Part B—Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Programs
§7381g. Definitions
In this part:
(1) Director
The term "Director" means the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education.
(2) National Laboratory
The term "National Laboratory" has the meaning given the term in
(
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Consultation
"(1) consult with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the National Science Foundation regarding activities authorized under subpart B of the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act [this part] (as added by subsection (d)(3)) to improve science and mathematics education; and
"(2) otherwise make available to the Secretary of Education reports associated with programs authorized under that section."
subpart 1—[repealed]
Editorial Notes
Codification
§7381h. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–358, title IX, §901(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4044
Section,
subpart 2—[repealed]
Editorial Notes
Codification
§7381j. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–358, title IX, §901(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4044
Section,
subpart 3—national laboratories centers of excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education
§7381l. National Laboratories Centers of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education
(a) Definition of high-need public secondary school
In this section, the term "high-need public secondary school" means a secondary school—
(1) in which 40 percent or more of the students attending the school are children from low-income families; or
(2) designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
(b) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish at each of the National Laboratories a program to support a Center of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (referred to in this section as a "Center of Excellence") in at least 1 high-need public secondary school located in the region served by the National Laboratory to provide assistance in accordance with subsection (f).
(c) Collaboration
(1) In general
To comply with subsection (g), each high-need public secondary school selected as a Center of Excellence and the National Laboratory shall form a partnership with a school, department, or program of education at an institution of higher education.
(2) Nonprofit entities
The partnership may include a nonprofit entity with demonstrated experience and effectiveness in science or mathematics, as agreed to by other members of the partnership.
(d) Selection
(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish criteria to guide the National Laboratories in selecting the sites for Centers of Excellence.
(2) Process
A National Laboratory shall select a site for a Center of Excellence through an open, widely-publicized, and competitive process.
(e) Goals
The Secretary shall establish goals and performance assessments for each Center of Excellence authorized under subsection (b).
(f) Assistance
Consistent with
(1) to assist teachers in teaching a course at a Center of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; and
(2) to use National Laboratory scientific equipment in the teaching of the course.
(g) Special rules
A Center of Excellence in a region shall ensure—
(1) provision of clinical practicum, student teaching, or internship experiences for science, technology, and mathematics teacher candidates as part of the teacher preparation program of the Center of Excellence;
(2) provision of supervision and mentoring for teacher candidates in the teacher preparation program; and
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, provision of professional development for veteran teachers in the public secondary schools in the region.
(h) Evaluation
The Secretary shall consider the results of performance assessments required under subsection (e) in determining the contract award fee of a National Laboratory management and operations contractor.
(i) Plan
The Director shall—
(1) develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded under this section that objectively measures the impact of the activities; and
(2) disseminate information obtained from those measurements.
(j) No effect on similar programs
Nothing in this section displaces or otherwise affects any similar program being carried out as of August 9, 2007, at any National Laboratory under any other provision of law.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by
subpart 4—summer institutes
§7381n. Summer institutes
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible partner
The term "eligible partner" means—
(A) the science, engineering, or mathematics department at an institution of higher education, acting in coordination with a school, department, or program of education at an institution of higher education that provides training for teachers and principals; or
(B) a nonprofit entity with expertise in providing professional development for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teachers.
(2) Summer institute
The term "summer institute" means an institute, operated during the summer, that—
(A) is hosted by a National Laboratory or an eligible partner;
(B) is operated for a period of not less than 2 weeks;
(C) includes, as a component, a program that provides direct interaction between students and faculty, including personnel of 1 or more National Laboratories who have scientific expertise;
(D) provides for follow-up training, during the academic year, that is conducted in the classroom; and
(E) provides hands-on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics laboratory experience for not less than 2 days.
(b) Summer institute programs authorized
(1) Programs at the National Laboratories
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish or expand programs of summer institutes at each of the National Laboratories to provide additional training to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed at public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance with the activities authorized under paragraphs (3) and (4).
(2) Programs with eligible partners
(A) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall identify and provide assistance as described in subparagraph (C) to eligible partners to establish or expand programs of summer institutes that provide additional training to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed at public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).
(B) Selection criteria
In identifying eligible partners under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall require that partner institutions describe—
(i) how the partner institution has the capability to administer the program in accordance with this section, which may include a description of any existing programs at the institution of the applicant that are targeted at education of science and mathematics teachers and the number of teachers graduated annually from the programs; and
(ii) how the partner institution will assist the National Laboratory in carrying out the activities described in paragraphs (3) and (4).
(C) Assistance
Consistent with
(i) assists in providing training to teachers at summer institutes; and
(ii) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the training.
(3) Required activities
Funds authorized under this section shall be used for—
(A) creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers that improves the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content knowledge of the teachers;
(B) training to improve the ability of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers to translate content knowledge and recent developments in pedagogy into classroom practice, including training to use curricula that are—
(i) based on scientific research; and
(ii) aligned with challenging State academic content standards;
(C) training on the use and integration of technology in the classrooms; and
(D) supplemental and follow-up professional development activities as described in subsection (a)(2)(D).
(4) Additional uses of funds
Funds authorized under this section may be used for—
(A) training and classroom materials to assist in carrying out paragraph (3);
(B) expenses associated with scientific and engineering staff at the National Laboratories assisting in providing training to teachers at summer institutes;
(C) instruction in the use and integration of data and assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice; and
(D) stipends and travel expenses for teachers participating in the program.
(c) Priority
To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that each summer institute program authorized under subsection (b) provides training to—
(1) teachers from a wide range of school districts;
(2) teachers from high-need school districts; and
(3) teachers from groups underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching, including women and members of minority groups.
(d) Coordination and consultation
The Director shall consult and coordinate with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the National Science Foundation regarding the implementation of the programs authorized under subsection (b).
(e) Evaluation and accountability plan
(1) In general
The Director shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded under this section that measures the impact of the activities.
(2) Contents
The evaluation and accountability plan shall include—
(A) measurable objectives to increase the number of science, technology, and mathematics teachers who participate in the summer institutes involved; and
(B) measurable objectives for improved student academic achievement on State science, mathematics, and to the maximum extent applicable, technology and engineering assessments.
(3) Report to Congress
The Secretary shall submit to Congress with the annual budget submission of the Secretary a report on how the activities assisted under this section improve the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of participating teachers.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
(4) $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (f)(4).
subpart 5—[repealed]
Editorial Notes
Codification
§7381p. Repealed. Pub. L. 111–358, title IX, §901(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4044
Section,
subpart 6—administration
§7381r. Mentoring program
(a) In general
As part of the programs established under subparts 3 and 4, the Director shall establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
(b) Pairing
The program shall pair mentors with women and minorities who are in programs of study at specialty schools for science and mathematics, Centers of Excellence, and summer institutes established under subparts 3 and 4, respectively.
(c) Program evaluation
The Secretary shall annually—
(1) use metrics to evaluate the success of the programs established under subsection (a); and
(2) submit to Congress a report that describes the results of each evaluation.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Subparts 3 and 4, referred to in subsec. (b), relate to Centers of Excellence and summer institutes, respectively. Prior to amendment by
Amendments
2011—