SEC. 5. STATE NETWORKS AND CONSORTIA ON SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHE-
MATICS EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made available to 
carry out this section, the Secretary of Education shall 
make grants to eligible networks to expand STEM edu-
cation. 
(b) ELIGIBLE NETWORK DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible network’’ means a State-based STEM 
network or similar organization, which— 
(1) may include the participation of State offi-
cials, educators, administrators, afterschool pro-
viders, out of school time educators, parents, indus-
try leaders, philanthropists, and representatives from 
the STEM communities; 
(2) aims to increase student achievement and 
experiences in the STEM disciplines at the elemen-
tary schools and secondary schools in its State, and 
out of school programs and particularly for students 
with a high concentration of historically under rep-
resented students and at rural schools (within the 
meaning of part B of title VI of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6201 
et seq.)); and 
(3) aims to increase the number of quality 
afterschool programs offering STEM learning oppor-
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tunities, particularly for students from populations 
traditionally under-represented in the STEM fields. 
(c) ELIGIBLE NETWORK APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible network seeking 
a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
require. 
(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—In order to re-
ceive a grant under this section, an eligible network 
shall agree to provide, either directly or through pri-
vate contributions, non-Federal matching funds 
equal to not less than 30 percent of the amount of 
the grant. 
(d) USES OF FUNDS.—Each eligible network receiv-
ing a grant under this section shall use the funds to carry 
out one or more of the following: 
(1) Testing, validating, sharing, and scaling up 
STEM education research, promising practices, and 
exemplary programs among members of the network 
and with other eligible networks receiving grants 
under this section. 
(2) Identifying points of weakness and strength 
among State STEM education efforts, prioritizing 
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strategies for addressing problem areas, and commu-
nicating State needs to the Secretary. 
(3) Assisting in the implementation of rigorous 
career and college ready standards in STEM edu-
cation for grades prekindergarten through grade 12 
that reflect and take into consideration— 
(A) career and college ready standards in 
STEM disciplines; 
(B) established international standards 
and 21st century skills that include critical 
thinking, problem solving, communication, col-
laboration, creativity, and innovation; 
(C) the needs of English language learners 
and special education students; and 
(D) the need to increase STEM literacy of 
prekindergarten through grade 12 students. 
(4) Assisting the development of innovative 
STEM assessments that measure interest, engage-
ment, and content proficiency. 
(5) Supporting the implementation of STEM 
assessments that measure career and college ready 
standards. 
(6) Promoting and developing rigorous under-
graduate pre-service teacher programs in institutions 
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of higher education that emphasize STEM content 
with emphasis on the elementary educator. 
(7) Promoting and developing curriculum tools 
and professional development for STEM educators 
both in school and out of school. 
(8) Developing STEM career pathways that re-
flect the projected STEM workforce needs of the 
21st century that may include mentoring programs 
and STEM professional outreach. 
(9) Developing STEM-related education and 
workforce training programs in secondary schools 
and community colleges to reflect the needs of the 
local community. 
(10) Developing systems for the implementation 
of expanded learning opportunities on school sites to 
enhance STEM education inside and outside of the 
classroom. 
(11) Promoting, supporting, and designing pro-
grams that develop STEM content coaches and mas-
ter educators in order to strengthen core com-
petencies of the classroom practitioner. 
(e) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—Not later than 2 
years after receiving a grant under this section, each eligi-
ble network receiving such a grant shall— 
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(1) conduct periodic independent evaluations, 
by grant or by contract, of the eligible network’s ef-
fectiveness at accomplishing the activities described 
in this section, which shall include an assessment of 
the impact of such activities on STEM teaching and 
learning; and 
(2) prepare and submit a report on the results 
of each evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the 
Secretary and make for dissemination to other 
STEM Networks. 
(f) PROHIBITIONS.—In implementing this section, 
the Secretary may not— 
(1) endorse, approve, or sanction any STEM 
curriculum designed for use in any elementary 
school, secondary school, or institution of higher 
education; or 
(2) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or 
activities that will require the adoption of a specific 
STEM program or instructional materials by a 
State, local educational agency, or school. 
(g) TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The total amount 
of grants made under this section in any fiscal year may 
not exceed $20,000,000. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) The terms ‘‘elementary school’’, ‘‘local edu-
cational agency’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, and ‘‘State 
educational agency’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) The term ‘‘high concentration of low-income 
students’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 1707 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537). 
(3) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001). 
(4) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Education. 
(5) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States of the United States, the District of Colum-
bia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Amer-
ican Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands. 
(6) The term ‘‘STEM’’ means science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics. 
(7) The term ‘‘21st century readiness initia-
tive’’ means any initiative that— 
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(A) embeds core academic subjects with 
critical skills; and 
(B) is focused on ensuring that students 
are prepared for postsecondary education and 
careers, 
upon 
graduation 
from 
secondary 
school. 
Æ 
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