---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19115"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19115"
heading: "Scaling innovations in PreK–12 STEM education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19115"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — National Science Foundation for the Future"
  - "Part G — Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships"
---

# §19115. Scaling innovations in PreK–12 STEM education

- (a) **In general—** Taking into consideration the recommendations under [section 18991(a)(4) of this title](/usc/42/18991.md?p=a-4), the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall make awards, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to establish multidisciplinary [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) for Transformative Education Research and Translation (in this section referred to as “[Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17)”) to support research and development on widespread and sustained implementation of [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) innovations.
- (b) **Eligibility—** The entity seeking an award for a [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) under this section must be an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=13), a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization, or a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of such institutions or organizations, which may include a [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) ecosystem.
- (c) **Application—** An eligible entity under [subsection (b)](#b) seeking an award under this section shall submit an application to the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) may require. The application shall include, at a minimum, a description of how the proposed [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) will be used to—
  - (1) establish partnerships among academic institutions, local or [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), and other relevant stakeholders in supporting programs and activities to facilitate the widespread and sustained implementation of promising, evidence-based [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), models, programs, curriculum, and technologies;
  - (2) support enhanced [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) infrastructure, including cyberlearning technologies, to facilitate the widespread adoption of promising, evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19);
  - (3) support research and development on scaling [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), partnerships, and alternative models to current approaches, including approaches sensitive to the unique combinations of capabilities, resources, and needs of varying localities, educators, and learners;
  - (4) include a focus on the learning needs of under-resourced schools and learners in low-resource or underachieving local educational [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in urban and rural communities and the development of high-quality curriculum that engages these learners in the knowledge and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) fields;
  - (5) include a focus on the learning needs and unique challenges facing students with disabilities;
  - (6) support research, development, or education on one or more of the key technology focus areas;
  - (7) support research and development on scaling [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and models to support and sustain highly-qualified [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) educators in urban and rural communities; and
  - (8) at the discretion of the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1), any other requirements recommended in the study commissioned under [section 18991(a) of this title](/usc/42/18991.md?p=a).
- (d) **Additional considerations—** In making an award under this section, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) may also consider the extent to which the proposed [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) will—
  - (1) leverage existing collaborations, tools, and strategies supported by the [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11), including NSF INCLUDES and the Convergence Accelerators;
  - (2) support research on and the development and scaling of innovative approaches to distance learning and education for various student populations;
  - (3) support education innovations that leverage new technologies or deepen understanding of the impact of technology on educational systems; and
  - (4) include a commitment from local or [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) education [administrators](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) to making the proposed reforms and activities a priority.
- (e) **Partnership—** In carrying out the program under this section, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall explore opportunities to partner with the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Education, including through jointly funding activities under this section.
- (f) **Duration—** Each award made under this section shall be for a duration of no more than 5 years.
- (g) **Annual meeting—** The [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall encourage and facilitate an annual meeting of the [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17), as appropriate, to foster collaboration among the [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) and to further disseminate the results of the [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17)’ supported activities.
- (h) **Existing programs—** The [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) may use existing NSF programs to establish and execute this section.
- (i) **Report—** Not later than 5 years after August 9, 2022, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress and make widely available to the public a report that includes—
  - (1) a description of the focus and proposed goals of each [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17);
  - (2) an assessment, based on a common set of benchmarks and tools, of the [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17)’ success in helping to promote scalable solutions in [PreK–12](/usc/42/18901.md?p=22) [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28); and
  - (3) any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the [Centers](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) established under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, § 10395, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1591.)