§19261 Quantum networking and communications

Summary

The Director of the National Science Foundation must, within 180 days after August 9, 2022, hire the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study the quantum information science workforce and make recommendations. The study must describe who counts as a qualified quantum worker across academia, government, and industry, estimate the workforce size and trends, identify near- and long-term workforce needs across those sectors (including the cross-discipline degrees or courses needed to prepare students, keep the United States competitive while protecting national security, and help develop quantum applications), review education and training at all levels and find gaps (K–12 access and hands-on learning, teacher training and materials, career-pivot options like certificates and internships, and higher education curricula and lab experiences), and recommend how to build a diverse, flexible, and lasting workforce. The National Academies must send their report to Congress and the Director not later than two years after August 9, 2022. Definitions: Director — the Director of the National Science Foundation; Q2Work Program — the Foundation’s Q2Work Program; appropriate committees of Congress — as defined in section 8801 of title 15. Building on the NSF’s role in the National Q–12 Education Partnership and programs like the Q2Work Program, the Director must, within one year after August 9, 2022, award grants to colleges, nonprofits, or consortia to run the Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program to train students and teachers in basic quantum mechanics. Awardees must work with K–12 schools and State educational agencies and are encouraged to coordinate with educational service agencies, STEM educator groups, local agencies, and the Q–12 Partnership. Grants will fund testing, evaluation, sharing, and use of age-appropriate quantum curricula (including integration per subsection (d) of section 8841 of title 15), informal hands-on learning, student career exploration, teacher training (pre-service and in-service), and other appropriate activities. The program must reach diverse geographic areas and students, including those historically underrepresented in STEM, and be done with input from the QIS Workforce Working Group and the Advancing Informal STEM Learning Program. The Director must report to Congress by four years after August 9, 2022, on program effectiveness and, if effective, a plan to integrate and possibly expand it. Up to $8,000,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026 to carry out these activities. The pilot program ends four years after August 9, 2022.