[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 419 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 419

  To assist coordination among science, technology, engineering, and 
   mathematics efforts in the States, to strengthen the capacity of 
 elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools to prepare 
students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 9, 2015

Mr. Udall (for himself and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To assist coordination among science, technology, engineering, and 
   mathematics efforts in the States, to strengthen the capacity of 
 elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools to prepare 
students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``STEM Support for Teachers in 
Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act'' or the ``STEM\2\ Act''.

SEC. 2. STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

             ``PART E--STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING

``SEC. 2501. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian 
        tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given those 
        terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act.
            ``(2) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics.

``SEC. 2502. PLANNING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to address the lack 
of coordination among STEM education efforts in the States.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
nonprofit organization, or institution of higher education that 
identifies a coalition of related entities to participate in the grant 
application process under this section and subsequent STEM network 
activities funded with a grant awarded under this section.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
        this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of 
        awarding, on a competitive basis, planning grants to eligible 
        entities to enable the eligible entities to--
                    ``(A) develop effective State or tribal STEM 
                networks for communication and collaboration that 
                include school teachers, institutions of higher 
                education, nonprofit organizations, businesses, 
                Federal, State, and local governments, and any other 
                relevant entities; and
                    ``(B) through such State STEM networks, identify 
                future STEM skills needed for STEM and non-STEM 
                occupations.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
        a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
        poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    ``(e) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an annual report describing the progress made on the 
        grant.
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of the STEM Support for Teachers in 
        Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act, and every 3 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2503. TRAINING PROGRAM GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 
capacity of preservice and existing teachers, elementary schools, 
middle schools, and secondary schools to use proven methods, including 
inquiry or project-based learning, to inspire and prepare students for 
STEM careers and build STEM literacy.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
local educational agency, institution of higher education, or nonprofit 
organization.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
        this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of 
        awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities 
        to enable the eligible entities to develop, carry out, and 
        evaluate training programs for STEM education--
                    ``(A) in elementary schools, middle schools, and 
                secondary schools for existing teachers; and
                    ``(B) in postsecondary schools for preservice 
                teachers.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
        an equitable distribution--
                    ``(A) between eligible entities serving urban areas 
                and eligible entities serving rural areas; and
                    ``(B) of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
                poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor 
        and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program, 
        including how the eligible entity plans to measure the impact 
        of the training on--
                    ``(A) teachers who attended the training after the 
                teachers return to the classroom; or
                    ``(B) preservice teachers; and
            ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall use grant funds to carry out a training program, 
using best practice models (including inquiry and project-based models) 
and through summer institutes or other professional development 
enrichment programs, that provides professional development regarding 
STEM education to existing and preservice STEM teachers (including STEM 
teachers who are master teachers or have otherwise demonstrated mastery 
of STEM teaching) and administrators who are employed as teachers and 
administrators, respectively, as of the time of the program.
    ``(f) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an annual report that describes the progress made on 
        the grant and includes the results from the evaluation 
        described in the application under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of this part, and every 3 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2504. ACADEMIC STANDARDS GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 
capacity of States to implement new mathematics and science academic 
standards.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
local educational agency, public charter school, institution of higher 
education, or nonprofit organization.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
        this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible 
        entities to support curriculum development, assessments, or 
        related activities that would enable States to adopt new 
        mathematics and science academic standards.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
        a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
        poverty eligible entities.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor 
        and evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum development, 
        assessments, or related activities that would enable States to 
        adopt new mathematics and science academic standards; and
            ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall use grant funds to carry out curriculum development, 
assessments, or related activities that would enable States to adopt 
new mathematics and science academic standards and provide professional 
development regarding STEM education standards and national tests for 
administrators who are employed as teachers and administrators, 
respectively, as of the time of the program.
    ``(f) Reports to the Secretary.--An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual report 
that describes the progress made on the grant and includes the results 
from the evaluation described in the application under subsection (d).

``SEC. 2505. NATIONAL PANEL.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a national panel 
to review, evaluate, and identify--
            ``(1) rigorous kindergarten through grade 12 STEM curricula 
        models, including computer or web-based simulation education 
        programs, kinesthetic learning, and inquiry- or project-based 
        learning techniques; and
            ``(2) best practices with respect to STEM curricula.
    ``(b) Members.--The Secretary shall determine the membership of the 
national panel described in subsection (a), which shall be comprised of 
individuals who have the wisdom and experience to identify and 
recommend the most effective STEM curricula models, such as--
            ``(1) representatives of technology industries and 
        business;
            ``(2) teachers and school administrators;
            ``(3) representatives of nonprofit organizations and 
        community organizations;
            ``(4) faculty members of institutions of higher education;
            ``(5) research specialists and curricula specialists;
            ``(6) at least 1 rural education expert;
            ``(7) at least 1 high school or college student to provide 
        a youth perspective; and
            ``(8) other individuals, as determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(c) Reports.--The panel shall prepare reports and recommendations 
regarding the panel's findings as requested by the Secretary.

``SEC. 2506. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016 and each of the 5 
succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 2441 the following:

             ``Part E. STEM Education Planning and Training

``Sec. 2501. Definitions.
``Sec. 2502. Planning grants.
``Sec. 2503. Training program grants.
``Sec. 2504. Academic standards grants.
``Sec. 2505. National panel.
``Sec. 2506. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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