I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3230 

To establish within the National Science Foundation the Innovation 

Inspiration school grant program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 16, 2009 

Mr. HODES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Science and Technology 

A BILL 

To establish within the National Science Foundation the 

Innovation Inspiration school grant program, and for 

other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. INNOVATIVE INSPIRATION SCHOOL GRANT 

4 PROGRAM. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish 

6 the Innovation Inspiration school grant program and 

7 make grants under this section to eligible entities for the 

8 promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathe9 matics and to participate in robotics and STEM competi10 tions. 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 3230 IH

1 (b) GOALS OF PROGRAM.—The goals of the Innova2 tion Inspiration school grant program are to— 

3 (1) support eligible entities in supporting non4 traditional STEM education teaching methods; 

5 (2) support the participation by teams of stu6 dents from eligible entities in certain not-for-profit 

7 STEM robotics competitions; 

8 (3) foster innovation and broaden access to ca9 reers in STEM by engaging students in after-school 

10 programs supported by teachers and professional 

11 mentors who will receive additional hands-on train12 ing and on-going communications that will not only 

13 apply to their interaction with students on the 

14 STEM competition teams, but also the other stu15 dents in their STEM classrooms; and 

16 (4) encourage the collaboration between stu17 dents, engineers, and professional mentors to design, 

18 build, program, and compete in challenges with so19 phisticated robots. 

20 (c) APPLICATION.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 

22 the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 

23 establish an application process and award criteria. 

24 (2) SUBMISSION.—An eligible entity shall sub25 mit an application at such time, in such form, and 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 3230 IH

1 with such information and assurances as required by 

2 the Director. 

3 (3) PREFERENCE.—In developing the award 

4 criteria, the Director shall give preference to an eli5 gible entity without an established STEM education 

6 program and located in a rural, urban, or under7 served area. 

8 (d) AWARDS.—The Director shall award grants to se9 lected eligible entities not later than November 1st of each 

10 authorized fiscal year to enable such entities to participate 

11 in regional and national robotics competitions. 

12 (e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving a 

14 grant under this section shall receive not more than 

15 $20,000 per year for not more than 5 years. 

16 (2) SPECIFIC USES.—Such entity shall use not 

17 more than the following amounts for the following 

18 purposes in each year for which funds are received: 

19 (A) $6,000 for parts. 

20 (B) $4,000 for additional materials. 

21 (C) $5,000 for teacher incentives and sti22 pends. 

23 (D) $5,000 for support and expenses for 

24 regional and national robotics competitions. 

25 (f) ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS.— 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 3230 IH

1 (1) COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH PRO2 GRAM.—The Director shall establish a communica3 tions and outreach program to publicize the avail4 ability and application procedure for the grant pro5 gram established by this section. 

6 (2) MONITORING.—The Director shall establish 

7 an evaluation and monitoring program to determine 

8 the efficacy of the grant program established by this 

9 section. 

10 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

12 appropriated to the Director to carry out the grant 

13 program established in this section $98,800,000 for 

14 fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 

15 (2) LIMITATIONS.—Of the amounts authorized 

16 under paragraph (1), not more than— 

17 (A) $2,500,000 per fiscal year shall be 

18 used for the program established under sub19 section (f)(1); and 

20 (B) $7,500,000 per fiscal year shall be 

21 used for the program established under sub22 section (f)(2). 

23 (h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi24 nitions apply: 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 3230 IH

1 (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

2 the Director of the National Science Foundation. 

3 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti4 ty’’ means a local educational agency, as defined in 

5 section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary 

6 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)), or, if 

7 such local educational agency chooses not to apply 

8 for a grant under this section, a secondary school, 

9 as defined in section 9101(38) of such Act (20 

10 U.S.C. 7801(38)). 

11 (3) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ means science, 

12 technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Æ 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS