[House Report 115-558]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


115th Congress    }                                           {    Report
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                           {   115-558

======================================================================



 
                      BUILDING BLOCKS OF STEM ACT

                                _______
                                

 February 13, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

     Mr. Smith of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                  Technology, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3397]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 3397) to direct the National 
Science Foundation to support STEM education research focused 
on early childhood, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill 
as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Committee Statement and Views....................................     4
Section-by-Section...............................................     6
Explanation of Amendments........................................     7
Committee Consideration..........................................     7
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch.....................     7
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the 
  Committee......................................................     7
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     8
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     8
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings..............................     8
Federal Advisory Committee Act...................................     8
Unfunded Mandate Statement.......................................     8
Earmark Identification...........................................     8
Committee Estimate...............................................     8
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate...     8
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported.............     9

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Building Blocks of STEM Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

  The Congress finds the following:
          (1) The National Science Foundation has made the largest 
        financial investment in STEM education of all Federal agencies, 
        and plays a very powerful role in helping to set research and 
        policy agendas.
          (2) Studies have found that children who engage in scientific 
        activities from an early age develop positive attitudes toward 
        science and are more likely to pursue STEM expertise and 
        careers later on.
          (3) However, the majority of current research focuses on 
        increasing STEM opportunities for students in middle school and 
        older.
          (4) Women remain widely underrepresented in the STEM 
        workforce and this gender disparity extends down through all 
        levels of education. Strategic funding of programs is needed in 
        order to understand and address the root cause of this gap.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
          (2) Early childhood.--The term ``early childhood'' applies to 
        children from birth through the age of 10.
          (3) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution 
        of higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
          (4) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 7801), 
        except that such term also includes preschools, after-school 
        programs, and summer programs.
          (5) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
        2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
          (6) Young girls.--The term ``young girls'' means female 
        individuals who have not attained the age of 11.

SEC. 4. SUPPORTING STEM RESEARCH ON EARLY CHILDHOOD.

  In awarding grants under the Discovery Research PreK-12 program, the 
Director shall consider age distribution in order to more equitably 
allocate funding for research studies with a focus on early childhood.

SEC. 5. SUPPORTING GIRLS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.

