21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act

Summary: 21st Century STEM for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act  This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education to provide grants to local educational agencies&nbsp;to encourage the ongoing development of programs and curricula for girls and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and prepare those students&nbsp;to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in such fields.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century STEM for Girls and 
Underrepresented Minorities Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PREPARE GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES.

    Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``PART G--PREPARING GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES FOR THE 21ST 
                                CENTURY

``SEC. 4701. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds provided under section 4702, the 
Secretary is authorized to provide grants to local educational agencies 
on behalf of elementary and secondary schools to establish and 
implement a program to encourage the ongoing development of programs 
and curriculum for girls and underrepresented minorities in science, 
mathematics, engineering, and technology and to prepare girls and 
underrepresented minorities to pursue undergraduate and graduate 
degrees and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, or 
technology.
    ``(b) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant, or 
        enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this 
        part, a local educational agency shall submit an application to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--The application shall contain, at a 
        minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) A program description, including the content 
                of the program and the research and models used to 
                design the program.
                    ``(B) A description of the collaboration between 
                elementary and secondary schools to fulfill goals of 
                the program and how the applicant will ensure that 
                there is a comprehensive plan to improve science, 
                mathematics, engineering, and technology education for 
                girls and underrepresented minorities in grades 
                kindergarten through 12.
                    ``(C) A description of the process for recruitment 
                and selection of participants.
                    ``(D) A description of the planned instructional 
                and motivational activities.
                    ``(E) A description of any collaboration among 
                local, regional, or national institutions and 
                organizations that will occur in order to fulfill the 
                goals of the program.
            ``(3) Priority.--In selecting among applications, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to applicants that partner or 
        coordinate, to the extent possible, with local, regional, or 
        national institutions and organizations who have extensive 
        experience, expertise and research on increasing the 
        participation of girls or underrepresented minorities in 
        science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--Funds provided under this section shall be 
used for the following:
            ``(1) Preparing girls and underrepresented minorities with 
        careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, 
        and the advantages of pursuing careers in these areas.
            ``(2) Educating the parents of girls and underrepresented 
        minorities about the opportunities and advantages of science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology careers.
            ``(3) Enlisting the help of the parents of girls and 
        underrepresented minorities in overcoming the obstacles these 
        groups face and encouraging their child's continued interest 
        and involvement in science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology.
            ``(4) Providing tutoring and mentoring programs in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(5) Establishing partnerships and other opportunities 
        that expose girls and underrepresented minorities to role 
        models in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and 
        technology.
            ``(6) Enabling female and underrepresented minority 
        students and their teachers to attend events and academic 
        programs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(7) Providing after-school activities designed to 
        encourage interest, and develop skills of girls and 
        underrepresented minorities, in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology.
            ``(8) Summer programs designed in order that girls and 
        underrepresented minorities develop an interest in, develop 
        skills in, and understand the relevance and significance of, 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(9) Purchasing--
                    ``(A) educational instructional materials or 
                software designed to encourage interest of girls and 
                underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, 
                engineering, and technology; or
                    ``(B) equipment, instrumentation, or hardware used 
                for teaching and to encourage interest of girls and 
                underrepresented minorities in science, mathematics, 
                engineering, and technology.
            ``(10) Field trips to locations, including institutions of 
        higher education, to educate and encourage girls' and 
        underrepresented minorities' interest in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology and acquaint them with careers in 
        these fields.
            ``(11) Providing academic advice and assistance in high 
        school course selection that encourages girls and 
        underrepresented minorities to take advanced courses in areas 
        of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
            ``(12) Paying up to 50 percent of the cost of an internship 
        in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology for female 
        and underrepresented minority students.
            ``(13) Providing professional development for teachers and 
        other school personnel, including--
                    ``(A) how to eliminate gender and racial bias in 
                the classroom;
                    ``(B) how to be sensitive to gender and racial 
                differences;
                    ``(C) how to engage students in the face of gender-
                based and racial peer pressure and parental 
                expectations;
                    ``(D) how to create and maintain a positive 
                environment; and
                    ``(E) how to encourage girls and underserved 
                minorities through academic advice and assistance to 
                pursue advanced classes and careers in science, 
                mathematics, engineering, and technology fields.
    ``(d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--The Secretary shall require each 
local educational agency to use the assistance provided under this 
section only to supplement, and not to supplant, any other assistance 
or funds made available from non-Federal sources for the activities 
assisted under this section.
    ``(e) Evaluations.--Each local educational agency that receives 
funds under this section shall provide the Secretary, at the conclusion 
of every school year during which the funds are received, with an 
evaluation, in a form prescribed by the Secretary. This evaluation 
shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the programs and activities 
        conducted by the local educational agency using the funds;
            ``(2) data on curriculum and partnerships developed using 
        the funds;
            ``(3) data on the amount of time spent on subjects allowed 
        for under the grant; and
            ``(4) such other information as may be required by the 
        Secretary.

``SEC. 4702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.