Part C—Eisenhower Regional Mathematics and Science Education Consortia

Part Referred to in Other Sections

This part is referred to in sections 6622, 6861, 8622, 8651 of this title.

§8671. Program established

(a) In general

(1) Grants authorized

The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, is authorized to award grants or contracts to eligible entities to enable such entities to establish and operate regional mathematics and science education consortia for the purpose of—

(A) disseminating exemplary mathematics and science education instructional materials; and

(B) providing technical assistance for the implementation of teaching methods and assessment tools for use by elementary and secondary school students, teachers and administrators.

(2) Number

The Secretary, in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall award at least one grant or contract to an eligible entity in each region.

(3) Special rule

In any fiscal year, if the amount made available pursuant to section 8678 of this title is less than $4,500,000, then the Secretary may waive the provisions of paragraph (2) and award grants or contracts of sufficient size, scope, and quality to carry out this section.

(4) Designation

Each regional consortium assisted under this section shall be known as an "Eisenhower regional consortium".

(b) Grant term and review

Grants or contracts under this part shall be awarded for a period of not more than five years and shall be reviewed before the end of the 30-month period beginning on the date the grant or contract is awarded. Grants or contracts under this part shall be awarded before the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of an Act making appropriations to carry out this part.

(c) Amount

In awarding grants or contracts under this part, the Secretary shall ensure that there is a relatively equal distribution of the funds made available among the regions, except that the Secretary may award additional funds to a regional consortium on the basis of population and geographical conditions of the region being served.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13301, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3882.)

Clubs for Boys and Girls Interested in Science; Authorization of Appropriations; Purposes; Personnel and Facilities

Pub. L. 85–875, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1700, provided: "That in order to strengthen future scientific accomplishment in our Nation by assisting in the development of a body of boys and girls with a special interest in science, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1959, and for each fiscal year thereafter, such sums, not in excess of $50,000, as may be necessary to enable the Commissioner of Education [now Secretary of Education] to encourage, foster, and assist in the establishment in localities throughout the Nation of clubs which are composed of boys and girls who have an especial interest in science.

"Sec. 2. (a) The Commissioner of Education [now Secretary of Education] shall carry out his duties under the first section with a view to the ultimate chartering by the Congress of a Corporation, similar to the Future Farmers of America, which will seek to—

"(1) develop an interest in science on the part of the young people of America,

"(2) provide an opportunity for the exchange of scientific information and ideas among members of the clubs,

"(3) encourage the promotion of science fairs at which members of the clubs may display their scientific works and projects, and

"(4) develop an awareness of the satisfactions to be derived through a career devoted to science.

"(b) The Commissioner of Education [now Secretary of Education] may utilize any of the personnel and facilities of the Office of Education [now Department of Education] in carrying out this Act."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 8672, 8677 of this title.

§8672. Use of funds

Funds provided under this part may be used by a regional consortium, under the direction of a regional board established under section 8674 of this title, to—

(1) work cooperatively with the other regional consortia, the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Science and Mathematics Education established under section 6622(b) of this title and federally funded technical assistance providers to more effectively accomplish the activities described in this section;

(2) assist, train and provide technical assistance to classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators to identify, implement, assess or adapt the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in section 8671(a)(1) of this title;

(3) provide for the training of classroom teachers to enable such teachers to instruct other teachers, administrators, and educators in the use of the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in section 8671(a)(1) of this title in the classroom;

(4) when necessary, provide financial assistance to enable teachers and other educators to attend and participate in the activities of the regional consortium;

(5) implement programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education;

(6) assist State and local educational agencies in identifying science equipment needs and help such agencies or consortia thereof assess the need for and desirability of regional mathematics and science academies;

(7) develop and disseminate early childhood education mathematics and science instructional materials;

(8) disseminate information regarding informal mathematics and science education activities and programs offered by Federal agencies and private or public agencies and institutions within the region;

(9) collect data on activities assisted under this part in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of the regional consortia;

(10) identify exemplary teaching practices and materials from within the region and communicate such practices and materials to the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education;

(11) communicate, on a regular basis, with entities within the region who are delivering services to students and teachers of mathematics and science;

(12) assist in the development and evaluation of State and regional plans and activities that hold promise of bringing about systemic reform in student performance in mathematics and science; and

(13) increase the use of informal education entities (such as science technology centers, museums, libraries, Saturday academies, and 4H programs) for educational purposes to expand student knowledge and understanding.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13302, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3883.)

