Getting Our Girls Ready for the 21st Century Act (Go Girl Act)

Summary: Getting Our Girls Ready for the 21st Century Act (Go Girl Act) - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to, and contracts and cooperative agreements with, local educational agencies to provide subgrants to elementary and secondary schools for services that: (1) encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science, mathematics, and technology; and (2) prepare girls to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in those fields. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. GO GIRL GRANTS.

    Part A of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpart:

                     ``Subpart 5--Grants to Schools

``SEC. 3161. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This subpart may be cited as the `Getting Our Girls Ready for the 
21st Century Act (Go Girl Act)'.

``SEC. 3162. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) Women have historically been underrepresented in 
        mathematics, science, and technology occupations.
            ``(2) Female students take fewer high-level mathematics and 
        science courses in high school than male students.
            ``(3) Female students take far fewer advanced computer 
        classes and tend to take only the basic data entry and word 
        processing classes compared to courses that male students take.
            ``(4) Female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and 
        doctoral degrees in mathematics, science, and technology than 
        male students.
            ``(5) Early career exploration is key to choosing a career.
            ``(6) Teachers' attitudes, methods of teaching, and 
        classroom atmosphere affect females' interest in nontraditional 
        fields.
            ``(7) Stereotypes about appropriate careers for females, a 
        lack of female role models, and a lack of basic career 
        information significantly deters girls' interest in 
        mathematics, science, and technology careers.
            ``(8) Females consistently rate themselves significantly 
        lower than males in computer ability.
            ``(9) By the year 2000, 65 percent of all jobs will require 
        technological skills.
            ``(10) Limited access is a hurdle faced by females seeking 
        jobs in mathematics, science, and technology.
            ``(11) Common recruitment and hiring practices make 
        extensive use of traditional networks that often overlook 
        females.

``SEC. 3163. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to 
and enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with local 
educational agencies to provide subgrants to elementary and secondary 
schools to encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science, 
mathematics, and technology and to prepare girls to pursue 
undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in science, mathematics, 
or technology.
    ``(b) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subpart, 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 referred to in paragraph 
        (1) shall contain, at a minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) A specific 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.
                    ``(C) An explanation regarding the recruitment and 
                selection of participants.
                    ``(D) A description of the instructional and 
                motivational activities planned to be used.
                    ``(E) An evaluation plan.

``SEC. 3164. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Selection.--Local educational agencies shall select 
elementary schools to provide services that--
            ``(1) encourage girls in grades 4 and higher to enjoy and 
        pursue studies in science, mathematics, and technology;
            ``(2) acquaint girls in grades 4 and higher with careers in 
        science, mathematics, and technology; and
            ``(3) educate the parents of girls in grades 4 and higher 
        about the difficulties faced by girls to maintain an interest 
        and desire to achieve in science, mathematics, and technology 
        and enlist the help of the parents in overcoming these 
        difficulties.
    ``(b) Uses of funds.--An elementary school that receives a subgrant 
under this subpart may use such funds for the following:
            ``(1) Tutoring in reading, science, mathematics, and 
        technology.
            ``(2) Mentoring relationships, both in-person and through 
        the Internet.
            ``(3) To pay the costs of attending events and academic 
        programs in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(4) After-school activities designed to encourage the 
        interest of girls in grades 4 and higher in science, 
        mathematics, and technology.
            ``(5) Summer programs designed to encourage interest in and 
        develop skills in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(6) Purchasing software designed for girls, or designed 
        to encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, and 
        technology.
            ``(7) Field trips to locations that educate and encourage 
        girls' interest in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(8) Field trips to locations that acquaint girls with 
        careers in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(9) Purchasing and disseminating information to parents 
        of girls in grades 4 and higher that will help parents to 
        encourage their daughters' interest in science, mathematics, 
        and technology.

``SEC. 3165. SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Subgrants to Secondary Schools.--Local educational agencies 
shall select secondary schools to provide services that--
            ``(1) encourage girls in grades 9 and higher to major in 
        science, mathematics, and technology in a postsecondary 
        institution;
            ``(2) provide academic advice and assistance in high school 
        course selection;
            ``(3) encourage girls in grades 9 and higher to plan for 
        careers in science, mathematics, and technology; and
            ``(4) educate the parents of girls in grades 9 and higher 
        about the difficulties faced by girls to maintain an interest 
        and desire to achieve in science, mathematics, and technology 
        and enlist the help of the parents in overcoming these 
        difficulties.
    ``(b) Uses of Funds.--A secondary school that receives a subgrant 
under this subpart may use such funds for the following:
            ``(1) Tutoring in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(2) Mentoring relationships, both in-person and through 
        the Internet.
            ``(3) To pay the costs of attending events and academic 
        programs in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(4) To pay 50 percent of the cost of an internship in 
        science, mathematics, or technology.
            ``(5) After-school activities designed to encourage the 
        interest of girls in grades 9 and higher in science, 
        mathematics, and technology, including the cost of that portion 
        of a staff salary to supervise these activities.
            ``(6) Summer programs designed to encourage interest in and 
        develop skills in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(7) Purchasing software designed for girls, or designed 
        to encourage girls' interest in science, mathematics, and 
        technology.
            ``(8) Field trips to locations that educate and encourage 
        girls' interest in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(9) Field trips to locations that acquaint girls with 
        careers in science, mathematics, and technology.
            ``(10) Visits to institutions of higher education to 
        acquaint girls with college-level programs in science, 
        mathematics, or technology, and to meet with educators and 
        female college students who will encourage them to pursue 
        degrees in science, mathematics, and technology.

``SEC. 3166. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
            ``(1) The term `local educational agency' has the same 
        meaning given such term in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801), except that 
        in the case of Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and the 
        Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the term `local educational 
        agency' shall be deemed to mean the State educational agency.
            ``(2) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of 
        Education.

``SEC. 3167. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``For the purpose of making grants and contracts under this 
subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years.''.