STEM Pathways Through College Act
Bill: H.R.8231 | Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe (D-CO)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
STEM Pathways Through College Act
This bill requires the Department of Education to award competitive grants to eligible entities for increasing the number of students accessing and completing postsecondary STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) pathways.
Eligible entity refers to a partnership between the state educational agency, one or more local educational agencies, and the state public higher education system. The partnership may also include other entities, such as businesses and nonprofit organizations.

To authorize a grant program to support equitable access to 
                      postsecondary STEM pathways.

    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 ``STEM Pathways Through College Act''.

SEC. 2. POSTSECONDARY STEM PATHWAYS GRANTS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to support equitable 
access to postsecondary STEM pathways to increase the number of 
students exposed to high-quality STEM advanced coursework, support 
students in reducing college costs, improve postsecondary credit 
transfers, and increase postsecondary completion.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Advanced coursework.--The term ``advanced coursework'' 
        means coursework designed for students to earn postsecondary 
        credit upon its successful completion while still in high 
        school, including coursework or assessments associated with 
        Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, a dual or 
        concurrent enrollment program, or an early college high school 
        program.
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        partnership that--
                    (A) shall include--
                            (i) the State educational agency;
                            (ii) one or more local educational agencies 
                        located in the State, which may include an 
                        educational service agency; and
                            (iii) either--
                                    (I) the State public higher 
                                education system inclusive of all 2-
                                year and 4-year public institutions of 
                                higher education in the State; or
                                    (II) a consortium of the State's 
                                public higher education institutions or 
                                systems that, together, is inclusive of 
                                all 2-year and 4-year public 
                                institutions of higher education in the 
                                State; and
                    (B) may include 1 or more businesses, associations, 
                or nonprofit organizations representing businesses, 
                private nonprofit institutions of higher education, 
                nonprofit organizations, a State workforce agency, or a 
                State workforce development board established under 
                section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act (29 U.S.C. 3111).
            (3) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``dual or concurrent 
        enrollment program'', ``early college high school'', 
        ``educational service agency'' ``elementary school'', ``English 
        learner'', ``evidence-based'', ``high school'', ``institution 
        of higher education'', ``local educational agency'', ``middle 
        grades'', ``other staff'', ``professional development'', 
        ``regular high school diploma'', ``Secretary'', ``State'', 
        ``State educational agency'', and ``technology'' shall have the 
        meaning given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the chief 
        executive officer of a State.
            (5) Perkins definitions.--The terms ``career and technical 
        education'' and ``work-based learning'' have the meaning given 
        the terms in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            (6) Postsecondary stem pathway.--The term ``postsecondary 
        STEM pathway'' means a sequence of courses focused on STEM 
        education, including advanced coursework approved by the 
        eligible entity taken at any point during high school that--
                    (A) when taken together, provide at least 12 credit 
                hours or the equivalent coursework toward an associate 
                degree or baccalaureate degree, or, in the case of 
                postsecondary credit in career and technical education 
                earned through such sequence of courses, credit toward 
                a recognized postsecondary credential for a high-skill, 
                high-wage, or in-demand industry sector or occupation; 
                and
                    (B) if completed successfully, results in credit 
                that--
                            (i) satisfies requirements for the State's 
                        regular high school diploma; and
                            (ii) is a part of the statewide 
                        articulation agreement described in subsection 
                        (d)(2)(B); and
                    (C) may include work-based learning in a STEM field 
                aligned with the academic coursework offered in a 
                postsecondary STEM pathway.
            (7) STEM education.--The term ``STEM education'' means 
        courses, activities, high-quality instruction, and learning in 
        the subjects of science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics, including computer science.
            (8) Subgroup of students.--The term ``subgroup of 
        students'' means--
                    (A) students from a family with a low income;
                    (B) students of color;
                    (C) children with disabilities, as defined in 
                section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabilities 
                Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(3));
                    (D) English learners;
                    (E) migratory children, as described in section 
                1309(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6399(3));
                    (F) homeless children and youths, as defined in 
                section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a);
                    (G) students who are in foster care or are aging 
                out of the foster care system; and
                    (H) first-generation college students.
            (9) WIOA definitions.--The terms ``in-demand industry 
        sector or occupation'' and ``recognized postsecondary 
        credential'' have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of 
        the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (10) Students from a family with a low income.--The term 
        ``students from a family with a low income'' includes any 
        student who is identified by any of the measures described in 
        section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)).
            (11) First-generation college student.--The term ``first-
        generation college student'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 402A(h) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1070a-11(h)).
