Supporting Afterschool STEM Act

To support afterschool and out-of-school-time science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Afterschool STEM Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Numerous authoritative studies document that the proficiency of students in the United States in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM (2) Results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, the Programme for International Science Assessment, and other sources show that students in the United States are not demonstrating sufficient achievement in the STEM subjects and are not keeping pace with students in other countries. (3) Research demonstrates the importance of afterschool programs in engaging students in STEM fields and building STEM-relevant skills and proficiencies, especially for girls, students from populations traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, and students from low socioeconomic circumstances. (4) A National Research Council consensus study confirmed the importance of learning that occurs in out-of-school-time settings such as afterschool programs and science centers, and proposed a set of strands of science learning (5) According to a 2013 study entitled Defining Youth Outcomes for STEM Learning in Afterschool (6) The Federal Government should use its resources as effectively as possible to increase opportunities for students to be exposed to STEM subjects outside of the school day and to build a balanced kindergarten through grade 12 STEM education portfolio that fosters learning in school as well as in out-of-school-time programs. (7) Afterschool programs have long partnered with other youth-serving and community organizations to meet the needs of students. Cross-sector collaborations between afterschool programs, schools, science centers, institutions of higher education, businesses, and other entities are yielding great benefits for engaging young people in STEM fields. (8) As interest and momentum grows around STEM programming in afterschool, more and better partnerships across Federal agencies become increasingly important to leverage resources and offer high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences for youth. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to enhance America’s economic competitiveness by strengthening STEM education through fostering interest and success in STEM subjects among certain student populations in kindergarten through grade 12; (2) to engage Federal agencies and foster interagency collaboration in STEM education afterschool program investments; (3) to recognize the important role that afterschool programs offered by nonprofit and community-based organizations, science centers, museums, libraries, and other such entities, play in STEM education and to support their efforts; (4) to involve institutions of higher education as partners in such efforts and foster increased collaboration; and (5) to inspire young people to study and work in STEM subjects. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Afterschool or STEM network The term afterschool or STEM network (2) Afterschool program The term afterschool program (3) Director The term Director (4) Elementary school The term elementary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) Middle school The term middle school (6) Secondary school The term secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801 (7) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1002 (8) STEM The term STEM 5. Afterschool STEM support grant program (a) Goals of program The goals of the afterschool STEM grant program carried out under this Act are— (1) to support the development and delivery of high-quality STEM education to populations underrepresented in STEM fields; (2) to leverage the expertise and infrastructure available to afterschool programs that include STEM content through afterschool or STEM networks; (3) to leverage existing Federal STEM education investments, as of the date of enactment of this Act, in order to encourage STEM-focused grant recipients to lend their time and expertise to afterschool programs that include STEM content; and (4) to provide hands-on learning and exposure to STEM research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual distance-learning experiences. (b) Program authorized (1) In general From amounts appropriated to carry out this Act and not reserved under paragraph (4), the Director shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to afterschool or STEM networks— (A) to support afterschool programs that include STEM content through the activities described in subsection (e); and (B) to carry out the goals described in subsection (a). (2) Duration Each grant awarded under this Act shall be for a period of not more than 3 years. (3) Amounts The Director shall ensure that each grant awarded under this Act is in an amount that is sufficient to carry out the goals described in subsection (a). (4) Reservation From the amounts appropriated for this grant, the Director shall reserve 20 percent of such funds to develop and support new afterschool or STEM networks in States or areas where such networks do not exist. (c) Application (1) In general An afterschool or STEM network desiring a grant under subsection (b)(1) shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information that the Director may require. (2) Contents The application described in paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, include— (A) a description of the status of afterschool STEM programming in the State or area in which the afterschool or STEM network is located, including— (i) the number of afterschool programs in the State or area; (ii) the number of such afterschool programs focused on STEM subjects and activities; (iii) the number of students served by existing afterschool programs, as of the date of the application, in the State or area; (iv) the number of students served by existing afterschool programs that include STEM content in the State or area; (v) the unmet demand for afterschool programs in the State or area; and (vi) the unmet demand for afterschool programs focused on STEM subjects and activities in the State or area; (B) an analysis of existing and needed resources that identifies areas and populations most in need of opportunities for high-quality afterschool programs that include STEM content; (C) a description of the current and past work carried out by the afterschool or STEM network to support the needs of afterschool program providers in the State or area served by the network; (D) a detailed plan that describes initiatives that shall be undertaken to— (i) support and grow afterschool programs that include STEM content; and (ii) leverage existing Federal investments in afterschool programs and STEM education, as of the date of the application; (E) a description of financial and other commitments that support expanded afterschool STEM programming in the State or area served by the network; and (F) a description of any confirmed or potential partners that will work with the afterschool or STEM network to carry out the activities under the grant. (d) Priority In awarding grants under subsection (b)(1), the Director shall give priority to applications from afterschool or STEM networks that— (1) demonstrate a clear understanding of the afterschool programs and settings, and the status of