§3526 Improvement of education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics

Summary

The Director must constantly find ways to improve education in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM) so the country will have people with the skills needed for long-term national security. The Director must run programs to do this. The Director can give grants, cash awards, and other help, accept volunteers, support national competitions and events, and make education partnership agreements with U.S. schools to boost STEAM learning. Under those partnerships, the Director can loan equipment, provide staff to teach or help make courses, offer faculty sabbaticals and student internships, involve students and teachers in agency projects, help students get academic credit for that work, and give students career and academic advice. The Director must give priority to Historically Black colleges and universities, other minority-serving schools, and schools that serve women and other groups underrepresented in STEAM. Eligible entity: federal or state agency, local government, a person, or a nonprofit or other private organization. Educational institution: any K–12 school, college, university, or other school that improves STEAM or related fields. State: each State, DC, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and any U.S. territory or possession. The Director must also name one or more agency staff to advise and help on STEAM education and training.