---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19173"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19173"
heading: "Opportunities for online education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19173"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter V — Broadening Participation in Science"
  - "Part B — Rural STEM Education Research"
---

# §19173. Opportunities for online education

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) shall make competitive awards to institutions of higher education or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations (or a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) thereof, which may include a private sector partner) to conduct research on online [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) courses for rural communities.
- (b) **Research areas—** The research areas eligible for funding under this subsection shall include—
  - (1) evaluating the learning and achievement of rural students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) subjects;
  - (2) understanding how computer-based and online professional development courses and mentor experiences can be integrated to meet the needs of educators, principals, and other school leaders of rural students in prekindergarten through grade 12;
  - (3) combining computer-based and online [STEM education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=28) and training with mentoring and other applied learning arrangements;
  - (4) leveraging online programs to supplement [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) studies for rural students that need physical and academic accommodation; and
  - (5) any other activity the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) determines will accomplish the goals of this subsection.
- (c) **Evaluations—** All proposals for awards under this section shall include an evaluation plan that includes the use of outcome-oriented measures to assess the impact and efficacy of the award. Each [recipient](/usc/42/18901.md?p=24) of an award under this subsection shall include results from these evaluative activities in annual and final [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
- (d) **Accountability and dissemination—**
  - (1) **Evaluation required—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) shall evaluate the portfolio of awards made under this subsection. Such evaluation shall—
    - (A) use a common set of benchmarks and tools to assess the results of research conducted under such awards and identify best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19); and
    - (B) to the extent practicable, integrate findings from activities carried out pursuant to research conducted under this section, with respect to the pursuit of careers and degrees in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27), with those activities carried out pursuant to other research on serving rural students and communities.
  - (2) **Report on evaluations—** Not later than 180 days after the completion of the evaluation under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress and make widely available to the public a report that includes—
    - (A) the results of the evaluation; and
    - (B) any recommendations for administrative and legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the awards made under this section.
- (e) **Coordination—** In carrying out this section, the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) shall, for purposes of enhancing program effectiveness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title V, § 10513, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1617.)