Title: Developing Tomorrow's Engineering and Technical Workforce Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Developing Tomorrow's Engineering and Technical Workforce Act
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a competitive grant program for state and local educational agencies to implement engineering education programs in elementary and secondary schools. An engineering education program must: (1) teach students the overall analytical and experimental approaches used in engineering, and (2) increase participation of underrepresented student groups in the engineering pipeline.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4023 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4023

 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award 
grants to States educational agencies and local educational agencies to 
    support, develop, and implement formal and informal engineering 
    education programs in elementary schools and secondary schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2017

Mr. Ryan of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Reed) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                             the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award 
grants to States educational agencies and local educational agencies to 
    support, develop, and implement formal and informal engineering 
    education programs in elementary schools and secondary schools.

    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 ``Developing Tomorrow's Engineering 
and Technical Workforce Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The vitality of the innovation economy in the United 
        States depends on the availability of an educated technical 
        workforce. A key component of this workforce consists of 
        engineers, engineering technicians, and engineering 
        technologists.
            (2) There is a widening skills gap between what schools 
        teach and the types of skills presently needed in the job 
        market and the higher skills sets needed for the 21st century 
        workforce.
            (3) Available evidence suggests that formal and informal 
        engineering education both in and after school can stimulate 
        interest and improve learning in mathematics and science as 
        well as improve understanding of engineering and technology.
            (4) Early engineering education is a vital component in 
        attaining licensure as a professional engineer that requires 
        rigorous education, training, experience, and continuing 
        education.
            (5) Few States have included engineering in their science 
        or technology and vocational standards, and few local 
        educational agencies and nonprofit entities provide informal or 
        after-school engineering education programs.
            (6) According to the National Academy of Engineering there 
        is not at present a critical mass of teachers qualified to 
        deliver formal and informal engineering instruction.
            (7) It is imperative that teachers have relevant 
        professional training that coordinates concepts in engineering 
        with the diverse learning styles of students.

SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.

    Part F of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7251 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 4601--
                    (A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by inserting ``(other than subpart 5)'' 
                before ``part''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations for Subpart 5.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 5--
            ``(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and 2020; 
        and
            ``(2) $21,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 and 
        2022.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

                   ``Subpart 5--Engineering Education

``SEC. 4651. GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 4601(c), 
the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
entities to implement formal and informal engineering education 
programs in elementary schools and secondary schools to--
            ``(1) teach students the overall analytical and 
        experimental approaches used in engineering and engineering 
        technology; and
            ``(2) increase participation of underrepresented student 
        groups in the engineering and engineering technology pipeline.
    ``(b) Maximum Grant Amount.--A grant awarded under this subpart may 
not exceed $1,000,000.
    ``(c) Matching Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this subpart shall provide non-Federal funds in amount equal to the 
grant amount. Such non-Federal funds may include in-kind support (such 
as equipment, supplies, materials, and participation of personnel in 
the development and implementation of activities to be carried out 
under the grant).
    ``(d) Uses of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this subpart shall use such funds to carry out a program 
        that--
                    ``(A) provides engineering instructional materials 
                based on review and analysis of the effectiveness of 
                existing formal, or informal research-based and 
                evidenced-based locally relevant instructional 
                materials;
                    ``(B) provides professional development for pre-
                service and in-service teachers to teach engineering;
                    ``(C) provides instructions on engineering and 
                engineering technology during normal classroom hours or 
                after school;
                    ``(D) incorporates evidence-based practices to 
                increase diversity of student groups participating in 
                the program;
                    ``(E) encourages participation of engineers from 
                local private and public organizations to mentor the 
                teachers and students; and
                    ``(F) encourages engineering faculty and students 
                from institutions of higher education as mentors for 
                the elementary school or secondary school students, and 
                teachers as appropriate.
            ``(2) State educational agencies.--In the case of an 
        eligible entity that is a State educational agency, such entity 
        shall award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry 
        out the program described in paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Public-private partnerships.--Each eligible entity 
        awarded a grant under this subpart shall be encouraged to carry 
        out the program funded under the grant in partnership with one 
        or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Elementary schools or secondary schools 
                receiving assistance under this subpart.
                    ``(B) Institutions of higher education.
                    ``(C) Private sector businesses.
                    ``(D) Nonprofit organizations.
                    ``(E) Community-based organizations.
                    ``(F) Public or private entities with demonstrated 
                record of success in delivering educational support.
    ``(e) Applications.--An application for a grant under this subpart 
submitted by an eligible entity shall demonstrate long-term commitment 
for the proposed program through--
            ``(1) providing laboratory and instructional space;
            ``(2) establishing ongoing professional training programs 
        for pre-service and in-service teachers and teachers in-
        residence;
            ``(3) commitment to scaling successful programs for 
        engineering and engineering technology education in elementary 
        schools and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of the 
        eligible entity; and
            ``(4) commitment to serving diverse student groups such as 
        underrepresented or economically disadvantaged student groups.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a State educational agency; or
                    ``(B) a local educational agency that is not 
                receiving a subgrant under this subpart for the fiscal 
                year for which the agency is applying for a grant under 
                this subpart.
            ``(2) Instructional materials.--The term `instructional 
        materials' means materials that--
                    ``(A) emphasize--
                            ``(i) engineering fundamentals and 
                        concepts, problem-based learning; and
                            ``(ii) essential skills such as systems 
                        thinking, creativity, teamwork, communication, 
                        and ethical considerations;
                    ``(B) are designed to introduce students to modern 
                engineering and engineering technology tools such as 
                computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, 
                statistical analysis, codes and standards, human 
                factors, and reliability analysis; and
                    ``(C) are aligned with and integrated into relevant 
                science, engineering, and mathematics standards that 
                may exist in the applicable State or may be developed.

``SEC. 4652. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``Not later than 1 year after the first grant is awarded under this 
subpart, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a report 
to Congress on activities and results under this subpart. Such reports 
shall describe--
            ``(1) the total number of grant applications received for 
        the preceding each year;
            ``(2) the number and geographic distribution of the grants 
        for such year and for all grants awarded under this subpart;
            ``(3) participation of minority-serving institutions of 
        higher education, such as historically Black colleges and 
        universities and Hispanic-serving institutions;
            ``(4) participation of underrepresented and economically 
        disadvantaged student groups;
            ``(5) plans for collaboration among eligible entities 
        receiving a grant under this subpart;
            ``(6) overall program outcomes and issues of concern; and
            ``(7) recommendations for program revisions to achieve the 
        desired program outcome.''.

SEC. 4. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 4644 the following:

                   ``subpart 5--engineering education

``4651. Grant program authorized.
``4652. Annual report to Congress.''.
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