Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1881b Presidential awards for teaching excellence

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 16— - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION › § 1881b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can give Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching to kindergarten through 12th‑grade teachers of math and science who show outstanding teaching. Each year the President must give at least 110 awards. At minimum, two winners must come from each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and from federal schools overseas for children of federal employees, and at least one winner must come from each of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The President will set the selection process after consulting the Director and other federal officials. Money for the awards each fiscal year must come from amounts authorized for the Foundation for Education and Human Resources and may be used for the awards, administrative costs, necessary travel for selected teachers, and special activities tied to the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1881b

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(1)(A)The President is authorized to make Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching to kindergarten through grade 12 school teachers of mathematics and science who have demonstrated outstanding teaching ability in the field of teaching mathematics or science.
(B)Each year the President is authorized to make no fewer than 110 awards under subparagraph (A).
(C)In selecting teachers for an award authorized by this subsection, the President shall select—
(i)at least two teachers—
(I)from each of the several States;
(II)from the District of Columbia;
(III)from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(IV)from schools established outside the several States and the District of Columbia by any agency of the Federal Government for dependents of the employees of such agency; and
(ii)at least one teacher—
(I)from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
(II)from American Samoa;
(III)from the Virgin Islands of the United States; and
(IV)from Guam.
(2)The President shall carry out this subsection, including the establishment of the selection procedures, after consultation with the Director and other appropriate officials of Federal agencies.
(3)(A)Funds to carry out this subsection for any fiscal year shall be made available from amounts appropriated pursuant to annual authorization of appropriations for the Foundation for Education and Human Resources.
(B)Amounts made available pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be available for making awards under this subsection, for administrative expenses, for necessary travel by teachers selected under this subsection, and for special activities related to carrying out this subsection.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2022—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10321(a)(1)(E), which directed amendment of subpar. (B) by redesignating second sentence as subpar. (C), without specifying the paragraph to be amended, was executed in subpar. (B) of par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 117–167, § 10321(a)(1)(A), which directed substitution of “110” for “108” in subpar. (B), without specifying the paragraph to be amended, was executed in subpar. (B) of par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Par. (1)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10321(a)(1)(B), which directed the striking out of cl. (iv) of subpar. (B), without specifying the paragraph to be amended, was executed in subpar. (B) of par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Prior to amendment, cl. (iv) read as follows: “from among the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and other commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States; and”. Par. (1)(C). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10321(a)(1)(C)–(E), which directed amendment of subpar. (B) by redesignating second sentence as (C), inserting cl. (i) designation before “at least two teachers—”, redesignating former cls. (i), (ii), (iii), and (v) of subpar. (B) as subcls. (I) to (IV), respectively, of cl. (i) of subpar. (C), and realigning margins, without specifying the paragraph to be amended, was executed in par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Par. (1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10321(a)(2), which directed the addition of cl. (ii) in subpar. (C), without specifying the paragraph to be amended, was executed in subpar. (C) of par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1998—Par. (1)(B)(v). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(c)(1), added cl. (v) and struck out former cl. (v) which read as follows: “from the United States Department of Defense Dependents’ School.” Par. (3)(A). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(c)(2), substituted “Education and Human Resources” for “Science and Engineering Education”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2022 Amendment Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, § 10321(b), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1538, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to awards made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 9, 2022].”

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1881b

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73