teachers and school administrators who have been 
recognized at the state or national level for exem-
plary work and/or contributions to the STEM edu-
cation field; 
(3) approve one grant from those submitted 
under this section not later than 120 days after the 
date of the submission unless the Secretary deter-
mines that the grant proposals submitted do not 
meet the requirements of this section; 
(4) if only one grant proposal is submitted, not 
decline to approve the grant proposal before— 
(A) offering the Consortium an oppor-
tunity to revise the Consortium proposal; and 
(B) providing the Consortium with tech-
nical assistance in order to submit a successful 
application; and 
(5) direct the Inspector General of the Depart-
ment to review the process used for screening the in-
dividuals appointed to the peer-review process so as 
to avoid both financial conflicts of interest and non- 
financial interests that would impair objectivity in 
peer review, as well as the objectivity of process used 
in reviewing and awarding the grant under this sec-
tion, and report the findings to Congress. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (2), the grant awarded to the consortium 
under this section shall be not more than 
$20,000,000. 
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDS.—For each fiscal year 
of the grant period, the Secretary of Education shall 
award to the consortium awarded a grant under this 
section $1,750,000 for each additional State that is 
a member of the consortium beyond the minimum 5 
States required under subsection (d). 
(d) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT.—To be eligible to 
receive a grant under this section, the consortium shall 
include at least 5 States considering the need to provide 
an equitable geographic representation of the United 
States, according to the regional divisions used by the Bu-
reau of the Census. 
(e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—The consortium shall 
use the grant funds awarded under this section for the 
following purposes: 
(1) To establish the State Consortium on 
STEM Education. 
(2) To convene an Interstate Council on 
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education (which may be referred to as the Inter-
state Council on STEM Education) that includes a 
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diverse group of individuals representing a variety of 
perspectives on STEM education, the STEM dis-
ciplines, business, curriculum, assessments, English 
language learners, and special education, includ-
ing— 
(A) representatives from States that shall 
include not less one State Governor, one Chief 
State School Officer, and one representative of 
a State educational agency or their designee; 
(B) representatives from local educational 
agencies (LEAs) that shall include not less than 
one current school administrator, and three ex-
pert STEM educators that represent early 
childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary 
school perspectives; 
(C) not less than 4 representatives from 
STEM education and the STEM fields at insti-
tutions of higher education that include commu-
nity colleges, and public and private four-year 
institutions of higher education; 
(D) not less than one representative from 
a STEM education professional organization, 
such as but not limited to the National Science 
Teachers Association, the National Council for 
Teachers of Mathematics, those representing 
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engineering educators, career and technical edu-
cation, and organizations that represent under-
represented communities in STEM; and 
(E) not less than one representative from 
each of the following categories of relevant 
STEM related organizations: informal STEM 
education, business and industry, a STEM dis-
ciplinary or professional society, private or cor-
porate foundations, youth-serving organizations, 
and other relevant organizations. 
(3) To support at least one full-time staff mem-
ber for each State. 
(4) To share STEM education research, prom-
ising practices and exemplary programs, and pro-
grams through the NSERR. 
(f) FUNCTIONS.—The State Consortium on STEM 
Education— 
(1) shall establish small working groups com-
prised of members of the State Council on STEM 
Education and outside experts in appropriate fields 
consulting widely to address the functions outlined 
in this subsection; 
(2) shall identify points of weakness and 
strength among State STEM education efforts, 
prioritize strategies for addressing problem areas, 
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and communicate State needs to the STEM Edu-
cation Committee within the OSTP and the Assist-
ant Secretary for STEM Education; 
(3) if the Secretary determines that significant 
work in the areas described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) is not already underway— 
(A) shall develop rigorous common content 
standards in STEM education for grades pre-
kindergarten through grade 12 reflecting com-
mon elements between disciplines with consider-
ation of— 
(i) established international standards 
and 21st Century Skills; and 
(ii) the needs of English language 
learners and special education students; 
(B) shall develop innovative STEM assess-
ment practices that include a substantial pro-
portion of extended constructed response items, 
such as performance-based measures, that 
measure higher order thinking skills and under-
standing, application and transferability knowl-
edge, problem solving, analysis, and synthesis, 
and include administration through a variety of 
modalities, such as audio-visual and interactive 
technology; 
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(C) may establish and strengthen partner-
ships between two-year colleges and minority 
serving institutions and research institutions to 
provide STEM students at two-year colleges 
and minority serving institutions (MSIs) ex-
panded degree possibilities and opportunities to 
access research facilities and mentors including 
but not limited to— 
(i) conducting a needs assessment of 
how to enhance the flow of STEM students 
from two-year colleges and MSIs to re-
search institutions; and 
(ii) establishing articulation agree-
