REGIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION CONSORTIUMS.

SEC. 205. REGIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION CONSORTIUMS. (a) Amendment to Text.— Part A of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2981 et seq.) is amended— (1) by inserting before section 2003 the following: “Subpart 1— State Grants and National Programs”; and (2) by inserting after section 2012 the following: “Subpart 2— Regional Mathematics and Science Education Consortiums “SEC. 2016. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. “(a) In General.— “(1) Grants authorized.— The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, is authorized to award grants or contracts to eligible entities to establish and operate regional mathematics and science education consortia for the purpose of— “(A) disseminating exemplary mathematics and science education instructional materials; and 104 STAT. 2887 “(B) providing technical assistance for the implementation of teaching methods and assessment tools for use by elementary and secondary school students, teachers and administrators. “(2) Number.— The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this section, award at least 1 grant or contract to an eligible entity in each region. “(3) Special rule.— In any fiscal year, if the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of section 2023 is less than $4,500,000, then the Secretary may waive the provisions of paragraph (2) and award grants or contracts of sufficient size, scope and quality to carry out the provisions of this section. “(b) Grant Term and Review.— Grants under this subpart shall be awarded for a period of not more than 5 years and shall be reviewed before the end of the 30-month period beginning on the date the grant is awarded. Grants shall be awarded before the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of an Act making appropriations to carry out the provisions of this subpart. “(c) Amount.— In making grants under this subpart, the Secretary shall assure that there is a relatively equal distribution of the funds made available among the regions, but the Secretary may award additional funds to a regional consortium on the basis of population and geographical conditions of the region being served. “SEC. 2017. USE OF FUNDS. “Funds provided under this subpart may be used by a regional consortium, under the direction of a regional board established pursuant to section 2019, to— “(1) identify, adapt, disseminate, and implement mathematics and science education instruction materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools for use by elementary and secondary school students; “(2) assist, train and provide technical assistance to classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators to identify, implement or adapt the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in paragraph (1); “(3) provide for the training of classroom teachers to enable such teachers to instruct other teachers, administrators, and educators in the use of the instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools described in paragraph (1) in the classroom; “(4) work with classroom teachers in the identification and adaptation of such instructional materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools for use in classrooms within the region; “(5) assist classroom teachers, where appropriate, in securing training to enhance such teachers’ subject knowledge and teaching skills in the areas of science and mathematics education; “(6) when necessary, provide financial assistance to enable teachers and other educators to attend and participate in the activities of the regional consortium; “(7) implement programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education; “(8) help State and local educational agencies or consortia thereof assess the need for and the desirability of regional mathematics and science academies; 104 STAT. 2888 “(9) develop and disseminate early childhood education mathematics and science instructional materials; “(10) develop intergenerational projects to train senior citizen volunteers in the implementation of interactive science processes and activities for use by elementary and secondary school students; “(11) disseminate information regarding informal mathematics and science education activities and programs offered by Federal agencies and private or public agencies and institutions within the region; “(12) provide technical assistance in order to maximize the effectiveness of such instructional materials and programs and fulfill the instructional goals of the recipients of such materials and programs; “(13) collect data on activities assisted under this subpart in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities of the regional consortiums; “(14) if feasible, maintain on-line computer networks with all regional consortiums and the National Clearinghouse for Science and Mathematics Education Materials established under section 2012(e); “(15) assist local and State educators in identifying science equipment needs; and “(16) coordinate activities carried out by the regional consortium with activities carried out by the appropriate regional education laboratory supported under section 405(d)(4)(A)(i) of the General Education Provisions Act. “SEC. 2018. APPLICATION AND REVIEW. “(a) In General.