    (c) Authorization of Grants.--
            (1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under 
        subsection (i) and not reserved under paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
        eligible entities to enable those eligible entities to 
        implement activities described under subsection (e).
            (2) Reservations.--From the total amount appropriated under 
        subsection (i) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve--
                    (A) 1 percent for the Bureau of Indian Education to 
                improve access to postsecondary STEM pathways;
                    (B) 2 percent to conduct the evaluation described 
                under subsection (g); and
                    (C) 2 percent for technical assistance and 
                dissemination, which may include--
                            (i) providing, directly or through grants, 
                        contracts, or cooperative agreements, technical 
                        assistance on using evidence-based practices to 
                        improve the outcomes of activities funded under 
                        this section; and
                            (ii) disseminating information on evidence-
                        based practices that are successful in 
                        improving the quality of activities funded 
                        under this section.
            (3) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be 
        for a period of not more than 5 years.
            (4) Renewal.--The Secretary may renew a grant awarded under 
        this section for 1 additional 2-year period for programs that 
        meet the goals specified in subsection (d)(4)(B) of the initial 
        grant.
            (5) Diversity of projects.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent 
        practicable, grants are distributed among eligible entities 
        that will serve geographically diverse areas, including urban, 
        suburban, and rural areas.
            (6) Sufficient size and scope.--Each grant awarded under 
        this section shall be of sufficient size and scope to allow the 
        eligible entity to carry out the purposes of this section.
            (7) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to applications that--
                    (A) provide postsecondary STEM pathways to a high 
                proportion of the State's students enrolled in high 
                schools operated by local educational agencies;
                    (B) prioritize evidence-based strategies to ensure 
                subgroups of students have equitable access to 
                postsecondary STEM pathways; and
                    (C) are submitted by eligible entities that include 
                local educational agencies who are in the highest 
                quartile of local educational agencies, in a ranking of 
                all qualified local educational agencies in the State, 
                ranked in descending order by the number or percentage 
                of children in each agency counted under section 
                1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
    (d) Eligible Entity Application.--In order to receive a grant under 
subsection (c)(1), the eligible entity shall submit an application to 
the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such application 
shall include, at a minimum--
            (1) signatures from the Governor, chief State school 
        officer, and State higher education executive officer verifying 
        the eligible entity shall meet the requirements described in 
        paragraph (2) within the specified timeframe;
            (2) a description of how the eligible entity will, not 
        later than 2 years after the date of the initial receipt of 
        funds under this section--
                    (A) ensure STEM postsecondary pathways are aligned 
                with entrance requirements for credit-bearing 
                coursework at the State's public institutions of higher 
                education; and
                    (B) develop a formal, universal statewide 
                articulation agreement among all public institutions of 
                higher education or systems in the State--
                            (i) to guarantee that--
                                    (I) all advanced coursework 
                                successfully completed as part of a 
                                postsecondary STEM pathway results in 
                                credit that--
                                            (aa) counts as credit for a 
                                        regular high school diploma;
                                            (bb) fully transfers to, 
                                        and is credited by, all public 
                                        institutions of higher 
                                        education in the State, and 
                                        that such credits will count 
                                        toward meeting related degree 
                                        or certificate requirements; 
                                        and
                                            (cc) is transferable to any 
                                        private nonprofit institution 
                                        of higher education or public 
                                        institution of higher education 
                                        located in another State that 
                                        chooses to participate in the 
                                        articulation agreement; and
                                    (II) if a student earns an 
                                associate degree (including an 
                                associate degree in applied science) as 
                                part of a postsecondary STEM pathway, 
                                such associate degree, awarded by a 
                                participating institution of higher 
                                education in the State, shall be fully 
                                acceptable in transfer and credited as 
                                the first 2 years of a related 
                                baccalaureate program at a public 
                                institution of higher education in such 
                                State; and
                            (ii) to facilitate the seamless transfer of 
                        credit earned in the postsecondary STEM pathway 
                        among such institutions of higher education, 
                        including between 2-year and 4-year public 
                        institutions of higher education and private 
                        nonprofit institutions of higher education (if 
                        such private nonprofit institutions of higher 
                        education choose to participate in the 
                        articulation agreement), by using methods such 
                        as--
                                    (I) common course numbering;
                                    (II) a general education core 
                                curriculum; and
                                    (III) management systems regarding 
                                course equivalency, transfer of credit, 
                                and articulation;
            (3) a description of how the eligible entity will 
        disseminate information to subgroups of students in the middle 