  (a) Research Grants.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or 
        nonprofit organizations (or consortia of such institutions or 
        organizations), to accelerate research efforts to increase 
        understanding of the factors that contribute to the 
        participation of young girls in STEM activities.
          (2) Research areas.--Research areas funded by a grant under 
        this subsection may include--
                  (A) the role of teacher training and professional 
                development, including effective incentive structures 
                to encourage teachers to participate in such training 
                and professional development, in encouraging or 
                discouraging young girls from participating in STEM 
                activities;
                  (B) the role of teachers in shaping young girls' 
                perceptions of STEM and discouraging such girls from 
                participating in STEM activities;
                  (C) the role of other facets of the learning 
                environment on the willingness of young girls to 
                participate in STEM activities, including learning 
                materials and textbooks, classroom decorations, seating 
                arrangements, use of media and technology, classroom 
                culture, and gender composition of students during 
                group work;
                  (D) the role of parents and other caregivers in 
                encouraging or discouraging young girls from 
                participating in STEM activities;
                  (E) the types of STEM activities that elicit greater 
                participation by young girls;
                  (F) the role of mentorship and best practices in 
                finding and utilizing mentors;
                  (G) the role of informal and out-of-school STEM 
                learning opportunities on girls' perception of and 
                participation in STEM activities; and
                  (H) any other activity the Director determines will 
                accomplish the goals of this subsection.
          (3) Grant recipient report.--An entity awarded a grant under 
        this subsection shall report to the Director, at such time and 
        in such manner as the Director may require, on the activities 
        carried out and materials developed using such grant funds.
  (b) Development and Testing of Scalable Models for Increased 
Engagement.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or 
        nonprofit organizations (or consortia of such institutions or 
        organizations), to develop and evaluate interventions in pre-K 
        and elementary school classrooms that increase participation of 
        young girls in computer science activities.
          (2) Partnerships.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant 
        under this subsection, an institute of higher education, 
        nonprofit organization, or consortium, shall enter into a 
        partnership with one or more local educational agency or State 
        in carrying out the activities funded by such grant.
          (3) Uses of funds.--Grants awarded under this subsection 
        shall be used for activities that draw upon the expertise of 
        the partner entities described in paragraph (2) to increase 
        participation of young girls in computer science activities, 
        including--
                  (A) offering training and professional development 
                programs, including summer or academic year institutes 
                or workshops, designed to strengthen the capabilities 
                of pre-K and elementary school teachers and to 
                familiarize such teachers with the role of gender bias 
                in the classroom;
                  (B) offering innovative preservice and in-service 
                programs that instruct teachers on gender-inclusive 
                practices for teaching computing concepts;
                  (C) developing distance learning programs for 
                teachers or students, including developing curricular 
                materials, play-based computing activities, and other 
                resources for the in-service professional development 
                of teachers that are made available to teachers through 
                the Internet;
                  (D) developing a cadre of master teachers who will 
                promote reform and the adoption of gender-inclusive 
                practices in teaching computer science concepts in 
                early childhood education;
                  (E) developing tools to evaluate activities conducted 
                under this subsection;
                  (F) developing or adapting pre-K and elementary 
                school computer science curricular materials that 
                incorporate contemporary research on the science of 
                learning, particularly with respect to gender 
                inclusion;
                  (G) developing and offering gender-inclusive computer 
                science enrichment programs for students, including 
                after-school and summer programs;
                  (H) providing mentors for girls in person and through 
                the Internet to support such girls in participating in 
                computer science activities;
                  (I) engaging parents of girls about the difficulties 
                faced by girls to maintain an interest and desire to 
                participate in computer science activities, and 
                enlisting the help of parents in overcoming these 
                difficulties;
                  (J) acquainting girls with careers in computer 
                science and encouraging girls to consider careers in 
                such field; and
                  (K) any other activities the Director determines will 
                accomplish the goals of this subsection.
          (4) Grant recipient report.--An entity awarded a grant under 
        this subsection shall report to the Director, at such time and 
        in such manner as the Director may require, on the activities 
        carried out, materials developed using such grant funds, and 
        the outcomes for students served by such grant.
          (5) Evaluation required.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall evaluate the 
        grant program under this subsection. At a minimum, such 
        evaluation shall--
                  (A) use a common set of benchmarks and assessment 
                tools to identify best practices and materials 
                developed and demonstrated by the partnerships 
                described in paragraph (2); and
                  (B) to the extent practicable, compare the 
                effectiveness of practices and materials developed and 
                demonstrated by such partnerships with those of 
                partnerships funded by other local or State government 
                or Federal Government programs.
          (6) Dissemination of results.--
                  (A) Evaluation results.--The Director shall make 
                publicly available free of charge on an Internet 
                website and shall submit to Congress the results of the 
                evaluation required under paragraph (5).
                  (B) Materials.--The Director shall ensure that 
                materials developed under a program funded by a grant 
                under this subsection, that are demonstrated to be 
                effective in achieving the goals of this subsection (as 
                determined by the Director), are made publicly 
                available free of charge on an Internet website, 
                including through an arrangement with an outside 
                entity.
          (7) Annual meeting.--The Director may convene an annual 
        meeting of the partnerships participating in a program funded 
        by a grant under this subsection, for the purpose of fostering 
        greater national collaboration.
          (8) Technical assistance.--At the request of a partnership 
        seeking a grant under this subsection, the Director shall 
        provide the partnership with technical assistance in meeting 
        any requirement of this subsection.

SEC. 6. COMPUTER SCIENCE IN THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP 
                    PROGRAM.

  Section 10 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and mathematics'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``mathematics, informatics, and computer science'';
          (2) in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking ``or mathematics'' 
        and inserting ``mathematics, informatics, and computer 
        science'';
          (3) in subsections (b)(1)(D)(i), (c)(1)(A), (d)(1), and 
        (i)(7), by striking ``or mathematics'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``mathematics, informatics, or computer 
        science''; and
          (4) in subsection (i)(5), by striking ``or mathematics'' and 
        inserting ``mathematics, or computer science''.

