requirements of
subparagraph (A), if the statewide longitudinal P-16
education data system produces valid and reliable data.
(C) Data and compliance with ferpa.--The State,
through the implementation of the statewide P-16
education data system, shall--
(i) ensure the implementation and use of
valid and reliable secondary school dropout
data; and
(ii) ensure that the statewide P-16
education data system meets the requirements of
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g).
(D) Required elements of a statewide p-16 education
data system.--The State shall ensure that the statewide
P-16 education data system includes the following
elements:
(i) Prekindergarten through grade 12
education and postsecondary education.--With
respect to prekindergarten through grade 12
education and postsecondary education--
(I) a unique statewide student
identifier that does not permit a
student to be individually identified
by users of the system;
(II) student-level enrollment,
demographic, and program participation
information;
(III) student-level information
about the points at which students
exit, transfer in, transfer out, drop
out, or complete P-16 education
programs;
(IV) the capacity to communicate
with higher education data systems; and
(V) a State data audit system
assessing data quality, validity, and
reliability.
(ii) Prekindergarten through grade 12
education.--With respect to prekindergarten
through grade 12 education--
(I) yearly test records of
individual students with respect to
assessments under section 1111(b) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b));
(II) information on students not
tested by grade and subject;
(III) a teacher identifier system
with the ability to match teachers to
students;
(IV) student-level transcript
information, including information on
courses completed and grades earned;
and
(V) student-level college readiness
test scores.
(iii) Postsecondary education.--With
respect to postsecondary education, data that
provide--
(I) information regarding the
extent to which students transition
successfully from secondary school to
postsecondary education, including
whether students enroll in remedial
coursework; and
(II) other information determined
necessary to address alignment and
adequate preparation for success in
postsecondary education.
(E) Functions of the statewide p-16 education data
system.--In implementing the statewide P-16 education
data system, the State shall--
(i) identify factors that correlate to
students' ability to successfully engage in and
complete postsecondary-level general education
coursework without the need for prior
developmental coursework;
(ii) identify factors to increase the
percentage of low-income and minority students
who are academically prepared to enter and
successfully complete postsecondary-level
general education coursework; and
(iii) use the data in the system to
otherwise inform education policy and practice
in order to better align student knowledge and
skills, and curricula, with the demands of
postsecondary education, the 21st century
workforce, and the Armed Forces.
(f) Application.--
(1) In general.--Each State desiring a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may reasonably require.
(2) Application contents.--Each application submitted under
this section shall specify whether the State application is for
the conduct P-16 education alignment activities, or the
establishment or improvement of a statewide P-16 education data
system. The application shall include, at a minimum, the
following:
(A) A description of the activities and programs to
be carried out with the grant funds and a comprehensive
plan for carrying out the activities.
(B) A description of how the concerns and interests
of the larger education community, including parents,
students, teachers, teacher educators, principals, and
school administrators will be represented in carrying
out the authorized activities described in subsection
(e).
(C) in the case of a State applying for funding for
P-16 education alignment, a description of how the
State will provide assistance to local educational
agencies in implementing rigorous State content
knowledge requirements through substantive curricula
and other changes the State determines necessary,
including scientifically based remediation and
acceleration opportunities for students.
(D) in the case of a State applying for funding to
establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data
system--
(i) a description of and the timetable for
the establishment or improvement of such
system; and
(ii) an assurance that the State will
continue to fund the statewide P-16 education
data system after the end of the grant period.
(g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal,
State, and local funds available to carry out the authorized activities
described in subsection (e).
(h) Matching Requirement.--Each State that receives a grant under
this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal
to 100 percent of the amount of the grant, in cash or in kind, to carry
out the activities supported by the grant.
(i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to require States to provide raw data to the Secretary.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $80,000,000 for fiscal year
2007, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2009.
DIVISION D--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
SEC. 4001. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
National Science Foundation--
(1) $6,232,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $6,808,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $7,433,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(4) $8,446,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(5) $11,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) Plan for Increased Research.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science
Foundation, in consultation with the National Science Board,
shall submit a comprehensive, multiyear plan that describes how
the funds authorized in subsection (a) would be used, if
appropriated, to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee
on Science of the House of Representatives.