        grades and high school served by the eligible entity, including 
        their families, about the opportunity to participate in a 
        postsecondary STEM pathway and the benefits of participation;
            (4) a description of how the eligible entity will implement 
        postsecondary STEM pathways in all local educational agencies 
        participating in the eligible entity, including--
                    (A) the timeline and plan to provide, by the end of 
                the grant period, a substantial number of students in 
                the State the opportunity to participate in a 
                postsecondary STEM pathway; and
                    (B) annual goals for participation in advanced 
                coursework and postsecondary STEM pathways among 
                subgroups of students such that, if the goals are met--
                            (i) significant progress will be made 
                        toward improving equity in access to advanced 
                        coursework and postsecondary STEM pathways 
                        across the local educational agencies within 
                        the eligible entity in the State; and
                            (ii) the demographics of students 
                        participating in advanced coursework and 
                        postsecondary STEM pathways will be similar to 
                        the demographics of total student enrollment in 
                        the State the eligible entity is located in by 
                        the end of the grant period;
            (5) a description of how the eligible entity has, or will, 
        ensure that postsecondary STEM pathways are aligned with in-
        demand industries or occupations and provide students with 
        opportunities for work-based learning;
            (6) a description of how the eligible entity consulted with 
        stakeholders in development of its application and how the 
        eligible entity will continue to engage, collaborate, and 
        solicit feedback with stakeholders to improve implementation of 
        the application requirements described in this subsection and 
        uses of funds described in subsection (e), including--
                    (A) the State board of education (if the State has 
                a State board of education);
                    (B) the State higher education governing or 
                coordinating entity (if the State has such an entity);
                    (C) a State board or local board, as defined in 
                section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
                Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)
                    (D) the State agency responsible for the 
                administration of career and technical education in the 
                State or for the supervision of the administration of 
                career and technical education in the State (if the 
                State has such an entity);
                    (E) institutions of higher education in the State;
                    (F) local educational agencies, including those 
                located in rural areas and with the highest enrollments 
                of students from low income families, as described in 
                subsection (c)(7)(C);
                    (G) representatives of Indian Tribes located in the 
                State;
                    (H) charter school leaders (if the State has 
                charter schools);
                    (I) civil rights organizations in the State;
                    (J) business leaders or their representatives in 
                the State;
                    (K) teachers, principals, and other school leaders; 
                and
                    (L) parents and students;
            (7) an assurance that the eligible entity will provide 
        postsecondary STEM pathways at no cost to students and 
        families, including that students and their parents shall not 
        be required to pay the cost of tuition, fees (including 
        examination fees associated with Advanced Placement, 
        International Baccalaureate, and similar examinations), books, 
        and supplies necessary to successfully complete postsecondary 
        STEM pathways;
            (8) an assurance that not less than half of grant funds 
        received by the eligible entity will be used to support 
        subgroups of students in accessing and completing postsecondary 
        STEM pathways; and
            (9) an assurance that the State will comply with the 
        supplement, not supplant requirement described under subsection 
        (h).
    (e) Uses of Funds.--
            (1) Required uses.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section shall use grant funds to carry out the 
        following:
                    (A) Activities to implement the alignment 
                requirements pursuant to subsection (d)(2) for a period 
                of time not to exceed the first 2 fiscal years for 
                which the grant is provided.
                    (B) Supporting the development and implementation 
                of postsecondary STEM pathways consistent with the 
                timeline, plan, and goals specified in subsection 
                (d)(4) in order to increase the number of students 
                accessing and completing postsecondary STEM pathways in 
                the State, including--
                            (i) expanding advanced coursework offered 
                        to students served by the eligible entity to 
                        increase the availability of postsecondary STEM 
                        pathways;
                            (ii) covering tuition, fees (including 
                        examination fees associated with Advanced 
                        Placement, International Baccalaureate, and 
                        similar examinations), books, and supplies for 
                        students participating in postsecondary STEM 
                        pathways, in accordance with subsection (d)(7); 
                        and
                            (iii) covering transportation costs 
                        necessary for full participation in 
                        postsecondary STEM pathways for students from a 
                        family with a low income.
                    (C) Implementing programs and activities to improve 
                student preparation for, and participation in 
                postsecondary STEM pathways, with a priority for 
                students enrolled in local educational agencies 
                described in subsection (c)(7)(C) and subgroups of 
                students, which may include--
                            (i) using data from evidence-based early 
                        warning indicator systems;
                            (ii) providing supplemental advising or 
                        counseling activities that are voluntary to 
                        students, including information on choosing 
                        postsecondary options, applying for financial 
                        aid, completing applications to institutions of 
                        higher education, and career counseling and 
                        advising, beginning as early as the middle 
                        grades; and
                            (iii) other evidence-based activities to 
                        support the successful implementation of 
                        postsecondary STEM pathways and students' 
                        transition from high school to postsecondary 
                        education.