§8673. Application and review

(a) In general

Each eligible entity desiring a grant or contract under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Each such application shall—

(1) demonstrate that the eligible entity has demonstrated expertise in the fields of mathematics and science education;

(2) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall implement and disseminate mathematics and science education instructional materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools through a consortium of the region's mathematics and science education organizations and agencies;

(3) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall carry out the functions of the regional consortium;

(4) demonstrate that emphasis will be given to programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education;

(5) demonstrate that the business community in the region served by the regional consortium will play an integral role in designing and supporting the regional consortium's work;

(6) demonstrate that the eligible entity will consider the resources of telecommunications partnerships assisted under the Star Schools Program Assistance Act (as such Act was in effect on the day preceding October 20, 1994) in carrying out the provisions of this part, where appropriate; and

(7) assure that the entity will conduct its activities and supervise its personnel in a manner that effectively ensures compliance with the copyright laws of the United States under title 17.

(b) Approval of application

(1) In general

The Secretary shall approve or disapprove applications submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in accordance with the criteria and procedures established under paragraph (2).

(2) Procedures and criteria

The Secretary shall develop procedures and criteria designed to ensure that grants or contracts are competitively awarded on the basis of merit determined under a peer review process.

(3) National panel

(A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a national panel, or to the extent necessary, panels, to submit to the Secretary recommendations for awards of grants or contracts under this part. The Secretary shall appoint the members of such panel or panels.

(B) Each panel appointed under subparagraph (A) shall include participation, to the extent feasible, from each region.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13303, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3884.)

References in Text

The Star Schools Program Assistance Act (as such Act was in effect on the day preceding October 20, 1994), referred to in subsec. (a)(6), is title IX of Pub. L. 98–377, as added by Pub. L. 100–297, title II, §2302, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 320, as amended, which was classified generally to subchapter IX (§4081 et seq.) of chapter 52 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–382, title III, §364, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3975.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8675 of this title.

§8674. Regional boards

(a) In general

Each eligible entity receiving a grant or contract under this part shall establish a regional board to oversee the administration and establishment of program priorities for the regional consortium established by such eligible entity. Such regional board shall be broadly representative of the agencies and organizations participating in the regional consortium.

(b) Prohibition on use of Federal funds

No Federal funds may be used for the establishment or operation of a regional board required by subsection (a) of this section, except that at the discretion of a regional board, Federal funds may be used to provide assistance such as travel and accommodations for board members who could not otherwise afford to participate as members of the board.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13304, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3885.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8672 of this title.

§8675. Payments; Federal share; non-Federal share

(a) Payments

The Secretary shall pay to each eligible entity having an application approved under section 8673 of this title the Federal share of the cost of the activities described in the application.

(b) Federal share

For the purpose of subsection (a) of this section, the Federal share shall be 80 percent.

(c) Non-Federal share

The non-Federal share of the cost of activities described in the application submitted under section 8673 of this title may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated. At least 10 percent of such non-Federal share shall be from sources other than the Federal Government, or State or local government.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13305, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3885.)

§8676. Evaluation

(a) Evaluation required

The Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement and in accordance with section 8941 of this title, shall collect sufficient data on, and evaluate the effectiveness of, the activities of each regional consortium.

(b) Assessment

The evaluations described in paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the regional consortium in meeting the needs of the schools, teachers, administrators and students in the region.

(c) Report

At the end of each grant or contract period, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the effectiveness of the programs conducted at each regional consortium.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13306, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3885.)

§8677. Definitions

For purposes of this part:

(1) The term "eligible entity" means—

(A) a private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness;

(B) an institution of higher education;

(C) an elementary or secondary school;

(D) a State or local educational agency;

(E) a regional educational laboratory in consortium with the research and development center established under section 6031(c)(1)(B)(i) of this title; or

(F) any combination of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E),

with demonstrated expertise in mathematics and science education.

(2) The terms "mathematics" and "science" include the technology education associated with mathematics and science, respectively.

(3) The term "region" means a region of the United States served by a regional education laboratory that is supported by the Secretary pursuant to section 405(d)(4)(A)(i) of the General Education Provisions Act (as such section was in existence on the day preceding March 31, 1994).

(4) The term "regional consortium" means each regional mathematics and science education consortium established pursuant to section 8671 of this title.

(5) The term "State agency for higher education" means the State board of higher education or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the State supervision of higher education, or, if there is no such officer or agency, an officer or agency designated for the purpose of carrying out this part by the Governor or by State law.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13307, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3886.)

References in Text

Section 405 of the General Education Provisions Act (as such section was in existence on the day preceding March 31, 1994), referred to in par. (3), is section 405 of Pub. L. 90–247 which was classified to section 1221e of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–227, title IX, §911(a), Mar. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 213.

§8678. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $23,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, to carry out this part.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title XIII, §13308, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3886.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 8671 of this title.