42 U.S.C. § 18991: PreK–12 STEM education

Summary

Within 120 days after August 9, 2022, the Director must hire the National Academies to study PreK–12 STEM education. The study will look at research and find gaps about what helps or hurts putting proven STEM ideas into practice. It will collect examples of promising STEM practices, models, programs, and technologies. It will find barriers to spreading and keeping those innovations in use. It will give recommendations to the Foundation, the Department of Education, the National Science and Technology Council’s STEM committee, state and local education agencies, and other relevant groups. The law also creates a National STEM Teacher Corps 10-year pilot, run by an Administrator the Director appoints, and the program can use existing NSF efforts. Key defined terms: Administrator — the program leader; Eligible entity — a college or a college-led group with schools, nonprofits, STEM groups, or businesses; High-need school — defined by federal law; Professional development — defined by federal law; Corps Alliance — a regional or topic-based award; National STEM Teacher Corps Advisory Board — the program’s advisory board. The Administrator must set fair selection rules that require strong STEM knowledge, leadership, and evidence of raising student achievement (especially in rural and high-need schools), promote the Corps, and measure its impact. The Administrator can fund Corps alliances by competition. Alliances will recruit diverse teachers, run local programs and online networks, provide professional development, and support member retention. Members serve 4-year terms, may be reappointed, get at least $10,000 per year, help develop teaching innovations, mentor others, and spend extra time helping underserved students. The Director must report to Congress after year three on how well the pilot recruits and keeps high-quality STEM teachers, and may propose making the program permanent. The authority to run the program ends 15 years after August 9, 2022. Up to $60,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2023 through 2032.

Title 42, §18991

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)National Academies study

Not later than 120 days after August 9, 2022, the Director shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study to—

(1)review the research literature and identify research gaps regarding the interconnected factors that foster and hinder successful implementation of promising, evidence-based PreK–12 STEM education innovations at the local, regional, and national level;

(2)present a compendium of promising, evidence-based PreK–12 STEM education practices, models, programs, and technologies;

(3)identify barriers to widespread and sustained implementation of such innovations; and

(4)make recommendations to the Foundation, the Department of Education, the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, State and local educational agencies, and other relevant stakeholders on measures to address such barriers.

(b)Omitted

(c)[Log 907 S2522] National STEM Teacher Corps pilot

(1)Purpose

It is the purpose of this subsection to elevate the profession of STEM teaching by establishing a National STEM Teacher Corps pilot program to recognize outstanding STEM teachers in our Nation’s classrooms, rewards them for their accomplishments, elevates their public profile, and creates rewarding career paths to which all STEM teachers can aspire, both to prepare future STEM researchers and to create a scientifically literate public.

(2)Definitions

In this subsection: (A) Administrator (B) Eligible entity

(C)High-need school

The term “high-need school” has the meaning given the term in section 6631(b) of title 20.

(D)Professional development

The term “professional Development” has the meaning given the term in section 7801 of title 20.

(E)Corps Alliance

The term “Corps Alliance” means a regionally or topically based award under this subsection.

(F)National STEM Teacher Corps Advisory Board

The term “National STEM Teacher Corps Advisory Board” means the Advisory Board for the National STEM Teacher Corps established under paragraph (5).

(3)Establishment of National STEM Teacher Corps

The Director may, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish within the Foundation, a National STEM Teacher Corps 10-year pilot program to be administered by the Administrator, who shall be appointed by the Director. As appropriate, the Director may use existing NSF programs to establish and execute this program.

(4)Duties of the Administrator (5) National STEM Teacher Corps Advisory Board

The Administrator shall—

(A)create a process and standards for selection of eligible applicants to become members of the National STEM Teacher Corps, including—

(i)uniform selection criteria that includes —

(I)deep knowledge of STEM content and pedagogy;

(II)a passion for STEM subjects and dedication to teaching, evidence of leadership skills, and potential for continued career growth as an educator; and

(III)demonstrated experience increasing STEM student achievement and STEM participation rates for all students, particularly those from rural and high-need schools; and

(ii)a uniform selection process, including a comprehensive application that includes recommendations and other relevant professional information;

(B)promote the National STEM Teacher Corps and elevate best practices that emerge from the National STEM Teacher Corps to a national audience;

(C)evaluate the operation and effectiveness of the Corps alliances; and

(D)evaluate the overall and long-term impact of the National STEM Teacher Corps by—

(i)documenting, monitoring, and assessing the program outcomes or impact on the STEM careers of participants; and

(ii)documenting, monitoring, and assessing the program outcomes for the STEM education profession nationwide, particularly for rural and high-need schools.

(6)Duties of the Corps alliances

Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Administrator may make awards on a competitive, merit-review basis, to establish Corps alliances at eligible entities. Activities carried out by such alliances shall include—

(A)engaging local partners, which may include local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, STEM organizations, or education nonprofit organizations, to—

(i)develop and serve the community of National STEM Teacher Corps members within the region or topic area, in coordination with local partners to carry out day-to-day activities;

(ii)coordinate professional development activities, including activities led by National STEM Teacher Corps members;

(iii)connect National STEM Teacher Corps members with existing educator professional development programs and coordinate members’ involvement as cooperating teachers or mentors;

(iv)seek opportunities to involve teachers who are not members of the National STEM Teacher Corps to participate in National STEM Teacher Corps activities; and

(v)build partnerships with existing education organizations and other efforts by State educational agencies and local educational agencies that operate programs relevant to the National STEM Teacher Corps and its activities;

(B)recruiting eligible applicants, with a focus on recruiting diverse STEM educators to advance equity based on race, ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, age, disability status, geography, and language ability;

(C)screening, interviewing, and selecting members of the National STEM Teacher Corps using procedures and standards provided by the Administrator;

(D)coordinating the online network that supports all National STEM Teacher Corps members in the region or topic area;

(E)convening occasional meetings of National STEM Teacher Corps members in a region or topic area;

(F)creating opportunities for the professional growth of National STEM Teacher Corps members, with a focus on increasing STEM student achievement and STEM participation rates for all students, particularly those from rural and high-need schools; and

(G)supporting the retention and success of National STEM Teacher Corps members in the region or topic area.

(7)Duties of members of the National STEM Teacher Corps

An applicant that is selected by a Corps alliance to be a member of the National STEM Teacher Corps shall—

(A)serve a 4-year term with a possibility of reappointment;

(B)receive an annual stipend in an amount not less than $10,000; and

(C)have substantial responsibilities, including—

(i)working with other members of the National STEM Teacher Corps to develop and improve innovative teaching practices, including practices such as inquiry-based learning;

(ii)participating in professional development in innovative teaching methodology and mentorship; and

(iii)continuing to excel in teaching the member’s own students, with a focus on advancing equity by spending additional time teaching and coaching underserved students to increase STEM student achievement and STEM participation rates for students from rural and high-need schools.

(8)Evaluation

The Director, acting through the Administrator, shall submit a report to Congress after the third year of the pilot program that includes—

(A)an assessment, drawing on the evaluations the Administrator shall conduct under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (4), and other sources of information, of the effectiveness of the pilot program in recruiting and retaining high-quality STEM teachers in the selected regions or topic areas, particularly in high-need and rural schools; and

(B)if deemed effective, a proposal to Congress for permanent implementation of the pilot program.

(9)Sunset

The authority to carry out this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after August 9, 2022.

(10)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2032 to carry out this subsection.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section is comprised of section 10311 of div. B of Pub. L. 117–167. Subsec. (b) of section 10311 of div. B of Pub. L. 117–167 amended section 1862q of this title.

§18991 Prek–12 Stem Education

Summary

Title 42, §18991

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata