[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6248 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6248

      To stimulate collaboration with respect to, and provide for 
   coordination and coherence of, the Nation's science, technology, 
          engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2010

  Mr. Honda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To stimulate collaboration with respect to, and provide for 
   coordination and coherence of, the Nation's science, technology, 
          engineering, and mathematics education initiatives.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Elevating Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2010''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``agencies'' or ``agency'' means the following 
        Federal agencies: Environmental Protection Agency, Department 
        of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, 
        Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of 
        Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Department of 
        the Interior, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 
        Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other 
        Federal agencies with STEM education programs.
            (2) The term ``NSERR'' means the National STEM Education 
        Resource Repository.
            (3) The term ``OSTP'' means the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President.
            (4) The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
              EDUCATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

    (a) Assistant Secretary.--Section 202 of the Department of 
Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412) is amended in subsection 
(b)(1)--
            (1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as (G); and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
                    ``(F) an Assistant Secretary for Science, 
                Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (who 
                may be referred to as the Assistant Secretary for STEM 
                Education); and''.
    (b) Office.--Title II of the Department of Education Organization 
Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 221. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
              EDUCATION.

    ``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Department of Education an 
Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education 
(which may be referred to as the Office of STEM Education), to be 
administered by the Assistant Secretary for STEM Education appointed 
under section 202(b).
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary of STEM Education, 
acting through the Office, shall have the following responsibilities:
            ``(1) Coordinating and overseeing all STEM education 
        efforts within the Department.
            ``(2) Preparing the annual budget for all STEM education 
        programs within the Department.
            ``(3) Managing the following programs: Math and Science 
        Partnerships, Math Now, Math Skills for Secondary Students, 
        Minority Science and Engineering Improvement, Teachers for a 
        Competitive Tomorrow, Upward Bound Math-Science, and all other 
        functions of the Department with a focus on STEM education, 
        including where appropriate the National Science and 
        Mathematics Access Retain Talent (SMART grants), the Teacher 
        Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH 
        grants), and the Academic Competitiveness grants.
            ``(4) Consulting with other offices within the Department 
        that have a STEM education focus, including those managing the 
        Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grant programs.
            ``(5) Representing the Department as a member of the 
        National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Science, 
        Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Development, and 
        serving as the principal interagency liaison for STEM education 
        programs at the Department unless otherwise designated by the 
        Assistant Secretary.
            ``(6) Ensuring access to equal educational opportunity for 
        every individual so as to increase, to the maximum extent 
        possible, the participation and advancement of individuals 
        identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering 
        Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in the STEM 
        disciplines.
            ``(7) Promoting the development and implementation of 
        quality, scientifically valid STEM teacher preparation and to 
        provide technical assistance to support STEM learning.
            ``(8) Providing support to institutions of higher education 
        and other institutions and organizations with effective 
        informal STEM education programs to improve teacher preparation 
        and teacher professional development by ensuring emphasis on 
        promising practices and exemplary programs in STEM education.
            ``(9) Providing support to local education agencies or to 
        mathematics and science partnerships involving local education 
        agencies, to implement effective STEM education instruction and 
        exemplary programs that employ promising practices.
            ``(10) Consulting regularly with the State Consortium on 
        STEM Education with regard to developing STEM education policy 
        and providing technical support.
            ``(11) Conducting a biennial symposium emphasizing engaging 
        students in STEM disciplines that are identified in section 33 
        or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) inviting stakeholders that include, 
        but are not limited to--
                    ``(A) expert STEM teachers;
                    ``(B) State Consortium on STEM Education and 
                additional States;
                    ``(C) business and industry partners;
                    ``(D) institutions of higher education;
                    ``(E) institutions and organizations with an 
                informal STEM education focus; and
                    ``(F) Federal agencies with STEM education 
                programs.
            ``(12) Providing periodic public statements on the status 
        of STEM education in the Nation.
            ``(13) Informing the Secretary, policymakers, the 
        professional societies of STEM teaching professionals and STEM 
        practitioners about the effectiveness of STEM-related education 
        research and programs operated within the Department.
            ``(14) Sharing scientifically valid education research and 
        promising practices and exemplary programs with the National 
        STEM Education Resource Repository.''.
    (c) Evaluation and Report.--The Assistant Secretary for STEM 
Education shall conduct an independent evaluation, through grant or by 
contract, of the STEM education programs administered by the 
Department, at least every 5 years, which shall include--
            (1) conducting an assessment of STEM education activities 
        within the Department by using the evaluations and reports of 
        these programs to determine these programs' impact on--
                    (A) the quantity of students seeking STEM degrees 
                disaggregated by subject area and according to section 
                33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
                Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b);
                    (B) student academic achievement with consideration 
                of problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, 
                and other higher order thinking skills;
                    (C) improving STEM teacher quality, quantity, and 
                retention; and
                    (D) improving promising teaching practices that 
                show evidence of fostering student innovation; and
            (2) the preparation and submission of a report on the 
        results of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
        Committee on Science of the Senate, the Committee on Education 
        and Labor and the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations 
        of the Senate and House of Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section for fiscal year 2011 
and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.

