PRIA Logo™
Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§1161j Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education with a Focus on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students

Title 20 › CHAPTER 28 — HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER IX — ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS › Part J — Improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education With a Focus On Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students › § 1161j

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary of Education to give grants to partnerships that expand STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs from elementary school through college, with special focus on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. Key terms: Alaska Native — defined in another law; Eligible partnership — must include engineering and science/math colleges, at least one two-year college, and private partners who run career-awareness, mentoring, internships/apprenticeships, and help place students; Institution of higher education — defined in another law; Native Hawaiian — defined in another law. Grants must be used for things like cultural and college-transition support, extra academic help, internships tied to industry, or other activities that fit the goal. Partnerships apply to the Secretary as required. Priority goes to partnerships that, before August 14, 2008, already ran programs with at least 30% Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian participants. Grants last five years. Recipients must evaluate their work and send a report to the Secretary within six months after the grant ends. Money is authorized as needed for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five years after that.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1161j

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purpose
The purposes of this section are—
(1)to develop or expand programs for the development of professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
(2)to focus resources on meeting the educational and cultural needs of Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.
(b)Definitions
In this section: (1) Alaska Native
(2)Eligible partnership
The term “eligible partnership” means a partnership that includes—
(A)one or more colleges, schools, or departments of engineering;
(B)one or more colleges of science or mathematics;
(C)one or more institutions of higher education that offer two-year degrees; and
(D)one or more private entities that—
(i)conduct career awareness activities showcasing local technology professionals;
(ii)encourage students to pursue education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from elementary school through postsecondary education, and careers in those fields, with the assistance of local technology professionals;
(iii)develop internships, apprenticeships, and mentoring programs in partnership with relevant industries; and
(iv)assist with placement of interns and apprentices.
(3)Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 1001(a) of this title.
(4)Native Hawaiian
The term “Native Hawaiian” has the meaning given the term in section 7517 of this title.
(c)Grant authorized
From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section under subsection (i), the Secretary is authorized to award a grant to an eligible partnership to enable the eligible partnership to expand programs for the development of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics professionals, from elementary school through postsecondary education, including existing programs for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students.
(d)Uses of funds
Grant funds under this section shall be used for one or more of the following:
(1)Development or implementation of cultural, social, or educational transition programs to assist students to transition into college life and academics in order to increase such students’ retention rates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, with a focus on Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian students.
(2)Development or implementation of academic support or supplemental educational programs to increase the graduation rates of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, with a focus on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students.
(3)Development or implementation of internship programs, carried out in coordination with educational institutions and private entities, to prepare students for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, with a focus on programs that serve Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian students.
(4)Such other activities as are consistent with the purpose of this section.
(e)Application
Each eligible partnership that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(f)Priority
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible partnership that, on the day before August 14, 2008, provides one or more programs in which 30 percent or more of the program participants are Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian.
(g)Period of grant
A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of five years.
(h)Evaluation and report
Each eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall conduct an evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the programs funded under the grant and shall provide a report regarding the evaluation to the Secretary not later than six months after the end of the grant period.
(i)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(oo)(11)(A), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7546 of this title. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(oo)(11)(B), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7517 of this title. 2009—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–39 inserted period at end.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1161j

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110