Stepping Up to STEM Act of 2013 - Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education within the Department of Education to administer STEM education.
Directs the Office of STEM Education to conduct an independent evaluation of the Department's STEM Education programs at least once every five years.
Establishes an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Education (ARPA-ED) within the Department to pursue breakthrough research and development in educational technology and to facilitate the effective use of that technology to improve student achievement.
Directs the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to state-based STEM networks or similar organizations of STEM stakeholders to increase students' achievement in the STEM disciplines in elementary and secondary schools and in out of school and afterschool programs.
Includes among grant uses:
Requires grantees to conduct periodic independent evaluations of their effectiveness in accomplishing those activities.
Prohibits the Secretary from: (1) endorsing or approving any STEM curriculum designed for use in an elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education; or (2) requiring a state, local educational agency, or school to adopt a specific STEM program or instructional materials.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1089 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1089
To stimulate collaboration with respect to, and provide for
coordination and coherence of, the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 12, 2013
Mr. Honda (for himself, Ms. Bass, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Bera of California,
Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Chu, Mr.
Cicilline, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois,
Mr. Ellison, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Lee
of California, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. McDermott, Mrs. Negrete McLeod, Mr.
Meeks, Ms. Moore, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne,
Mr. Polis, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ruiz,
Mr. Rush, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Sires, Ms.
Speier, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Takano, and Mr. Veasey)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To stimulate collaboration with respect to, and provide for
coordination and coherence of, the Nation's science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education initiatives, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Stepping Up to STEM Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Technology and the Internet have transformed nearly
every aspect of both the global economy and our daily lives. In
a technology-rich world, no amount of memorizing information
will make a student competitive in the global labor market.
America needs an education system that supports students from
all walks of life in becoming inquisitive, resourceful thinkers
who use technology to pursue knowledge, collaborate across
geographic and cultural boundaries, acquire new skills, and
solve complex problems.
(2) Equality and equity of access is more than access to
the same hardware, software, and broadband connections. It
includes access to the best digital learning resources and
access to teachers who know how to orchestrate the use of these
resources in ways that inspire students and produce better
learning outcomes.
(3) Technology by itself will not improve student outcomes.
What is needed are carefully designed innovations that include
not just technology but also good learning content, effective
instructional strategies, supports for teachers and school
systems figuring out how to use the new approach, and the
capacity to collect, analyze and reflect on data that will show
whether or not the innovation is having the intended effects.
(4) Effective learning technology implementations
addressing the challenging aspects of language arts,
mathematics and science that all students are expected to
master. This will require partnerships among education
agencies, education researchers, and technology developers with
the common goal of harnessing technology to provide
opportunities for deeper learning to students who would not
otherwise experience them.
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
(a) Assistant Secretary.--Section 202 of the Department of
Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412) is amended in subsection
(b)(1)--
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as (G); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) an Assistant Secretary for Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (in
this Act referred to as the `Assistant Secretary for
STEM Education'); and''.
(b) Office.--Title II of the Department of Education Organization
Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 221. OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION.
``(a) In General.--There shall be in the Department of Education an
Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
(in this section referred to as the `Office of STEM Education'), to be
administered by the Assistant Secretary for STEM Education appointed
under section 202(b).
``(b) Responsibilities.--The Assistant Secretary of STEM Education,
acting through the Office, shall serve as the principal advisor to the
Secretary on matters affecting science, technology, engineering, and
math education, and shall administer such functions representing STEM
education, including the coordination of STEM activities and programs
across Federal agencies.
``(c) Evaluation and Report.--The Assistant Secretary for STEM
Education shall conduct an independent evaluation, through grant or by
contract, of the STEM education programs administered by the
Department, at least every 5 years, which shall include--
``(1) conducting an assessment of STEM education activities
within the Department by using the evaluations and reports of
these programs to determine these programs' impact on--
``(A) the quantity of students taking advanced
placement in STEM areas and seeking STEM degrees;
``(B) the quantity of students exposed to STEM
content in the hours outside of the regular school day;
``(C) student academic achievement in mathematics
and science; and
``(D) the increased number of highly qualified STEM
teachers, STEM content coaches, and STEM master
educators; and
``(2) the preparation and submission of a report on the
results of the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $1,500,000 to carry out this section for fiscal year 2014
and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 4. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY FOR EDUCATION.