SEC. 4. STATE CONSORTIUM ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
              MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
section, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM 
Education, shall award a grant to establish one voluntary State 
Consortium on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education (which may be referred to as the State Consortium on STEM 
Education).
    (b) Peer Review and Selection.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) establish a peer-review process to assist in the review 
        and approval of the grant proposal under this section;
            (2) appoint individuals to participate in the peer-review 
        process who are educators and experts in identifying, 
        evaluating, and implementing effective STEM education programs 
        and practices, including areas of teaching and learning, 
        educational standards and assessments, professional 
        development, curriculum, increasing the participation of 
        individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
        Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 10 1885a or 
        1885b), English language learners, and special education 
        including recognized exemplary teachers and school 
        administrators who have been recognized at the state or 
        national level for exemplary work and/or contributions to the 
        STEM education field;
            (3) approve one grant from those submitted under this 
        section not later than 120 days after the date of the 
        submission unless the Secretary determines that the grant 
        proposals submitted do not meet the requirements of this 
        section;
            (4) if only one grant proposal is submitted, not decline to 
        approve the grant proposal before--
                    (A) offering the Consortium an opportunity to 
                revise the Consortium proposal; and
                    (B) providing the Consortium with technical 
                assistance in order to submit a successful application; 
                and
            (5) direct the Inspector General of the Department to 
        review the process used for screening the individuals appointed 
        to the peer-review process so as to avoid both financial 
        conflicts of interest and non-financial interests that would 
        impair objectivity in peer review, as well as the objectivity 
        of process used in reviewing and awarding the grant under this 
        section, and report the findings to Congress.
    (c) Amount of Grant.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2), 
        the grant awarded to the consortium under this section shall be 
        not more than $20,000,000.
            (2) Additional funds.--For each fiscal year of the grant 
        period, the Secretary of Education shall award to the 
        consortium awarded a grant under this section $1,750,000 for 
        each additional State that is a member of the consortium beyond 
        the minimum 5 States required under subsection (d).
    (d) Eligibility Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, the consortium shall include at least 5 States 
considering the need to provide an equitable geographic representation 
of the United States, according to the regional divisions used by the 
Bureau of the Census.
    (e) Use of Grant Funds.--The consortium shall use the grant funds 
awarded under this section for the following purposes:
            (1) To establish the State Consortium on STEM Education.
            (2) To convene an Interstate Council on Science, 
        Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (which may 
        be referred to as the Interstate Council on STEM Education) 
        that includes a diverse group of individuals representing a 
        variety of perspectives on STEM education, the STEM 
        disciplines, business, curriculum, assessments, English 
        language learners, and special education, including--
                    (A) representatives from States that shall include 
                not less one State Governor, one Chief State School 
                Officer, and one representative of a State educational 
                agency or their designee;
                    (B) representatives from local educational agencies 
                (LEAs) that shall include not less than one current 
                school administrator, and three expert STEM educators 
                that represent early childhood, elementary, middle, and 
                secondary school perspectives;
                    (C) not less than 4 representatives from STEM 
                education and the STEM fields at institutions of higher 
                education that include community colleges, and public 
                and private four-year institutions of higher education;
                    (D) not less than one representative from a STEM 
                education professional organization, such as but not 
                limited to the National Science Teachers Association, 
                the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, those 
                representing engineering educators, career and 
                technical education, and organizations that represent 
                underrepresented communities in STEM; and
                    (E) not less than one representative from each of 
                the following categories of relevant STEM related 
                organizations: informal STEM education, business and 
                industry, a STEM disciplinary or professional society, 
                private or corporate foundations, youth-serving 
                organizations, and other relevant organizations.
            (3) To support at least one full-time staff member for each 
        State.
            (4) To share STEM education research, promising practices 
        and exemplary programs, and programs through the NSERR.
    (f) Functions.--The State Consortium on STEM Education--
            (1) shall establish small working groups comprised of 
        members of the State Council on STEM Education and outside 
        experts in appropriate fields consulting widely to address the 
        functions outlined in this subsection;
            (2) shall identify points of weakness and strength among 
        State STEM education efforts, prioritize strategies for 
        addressing problem areas, and communicate State needs to the 
        STEM Education Committee within the OSTP and the Assistant 
        Secretary for STEM Education;
