Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act”.
21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a STEM grant program.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
The Harvard Graduate School of Education’s report “Pathways to Prosperity” cites research that shows employers across the country continue to see that young adults are not equipped with the skills and work experience needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce. In addition, research shows that courses that include a vocational or work-based component best prepare students to succeed in the workplace.
Numerous reports by national advisory groups, including the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and National Academies' committees, have highlighted the need to raise student achievement in STEM fields to enable the United States to maintain its competitive edge in the global economy.
Nearly all of the top 30 fastest growing occupations require science, technology, engineering, or mathematics skills, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Recent standardized tests show United States students' mathematics and science performance is only average or below average compared with their international peers. American students placed 25th in mathematics and 17th in science out of 34 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment.
Too few American students graduate from high school with the interest and the preparation to successfully pursue STEM degrees in college. Well over half of college students in China and Japan major in STEM fields, compared with only a third of students in America.
Sec. 3 Amendments to the ESEA
Title IV— Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“D STEM grant program
“4401. Grant program
“(a) In general—From the amounts appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies to improve the education of students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (in this section referred to as “STEM”) and prepare such students to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in such fields.
“(b) Application—To receive a grant under this section, a local educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, which shall include a description of—
“(1) the local, regional, or national employer in a STEM field with whom the local educational agency will partner or collaborate to carry out the required activities under subsection (c)(1)(A); and
“(2) the dual-credit courses the will be carried out with the grant under subsection (c)(1)(B).
“(c) Uses of funds—A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section—
“(1) shall use such funds to—
“(A) partner or collaborate with the local, regional, or national employer described in the agency’s application under subsection (b) to—
“(i) assist students in being placed in internships or apprenticeships with such employers; and
“(ii) develop the curriculum and metrics of STEM coursework; and
“(B) collaborate with institutions of higher education to—
“(i) carry out dual-credit courses that offer both secondary school credit and college credit and incorporate STEM education and STEM workplace training;
“(ii) assist students in being placed in internships or apprenticeships with the employers described in subparagraph (A); and
“(iii) develop the curriculum and metrics described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and
“(2) may use such funds to—
“(A) provide tutoring in STEM coursework and mentoring programs for academic advice and assistance in discussing future career opportunities in STEM fields;
“(B) enable students and their teachers to attend STEM events outside the classroom;
“(C) provide after-school and summer STEM programs for students; and
“(D) purchase education materials or equipment to facilitate STEM instruction.
“(d) Matching requirement
“(1) In general—Each local educational agency that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the grant. Such non-Federal contribution may be provided in cash or in kind.
“(2) Partnership authorized—A local educational agency may partner with a public and private entity that may assist the local educational agency in meeting the matching requirement under paragraph (1).
“(3) Waiver—The Secretary may waive all or part of the matching requirement under paragraph (1) for a local educational agency if the local educational agency demonstrates that such requirement would result in a serious financial hardship or a financial inability to carry out the goals of the grant.
“(e) Supplement, not supplant—Grant funds provided to a local educational agency under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this section.
“(f) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriate such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2014 and each succeeding fiscal year.”
Table of contents— The table of contents of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to part C of title IV of such Act, the following new item: