Title: INSPIRES Act
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Inspiring New STEM Professionals by Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces Act or the INSPIRES Act
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to establish grant programs: (1) for the modernization, renovation, or repair of career- and technical-education facilities; and (2) to enable secondary schools that are located in rural areas or that serve Native American students to improve facilities that provide science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and to support high-speed Internet in STEM facilities.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3589 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3589

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by 
  establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or 
  repair of career and technical education facilities, and to enable 
schools serving grades 6 through 12 that are located in rural areas or 
that serve Native American students to remodel or build new facilities 
  to provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed 
                   internet, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 11, 2018

  Mr. Schatz introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by 
  establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or 
  repair of career and technical education facilities, and to enable 
schools serving grades 6 through 12 that are located in rural areas or 
that serve Native American students to remodel or build new facilities 
  to provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed 
                   internet, 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 ``Inspiring New STEM Professionals by 
Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces Act'' or the ``INSPIRES 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Technological advancement has increased the types of 
        jobs available now and for the foreseeable future. Over the 
        next 10 years, employers will be looking to fill an estimated 
        2,600,000 openings for the top 10 occupations in the collective 
        fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        (referred to in this section as ``STEM''). STEM jobs pay well; 
        STEM workers earn an average of $14,000 per year more than non-
        STEM workers at every education level. However, projections 
        suggest that the United States won't have enough skilled 
        workers to fill STEM jobs.
            (2) STEM skills and knowledge are now required in a wide 
        range of occupations, including many that are not traditionally 
        considered to be science or engineering-related, such as 
        sustainable agriculture, management of natural resources, and 
        health care. Because of the growing use of STEM skills across 
        all job sectors, the distinction between a ``rural'' as 
        compared to an ``urban'' job is blurring. For instance, 
        renewable energy development and bio-based product 
        manufacturing employ workers in a variety of areas of the 
        United States. Known as the ``new collar'' economy, the 
        phenomenal growth in job opportunities for those who are 
        prepared will also support the growth of communities; places to 
        raise families and invest in the future.
            (3) In the middle grades, students begin to demonstrate 
        formal logical operations (critical thinking). Further, middle 
        school students have been shown to be highly susceptible to 
        developing opinions about their competence and interest in STEM 
        learning. Research has also shown that interest in mathematics 
        and science declines during the middle school years. While 
        students in any grade level can benefit from STEM education, 
        the evidence points to ensuring quality STEM education for 
        middle school students. Good STEM experiences in middle school 
        will lead to positive attitudes toward and expectations of STEM 
        experiences in high school.
            (4) Native American communities, including American Indian, 
        Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations, have a long 
        history of discrimination and poverty and have higher high 
        school drop out rates than other underserved groups. In 
        assessments of mathematics and reading throughout elementary 
        and secondary school grades, American Indian and Alaska Native 
        children score lower in mathematics and reading proficiency as 
        compared to other groups. Only 28 percent of Native Hawaiians 
        students in Hawaii demonstrate mathematics proficiency as 
        compared with 49 percent of non-Native Hawaiian students. In 
        reading, 34.8 percent of Native Hawaiian students tested 
        proficient compared to 54.3 percent of non-Native Hawaiian 
        students. These underserved and socially disadvantaged groups 
        require support and motivation to achieve success in their 
        education.
            (5) To meet the challenge of educating youth to fulfill the 
        demand for STEM workers, public schools in the United States 
        must be equipped to educate all youth in STEM skills, 
        especially youth who are underserved or socially disadvantaged.
            (6) The median age of United States schools is 65 years. 
        Nearly 50 percent of school buildings in the United States need 
        significant repairs or upgrades, including clean and safe 
        classrooms and laboratory spaces, up-to-date technology, and 
        broadband. Moreover, the condition of school facilities has a 
        measurable effect on student achievement.
            (7) For all of these reasons, the future workforce of the 
        United States needs safe, clean, well-equipped school 
        facilities where, regardless of historic or current 
        disadvantages, students can reach their full potential and 
        learn the knowledge and skills that place students on a secure 
        pathway to enhance the capacity of the United States to compete 
        globally.

SEC. 3. STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES; CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) Career and Technical Education Facilities.--Title V of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part C as part E;
            (2) by redesignating sections 5301 and 5302 as sections 
        5501 and 5502, respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after part B the following:

                  ``PART C--STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES

``SEC. 5301. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' means a 
        public school that--
                    ``(A) serves students in any of grades 6 through 
                12; and
                    ``(B)(i) is located--
                            ``(I) in a rural area, as defined in 
                        section 25.503 of title 7, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations;
                            ``(II) on or near trust land, as defined in 
                        section 3765 of title 38, United States Code;
                            ``(III) on or near a substantially 
                        underserved trust area, as defined in section 
                        306F of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 
                        (7 U.S.C. 936f); or
                            ``(IV) in an eligible community, as defined 
                        in section 1456 of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 300j-16); or
                    ``(ii) is determined by an Indian tribe or tribal 
                organization to serve Native American students.
            ``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            ``(3) Native american.--The term `Native American' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 102 of the Older Americans 
        Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
            ``(4) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the modernization, renovation, or repair of 
                facilities to provide STEM classrooms or laboratories, 
                including updates related to student and faculty health 
                and safety;
                    ``(B) building new facilities to provide STEM 
                classrooms or laboratories; or
                    ``(C) supporting the establishment and maintenance 
                of high-speed internet for a STEM classroom or 
                laboratory.
            ``(5) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the fields of science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, and related fields.
            ``(6) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 658P of the Child 
        Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

