[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5226-S5227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 962. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

         At the end of part I of subtitle F of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. __. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY CHILDREN IN 
                   SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
                   MATHEMATICS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States military is keenly aware of the need 
     to support the families of those who serve our country.
       (2) Military children face unique challenges in educational 
     achievement due to frequent changes of station by, 
     deployments by, and even injuries to their parents.
       (3) Investing in quality education opportunities for all 
     military children from cradle to career ensures parents are 
     able to stay focused on the mission, and children are able to 
     benefit from consistent relationships with caring teachers 
     who support their early learning so they can be ready to 
     excel in school.
       (4) Investing in early learning for military children is an 
     important element in a comprehensive strategy for ensuring a 
     smart, skilled, and committed future national security 
     workforce.
       (5) To strengthen the global standing and military might of 
     the United States, technology, and innovation, the Nation 
     must continuously look for ways to strengthen early education 
     of children in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (STEM).
       (b) Guidance.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     issue guidance to the Armed Forces in order to ensure the 
     following:
       (1) The placement of a priority on supporting early 
     learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     for children who are served in Military Child Development 
     programs, at Department of Defense schools, and schools 
     serving large military child populations.
       (2) Support for efforts to ensure that teachers and other 
     caregivers and staff serving military children have the 
     training and skills necessary to implement instruction in 
     science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that 
     provides the necessary foundation for future learning and 
     educational achievement in such areas.
       (3) Training and curriculum specialists and other personnel 
     who provide training and support to teachers of military 
     children are sufficiently trained to support developmentally 
     appropriate learning opportunities for such children in 
     science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
       (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report setting forth the following:
       (1) A description and assessment of the progress made in 
     improving educational opportunities and achievement for 
     military children in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics.
       (2) A description and assessment of efforts to implement 
     the guidance issued under subsection (b).

[[Page S5227]]

       (d) Independent Study.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Secretary should, in partnership with the Secretaries of 
     the military departments, conduct an independent evaluation 
     of efforts to strengthen teaching of military children in 
     science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, 
     including--
       (1) assessments of the impact of curriculum and education 
     programs in such areas on student achievement; and
       (2) a comparison of the educational achievements of 
     military children in such areas with the educational 
     achievements of nonmilitary children in such areas.
                                 ______