S 3047
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3047
To provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2008
Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. SANDERS, and Mr.
BROWN)) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
A BILL
To provide for the coordination of the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.
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 `Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Education Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to coordinate Federal science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education efforts and foster cooperation
between the States and Federal Government by--
(1) improving coherence of Federal STEM education programs through
the President's Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(2) coordinating STEM education initiatives at the Department of Education;
(3) providing an incentive to States to align STEM education; and
(4) improving the dissemination of STEM education research, promising
practices, and exemplary programs through the National STEM Education
Research Repository.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) To preserve the competitiveness of the United States in the global
economy our Nation must continue to combine innovation with technological
advances and scientific discovery.
(2) In 2006, the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy
of the National Academies published `Rising Above the Gathering Storm'
estimating that in the United States innovations generated by STEM
fields account for more than half of the growth in gross domestic
product (GDP).
(3) According to the analysis conducted by the Association of American
Universities in 2006, only 15 percent of college graduates receive
a diploma in engineering or the natural sciences in the United States
as compared with 38 percent in South Korea, 47 percent in France,
and 67 percent in Singapore.
(4) Every student deserves the opportunity to contribute to the long-term
prosperity of the United States by acquiring skills that foster critical
thinking, inventiveness, and innovation.
(5) Highly qualified teachers are crucial to instilling students with
the values and skills necessary to preserve and improve innovation
in the United States and maintain our Nation's leadership in the global
knowledge economy.
(6) Teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education
will enhance the preparation they provide by incorporating promising
practices and exemplary programs that foster student learning, problem
solving skills, and inventiveness and by aligning STEM education preservice
and in-service training among States.
(7) Women and minorities in the United States are not employed in
STEM occupations in proportion to their numbers in the population
or their enrollment in higher education; efforts must be made to increase
diversity in the STEM workforce to improve the range of viewpoints
and solutions available to address challenges presented by a diverse
and global marketplace.
(8) Many of the Federal agencies have well established programs designed
to support and improve STEM education including the Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce,
Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy,
Department of Health and Human Services, Department of the Interior,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, the National
Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
(9) According to the Academic Competitiveness Council's (ACC) recent
report, in 2006 the United States sponsored 105 STEM education programs
at a dozen different Federal agencies. These programs devoted approximately
$3,120,000,000 to STEM education activities spanning kindergarten
through postgraduate education and outreach. It was shown that many
of these Federal agencies do not share information or work collaboratively
on similar programs. The ACC found that `coordination among agencies
could be improved to avoid, for example, grants to numerous projects
that support the same sorts of interventions . . . there appears to
be a lack of communication among the agencies about the work they
are funding and the results that are being generated . . . agencies
are often uninformed by the results of earlier projects.'.
(10) Strengthening partnerships between the Federal and State governments,
the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and the education community
will improve STEM education in our Nation's schools.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
(1) FEDERAL AGENCIES- The term `Federal agencies' means--
(A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(B) the Department of Agriculture;
(C) the Department of Commerce;
(D) the Department of Defense;
(E) the Department of Education;
(F) the Department of Energy;
(G) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(H) the Department of Labor;
(I) the Department of the Interior;
(J) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(K) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(L) the National Science Foundation;
(M) the National Institutes of Health;
(N) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
(O) other agencies of the Federal Government that administer or
provide funding for STEM education programs.
(2) NSERR- The term `NSERR' means the National STEM Education Research
Repository established under section 8.
(3) STEM- The term `STEM' means science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,
AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.
(a) Establishment of Committee- The President shall establish a Committee
on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education within
the National Science and Technology Council, which may be referred to
as the `Committee on STEM Education'.
(1) IN GENERAL- The function of the Committee on STEM Education shall
be to coordinate the efforts of the Federal agencies that relate to
STEM education from the prekindergarten level through the graduate
level to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensure coherence among
Federal STEM education programs.
(2) INCREASING PARTICIPATION OF MINORITIES, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,
AND WOMEN- The Committee on STEM Education shall seek to improve the
quality and quantity of the STEM workforce with consideration of increasing
participation of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b).