Title II of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C.
3411 et seq.), as amended by section 2 of this Act, is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 222. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY FOR EDUCATION.
``(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department an Advanced
Research Projects Agency for Education (referred to in this section as
`ARPA-ED').
``(b) Purposes.--ARPA-ED is established under this section for the
purposes of pursuing breakthrough research and development in
educational technology and providing the effective use of the
technology to improve achievement for all students, by--
``(1) integrating STEM related content areas including
science, technology, computer science, engineering design,
mathematics and computational thinking;
``(2) identifying and promoting revolutionary advances in
fundamental and applied sciences and engineering that could be
translated into new learning technologies;
``(3) developing novel learning technologies, and the
enabling processes and contexts for effective use of those
technologies;
``(4) developing, testing, and evaluating the impact and
efficacy of those technologies;
``(5) developing educational technology innovations
including data analytic tools that help State educational
agencies and local educational agencies with reporting required
under Federal accountability mandates;
``(6) accelerating transformational technological advances
in areas in which the private sector, by itself, is not likely
to accelerate such advances because of difficulties in
implementation or adoption, or technical and market
uncertainty;
``(7) coordinating activities with nongovernmental entities
to demonstrate technologies and research applications to
facilitate technology transfer; and
``(8) encouraging educational research using new
technologies and the data produced by the technologies.
``(c) Coordination.--
``(1) The Agency shall work closely and collaboratively
between agencies in order to maximize the Federal effort and
investment to the Project.
``(2) The Agency shall work with the National Science
Foundation's Cyber Learning Program.
``(d) Authorities of Secretary.--The Secretary is authorized to--
``(1) appoint a Director, who shall be responsible for
carrying out the purposes of ARPA-ED, as described in
subsection (b), and such additional functions as the Secretary
may prescribe;
``(2) establish processes for the development and execution
of projects and the solicitation of entities to carry out the
projects in a manner that is--
``(A) tailored to the purposes of ARPA-ED and not
constrained by other Department-wide administrative
requirements that could detract from achieving program
results; and
``(B) designed to heighten transparency, and
public- and private-sector involvement, to ensure that
investments are made in the most promising areas;
``(3) award grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and
cash prizes, and enter into other transactions (in accordance
with such regulations as the Secretary may establish regarding
other transactions);
``(4) obtain independent, periodic, rigorous evaluations,
as appropriate, of--
``(A) the effectiveness of the processes ARPA-ED is
using to achieve its purposes; and
``(B) the effectiveness of individual projects
assisted by ARPA-ED, using evidence standards developed
in consultation with the Institute of Education
Sciences, and the suitability of ongoing projects
assisted by ARPA-ED for further investment or increased
scale; and
``(5) disseminate, through the comprehensive centers
established under section 203 of the Educational Technical
Assistance Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9602), the regional
educational laboratories system established under section 174
of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9564),
or such other means as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, information on effective practices and
technologies developed with ARPA-ED support.
``(e) Evaluation Funds.--The Secretary may use funds made available
for ARPA-ED to pay the cost of the evaluations under subsection (c)(6).
``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, any advisory committee convened by the Secretary to
provide advice with respect to this section shall be exempt from the
requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
the definition of `employee' in section 2105 of title 5, United States
Code, shall not be considered to include any appointee to such a
committee.
``(g) Nonduplication.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall ensure that grants, contracts, cooperative agreements,
cash prizes, or other assistance or arrangements awarded or entered
into pursuant to this section that are designed to carry out the
purposes of ARPA-ED do not duplicate activities under programs carried
out under Federal law other than this section by the Department or
other Federal agencies.''.
SEC. 5. STATE NETWORKS AND CONSORTIA ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary of Education shall make grants to eligible
networks to expand STEM education.
