Public Law 103-382
IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT OF 1994

TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
PART A--ALBERT EINSTEIN DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR FELLOWSHIP ACT

SEC. 511. SHORT TITLE.

This part may be cited as the 'Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act of 1994'.

SEC. 512. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds that--

(1) the Department of Energy has unique and extensive mathematics and science capabilities that contribute to mathematics and science education programs throughout the Nation;

(2) a need exists to increase understanding, communication, and cooperation between the Congress, the Department of Energy, other Federal agencies, and the mathematics and science education community;

(3) elementary and secondary school mathematics and science teachers can provide practical insight to the legislative and executive branches in establishing and operating education programs; and

(4) a pilot program that placed elementary and secondary school mathematics and science teachers in professional staff positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives has proven successful and demonstrated the value of expanding the program.

SEC. 513. PURPOSE; DESIGNATION.

(a) PURPOSE- The purpose of this part is to establish within the Department of Energy a national fellowship program for elementary and secondary school mathematics and science teachers.

(b) DESIGNATION- A recipient of a fellowship under this part shall be known as an 'Albert Einstein Fellow'.

SEC. 514. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this part--

(1) the term 'elementary school' has the meaning provided by section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(2) the term 'local educational agency' has the meaning provided by section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(3) the term 'secondary school' has the meaning provided by section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and

(4) the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Energy.

SEC. 515. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL-

(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall establish the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program (hereafter in this part referred to as the `Program') to provide 12 elementary or secondary school mathematics or science teachers with fellowships in each fiscal year in accordance with this part.

(2) ORDER OF PRIORITY- The Secretary may reduce the number of fellowships awarded under this part for any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for the Program is insufficient to support 12 fellowships. If the number of fellowships awarded under this part is reduced for any fiscal year, then the Secretary shall award fellowships based on the following order of priority:

(A) Three fellowships in the Department of Energy.

(B) Two fellowships in the Senate.

(C) Two fellowships in the House of Representatives.

(D) One fellowship in each of the following entities:

(i) The Department of Education.

(ii) The National Institutes of Health.

(iii) The National Science Foundation.

(iv) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(v) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(3) TERMS OF FELLOWSHIPS- Each fellowship awarded under this part shall be awarded for a period of ten months that, to the extent practicable, coincide with the academic year.

(4) ELIGIBILITY- To be eligible for a fellowship under this part, an elementary or secondary school mathematics or science teacher must demonstrate--

(A) that such teacher would bring unique and valuable contributions to the Program;

(B) that such teacher is recognized for excellence in mathematics or science education; and

(C)

(i) a sabbatical leave from teaching will be granted in order to participate in the Program; or

(ii) the teacher will return to a teaching position comparable to the position held prior to participating in the Program.

(b) ADMINISTRATION- The Secretary shall--

 (1) provide for the development and administration of an application and selection process for fellowships under the Program, including a process whereby final selections of fellowship recipients are made in accordance with subsection (c);

(2) provide for the publication of information on the Program in appropriate professional publications, including an invitation for applications from teachers listed in the directories of national and State recognition programs;

(3) select from the pool of applicants 12 elementary and secondary school mathematics teachers and 12 elementary and secondary school science teachers;

(4) develop a program of orientation for fellowship recipients under this part; and

(5) not later than August 31 of each year in which fellowships are awarded, prepare and submit an annual report and evaluation of the Program to the appropriate Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(c) SELECTION-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall arrange for the 24 semifinalists to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in interviews in accordance with the selection process described in paragraph (2).

(2) FINAL SELECTION- (A) Not later than May 1 of each year preceding each year in which fellowships are to be awarded, the Secretary shall select and announce the names of the fellowship recipients.

(B) The Secretary shall provide for the development and administration of a process to select fellowship recipients from the pool of semifinalists as follows:

(i) The Secretary shall select three fellowship recipients who shall be assigned to the Department of Energy.

(ii) The Majority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate, or their designees, shall each select a fellowship recipient who shall be assigned to the Senate.

(iii) The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or their designees, shall each select a fellowship recipient who shall be assigned to the House of Representatives.

(iv) Each of the following individuals, or their designees, shall select one fellowship recipient who shall be assigned within the department, office, agency, or institute such individual administers:

(I) The Secretary of Education.

(II) The Director of the National Institutes of Health.

(III) The Director of the National Science Foundation.

(IV) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(V) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

SEC. 516. FELLOWSHIP AWARDS.

(a) FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT COMPENSATION- Each recipient of a fellowship under this part shall be paid during the fellowship period at a rate of pay that shall not exceed the minimum annual rate payable for a position under GS-13 of the General Schedule.

(b) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The Secretary shall seek to ensure that no local educational agency penalizes a teacher who elects to participate in the Program.