— Each eligible entity desiring to receive a grant under this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such additional information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Each such application shall— “(1) demonstrate that the eligible entity has demonstrated expertise in the fields of mathematics and science education; “(2) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall implement and disseminate mathematics and science education instructional materials, teaching methods, and assessment tools through a consortium of the region’s mathematics and science education organizations and agencies; “(3) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall carry out the functions of the regional consortium; “(4) describe the activities for which assistance is sought; “(5) demonstrate that the eligible entity shall implement and disseminate mathematics and science education instructional materials, teaching methods and assessment tools; “(6) demonstrate that emphasis will be given to programs and activities designed to meet the needs of groups that are underrepresented in, and underserved by, mathematics and science education; “(7) describe steps to be taken to provide for the equitable participation of children and teachers from private elementary and secondary schools consistent with section 2010; “(8) demonstrate that the business community in the region served by the regional consortium will play an integral role in designing and supporting the regional consortium’s work; 104 STAT. 2889 “(9) demonstrate that the eligible entity will consider the resources of existing Star Schools consortia established pursuant to the Star Schools Program Assistance Act in carrying out the provisions of this part, where appropriate; and “(10) assure that the entity will conduct its activities and supervise its personnel in a manner that effectively ensures compliance with the copyright laws of the United States. “(b) Approval of Application.— “(1) In general.— The Secretary shall approve or disapprove applications submitted pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with the criteria and procedures established under paragraph (2). “(2) Procedures and criteria.— The Secretary shall develop procedures and criteria designed to ensure that grants are awarded on the basis of merit as determined by the competitive peer review process described in paragraph (3). “(3) National panel.— (A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a national panel, or to the extent necessary, panels, to submit to the Secretary recommendations for awards of grants under this subpart. The Secretary shall appoint the members of such panel or panels. “(B) Each panel appointed as required by subparagraph (A) shall include participation, to the extent feasible, from each region. “SEC. 2019. REGIONAL BOARDS. “(a) In General.— Each eligible entity receiving a grant or contract under this subpart shall establish a regional board to oversee the administration and establishment of program priorities for the regional consortium established by such eligible entity. Such regional board shall be broadly representative of the agencies and organizations participating in the regional consortium. “(b) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds.— No Federal funds may be used for the establishment or operation of a regional board required by subsection (a). “SEC. 2020. PAYMENTS; FEDERAL SHARE; NON-FEDERAL SHARE. “(a) Payments.— The Secretary shall pay to each eligible entity having an application approved under section 2018 the Federal share of the cost of the activities described in the application. “(b) Federal Share.— For purposes of subsection (a), the Federal share— “(1) for the first and second years in which an eligible entity receives assistance shall be 80 percent; “(2) for the third such year shall be 75 percent; “(3) for the fourth such year shall be 65 percent; and “(4) for the fifth and each such succeeding year shall be 50 percent. “(c) Non-Federal Share.— The non-Federal share of the cost of activities described in the application submitted pursuant to this section may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated. “SEC. 2021. EVALUATION. “(a) Evaluation Required.—The Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, shall collect sufficient data on, and evaluate the effectiveness of, the activities of each regional consortium. 104 STAT. 2890 “(b) Assessment.— The evaluations described in paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the effectiveness of the regional consortium in meeting the needs of the schools, teachers, administrators and students in the region. “(c) Report.— At the end of each grant or contract period, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the programs conducted at each regional consortium. “SEC. 2022. DEFINITIONS. “For purposes of this subpart: “(1) The term ‘eligible entity’ means— “(A) a private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness; “(B) an institution of higher education; “(C) an elementary or secondary school; “(D) a State or local educational agency; “(E) a regional educational laboratory in consortium with the research and development center established under section 405(d)(4)(A) of the General Education Provisions Act; or “(F) any combination of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E); with demonstrated expertise in mathematics and science education. “(2) The term ‘region’ means a region of the United States served by a regional education laboratory that is supported by the Secretary pursuant to section 405(d)(4)(A)(i) of the General Education Provisions Act. “(3) The term ‘regional consortium’ means each regional mathematics and science education consortium established pursuant to section 2016. “SEC. 2023. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. “There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this subpart $17,000,000 for the fiscal year 1991, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1992 and 1993. “PART C— GENERAL PROVISIONS”. (b) Technical Amendments.— (1) Conforming amendments.— Sections 2003(a), 2004(a)(1)(A), 2004(a)(1)(B), 2004(a)(5), 2004(b), 2005(a)(2)(A)(ii), 2006(a), 2006(b)(1), 2006(d)(2), 2007(a), 2007(d)(2), 2008(a), 2008(b)(2)(D), 2008(b)(3), 2008(b)(4)(A), 2009(a), 2009(b)(2), 2009(b)(3), 2009(c), 2010(a), 2010(b), 2011(a), and 2011(b) of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act and the matter following section 2005(a)(2)(A)(ii) of such Act, are each amended by striking “part” and inserting “subpart”. (2) Definitions.— The heading of section 2013 of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2993) is amended by striking “2013” and inserting “2031”.