                     Committee Statement and Views


                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    The purpose of H.R. 3397, the ``Building Blocks of STEM 
Act,'' is to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to 
more equitably allocate funding for research in the Discovery 
Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program to studies that include a 
focus on early childhood (birth through age 10). The bill does 
not require a minimum percentage of grant awards go toward 
early childhood, but instead directs NSF to take a strategic 
approach and consider age when awarding grants--with the goal 
of increasing the research of early childhood science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs.
    In addition, the bill authorizes two NSF grant programs; 
one to accelerate research to identify and improve 
understanding of what factors contribute to the willingness or 
unwillingness of young girls to participate in STEM and the 
other to develop and evaluate intervention programs in pre-K 
and elementary classrooms aimed at increasing participation of 
young girls in computer science activities. The bill also adds 
computer science and informatics to the Robert Noyce Teacher 
Scholarship Program.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    NSF continues to make the largest financial investment in 
STEM education of all federal science agencies, and plays the 
leadership role in setting research and policy agendas.
    Studies have found that children who engage in scientific 
activities from an early age develop positive attitudes toward 
science and are more likely to pursue an expertise and careers 
in STEM fields later on.
    NSF's DRK-12 program seeks to enhance the understanding and 
instruction of STEM for both preK-12 students and their 
teachers through research and development of STEM education 
innovations and approaches. The goal of the DRK-12 program is 
to provide models for use within the nation's preK-12 STEM 
education effort. However, the majority of current DRK-12 
research focuses on increasing STEM opportunities for students 
in middle and high school.
    During the past decade, employment in STEM occupations has 
grown six times as fast as non-STEM occupations. However, women 
remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce. According to the 
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, women 
comprise 48 percent of the U.S. workforce but 24 percent of 
STEM workers. This gender disparity extends through all levels 
of education. Strategic funding by existing NSF STEM programs 
is needed in order to understand and address the root cause of 
this gap.
    Finally, while informatics, the science of processing data 
for storage and retrieval, is one of the fastest growing STEM 
career fields, it is not formally included under the Robert 
Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics projects the number of health informatics 
specialists to grow fifteen percent by 2024, which is faster 
than the projected job growth of all other US professions. In 
order to meet this demand, we will need teachers trained to 
understand this growing field and develop the next generation 
of computer science workers.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    On March 9, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
held a hearing entitled, ``National Science Foundation Part 1: 
Overview and Oversight.'' Witnesses were: Dr. France Cordova, 
Director, National Science Foundation; Ms. Allison Lerner, 
Inspector General, National Science Foundation.
    On March 21, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
held a hearing entitled, ``National Science Foundation Part II: 
Future Opportunities and Challenges for Science.'' Witnesses 
were: Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Acting Chief Operating Officer, 
National Science Foundation; Dr. Maria Zuber, Chair, National 
Science Board; Dr. Jeffrey Spies, Co-Founder and Chief 
Technology Officer, Center for Open Science and Assistant 
Professor, University of Virginia; Dr. Keith Yamamoto, Vice 
Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy, University of 
California, San Francisco.
    On July 26, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
held a hearing entitled, ``STEM and Computer Science Education: 
Preparing the 21st Century Workforce.'' Witnesses were: Mr. 
James Brown, Executive Director, STEM Education Coalition; Mr. 
Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer, Code.org; Dr. A. Paul 
Alivisatos, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost, Vice 
Chancellor for Research, and Professor of Chemistry and 
Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, 
Berkeley; Ms. Dee Mooney, Executive Director, Micron Technology 
Foundation.
    On November 15, the full Committee approved by voice vote 
H.R. 3397, the Building Blocks of STEM Act, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute by Research and Technology 
Subcommittee Chair Barbara Comstock.

                            COMMITTEE VIEWS

Priority of research into early childhood STEM programs

    Young children have a natural curiosity that can be 
fostered into an intense interest in science, technology, 
engineering, math, and computer science at an early age. As 
part of the billions of dollars NSF has invested into research 
and programs to increase STEM participation, the DRK-12 program 
has largely focused on increasing STEM opportunities for 
students in middle school and above. While the Committee 
recognizes that these programs are beneficial, studies have 
found that children who engage in scientific activities from an 
earlier age develop positive attitudes towards science and are 
more likely to pursue higher education and careers in STEM 
fields. However, H.R. 3397 does not set an amount of DRK-12 
grant awards that have to go toward early childhood studies and 
research. But it does direct NSF to take a much more strategic 
approach and consider age when awarding grants to increase 
research of early childhood STEM programs. If the U.S. is to 
remain competitive in this increasingly dynamic global economy, 
the Committee finds it is essential to promote STEM education 
and careers to youth as early as possible.

