H. R. 4346—248 
SEC. 10507. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than four years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes the following: 
(1) A description and evaluation of the status and usage 
of policies implemented pursuant to section 10505 at all Federal 
research agencies, including any recommendations for revising 
or expanding such policies. 
(2) With respect to efforts to remove or reduce cultural 
and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, 
and success of groups historically underrepresented in academic 
and government STEM research careers under section 10505— 
(A) what steps all Federal research agencies have taken 
to implement policies and practices to further such efforts; 
(B) a description of any significant updates to the 
policies for review of Federal research awards required 
under such section; and 
(C) any evidence of the impact of such policies on 
the review or awarding of Federal research awards; and 
(3) A description and evaluation of the status of institution 
of higher education and Federal laboratory policies and prac-
tices required under section 10505, including any recommenda-
tions for revising or expanding such policies. 
SEC. 10508. MERIT REVIEW. 
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed as altering any 
intellectual or broader impacts criteria at Federal research agencies 
for evaluating award applications. 
SEC. 10509. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this subtitle, for the purpose of com-
plying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be 
determined by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary 
Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this subtitle, submitted for 
printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House 
Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been sub-
mitted prior to the vote on passage. 
SEC. 10510. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
Subtitle B—Rural STEM Education 
Research 
SEC. 10511. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of 
the National Science Foundation. 
SEC. 10512. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RURAL STEM ACTIVI-
TIES. 
(a) PREPARING RURAL STEM EDUCATORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make awards on a 
merit- reviewed, competitive basis to institutions of higher edu-
cation or nonprofit organizations (or a consortium thereof) for 
research and development activities to advance innovative
H. R. 4346—249 
approaches to support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching 
in rural schools. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Awards made under this subsection 
shall be used for the research and development activities 
referred to in paragraph (1), which may include— 
(i) engaging rural educators, principals, or other 
school leaders of students in prekindergarten through 
grade 12 in professional learning opportunities to 
enhance STEM knowledge, including computer science, 
and develop best practices; 
(ii) 
supporting 
research 
on 
effective 
STEM 
teaching and school leadership practices in rural set-
tings, including the use of rubrics and mastery- based 
grading practices to assess student performance when 
employing the transdisciplinary teaching approach for 
STEM disciplines; 
(iii) designing and developing pre-service and in- 
service training resources to assist such rural edu-
cators, principals, and other school leaders in adopting 
transdisciplinary teaching practices across STEM 
courses; 
(iv) coordinating with local partners to adapt 
STEM teaching practices to leverage local, natural, 
and community assets in order to support in-place 
learning in rural areas; 
(v) providing hands-on training and research 
opportunities for rural educators described in clause 
(i) at Federal laboratories or institutions of higher 
education, or in industry; 
(vi) developing training and best practices for edu-
cators who teach multiple grade levels within a STEM 
discipline; 
(vii) designing and implementing professional 
development courses and experiences, including men-
toring, for rural educators, principals, and other school 
leaders described in clause (i) that combine face-to- 
face and online experiences; and 
(viii) any other activity the Director determines 
will accomplish the goals of this paragraph. 
(B) RURAL STEM COLLABORATIVE.—The Director shall 
establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in rural areas 
that will provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on 
research experiences for rural STEM educators, principals, 
and other school leaders of students in prekindergarten 
through grade 12, in order to build an ecosystem of coopera-
tion among educators, principals, other school leaders, 
researchers, academia, and local industry. 
