ACS Position Statement: FY 2010

Statement on Department of Education: FY 2010

ACS Statement on Department of Education: FY 2010

ACS Position

The American Chemical Society (ACS) supports robust funding for programs at the Department of Education (DoEd) that provide dedicated resources to address critical needs for teachers and students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math education. We profoundly disagree with the Obama Administration’s decision to flat fund the DoEd Math and Science Partnership program and we strongly support a budget increase in FY 2010 toward the full authorized level of $450 million (151 percent increase over FY 2009). Further, we also support a funding level of $95 million for the Math Now initiative established by the America COMPETES Act. We support establishment of the Adjunct Teacher Corps programs established by the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

Ensuring the continued economic supremacy and homeland security of America depends upon maintaining our global technological leadership. This leadership is built on a readily available domestic workforce of highly trained scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians (the STEM workforce). In the past, the DoEd budget has been highly supportive of a number of STEM initiatives that are proving their value today. These programs require strong support.

K-12 Education

One of the most critical issues facing STEM education today is the supply of qualified K–12 science and mathematics teachers. The Math and Science Partnership program, authorized in the No Child Left Behind Act at an increasing annual level to reach a stable level of $450 million by FY 2007, is the sole source of dedicated DoEd K–12 math and science funding. It supports valuable long-term, content-based, continuing education for math and science teachers—the type of training that research shows is most effective in improving student achievement. ACS urges Congress to continue working to increase funding for this program in FY 2010 toward the full authorized level of $450 million.

We also strongly support the Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate program and the Math Now initiative, which were proposed by the previous Administration and subsequently authorized into law by Congress. Finally, we remain supportive of the Adjunct Teacher Corps initiative, which would encourage experienced professionals with subject-matter knowledge to enter the classroom to teach part- or full-time in areas of high need, including science and math. We recommend that sufficient funding be provided to ensure adequate teacher development and certification for these professionals.

Vocational and Technical Education

We support the Administration’s decision to request $1.16 billion for the Perkins Career and Technical Education program, which was reauthorized by Congress with overwhelming support in 2006. We urge that Congress appropriate full funding for this broadly supported program to aid students in acquiring rigorous academic and technical skills to prepare them for careers in science and technology that will help maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

Higher Education

ACS urges Congress to expand funding for the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) beyond the $31 million requested for this program in FY 2010. The requested funding level would support 700 fellowships in 2010 and ACS supports expansion of this program to at least 1,200 fellowships. The Society also believes that the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program is an effective mechanism to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities in scientific and technological careers.