(3) COORDINATION- The President shall ensure that all efforts to coordinate
the efforts of the Federal agencies that relate to STEM education
are coordinated through the Committee on STEM Education.
(c) Structure and Operation-
(1) MEMBERSHIP- The membership of the Committee on STEM Education--
(A) shall include not less than 1 representative from each of the
Federal agencies; and
(B) may include outside experts.
(2) MEETINGS- The Committee on STEM Education shall convene not less
often than quarterly.
(3) STAFF- The Committee on STEM Education shall be served by--
(A) an Assistant Director selected by the members of the Committee
with the approval of the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy; and
(B) a professional staff of not less than 2 individuals.
(d) Responsibilities- The Committee on STEM Education shall have the
following responsibilities:
(1) Conducting an ongoing inventory and assessment of the effectiveness
and coherence of efforts within Federal agencies that relate to STEM
education.
(2) Coordinating and facilitating the communication and cooperation
among all Federal agencies engaged in efforts that relate to STEM
education.
(3) Developing annual goals and objectives for improving STEM education
throughout the Nation in collaboration with relevant organizations.
(4) Not later than 30 days after developing the goals and objectives
under paragraph (3)--
(A) disseminating the goals and objectives to each Federal agency
engaged in efforts that relate to STEM education;
(B) communicating the goals and objectives to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, and relevant
STEM education organizations; and
(C) making the goals and objectives widely available to the public,
particularly to stakeholders that represent individuals identified
in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(5) Annually evaluating the progress and success of each Federal agency
at achieving the goals and objectives under paragraph (3).
(6) Consulting with the State Consortium on STEM Education when developing
Federal STEM education policy and budgets.
(7) Proposing a coordinated interagency budget for STEM Education
to the Office of Management and Budget aligned with the goals developed
under paragraph (3).
(8) Strengthening partnerships between the STEM education community,
Federal, State, and local governments, and other countries.
(9) Implementing the program for Semiannual Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Days as set forth in section 1004 of the America COMPETES
Act (Public Law 110-69).
(10) Hosting an annual meeting on the status of STEM education, including
the role of education in meeting the recommendations of the report
submitted by the National Science and Technology Summit in section
1001 of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-69) in conjunction
with--
(A) the State Consortium on STEM Education;
(B) the Federal agencies;
(C) States, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and any
other territory or possession of the United States;
(D) businesses and industries;
(E) institutions of higher education;
(F) STEM education professions and teachers from prekindergarten
through postbaccalaureate study; and
(G) other relevant stakeholders in STEM education, including stakeholders
that represent individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a
or 1885b).
(11) Issuing a biennial report to the Nation on the status of STEM
education that--
(A) specifies the efforts and outcomes of each Federal agency in
improving STEM education; and
(B) contains an analysis of the quality, scale, and effectiveness
of the efforts of the Federal Government relating to improving STEM
education and increasing participation of individuals identified
in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(12) Developing, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, business
and industry partners and other appropriate entities, a 5-year projection
of the STEM workforce, including a demographic breakdown of individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), but notwithstanding any
other provision of law, a person shall not be eligible to receive
a grant from any Federal agency for a project that relates to STEM
education research unless the person demonstrates that all reports,
proceedings, data sets, online modules, and other products of the
project will be submitted by their authors for consideration to be
included in the NSERR.
(2) COPYRIGHT- The Committee on STEM Education and the NSERR shall
implement the public access policy under paragraph (1) in a manner
consistent with copyright law.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $650,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each of
the succeeding fiscal years.
SEC. 6. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
(a) Assistant Secretary- Section 202(b)(1) of the Department of Education
Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking `and' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (G); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
`(F) an Assistant Secretary for Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Education (who may be referred to as the Assistant
Secretary for STEM Education); and'.
(b) Office- Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act
(20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 221. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION.
`(a) In General- There shall be in the Department an Office of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (which may be referred
to as the `Office of STEM Education'), to be administered by the Assistant
Secretary for STEM Education appointed under section 202(b).
`(b) Responsibilities- The Assistant Secretary for STEM Education, acting
through the Office of STEM Education, shall have the following responsibilities:
`(1) Coordinating and overseeing all science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (referred to in this section as `STEM') education
efforts within the Department.
`(2) Preparing the annual budget for all STEM education programs within
the Department.
`(3) Managing the following programs: Math and Science Partnerships,
Math Now, Math Skills for Secondary Students, Minority Science and
Engineering Improvement, Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow, and
all other programs of the Department with a focus on STEM education,
including, where appropriate, the National Science and Mathematics
Access Retain Talent (SMART grants) program, the Teacher Education
Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH grants) program,
and the Academic Competitiveness grants program.
`(4) Consulting with other offices within the Department that have
a STEM education focus, including those managing the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education grants.
`(5) Representing the Department as the principal interagency liaison
on the Committee on STEM Education within the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, established under section 5 of the Enhancing Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008, unless
otherwise designated by the Assistant Secretary for STEM Education.
`(6) Ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual
so as to increase, to the maximum extent possible, the participation
and advancement of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b) in the STEM disciplines.
`(7) Promoting the development and implementation of quality, scientifically-valid
STEM teacher preparation and teacher professional development, and
to provide technical assistance to support STEM learning.
`(8) Providing support to institutions of higher education and other
institutions and organizations with effective informal STEM education
programs to improve teacher preparation and teacher professional development
by ensuring emphasis on promising practices and exemplary programs
in STEM education.
`(9) Providing support to local educational agencies or to mathematics
and science partnerships involving local educational agencies, to
implement effective STEM education instruction and exemplary programs
that employ promising practices.
`(10) Consulting regularly with the State Consortium on STEM Education
with regard to developing STEM education policy and providing technical
support.
`(11) Conducting a biennial symposium with invited stakeholders emphasizing
engaging students that are identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b)
in STEM disciplines, including--
`(A) expert STEM teachers;
`(B) the State Consortium on STEM Education and additional States;
`(C) business and industry partners;
`(D) institutions of higher education;
`(E) institutions and organizations with an informal STEM education
focus; and
`(F) Federal agencies with STEM education programs.
`(12) Providing periodic public statements on the status of STEM education
in the Nation.
`(13) Informing the Secretary, policymakers, the professional societies
of STEM teaching professionals, and STEM practitioners about the effectiveness
of STEM-related education research and programs operated within the
Department.
`(14) Sharing scientifically-valid education research and promising
practices and exemplary programs with the National STEM Education
Research Repository.'.
(c) Evaluation and Report- The Assistant Secretary for STEM Education
shall conduct an annual independent evaluation, through grant or by
contract, of the STEM education programs administered by the Department
of Education, which shall include--
(1) conducting an assessment of STEM education activities within the
Department of Education by using the annual evaluations and reports
of the programs to determine the programs' impact on--
(A) the quantity of students seeking STEM degrees, disaggregated
by subject area and individuals identified under section 33 or 34
of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.
1885a or 1885b);
(B) student academic achievement with consideration of problem-solving,
critical thinking, collaboration, and other higher order thinking
skills;
(C) improving STEM teacher quality, quantity, and retention; and
(D) improving promising teaching practices that show evidence of
fostering student innovation; and
(2) the preparation and submission of an annual report on the results
of the assessment described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committees on Appropriations
of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums
as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 7. STATE CONSORTIUM ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.
(a) In General- From amounts made available to carry out this section,
the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM Education,
shall award a grant to establish 1 voluntary State Consortium on Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, which may be referred
to as the `State Consortium on STEM Education'.
(b) Eligibility Requirement- To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, the consortium shall include not less than 5 States representing
not less than 5 of the 9 regional divisions of the United States, according
to the regional divisions used by the Bureau of the Census.
