[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4765 Introduced in House (IH)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 4765

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
   grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls to pursue 
     studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                              technology.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 6, 2004

 Ms. Woolsey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
   grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls to pursue 
     studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
                              technology.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. GO GIRL GRANTS.

    Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
part:

    ``PART F--GETTING OUR GIRLS READY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (GO GIRL)

``SEC. 3601. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Women have historically been underrepresented in 
        mathematics, science, engineering, and technology occupations.
            ``(2) Female students take fewer high-level mathematics and 
        science courses in high school than male students.
            ``(3) Female students take far fewer advanced computer 
        classes than male students take and tend to take only basic 
        data entry and word processing classes.
            ``(4) Female students earn fewer baccalaureate, masters, 
        and doctoral degrees in mathematics, science, and technology 
        than male students.
            ``(5) Early career exploration is key to choosing a career.
            ``(6) Teachers' attitudes, methods of teaching, and 
        classroom atmosphere affect female students' interest in 
        nontraditional fields.
            ``(7) Stereotypes about appropriate careers for females, a 
        lack of female role models, and a lack of basic career 
        information significantly deters girls' interest in 
        mathematics, science, engineering, and technology careers.
            ``(8) Females consistently rate themselves significantly 
        lower than males in computer ability.
            ``(9) In the coming years, 65 percent of the economy will 
        be based on information technology.
            ``(10) Limited access is a hurdle faced by females seeking 
        jobs in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology.
            ``(11) Common recruitment and hiring practices make 
        extensive use of traditional networks that often overlook 
        females.

``SEC. 3602. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds provided under section 3605, the 
Secretary is authorized to provide grants to and enter into contracts 
or cooperative agreements with local educational agencies on behalf of 
elementary and secondary schools to encourage the ongoing interest of 
girls in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and to 
prepare girls to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers 
in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.
    ``(b) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant, enter 
        into a contract, or cooperative agreement under this part, a 
        local educational agency shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--The application referred to in paragraph 
        (1) shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) A specific program description, including the 
                content of the program and the research and models used 
                to design the program.
                    ``(B) A description of the collaboration between 
                elementary and secondary schools to fulfill goals of 
                the program.
                    ``(C) An explanation regarding the recruitment and 
                selection of participants.
                    ``(D) A description of the instructional and 
                motivational activities planned to be used.
                    ``(E) An evaluation plan.

``SEC. 3603. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Selection.--A local educational agency that receives a grant 
under this part shall select elementary schools to provide services 
that--
            ``(1) encourage girls in grades 4 through 8 to enjoy and 
        pursue studies in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology;
            ``(2) acquaint girls in grades 4 through 8 with careers in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; and
            ``(3) educate the parents of girls in grades 4 through 8 
        about the difficulties faced by girls to maintain an interest 
        and desire to achieve in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology and enlist the help of the parents in overcoming 
        these difficulties.
    ``(b) Services.--Services provided under this section shall include 
one or more of the following:
            ``(1) Tutoring in reading, science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.
            ``(2) Mentoring relationships, both in-person and through 
        the Internet.
            ``(3) Paying the costs of female students and their 
        teachers attending events and academic programs in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(4) Providing after-school activities designed to 
        encourage the interest of girls in grades 4 and higher in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(5) Summer programs designed to encourage interest, and 
        develop skills, in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology.
            ``(6) Purchasing software designed for girls, or designed 
        to encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.
            ``(7) Offering field trips to locations that educate and 
        encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, engineering, 
        and technology.
            ``(8) Offering field trips that acquaint girls with careers 
        in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(9) Purchasing and disseminating information to parents 
        of girls in grades 4 and higher that will help parents to 
        encourage their daughters' interest in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.

``SEC. 3604. SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Selection.--A local educational agency that receives a grant 
under this part shall select secondary schools to provide services 
that--
            ``(1) encourage girls in grades 9 and higher to major in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology of an 
        institution of higher education;
            ``(2) provide academic advice and assistance in high school 
        course selection;
            ``(3) encourage girls in grades 9 and higher to plan for 
        careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology; 
        and
            ``(4) educate the parents of girls in grades 9 and higher 
        about the difficulties faced by girls to maintain an interest 
        in and desire to, achieve in science, mathematics, engineering, 
        and technology, and enlist the help of the parents in 
        overcoming these difficulties.
    ``(b) Services.--Services provided under this section shall include 
one or more of the following:
            ``(1) Tutoring in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology.
            ``(2) Mentoring relationships, both in-person and through 
        the Internet.
            ``(3) Paying the costs of female students and their 
        teachers attending events and academic programs in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(4) Paying up to 50 percent of the cost of an internship 
        in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology for female 
        students.
            ``(5) Providing after-school activities designed to 
        encourage the interest of girls in grades 9 and higher in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, including 
        the cost of that portion of a staff salary to supervise these 
        activities.
            ``(6) Providing summer programs designed to encourage 
        interest, and develop skills, in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.
            ``(7) Purchasing software designed for girls, or designed 
        to encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.
            ``(8) Offering field trips to locations that educate and 
        encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, engineering, 
        and technology.
            ``(9) Offering field trips to locations that acquaint girls 
        with careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology.
            ``(10) Visiting institutions of higher education to 
        acquaint girls with college-level programs in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, or technology, and meeting with 
        educators and female college students who will encourage them 
        to pursue degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology.

``SEC. 3605. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years to carry out this part.''.
                                 <all>