(2) Plan requirements.--The Director shall--
(A) develop the plan with a focus on strengthening
the Nation's lead in physical science and technology,
increasing overall workforce skills in physical
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at
all levels, and strengthening innovation by expanding
the focus of competitiveness and innovation policy at
the regional and local level; and
(B) emphasize spending increased research funds
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in areas of
investment for Federal research and technology programs
identified under section 1101(c) of this Act.
SEC. 4002. STRENGTHENING OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTORATE
THROUGH EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF NEW FUNDS.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to ensure the
continued involvement of experts at the National Science Foundation in
improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education
at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school levels by
providing annual funding increases for the education and human
resources programs of the National Science Foundation that are
proportional to the funding increases provided to the Foundation
overall.
(b) Equitable Distribution of New Funds.--Within the amounts
authorized to be appropriated by section 4001, there are authorized to
be appropriated for the education and human resources programs of the
National Science Foundation--
(1) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(2) for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011, an
amount equal to $1,050,000,000 increased for each such fiscal
year by an amount equal to the percentage increase in the
appropriation for the National Science Foundation for such
fiscal year above the amount appropriated to the National
Science Foundation for fiscal year 2007.
SEC. 4003. GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS AND GRADUATE TRAINEESHIPS.
(a) Graduate Research Fellowship Program.--
(1) In general.--During the 5-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National
Science Foundation shall expand the Graduate Research
Fellowship Program of the National Science Foundation so that
an additional 1,250 fellowships are awarded to citizens or
nationals of the United States or eligible lawful permanent
residents under the Program during that period.
(2) Extension of fellowship period.--The Director is
authorized to award fellowships under the Graduate Research
Fellowship Program for a period of up to 5 years.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--Within the amounts
authorized to be appropriated by section 4001, there are
authorized to be appropriated, to provide an additional 250
fellowships under the Graduate Research Fellowship Program
during each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2011, the
following:
(A) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(B) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(C) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(D) $48,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(E) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
Program.--
(1) In general.--During the 5-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall expand
the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
program of the National Science Foundation so that an
additional 1,250 individuals who are citizens or nationals of
the United States or eligible lawful permanent residents are
awarded grants under the program during that period.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--Within the amounts
authorized to be appropriated by section 4001, there are
authorized to be appropriated, to provide grants to an
additional 250 individuals under the Integrative Graduate
Education and Research Traineeship program during each of the
fiscal years 2007 through 2011, the following:
(A) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(B) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(C) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(D) $44,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(E) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(c) Definition of Eligible Lawful Permanent Resident.--In this
section, the term ``eligible lawful permanent resident'' means a lawful
permanent resident of the United States who declares an intent--
(1) to apply for United States citizenship; or
(2) to reside in the United States for not less than 5
years after the completion of a graduate fellowship or
traineeship awarded under this section.
SEC. 4004. PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS.
(a) Clearinghouse.--
(1) Development.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall establish a clearinghouse, in collaboration
with 4-year institutions of higher education (including
applicable graduate schools and academic departments), and
industries and Federal agencies that employ science-trained
personnel, to share program elements used in successful
professional science master's degree programs and other
advanced degree programs related to science, mathematics,
technology, and engineering.
(2) Availability.--The Director shall make the
clearinghouse of program elements developed under paragraph (1)
available to institutions of higher education that are
developing professional science master's degree programs.
(b) Programs.--
(1) Programs authorized.--The Director shall award grants
to 4-year institutions of higher education to facilitate the
institutions' creation or improvement of professional science
master's degree programs.
(2) Application.--A 4-year institution of higher education
desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the Director may require. The application shall
include--
(A) a description of the professional science
master's degree program that the institution of higher
education will implement;
(B) the amount of funding from non-Federal sources,
including from private industries, that the institution
of higher education shall use to support the
professional science master's degree program; and
(C) an assurance that the institution of higher
education shall encourage students in the professional
science master's degree program to apply for all forms
of Federal assistance available to such students,
including applicable graduate fellowships and student
financial assistance under titles IV and VII of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.,
1133 et seq.).