Supporting girls in STEM

    As demand for skilled STEM workers continues to grow, the 
talent of the nation's young men and women must be harnessed. 
The Committee recognizes that girls' attitudes towards STEM 
fields can be cemented early in their lives. To address the 
national interest in attracting more girls and women to STEM 
studies and careers, H.R. 3397 directs NSF to conduct research 
aimed at identifying the most effective means of encouraging 
and spurring young girls' (birth to age 11) interest in STEM 
subjects. The amended legislation also directs NSF to develop 
scalable models to increase young girls' participation in 
computer science. It is important to support programs that 
provide girls experience in computer related fields and sets 
them on the path towards acquiring the skills necessary to 
compete for these well-paying 21st century jobs.

                           Section-by-Section


Section 1. Short title

    Building Blocks of STEM Act.

Section 2. Findings

    This section finds that children who engage in scientific 
activities at an early age develop positive attitudes toward 
science and are more likely to pursue STEM careers, yet a 
majority of current NSF STEM research focuses on older 
students. This section also finds that women remain 
underrepresented in the STEM workforce.

Section 3. Definitions

    This section defines the terms ``early childhood'' as 
children from birth through age 10; ``STEM'' as science, 
technology, engineering, and math, including computer science; 
and ``young girls'' as female children from birth through age 
10.

Section 4. Supporting STEM research on early childhood

    This section requires the Director, when awarding grants 
under the DRK-12 program, to consider age distribution in order 
to more equitably allocate funding for research studies.

Section 5. Supporting girls in STEM education and computer science

    This section authorizes NSF grants to accelerate research 
to identify and improve understanding of what factors 
contribute to the willingness or unwillingness of young girls 
to participate in STEM and to develop and evaluate intervention 
programs in pre-K and elementary classrooms aimed at increasing 
participation of young girls in computer science activities.

Section 6. Computer science in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship 
        Program

    This section adds computer science and informatics to the 
eligible topics of study included in NSF's Robert Noyce Teacher 
Scholarship Program.

                       Explanation of Amendments

    A substitute offered by Rep. Barbara Comstock was adopted 
by the Committee. The amendment added two provisions to the 
bill. The first provision directs NSF to competitively award 
grants that will accelerate research efforts to increase 
understanding of the factors that contribute to the 
participation of young girls in STEM activities. That provision 
also directs NSF to develop scalable models to increase young 
girls' participation in computer science. The second provision 
adds informatics and computer science to the definition of STEM 
in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

                        Committee Consideration

    On November 15, 2017, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 3397, as amended, by 
voice vote, a quorum being present.

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a 
description of the application of this bill to the legislative 
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of 
employment or access to public services and accommodations. 
This bill directs NSF to more equitably allocate funding for 
research in the DRK-12 program to studies that include a focus 
on early childhood. As such, this bill does not relate to 
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
    Legislative branch employees and their families, to the 
extent that they are otherwise eligible for the benefits 
provided by this legislation, have equal access to its 
benefits.

  Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of 
this report.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    H.R. 3397 directs the NSF to more equitably allocate 
funding for research in the DRK-12 program to studies that 
include a focus on early childhood.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    No provision of H.R. 3397 establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 3397 does not 
direct the completion of any specific rule makings within the 
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

                     Federal Advisory Committee Act

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish 
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within 
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded 
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement as to 
whether the provisions of the reported include unfunded 
mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has 
received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office included 
herein.

                         Earmark Identification

    H.R. 3397 does not include any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9 of rule XXI.

                           Committee Estimate

    Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 3397. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has 
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the 
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.

     Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received 
the following cost estimate for H.R. 3397 from the Director of 
Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, December 15, 2017.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3397, the Building 
Blocks of STEM Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                                Keith Hall,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 3397--Building Blocks of STEM Act