``SEC. 5302. STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program 
        to improve STEM education facilities by awarding grants to 
        States to enable those States to award subgrants to local 
        educational agencies to carry out qualified projects at 
        eligible schools.
            ``(2) Reservation of funds.--From amounts made available to 
        carry out this section, the Secretary shall reserve 10 percent 
        for Indian tribes and tribal organizations to enable Indian 
        tribes and tribal organizations to carry out qualified projects 
        at eligible schools.
    ``(b) Allocation.--From amounts appropriated to carry out this part 
for each fiscal year and not reserved under subsection (a)(2), the 
Secretary shall allot to each State that has an application approved 
under this section an amount that bears the same relationship as the 
number of schools in the State that are rural schools designated with a 
locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary, bears to 
the number of all such schools in the United States for that fiscal 
year.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) Grant application for states.--A State that desires 
        to receive a grant under this part shall submit an application 
        to the Secretary at such a time, in such a manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such 
        information shall include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) a description of the process that the State 
                will use in selecting and awarding subgrants to local 
                educational agencies; and
                    ``(B) an assurance that such process will meet the 
                requirements described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Subgrant application for leas.--A State that receives 
        a grant under this section shall require a local educational 
        agency that desires a subgrant to submit an application that 
        contains, at a minimum, the following information:
                    ``(A) A detailed description of the qualified 
                projects that the local educational agency will carry 
                out with subgrant funds.
                    ``(B) A description of the need for those qualified 
                projects.
                    ``(C) A description of how the local educational 
                agency will ensure that the qualified projects will be 
                adequately maintained.
                    ``(D) An identification of the eligible schools 
                that will benefit from the qualified projects.
                    ``(E) A description of how the facilities or 
                internet supported by the qualified project will be 
                used for providing educational services in science, 
                technology, engineering, or mathematics.
            ``(3) Grant application for indian tribes or tribal 
        organizations.--An Indian tribe or tribal organization desiring 
        a grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(d) Environmental Standards.--The Secretary shall encourage, but 
not require, local educational agencies, Indian tribes, and tribal 
organizations to ensure that the modernization, renovation, repair, or 
building supported by the qualified project meets Leadership in Energy 
and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating standards, Energy Star 
standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria, 
Green Building Initiative environmental design and rating standards 
(Green Globes), the Living Building Challenge certification standards, 
or equivalent standards adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or 
related to the local educational agency or Indian tribe or tribal 
organization.
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) States.--A state that receives a grant under 
        subsection (a)(1) shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an 
        amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant (which 
        may be provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out activities 
        supported by the grant.
            ``(2) LEAs.--A local educational agency that receives a 
        subgrant under subsection (a)(1) shall provide, from non-
        Federal sources, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of 
        the subgrant (which may be provided in cash or in-kind) to 
        carry out activities supported by the subgrant.
            ``(3) Indian tribes and tribal organizations.--An Indian 
        tribe or tribal organization that receives a grant under 
        subsection (a)(2) shall provide, from Federal or non-Federal 
        sources, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the 
        grant (which may be provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out 
        activities supported by the grant.
            ``(4) Suggested sources of matching funds for indian tribes 
        and tribal organizations.--An Indian tribe or tribal 
        organization that receives a grant under this section may 
        provide matching funds through any of the following Federal 
        programs, or through another source:
                    ``(A) The Tribal College and University essential 
                community facilities program established under section 
                306(a)(25) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
                Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(25)).
                    ``(B) The Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native serving 
                institutions education grants program established under 
                section 1419B of the National Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                3156).
                    ``(C) The Impact Aid program established under 
                title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.).
                    ``(D) The Bureau of Indian Affairs Facilities 
                Improvement and Repair program.
                    ``(E) The Bureau of Indian Affairs Replacement 
                School Construction program.
    ``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and 
State funds available to carry out the activities supported under this 
part.
    ``(g) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary 
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated to carry out 
this part for the administrative costs of this part and to provide 
technical assistance to States, local educational agencies, Indian 
tribes, and tribal organizations concerning best practices in carrying 
out qualified projects.
    ``(h) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds 
are appropriated to carry out this part, and every 2 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported 
under this part on improving academic achievement.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part not less than $100,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2018 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.

