New Bills Focus on Maintaining and Improving U.S. Innovation in the 21st Century
Arlington, VA, April 26, 2006—The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching, today hailed the passage of the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act (S. 761) in the Senate and the “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362) in the House. These bipartisan bills are legislative responses to recommendations contained in the National Academies’ “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” report and the Council on Competitiveness’s “Innovate America” report, both which seek to improve the competitiveness of the US in the global economy by providing support and incentives for innovation in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“These bills are a vital and important step in addressing the serious challenges facing science education,” said Gerry Wheeler, executive director at NSTA. “Not only will these bills help ensure that the country’s future scientists and engineers are equipped with the education, skills, and resources necessary to succeed in their field, they will also provide the major push necessary to help America regain its competitive edge in the world.”
The America COMPETES Act focuses on three key areas, including increasing research investment, strengthening educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from elementary through graduate school, and building an innovation infrastructure.
More specifically, the America COMPETES Act will authorize grants for the expansion and promotion of science and math education programs from elementary through graduate school. Additionally, the bill will establish training and educational programs for thousands of math and science teachers, encourage scholarship programs for math, science and engineering students, and facilitate educational partnerships with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Laboratories.
The “10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds” Science and Math Scholarship Act will establish a teacher education program at the NSF to encourage math, science, and engineering faculty to work with education faculty to improve the preparation of mathematics and science teachers. The bill will also provide scholarships to students in STEM fields who commit to becoming mathematics and science teachers at elementary and secondary schools, increase teacher training institutes at NSF and the Department of Energy, and support master’s degree programs for mathematics and science teachers. In addition, the bill will establish a laboratory science pilot project at NSF.
About NSTA
The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 55,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.
Contact:
Kate Meyer
National Science Teachers Association
kmeyer@nsta.org
(703) 312-9211
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Note to Reporters: To schedule an interview with Gerry Wheeler to discuss the America COMPETES Act and other important science education legislation; please contact Kate Meyer at (703) 312-9211 or kmeyer@nsta.org.