America_COMPETES_Act_of_2007 America_COMPETES_Act

1 america competes act of 2007

1.1 general provisions
1.2 education provisions
1.3 provisions national science foundation

america competes act of 2007

the provisions of america competes act of 2007 covered wide range of activities of great number of federal agencies , offices including office of science , technology policy (title i), national aeronautics , space administration (title ii), national institute of standards , technology (title iii), national oceanic , atmospheric administration (noaa, title iv), department of energy (title v), , national science foundation (title vii). in many places, act mandates each agency cooperate partner agencies , offices, , calls attention importance of high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need.

general provisions

the america competes act of 2007 has many provisions in 146 pages.

it created president s council on innovation , competitiveness (title i, sec. 1006). council appears never have been formed. instead, president s council of advisors on science , technology (pcast) formed in 2010 president obama serve in place. committee known president s innovation , technology advisory committee.

it called national science , technology summit (title i, sec. 1001) , numerous reports on state of innovation , competitiveness in united states (e.g., sec. 1002, 1005, 1006, 1007, 2006, 3004, 3005, 3011, 7007, 7010, 7014, 7016, 7032) , assessments of each unit s effective support of act s science, technology, engineering, , mathematics (stem) education agenda (e.g., sec. 2001.f, 3011)

in several places, called enhancement of research capabilities , coordination (e.g., sec. 2003, 5006, 5011) , emphasized importance of undergraduate research experiences tools promote careers in stem fields (e.g., sec. 2005, 7025).

the act sets baselines targeted funding appropriations (e.g., sec 3001, 5004.f, 5005, 5007, 5008, 5009, 5012, 6115, 6116, 6304, 6502, 7002) range overall levels of funding agency or targeting funding new programs delivered given agency. of special note act s goal of doubling annual appropriations national science foundation year 2011.

education provisions

the act pays considerable attention efforts each agency makes in area of educating future stem wage workers, through amendments made other acts (e.g., sec 5003.a, 3015, 4002, 5004), general technique used in several places in act. in addition, act devotes considerable space education , places @ same level of prominence in act federal agencies mentioned above (i.e., title vi). title vi, subtitle of act titled teacher assistance , divided parts, each of address separate provisions:

part i: teachers competitive tomorrow. develop , implement programs increase production of professionals both baccalaureate degree in stem , critical foreign languages , teaching certification (e.g., programs modeled off of university of texas, austin s uteach program); develop 2-3 year part-time masters programs in teaching such professionals enhance content knowledge , pedagogical skills; , develop professional science master s degree programs.
part ii: advanced placement , international baccalaureate programs. raise achievement of secondary students through ap , ib programs increasing 700,000 (by 2008) number of teachers qualified teach ap , ib in stem , critical foreign languages; will, increase 700,000 number of students high-need schools either (1) score higher 2 on stem or critical foreign language ap exams administered college board, or (2) earn passing score on analogous ib exam; increase availability of , enrollment in ap , ib courses , pre-ab , pre-ib courses in high-need schools.
part iii: promising practices in stem teaching. established panel of experts provide information on promising practices strengthening teaching , learning in science, technology, engineering, , mathematics @ elementary school , secondary school levels.

title vi, subtitle b of act titled mathematics. purpose enable elementary , middle school students reach or exceed grade-level academic achievement standards , prepare students enroll in , pass algebra; provide summer term programs in mathematics, technology, , problem-solving; , provide targeted support low-income , special needs middle school students , teachers. subtitle c of act titled foreign language partnership program . increase opportunities study critical foreign languages , context in critical foreign languages spoken; , increase number of american students achieve highest level of proficiency in critical foreign languages. subtitle d of act called alignment of education programs, , aims coordinate learning outcomes , assessments across state , federal stakeholders. subtitle d of act, called mathematics , science partnership bonus grants, sets out modest (e.g., $50,000) awards high-need schools in each state show greatest improvement on state s assessment in mathematics, , greatest improvement on state s assessment in science.

provisions national science foundation

title vii addresses national science foundation directly. national science foundations american federal agency mission includes support fields of fundamental science , engineering, except medical sciences, reasonable both america competes act of 2007 , article single out agency.

in sec. 6002, act makes specific provisions on appropriation following nsf programs in fy2008 through fy2010: major research instrumentation program, faculty career development (career) program, research experiences undergraduates program, experimental program stimulate competitive research, integrative graduate education , research traineeship program, graduate research fellowship program, new professional science master s degree program, mathematics , science education partnerships, robert noyce scholarship program, science, mathematics, engineering, , technology talent expansion program, , advanced technological education program. nsf s fy2008 appropriation set @ $6.6 billion act, , appropriation grows $8.132 billion in fy2010.

the act mandates new proposal requirements such mentoring plan postdoctoral positions (sec. 7008), each institution receiving nsf funds stem research or education have plan provide training on responsible conduct of research undergraduates, graduate students, , postdoctoral researchers (sec. 7009), , sharing of final project reports (sec. 7010, 7011).

it appears research directorates being directed share of cost of educational work of nsf (e.g., section 7025).

the act mandates nsf commission report national academies of sciences barriers increasing number of underrepresented minorities in stem fields , identify strategies bringing more underrepresented minorities stem workforce (sec. 7032).