21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to, and enter into agreements with, local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve the education of girls and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and prepare them to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in such fields.
Gives priority to LEAs that partner or coordinate with local, regional, or national entities experienced in increasing the participation of girls or underrepresented minorities in STEM.
Requires the use of grant funds to: (1) involve the parents of girls and underrepresented minorities in stoking their children's interest in STEM, (2) provide tutoring and mentoring programs in such fields, (3) expose girls and underrepresented minorities to STEM role models, (4) enable such students and their teachers to attend STEM events outside the classroom, (5) provide after-school and summer programs for students in such fields, (6) purchase education materials or equipment to facilitate STEM instruction, (7) provide such students with academic advice and assistance in selecting high school courses, (8) pay up to 50% of the cost of a STEM internship for such students, and (9) train school personnel to facilitate students' progress in such fields.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1903 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1903
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls and
underrepresented minorities to pursue studies and careers in science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 13, 2011
Ms. Woolsey (for herself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Reyes, and Ms. Fudge)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide
grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls and
underrepresented minorities to pursue studies and careers in science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology.
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 ``21st Century STEM for Girls and
Underrepresented Minorities Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PREPARE GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES.
Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART E--PREPARING GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY
``SEC. 5701. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
``(a) In General.--From funds provided under section 5702, the
Secretary is authorized to provide grants to, and enter into contracts
or cooperative agreements with, local educational agencies on behalf of
elementary and secondary schools to establish and implement a program
to encourage the ongoing interest of girls and underrepresented
minorities in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and to
prepare girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue undergraduate
and graduate degrees and careers in science, mathematics, engineering,
or technology.
``(b) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant, or
enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this
part, a local educational agency shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
``(2) Contents.--The application shall contain, at a
minimum, the following:
``(A) A program description, including the content
of the program and the research and models used to
design the program.
``(B) A description of the collaboration between
elementary and secondary schools to fulfill goals of
the program and how the applicant will ensure that
there is a comprehensive plan to improve science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology education for
girls and underrepresented minorities in grades
kindergarten through 12.
``(C) A description of the process for recruitment
and selection of participants.
``(D) A description of the planned instructional
and motivational activities.
``(E) A description of any collaboration among
local, regional, or national institutions and
organizations that will occur in order to fulfill the
goals of the program.
``(3) Priority.--In selecting among applications, the
Secretary shall give priority to applicants that partner or
coordinate, to the extent possible, with local, regional, or
national institutions and organizations who have extensive
experience, expertise and research on increasing the
participation of girls or underrepresented minorities in
science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
``(c) Use of Funds.--Funds provided under this section shall be
used for the following:
``(1) Acquainting and preparing girls and underrepresented
minorities with careers in science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology, and the advantages of pursuing careers in these
areas.
``(2) Educating the parents of girls and underrepresented
minorities about the opportunities and advantages of science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology careers.
``(3) Enlisting the help of the parents of girls and
unrepresented minorities in overcoming the obstacles these
groups face and encouraging their child's continued interest
and involvement in science, mathematics, engineering, and
technology.
``(4) Providing tutoring and mentoring programs in science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology.
``(5) Establishing partnerships and other opportunities
that expose girls and underrepresented minorities to role
models in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and
technology.
``(6) Enabling female and underrepresented minority
students and their teachers to attend events and academic
programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
``(7) Providing after-school activities designed to
encourage interest, and develop skills of girls and
underrepresented minorities, in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology.
``(8) Summer programs designed in order that girls and
unrepresented minorities develop an interest in, develop skills
in, and understand the relevance and significance of, science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology.
``(9) Purchasing--
``(A) educational instructional materials or
software designed to encourage interest of girls and
underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology; or
``(B) equipment, instrumentation, or hardware used
for teaching and to encourage interest of girls and
underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology.
``(10) Field trips to locations, including institutions of
higher education, to educate and encourage girls' and
underrepresented minorities' interest in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology and acquaint them with careers in
these fields.
``(11) Providing academic advice and assistance in high
school course selection that encourages girls and
underrepresented minorities to take advanced courses in areas
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
``(12) Paying up to 50 percent of the cost of an internship
in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology for female
and underrepresented minority students.
``(13) Providing professional development for teachers and
other school personnel, including--
``(A) how to eliminate gender and racial bias in
the classroom;
``(B) how to be sensitive to gender and racial
differences;
``(C) how to engage students in the face of gender-
based and racial peer pressure and parental
expectations;
``(D) how to create and maintain a positive
environment; and
``(E) how to encourage girls and underserved
minorities through academic advice and assistance to
pursue advanced classes and careers in science,
mathematics, engineering, and technology fields.
``(d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--The Secretary shall require each
local educational agency to use the assistance provided under this
section only to supplement, and not to supplant, any other assistance
or funds made available from non-Federal sources for the activities
assisted under this section.
``(e) Evaluations.--Each local educational agency that receives
funds under this section shall provide the Secretary, at the conclusion
of every school year during which the funds are received, with an
evaluation, in a form prescribed by the Secretary. This evaluation
shall include--
``(1) a description of the programs and activities
conducted by the local educational agency using the funds;
``(2) data on curriculum and partnerships developed using
the funds;
``(3) data on the amount of time spent on subjects allowed
for under the grant; and
``(4) such other information as may be required by the
Secretary.
``SEC. 5702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2012 and such sums as may be necessary for
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
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