          ``PART D--CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES

``SEC. 5401. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Career and technical education.--The term `career and 
        technical education' has the meaning given the term in section 
        3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
        2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            ``(2) Junior or community college.--The term `junior or 
        community college' includes--
                    ``(A) a junior or community college, as that term 
                is defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f));
                    ``(B) an institution of higher education (as 
                defined in section 101 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 
                that awards a significant number of degrees and 
                certificates, as determined by the Secretary, that are 
                not--
                            ``(i) baccalaureate degrees (or an 
                        equivalent); or
                            ``(ii) masters, professional, or other 
                        advanced degrees; and
                    ``(C) an institution of higher education described 
                in section 101(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
                (20 U.S.C. 1001(b)) that provides programs that are not 
                more than 2 years.
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an eligible institution;
                    ``(B) a junior or community college;
                    ``(C) a local educational agency;
                    ``(D) an Indian tribe;
                    ``(E) a tribal organization; or
                    ``(F) another entity determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(4) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means any of the following:
                    ``(A) An Alaska Native-serving institution or a 
                Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in 
                section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059d)), a Native American-serving, nontribal 
                institution (as defined in section 319 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f)), or an Asian 
                American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
                institution (as defined in section 320 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g)).
                    ``(B) A Tribal College or University, as defined in 
                section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059c).
                    ``(C) A 1890 Institution, as defined in section 2 
                of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
                Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
                    ``(D) A 1994 Institution, as defined in section 2 
                of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
                Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
                    ``(E) A Hispanic-serving agricultural college or 
                university, as defined in section 1404 of the National 
                Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
                Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
            ``(5) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            ``(6) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project'--
                    ``(A) means the modernization, renovation, or 
                repair of a facility that will be used to improve the 
                quality and availability of science, technology, 
                engineering, mathematics, or career and technical 
                education instruction to students, and that may 
                include--
                            ``(i) improving the energy efficiency of 
                        the facility;
                            ``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of 
                        the facility in delivering quality education;
                            ``(iii) improving student, faculty, and 
                        staff health and safety at the facility;
                            ``(iv) improving, installing, or upgrading 
                        educational technology infrastructure;
                            ``(v) retrofitting an existing building for 
                        career and technical education purposes; and
                            ``(vi) a one-time repair of serviceable 
                        equipment at the facility, or replacement of 
                        equipment at the facility that is at the end of 
                        its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to 
                        further educational outcomes; and
                    ``(B) does not include new construction or the 
                payment of routine maintenance costs.
            ``(7) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 658P of the Child 
        Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

``SEC. 5402. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated to carry out 
this part, the Secretary shall carry out a program to improve career 
and technical education facilities by--
            ``(1) awarding grants to eligible entities to enable the 
        eligible entities to carry out qualified projects;
            ``(2) guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for 
        qualified projects; or
            ``(3) making payments of interest on bonds, loans, or other 
        financial instruments (other than a refinancing) that are 
        issued to eligible entities for qualified projects.
    ``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a 
grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this part shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such a 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
The application shall include--
            ``(1) a detailed description of the qualified project;
            ``(2) in the case of a qualified project described in 
        section 5401(6)(A)(vi), a description of the educational 
        outcomes to be furthered by the one-time repair of serviceable 
        equipment or replacement of equipment;
            ``(3) an indication as to whether the eligible entity 
        prefers to receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of 
        interest;
            ``(4) a description of the need for the qualified project;
            ``(5) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure 
        that the qualified project will be adequately maintained;
            ``(6) a description of how the qualified project will 
        improve instruction and educational outcomes at the facility, 
        including any opportunities to integrate project activities 
        within the curriculum of a school or institution;
            ``(7) a description of how the facility supported by the 
        qualified project will be used for providing educational 
        services in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
        career and technical education;
            ``(8) a description of how the eligible entity will 
        describe how the modernization, renovation, or repair supported 
        by the qualified project meets Leadership in Energy and 
        Environmental Design (LEED) building rating standards, Energy 
        Star standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools 
        (CHPS) criteria, Green Building Initiative environmental design 
        and rating standards (Green Globes), the Living Building 
        Challenge certification standards, or equivalent standards 
        adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the 
        eligible entity;
            ``(9) a description of the fiscal capacity of the eligible 
        entity;
            ``(10) the percentage of students enrolled in the eligible 
        entity or a school or institution served by the eligible entity 
        to be served by the qualified project who are from low-income 
        families;
            ``(11) in the case of a qualified project at a facility 
        that is used by students in a secondary school, the secondary 
        school graduation rates; and
            ``(12) such additional information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and 
State funds available to carry out the activities supported under this 
part.
    ``(d) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary 
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated under 
subsection (g) for the administrative costs of this part and to provide 
technical assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in 
school facility renovation, repair, and modernization.
    ``(e) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds 
are appropriated to carry out this part, and every 2 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported 
under this part on improving academic achievement.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part not less than $100,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2018 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents in section 2 of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the item relating to part C of title V 
        as part E of title V;
            (2) by redesignating the items relating to sections 5301 
        and 5302 as 5501 and 5502, respectively; and
            (3) by inserting before the item relating to part E of 
        title V, as so redesignated, the following:

                  ``Part C--STEM Education Facilities

``Sec. 5301. Definitions.
``Sec. 5302. STEM education facilities improvement.
         ``Part D--Career and Technical Education Facilities''

``Sec. 5401. Definitions.
``Sec. 5402. Career and technical facilities improvement.''.
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