    H.R. 3397 would require the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) to award grants to higher education institutions and 
nonprofit organizations to study factors that contribute to 
participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and 
math) education by young girls, and develop and evaluate 
methods to increase young girls' participation in computer 
science. The bill also would modify the eligibility and 
selection criteria of NSF's Discovery Research PreK-12 and 
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship programs.
    According to NSF, three existing programs--Education and 
Human Resources Core Research, Discovery Research PreK-12, and 
Computer Science for All: Research Practitioner Partnerships--
currently award grants that are similar to those that would be 
authorized under H.R. 3397. In recent years, NSF has spent 
around $155 million annually on those programs. Considering 
information from NSF, CBO expects that the agency could meet 
the bill's requirements by continuing to operate those existing 
programs. CBO estimates that any additional administrative 
costs incurred under H.R. 3397 would be insignificant; any such 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds.
    Enacting H.R. 3397 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3397 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
    H.R. 3397 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

         NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 10. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

  (a) Scholarship Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a 
        program to award grants to eligible entities to recruit 
        and train mathematics and science teachers and to 
        provide scholarships and stipends to individuals 
        participating in the program. Such program shall be 
        known as the ``Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship 
        Program''.
          (2) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under 
        this section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
          (3) Use of grants.--A grant provided under this 
        section shall be used by the eligible entity--
                  (A) to develop and implement a program to 
                recruit and prepare undergraduate students 
                majoring in science, technology, engineering, 
                [and mathematics] mathematics, informatics, and 
                computer science at the eligible entity (and 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) to become 
                qualified as mathematics and science teachers, 
                through--
                          (i) administering scholarships in 
                        accordance with subsection (c);
                          (ii) offering academic courses and 
                        early clinical teaching experiences 
                        designed to prepare students 
                        participating in the program to teach 
                        in elementary schools and secondary 
                        schools, including such preparation as 
                        is necessary to meet requirements for 
                        teacher certification or licensing;
                          (iii) offering programs to students 
                        participating in the program, both 
                        before and after the students receive 
                        their baccalaureate degree, to enable 
                        the students to become better 
                        mathematics and science teachers, to 
                        fulfill the service requirements of 
                        this section, and to exchange ideas 
                        with others in the students' fields; 
                        and
                          (iv) providing summer internships for 
                        freshman and sophomore students 
                        participating in the program; or
                  (B) to develop and implement a program to 
                recruit and prepare science, technology, 
                engineering, [or mathematics] mathematics, 
                informatics, and computer science professionals 
                to become qualified as mathematics and science 
                teachers, through--
                          (i) administering stipends in 
                        accordance with subsection (d);
                          (ii) offering academic courses and 
                        clinical teaching experiences designed 
                        to prepare stipend recipients to teach 
                        in elementary schools and secondary 
                        schools served by a high need local 
                        educational agency, including such 
                        preparation as is necessary to meet 
                        requirements for teacher certification 
                        or licensing; and
                          (iii) offering programs to stipend 
                        recipients, both during and after 
                        matriculation in the program for which 
                        the stipend is received, to enable 
                        recipients to become better mathematics 
                        and science teachers, to fulfill the 
                        service requirements of this section, 
                        and to exchange ideas with others in 
                        the students' fields.
          (4) Eligibility requirement.--
                  (A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this section, an eligible entity 
                shall ensure that specific faculty members and 
                staff from the science, technology, 
                engineering, [and mathematics] mathematics, 
                informatics, and computer science departments 
                and specific education faculty of the eligible 
                entity (and participating institutions of 
                higher education of the consortium, if 
                applicable) are designated to carry out the 
                development and implementation of the program.
                  (B) Inclusion of master teachers.--An 
                eligible entity (and participating institutions 
                of higher education of the consortium, if 
                applicable) receiving a grant under this 
                section may also include master teachers in the 
                development of the pedagogical content of the 
                program and in the supervision of students 
                participating in the program in their clinical 
                teaching experiences.
                  (C) Active participants.--No eligible entity 
                (or participating institution of higher 
                education of the consortium, if applicable) 
                shall be eligible for a grant under this 
                section unless faculty from the science, 
                technology, engineering, [and mathematics] 
                mathematics, informatics, and computer science 
                departments of the eligible entity (and 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) are active 
                participants in the program.
          (5) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, 
        the Director shall ensure that the eligible entities 
        (and participating institutions of higher education of 
        the consortia, if applicable) represent a variety of 
        types of institutions of higher education. In support 
        of this goal, the Director shall broadly disseminate 
        information about when and how to apply for grants 
        under this section, including by conducting outreach 
        to--
                  (A) historically Black colleges and 
                universities that are part B institutions, as 
                defined in section 322(2) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)); and
                  (B) minority institutions, as defined in 
                section 365(3) of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)).
          (6) Supplement not supplant.--Grant funds provided 
        under this section shall be used to supplement, and not 
        supplant, other Federal or State funds available for 
        the type of activities supported by the grant.
  (b) Selection Process.--
          (1) Application.--An eligible entity seeking funding 
        under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Director at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Director may require. The 
        application shall include, at a minimum--
                  (A) in the case of an applicant that is 
                submitting an application on behalf of a 
                consortium of institutions of higher education, 
                a description of the participating institutions 
                of higher education and the roles and 
                responsibilities of each such institution;
                  (B) a description of the program that the 
                applicant intends to operate, including the 
                number of scholarships and summer internships 
                or the size and number of stipends the 
                applicant intends to award, the type of 
                activities proposed for the recruitment of 
                students to the program, and the selection 
                process that will be used in awarding the 
                scholarships or stipends;
                  (C) evidence that the applicant has the 
                capability to administer the program in 
                accordance with the provisions of this section, 
                which may include a description of any existing 
                programs at the applicant eligible entity (and 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) that are 
                targeted to the education of mathematics and 
                science teachers and the number of teachers 
                graduated annually from such programs;
                  (D) a description of the academic courses and 
                clinical teaching experiences required under 
                subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B)(ii) of subsection 
                (a)(3), as applicable, including--
                          (i) a description of the 
                        undergraduate program that will enable 
                        a student to graduate within 5 years 
                        with a major in science, technology, 
                        engineering, [or mathematics] 
                        mathematics, informatics, or computer 
                        science and to obtain teacher 
                        certification or licensing;
                          (ii) a description of the clinical 
                        teaching experiences proposed; and
                          (iii) evidence of agreements between 
                        the applicant and the schools or local 
                        educational agencies that are 
                        identified as the locations at which 
                        clinical teaching experiences will 
                        occur;
                  (E) a description of the programs required 
                under subparagraphs (A)(iii) and (B)(iii) of 
                subsection (a)(3), including activities to 
                assist new teachers in fulfilling the teachers' 
                service requirements under this section;
                  (F) an identification of the applicant 
                eligible entity's science, technology, 
                engineering, [and mathematics] mathematics, 
                informatics, and computer science faculty and 
                its education faculty (and such faculty of 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) who will 
                carry out the development and implementation of 
                the program as required under subsection 
                (a)(4); and
                  (G) a description of the process the 
                applicant will use to fulfill the requirements 
                of subsection (f).
          (2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the 
        applications submitted under paragraph (1), the 
        Director shall consider, at a minimum--
                  (A) the ability of the applicant (and the 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) to 
                effectively carry out the program;
                  (B) the extent to which the applicant's 
                science, technology, engineering, [and 
                mathematics] mathematics, informatics, and 
                computer science faculty and its education 
                faculty (and such faculty of participating 
                institutions of higher education of the 
                consortium, if applicable) have worked or will 
                work collaboratively to design new or revised 
                curricula that recognize the specialized 
                pedagogy required to teach science, technology, 
                engineering, [and mathematics] mathematics, 
                informatics, and computer science effectively 
                in elementary schools and secondary schools;
                  (C) the extent to which the applicant (and 
                the participating institutions of higher 
                education of the consortium, if applicable) is 
                committed to making the program a central 
                organizational focus;
                  (D) the degree to which the proposed 
                programming will enable scholarship or stipend 
                recipients to become successful mathematics and 
                science teachers;
                  (E) the number and academic qualifications of 
                the students who will be served by the program; 
                and
                  (F) the ability of the applicant (and the 
                participating institutions of higher education 