ments that shall address pathways and 
credit transfers between the institutions; 
and 
(D) 
may 
improve 
and 
align 
STEM 
preservice teacher training among the member 
States, including but not limited to developing 
common— 
(i) STEM preservice teacher training 
degree programs; 
(ii) STEM teacher credentials; and 
(iii) alternative pathways to STEM 
teacher certification; 
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(4) if the Secretary determines that significant 
work in the areas described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of paragraph (3) is already underway, shall 
carry out the activities described in subparagraphs 
(D) and (E) of such paragraph; 
(5) shall develop and implement strategies to 
integrate STEM education into other subject areas, 
such as language arts, social studies, physical and 
health education, music and other performing arts, 
and environmental education; 
(6) shall identify and utilize, to the maximum 
extent possible, the expertise and resources of edu-
cators, institutions of higher education, business and 
industry, and Federal agencies in the development 
and implementation of functions outlined in this 
subsection; 
(7) shall develop strategies to increase the par-
ticipation and success of individuals identified in sec-
tion 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in 
STEM fields with consideration of first generation 
students; 
(8) shall issue periodic reports on the status of 
STEM education in the States; 
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(9) shall make STEM education research, 
promising practices and exemplary programs, and 
effective STEM programs widely available through 
the NSERR; 
(10) may promote and develop curriculum tools 
and professional development for in-service teachers 
that foster innovation and inventiveness; 
(11) may evaluate the impact that STEM edu-
cation professional development organizations have 
on classroom instruction and student learning in 
member States; 
(12) may provide technical support to States 
who are members of the Consortium to establish or 
strengthen existing P–16 and/or P–20 Councils and 
to align secondary school graduation requirements 
with the demands of 21st century postsecondary 
education endeavors and support P–16 education 
data systems established by States and in section 
6401 of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 
110–69; 121 Stat. 668; 20 U.S.C. 9871), and serve 
as a resource center for the STEM Education ef-
forts of P–16 and/or P–20 Councils; 
(13) may develop STEM Career Awareness 
Programs in collaboration with school guidance 
counselors that reflect the projected STEM work-
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force needs of the 21st century that may include 
mentoring programs and STEM professional out-
reach; and 
(14) may develop STEM-related workforce edu-
cation and training programs to enhance the skills 
of workers to meet the needs of business and indus-
try. 
(g) OUTSIDE FUNDS.—The State Consortium on 
STEM Education shall be permitted to accept and solicit 
outside funds. 
(h) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—The State Consor-
tium on STEM Education shall conduct periodic inde-
pendent evaluations, by grant or by contract, of the State 
Consortium on STEM Education’s effectiveness at accom-
plishing the functions outlined in subsection (f), which 
shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the impact of such activi-
ties on STEM teaching and learning; and 
(2) the preparation and submission of a report 
on the results of the evaluation described in para-
graph (1) to the Assistant Secretary of STEM Edu-
cation. 
(i) PROHIBITIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In implementing this sec-
tion, the Secretary may not— 
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(A) endorse, approve, or sanction any 
STEM curriculum designed for use in any 
school; or 
(B) engage in oversight, technical assist-
ance, or activities that will require the adoption 
of a specific STEM program or instructional 
materials by a State, local educational agency, 
or school. 
SEC. 8. STEM EDUCATION RESOURCE ALLIANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made available to 
carry out this section, the Secretary of Education, acting 
through the Office of STEM Education, shall make a 
grant to the National Science Digital Library to establish 
the STEM Education Resource Alliance. The STEM Edu-
cation Resource Alliance shall be composed of representa-
tives from each Agency and industry stakeholders. The 
STEM Education Resource Alliance shall have 2 co-chairs 
selected by the members of the Alliance. The co-chairs 
shall serve for a 3-year term. No individual may serve as 
a co-chair for more than 1 consecutive term. 
(b) USE
OF
GRANT
AMOUNTS.—The National 
Science Digital Library shall use the grant funds to pro-
vide basic operational support to the STEM Education 
Resource Alliance, including maintenance, office space, 
equipment, personnel, and other operational costs. 
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(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The STEM Education Re-
source Alliance shall have the following responsibilities: 
(1) Coordinating and organizing— 
(A) scientifically valid STEM education re-
search; 
(B) STEM education programs— 
(i) that demonstrate promising prac-
tices; or 
(ii) are exemplary, in terms of content 
or resources; and 
(C) STEM education resources. 
(2) Integrating existing STEM education collec-
tions, teacher professional development opportuni-
ties, and student programs available through the 
Federal Government, State initiatives, or national 
experts, including the Science Education Resource 
Center, Research from Institutions of Higher Edu-
cation, Regional Education Centers (labs, com-
prehensive centers, and technical assistance centers), 
Applied Math and Science Repository, and Edu-
cation Resources Information Center (ERIC). 
(3) Working with industry to develop a uniform 
format for submissions to the NSERR, such as sum-
maries, metadata, contact information for questions, 
examples of successful implementation, and other in-
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