Rural STEM Education Research Act

Bill: 117-hr-210
Sponsor: Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
Introduced: 2021-01-05 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Manufacturing
Performance measurement
Research administration and funding
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: 

Rural STEM Education Research Act

 
This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research regarding STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education in rural schools.
 
The NSF must award grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for (1) research and development to advance innovative approaches to support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in rural schools, (2) research and development of programming to identify the barriers rural students face in accessing high-quality STEM education, (3) development of innovative solutions to improve the participation and advancement of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM studies, and (4) research on online STEM education courses for rural communities.
 
The NSF may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in rural areas to provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences for rural STEM educators of students in grades Pre-K through 12 in order to build an ecosystem of cooperation among educators, researchers, academia, and local industry.
 
The NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy agrees to evaluate aspects of STEM education and workforce development in rural areas.
 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology must award prizes to stimulate research and development of creative technologies in order to deploy affordable and reliable broadband connectivity to underserved rural communities. 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish a broadband research and development working group to address national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access and adoption across the United States.

action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

Rural STEM Education Research Act
 
 
This bill specifies federal scientific research and development efforts towards STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) workforce development and rural STEM education.
 
(Sec. 3) The bill amends the objectives of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to include
 
 
 the provision to secondary schools of information about the job skills needed in manufacturing companies, and 
 
the promotion and expansion of certification systems offered through local high schools.
 
 
The activities of a manufacturing extension center are expanded to include local high schools in the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships between manufacturing companies and schools to help those entities better understand the specific needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers better understand the skill sets that students learn in school programs.
 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) must award prizes to stimulate research and development of creative technologies in order to deploy affordable and reliable broadband connectivity to underserved rural communities. NIST may award not more than a total of $5 million in prizes.
 
(Sec. 4) The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish a broadband research and development working group to address national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access and adoption across the United States.
 
(Sec. 5) The National Science Foundation (NSF) shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy of Sciences agrees to evaluate aspects of STEM education and workforce development in rural areas.
 
 (Sec. 6) The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study on the engagement of rural populations in federal STEM programs.
 
(Sec. 7) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) programs shall consider modifications to award structures to increase the capacity of rural communities to provide quality STEM education and STEM workforce development programming to students and teachers.
 
(Sec. 8) The NSF must award grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for (1) research and development to advance innovative approaches to support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in rural schools, (2) research and development of programming to identify the barriers rural students face in accessing high-quality STEM education, (3) development of innovative solutions to improve the participation and advancement of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM studies, and (4) research on online STEM education courses for rural communities.
 
The NSF may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in rural areas to provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences for rural STEM educators of students in grades Pre-K through 12 in order to build an ecosystem of cooperation among educators, researchers, academia, and local industry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008. (consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2487-2489)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008.(consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2487-2489)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 403, proceedings on H.R. 210 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 210.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2387-2390; text: CR H2387-2389)
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Ms. Bonamici moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Introduced in House