[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3636 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3636
To establish within the National Science Foundation a program to award
STEM ecosystem grants.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 2022
Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish within the National Science Foundation a program to award
STEM ecosystem grants.
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 ``Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) STEM ecosystems--
(A) engage stakeholders within and outside of a
formal educational setting; and
(B) may include--
(i) community leaders;
(ii) school districts;
(iii) State, local, and Tribal governments;
(iv) the Federal Government and Federal
facilities;
(v) businesses, industry, and workforce and
economic development organizations;
(vi) libraries;
(vii) museums and science centers;
(viii) institutions of higher education
(including community colleges) and technical
schools;
(ix) community groups and clubs (including
community-led research organizations),
foundations, and nonprofit organizations; and
(x) faith-based organizations.
(2) As defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress Report of
2020, STEM ecosystems are united by a collective vision of
supporting participation in STEM through the creation of
accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and
opportunities spanning all education stages and career
pathways. A STEM ecosystem continuously evaluates its
activities and adapts as needed, plans for the long-term, and
communicates its work to build broad support and advance
evidence-based practices. STEM ecosystems focus on long-term,
shared, sustainable, and flexible STEM missions that bridge,
integrate, and strengthen the learning opportunities offered by
organizations across sectors to build partnerships that
maximize investments to create stronger STEM outcomes.
(3) Federal agencies should encourage the collaboration of
stakeholders in STEM ecosystems that unite a broad range of
non-Federal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools,
informal educators, informal STEM organizations, community-led
and community-based research organizations, institutions of
higher education (including community colleges, historically
Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and
universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other
minority-serving institutions), employers, nonprofit
organizations, social services, faith-based entities, economic
and workforce development organizations, and museums,
libraries, credentialing services, and other lifelong learning
and participatory science organizations.
(4) The National Science Foundation is a Federal agency
that can and does encourage the collaboration described in
paragraph (3). When reviewing proposals before the agency,
reviewers are asked to consider how the proposed activities
will have a broad impact on society and advance greater
societal outcomes.
(5) STEM ecosystems can increase work-based learning,
training, and mentoring through educator-employer partnerships,
allowing communities to more effectively leverage resources and
expertise from strategic partners to provide seamless support
to prepare the workforce of the future.
(6) STEM ecosystems that directly support and engage the
American public can increase public awareness and support
overall STEM literacy.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Committee
on STEM Education established under section 101 of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a STEM ecosystem; or
(B) an eligible partnership.
(4) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means a partnership between a STEM ecosystem
described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) and 1 or more
non-Federal partners described in that subparagraph.
(5) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term ``Hispanic-
serving institution'' has the meaning given such term in
section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1101a).
(6) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning
given the term ``part B institution'' under section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(7) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology
(including computer science), engineering, and mathematics.
(8) STEM ecosystem.--The term ``STEM ecosystem'' means--
(A) a network, consortium, or multi-sector
partnership, which may be led or co-led by a nonprofit
organizational entity, that is operating in the United
States and united by a collective vision of supporting
participation in STEM through the creation of
accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and
opportunities (as defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress
Report of 2020) with a broad range of non-Federal
partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools,
informal educators, institutions of higher education
(including community colleges, historically Black
colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving
institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and
other minority-serving institutions), employers, other
nonprofit organizations, economic and workforce
development organizations, industry or trade
organizations, trade or technician training schools,
social services providers, faith-based organizations,
museums, libraries, credentialing organizations, and
other lifelong learning organizations; or
(B) an office, task force, or other section of the
office of the Governor of a State, a State educational
agency, or a Tribal government that has the mission of
improving STEM education and outcomes within the State.
(9) STEM learning stakeholder.--The term ``STEM learning
stakeholder'' means an organization that is--
(A) dedicated to the goal of improving STEM
belonging, participation, and learning;
(B) providing accessible and inclusive STEM
experiences and opportunities; or
(C) supporting seamless educational and STEM
workforce transitions.
(10) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal
College or University'' has the meaning given the term in
section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c).
SEC. 4. STEM ECOSYSTEM GRANTS.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of a grant awarded under this section is
to leverage the expertise, depth of cross-sector partnerships, and
equity focus of STEM ecosystems to enhance the value of STEM-intensive
organizations in improving STEM learning to address immediate and long-
term STEM workforce and economic needs in States and communities.
(b) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Director, subject to the availability
of appropriations, may award grants on a competitive basis to
eligible entities to carry out the activities described in
paragraph (4). The Director shall notify the Committee of all
grant awards, including the grant recipients, made under this
section.
(2) Term.--A grant awarded under paragraph (1)--
(A) shall be for a period of 3 to 5 years; and
(B) may be renewed for additional 3-year periods.
(3) Applications.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking funding
under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Director an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Director may
require.
(B) Requirements.--An application submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum--
(i) a description of the eligible entity,
including, in the case of an eligible
partnership, a description of the role that
each member of the eligible partnership will
play in implementing the proposal for the use
of the grant funds;
(ii) a description of each of the
activities to be carried out by the eligible
entity using the grant funds; and
(iii) an evaluation plan that includes
outcome-oriented measures to determine the
impact and efficacy of the grant award.
(4) Use of funds.--Grants awarded under paragraph (1) shall
be used for activities that draw on the expertise of eligible
entities to improve STEM learning, the STEM network or
community of practice, and workforce development, including--
(A) convening STEM learning stakeholders to review
and assess statewide or regional STEM education needs
and practices, share best practices, and bolster
existing programs or develop new programs and other
means to address such needs;
(B) designing or developing sustainable systems to
support STEM learning connections, networks, and
infrastructure;
(C) developing eligible partnerships to expand
access to the opportunities described in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) to rural and underrepresented populations,
including by supplementing the support needed to
participate in those opportunities;
(D) developing regional hubs or working groups
within a STEM ecosystem to connect eligible
partnerships described in subparagraph (C) with State
and local workforce trajectories;
(E) convening STEM learning stakeholder to support
State-level workforce planning to ensure alignment
between STEM learning activities and workforce needs;
(F) obtaining technical assistance provided by an
outside organization; and
(G) supporting STEM learning programs, events, or
pre-enrollment activities, including measurable
outreach campaigns to raise STEM awareness in rural or
underserved areas.
(5) Geographic diversity.--Not fewer than 25 percent of
grants awarded under this section and 25 percent of the total
amount awarded under paragraph (1) shall be made to eligible
entities serving jurisdictions that participate in the program
under section 113 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
(6) Evaluations.--Each recipient of a grant under this
section shall provide, at the conclusion of every year during
which the grant funds are received, an evaluation according to
the evaluation plan submitted under paragraph (3)(B)(iii).
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director
shall, for the purpose of enhancing program effectiveness and avoiding
duplications of activities, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the
programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.
<all>