Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act of 2015

To better integrate STEM education into elementary and secondary instruction and curricula, to encourage high-quality STEM professional development, and to expand current mathematics and science education research to include engineering education. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Educating Tomorrow’s Engineers Act of 2015 I Amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 A Engineering standards and assessments 111. Academic standards Section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1) (G) Integration of engineering skills and practices into science standards Each State plan may incorporate engineering design skills and practices into the science standards required under subparagraph (C). . B Professional development and instructional materials 121. Teacher and principal training and recruiting fund (a) State use of funds Section 2113(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6613(c) (19) Developing and providing professional development and instructional materials for STEM subject areas, including computer science and engineering. . (b) Local use of funds Section 2123(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6623(a) (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (9); and (2) by adding at the end the following: (10) Developing and providing professional development and instructional materials for STEM subject areas, including computer science and engineering. . 122. STEM partnerships Part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6661 et seq. (1) in the part heading, by striking Mathematics and science partnerships Stem partnerships (2) in section 2201— (A) by striking mathematics and science STEM (B) in subsection (a)(4), by striking engineering, mathematics, and science STEM (3) in section 2202— (A) in the section heading, by striking Mathematics and science STEM (B) in subsection (b)(2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking mathematics and science STEM (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking student academic achievement in mathematics and science student academic achievement in STEM (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking mathematics and science STEM (C) in subsection (c)— (i) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking mathematics and science STEM (ii) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking mathematics and science STEM (iii) in paragraph (4)— (I) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking mathematics, engineering, and science majors individuals with a baccalaureate degree in a STEM field (II) in each of subparagraphs (A) and (C), by striking mathematics, engineering, or science a STEM field (III) in subparagraph (B), by striking mathematics and science STEM (IV) in subparagraph (D), by striking mathematics, engineering, or science backgrounds backgrounds in STEM fields (iv) in paragraph (5), by striking mathematics and science STEM (v) in paragraph (6), by striking mathematics and science STEM (vi) in paragraph (7), by striking mathematics or science STEM (vii) in paragraph (8)— (I) by striking mathematics and science STEM (II) by striking and engineers engineers, and other professionals in STEM fields (III) by striking science and mathematics STEM (viii) in paragraph (9), by striking mathematics and science STEM (ix) in paragraph (10)— (I) by striking mathematics and science teachers STEM teachers (II) by striking mathematics and science careers (including engineering and technology) careers in STEM fields (D) in subsection (d)(2), by striking mathematics and science teaching STEM teaching (E) in subsection (e)(2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking mathematics and science STEM (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and a strategy for integrating engineering into the science assessments in accordance with section 1111(b)(3) (iii) in subparagraph (C)— (I) in clause (i), by striking mathematics and science STEM (II) in clause (ii), by striking in mathematics, engineering, or the sciences in a STEM field (III) in clause (iii)— (aa) by striking mathematics and science STEM subjects (bb) by striking mathematics, engineering, and science a STEM field C After school programs 131. 21st century learning centers Section 4205(a)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7175(a)(2) mathematics and science STEM D Rural education 141. Rural and low-income school program Section 6222(a)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7351a(a)(2) and professional development in the area of engineering education E General provisions 151. Definitions Section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (42) and (43) as paragraphs (43) and (44), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (41) the following: (42) STEM The term STEM (A) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (B) other academic subjects that build on the subjects described in subparagraph (A), such as computer science. . II Amendments to the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 201. Definitions Section 102 of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 ( 20 U.S.C. 9501 (1) by redesignating paragraph (23) as paragraph (24); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (22) the following: (23) STEM The term STEM (A) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (B) other academic subjects that build on the subjects described in subparagraph (A), such as computer science. . 202. Research on engineering education Part A of title I of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 ( 20 U.S.C. 9511 et seq. 121. Research on engineering education (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall support, directly or through grants or contracts, research on engineering education, including studies and evaluations that— (1) identify and assess how science inquiry and mathematical reasoning can be connected to engineering design in kindergarten through grade 12 curricula and teacher professional development; (2) identify best practices and promising innovations in the field of kindergarten through grade 12 engineering education; and (3) include any other information or assessments the Secretary may require. (b) Dissemination The Secretary shall, based on the results of the research described in subsection (a), disseminate information and analysis to the public, and provide technical assistance to State educational agencies, on best practices and promising innovations in the field of kindergarten through grade 12 engineering education. . 203. National Center for Education Research Part B of title I of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 ( 20 U.S.C. 9531 et seq. (1) in section 131(b)(1)(C), by striking mathematics, science STEM (2) in section 133(a)(11), by striking mathematics and science STEM

Summary: Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act of 2015 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow states to incorporate engineering design skills and practices into their academic content standards and academic achievement standards and assessments in science. States and local educational agencies (LEAs) must use grants and subgrants under the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund program to develop and provide professional development and instructional materials for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject areas, including computer science and engineering. The bill changes current references to the mathematics and science partnerships program to references to the STEM partnerships program, which provides funding to states, institutions of higher education, and high-need LEAs to recruit and train STEM teachers and improve STEM curricula. STEM activities (currently, mathematics and science activities) are included within the before- and after-school activities funded under the 21st century community learning centers program. Professional development in engineering education is included among the uses of the funds provided under the rural and low-income school program to rural LEAs. The Department of Education, under the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, must support research on engineering education and use that research to provide information to the public, and technical assistance to states, on best practices and promising innovations in K-12 engineering education. The National Center for Education Research must sponsor and conduct research geared toward improving STEM, rather than just mathematics and science, teaching and learning.