The National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, (Commission) is established by the Secretary of Education and is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (P. L. 92-463, as amended; 5 U.S.C.A. Appendix 2).
The Office of the Under Secretary serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary by directing, coordinating, and recommending Department policy. Therefore, the Commission has been established in this office for the purpose of: (1) reviewing the current state of American K-12 mathematics and science education with a focus on the challenges of teacher recruitment, preparation, retention, and professional growth and (2) articulating the steps needed to strengthen the classroom practice of math and science teachers. The Commission would produce a report describing specific action steps that federal, state, and local policymakers can take to address math and science teacher supply and quality issues.
The Commission will be composed of not more than twenty-five members. Members shall be appointed from, but not limited to, the following groups: current or recent members of Congress, Governors, Mayors, State Legislators, Chief State School Officers, Nobel laureates, CEOs, teachers, University presidents, principals, parents, students, public representatives, and other distinguished leaders in the fields of mathematics and science. Ex-officio, non-voting members, of the Commission, include the Secretary of Education or his designee, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Transportation, the NASA Administrator, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the President of the National Academy of Sciences.
Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for the duration of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The Secretary shall designate a member of the Commission to serve as the chairperson.
The Under Secretary names the Designated Federal Official (DFO) to the Commission.
The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, with the concurrence of the Designated Federal Official or designee who is present at all meetings. The Commission shall meet at least four times, or more frequently, as may be necessary to carry out the Commission?s responsibilities. Meetings are open to the public except as may be determined otherwise by the Under Secretary in accordance with Section 10(d) of the FACA. Adequate public notification will be given in advance of each meeting. Meetings will be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws.
A quorum of the Commission consists of a majority of the authorized members.
Members will serve without compensation. However, members may each receive reimbursement for travel expenses incident to attending Commission meetings, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by the Federal travel regulations. Funds will be provided by the Department of Education to administer the Commission. The estimated annual person-years of staff support is: two (2) FTE. An estimated budget of $800,000 over two fiscal years has been allotted for this Commission.
Not later than September 30, 2000, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary that contains a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions resulting from the study, together with the Commission?s recommendations. The Secretary will then submit the report to the President and Congress together with the recommendations of the Commission.
The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report to the Secretary.
The Commission is hereby chartered in accordance with Section 14(b) of FACA. This charter expires two years from the date of filing.
APPROVED:
| August 12, 1999 |  Secretary |
Establishment date: March 23, 1999
Filing date: April 6, 1999
National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching Home
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