GIRLS STEM Act
Bill: H.R.7251 | Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry (D-CA)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Getting Involved in Researching, Learning, and Studying of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Act or the GIRLS STEM Act
This bill authorizes the Department of Education to provide grants to local educational agencies serving underrepresented or low-income students to enable elementary and secondary schools to implement a program to (1) encourage the interest of female students in careers requiring science, mathematics, engineering, or technology (STEM) skills; and (2) prepare female students to pursue credentials needed to pursue a career in a STEM field.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide 
   grants to eligible local educational agencies to encourage female 
    students to pursue studies and careers in science, mathematics, 
                      engineering, and technology.

    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 ``Getting Involved in Researching, 
Learning, and Studying of Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Act'' or the ``GIRLS STEM Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO PREPARE FEMALES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

        ``PART G--PREPARING FEMALE STUDENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

``SEC. 4701. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds provided under section 4702, the 
Secretary may provide grants to eligible local educational agencies to 
enable elementary schools and secondary schools served by the agencies 
to establish and implement a program to--
            ``(1) encourage the ongoing interest of female students in 
        careers requiring skills in science, mathematics, engineering, 
        or technology at all levels of the career pathway, including at 
        the technician level; and
            ``(2) prepare female students to pursue industry-recognized 
        credentials, such as certificates, licenses, undergraduate, and 
        graduate degrees, needed to pursue a career in the science, 
        mathematics, engineering, or technology field.
    ``(b) Grant Awards.--A grant awarded under this part shall be 
awarded in four school year increments.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant, or 
        enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this part 
        an eligible local educational agency shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as 
        the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--The application shall contain, at a 
        minimum, the following:
                    ``(A) A program description, including the content 
                of the program and the research and models used to 
                design the program.
                    ``(B) A description of the collaboration between 
                elementary schools and secondary schools to fulfill 
                goals of the program and how the eligible local 
                educational agency will ensure that there is a 
                comprehensive plan to improve science, mathematics, 
                engineering, and technology education for female 
                students in kindergarten through grade 12.
                    ``(C) A description of the process for recruitment 
                and selection of participants.
                    ``(D) A description of the planned instructional 
                and motivational activities.
                    ``(E) A description of any collaboration among 
                local, regional, or national institutions and 
                organizations that will be necessary to fulfill the 
                goals of the program.
            ``(3) Consideration.--In selecting an eligible local 
        educational agency to receive a grant under this part, the 
        Secretary shall consider the application of each eligible local 
        educational agency that demonstrates that the agency will use 
        the grant funds to carry out the activities described in 
        subsection (d).
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible local educational agency shall use 
a grant received under this section to carry out the following:
            ``(1) Acquainting female students with careers requiring 
        skills in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, 
        and preparing such students for pursuing careers in such areas, 
        including careers in such areas at the technician level.
            ``(2) Educating the parents of female students about the 
        opportunities and advantages of science, mathematics, 
        engineering, and technology careers.
            ``(3) Providing tutoring and mentoring programs for female 
        students in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(4) Establishing partnerships and other opportunities 
        that expose female students to role models, events, academic 
        programs, or career and technical education programs in the 
        fields of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(5) Providing after-school activities designed to 
        encourage interest, and develop skills of female students, in 
        science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(6) Carrying out summer programs designed to assist 
        female students in--
                    ``(A) developing an interest and skills in; and
                    ``(B) understanding the relevance and significance 
                of, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(7) Purchasing educational instructional materials, 
        equipment, and instrumentation or software designed to teach 
        and encourage interest of female students in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology.
            ``(8) Providing academic and career counseling services and 
        assistance in secondary school course selection that encourages 
        female students to take courses that provide preparation for 
        postsecondary education, and experiential learning 
        opportunities (such as apprenticeships, mentorships, 
        internships), in the areas of science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics.
            ``(9) Facilitating internships in science, mathematics, 
        engineering, or technology for female students.
            ``(10) Providing professional development for teachers and 
        other school personnel that includes--
                    ``(A) topics on how to eliminate gender bias in the 
                classroom;
                    ``(B) topics on how to engage students in the face 
                of gender-based peer pressure and parental 
                expectations; and
                    ``(C) increased instructional strategies and 
                content knowledge of science, mathematics, engineering, 
                and technology.
    ``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--The Secretary shall require each 
eligible local educational agency receiving a grant under this part to 
supplement, and not to supplant, any other assistance or funds made 
available from non-Federal sources for the activities assisted under 
this part.
    ``(f) Evaluations.--Each eligible local educational agency that 
receives a grant under this part shall provide the Secretary, at the 
conclusion of every school year during which the funds are received, 
with an evaluation assessing the improvements made in the areas 
described in subsection (a), in a form prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(g) Eligible Local Educational Agency Defined.--For purposes of 
this part, the term `eligible local educational agency' means a local 
educational agency that serves underrepresented or low-income students.

``SEC. 4702. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 through 2027.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for such Act (20 
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end of the items 
relating to title IV the following:

            ``Part G--Preparing Females for the 21st Century

``Sec. 4701. Program authority.
``Sec. 4702. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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