                of the consortium, if applicable) to recruit 
                students who would otherwise not pursue a 
                career in teaching in elementary schools or 
                secondary schools and students who are 
                individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
                the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
  (c) Scholarship Requirements.--
          (1) In general.--Scholarships under this section 
        shall be available only to students who--
                  (A) are majoring in science, technology, 
                engineering, [or mathematics] mathematics, 
                informatics, or computer science ; and
                  (B) have attained at least junior status in a 
                baccalaureate degree program.
          (2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to 
        receive scholarships primarily on the basis of academic 
        merit, with consideration given to financial need and 
        to the goal of promoting the participation of 
        individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
        Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
          (3) Amount.--The Director shall establish for each 
        year the amount to be awarded for scholarships under 
        this section for that year, which shall be not less 
        than $10,000 per year, except that no individual shall 
        receive for any year more than the cost of attendance 
        at that individual's institution. Full-time students 
        may receive annual scholarships through the completion 
        of a baccalaureate degree program, not to exceed a 
        maximum of 3 years. Part-time students may receive 
        scholarships that are prorated according to such 
        students' enrollment status, not to exceed 6 years of 
        scholarship support.
          (4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a 
        scholarship under this section, such individual shall 
        be required to complete, within 8 years after 
        graduation from the baccalaureate degree program for 
        which the scholarship was awarded, 2 years of service 
        as a mathematics or science teacher for each full 
        scholarship award received, with a maximum service 
        requirement of 6 years. Service required under this 
        paragraph shall be performed in a high need local 
        educational agency.
  (d) Stipends.--
          (1) In general.--Stipends under this section shall be 
        available only to science, technology, engineering, [or 
        mathematics] mathematics, informatics, or computer 
        science professionals who, while receiving the stipend, 
        are enrolled in a program established under subsection 
        (a)(3)(B).
          (2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to 
        receive stipends under this section primarily on the 
        basis of academic merit and professional achievement, 
        with consideration given to financial need and to the 
        goal of promoting the participation of individuals 
        identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
        Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
        1885b).
          (3) Amount and duration.--Stipends under this section 
        shall be not less than $10,000 per year, except that no 
        individual shall receive for any year more than the 
        cost of attendance at such individual's institution. 
        Individuals may receive a maximum of 1 year of stipend 
        support, except that if an individual is enrolled in a 
        part-time program, such amount shall be prorated 
        according to the length of the program.
          (4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a 
        stipend under this section, such individual shall be 
        required to complete, within 4 years after graduation 
        from the program for which the stipend was awarded, 2 
        years of service as a mathematics or science teacher. 
        Service required under this paragraph shall be 
        performed in a high need local educational agency.
  (e) Conditions of Support.--As a condition of acceptance of a 
scholarship or stipend under this section, a recipient of a 
scholarship or stipend shall enter into an agreement with the 
eligible entity--
          (1) accepting the terms of the scholarship or stipend 
        pursuant to subsection (c) or subsection (d);
          (2) agreeing to provide the eligible entity with 
        annual certification of employment and up-to-date 
        contact information and to participate in surveys 
        conducted by the eligible entity as part of an ongoing 
        assessment program; and
          (3) establishing that if the service obligation 
        required under this section is not completed, all or a 
        portion of the scholarship or stipend received under 
        this section shall be repaid in accordance with 
        subsection (g).
  (f) Collection for Noncompliance.--
          (1) Monitoring compliance.--An eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall, as a 
        condition of participating in the program, enter into 
        an agreement with the Director to monitor the 
        compliance of scholarship or stipend recipients with 
        their respective service requirements.
          (2) Collection of repayment.--
                  (A) In general.--In the event that a 
                scholarship or stipend recipient is required to 
                repay the scholarship or stipend under 
                subsection (g), the eligible entity shall--
                          (i) be responsible for determining 
                        the repayment amounts and for notifying 
                        the recipient and the Director of the 
                        amount owed; and
                          (ii) collect such repayment amount 
                        within a period of time as determined 
                        under the agreement described in 
                        paragraph (1), or the repayment amount 
                        shall be treated as a loan in 
                        accordance with subparagraph (C).
                  (B) Returned to treasury.--Except as provided 
                in subparagraph (C), any such repayment shall 
                be returned to the Treasury of the United 
                States.
                  (C) Retain percentage.--An eligible entity 
                may retain a percentage of any repayment the 
                eligible entity collects to defray 
                administrative costs associated with the 
                collection. The Director shall establish a 
                single, fixed percentage that will apply to all 
                eligible entities.
  (g) Failure to Complete Service Obligation.--
          (1) General rule.--If an individual who has received 
        a scholarship or stipend under this section--
                  (A) fails to maintain an acceptable level of 
                academic standing in the educational 