(b) Eligible Network Defined.--In this section, the term ``eligible
network'' means a State-based STEM network or similar organization,
which--
(1) may include the participation of State officials,
educators, administrators, afterschool providers, out of school
time educators, parents, industry leaders, philanthropists, and
representatives from the STEM communities;
(2) aims to increase student achievement and experiences in
the STEM disciplines at the elementary schools and secondary
schools in its State, and out of school programs and
particularly for students with a high concentration of
historically under represented students and at rural schools
(within the meaning of part B of title VI of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.)); and
(3) aims to increase the number of quality afterschool
programs offering STEM learning opportunities, particularly for
students from populations traditionally under-represented in
the STEM fields.
(c) Eligible Network Application.--
(1) In general.--An eligible network seeking a grant under
this section shall submit an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
(2) Matching requirement.--In order to receive a grant
under this section, an eligible network shall agree to provide,
either directly or through private contributions, non-Federal
matching funds equal to not less than 30 percent of the amount
of the grant.
(d) Uses of Funds.--Each eligible network receiving a grant under
this section shall use the funds to carry out one or more of the
following:
(1) Testing, validating, sharing, and scaling up STEM
education research, promising practices, and exemplary programs
among members of the network and with other eligible networks
receiving grants under this section.
(2) Identifying points of weakness and strength among State
STEM education efforts, prioritizing strategies for addressing
problem areas, and communicating State needs to the Secretary.
(3) Assisting in the implementation of rigorous career and
college ready standards in STEM education for grades
prekindergarten through grade 12 that reflect and take into
consideration--
(A) career and college ready standards in STEM
disciplines;
(B) established international standards and 21st
century skills that include critical thinking, problem
solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and
innovation;
(C) the needs of English language learners and
special education students; and
(D) the need to increase STEM literacy of
prekindergarten through grade 12 students.
(4) Assisting the development of innovative STEM
assessments that measure interest, engagement, and content
proficiency.
(5) Supporting the implementation of STEM assessments that
measure career and college ready standards.
(6) Promoting and developing rigorous undergraduate pre-
service teacher programs in institutions of higher education
that emphasize STEM content with emphasis on the elementary
educator.
(7) Promoting and developing curriculum tools and
professional development for STEM educators both in school and
out of school.
(8) Developing STEM career pathways that reflect the
projected STEM workforce needs of the 21st century that may
include mentoring programs and STEM professional outreach.
(9) Developing STEM-related education and workforce
training programs in secondary schools and community colleges
to reflect the needs of the local community.
(10) Developing systems for the implementation of expanded
learning opportunities on school sites to enhance STEM
education inside and outside of the classroom.
(11) Promoting, supporting, and designing programs that
develop STEM content coaches and master educators in order to
strengthen core competencies of the classroom practitioner.
(e) Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 2 years after receiving
a grant under this section, each eligible network receiving such a
grant shall--
(1) conduct periodic independent evaluations, by grant or
by contract, of the eligible network's effectiveness at
accomplishing the activities described in this section, which
shall include an assessment of the impact of such activities on
STEM teaching and learning; and
(2) prepare and submit a report on the results of each
evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary and make
for dissemination to other STEM Networks.
(f) Prohibitions.--In implementing this section, the Secretary may
not--
(1) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM curriculum
designed for use in any elementary school, secondary school, or
institution of higher education; or
(2) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or
activities that will require the adoption of a specific STEM
program or instructional materials by a State, local
educational agency, or school.
(g) Total Amount of Grants.--The total amount of grants made under
this section in any fiscal year may not exceed $20,000,000.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The terms ``elementary school'', ``local educational
agency'', ``secondary school'', and ``State educational
agency'' have the meanings given such terms in section 9101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(2) The term ``high concentration of low-income students''
has the meaning given such term in section 1707 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6537).
(3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Education.
(5) The term ``State'' means each of the several States of
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.
(6) The term ``STEM'' means science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
(7) The term ``21st century readiness initiative'' means
any initiative that--
(A) embeds core academic subjects with critical
skills; and
(B) is focused on ensuring that students are
prepared for postsecondary education and careers, upon
graduation from secondary school.
<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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
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