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 directs 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 mathematics (STEM) education and to support high-speed internet in STEM facilities.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3397 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3397

    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, 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

                             March 5, 2020

   Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Booker, Ms. 
 Warren, and Ms. Rosen) 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, 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) While students at all grade levels can benefit from 
        STEM education, the evidence points to ensuring quality STEM 
        education for middle school students during school and non-
        school hours. Good STEM experiences in middle school will lead 
        to positive attitudes toward and expectations of STEM 
        experiences in high school. 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. Providing students 
        with additional time in after school and summer STEM programs 
        allows students opportunities to engage in hands-on learning 
        that sparks interest in STEM fields and careers. Students who 
        engage in well-designed laboratory experiences develop problem-
        solving and critical-thinking skills, and gain exposure to 
        reactions, materials, and equipment in a lab setting. Sustained 
        investments in hands-on experiences help inspire students to 
        further their education and prepare them for high-technology 
        careers by fostering skills sought by potential employers. 
        Hands-on experiences significantly advance learning at all 
        levels of science education when appropriately designed and 
        guided by qualified educators, in a safe learning environment 
        that is student-centered and curriculum-driven. The classroom 
        should contain enough resources, space, and storage to permit 
        long-term multidisciplinary projects, individual and small-
        group learning, inquiry and project-based learning.
            (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 Hawaiian 
        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. Further, the United States is obligated under the 
        Federal trust responsibility to help raise the standard of 
        living and educational achievement of Native Americans to a 
        level comparable to non-Natives.
            (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. 7305 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 entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        local educational agency, a consortium of local educational 
        agencies, or an education service agency.
            ``(2) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' means--
                    ``(A) a public school that--
                            ``(i) serves students in any of grades 6 
                        through 12; and
                            ``(ii)(I) is located--
                                    ``(aa) in a rural area, as defined 
                                in section 25.503 of title 7, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations, or any successor 
                                regulation;
                                    ``(bb) on or near trust land, as 
                                defined in section 3765 of title 38, 
                                United States Code;
                                    ``(cc) on or near a substantially 
                                underserved trust area, as defined in 
                                section 306F(a) of the Rural 
                                Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 
                                936f(a)); or
                                    ``(dd) 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; or
                    ``(B) a Bureau-funded school, as defined in section 
                1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
                2021).
            ``(3) 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).
            ``(4) 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).
            ``(5) Public-private partnership.--The term `public-private 
        partnership' means a partnership--
                    ``(A) between a grantee or subgrantee under this 
                part and a private entity (which may be a nonprofit 
                organization, business, or other nongovernmental 
                entity); and
                    ``(B) through which the private entity will provide 
                some or all of the required match under section 
                5302(e).
            ``(6) 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, which may include--
                            ``(i) improving the energy efficiency of a 
                        facility;
                            ``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of 
                        a facility in delivering quality education;
                            ``(iii) improving student, faculty, and 
                        staff health and safety at a 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 a facility, or replacement of 
                        equipment at a facility that is at the end of 
                        its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to 
                        further educational outcomes;
                    ``(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.
            ``(7) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the fields of science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, and related fields 
        (including computer science).
            ``(8) 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.--The Secretary shall carry out a program 
to improve STEM education facilities by awarding grants to States, 
Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to enable those States, Indian 
tribes, and tribal organizations to carry out qualified projects at 
eligible schools or to award subgrants to eligible entities or tribal 
educational agencies to carry out qualified projects at eligible 
schools.
    ``(b) Reservation, Allotment, and Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Reservation of funds for indian tribes and tribal 
        organizations.--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, or to award subgrants to 
        tribal educational agencies to carry out, qualified projects at 
        eligible schools.
            ``(2) Allotments and use of funds for states.--
                    ``(A) Allotments.--From amounts appropriated to 
                carry out this part for each fiscal year and not 
                reserved under paragraph (1), 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 and on such 
                Indian lands for that fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Use of funds.--A State receiving an allotment 
                under subparagraph (A) shall use the allotment to award 
                subgrants to eligible entities to carry out qualified 
                projects at eligible schools.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) Grant application for states.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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--
                            ``(i) a description of the process that the 
                        State will use in selecting and awarding 
                        subgrants to eligible entities;
                            ``(ii) an assurance that such process will 
                        meet the requirements described in paragraph 
                        (2);
                            ``(iii) an assurance that in awarding 
                        subgrants to eligible entities, the State will 
                        give priority to eligible entities that are 
                        part of a public-private partnership; and
                            ``(iv) if the State has formed a public-
                        private partnership, a description of that 
                        partnership, including how the private entity 
                        partner will contribute to the required match 
                        under subsection (e)(1).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants to States, the 
                Secretary shall give priority to States that have 
                formed a public-private partnership.
            ``(2) Subgrant application.--A State that receives a grant 
        under this section shall require an eligible entity 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 eligible entity will carry out with 
                subgrant funds.
                    ``(B) A description of the need for those qualified 
                projects.
                    ``(C) A description of how the eligible entity 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 STEM during 
                the school day, summer, and in after school programs.
                    ``(F) If the eligible entity has formed a public-
                private partnership, a description of that partnership, 
                including how the private entity partner will 
                contribute to the required match under subsection 
                (e)(2).
            ``(3) Grant application for indian tribes or tribal 
        organizations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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, including a description of any 
                public-private partnership that the Indian tribe or 
                tribal organization has formed and how the private 
                entity in such partnership will contribute to the 
                required match described in subsection (e)(3).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants to Indian 
                tribes or tribal organizations, the Secretary shall 
                give priority to Indian tribes or tribal organizations 
                that have formed a public-private partnership.
    ``(d) Environmental Standards.--The Secretary shall encourage, but 
not require, eligible entities, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, 
and tribal educational agencies 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 eligible 
entity or Indian tribe or tribal organization.
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) States.--A State that receives a grant under 
        subsection (b)(2) 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) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives 
        a subgrant under subsection (b)(2)(B) 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 (b)(1) shall provide, from Federal or non-Federal 
        sources, an amount equal to 10 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) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the 
        matching funds requirement under this subsection for a State, 
        Indian tribe, or tribal organization if the Secretary 
        determines that the State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization 
        will be unlikely to satisfy the matching requirement.
    ``(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, eligible entities, Indian tribes, 
tribal organizations, and tribal educational agencies 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 2020 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) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means a public institution of higher education at which the 
        predominant degree awarded to students is an associate's 
        degree, including a 2-year Tribal College or University as 
        defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1059c) and a public 2-year State institution of higher 
        education.
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an eligible institution;
                    ``(B) a community college;
                    ``(C) a local educational agency or consortium of 
                local educational agencies;
                    ``(D) an educational service agency;
                    ``(E) an Indian tribe;
                    ``(F) a tribal organization; or
                    ``(G) 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 such terms are 
                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 
                such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f)), or an Asian American and 
                Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution 
                (as defined in section 320 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1059g)).
                    ``(B) A Tribal College or University, as defined in 
                section 316 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
                    ``(C) An 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 such Act (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).
                    ``(F) A minority-serving institution, which shall 
                be defined as an eligible institution under section 
                371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1067q(a)).
            ``(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;
            ``(12) in the case of an eligible entity that has formed a 
        partnership with a private entity (which may include a 
        nonprofit organization, business, or other nongovernmental 
        entity), a description of that partnership, including how the 
        private entity partner will contribute to the qualified 
        project; and
            ``(13) such additional information and assurances as the 
        Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants, guaranteeing loans, or making 
payments under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to 
eligible entities that have a public-private partnership as described 
in subsection (b)(12).
    ``(d) 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.
    ``(e) 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.
    ``(f) 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.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this part not less than $100,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2020 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 the items relating to sections 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.''.
                                 <all>