Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990

Summary

Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990 - Title I: National Goal and Policy for Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology Education - Declares the 1990's to be the Decade of Excellence in American Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education. Sets forth objectives to be achieved by the year 2000. Title II: Scientific and Technical Literacy of the General Public - Scientific and Technical Literacy Act of 1990 - Part A: National Research and Dissemination in Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National Institute for Technology and Learning (NITL) to conduct and publish interdisciplinary research on processes by which individuals learn and ways in which advanced technologies can facilitate such processes. Establishes a Technology and Learning Advisory Panel within NITL. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a merit-based, competitive grant or contract to establish a National Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (Clearinghouse). Part B: Regional Science, Mathematics, and Technology Educational Programs - Regional Science, Mathematics, and Technology Consortium Act of 1990 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award merit-based competitive grants for regional science, mathematics, and technology education consortia to disseminate and implement exemplary science, mathematics, and technology education instruction materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools for use by elementary and secondary school students. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to conduct programs of Roving Master Teachers in mathematics and science in elementary and middle schools. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to State and local educational agencies, or to consortia of such agencies with other organizations, to assist them in planning, but not operating, regional mathematics, science, and technology academies. Part C: Informal Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Programs - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to establish: (1) within NSF a Directorate of Science and Engineering Education (the Directorate); and (2) within the Directorate a Division of Informal Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education (the Informal Division). Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Informal Division, to award merit-based competitive grants: (1) (and fellowships) for professional enhancement activities to increase the pool of informal science education professionals and consultants; (2) for community extension programs to make available interactive science exhibits and programs for rural and urban poor areas; and (3) for specified types of innovative activities or programs. Requires the NSF Director, through the Informal Division, to make grants to: (1) science and technology museums and centers to develop hands-on, interactive programs; and (2) specified types of entities to develop public television programs in science and technology, especially programs using women or minority role models. Part D: Science and Space Exploration Education - Science and Space Exploration Education Act of 1990 - Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Directorate, to establish a program of grants to and contracts with specified entities to develop innovative educational materials relating to space exploration to deepen students' interest in mathematics, science, and technology. Directs the Clearinghouse: (1) to develop and disseminate a descriptive listing of scientific and technical facilities and equipment useful for educational purposes; and (2) (together with Regional Consortia) inform schools, museums, and science and technology centers of items available for donation. Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Directorate, to conduct an annual competition for science and space exploration education project awards for students or teams from grades nine through 12. Title III: Education of Scientists and Engineers - Scientists and Engineers Education Act of 1990 - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to establish within the NSF Directorate of Science and Engineering Education (the Directorate) a Division of Undergraduate Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education (the Undergraduate Division). Part A: Undergraduate Programs - Requires the NSF Director to make outreach grants to community colleges to negotiate the establishment of partnerships with nearby four-year academic institutions that award bachelor degrees in mathematics, science, or engineering, or a four-year technology degree. Authorizes the NSF Director to make competitive, merit-based partnership grants to eligible partnerships of community colleges and four-year academic institutions to assist their students in making the transition to such degree programs. Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Undergraduate Division, to make bootstrap grants to colleges and universities to strengthen particular departments of mathematics, science, or engineering. Authorizes the President to make a limited number of Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching Undergraduate Mathematics, Science, Engineering, or Technology to college or university teachers. National Mathematics-Science Teacher Corps Act of 1990 - Authorizes the NSF Director to make awards to students in baccalaureate degree programs in science, mathematics, or engineering who commit themselves to teach elementary or secondary science or mathematics. Part B: Graduate Fellowships - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to require the NSF Director to increase, as much as practicable, the number of graduate fellowships awarded by the NSF: (1) in FY 1991 to approximately double that of FY 1987; and (2) to women and minority students. Title IV: Technology Education and Training - Technology Education and Training Act of 1990 - Authorizes the NSF Director to establish a High School Technology Curriculum Development Program to make grants to or contracts with appropriate institutions or organizations to develop comprehensive curricula for introductory and advanced secondary school technology courses leading to careers as engineers or technologists. College and Company Technology Partnership Act of 1990 - Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Undergraduate Division, to make grants to and contracts with eligible partnerships (of four-year colleges of engineering or technology and/or two-year community colleges with private companies) to engage in specified activities involving student work-study at the company, company personnel teaching at the institution, curriculum development, and equipment loans or donations. Technology Training Consortium Act of 1990 - Requires the Department of Labor to establish or designate, within its Employment and Training Administration, an Office of Technology Training Consortiums (the Office). Authorizes the Secretary of Labor, through the Office, to: (1) make planning grants to companies to plan for the establishment of consortia; and (2) pay up to 50 percent of the cost of startup grants to newly established consortia for their initial organization costs. Title V: Women and Minorities in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering - Women and Minorities in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990 - Part A: Women and Minority Role Models in Mathematics, Science, Engineering, and Technology - Authorizes the NSF Director to award exemplary visiting professional fellowships for women and minority professionals in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to provide role models in such fields for female and minority students in grades seven through 12. Authorizes the NSF Director to make distinguished visiting professor grants to women and minority faculty members in mathematics, science, or engineering to serve as visiting professors at academic institutions which do not have sufficient resources to attract and retain faculty members of such stature permanently. Part B: Undergraduate Fellowships and Minority College-University Partnerships - Requires the NSF Director to award undergraduate fellowships in mathematics, science, and engineering to women and minority students. Authorizes the NSF Director, through the Undergraduate Division, to make grants to: (1) minority colleges to establish partnerships with research universities; and (2) eligible partnerships to enable mathematics, science, and technology students from the minority colleges to be exposed to and use facilities, programs, and instruction available at the research universities. Title VI: General Provisions and Authorization of Appropriations - Directs the Secretaries of Education and of Labor and the NSF Director to evaluate and report to the Congress on their respective programs, activities, and responsibilities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 2000.

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4 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 1 August 1990

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 February 1990

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