            (3) if the Secretary determines that significant work in 
        the areas described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) is not already 
        underway--
                    (A) shall develop rigorous common content standards 
                in STEM education for grades prekindergarten through 
                grade 12 reflecting common elements between disciplines 
                with consideration of--
                            (i) established international standards and 
                        21st Century Skills; and
                            (ii) the needs of English language learners 
                        and special education students;
                    (B) shall develop innovative STEM assessment 
                practices that include a substantial proportion of 
                extended constructed response items, such as 
                performance-based measures, that measure higher order 
                thinking skills and understanding, application and 
                transferability knowledge, problem solving, analysis, 
                and synthesis, and include administration through a 
                variety of modalities, such as audio-visual and 
                interactive technology;
                    (C) may establish and strengthen partnerships 
                between two-year colleges and minority serving 
                institutions and research institutions to provide STEM 
                students at two-year colleges and minority serving 
                institutions (MSIs) expanded degree possibilities and 
                opportunities to access research facilities and mentors 
                including but not limited to--
                            (i) conducting a needs assessment of how to 
                        enhance the flow of STEM students from two-year 
                        colleges and MSIs to research institutions; and
                            (ii) establishing articulation agreements 
                        that shall address pathways and credit 
                        transfers between the institutions; and
                    (D) may improve and align STEM preservice teacher 
                training among the member States, including but not 
                limited to developing common--
                            (i) STEM preservice teacher training degree 
                        programs;
                            (ii) STEM teacher credentials; and
                            (iii) alternative pathways to STEM teacher 
                        certification;
            (4) if the Secretary determines that significant work in 
        the areas described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 
        (3) is already underway, shall carry out the activities 
        described in subparagraphs (D) and (E) of such paragraph;
            (5) shall develop and implement strategies to integrate 
        STEM education into other subject areas, such as language arts, 
        social studies, physical and health education, music and other 
        performing arts, and environmental education;
            (6) shall identify and utilize, to the maximum extent 
        possible, the expertise and resources of educators, 
        institutions of higher education, business and industry, and 
        Federal agencies in the development and implementation of 
        functions outlined in this subsection;
            (7) shall develop strategies to increase the participation 
        and success of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
        the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1885a or 1885b) in STEM fields with consideration of first 
        generation students;
            (8) shall issue periodic reports on the status of STEM 
        education in the States;
            (9) shall make STEM education research, promising practices 
        and exemplary programs, and effective STEM programs widely 
        available through the NSERR;
            (10) may promote and develop curriculum tools and 
        professional development for in-service teachers that foster 
        innovation and inventiveness;
            (11) may evaluate the impact that STEM education 
        professional development organizations have on classroom 
        instruction and student learning in member States;
            (12) may provide technical support to States who are 
        members of the Consortium to establish or strengthen existing 
        P-16 and/or P-20 Councils and to align secondary school 
        graduation requirements with the demands of 21st century 
        postsecondary education endeavors and support P-16 education 
        data systems established by States and in section 6401 of the 
        America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-69; 121 Stat. 668; 20 
        U.S.C. 9871), and serve as a resource center for the STEM 
        Education efforts of P-16 and/or P-20 Councils;
            (13) may develop STEM Career Awareness Programs in 
        collaboration with school guidance counselors that reflect the 
        projected STEM workforce needs of the 21st century that may 
        include mentoring programs and STEM professional outreach; and
            (14) may develop STEM-related workforce education and 
        training programs to enhance the skills of workers to meet the 
        needs of business and industry.
    (g) Outside Funds.--The State Consortium on STEM Education shall be 
permitted to accept and solicit outside funds.
    (h) Evaluation and Report.--The State Consortium on STEM Education 
shall conduct periodic independent evaluations, by grant or by 
contract, of the State Consortium on STEM Education's effectiveness at 
accomplishing the functions outlined in subsection (f), which shall 
include--
            (1) an assessment of the impact of such activities on STEM 
        teaching and learning; and
            (2) the preparation and submission of a report on the 
        results of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the 
        Assistant Secretary of STEM Education.
    (i) Prohibitions.--
            (1) In general.--In implementing this section, the 
        Secretary may not--
                    (A) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM 
                curriculum designed for use in any school; or
                    (B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or 
                activities that will require the adoption of a specific 
                STEM program or instructional materials by a State, 
                local educational agency, or school.

SEC. 5. STEM EDUCATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE.

    (a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
section, the Secretary of Education, acting through the Office of STEM 
Education, shall make a grant to the National Science Digital Library 
to establish the STEM Education Resource Alliance. The STEM Education 
Resource Alliance shall be composed of representatives from each agency 
and industry stakeholders. The STEM Education Resource Alliance shall 
have 2 co-chairs selected by the members of the Alliance. The co-chairs 
shall serve for a 3-year term. No individual may serve as a co-chair 
for more than 1 consecutive term.
    (b) Use of Grant Amounts.--The National Science Digital Library 
shall use the grant funds to provide basic operational support to the 
STEM Education Resource Alliance, including maintenance, office space, 
equipment, personnel, and other operational costs.
    (c) Responsibilities.--The STEM Education Resource Alliance shall 
have the following responsibilities:
            (1) Coordinating and organizing--
                    (A) scientifically valid STEM education research;
                    (B) STEM education programs--
                            (i) that demonstrate promising practices; 
                        or
                            (ii) are exemplary, in terms of content or 
                        resources; and
                    (C) STEM education resources.
            (2) Integrating existing STEM education collections, 
        teacher professional development opportunities, and student 
        programs available through the Federal Government, State 
        initiatives, or national experts, including the Science 
        Education Resource Center, Research from Institutions of Higher 
        Education, Regional Education Centers (labs, comprehensive 
        centers, and technical assistance centers), Applied Math and 
        Science Repository, and Education Resources Information Center 
        (ERIC).
            (3) Working with industry to develop a uniform format for 
        submissions to the NSERR, such as summaries, metadata, contact 
        information for questions, examples of successful 
        implementation, and other information necessary to develop 
        applications that enhance learning and teaching.
            (4) In collaboration with relevant STEM education experts, 
        developing criteria for inclusion in the NSERR of resources, 
        research, promising practices, and exemplary programs, 
        including requirements relating to evaluation by experts at the 
        principal originating agency.
            (5) Publishing, not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the criteria developed under 
        paragraph (4).
            (6) Ensuring that STEM education resources, research, 
        promising practices, and exemplary programs meeting the 
        criteria developed under paragraph (4) are included in the 
        NSERR (to be digitally housed at a location determined by the 
        Chief Information Officer of the United States) and made widely 
        available at no cost in a useful format.
            (7) Working with the Office of Science and Technology 
        Information at the Department of Energy to ensure 
        ``www.scienceeducation.gov'' serves as the central portal to 
        STEM education resources and promising practices across the 
        Federal Government.
            (8) Providing to the National Science Digital Library, not 
        less than annually, updates of policies and procedures to 
        accommodate the requirements of new and emerging technologies.
    (d) Outside Funds.--The STEM Education Resource Alliance shall be 
permitted to accept and solicit outside funds.
    (e) Federal Advisory Committee Act Not To Apply.--The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the STEM 
Education Resource Alliance.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section for fiscal year 2011 
and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
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