(b) BROADENING
PARTICIPATION
OF
RURAL
STUDENTS
IN 
STEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make awards on a 
merit- reviewed, competitive basis to institutions of higher edu-
cation or nonprofit organizations (or a consortium thereof) for— 
(A) research and development of programming to iden-
tify the barriers rural students face in accessing high- 
quality STEM education; and
H. R. 4346—250 
(B) development of innovative solutions to improve the 
participation and advancement of rural students in pre-
kindergarten through grade 12 in STEM studies. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Awards made under this subsection 
shall be used for the research and development activities 
referred to in paragraph (1), which may include— 
(i) developing partnerships with community col-
leges to offer advanced STEM course work, including 
computer science, to rural high school students; 
(ii) supporting research on effective STEM prac-
tices in rural settings; 
(iii) implementing a school-wide STEM approach, 
including preparation and support for principals and 
other school leaders; 
(iv) improving the Foundation’s Advanced Tech-
nology Education program’s coordination and engage-
ment with rural communities; 
(v) collaborating with existing community partners 
and networks, such as the Cooperative Extension 
System services and extramural research programs of 
the Department of Agriculture and youth serving 
organizations like 4-H, after school STEM programs, 
and summer STEM programs, to leverage community 
resources and develop place-based programming; 
(vi) connecting rural school districts and institu-
tions of higher education, to improve precollegiate 
STEM education and engagement; 
(vii) supporting partnerships that offer hands- on 
inquiry-based science activities, including coding, and 
access to lab resources for students studying STEM 
in prekindergarten through grade 12 in a rural area; 
(viii) evaluating the role of broadband connectivity 
and its associated impact on the STEM and technology 
literacy of rural students; 
(ix) building capacity to support extracurricular 
STEM programs in rural schools, including mentor- 
led engagement programs, STEM programs held 
during 
non-school 
hours, 
STEM 
networks, 
makerspaces, coding activities, and competitions; 
(x) creating partnerships with local industries and 
local educational agencies to tailor STEM curricula 
and educational experiences to the needs of a particular 
local or regional economy; and 
(xi) any other activity the Director determines will 
accomplish the goals of this paragraph. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking an award under sub-
section (a) or (b) shall submit an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may require. The application may include the following: 
(1) A description of the target population to be served 
by the research activity or activities for which such award 
is sought. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment and selec-
tion of students, educators, principals, and other school leaders, 
or schools from rural areas to participate in such activity or 
activities.
H. R. 4346—251 
(3) A description of how such activity or activities may 
inform efforts to promote the engagement and achievement 
of rural students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in STEM 
studies. 
(4) In the case of a proposal consisting of a partnership 
or partnerships with one or more rural schools and one or 
more researchers, a plan for establishing a sustained partner-
ship that is jointly developed and managed, draws from the 
capacities of each partner, and is mutually beneficial. 
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In making awards under subsection (a) 
or (b), the Director shall— 
(1) encourage applicants which, for the purpose of the 
activity or activities funded through the award, include or 
partner with a nonprofit organization or an institution of higher 
education (or a consortium thereof) that has extensive experi-
ence and expertise in increasing the participation of rural stu-
dents in prekindergarten through grade 12 in STEM; 
(2) encourage applicants which, for the purpose of the 
activity or activities funded through the award, include or 
partner with a consortium of rural schools or rural school 
districts; and 
(3) encourage applications which, for the purpose of the 
activity or activities funded through the award, include commit-
ments from school principals, other school leaders, and adminis-
trators to making reforms and activities proposed by the 
applicant a priority. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for awards under subsections 
(a) and (b) shall include an evaluation plan that includes the 
use of outcome-oriented measures to assess the impact and efficacy 
of the award. Each recipient of an award under this subsection 
shall include results from these evaluative activities in annual 
and final projects. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION
REQUIRED.—The Director shall evaluate 
the portfolio of awards made under subsections (a) and (b). 
Such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and tools to 
assess the results of research conducted under such awards 
and identify best practices; and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate the findings 
of research resulting from the activity or activities funded 
through such awards with the findings of other research 
on rural students’ pursuit of degrees or careers in STEM. 
(2) REPORT
ON
EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the completion of the evaluation under paragraph (1), 
the Director shall submit to Congress and make widely avail-
able to the public a report that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administrative and legis-
lative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the 
awards made under this subsection. 
(g) REPORT
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES
IN 
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.—As part of the first report required 
by section 36(e) of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after the date 
of enactment of this division, the Committee on Equal Opportunities