Innovations in Informal STEM Learning Act
Bill: H.R.3859 | Sponsor: Rep. Kim, Young (R-CA)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Innovations in Informal STEM Learning Act
This bill requires the National Science Foundation to provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for research on programming that engages students in prekindergarten through 8th grade in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to prepare students for STEM degrees or careers.

To encourage and promote further research into informal learning 
 opportunities to engage youth in STEM fields, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Innovations in Informal STEM 
Learning Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 2 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 is amended as follows:
            (1) In the header, by striking ``definition of stem 
        education'' and inserting ``definitions''.
            (2) By striking ``For purposes of'' and inserting ``(a) In 
        General.--For purposes of''.
            (3) By inserting at the end the following:
    ``(b) Other Definitions.--For the purposes of this Act, the 
following:
            ``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            ``(2) Non-profit organization.--The term `non-profit 
        organization' means an organization which is described in 
        section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
        exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such code.
            ``(3) PreK-8.--The term `preK-8' means pre-kindergarten 
        through grade 8.''.

SEC. 3. SUPPORTING PREK-8 INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

    Section 3 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 1862q) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) PreK-8 Informal STEM Education Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall provide grants to institutions of higher 
        education or a non-profit organizations (or a consortia of such 
        intuitions or organization) on a merit-reviewed, competitive 
        basis for research on programming that engages students in 
        grades preK-8, including underrepresented and rural students, 
        in STEM education in order to prepare such students to pursue 
        degrees or careers in STEM subjects.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Grants awarded under this 
                section shall be used toward research to advance the 
                engagement of students, including underrepresented and 
                rural students, in grades preK-8 in STEM through 
                providing before-school, after-school, out-of-school, 
                or summer activities, including in single-gender 
                environments or programming, that are designed to 
                encourage interest, engagement, and skills development 
                for students in STEM.
                    ``(B) Permitted activities.--The activities 
                described in subparagraph (A) may include--
                            ``(i) the provision of programming 
                        described in such subparagraph for the purpose 
                        of research described in such subparagraph;
                            ``(ii) the use of a variety of engagement 
                        methods, including cooperative and hands-on 
                        learning;
                            ``(iii) exposure of students to role models 
                        in the fields of STEM and near-peer mentors;
                            ``(iv) training of informal learning 
                        educators, youth-serving professionals, and 
                        volunteers who lead informal STEM programs in 
                        using evidence-based methods consistent with 
                        the target student population being served;
                            ``(v) education of students on the 
                        relevance and significance of STEM careers, 
                        provision of academic advice and assistance, 
                        and activities designed to help students make 
                        real-world connections to STEM content;
                            ``(vi) the attendance of students at 
                        events, competitions, and academic programs to 
                        provide content expertise and encourage career 
                        exposure in STEM;
                            ``(vii) activities designed to engage 
                        parents and families of students in grades 
                        preK-8 in STEM, which may include the purchase 
                        of parts and supplies needed to participate in 
                        such competitions;
                            ``(viii) innovative strategies to engage 
                        students, such as using leadership skills and 
                        outcome measures to impart youth with the 
                        confidence to pursue STEM coursework and 
                        academic study;
                            ``(ix) coordination with STEM-rich 
                        environments, including other nonprofit, 
                        nongovernmental organizations, out-of-classroom 
                        settings, single-gender environments, 
                        institutions of higher education, vocational 
                        facilities, corporations, museums, or science 
                        centers; and
                            ``(x) the acquisition of instructional 
                        materials or technology-based tools to conduct 
                        applicable grant activity.
            ``(3) Application.--An applicant seeking funding under this 
        section shall submit an application at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as may be required. 
        Applications that include or partner with a nonprofit, 
        nongovernmental organization that has extensive experience and 
        expertise in increasing the participation of students in preK-8 
        in STEM are encouraged. The application may include the 
        following:
                    ``(A) A description of the target audience to be 
                served by the research activity or activities for which 
                such funding is sought.
                    ``(B) A description of the process for recruitment 
                and selection of students to participate in such 
                activities.
                    ``(C) A description of how such activity or 
                activities may inform programming that engages students 
                in grades preK-8 in STEM.
                    ``(D) A description of how such activity or 
                activities may inform programming that promotes student 
                academic achievement in STEM.
                    ``(E) An evaluation plan that includes, at a 
                minimum, the use of outcome-oriented measures to 
                determine the impact and efficacy of programming being 
                researched.
            ``(4) 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 in a form 
        prescribed by the Director.
            ``(5) Accountability and dissemination.--
                    ``(A) Evaluation required.--The Director shall 
                evaluate the activities established under this section. 
                Such evaluation shall--
                            ``(i) use a common set of benchmarks and 
                        tools to assess the results of research 
                        conducted under such grants; and
                            ``(ii) to the extent practicable, integrate 
                        the findings of the research resulting from the 
                        activity or activities funded through the grant 
                        with the current research on serving students 
                        with respect to the pursuit of degrees or 
                        careers in STEM, including underrepresented and 
                        rural students, in grades preK-8.
                    ``(B) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 180 
                days after the completion of the evaluation under 
                subparagraph (A), the Director shall submit to Congress 
                and make widely available to the public a report that 
                includes--
                            ``(i) the results of the evaluation; and
                            ``(ii) any recommendations for 
                        administrative and legislative action that 
                        could optimize the effectiveness of the program 
                        under this section.
            ``(6) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effectiveness 
        and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, cooperate, and 
        coordinate with the programs and policies of other relevant 
        Federal agencies.''.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INDUSTRY INVESTMENT IN STEM 
              EDUCATION.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) In order to bolster the STEM workforce pipeline, many 
        industry sectors are becoming involved in preK-8 initiatives to 
        educate students on the relevance and significance of STEM 
        careers and expose students to role models in the fields of 
        STEM and near-peer mentors to foster their interest in STEM;
            (2) Partnerships with education providers, STEM focused 
        competitions, and academic programs, have become important 
        aspects of private sector efforts to strengthen the STEM 
        workforce;
            (3) Understanding the work that private sector 
        organizations are undertaking in STEM fields should inform the 
        Federal Government's role in STEM education; and
            (4) Successful private sector STEM initiatives, as 
        reflected by measurements of relevant outcomes, should be 
        encouraged and support by the National Science Foundation.
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