I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3859 
To encourage and promote further research into informal learning 
opportunities to engage youth in STEM fields, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 14, 2021 
Mrs. KIM of California (for herself, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. LUCAS, and 
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To encourage and promote further research into informal 
learning opportunities to engage youth in STEM fields, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Innovations in Infor-
mal STEM Learning Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 2 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 is 
amended as follows: 
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(1) In the header, by striking ‘‘DEFINITION 
OF STEM EDUCATION’’ and inserting ‘‘DEFINI-
TIONS’’. 
(2) By striking ‘‘For purposes of’’ and inserting 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of’’. 
(3) By inserting at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this 
Act, the following: 
‘‘(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(2) NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘non-profit organization’ means an organization 
which is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax 
under section 501(a) of such code. 
‘‘(3) PREK–8.—The term ‘preK–8’ means pre- 
kindergarten through grade 8.’’. 
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING PREK–8 INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION 
OPPORTUNITIES. 
Section 3 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 
U.S.C. 1862q) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
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‘‘(c) PREK–8 INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall provide grants to in-
stitutions of higher education or a non-profit organi-
zations (or a consortia of such intuitions or organi-
zation) on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis for re-
search on programming that engages students in 
grades preK–8, including underrepresented and 
rural students, in STEM education in order to pre-
pare such students to pursue degrees or careers in 
STEM subjects. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under 
this section shall be used toward research to ad-
vance the engagement of students, including 
underrepresented and rural students, in grades 
preK–8 in STEM through providing before- 
school, after-school, out-of-school, or summer 
activities, including in single-gender environ-
ments or programming, that are designed to en-
courage interest, engagement, and skills devel-
opment for students in STEM. 
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‘‘(B) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES.—The activi-
ties described in subparagraph (A) may in-
clude— 
‘‘(i) the provision of programming de-
scribed in such subparagraph for the pur-
pose of research described in such subpara-
graph; 
‘‘(ii) the use of a variety of engage-
ment methods, including cooperative and 
hands-on learning; 
‘‘(iii) exposure of students to role 
models in the fields of STEM and near- 
peer mentors; 
‘‘(iv) training of informal learning 
educators, youth-serving professionals, and 
volunteers who lead informal STEM pro-
grams in using evidence-based methods 
consistent with the target student popu-
lation being served; 
‘‘(v) education of students on the rel-
evance and significance of STEM careers, 
provision of academic advice and assist-
ance, and activities designed to help stu-
dents make real-world connections to 
STEM content; 
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‘‘(vi) the attendance of students at 
events, competitions, and academic pro-
grams to provide content expertise and en-
courage career exposure in STEM; 
‘‘(vii) activities designed to engage 
parents and families of students in grades 
preK–8 in STEM, which may include the 
purchase of parts and supplies needed to 
participate in such competitions; 
‘‘(viii) innovative strategies to engage 
students, such as using leadership skills 
and outcome measures to impart youth 
with the confidence to pursue STEM 
coursework and academic study; 
‘‘(ix) coordination with STEM-rich 
environments, including other nonprofit, 
nongovernmental 
organizations, 
out-of- 
classroom settings, single-gender environ-
ments, institutions of higher education, vo-
cational facilities, corporations, museums, 
or science centers; and 
‘‘(x) the acquisition of instructional 
materials or technology-based tools to con-
duct applicable grant activity. 
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‘‘(3) 
APPLICATION.—An 
applicant 
seeking 
funding under this section shall submit an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as may be required. Applications 
that include or partner with a nonprofit, nongovern-
mental organization that has extensive experience 
and expertise in increasing the participation of stu-
dents in preK–8 in STEM are encouraged. The ap-
plication may include the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the target audience 
to be served by the research activity or activi-
ties for which such funding is sought. 
‘‘(B) A description of the process for re-
cruitment and selection of students to partici-
pate in such activities. 
‘‘(C) A description of how such activity or 
activities may inform programming that en-
gages students in grades preK–8 in STEM. 
‘‘(D) A description of how such activity or 
activities may inform programming that pro-
motes student academic achievement in STEM. 
‘‘(E) An evaluation plan that includes, at 
a minimum, the use of outcome-oriented meas-
ures to determine the impact and efficacy of 
programming being researched. 
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‘‘(4) EVALUATIONS.—Each recipient of a grant 
under this section shall provide, at the conclusion of 
every year during which the grant funds are re-
ceived, an evaluation in a form prescribed by the Di-
rector. 
‘‘(5) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
‘‘(A) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Direc-
tor shall evaluate the activities established 
under this section. Such evaluation shall— 
‘‘(i) use a common set of benchmarks 
and tools to assess the results of research 
conducted under such grants; and 
‘‘(ii) to the extent practicable, inte-
grate the findings of the research resulting 
from the activity or activities funded 
through the grant with the current re-
search on serving students with respect to 
the pursuit of degrees or careers in STEM, 
including underrepresented and rural stu-
dents, in grades preK–8. 
‘‘(B) REPORT
ON
EVALUATIONS.—Not 
later than 180 days after the completion of the 
evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Direc-
tor shall submit to Congress and make widely 
available to the public a report that includes— 
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‘‘(i) the results of the evaluation; and 
‘‘(ii) any recommendations for admin-
istrative and legislative action that could 
optimize the effectiveness of the program 
under this section. 
‘‘(6) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Director shall, for purposes of enhancing 
program effectiveness and avoiding duplication of ac-
tivities, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the 
programs and policies of other relevant Federal 
agencies.’’. 
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INDUSTRY IN-
VESTMENT IN STEM EDUCATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) In order to bolster the STEM workforce 
pipeline, many industry sectors are becoming in-
volved in preK–8 initiatives to educate students on 
the relevance and significance of STEM careers and 
expose students to role models in the fields of STEM 
and near-peer mentors to foster their interest in 
STEM; 
(2) Partnerships with education providers, 
STEM focused competitions, and academic pro-
grams, have become important aspects of private 
sector efforts to strengthen the STEM workforce; 
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(3) Understanding the work that private sector 
organizations are undertaking in STEM fields 
should inform the Federal Government’s role in 
STEM education; and 
(4) Successful private sector STEM initiatives, 
as reflected by measurements of relevant outcomes, 
should be encouraged and support by the National 
Science Foundation. 
Æ 
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