(3) Preference for applicants with alternative funding
sources.--The Director shall give preference in making awards
to 4-year institutions of higher education seeking Federal
funding to create or improve professional science master's
degree programs, to those applicants that secure more than \2/
3\ of the funding for such professional science master's degree
programs from sources other than the Federal Government.
(4) Number of grants; time period of grants.--
(A) Number of grants.--Subject to the availability
of appropriated funds, the Director shall award grants
under paragraph (1) to a maximum of 200 4-year
institutions of higher education.
(B) Time period of grants.--Grants awarded under
this section shall be for one 3-year term. Grants may
be renewed only once for a maximum of 2 additional
years.
(5) Evaluation and reports.--
(A) Development of performance benchmarks.--Prior
to the start of the grant program, the Director of the
National Science Foundation, in collaboration with 4-
year institutions of higher education (including
applicable graduate schools and academic departments),
and industries and Federal agencies that employ
science-trained personnel, shall develop performance
benchmarks to evaluate the pilot programs assisted by
grants under this section.
(B) Evaluation.--For each year of the grant period,
the Director, in consultation with 4-year institutions
of higher education (including applicable graduate
schools and academic departments), and industries and
Federal agencies that employ science-trained personnel,
shall complete an evaluation of each program assisted
by grants under this section. Any program that fails to
satisfy the performance benchmarks developed under
subparagraph (A) shall not be eligible for further
funding.
(C) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
completion of an evaluation described in subparagraph
(B), the Director shall submit a report to Congress
that includes--
(i) the results of the evaluation described
in subparagraph (B); and
(ii) recommendations for administrative and
legislative action that could optimize the
effectiveness of the pilot programs, as the
Director determines to be appropriate.
(c) Institution of Higher Education Defined.--In this section, the
term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a)).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Within the amounts authorized
to be appropriated by section 4001, there are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(4) $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
SEC. 4005. INCREASED SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
(a) In General.--Within the amounts authorized to be appropriated
by section 4001, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
the science, mathematics, engineering, and technology talent expansion
program under section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368, 116 Stat. 3042)--
(1) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(5) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) Promoting Outreach and High Quality.--Section 8(7)(C) of the
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-
368, 116 Stat. 3042) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vi) as subclauses
(I) through (VI), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(2) by striking ``include those that promote high quality--
'' and inserting ``include programs that--
``(i) promote high-quality--'';
(3) in clause (i) (as inserted by paragraph (2))--
(A) in subclause (III) (as redesignated by
paragraph (1)), by striking ``for students;'' and
inserting ``for students, especially underrepresented
minority and female mathematics, science, engineering,
and technology students;'';
(B) in subclause (V) (as redesignated by paragraph
(1)), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(C) in subclause (VI) (as redesignated by paragraph
(1)), by striking ``students.'' and inserting
``students; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(VII) outreach programs that provide
middle and secondary school students and their
science and math teachers opportunities to
increase the students' and teachers' exposure
to engineering and technology;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) finance summer internships for mathematics,
science, engineering, and technology undergraduate
students;
``(iii) facilitate the hiring of additional
mathematics, science, engineering, and technology
faculty; and
``(iv) serve as bridges to enable underrepresented
minority and female secondary school students to obtain
extra mathematics, science, engineering, and technology
training prior to entering an institution of higher
education.''.
SEC. 4006. MEETING CRITICAL NATIONAL SCIENCE NEEDS.
(a) In General.--In addition to any other criteria, the Director of
the National Science Foundation shall include consideration of the
degree to which awards and research activities that otherwise qualify
for support by the National Science Foundation may assist in meeting
critical national needs in innovation, competitiveness, the physical
and natural sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(b) Priority Treatment.--The Director shall give priority in the
selection of awards and the allocation of National Science Foundation
resources to proposed research activities, and grants funded under the
National Science Foundation's Research and Related Activities Account,
that can be expected to make contributions in physical or natural
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, or that enhance
competitiveness or innovation in the United States.
(c) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
restrict or bias the grant selection process against funding other
areas of research deemed by the National Science Foundation to be
consistent with its mandate nor to change the core mission of the
National Science Foundation.