                    (D) Conducting outreach and communicating with 
                subgroups of students, including their families, to 
                build awareness about the opportunity to participate in 
                a postsecondary STEM pathway and the benefits of 
                participation.
            (2) Permitted uses.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section may also use grant funds to--
                    (A) provide training, professional development, or 
                recruitment for educators employed by the local 
                educational agencies within the eligible entity and for 
                faculty who teach courses that are included in a 
                postsecondary STEM pathway, including increasing the 
                number of educators qualified to teach dual or 
                concurrent enrollment programs in STEM courses, to 
                improve access and completion of such pathways, 
                particularly for subgroups of students; and
                    (B) carry out capacity-building efforts to improve 
                the coordination between the elementary and secondary 
                education system and the higher education system, 
                including through stakeholder engagement and 
                monitoring.
            (3) Transportation cap.--An eligible entity shall not use 
        more than 25 percent of grant funds to cover transportation 
        costs authorized under paragraph (1)(B)(iii).
    (f) Reporting Requirements.--
            (1) Eligible entity reporting.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the enactment of this section and every year thereafter, the 
        eligible entity shall provide a report to the Secretary 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
        including, at a minimum--
                    (A) information on the progress of the eligible 
                entity in establishing the policies and completing the 
                required activities as specified in subsection (d)(2);
                    (B) the number and percentage of local educational 
                agencies and institutions of higher education in the 
                State offering a postsecondary STEM pathway, including 
                changes year-over-year, and the extent to which the 
                eligible entity was meeting its timeline, plan, and 
                goals specified in subsection (d)(4);
                    (C) the eligible entity's progress in meeting the 
                goals established by the eligible entity for the 
                participation of subgroups of students in postsecondary 
                STEM pathways as specified in subsection (d)(4);
                    (D) evidence demonstrating how the eligible entity 
                certified each such pathway meets all the requirements 
                of this section;
                    (E) the number and percentage of students in the 
                State, including disaggregated by each subgroup of 
                students, and by sex, who--
                            (i) participate in a postsecondary STEM 
                        pathway; and
                            (ii) participate in a postsecondary STEM 
                        pathway and--
                                    (I) successfully complete a 
                                postsecondary STEM pathway;
                                    (II) enroll in an institution of 
                                higher education and received credit, 
                                in accordance with the alignment 
                                requirements described in subsection 
                                (d)(2);
                                    (III) receive credit toward a 
                                recognized postsecondary credential for 
                                a high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand 
                                industry sector or occupation; and
                                    (IV) earn a postsecondary 
                                credential; and
                    (F) any additional information as the Secretary may 
                reasonably require to ensure compliance with the 
                requirements of this section and to effectively 
                evaluate, monitor, and improve grant implementation.
            (2) Secretary's report.--Not later than 6 months after 
        receiving the initial report described in paragraph (1) and 
        annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives that includes a summary of reports submitted by 
        eligible entities and identifies best practices related to 
        improving access to STEM education and postsecondary education, 
        particularly for subgroups of students, through the 
        implementation of postsecondary STEM pathways.
    (g) Evaluation.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
Institute of Education Sciences, shall conduct an independent 
evaluation after the initial award of grants under this section, of the 
policies and services provided under this section, including at a 
minimum, the impact of such policies and services on outcomes for all 
students, particularly for subgroups of students, with regard to each 
of the following:
            (1) Enrollment in and completion of advanced coursework 
        during high school, including the number of courses students 
        take and the number of credits students earn.
            (2) Postsecondary enrollment, remediation, first-year 
        credit attainment, persistence, and completion including the 
        number of students who enrolled in a STEM field, and the number 
        of students who received a credential in a STEM field.
            (3) The rate at which credits earned through postsecondary 
        STEM pathways are recognized for credit by public institutions 
        of higher education institutions.
            (4) Postsecondary degree attainment, including completion 
        of an associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or recognized 
        postsecondary credential, and the time it takes students to 
        earn a degree.
            (5) Changes in access and rigor of STEM education offered 
        to students served by local educational agencies in eligible 
        entities.
            (6) To the extent practicable, analysis of student outcomes 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (5) by STEM field.
    (h) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Federal funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal, 
State, or local funds available to carry out activities described in 
this section.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
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