in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM in order to 
prepare these groups to pursue undergraduate and grad-
uate degrees or careers in STEM. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under this 
section shall be used toward research to advance the 
engagement of underrepresented students grades 
kindergarten through 8 in STEM through providing 
before-school, after-school, out-of-school, or summer 
activities, including programs (if applicable to the 
target population) provided in a single-gender envi-
ronment, that are designed to encourage interest, 
engagement, and skills development of underrep-
resented students in STEM. Such research shall be 
conducted in learning environments that actively 
provide programming to underrepresented students 
in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM. 
(2) PERMITTED
ACTIVITIES.—Such activities 
may include— 
(A) the provision of programming de-
scribed in subsection (a) for the purpose of re-
search; 
(B) the use of a variety of engagement 
methods including cooperative and hands-on 
learning; 
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(C) exposure of underrepresented youth to 
role models in the fields of STEM and near- 
peer mentors; 
(D) training of informal learning educators 
and youth-serving professionals using evidence- 
based methods consistent with the target stu-
dent population being served; 
(E) education of students on the relevance 
and significance of STEM careers, provision of 
academic advice and assistance, and activities 
designed to help students make real-world con-
nections to STEM content activities; 
(F) the attendance of underrepresented 
youth at events, competitions, and academic 
programs to provide content expertise and en-
courage career exposure in STEM; 
(G) activities designed to engage parents of 
underrepresented youth; 
(H) innovative strategies to engage under-
represented youth, such as using leadership 
skill outcome measures to encourage youth with 
the confidence to pursue STEM coursework and 
academic study; 
(I) coordination with STEM-rich environ-
ments, including other nonprofit, nongovern-
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mental organizations, classroom and out-of- 
classroom settings, institutions of higher edu-
cation, vocational facilities, corporations, muse-
ums, or science centers; and 
(J) the acquisition of instructional mate-
rials or technology-based tools to conduct appli-
cable grant activity. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking funding 
under the section shall submit an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as may 
be required. The application shall include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(1) A description of the target audience to be 
served by the program, including an explanation and 
justification for why the target group ought to be 
considered as underrepresented students in one or 
more of the STEM fields. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment 
and selection of students. 
(3) A description of how such research activity 
may inform programming that engages underrep-
resented students in grades kindergarten through 8 
in STEM. 
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(4) A description of how such research activity 
may inform programming that promotes student 
academic achievement in STEM. 
(5) An evaluation plan that includes, at a min-
imum, the use of outcome-oriented measures to de-
termine the impact and efficacy of programming 
being researched. 
(d) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Director shall give priority to applicants which, for the 
purpose of grant activity, include or partner with a non-
profit, nongovernmental organization that has extensive 
experience and expertise in increasing the participation of 
underrepresented students in STEM. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—Each applicant that receives 
funds under this section shall provide, at the conclusion 
of every year during which the funds are received, an eval-
uation in a form prescribed by the Director. This evalua-
tion shall include both formative and summative evalua-
tion. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director shall evaluate the program established 
under this section. In addition to evaluating the ef-
fectiveness of the program, such evaluation shall— 
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(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
assessment tools to identify best practices and 
materials developed or demonstrated by the re-
search; and 
(B) to the extent practicable, combine the 
research resulting from the grant activity with 
the current research on serving underrep-
resented 
students 
in 
grades 
kindergarten 
through 8. 
(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 available to the public a 
report that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the program. 
(g) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall consult, cooperate, and coordinate, to en-
hance program effectiveness and to avoid duplication, with 
the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agen-
cies. 
Æ 
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