Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act
Bill: S.3636 | Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark (D-AZ)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act
This bill authorizes the award of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) ecosystem grants. STEM ecosystem means a network, consortium, or multi-sector partnership that is united by a collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and opportunities with a broad range of nonfederal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools.
The bill authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to eligible entities to be used for activities that draw on the expertise of those entities to improve STEM learning, the STEM network or community of practice, and workforce development, including to share best practices.
The bill states that the purpose of a grant is to leverage the expertise, depth of cross-sector partnerships, and equity focus of STEM ecosystems to enhance the value of STEM-intensive organizations in improving STEM learning to address immediate and long-term STEM workforce and economic needs in states and communities.
No fewer than 25% of grants awarded under this bill and 25% of the total amount awarded shall be made to eligible entities that serve jurisdictions that participate in the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

To establish within the National Science Foundation a program to award 
                         STEM ecosystem grants.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening STEM Ecosystems Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) STEM ecosystems--
                    (A) engage stakeholders within and outside of a 
                formal educational setting; and
                    (B) may include--
                            (i) community leaders;
                            (ii) school districts;
                            (iii) State, local, and Tribal governments;
                            (iv) the Federal Government and Federal 
                        facilities;
                            (v) businesses, industry, and workforce and 
                        economic development organizations;
                            (vi) libraries;
                            (vii) museums and science centers;
                            (viii) institutions of higher education 
                        (including community colleges) and technical 
                        schools;
                            (ix) community groups and clubs (including 
                        community-led research organizations), 
                        foundations, and nonprofit organizations; and
                            (x) faith-based organizations.
            (2) As defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress Report of 
        2020, STEM ecosystems are united by a collective vision of 
        supporting participation in STEM through the creation of 
        accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and 
        opportunities spanning all education stages and career 
        pathways. A STEM ecosystem continuously evaluates its 
        activities and adapts as needed, plans for the long-term, and 
        communicates its work to build broad support and advance 
        evidence-based practices. STEM ecosystems focus on long-term, 
        shared, sustainable, and flexible STEM missions that bridge, 
        integrate, and strengthen the learning opportunities offered by 
        organizations across sectors to build partnerships that 
        maximize investments to create stronger STEM outcomes.
            (3) Federal agencies should encourage the collaboration of 
        stakeholders in STEM ecosystems that unite a broad range of 
        non-Federal partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools, 
        informal educators, informal STEM organizations, community-led 
        and community-based research organizations, institutions of 
        higher education (including community colleges, historically 
        Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and 
        universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other 
        minority-serving institutions), employers, nonprofit 
        organizations, social services, faith-based entities, economic 
        and workforce development organizations, and museums, 
        libraries, credentialing services, and other lifelong learning 
        and participatory science organizations.
            (4) The National Science Foundation is a Federal agency 
        that can and does encourage the collaboration described in 
        paragraph (3). When reviewing proposals before the agency, 
        reviewers are asked to consider how the proposed activities 
        will have a broad impact on society and advance greater 
        societal outcomes.
            (5) STEM ecosystems can increase work-based learning, 
        training, and mentoring through educator-employer partnerships, 
        allowing communities to more effectively leverage resources and 
        expertise from strategic partners to provide seamless support 
        to prepare the workforce of the future.
            (6) STEM ecosystems that directly support and engage the 
        American public can increase public awareness and support 
        overall STEM literacy.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the Committee 
        on STEM Education established under section 101 of the America 
        COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621).
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a STEM ecosystem; or
                    (B) an eligible partnership.
            (4) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
        partnership'' means a partnership between a STEM ecosystem 
        described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (8) and 1 or more 
        non-Federal partners described in that subparagraph.
            (5) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term ``Hispanic-
        serving institution'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1101a).
            (6) Historically black college or university.--The term 
        ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``part B institution'' under section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            (7) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology 
        (including computer science), engineering, and mathematics.
