---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7381a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7381a"
heading: "Science education programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7381a"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter XIII — Department of Energy Science Education Programs"
  - "Part A — Science Education Enhancement"
---

# §7381a. Science education programs

- (a) **Programs—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) is authorized to establish programs to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, and engineering education. Any such programs shall be operated at or through the support of [Department research and development facilities](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=3), shall use the scientific resources of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2), and shall be consistent with the overall Federal plan for education and human resources in science and technology developed by the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology.
- (b) **Organization of science, engineering, and mathematics education programs—**
  - (1) **Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1), acting through the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) for Science (referred to in this subsection as the “Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1)”), shall appoint a [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1) of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (referred to in this subsection as the “[Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1)”) with the principal responsibility for administering science, engineering, and mathematics education programs across all functions of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Qualifications—** The [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1) shall be an individual, who by reason of professional background and experience, is specially qualified to advise the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) on all matters pertaining to science, engineering, and mathematics education at the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2).
  - (3) **Duties—** The [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1) shall—
    - (A) oversee all science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2);
    - (B) represent the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) as the principal interagency liaison for all science, engineering, and mathematics education programs, unless otherwise represented by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) or the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1);
    - (C) prepare the annual budget and advise the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) on all budgetary issues for science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2);
    - (D) increase, to the maximum extent practicable, the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities at every level of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; and
    - (E) perform other such matters relating to science, engineering, and mathematics education as are required by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) or the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Staff and other resources—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) shall assign to the [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1) such personnel and other resources as the [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) considers necessary to permit the [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1) to carry out the duties of the [Director](/usc/42/7381g.md?p=1).
  - (5) **Assessment—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) shall offer to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy, not later than 5 years after, and not later than 10 years after, August 9, 2007, shall assess the performance of the science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2).
    - (B) **Considerations—** An assessment under this paragraph shall be conducted taking into consideration, where applicable, the effect of science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) on student academic achievement in science and mathematics.
  - (6) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
- (c) **Relationship to other Department activities—** The programs described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall supplement and be coordinated with current activities of the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2), but shall not supplant them.
- (d) **Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) shall establish a Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out sections [7381b](/usc/42/7381b.md), [7381c](/usc/42/7381c.md), and [7381c–1](/usc/42/7381c–1.md) of this title.
- (e) **Annual plan for allocation of education funding—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress as part of the annual budget submission for a fiscal year a report describing the manner in which the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) has complied with [subsection (d)](#d) for the prior fiscal year and the manner in which the [Department](/usc/42/7381d.md?p=2) proposes to comply with [subsection (d)](#d) during the following fiscal year, including—
  - (1) the total amount of funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities for the corresponding fiscal year;
  - (2) the amounts set aside for the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund under [subsection (d)](#d) from funding for research activities, development activities, demonstration activities, and commercial application activities for the corresponding fiscal year; and
  - (3) a description of how the funds set aside under [subsection (d)](#d) were allocated for the prior fiscal year and will be allocated for the following fiscal year.
- (f) **Programs for students from under-represented groups—** In carrying out a program under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/7372.md?p=1) shall give priority to activities that are designed to encourage students from under-represented groups to pursue scientific and technical careers.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3164, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1841; Pub. L. 109–58, title XI, §§ 1102(a), 1105(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 938, 939; Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5003(a), Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 601.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2007—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), (2), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Former text read as follows: “The Secretary shall use not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for fiscal year 2006 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out activities authorized by this subchapter.”

Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (e).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f).

2005—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1102(a), added subsec. (c).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1105(a), added subsec. (d).