I-STEM Act

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to establish STEM Innovation Networks. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Innovative STEM Networks Act I-STEM Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Council on Foreign Relations, 60 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulties finding qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies. (2) Office of Science and Technology and Policy states that STEM occupations will grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM occupations over the period from 2008 through 2018 (3) According to the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, at all levels of educational attainment, STEM job holders earn 11 percent higher wages compared with their same-degree counterparts in other jobs. (4) The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices also states that The top 10 bachelor-degree majors with the highest median earnings are all in STEM fields (5) According to the Harris STEM Survey, although most parents of K–12 students (93 percent) believe that STEM education should be a priority in the U.S., only half (49 percent) agreed that it actually is a top priority for this country. (6) The Harris STEM Survey also states that Only one in five STEM college students felt that their K–12 education prepared them extremely well for their college courses in STEM. 3. STEM Innovation Networks Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq. E STEM Innovation Networks 2501. Purpose It is the purpose of this part to authorize a program to provide competitive grants to State educational agencies or local educational agencies to establish STEM innovation networks in partnership with institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, other public agencies, or businesses to increase the number of students who are effectively prepared for postsecondary education and careers in STEM fields by— (1) working with States and local educational agencies to develop comprehensive plans for identifying, developing, testing, and implementing evidence-based practices to provide rich STEM learning opportunities for students; and (2) supporting the implementation of such plans by employing of wide range of strategies, depending on local needs, including the recruitment, preparation, and professional development of effective STEM educators, the development and testing of teaching and learning models that enable students to successfully meet STEM-focused State academic standards developed under section 1111, and student engagement in STEM subjects. 2502. Grant program (a) In general From the amounts appropriated under subsection (i), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to establish STEM Innovation networks to increase student achievement in STEM subjects and increase the number of students who are effectively prepared for postsecondary education and careers in STEM fields. (b) Number of grants The Secretary shall award not less than 5 and not more than 10 grants under this section for each fiscal year. (c) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that include a high-need local educational agency or a State educational agency that serves a high-need local educational agency. (d) Application (1) In general An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents An application submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall include a description of the activities that will be carried out with the grant received under this section, and how such activities will address the needs identified by the eligible entity, with respect to preparing students for postsecondary education and careers in STEM fields, including— (A) a description of the data for elementary schools and secondary schools in the State or States served by the eligible entity on— (i) student achievement in the STEM subjects; (ii) teacher evaluation results or ratings in STEM subjects; and (iii) student access to STEM subjects, especially for students enrolled in high-need schools or residing in high-need communities; (B) a review of the workforce needs in the State or States served by the eligible entity in occupations and sectors that require knowledge or training in STEM subjects; (C) based on a review of the data described in subparagraph (A) and the workforce needs under subparagraph (B)— (i) an identification of the STEM subjects that the eligible entity will address with the grant funds; and (ii) a description of the activities the eligible entity will carry out to improve instruction in such STEM subjects using evidence-based programs of instruction that are aligned with State academic standards and assessments developed under section 1111; (D) a description of how the activities carried out with the grant funds will integrate with informal STEM programs; (E) results from an analysis carried out before the submission of such application by the eligible entity or a member of the eligible entity of STEM subject education quality and outcomes in the State or States served by the eligible entity, if available; (F) whether the eligible entity will provide matching funds from private sources (which are not Federal, State, or local sources) to carry out the activities under subsection (e); and (G) a description of how the activities carried out with the grant funds will be coordinated with other Federal, State, and local programs and activities relating to STEM, and how the activities carried out with the grant funds may improve or benefit such other programs and activities. (e) Uses of funds (1) Required activities An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this section to establish and maintain STEM innovation networks to effectively prepare students for postsecondary education and careers in STEM fields by carrying out the following: (A) Increasing student awareness about STEM career pathways that reflect the STEM workforce needs identified under subsection (d)(2)(B). (B) Developing statewide plans that integrate and align workforce needs with education and training programs that prepare students for college degree pathways and careers in STEM fields, which result in 2-year degrees, trade certifications, or other measures of STEM-specific workforce skills. (C) Identifying points of weakness and strength of State STEM education efforts, prioritizing strategies for addressing problem areas with respect to such efforts, and communicating the needs of the State or States served by the eligible entity. (2) Authorized activities An eligible entity may use a grant received under this section to carry out the following: (A) Promoting and developing in school and out-of-school curricular tools and professional development for STEM educators at the elementary school and secondary school levels. (B) Providing induction and mentoring services to new teachers in STEM subjects that the eligible entity identifies under subsection (d)(2)(C). (C) Promoting and developing rigorous undergraduate preservice teacher programs at institutions of higher education that emphasize STEM content. (D) Supporting the participation of elementary school and secondary school students (especially students enrolled in high-need schools or residing in high-need communities) in competitions, out-of-school activities, and field experiences related to STEM subjects. (E) Assisting in the implementation and assessment of rigorous career and college ready standards in STEM education for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. (F) Developing STEM-related education and workforce training programs in secondary schools and community colleges to reflect the needs of the local community. (f) Supplement, not supplant Funds received under this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this part. (g) Maintenance of Effort A State that receives funds under this part for a fiscal year shall maintain the fiscal effort provided by the State for the STEM subjects supported by the funds under this part at a level equal to or greater than the level of such fiscal effort for the preceding fiscal year. (h) Definitions (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) A nonprofit organization. (B) A business. (C) A STEM faculty or teacher training department of an institution of higher education. (D) An educational service agency. (E) Another entity. (2) Community college The term community college (3) High-need community The term high-need community (4) High-need local educational agency The term high-need local educational agency (5) High-need school The term high-need school (6) Informal STEM program The term informal STEM program (7) STEM The term STEM (A) that build on those disciplines, such as computer science; or (B) that a State identifies as important to the workforce of the State. (i) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2015 and each succeeding fiscal year. . 4. Conforming amendment The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to part D of title II the following: Part E—STEM Innovation Networks Sec. 2501. Purpose. Sec. 2502. Grant program. .

Summary: Innovative STEM Networks Act or the I-STEM Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states or local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) innovation networks in partnership with nonprofit organizations, businesses, institutions of higher education (IHEs), educational service agencies, or other entities to prepare students for postsecondary education and careers in the STEM fields. Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) award no less than 5 and no more than 10 of those grants each fiscal year, and (2) give priority to grantees that include or serve a high-need LEA. Requires the grants to be used to: increase student awareness about STEM career pathways that reflect STEM workforce needs in the area, develop statewide plans that integrate and align workforce needs with STEM education and training programs that provide students with STEM-specific skills and credentials, and identify the strengths and weaknesses in state STEM education efforts and prioritize strategies to address those weaknesses. Authorizes the grants to be used to: promote and develop in-school and out-of-school curricular tools and professional development for STEM educators at the elementary and secondary school level; provide induction and mentoring services to new teachers in STEM subjects; promote and develop rigorous undergraduate pre-service teacher programs at IHEs that emphasize STEM content; support the participation of elementary and secondary school students in STEM-related competitions, out-of-school activities, and field experiences; assist in the implementation and assessment of rigorous career and college ready standards in STEM education for students in prekindergarten through grade 12; and develop STEM-related education and workforce training programs in secondary schools and community colleges that reflect local community needs.