SEC. 4007. REAFFIRMATION OF THE MERIT-REVIEW PROCESS OF THE NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
Nothing in this division or division A, or the amendments made by
this division or division A, shall be interpreted to require or
recommend that the National Science Foundation--
(1) alter or modify its merit-review system or peer-review
process; or
(2) exclude the awarding of any proposal by means of the
merit-review or peer-review process.
SEC. 4008. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.
Within the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 4001,
there are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research authorized under section 113 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g)--
(1) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
(2) for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, an amount
equal to $125,000,000 increased for each such year by an amount
equal to the percentage increase in the appropriation for the
National Science Foundation for such fiscal year above the
total amount appropriated to the National Science Foundation
for fiscal year 2007.
SEC. 4009. ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION.
(a) Mentoring Program.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for
women who are interested in careers in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics by pairing such women who are in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics programs of study in secondary
school, community college, undergraduate or graduate school with
mentors who are working in industry.
(b) Additional Learning Program.--The Director shall also establish
a program to provide grants to community colleges to provide additional
learning and other appropriate training to allow women to enter higher-
paying technical jobs in fields related to science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics.
(c) Applications.--An institution of higher education, including a
community college, desiring a grant under this section shall submit an
application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the Director may require.
(d) Program Evaluation.--The Director shall establish metrics to
evaluate the success of the programs established under subsections (a)
and (b) annually and report the findings and conclusions of the
evaluations annually to Congress.
SEC. 4010. CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE.
In order to continue and expand efforts to ensure that research
institutions throughout the Nation can fully participate in research
programs of the National Science Foundation and collaborate with
colleagues throughout the nation, the Director of the National Science
Foundation, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
shall develop and publish a plan that describes the current status of
broadband access for scientific research purposes in States located in
EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions and outlines actions which can be taken
to ensure that such connections are available to enable participation
in those National Science Foundation programs which rely heavily on
high-speed networking and collaborations across institutions and
regions.
SEC. 4011. FEDERAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.
(a) Advanced Information and Communications Technology Research.--
(1) National science foundation information and
communications technology research.--The Director of the
National Science Foundation shall establish a program of basic
research in advanced information and communications
technologies focused on enhancing or facilitating the
availability and affordability of advanced communications
services to all people of the United States. In developing and
carrying out the program, the Director shall consult with the
Board established under paragraph (2).
(2) Federal advanced information and communications
technology research board.--There is established within the
National Science Foundation a Federal Advanced Information and
Communications Technology Research Board (referred to in this
subsection as ``the Board'') which shall advise the Director of
the National Science Foundation in carrying out the program
authorized under paragraph (1). The Board shall be composed of
individuals with expertise in information and communications
technologies, including representatives from the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Federal
Communications Commission, the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, and the Department of Defense, and
representatives from industry and educational institutions.
(3) Grant program.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, in consultation with the Board, shall award grants
for basic research into advanced information and communications
technologies that will contribute to enhancing or facilitating
the availability and affordability of advanced communications
services to all people of the United States. Areas of research
to be supported through the grants include--
(A) affordable broadband access, including wireless
technologies;
(B) network security and reliability;
(C) communications interoperability;
(D) networking protocols and architectures,
including resilience to outages or attacks;
(E) trusted software;
(F) privacy;
(G) nanoelectronics for communications
applications;
(H) low-power communications electronics;
(I) implementation of equitable access to national
advanced fiber optic research and educational networks
in noncontiguous States; and
(J) such other related areas as the Director, in
consultation with the Board, finds appropriate.
(4) Centers.--The Director shall award multiyear grants,
subject to the availability of appropriations, to institutions
of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), nonprofit research
institutions affiliated with institutions of higher education,
or consortia thereof to establish multidisciplinary Centers for
Communications Research. The purpose of the Centers shall be to
generate innovative approaches to problems in communications
and information technology research, including the research
areas described in paragraph (3). Institutions of higher
education, nonprofit research institutions affiliated with
institutions of higher education, or consortia receiving such
grants may partner with 1 or more government laboratories or
for-profit entities, or other institutions of higher education
or nonprofit research institutions.
