A consensus is growing among members of Congress, educators, and corporate leaders in favor of a stronger federal effort to bolster mathematics and science education from the earliest grades through college. Some of the ideas under discussion on Capitol Hill include improving teacher preparation, promoting effective instructional strategies, and increasing financial aid to encourage promising students to become math and science teachers. Business leaders and lawmakers from both parties have called on President Bush in recent weeks to pledge stronger federal support for mathematics and science education in his State of the Union Address, scheduled for January 31. Congress is also moving on the issue, by introducing several bills to upgrade K-12 science and math instruction.