Task Force on Education
Terms of Reference

Objectives and Scope of Activities:

The objective of the Task Force is to advise the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board on how the Department of Energy can most effectively use its unique resources in science and technology to bolster science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, and the scientific literacy of the American public.

Background:

In his 1997 State of the Union Address, President Clinton stated that education was one of the Nation's priorities, and challenged Americans to "bring the power of the information age into all of our schools." Secretary of Energy Federico Peña has accepted the President's challenge to improve the Nation's educational system. He has asked the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board to form a Task Force on Education to investigate ways to make the Department's scientific, technical and supercomputing capabilities more available to our Nation's schools, colleges and universities, and to provide recommendations on how the Department can best enhance science and mathematics education in the United States.

Description of the Task Force's Duties:

1) The Task Force on Education should assess the Department's ongoing activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and provide policy guidance on how the Department can be most effective in supporting the Nation's educational efforts.

2) The Task Force should provide guidance and recommendations on ways to utilize the Department's unique capabilities and resources to develop high-quality educational tools and materials to stimulate the teaching and learning of science, engineering and mathematics.

3) The Task Force should provide guidance on how the Department can combine its everyday business practices with outreach activities that enhance the scientific literacy of the American public on energy and energy-related environmental issues.

4) The Task Force should investigate ways to make DOE's supercomputing capabilities more available to schools, vocational technical facilities, colleges and universities, and determine how the Department can contribute to President Clinton's goal of connecting every classroom and
library to the Internet by the year 2000.

5) The Task Force should investigate ways to bring the work of the DOE National Laboratories into our elementary and secondary schools to interest a new generation of American scientists and engineers, and to attract more students to our science and engineering-based graduate
schools.

Reporting:

The Task Force shall report to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. A report will be provided to the Board by October 1998, to advise the Department on how to best direct its assets and energies toward improving American education.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

The Task Force is expected to meet approximately five times during its term. Meetings will be scheduled as the Task Force chair deems necessary for the Task Force to accomplish its duties and purposes.

Members:

The Task Force's membership shall reflect a balance of expertise and viewpoints. Members shall include members of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, educators, school administrators, governmental officials, private sector representatives and relevant stakeholder groups. Members
shall be appointed for terms of nine months, renewable for a second term, if required.

Chairperson:

The Chairman of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall designate a chair for the Task Force on Education

Duration and Termination Date:

This Charter shall expire nine months from the date of the Task Force's establishment, subject to extension or dissolution by the Chairman of Secretary of Energy Advisory Board.