Legislation provides tax credit for science, technology, engineering, math teachers

WASHINGTON – Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers, a former science educator, introduced the National STEM Education Tax Incentive for Teachers Act (H.R. 705) on Tuesday. The bill will create a tax credit incentive program to encourage qualified teachers to enter and stay in the field of teaching subjects related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

      “There is a disturbing trend in U.S. K-12 student performance in math and science,” said Congressman Ehlers. “To help our children prepare for the jobs of the future, it is clear we need more highly qualified teachers who are well-versed in the content of STEM education subjects. Today’s jobs increasingly require a skill set in these areas, and teachers too often do not have the appropriate training to teach math and science. This bill will help them gain that training, which will directly affect the performance of students throughout their schooling and into their career.”

      The legislation addresses the teacher shortage in math and science by providing tax credits to teachers equal to 10 percent of their undergraduate tuition, up to $1,000 per year for 10 years. Teachers in high-needs school districts may receive up to $1,500 for each of their first five years of service.

      The bill also addresses the United States’ global competitiveness. The 2007 International Trends in K-12 Math and Science Study (TIMSS) found that fourth- and eighth-graders in the United States have shown virtually no improvement in their knowledge of science, compared to other countries, since testing began in 1995.

      Many members of the educational community are supportive of the legislation. Michigan State University’s Education Policy Center Co-director Dr. William H. Schmidt is an expert on educational policy related to math and science. “The most recent release of internationally comparative achievement data from TIMSS and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) continue to show how poorly our students do relative to our economic competitors,” said Dr. Schmidt. “In an increasingly complex and technologically oriented world economy, this does not bode well for our students.  It is both a moral and an economic imperative that we work to improve schooling in America.”

      This bill is similar to legislation (H.R. 36) which was introduced, but was not considered, in the previous session of Congress.