A bill to assist in the coordination among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics efforts in the States, to strengthen the capacity of elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools to prepare students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and for other purposes.

Summary: STEM Support for Teachers in Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act or STEM 2 Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive planning grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, or institutions of higher education to develop effective state or tribal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) networks that coordinate STEM education efforts by: (1) facilitating communication and collaboration among public and private STEM stakeholders, and (2) identifying STEM occupational skills needed in the future.

Directs the Secretary to award competitive grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate STEM education training programs for teachers and administrators in elementary, middle, and secondary schools.

Requires the Secretary to establish a national panel to identify and recommend the most effective STEM curricula models for kindergarten through grade 12.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Support for Teachers in 
Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act'' or the ``STEM\2\ Act''.

SEC. 2. STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

             ``PART E--STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING

``SEC. 2501. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian 
        tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given those 
        terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act.
            ``(2) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics.

``SEC. 2502. PLANNING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to address the lack 
of coordination among STEM education efforts in the States.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
nonprofit organization, or institution of higher education.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--From amounts made available to carry out 
this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of awarding, on a 
competitive basis, planning grants to eligible entities to enable the 
eligible entities to--
            ``(1) develop effective State or tribal STEM networks for 
        communication and collaboration that include school teachers, 
        institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, 
        businesses, Federal, State, and local governments, and any 
        other relevant entities; and
            ``(2) through such State STEM networks, identify future 
        STEM skills needed for STEM and non-STEM occupations.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    ``(e) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an annual report describing the progress made on the 
        grant.
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of the STEM Support for Teachers in 
        Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act, and every 3 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2503. TRAINING PROGRAM GRANTS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 
capacity of teachers, elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary 
schools to inspire and prepare students for STEM careers and build STEM 
literacy.
    ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
`eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
local educational agency, institution of higher education, or nonprofit 
organization.
    ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
        this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of 
        awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities 
        to enable the eligible entities to develop, carry out, and 
        evaluate training programs for STEM education in elementary 
        schools, middle schools, and secondary schools.
            ``(2) Proportionality.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall, in awarding grants under this section, ensure 
        an equitable distribution between eligible entities serving 
        urban areas and eligible entities serving rural areas.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. Such application shall include--
            ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor 
        and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program, 
        including how the eligible entity plans to measure the impact 
        of the training on teachers who attended the training after the 
        teachers return to the classroom; and
            ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall use grant funds to carry out a training program, 
using best practice models and through summer institutes or other 
professional development enrichment programs, that provides 
professional development regarding STEM education to STEM teachers 
(including STEM teachers who are master teachers or have otherwise 
demonstrated mastery of STEM teaching) and administrators who are 
currently employed as teachers and administrators, respectively, as of 
the time of the program.
    ``(f) Reports.--
            ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
        receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an annual report that describes the progress made on 
        the grant and includes the results from the evaluation 
        described in the application under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of this part, and every 3 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
        regarding the program supported under this section.

``SEC. 2504. NATIONAL PANEL.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a national panel 
to review, evaluate, and identify--
            ``(1) rigorous kindergarten through grade 12 STEM curricula 
        models, including computer or web-based simulation education 
        programs and kinesthetic learning; and
            ``(2) best practices with respect to STEM curricula.
    ``(b) Members.--The Secretary shall determine the membership of the 
national panel described in subsection (a), which shall be comprised of 
individuals who have the wisdom and experience to identify and 
recommend the most effective STEM curricula models, such as--
            ``(1) representatives of technology industries and 
        business;
            ``(2) teachers and school administrators;
            ``(3) representatives of nonprofit organizations and 
        community organizations;
            ``(4) faculty members of institutions of higher education;
            ``(5) research specialists and curricula specialists;
            ``(6) at least 1 rural education expert; and
            ``(7) other individuals, as determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(c) Reports.--The panel shall prepare reports and recommendations 
regarding the panel's findings as requested by the Secretary.

``SEC. 2505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011 and each of the 5 
succeeding fiscal years.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 2441 the following:

             ``Part E--STEM Education Planning and Training

``Sec. 2501. Definitions.
``Sec. 2502. Planning grants.
``Sec. 2503. Training program grants.
``Sec. 2504. National panel.
``Sec. 2505. Authorization of appropriations.''.