(c) Peer Review and Selection of Grant Recipient- The Secretary of Education
shall--
(1) establish a peer-review process to assist in the review and approval
of a grant proposal submitted under this section;
(2) appoint individuals to participate in the peer-review process
who are educators and experts in identifying, evaluating, and implementing
effective STEM education programs and practices, including areas of
teaching and learning, educational standards and assessments, professional
development, curriculum, and increasing the participation of individuals
identified under section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b), English language learners,
and students with disabilities, including recognized exemplary teachers
and school administrators who have been recognized at the national
or State level for exemplary work or contributions to the STEM education
field;
(3) approve 1 grant from the proposals submitted under this section
not later than 120 days after the deadline for submission and acceptance
of the proposals, as determined by the Secretary, unless the Secretary
determines that none of the grant proposals submitted meet the requirements
of this section;
(4) if only 1 grant proposal is submitted pursuant to this section,
not decline to approve the grant proposal before--
(A) offering the applicant an opportunity to revise the proposal
of the applicant if the proposal does not meet the requirements
of this section; and
(B) providing the applicant with technical assistance in order to
submit a successful proposal; and
(5) direct the Inspector General of the Department of Education to--
(i) the process used for screening the individuals appointed to
the peer-review process under this section to avoid both financial
conflicts of interest and non-financial interests that would impair
objectivity in peer review; and
(ii) the objectivity of the process used in reviewing and awarding
the grant under this section; and
(B) report the findings of the review under subparagraph (A) to
Congress.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided under paragraph (2), the grant
awarded to the consortium under this section shall be not more than
$20,000,000.
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDS- For each fiscal year of the grant period, the
Secretary of Education shall award to the consortium awarded a grant
under this section $2,000,000 for each additional State that is a
member of the consortium beyond the minimum 5 States required under
subsection (b).
(e) Use of Grant Funds- The consortium shall use the grant funds awarded
under this section for the following purposes:
(1) To establish the State Consortium on STEM Education.
(2) To convene an Interstate Council on Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Education, which may be referred to as the `Interstate
Council on STEM Education', that includes a diverse group of individuals
representing a variety of perspectives on STEM education, the STEM
disciplines, business, curriculum, assessments, English language learners,
and special education, including the following:
(A) Representatives from States that shall include not less 1 State
Governor, 1 Chief State School Officer, and 1 representative of
a State educational agency or such agency's designee.
(B) Representatives from local educational agencies that shall include
not less than 1 current school administrator, and 3 expert STEM
educators that represent early childhood, elementary, middle, and
secondary school perspectives.
(C) Not less than 4 representatives from STEM education and the
STEM fields at institutions of higher education that include community
colleges, and public and private 4-year institutions of higher education.
(D) Not less than 1 representative from a STEM education professional
organization, such as the National Science Teachers Association,
the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, or those representing
career and technical education organizations that represent underrepresented
communities in STEM.
(E) Not less than 1 representative from each of the following categories
of relevant STEM related organizations:
(i) Informal STEM education.
(ii) Business and industry.
(iii) A STEM disciplinary or professional society.
(iv) A private or corporate foundation.
(v) Other relevant organizations.
(3) To support not less than 1 full-time staff member for each State.
(4) To share STEM education research, promising practices and exemplary
programs, and programs through the NSERR.
(f) Functions- The State Consortium on STEM Education--
(A) establish small working groups comprised of members of the State
Council on STEM Education and outside experts in appropriate fields
consulting widely to address the functions outlined in this subsection;
(B) identify points of weakness and strength in the STEM education
efforts, prioritize strategies for addressing problem areas, and
communicate State needs to the Committee on STEM Education and the
Assistant Secretary for STEM Education;
(C) develop rigorous common content standards in STEM education
for prekindergarten through grade 12 reflecting common elements
between disciplines with consideration of--
(i) established international standards and 21st century skills;
and
(ii) the needs of English language learners and special education
students;
(D) develop and implement strategies to integrate STEM education
into other subject areas, such as language arts, social studies,
physical and health education, music and other performing arts,
and environmental education;
(E) develop innovative STEM assessment practices that include a
substantial proportion of extended constructed response items, such
as performance-based measures, that measure higher order thinking
skills and understanding, application and transferability knowledge,
problemsolving, analysis, and synthesis, and include administration
through a variety of modalities, such as audio-visual and interactive
technology;
(F) develop strategies to increase the participation and success