                institution in which the individual is 
                enrolled, as determined by the Director;
                  (B) is dismissed from such educational 
                institution for disciplinary reasons;
                  (C) withdraws from the program for which the 
                award was made before the completion of such 
                program;
                  (D) declares that the individual does not 
                intend to fulfill the service obligation under 
                this section; or
                  (E) fails to fulfill the service obligation 
                of the individual under this section,
        such individual shall be liable to the United States as 
        provided in paragraph (2).
          (2) Amount of repayment.--
                  (A) Less than one year of service.--If a 
                circumstance described in paragraph (1) occurs 
                before the completion of 1 year of a service 
                obligation under this section, the total amount 
                of awards received by the individual under this 
                section shall be repaid or such amount shall be 
                treated as a loan to be repaid in accordance 
                with subparagraph (C).
                  (B) More than one year of service.--If a 
                circumstance described in subparagraph (D) or 
                (E) of paragraph (1) occurs after the 
                completion of 1 year of a service obligation 
                under this section--
                          (i) for a scholarship recipient, the 
                        total amount of scholarship awards 
                        received by the individual under this 
                        section, reduced by the ratio of the 
                        number of years of service completed 
                        divided by the number of years of 
                        service required, shall be repaid or 
                        such amount shall be treated as a loan 
                        to be repaid in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (C); and
                          (ii) for a stipend recipient, one-
                        half of the total amount of stipends 
                        received by the individual under this 
                        section shall be repaid or such amount 
                        shall be treated as a loan to be repaid 
                        in accordance with subparagraph (C).
                  (C) Repayments.--The loans described under 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be payable to 
                the Federal Government, consistent with the 
                provisions of part B or D of title IV of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965, and shall be 
                subject to repayment in accordance with terms 
                and conditions specified by the Director (in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Education) 
                in regulations promulgated to carry out this 
                paragraph.
          (3) Exceptions.--The Director may provide for the 
        partial or total waiver or suspension of any service or 
        payment obligation by an individual under this section 
        whenever compliance by the individual with the 
        obligation is impossible or would involve extreme 
        hardship to the individual, or if enforcement of such 
        obligation with respect to the individual would be 
        unconscionable.
  (h) Data Collection.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
under this section shall supply to the Director any relevant 
statistical and demographic data on scholarship and stipend 
recipients the Director may request, including information on 
employment required under this section.
  (i) Definitions.--In this section--
          (1) the term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 472 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll);
          (2) the term ``eligible entity'' means--
                  (A) an institution of higher education; or
                  (B) an institution of higher education that 
                receives grant funds on behalf of a consortium 
                of institutions of higher education;
          (3) the term ``fellowship'' means an award to an 
        individual under section 10A;
          (4) the term ``high need local educational agency'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 201 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021);
          (5) the term ``mathematics and science teacher'' 
        means a science, computer science, technology, 
        engineering, [or mathematics] mathematics, or computer 
        science teacher at the elementary school or secondary 
        school level;
          (6) the term ``scholarship'' means an award under 
        subsection (c);
          (7) the term ``science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics professional'' means a person who holds a 
        baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree in science, 
        technology, engineering, [or mathematics] mathematics, 
        informatics, or computer science, and is working in or 
        had a career in such field or a related area; and
          (8) the term ``stipend'' means an award under 
        subsection (d).
  (j) Mathematics and Science Scholarship Gift Fund.--In 
accordance with section 11(f) of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1870(f)), the Director is 
authorized to accept donations from the private sector to 
supplement but not supplant scholarships, stipends, 
internships, or fellowships associated with programs under this 
section or section 10A.
  (k) Assessment of Teacher Service and Retention.--Not later 
than 4 years after the date of enactment of the America 
COMPETES Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the programs 
carried out under this section and section 10A. The report 
shall include the proportion of individuals receiving 
scholarships, stipends, or fellowships under the program who--
          (1) fulfill the individuals' service obligation 
        required under this section or section 10A;
          (2) remain in the teaching profession beyond the 
        individuals' service obligation; and
          (3) remain in the teaching profession in a high need 
        local educational agency beyond the individuals' 
        service obligation.
  (l) Evaluation.--Not less than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the America COMPETES Act, the Director, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall conduct an 
evaluation to determine whether the scholarships, stipends, and 
fellowships authorized under this section and section 10A have 
been effective in increasing the numbers of high-quality 
mathematics and science teachers teaching in high need local 
educational agencies and whether there continue to exist 
significant shortages of such teachers in high need local 
educational agencies.

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