STEM Innovation Networks Act of 2013

Summary: STEM Innovation Networks Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to state-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) networks or similar organizations of STEM stakeholders to expand STEM education and STEM educator development. Includes among grant uses: testing, sharing, and scaling up STEM education research, promising practices, and exemplary programs; identifying state STEM education weaknesses and prioritizing strategies to address them;  implementing rigorous career and college ready standards in STEM education; developing and implementing innovative STEM assessments that measure student progress toward those career and college ready standards; promoting and developing pre- and in-service STEM teacher training; developing STEM career pathways and workforce education and training programs that reflect 21st century workforce needs; facilitating the implementation of expanded STEM learning opportunities on school sites; and promoting, supporting, and designing programs that develop STEM content coaches and master educators in order to strengthen core competencies of the classroom practitioner.  Requires grantees to conduct periodic independent evaluations of their effectiveness in accomplishing those activities. Prohibits the Secretary from: (1) endorsing or approving any STEM curriculum designed for use in an elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education; or (2) requiring a state, local educational agency, or school to adopt a specific STEM program or instructional materials.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Innovation Networks Act of 
2013''.

SEC. 2. STATE NETWORKS AND CONSORTIA ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
              ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (STEM) INNOVATION 
              NETWORKS.

    (a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
section, the Secretary of Education shall make grants to eligible 
networks to expand STEM education and STEM educator development.
    (b) Eligible Network Defined.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
network'' means a State-based STEM network or similar organization, 
which--
            (1) may include the participation of State officials, local 
        educational agencies, educators, administrators, afterschool 
        providers, out of school time educators, parents, industry 
        leaders, philanthropists, and representatives from the STEM 
        communities in partnership with institutions of higher 
        education, nonprofit organizations, other public agencies, and 
        businesses;
            (2) aims to increase the number of students who are 
        effectively prepared for postsecondary education and careers in 
        STEM fields;
            (3) aims to increase student achievement and experiences in 
        the STEM disciplines at the elementary schools and secondary 
        schools in its State, and out of school programs and 
        particularly for students with a high concentration of 
        historically underrepresented students and at rural schools 
        (within the meaning of part B of title VI of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.)); and
            (4) aims to increase the number of quality afterschool 
        programs offering STEM learning opportunities, particularly for 
        students from populations traditionally underrepresented in the 
        STEM fields.
    (c) Eligible Network Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible network seeking a grant under 
        this section shall submit an application at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
        reasonably require.
            (2) Matching requirement.--In order to receive a grant 
        under this section, an eligible network shall agree to provide, 
        either directly or through private contributions, non-Federal 
        matching funds equal to not less than 30 percent of the amount 
        of the grant.
    (d) Uses of Funds.--Each eligible network receiving a grant under 
this section shall use the funds to carry out one or more of the 
following:
            (1) Testing, validating, sharing, and scaling up STEM 
        education research, promising practices, and exemplary programs 
        among members of the network and with other eligible networks 
        receiving grants under this section.
            (2) Identifying points of weakness and strength among State 
        STEM education efforts, prioritizing strategies for addressing 
        problem areas, and communicating State needs to the Secretary.
            (3) Assisting in the implementation of rigorous career and 
        college ready standards in STEM education for grades 
        prekindergarten through grade 12 that reflect and take into 
        consideration--
                    (A) career and college ready standards in STEM 
                disciplines;
                    (B) established international standards and 21st 
                century skills that include critical thinking, problem 
                solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and 
                innovation;
                    (C) the needs of English language learners and 
                special education students; and
                    (D) the need to increase STEM literacy of 
                prekindergarten through grade 12 students.
            (4) Assisting the development of innovative STEM 
        assessments that measure interest, engagement, and content 
        proficiency.
            (5) Supporting the implementation of STEM assessments that 
        measure career and college ready standards.
            (6) Promoting and developing rigorous undergraduate pre-
        service teacher programs in institutions of higher education 
        that emphasize STEM content with emphasis on the elementary 
        educator.
            (7) Promoting and developing curriculum tools and 
        professional development for STEM educators both in school and 
        out of school.
            (8) Developing STEM career pathways that reflect the 
        projected STEM workforce needs of the 21st century that may 
        include mentoring programs and STEM professional outreach.
            (9) Developing STEM-related education and workforce 
        training programs in secondary schools and community colleges 
        to reflect the needs of the local community.
            (10) Developing systems for the implementation of expanded 
        learning opportunities on school sites to enhance STEM 
        education inside and outside of the classroom.
            (11) Promoting, supporting, and designing programs that 
        develop STEM content coaches and master educators in order to 
        strengthen core competencies of the classroom practitioner.
    (e) Evaluation and Report.--Not later than 2 years after receiving 
a grant under this section, each eligible network receiving such a 
grant shall--
            (1) conduct periodic independent evaluations, by grant or 
        by contract, of the eligible network's effectiveness at 
        accomplishing the activities described in this section, which 
        shall include an assessment of the impact of such activities on 
        STEM teaching and learning; and
            (2) prepare and submit a report on the results of each 
        evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Secretary and make 
        for dissemination to other STEM Networks.
    (f) Prohibitions.--In implementing this section, the Secretary may 
not--
            (1) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM curriculum 
        designed for use in any elementary school, secondary school, or 
        institution of higher education; or
            (2) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or 
        activities that will require the adoption of a specific STEM 
        program or instructional materials by a State, local 
        educational agency, or school.
    (g) Total Amount of Grants.--The total amount of grants made under 
this section in any fiscal year may not exceed $20,000,000.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The terms ``elementary school'', ``local educational 
        agency'', ``secondary school'', and ``State educational 
        agency'' have the meanings given such terms in section 9101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (2) The term ``high concentration of low-income students'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 1707 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6537).
            (3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.
            (5) The term ``State'' means each of the several States of 
        the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.
            (6) The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics.
            (7) The term ``STEM education'' means the subjects of 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including 
        other academic subjects that build on these disciplines, such 
        as computer science, and other academic subjects that a State 
        identifies as important to the workforce of the State.
            (8) The term ``21st century readiness initiative'' means 
        any initiative that--
                    (A) embeds core academic subjects with critical 
                skills; and
                    (B) is focused on ensuring that students are 
                prepared for postsecondary education and careers, upon 
                graduation from secondary school.