Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)The COVID–19 pandemic has caused tremendous repercussions within the kindergarten through grade 12 education system of the United States.(2)It is imperative to support hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as STEM) education through programs that—(A)provide innovative experiences for students;(B)have strong track records of success; and (C)typically include nonprofit partnerships among the schools, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses.(3)Due to the severe economic damage caused by the COVID–19 pandemic to organizations offering STEM programs, these programs now face significant funding challenges.(4)The long-term effects of the COVID–19 pandemic will be felt for years to come without public economic educational support to help these types of STEM opportunities.(5)Lack of investment in these critical programs will lead to limited innovative learning opportunities in the STEM fields, causing a drastic loss of technical and professional skills training for this generation of students.

Governor's Emergency STEM Promotion Fund

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

ESEA terms

The terms elementary school, high school, secondary school, and State have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (2)

Eligible nonprofit program

The term eligible nonprofit program—(A)means a nonprofit program serving prekindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school students; and(B)includes a program described in subparagraph (A) that covers the continuum of education from prekindergarten through high school and is available in every State.(3)

Eligible public school

The term eligible public school means a public elementary school or secondary school. (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.(5)

STEM

The term STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.(b)

Grants authorized

(1)

In general

From amounts made available under subsection (e), the Secretary shall make Emergency STEM Promotion grants to the Governor of each State with an approved application. (2)

Timing

The Secretary shall issue a notice inviting applications not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall award grants by not later than 30 days after the issuance of the notice. (3)

Amount

Each State with an approved application shall receive a grant under paragraph (1) in an amount that bears the same relation to the amounts made available under subsection (e) as the number of children aged 5 through 17 in the State bears to the number of such children in all States with approved applications. (c)

Use of funds

(1)

In general

A State receiving a grant under subsection (b)—(A)shall use not less than 90 percent of such grant funds to provide subgrants to eligible public schools or eligible nonprofit programs to support hands-on learning opportunities in STEM education, including via remote learning, after-school activities, and innovative learning opportunities such as robotics competitions; and(B)may reserve—(i)not more than one-half of 1 percent for administrative costs; and(ii)the remainder of any funds not used in accordance with clause (i) or subparagraph (A) for emergency needs, as determined by the State educational agency.(2)

Award basis

In awarding subgrants under this subsection, a State shall ensure that the majority of subgrant funds provided by the State are to—(A)eligible public schools that—(i)are implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities and targeted support and improvement activities under section 1111(d) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(d)); or (ii)serve high percentages of students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) (which, in the case of a high school, may be calculated using comparable data from the schools that feed into the high school); or(B) eligible nonprofit programs serving students that attend eligible public schools described in subparagraph (A).(3)

Matching funds required

(A)

In general

Each eligible public school or eligible nonprofit program receiving a subgrant under this subsection shall provide, toward the cost of the activities assisted under the subgrant, an amount equal to 100 percent of the amount of the subgrant funds. (B)

Payment by local educational agency

The matching funds required under subparagraph (A) for an eligible public school may be provided by the eligible public school or by the local educational agency that serves such school.(d)

Reallocation

A State shall return to the Secretary any funds received under this section that the State does not award within 2 years of receiving such funds and the Secretary shall reallocate such funds to the remaining States in accordance with subsection (b). (e)

Authorization and appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, and there are appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. (2)

Availability

Amounts made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended.(3)

Emergency designation

(A)

In general

The amounts provided by this section are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).(B)

Designation in Senate

In the Senate, this section is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.