(5) Applications.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, in consultation with the Board, shall establish
criteria for the award of grants under paragraphs (3) and (4).
Such grants shall be awarded under the programs on a merit-
reviewed competitive basis. The Director shall give priority to
grants that offer the potential for revolutionary rather than
evolutionary breakthroughs.
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--Within the amounts
authorized to be appropriated by section 4001, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation to carry out this subsection--
(A) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(D) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(E) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology
Responsibilities.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology shall continue to support research and support standards
development in advanced information and communications technologies
focused on enhancing or facilitating the availability and affordability
of advanced communications services to all people of the United States,
in order to implement the Institute's responsibilities under section
2(c)(12) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 272(c)(12)). The Director shall support intramural research and
cooperative research with institutions of higher education (as defined
in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a)) and industry.
SEC. 4012. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 10 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``teacher'' after
``noyce'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``to provide scholarships,
stipends, and programming designed'';
(ii) by inserting ``and to provide
scholarships and stipends to students
participating in the program'' after ``science
teachers''; and
(iii) by inserting ``Teacher'' after
``Noyce'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i)--
(aa) by striking
``encourage top college juniors
and seniors majoring in'' and
inserting ``recruit and prepare
undergraduate students to
pursue degrees in''; and
(bb) by striking ``to
become'' and inserting ``and
become qualified as'';
(II) in clause (ii)--
(aa) by striking ``programs
to help scholarship
recipients'' and inserting
``academic courses and clinical
teaching experiences designed
to prepare students
participating in the program'';
(bb) by striking ``programs
that will result in'' and
inserting ``such preparation as
is necessary to meet
requirements for''; and
(cc) by striking
``licensing; and'' and
inserting ``licensing;'';
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) by striking
``scholarship recipients'' and
inserting ``students
participating in the program'';
(bb) by striking ``enable
the recipients'' and inserting
``enable the students''; and
(cc) by striking ``; or''
and inserting ``; and''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) providing summer internships for
freshman and sophomore students participating
in the program; or''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i)--
(aa) by striking
``encourage'' and inserting
``recruit and prepare''; and
(bb) by inserting
``qualified as'' after ``to
become'';
(II) by striking clause (ii) and
inserting the following:
``(ii) offering academic courses and
clinical teaching experiences designed to
prepare stipend recipients to teach in
elementary schools and secondary schools,
including such preparation as necessary to meet
requirements for teacher certification or
licensing;''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Eligibility requirement.--To be eligible for an award
under this section, an institution of higher education (or a
consortium of such institutions) shall ensure that specific
faculty members and staff from the mathematics, science, or
engineering department of the institution (or a participating
institution of the consortium) and specific education faculty
members of the institution (or such participating institution)
are designated to carry out the development and implementation
of the program. An institution of higher education (or
consortium) may also include teachers to participate in
developing the pedagogical content of the program and to
supervise students participating in the program in their field
teaching experiences. No institution of higher education (or
consortium) shall be eligible for an award unless faculty from
the institution's mathematics, science, or engineering
department are active participants in the program.'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``scholarship or
stipend'';
(II) by inserting ``and summer
internships'' after ``number of
scholarships''; and
(III) by inserting ``the type of
activities proposed for the recruitment
of students to the program,'' after
``intends to award,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``scholarship or
stipend''; and
(II) by striking ``; and'' and
inserting ``, which may include a
description of any existing programs at
the applicant's institution that are
targeted to the education of science
and mathematics teachers and the number
of teachers graduated annually from
such programs;''; and
(iii) by striking subparagraph (C) and
inserting the following:
``(C) a description of the academic courses and
clinical teaching experiences required under
subparagraph (A)(ii) or B)(ii) of subsection (a)(3),
including--
``(i) a description of the undergraduate
program that will enable a student to graduate
in 4 years with a major in mathematics,
science, or engineering and to obtain teacher
certification or licensing;
``(ii) a description of clinical teaching
experiences proposed; and
``(iii) evidence of agreements between the
applicant and the schools or school districts
that are identified as the locations at which
clinical teaching experiences will occur;
``(D) a description of the programs required under
subparagraph (A)(iii) or (B)(iii) of subsection (a)(3),
including activities to assist new teachers in
fulfilling their service requirements under this
section; and
``(E) an identification of the applicant's
mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its
education faculty who will carry out the development
and implementation of the program as required under
subsection (a)(4).''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B)
through (E) as subparagraphs (C) through (F),
respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following:
``(B) the extent to which the applicant's
mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its
education faculty have worked or will work
collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that
recognize the specialized pedagogy required to teach
mathematics and science effectively in elementary
schools and secondary schools;'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``$7,500'' and inserting
``$10,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``of scholarship support''
and inserting ``of scholarship support, unless
the Director establishes a policy by which
part-time students may receive additional years
of support''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, with a
maximum service requirement of 4 years'' after ``was
received'';
(5) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and
professional achievement'' after ``academic merit'';
and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for each year a
stipend was received'';
(6) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or stipend''
after scholarship; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Repayment for failure to complete service.--
``(A) Less than 1 year of service.--If a
circumstance described in paragraph (1) occurs before
the completion of 1 year of a service obligation under
this section, the sum of the total amount of awards
received by the individual under this section shall be
treated as a loan payable to the Federal Government,
consistent with the provisions of part B or D of title
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and shall be
subject to repayment in accordance with terms and
conditions specified by the Secretary of Education in
regulations promulgated to carry out this paragraph.
``(B) 1 year or more of service.--If a circumstance
described in subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (1)
occurs after the completion of 1 year of a service
obligation under this section, an amount equal to \1/2\
of the sum of the total amount of awards received by
the individual under this section shall be treated as a
loan payable to the Federal Government, consistent with
the provisions of part B or D of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, and shall be subject to
repayment in accordance with terms and conditions
specified by the Secretary of Education in regulations
promulgated to carry out this paragraph.'';
(7) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (k);
(8) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:
``(i) Science and Mathematics Scholarship Gift Fund.--In accordance
with section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the
Director is authorized to accept donations from the private sector to
supplement, but not supplant, scholarships, stipends, or internships
associated with the programs under this section.
``(j) Assessment of Teacher Retention.--Not later than 4 years
after the date of enactment of the National Competitiveness Investment
Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress a report on the
effectiveness of the program carried out under this section regarding
the retention of participants in the teaching profession beyond the
service obligation required under this section.'';
(9) in subsection (k) (as redesignated by paragraph (7))--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as
paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) the term `high-need local educational agency' means a
local educational agency or educational service agency (as
defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965)--
``(A)(i) that serves not less than 10,000 children
from low-income families;
``(ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the
children served by the agency are children from low-
income families; or
``(iii) with a total of less than 600 students in
average daily attendance at the schools that are served
by the agency, and all of whose schools are designated
with a school locale code of 6, 7, or 8, as determined
by the Secretary of Education; and
``(B)(i) for which there is a higher percentage of
teachers providing instruction in academic subject
areas or grade levels for which the teachers are not
highly qualified; or
``(ii) for which there is a high teacher turnover
rate or a high percentage of teachers with emergency,
provisional, or temporary certification or
licensure;''; and
(C) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by
subparagraph (A)) by inserting ``or had a career''
after ``is working''; and
(10) by adding at the end the following:
``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--Within the amounts authorized to be
appropriated by section 4001 of the National Competitiveness
Investment Act and except as provided in paragraph (2), there
are authorized to be appropriated to the Director for the
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program under this section--
``(A) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which
at least $15,000,000 shall be used for capacity
building activities described in clauses (ii) and (iii)
of subsection (a)(3)(A) and clauses (ii) and (iii) of
subsection (a)(3)(B);
``(B) $117,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which
at least $18,000,000 shall be used for such capacity
building activities;
``(C) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which
at least $21,000,000 shall be used for such capacity
building activities;
``(D) $148,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which
at least $24,000,000 shall be used for such capacity
building activities; and
``(E) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which
at least $27,000,000 shall be used for such capacity
building activities.