of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in
STEM fields with consideration of first generation students;
(G) identify and utilize, to the maximum extent possible, the expertise
and resources of educators, institutions of higher education, business
and industry, and Federal agencies in the development and implementation
of functions outlined in this subsection;
(H) issue periodic reports on the status of STEM education in the
States; and
(I) make STEM education research, promising practices and exemplary
programs, and effective STEM programs widely available through the
NSERR; and
(A) establish and strengthen partnerships between 2-year institutions
of higher education and minority serving institutions and research
institutions to provide STEM students at 2-year institutions of
higher education and minority serving institutions expanded degree
possibilities and opportunities to access research facilities and
mentors, including--
(i) conducting a needs assessment of how to enhance the flow of
STEM students from 2-year institutions of higher education and
minority serving institutions to research institutions; and
(ii) establishing articulation agreements that shall address pathways
and credit transfers between the institutions;
(B) improve and align STEM preservice teacher training among the
member States, including developing common--
(i) STEM preservice teacher training degree programs;
(ii) STEM teacher credentials; and
(iii) alternative pathways to STEM teacher certification;
(C) promote and develop curriculum tools and professional development
for in-service teachers that foster innovation and inventiveness;
(D) evaluate the impact that STEM education professional development
organizations have on classroom instruction and student learning
in member States;
(E) provide technical support to States that are members of the
Consortium to establish or strengthen existing P-16 or P-20 Councils
and to align secondary school graduation requirements with the demands
of 21st century postsecondary education endeavors and support P-16
education data systems established by States under section 6401
of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C. 9871);
(F) develop STEM Career Awareness Programs in collaboration with
school guidance counselors that reflect the projected STEM workforce
needs of the 21st century that may include mentoring programs and
STEM professional outreach; and
(G) develop STEM-related workforce education and training programs
to enhance the skills of workers to meet the needs of business and
industry.
(g) Outside Funds- The State Consortium on STEM Education shall be permitted
to accept and solicit outside funds.
(h) Evaluation and Report- The State Consortium on STEM Education shall
conduct an annual independent evaluation, by grant or by contract, of
the State Consortium on STEM Education's effectiveness at accomplishing
the functions outlined in subsection (f), which shall include--
(1) an assessment of the impact of such activities on STEM teaching
and learning; and
(2) the preparation and submission of an annual report on the results
of the assessment described in paragraph (1) to the Assistant Secretary
for STEM Education.
(1) IN GENERAL- In implementing this section, the Secretary may not--
(A) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM curriculum designed for
use in any school; or
(B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or activities that
will require the adoption of a specific STEM program or instructional
materials by a State, local educational agency, or school.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL STEM EDUCATION RESEARCH REPOSITORY.
(a) In General- From amounts made available to carry out this section,
the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM Education,
shall make a grant to the National Science Digital Library for use by
the Library to establish a National STEM Education Research Repository,
which may be referred to as the `NSERR', to coordinate and organize
scientifically-valid STEM education research, and STEM education programs
that demonstrate promising practices and exemplary programs, among governmental
and nongovernmental agencies.
(b) Use of Grant Amounts- The recipient of the grant under subsection
(a) shall use the grant to provide basic operational support to the
NSERR, including content development and maintenance, office space,
equipment, personnel, and other operational costs.
(c) Responsibilities- The NSERR shall have the following responsibilities:
(1) Integrating existing STEM education collections, teacher professional
development opportunities, and student programs available through
the Federal agencies, including the Science Education Resource Center,
Research from Institutions of Higher Education, Regional Education
Centers (labs, comprehensive centers, and technical assistance centers),
Applied Math and Science Repository, Education Resources Information
Center (ERIC), State initiatives, national experts, and others.
(2) Developing criteria for STEM education research and promising
practices and exemplary programs, in collaboration with relevant STEM
education experts, for inclusion in the NSERR.
(3) Publishing, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the criteria developed under paragraph (2).
(4) Ensuring that STEM education research, promising practices, and
exemplary programs have been evaluated by experts, and that those
meeting the established minimum criteria in paragraph (2) are made
widely available.
(5) Providing summaries of STEM education research and promising practices
and exemplary programs that were submitted and evaluated under paragraph
(4), including providing contact information, examples of successful
implementation, and other information that may be beneficial to educators.
(d) Outside Funds- The NSERR shall be permitted to accept and solicit
outside funds.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums
as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
END
