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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§7381a Science Education Programs

Title 42 › CHAPTER 84 — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY › SUBCHAPTER XIII — DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS › Part A — Science Education Enhancement › § 7381a

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may create programs to improve math, science, and engineering education. These programs must run at or through the Department’s research and development facilities, use the Department’s scientific resources, and follow the federal plan for science and technology education. The programs must add to, and be coordinated with, existing Department activities, not replace them. Key roles named: the Under Secretary for Science (the senior official who oversees science work) and the Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (the person put in charge of these education programs). The Director must run and coordinate the programs, serve as the main Department contact with other agencies, prepare and advise on the education budget, work to boost participation of women and underrepresented minorities, and get the staff and resources needed. The Secretary must offer a contract to the National Academy of Sciences to assess the programs by 5 years and again by 10 years after August 9, 2007. The Secretary must create a Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund using not less than 0.3 percent of annual R&D, demonstration, and commercial application funds, report to Congress each year on those set‑asides, and give priority to programs for underrepresented students.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7381a

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

(a)Programs
The Secretary is authorized to establish programs to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, and engineering education. Any such programs shall be operated at or through the support of Department research and development facilities, shall use the scientific resources of the Department, and shall be consistent with the overall Federal plan for education and human resources in science and technology developed by the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology.
(b)Organization of science, engineering, and mathematics education programs
(1)Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science (referred to in this subsection as the “Under Secretary”), shall appoint a Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (referred to in this subsection as the “Director”) with the principal responsibility for administering science, engineering, and mathematics education programs across all functions of the Department.
(2)Qualifications
The Director shall be an individual, who by reason of professional background and experience, is specially qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all matters pertaining to science, engineering, and mathematics education at the Department.
(3)Duties
The Director shall—
(A)oversee all science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department;
(B)represent the Department as the principal interagency liaison for all science, engineering, and mathematics education programs, unless otherwise represented by the Secretary or the Under Secretary;
(C)prepare the annual budget and advise the Under Secretary on all budgetary issues for science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department;
(D)increase, to the maximum extent practicable, the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities at every level of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; and
(E)perform other such matters relating to science, engineering, and mathematics education as are required by the Secretary or the Under Secretary.
(4)Staff and other resources
The Secretary shall assign to the Director such personnel and other resources as the Secretary considers necessary to permit the Director to carry out the duties of the Director.
(5)Assessment
(A)In general
The Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy, not later than 5 years after, and not later than 10 years after, August 9, 2007, shall assess the performance of the science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department.
(B)Considerations
An assessment under this paragraph shall be conducted taking into consideration, where applicable, the effect of science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department on student academic achievement in science and mathematics.
(6)Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
(c)Relationship to other Department activities
The programs described in subsection (a) shall supplement and be coordinated with current activities of the Department, but shall not supplant them.
(d)Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund
The Secretary shall establish a Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out section 7381b, 7381c, and 7381c–1 of this title.
(e)Annual plan for allocation of education funding
The Secretary shall submit to Congress as part of the annual budget submission for a fiscal year a report describing the manner in which the Department has complied with subsection (d) for the prior fiscal year and the manner in which the Department proposes to comply with subsection (d) during the following fiscal year, including—
(1)the total amount of funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities for the corresponding fiscal year;
(2)the amounts set aside for the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund under subsection (d) from funding for research activities, development activities, demonstration activities, and commercial application activities for the corresponding fiscal year; and
(3)a description of how the funds set aside under subsection (d) were allocated for the prior fiscal year and will be allocated for the following fiscal year.
(f)Programs for students from under-represented groups
In carrying out a program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to activities that are designed to encourage students from under-represented groups to pursue scientific and technical careers.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), (2), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Former text read as follows: “The Secretary shall use not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for fiscal year 2006 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out activities authorized by this subchapter.” Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (e). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f). 2005—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1102(a), added subsec. (c). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1105(a), added subsec. (d).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7381a

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110