afterschool programs that include STEM content, in the State or area to be served by the grant; (2) have established working relationships with afterschool program and STEM education stakeholders in the State or area; (3) are working to advance the availability of high-quality afterschool programs that include STEM content for underserved populations and populations underrepresented in STEM fields, including girls; and (4) are leveraging Federal or other public investments in STEM education or afterschool programming. (e) Uses of funds An afterschool or STEM network that receives a grant under subsection (b)(1) may use grant funds to carry out any of the following activities: (1) Develop quality standards for STEM programming in afterschool programs and provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to implement such standards. (2) Work with State education stakeholders to define and promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool programs that include STEM content. (3) Provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to start or grow their afterschool STEM efforts and define appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts. (4) Coordinate professional development for afterschool program educators by— (A) identifying training programs that are available, as of the time of the identification, for afterschool program educators; (B) working with partners to allow joint professional development with teachers at elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools, as appropriate; and (C) partnering with teacher training programs to utilize afterschool programs for practicum experiences, employment placements, and other opportunities. (5) Help afterschool program providers form strategic partnerships as needed to advance STEM learning in afterschool programs, including partnerships with elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including community colleges and programs and schools of education), businesses, research facilities, national laboratories, science centers, and other appropriate entities. (6) Create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate STEM professionals as mentors and role models that— (A) provide technical assistance and guidance, including assistance in connecting afterschool program providers with STEM researchers and professionals who may be able to assist in STEM-focused activities; (B) include— (i) examples of strong afterschool programs that have incorporated such partnerships to serve as models; (ii) a list of potential partners that could assist in STEM-focused activities; and (iii) guidance on how to engage STEM professionals, mentors, and role models in the program; and (C) identify federally supported STEM education programs and research in the State or area served by the grant. (7) Provide technical assistance to federally funded STEM researchers and professionals who wish to engage with afterschool programs that, at a minimum, includes— (A) examples of partnerships between afterschool programs and institutions rich in STEM resources; (B) a resource that provides a description of the afterschool program setting, the opportunities for engagement in afterschool programs, and the constraints of which the researchers or professionals need to be aware; (C) how to find an afterschool program provider with which the researcher or professional would like to engage; (D) how to ensure an effective and productive partnership with the afterschool provider through mutually beneficial engagement, and engage in a productive conversation with the afterschool provider to determine if the partnership will be productive; (E) how to craft a mutually beneficial engagement and partnership; and (F) guidance on how to measure appropriate outcomes for afterschool programs and afterschool programs that include STEM content. (8) Any other activity, as proposed in the application and determined appropriate by the Director. (f) Report Each afterschool or STEM network receiving a grant under subsection (b)(1) shall submit an annual report to the Director regarding the progress of the grant. 6. Federal partnership with afterschool programs Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide information, to each recipient of a STEM research grant under the authority of the Director, on opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs, such as through mentorships. Such information shall include— (1) a listing of all afterschool or STEM program networks in the region of the recipient; (2) a toolkit that provides guidance to federally funded STEM researchers on how to engage and partner with afterschool STEM program providers and lend their time and expertise in afterschool programs that include STEM content; (3) information regarding how to create opportunities to have students visit laboratories; and (4) guidance regarding how to create age-appropriate research projects for students. 7. Report By not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on Federal STEM investments in afterschool programs and the best practices for afterschool programs incorporating STEM subjects into their programs.

Summary: Supporting Afterschool STEM Act Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish an afterschool STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant program awarding competitive grants to afterschool or STEM networks to: develop quality standards for STEM programming in afterschool programs and provide those programs with technical assistance in implementing such standards, work with state education stakeholders to define and promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool programs that include STEM content, provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to start or grow their afterschool STEM efforts and define appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts, coordinate professional development for afterschool program educators, help afterschool program providers form strategic partnerships to advance STEM learning in afterschool programs, create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate STEM professionals as mentors and role models, and provide technical assistance to federally funded STEM researchers and professionals who wish to engage with afterschool programs. Requires the Director to reserve 20% of the funds appropriated for such grant program to develop and support new afterschool or STEM networks in states or areas where they do not exist. Defines: (1) an "afterschool program" as a structured program offered for elementary, middle, or secondary school students when school is not in session, such as before or after school, during recess, on the weekend, or during the summer; and (2) an "afterschool or STEM network" as a coalition that fosters partnerships and provides support to afterschool program providers and STEM education providers. Includes as goals of the grant program: (1) to support the development and delivery of high-quality STEM education to populations underrepresented in STEM fields, and (2) to provide hands-on learning and exposure to STEM research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual distance-learning experiences. Requires the Director to provide each recipient of a STEM research grant who is under the Director's authority with information on opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs, such as through mentorships.