            (8) STEM ecosystem.--The term ``STEM ecosystem'' means--
                    (A) a network, consortium, or multi-sector 
                partnership, which may be led or co-led by a nonprofit 
                organizational entity, that is operating in the United 
                States and united by a collective vision of supporting 
                participation in STEM through the creation of 
                accessible, inclusive STEM learning experiences and 
                opportunities (as defined in the CoSTEM Annual Progress 
                Report of 2020) with a broad range of non-Federal 
                partners, including pre-K through grade 12 schools, 
                informal educators, institutions of higher education 
                (including community colleges, historically Black 
                colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving 
                institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and 
                other minority-serving institutions), employers, other 
                nonprofit organizations, economic and workforce 
                development organizations, industry or trade 
                organizations, trade or technician training schools, 
                social services providers, faith-based organizations, 
                museums, libraries, credentialing organizations, and 
                other lifelong learning organizations; or
                    (B) an office, task force, or other section of the 
                office of the Governor of a State, a State educational 
                agency, or a Tribal government that has the mission of 
                improving STEM education and outcomes within the State.
            (9) STEM learning stakeholder.--The term ``STEM learning 
        stakeholder'' means an organization that is--
                    (A) dedicated to the goal of improving STEM 
                belonging, participation, and learning;
                    (B) providing accessible and inclusive STEM 
                experiences and opportunities; or
                    (C) supporting seamless educational and STEM 
                workforce transitions.
            (10) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal 
        College or University'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1059c).

SEC. 4. STEM ECOSYSTEM GRANTS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of a grant awarded under this section is 
to leverage the expertise, depth of cross-sector partnerships, and 
equity focus of STEM ecosystems to enhance the value of STEM-intensive 
organizations in improving STEM learning to address immediate and long-
term STEM workforce and economic needs in States and communities.
    (b) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Director, subject to the availability 
        of appropriations, may award grants on a competitive basis to 
        eligible entities to carry out the activities described in 
        paragraph (4). The Director shall notify the Committee of all 
        grant awards, including the grant recipients, made under this 
        section.
            (2) Term.--A grant awarded under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) shall be for a period of 3 to 5 years; and
                    (B) may be renewed for additional 3-year periods.
            (3) Applications.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking funding 
                under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Director an 
                application at such time, in such manner, and 
                containing such information as the Director may 
                require.
                    (B) Requirements.--An application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum--
                            (i) a description of the eligible entity, 
                        including, in the case of an eligible 
                        partnership, a description of the role that 
                        each member of the eligible partnership will 
                        play in implementing the proposal for the use 
                        of the grant funds;
                            (ii) a description of each of the 
                        activities to be carried out by the eligible 
                        entity using the grant funds; and
                            (iii) an evaluation plan that includes 
                        outcome-oriented measures to determine the 
                        impact and efficacy of the grant award.
            (4) Use of funds.--Grants awarded under paragraph (1) shall 
        be used for activities that draw on the expertise of eligible 
        entities to improve STEM learning, the STEM network or 
        community of practice, and workforce development, including--
                    (A) convening STEM learning stakeholders to review 
                and assess statewide or regional STEM education needs 
                and practices, share best practices, and bolster 
                existing programs or develop new programs and other 
                means to address such needs;
                    (B) designing or developing sustainable systems to 
                support STEM learning connections, networks, and 
                infrastructure;
                    (C) developing eligible partnerships to expand 
                access to the opportunities described in subparagraphs 
                (A) and (B) to rural and underrepresented populations, 
                including by supplementing the support needed to 
                participate in those opportunities;
                    (D) developing regional hubs or working groups 
                within a STEM ecosystem to connect eligible 
                partnerships described in subparagraph (C) with State 
                and local workforce trajectories;
                    (E) convening STEM learning stakeholder to support 
                State-level workforce planning to ensure alignment 
                between STEM learning activities and workforce needs;
                    (F) obtaining technical assistance provided by an 
                outside organization; and
                    (G) supporting STEM learning programs, events, or 
                pre-enrollment activities, including measurable 
                outreach campaigns to raise STEM awareness in rural or 
                underserved areas.
            (5) Geographic diversity.--Not fewer than 25 percent of 
        grants awarded under this section and 25 percent of the total 
        amount awarded under paragraph (1) shall be made to eligible 
        entities serving jurisdictions that participate in the program 
        under section 113 of the National Science Foundation 
        Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
            (6) Evaluations.--Each recipient of a grant under this 
        section shall provide, at the conclusion of every year during 
        which the grant funds are received, an evaluation according to 
        the evaluation plan submitted under paragraph (3)(B)(iii).
    (c) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall, for the purpose of enhancing program effectiveness and avoiding 
duplications of activities, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the 
programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026.
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