President submits FY2008 budget proposal

On Monday, February 5, President Bush submitted his budget request for the fiscal year 2008. Once again, the proposed budget would allocate $365 million for the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) to help student improvement in science and mathematics. This money would be split up among several programs. Math Now, a program aimed at preparing elementary and middle school students for the more advanced mathematics courses in high school, was also proposed in last years’ budget, but was cut out of the final version. The Adjunct Teacher Corps would be created to recruit professional scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to aid in the teaching process in middle and high school classrooms by using their professional experience. The third part of this new initiative would be used to train more educators to teach advanced placement classes and to expand low-income students’ access to these classes.

Current funding levels for the Mathematics and Science Partnership programs would remain the same as for the last two years ($182.1 million). (This is the NSF program with the same name.)

For further information, a copy of the FY2008 budget for the Department of Education can be found on the Department website.

NSF and the President's FY2008 budget proposal

Yesterday, NSF Director Arden Bement, Jr. discussed the foundation’s budget request of $6.43 billion for FY2008. This marks an increase of $409 million and the extra funds are spread across the agency to specifically target discovery and innovation in mathematics and the physical sciences.

The Education and Human Resources (EHR) budget reflects a net increase of $34.4 million this year. The proposed EHR budget, at $750 million, also reflects the move of more than $100 million for the EPSCoR program from EHR to NSF’s Integrative Activities under the Director’s office. Increases in EHR target: research on learning in formal and informal settings, undergraduate and graduate education, and human resource development.

The NSF MSP program is level funded at the 2007 Request level. With the completion of some MSP grants, there could be as much as $30 million available for new grants in FY 2008.

Senate Education Committee to meet over NCLB

This week, Senator Kennedy announced plans that the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will begin a series of meetings on Thursday to discuss the reauthorization of NCLB. This meeting will be held in roundtable format and can be listened to online.

Specifically, they will be discussing aspects of the law such as: High schools and dropout prevention strategies; teacher quality; accountability and adequate yearly progress (AYP); assessment issues; supplemental services and choice; students with disabilities and NCLB; English language learners and NCLB; and strategies for parental involvement and community supports for schools.

Senator Kennedy has made it clear that NCLB is one of the top priorities for the HELP committee this year. More information can be found in a HELP committee press release (PDF).

10,000 Teachers Ten Million Minds Bill Passes

The U.S. House of Representatives voted April 24 to pass the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Bill (H.R. 362) introduced by Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). The legislation creates several new programs and expands existing programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Bill would revise requirements for the Robert Noyce Scholarship program, which provides scholarships, stipends, and teacher training to science, mathematics, and engineering students. It would expand the use of funds to include summer internships for freshmen students. It would also Increase the minimum yearly scholarship amount and reduce the recipients’ obligation to serve in a high need area.

H.R. 362 also revised the requirements for the Mathematics and Science Education Partnerships program at NSF, requiring: (1) prioritizing applications that focus on teacher training; (2) requiring the availability of master's degree programs for in-service teachers; and (3) allowing teacher training for AP courses. The Bill would also revise the STEM Talent Expansion Program and provide funds for a pilot Laboratory Science Program to encourage the improvement of laboratories and provide equipment and training to teachers. In addition it requires that grants awarded under this program be made to a partnership that: (1) includes an institution of higher education or a community college; (2) includes a high-need local educational agency; (3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization; and (5) may include a state educational agency, other public agency, national laboratory, or community-based organization. The full text of the report on H.R. 362 can be found on THOMAS.