(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking a grant 
under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director may require. The application may in-
clude the following: 
(1) A description of the target population to be 
served by the research activity or activities for which 
such grant is sought. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment 
and selection of students, educators, or schools from 
rural areas to participate in such activity or activi-
ties. 
(3) A description of how such activity or activi-
ties may inform efforts to promote the engagement 
and achievement of rural students in grades PreK - 
12 in STEM studies. 
(4) In the case of a proposal consisting of a part-
nership or partnerships with one or more rural 
schools and one or more researchers, a plan for estab-
lishing a sustained partnership that is jointly devel-
oped and managed, draws from the capacities of each 
partner, and is mutually beneficial. 
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In awarding grants under sub-
section (a) or (b), the Director shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4979.RH
H4979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the grant, 
include or partner with a nonprofit organization or 
an institution of higher education (or a consortium 
thereof) that has extensive experience and expertise in 
increasing the participation of rural students in 
grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM; 
(2) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the grant, 
include or partner with a consortium of rural schools 
or rural school districts; and 
(3) encourage applications which, for the pur-
pose of the activity or activities funded through the 
grant, include commitments from school principals 
and administrators to making reforms and activities 
proposed by the applicant a priority. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for grants 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 grant. Each recipient of a 
grant under this section shall include results from these 
evaluative activities in annual and final projects. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4979.RH
H4979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Director shall 
evaluate the portfolio of grants awarded under sub-
sections (a) and (b). Such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
tools to assess the results of research conducted 
under such grants and identify best practices; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate the 
findings of research resulting from the activity 
or activities funded through such grants with the 
findings of other research on rural student’s pur-
suit 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 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 grants awarded under this 
section. 
(g) REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4979.RH
H4979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the first report re-
quired by section 36(e) of the Science and Engineer-
ing Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) 
transmitted to Congress after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Committee on Equal Opportunities in 
Science and Engineering shall include— 
(A) a description of past and present poli-
cies and activities of the Foundation to encour-
age full participation of students in rural com-
munities in science, mathematics, engineering, 
and computer science fields; and 
(B) an assessment of trends in participa-
tion of rural students in grades Pre-K through 
12 in Foundation activities, and an assessment 
of the policies and activities of the Foundation, 
along with proposals for new strategies or the 
broadening of existing successful strategies to-
wards facilitating the goals of this Act. 
(2) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 313 of the Amer-
ican Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public 
Law 114–329) is amended by striking ‘‘Section 
204(e) of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 1988’’ and inserting ‘‘Section 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4979.RH
H4979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
36(e) of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act’’. 
(B) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if included 
in the enactment of section 313 of the American 
Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public 
Law 114–329). 
(h) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effective-
ness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, cooper-
ate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of other 
relevant Federal agencies. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director— 
(1) $8,000,000 to carry out the activities under 
subsection (a) for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025; and 
(2) $12,000,000 to carry out the activities under 
subsection (b) for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025. 
SEC. 4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award competi-
tive grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit 
organizations (or a consortium thereof, which may include 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:44 Feb 13, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H4979.RH
H4979
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS