,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cadb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ai1 #bjac,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to improve science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,stem ,readiness ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,teacher recruiting 7a7 ,purpose ,it is the purpose of this section to encourage individuals educated in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics to enter and continue in the teaching profession1 with the goal of attracting #aj1jjj of ,america's brightest students to the teaching profession over the next #e years4 7b7 ,scholarships ,title ,,ii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajba et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating part ,c as part ,e2 7#b7 by redesignating section #bfa as section #bha2 and 7#c7 by inserting after part ,b the following new part3 ,c ,,stem ,teacher ,scholarships #bfa4 ,program established ,the ,secretary shall award scholarships1 on a competitive basis and in accordance with this part1 to students who are enrolled in studies leading to bachelor's degrees1 with concurrent certification as kindergarten1 elementary1 and secondary school teachers1 in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics1 and who have agreed to perform qualified service4 #bfb4 ,selection of recipients 7a7 ,selection criteria ,the ,secretary shall develop selection criteria that the ,secretary will use to award scholarships1 and to renew those awards1 based on established measurements of merit available to secondary students who wish to pursue degrees in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics4 7b7 ,applications ,any student desiring to receive a scholarship under this part shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,duration of ,scholarships2 ,renewal ,scholarships shall be awarded for only one academic year of study at a time1 and shall be renewable on an annual basis for the established length of the recipient's academic program1 not to exceed #f academic years4 ,the ,secretary shall condition the renewal of scholarships on measures of academic progress and achievement4 #bfc4 ,qualified service requirement 7a7 ,qualified service agreement ,any student who receives a scholarship under this part shall enter into an agreement with the ,secretary to complete no less than #e academic years of qualified service during a #g-year period1 to begin no later than #ab months following the completion of a bachelor's degree in science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics4 7b7 ,requirement enforced ,the ,secretary shall establish such requirements as the ,secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients of scholarships under this subsection who complete bachelor's degrees in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics1 with teacher certification1 subsequently perform #e academic years of qualified service during a #g-year period1 or repay the portion of the scholarship received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified service1 as determined by the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall use any such repayments to carry out additional activities under this part4 7c7 ,definition ,for the purpose of this section1 the term qualified service means full-time employment at a public or private kindergarten1 elementary school1 or secondary school as a teacher of a course in a science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics field4 #bfd4 ,awards 7a7 ,scholarship award ,the ,secretary shall provide each recipient with a scholarship in the amount of up to #bj1jjj to pay for the cost of attendance of the student for each academic year the student is eligible to receive the scholarship4 ,the ,secretary shall transfer such funds to the institution of higher education at which the recipient is enrolled4 7b7 ,bonus award 7#a7 ,option for bonus award ,any student who receives a scholarship under this part may elect to enter into a bonus agreement with the ,secretary1 in accordance with this subsection1 for any academic year during which the student receives a scholarship under this part4 7#b7 ,bonus agreement ,a bonus agreement under paragraph 7#a7 shall provide that-- 7,a7 the student shall perform one academic year of the qualified service agreed to under section #bfc7;a7 in a high-need local educational agency1 as defined in section #bjj2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary shall provide #aj1jjj1 in addition to the amount the student receives under subsection 7a71 for each academic year in which the student enters into such bonus agreement4 7#c7 ,service requirement enforced ,the ,secretary shall establish such requirements as the ,secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients of bonuses under this subsection fulfill the qualified service requirement in a high-need local educational agency1 as defined in section #bjj1 for a period of time equivalent to the period for which the recipient receives the bonus1 or repays the portion of the bonus received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified service in a high-need local educational agency1 as determined by the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall use any such repayments to carry out additional activities under this subsection4 7c7 ,maximum award ,the maximum award any student may receive under this section for an academic year shall be the student's cost of attendance minus any grant aid such student receives from sources other than this section4 #bfe4 ,regulations ,the ,secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this part4 4 7c7 ,institutional grants for ,integrated ,degree ,programs ,title ,,ii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajba et seq47 is further amended by inserting after part ,c1 as added by subsection 7b7 of this section1 the following new part3 ,d ,integrated ,degree ,programs #bga4 ,program authorized 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary is authorized to award grants to institutions of higher education1 on a competitive basis1 in order to pay for the ,federal share of the cost of projects to establish1 strengthen1 and operate #d-year undergraduate degree programs through which students may concurrently-- 7#a7 earn a bachelor's degree in science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics2 and 7#b7 be certified to teach kindergarten1 elementary1 or secondary school4 7b7 ,grant amount2 ,award period ,the ,secretary may award grants to no more than #ej institutions of higher education each fiscal year1 and a grant to an institution for a fiscal year shall not exceed #a1jjj1jjj4 ,grants shall be awarded for only one fiscal year at a time1 and shall be renewable on an annual basis for up to #e years4 #bgb4 ,selection of grant recipients 7a7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary shall set criteria to evaluate the applications for grants under this part and the projects proposed to establish1 strengthen1 and operate #d-year integrated undergraduate degree programs4 7b7 ,equitable distribution of grants ,to the extent practicable and consistent with the criteria under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall make grants under this part in such manner as to achieve an equitable distribution of the grant funds throughout the ,united ,states1 considering geographic distribution1 rural and urban areas1 and range and type of institutions4 #bgc4 ,application requirements ,in order to receive a grant under this part1 an institution of higher education shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application shall include the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the proposed project4 7#b7 ,a demonstration of-- 7,a7 the commitment1 including the financial commitment1 of the institution for the proposed project2 and 7,b7 the active support of the leadership of the institution for the proposed project4 7#c7 ,a description of how the proposed project will be continued after ,federal funds are no longer awarded under this part for the project4 7#d7 ,a plan for the evaluation of the project1 which shall include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project objectives4 #bgd4 ,matching requirement ,each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this part shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to the amount of the grant 7in cash or in kind7 to carry out the project supported by the grant4 #bge4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part #ej1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjai4 4