Democratic leaders announced their plans for the coming months and a number of science and math education related bills, many carried over from last year, were introduced last week as the 110th Congress officially got underway.

On January 8 Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) will introduce the Standards to Provide Educational Achievement for All Kids (SPEAK) Act. This bill tasks the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), in consultation with relevant constituencies (including science and math teacher associations) and upon review of existing standards, with creating rigorous and voluntary core American education content standards in math and science for grades K-12. Bill language would also establish an American Standards Incentive Fund as a means to incentivize states to adopt the standards.

Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Thursday introduced a package of four math and science education bills. The Math and Science School Readiness Act (H.R. 38) promotes pre-mathematics and pre-science school readiness for preschool-aged children enrolled in the federal Head Start program. The Science Accountability Act (H.R. 35), amends the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to require that the science assessments, which will begin in the 2007-08 school year, be included in the state's accountability system beginning in the 2008-09 school year. It also gradually phases in annual assessments in science in grades 3-8, matching the existing requirements for reading and math assessments. The National Science Education Tax Incentive for Teachers Act (H.R. 36) establishes a tax credit of up to $1,500 per year for eligible math and science teachers. The National Science Education Tax Incentive for Businesses Act (H.R. 37) encourages businesses to donate new, needed math and science-related equipment to schools or donate teacher training services. Businesses may receive a tax credit equal to 100 percent of the value of their donations.

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) reintroduced a portion of his National Defense Education Act last week. The SUCCESS Act (States Using Collaboration and Cooperation to Enhance Standards for Students Act,” S. 164) would provide support to states, on a voluntary basis, to improve the rigor of their standards through the grants to create P-16 councils and grants to state consortia working to develop common, rigorous standards and assessments.

And finally, Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) began his tenure as a House Committee Chairman by changing the Committee's name from the Committee on Science to the Committee on Science and Technology. In a press release Chairman Gordon said the Committee's agenda in the new Congress would focus on “a continued effort to assure that U.S. workers are equipped to compete in the global economy and a firm commitment to math and science education on all levels.” The Committee also unveiled its new website—http://science.house.gov.

Fifth Anniversary for No Child Left Behind

Five years ago today the No Child Left Behind Law was signed into law. In a speech last week President Bush said that reauthorization of the law would be a priority of his administration. To read more, visit http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/reauth/index.html. As reported in a previous issue of NSTA Express, House Education Chairman Representative Miller also said he would like to see the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind completed in 2007. He said he would be holding hearings on NCLB both in Washington and across the country.

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