``(2) Exception.--For any fiscal year for which the funding
allocated for activities under this section is less than
$105,000,000, the amount of funding available for capacity
building activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E)
of paragraph (1) shall not exceed 15 percent of the allocated
funds.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 4.--Section 4 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note) is
amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``In
this Act:'' and inserting ``Except as otherwise provided, in
this Act:''.
(2) Section 8.--Section 8(6) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368) is
amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``Teacher'' after ``Noyce''; and
(B) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce''.
SEC. 4013. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
It is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) although the mathematics and science education
partnership program at the National Science Foundation and the
mathematics and science partnership program at the Department
of Education practically share the same name, the 2 programs
are intended to be complementary, not duplicative;
(2) the National Science Foundation partnership programs
are innovative, model reform initiatives that move promising
ideas in education from research into practice to improve
teacher quality, develop challenging curricula, and increase
student achievement in mathematics and science, and Congress
intends that the National Science Foundation peer-reviewed
partnership programs found to be effective should be put into
wider practice by dissemination through the Department of
Education partnership programs; and
(3) the Director of the National Science Foundation and the
Secretary of Education should have ongoing collaboration to
ensure that the 2 components of this priority effort for
mathematics and science education continue to work in concert
for the benefit of States and local practitioners nationwide.
SEC. 4014. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TEACHER INSTITUTES FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Within the amounts authorized
to be appropriated by section 4001, there are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the teacher institutes for the 21st century
under paragraphs (3) and (7) of section 9(a) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (as amended by subsection (b)) (42
U.S.C. 1862n(a))--
(1) $76,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $94,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(4) $106,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(5) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(b) Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century.--Section 9(a) of the
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``summer or'' and
inserting ``teacher institutes for the 21st century, as
described in paragraph (7),'';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
``(7) Teacher institutes for the 21st century.--
``(A) In general.--Teacher institutes for the 21st
century carried out in accordance with paragraph (3)(B)
shall--
``(i) be carried out in conjunction with a
school served by the local educational agency
in the partnership;
``(ii) be science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics focused institutes that provide
professional development to elementary school
and secondary school teachers during the
summer;
``(iii) serve teachers who are considered
highly qualified (as defined in section 9101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965), teach high-need subjects, and teach in
high-need schools (as described in section
1114(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965);
``(iv) focus on the theme and structure
developed by the Director under subparagraph
(C);
``(v) be content-based and build on school
year curricula that are experiment-oriented,
content-based, and grounded in current
research;
``(vi) ensure that the pedagogy component
is designed around specific strategies that are
relevant to teaching the subject and content on
which teachers are being trained, which may
include training teachers in the essential
components of reading instruction for
adolescents in order to improve student reading
skills within the subject areas of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics;
``(vii) be a multiyear program that is
conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks
per year;
``(viii) provide for direct interaction
between participants in and faculty of the
teacher institute;
``(ix) have a component that includes the
use of the Internet;
``(x) provide for followup training in the
classroom during the academic year for a period
of not less than 3 days, which may or may not
be consecutive, for participants in the teacher
institute, except that for teachers in rural
local educational agencies, the followup
training may be provided through the Internet;
``(xi) provide teachers participating in
the teacher institute with travel expense
reimbursement and classroom materials related
to the teacher institute, and may include
providing stipends as necessary; and
``(xii) establish a mechanism to provide
supplemental support during the academic year
for teacher institute participants to apply the
knowledge and skills gained at the teacher
institute.
``(B) Optional members of the partnership.--In
addition to the partnership requirement under paragraph
(2), an institution of higher education or eligible
nonprofit organization (or consortium) desiring a grant
for a teacher institute for the 21st century may also
partner with a teacher organization, museum, or
educational partnership organization.
``(C) Theme and structure.--Each year, not later
than 180 days before the application deadline for a
grant under this section, the Director shall, in
consultation with a broad group of relevant education
organizations, develop a theme and structure for the
teacher institutes of the 21st century supported under
paragraph (3)(B).''.
Calendar No. 648
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3936
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of
the United States in the global economy.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 27, 2006
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10161)
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10161-10183)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10224)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 648.
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