Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act

To establish within the National Science Foundation a program to award STEM ecosystem grants. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) STEM ecosystems— (A) engage stakeholders within and outside of a formal educational setting; and (B) may include— (i) community leaders; (ii) school districts; (iii) State, local, and Tribal governments; (iv) the Federal Government and Federal facilities; (v) businesses, industry, and workforce and economic development organizations; (vi) libraries; (vii) museums and science centers; (viii) institutions of higher education (including community colleges) and technical schools; (ix) community groups and clubs (including community-led research organizations), foundations, and nonprofit organizations; and (x) faith-based organizations. (2) As defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress Report of 2020, STEM ecosystems are united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and opportunities spanning all education stages and career pathways. A STEM ecosystem continuously evaluates its activities and adapts as needed, plans for the long-term, and communicates its work to build broad support and advance evidence-based practices. STEM ecosystems focus on long-term, shared, sustainable, and flexible STEM missions that bridge, integrate, and strengthen the learning opportunities offered by organizations across sectors to build partnerships that maximize investments to create stronger STEM outcomes. (3) Federal agencies should encourage the collaboration of stakeholders in STEM ecosystems that unite a broad range of non-Federal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools, informal educators, informal STEM organizations, community-led and community-based research organizations, institutions of higher education (including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions), employers, nonprofit organizations, social services, faith-based entities, economic and workforce development organizations, and museums, libraries, credentialing services, and other lifelong learning and participatory science organizations. (4) The National Science Foundation is a Federal agency that can and does encourage the collaboration described in paragraph (3). When reviewing proposals before the agency, reviewers are asked to consider how the proposed activities will have a broad impact on society and advance greater societal outcomes. (5) STEM ecosystems can increase work-based learning, training, and mentoring through educator-employer partnerships, allowing communities to more effectively leverage resources and expertise from strategic partners to provide seamless support to prepare the workforce of the future. (6) STEM ecosystems that directly support and engage the American public can increase public awareness and support overall STEM literacy. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Committee The term Committee 42 U.S.C. 6621 (2) Director The term Director (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a STEM ecosystem; or (B) an eligible partnership. (4) Eligible partnership The term eligible partnership (5) Hispanic-serving institution The term Hispanic-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1101a (6) Historically black college or university The term historically Black college or university part B institution 20 U.S.C. 1061 (7) STEM The term STEM (8) STEM ecosystem The term STEM ecosystem (A) a network, consortium, or multi-sector partnership, which may be led or co-led by a nonprofit organizational entity, that is operating in the United States and united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and opportunities (as defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress Report of 2020) with a broad range of non-Federal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools, informal educators, institutions of higher education (including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority-serving institutions), employers, other nonprofit organizations, economic and workforce development organizations, industry or trade organizations, trade or technician training schools, social services providers, faith-based organizations, museums, libraries, credentialing organizations, and other lifelong learning organizations; or (B) an office, task force, or other section of the office of the Governor of a State, a State educational agency, or a Tribal government that has the mission of improving STEM education and outcomes within the State. (9) STEM learning stakeholder The term STEM learning stakeholder (A) dedicated to the goal of improving STEM belonging, participation, and learning; (B) providing accessible and inclusive STEM experiences and opportunities; or (C) supporting seamless educational and STEM workforce transitions. (10) Tribal college or university The term Tribal College or University 20 U.S.C. 1059c 4. STEM ecosystem grants (a) Purpose The purpose of a grant awarded under this section is to leverage the expertise, depth of cross-sector partnerships, and equity focus of STEM ecosystems to enhance the value of STEM-intensive organizations in improving STEM learning to address immediate and long-term STEM workforce and economic needs in States and communities. (b) Grants (1) In general The Director, subject to the availability of appropriations, may award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to carry out the activities described in paragraph (4). The Director shall notify the Committee of all grant awards, including the grant recipients, made under this section. (2) Term A grant awarded under paragraph (1)— (A) shall be for a period of 3 to 5 years; and (B) may be renewed for additional 3-year periods. (3) Applications (A) In general An eligible entity seeking funding under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. (B) Requirements An application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum— (i) a description of the eligible entity, including, in the case of an eligible partnership, a description of the role that each member of the eligible partnership will play in implementing the proposal for the use of the grant funds; (ii) a description of each of the activities to be carried out by the eligible entity using the grant funds; and (iii) an evaluation plan that includes outcome-oriented measures to determine the impact and efficacy of the grant award. (4) Use of funds Grants awarded under paragraph (1) shall be used for activities that draw on the expertise of eligible entities to improve STEM learning, the STEM network or community of practice, and workforce development, including— (A) convening STEM learning stakeholders to review and assess statewide or regional STEM education needs and practices, share best practices, and bolster existing programs or develop new programs and other means to address such needs; (B) designing or developing sustainable systems to support STEM learning connections, networks, and infrastructure; (C) developing eligible partnerships to expand access to the opportunities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to rural and underrepresented populations, including by supplementing the support needed to participate in those opportunities; (D) developing regional hubs or working groups within a STEM ecosystem to connect eligible partnerships described in subparagraph (C) with State and local workforce trajectories; (E) convening STEM learning stakeholder to support State-level workforce planning to ensure alignment between STEM learning activities and workforce needs; (F) obtaining technical assistance provided by an outside organization; and (G) supporting STEM learning programs, events, or pre-enrollment activities, including measurable outreach campaigns to raise STEM awareness in rural or underserved areas. (5) Geographic diversity Not fewer than 25 percent of grants awarded under this section and 25 percent of the total amount awarded under paragraph (1) shall be made to eligible entities serving jurisdictions that participate in the program under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 ( 42 U.S.C. 1862g (6) Evaluations Each recipient of a grant under this section shall provide, at the conclusion of every year during which the grant funds are received, an evaluation according to the evaluation plan submitted under paragraph (3)(B)(iii). (c) Coordination In carrying out this section, the Director shall, for the purpose of enhancing program effectiveness and avoiding duplications of activities, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies. (d) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

Summary: Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act This bill authorizes the award of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) ecosystem grants. STEM ecosystem means a network, consortium, or multi-sector partnership that is united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and opportunities with a broad range of nonfederal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools. The bill authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to eligible entities to be used for activities that draw on the expertise of those entities to improve STEM learning, the STEM network or community of practice, and workforce development, including to share best practices. The bill states that the purpose of a grant is to leverage the expertise, depth of cross-sector partnerships, and equity focus of STEM ecosystems to enhance the value of STEM-intensive organizations in improving STEM learning to address immediate and long-term STEM workforce and economic needs in states and communities. No fewer than 25% of grants awarded under this bill and 25% of the total amount awarded shall be made to eligible entities that serve jurisdictions that participate in the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).