Table of Contents
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Winners Testify Before Congress and Participate in Congressional Science Fair
Education Secretary Duncan May Provide Waivers to NCLB if Congress Does Not Reauthorize the Federal Law by Fall
Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Winners Testify Before Congress and Participate in Congressional Science Fair
Before a packed room on Thursday, June 16 the House Science, Space and Technology (SS&T) Committee held a Congressional hearing on STEM education and activities across the nation in support of STEM education. Called to testify at this hearing were selected parents, mentors, teachers, and students from the 2011Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition who were in Washington DC for the awards weekend. Other EVA teams who did not testify attended the hearing and filled the hearing room to capacity, or watched the hearing in an overflow hearing room.
During the two hour hearing, four parents/teachers/mentors from EVA teams presented five minutes of testimony then both the parents/teachers/mentors and four students selected to testify fielded a number of spirited and engaging questions from the members of Congress in attendance. Highlights from the exchange included questions from the Congressional reps to the witnesses and students on how to get more kids inspired and interested in science, technology, mathematics, and science; the status of women in science and engineering and how to increase the number of women in these fields; and how the students got involved in the competition. The tone of the hearing was quite jovial. All the witnesses, especially the students, did a remarkable job representing the ExploraVision competition with their thoughtful and well considered testimony and answers to members of Congress inquiries.
Members of the SS&T Committee in attendance at the hearing included Representative Ralph Hall (D-TX), Chairman of the SS&T Committee; Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member; Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH); Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD); Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD); Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI); Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-CA); Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL); and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX). Two members of Congress not on the Committee stopped by to introduce and congratulate the teams from their districts; they were Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) and Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI).
After the hearing the EVA teams presented their prototypes during a two hour Congressional Science Fair in Rayburn House office building. Members of Congress who stopped by the Science Fair included Representatives Chaka Fattah (D-PA); Rep. Steve Israel (R-NY); Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX); Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA); and Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI).
- The Science, Space, and Technology Committee press release on the hearing, the archived webcast of the hearing, and hearing photos can be found here.
- The hearing was webcast live and also recorded, aired, and archived by C-Span.
- Read The Washington Times article on the competition.
(back to top)
Education Secretary Duncan May Provide Waivers to NCLB if Congress Does Not Reauthorize the Federal Law by Fall
Last week Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the Department of Education may provide regulatory relief to schools and districts nationwide by waiving certain requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) if Congress was not able to reauthorize the federal education law by this fall.
In his op-ed for Politico, Duncan writes “I remain hopeful and confident that Congress will soon take action to strengthen and upgrade the nation’s education law. But while Congress works, state and local school districts are buckling under the law’s goals and mandates. Despite our shared sentiment for reform and the Obama administration’s long-standing proposal to reshape NCLB, the law remains in place, four years after it was due for reauthorization. Our children get only one shot at an education. They cannot wait any longer for reform . . . For this reason, our administration will develop a plan that trades regulatory flexibility for reform. If Congress does not complete work on reauthorization soon, we will be prepared with a process that will enable schools to move ahead with reform in the fall. States, districts and schools need the freedom to implement high standards, strengthen the quality of their teachers and school leaders and embrace a more flexible, fair and focused system of accountability. Many members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have voiced support for these nonpartisan goals.”
Writes New York Times reporter Sam Dillon, “While the secretary said it was premature to lay out specific plans for potential waivers, his aides said that the 100 percent proficiency standard would be the main target, and that restrictions on how federal money is spent could be relaxed. Mr. Duncan said in exchange for such flexibility, states would have to embrace President Obama’s education priorities, a formula the administration used last year in its signature education initiative, the Race to the Top grant competition, which awarded money to those that opened new space for charter schools, toughened teacher evaluation systems, and remade their worst-performing schools, among other things.”
(back to top)