§ 1862n-1a. National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships and Master Teaching Fellowships
(a)
In general
(1)
Grants
(A)
In general
As part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program established under section
1862n–1 of this title, the Director shall establish a separate program to award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to administer fellowships in accordance with this section.
(B)
Definitions
The terms used in this section have the meanings given the terms in section
1862n–1 of this title.
(2)
Fellowships
Fellowships under this section shall be available only to—
(b)
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall enter into a partnership that shall include—
(1)
a department within an institution of higher education participating in the partnership that provides an advanced program of study in mathematics and science;
(2)
(c)
Use of grants
Grants awarded under this section shall be used by the eligible entity (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) to develop and implement a program for National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows or National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellows, through—
(1)
administering fellowships in accordance with this section, including providing the teaching fellowship salary supplements described in subsection (f);
(2)
in the case of National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships—
(A)
offering academic courses and clinical teaching experiences leading to a master’s degree and designed to prepare individuals to teach in elementary schools and secondary schools, including such preparation as is necessary to meet the requirements for certification or licensing; and
(B)
offering programs both during and after matriculation in the program for which the fellowship is received to enable fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science teachers, including mentoring, training, induction, and professional development activities, to fulfill the service requirements of this section, including the requirements of subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with others in their fields; and
(3)
in the case of National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellowships—
(A)
offering academic courses and leadership training to prepare individuals to become master teachers in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(B)
offering programs both during and after matriculation in the program for which the fellowship is received to enable fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science teachers, including mentoring, training, induction, and professional development activities, to fulfill the service requirements of this section, including the requirements of subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with others in their fields.
(d)
Selection process
(2)
Applications
An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum—
(A)
in the case of an applicant that is submitting an application on behalf of a consortium of institutions of higher education, a description of the participating institutions of higher education and the roles and responsibilities of each such institution;
(B)
a description of the program that the applicant intends to operate, including the number of fellowships the applicant intends to award, the type of activities proposed for the recruitment of students to the program, and the amount of the teaching fellowship salary supplements to be provided in accordance with subsection (f);
(C)
evidence that the applicant has the capability to administer the program in accordance with the provisions of this section, which may include a description of any existing programs at the applicant eligible entity (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) that are targeted to the education of mathematics and science teachers and the number of teachers graduated annually from such programs;
(D)
in the case of National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships, a description of—
(i)
the selection process that will be used in awarding fellowships, including a description of the rigorous measures to be used, including the rigorous, nationally recognized assessments to be used, in order to determine whether individuals applying for fellowships have advanced content knowledge of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics;
(3)
Criteria
In evaluating the applications submitted under paragraph (2), the Director shall consider, at a minimum—
(A)
the ability of the applicant (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) to effectively carry out the program and to meet the requirements of subsection (f);
(B)
the extent to which the mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and the education faculty at the eligible entity (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) have worked or will work collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that recognizes the specialized pedagogy required to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics effectively in elementary schools and secondary schools;
(C)
the extent to which the applicant (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) is committed to making the program a central organizational focus;
(D)
the degree to which the proposed programming will enable participants to become highly effective mathematics and science teachers and prepare such participants to assume leadership roles in their schools, in addition to their regular classroom duties, including serving as mentor or master teachers, developing curriculum, and assisting in the development and implementation of professional development activities;
(F)
in the case of the National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowship, the ability of the applicant (and participating institutions of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) to recruit individuals who would otherwise not pursue a career in teaching and individuals identified in section
1885a or
1885b of this title.
(4)
Selection of fellows
(e)
Duties of National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows and Master Teaching Fellows
A National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow or a National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellow, while fulfilling the service obligation under subsection (g) and in addition to regular classroom activities, shall take on a leadership role within the school or local educational agency in which the fellow is employed, as defined by the partnership according to such fellow’s expertise, including serving as a mentor or master teacher, developing curricula, and assisting in the development and implementation of professional development activities.
(f)
Teaching fellowship salary supplements
(1)
In general
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall provide salary supplements to individuals who participate in the program under this section during the period of their service obligation under subsection (g). A local educational agency through which the service obligation is fulfilled shall agree not to reduce the base salary normally paid to an individual solely because such individual receives a salary supplement under this subsection.
(2)
Amount and duration
(A)
Amount
Salary supplements provided under paragraph (1) shall be not less than $10,000 per year, except that, in the case of a National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow, while enrolled in the master’s degree program as described in subsection (c)(2)(A), such fellow shall receive not more than the cost of attendance at such fellow’s institution.
(B)
Support while enrolled in master’s degree program
A National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow may receive a maximum of 1 year of fellowship support while enrolled in a master’s degree program as described in subsection (c)(2)(A), except that if such fellow is enrolled in a part-time program, such amount shall be prorated according to the length of the program.
(g)
Service obligation
An individual awarded a fellowship under this section shall serve as a mathematics or science teacher in an elementary school or secondary school served by a high need local educational agency for—
(h)
Matching requirement
(1)
In general
An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant.
(2)
Waiver
The Director may waive all or part of the matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal year for an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section, if the Director determines that applying the matching requirement would result in serious hardship or inability to carry out the authorized activities described in this section.
(i)
Conditions of support; collection for noncompliance; failure to complete service obligation; data collection
(1)
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) of section
1862n–1 of this title shall apply to eligible entities and recipients of fellowships under this section, as applicable, in the same manner as such subsections apply to eligible entities and recipients of scholarships and stipends under section
1862n–1 of this title, as applicable.
(2)
Amount of repayment
If a circumstance described in subparagraph (D) or (E) of section
1862n–1
(g)(1) of this title occurs after the completion of 1 year of a service obligation under this section—
(A)
for a National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow, the total amount of fellowship award received by the individual under this section while enrolled in the master’s degree program, reduced by one-fourth of the total amount for each year of service completed, plus one-half of the total teaching fellowship salary supplements received by such individual under this section, shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated as a loan to be repaid in accordance with section
1862n–1
(g)(1)(C) of this title; and
(B)
for a National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellow, the total amount of teaching fellowship salary supplements received by the individual under this section, reduced by one-half, shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated as a loan to be repaid in accordance with section
1862n–1
(g)(1)(C) of this title.