House Committee Approves Bill to Promote Math and Science Education

On March 28, the House Science and Technology Committee approved, by voice vote, the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds” Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). The bill seeks to increase the number of math and science teachers by 10,000 annually using incentives and programs aimed at encouraging engineering, science and math students to enter the classroom.

The bill would increase scholarships for students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and interested in teaching; establish a teacher education program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve education for math and science teachers; provide in-service training to math and science teachers to improve content knowledge and teaching skills; and authorize the development of master’s degree programs for in-service math and science teachers.

Chair Bart Gordon (D-TN) said in a press release that a National Academies report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” led to the development of H.R. 362. “This report opened our eyes to the alarming conclusion that America’s footing as a global leader is slipping. And it gave us recommendations on how to secure our standing. Key among those recommendations better training and equipping our teachers to teach math and science in grades K-12. This bill acts on what we know needs to be done.”

During consideration of the bill, the committee adopted the following amendments:

an amendment by Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) to add a new section to the bill to create a NSF grant program to support science laboratory improvement in secondary schools, by voice vote;
an amendment by Rep. Johnson to include minority-serving institutions to the types of institutions of higher education eligible for the NSF’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program;
an amendment by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) to specify that NSF should attempt to increase the number of secondary schools with high concentrations of low-income students who pursue STEM degrees; and
an amendment by Rep. Giffords that would give priority to summer teacher institute grant applications that propose programs that will attract teachers from high-need school systems.In a press release, Rep. Johnson said of her amendments: “These amendments represent a concerted effort to interest more students in science and math careers and to give them the tools to capitalize on that interest. They target schools serving pupils who are underrepresented in these professions, in terms of race and class. From upgrading laboratory equipment to providing advance training for teachers, these amendments seek to improve students’ secondary school preparation for becoming scientists.”
Rep. Ehlers stated, “We need to have students reach the point where the intrinsic beauty of math and science becomes apparent. What we need is lab science in schools at every grade level, because every student needs to experience real-world experiments, and see how scientific research really works. This is what we need to help develop the nation’s next generation of mathematicians, scientists, and space explorers.”

Commenting on her amendments, Rep. Giffords said in a press release, “To remain competitive in our 21st century global economy, it is critical that we reform math and science education in America. All children, especially those in our rural and urban schools, should have the opportunity to become leaders in science and engineering.”