---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16323"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16323"
heading: "Science and engineering education pilot program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16323"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part G — Science"
---

# §16323. Science and engineering education pilot program

- (a) **Establishment of pilot program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall award a grant to a Southeastern United States [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of major research [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) that currently advances science and education by partnering with [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), to establish a regional pilot program of its SEEK–16 program for enhancing scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical literacy, creativity, and decision-making. The [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) shall include leading research [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6), one or more [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) that train substantial numbers of elementary and secondary school teachers, and (where appropriate) [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3).
- (b) **Program elements—** The regional pilot program shall include—
  - (1) expanding strategic, formal partnerships among [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) with strength in research, [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) that train substantial numbers of elementary and secondary school teachers, and the private sector;
  - (2) combining [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) expertise with one or more National Aeronautics and Space Administration Educator Resource Centers;
  - (3) developing programs to permit current and future teachers to participate in ongoing research [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) at [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) and research [universities](/usc/42/16182.md?p=6) and to adapt lessons learned to the classroom;
  - (4) designing and implementing course work;
  - (5) designing and implementing a strategy for measuring and assessing progress under the program; and
  - (6) developing models for transferring knowledge gained under the pilot program to other institutions and areas of the United States.
- (c) **Categorization—** A grant under this section shall be considered an authorized activity under [section 7381b of this title](/usc/42/7381b.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 983, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 113–188, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 2019.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–188 struck out subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “No later than 2 years after the award of the grant, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report outlining lessons learned and, if determined appropriate by the Secretary, containing a plan for expanding the program throughout the United States.”