,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agif ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #aj1 #bjac,mrs4 ,gillibrand introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to increase the participation of women1 girls1 and underrepresented minorities in ,,stem fields1 to encourage and support students from all economic backgrounds to pursue ,,stem career opportunities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,stem ,gateways ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to a #bjac ,census ,bureau study1 women's representation in ,,stem occupations has increased since the #aigjs1 but women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering and computing occupations that make up more than #hj percent of all ,,stem employment4 ,women's representation in computer occupations has declined since the #aiijs4 ,in #bjaa1 #bf percent of ,,stem workers were women4 ,according to the ,national ,action ,council for ,minorities in ,engineering1 ,inc4 7,,nacme71 the number of engineering degrees awarded to ,african-,american women has steadily declined since the late #aiijs4 7#b7 ,according to the ,brookings ,institution #bjac report1 ,the ,hidden ,,stem ,economy1 half of all ,,stem jobs are available to workers without a #d-year college degree1 and these jobs pay #ec1jjj per year on average4 ,this sector of the ,,stem economy offers job opportunities for many workers with qualified certificates or associate's degrees1 drawing from high schools1 workforce training programs1 vocational schools1 and community colleges4 ,despite these opportunities1 only #a_/e of the #d1cjj1jjj1jjj spent annually by the ,federal ,government on ,,stem education and training goes towards supporting sub-bachelor's level training4 7#c7 ,according to a #bjaa report by the ,department of ,commerce1 underrepresented minorities account for only #c out of #aj professionals in ,,stem fields4 7#d7 ,,stem workers in all demographic groups earn more than their non-,,stem counterparts4 7#e7 ,according to the ,america ,after #cpm report1 children from ,african-,american1 ,hispanic1 and ,native ,american populations participate in afterschool programs in greater numbers than the average4 ,girls also participate in equal numbers to boys in such programs4 ,afterschool learning thus represents an intervention point to engage with populations currently underrepresented in ,,stem fields and careers4 #c4 ,grant program authorized 7a7 ,program authorized ,from the amounts appropriated to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities1 on a competitive basis1 to enable such eligible entities to carry out programs described in subsection 7d7 to achieve1 with respect to women and girls1 underrepresented minorities1 and individuals from all economic backgrounds1 7including economically disadvantaged individuals and individuals living in economically distressed areas71 #a or more of the following goals3 7#a7 ,encourage interest in the ,,stem fields at the elementary school or secondary school levels4 7#b7 ,motivate engagement in ,,stem fields by providing relevant hands-on learning opportunities at the elementary school and secondary school levels4 7#c7 ,support classroom success in ,,stem disciplines at the elementary school or secondary school levels4 7#d7 ,support workforce training and career preparation in ,,stem fields at the secondary school level4 7#e7 ,improve access to career and continuing education opportunities in ,,stem fields at the secondary school level4 7b7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may award grants under this section for not longer than a #e-year period4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,an application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall contain-- 7,a7 in the case of an eligible entity that plans to use the grant funds at the elementary school level-- 7i7 a description of the programs the eligible entity will carry out to achieve #a or more of the goals described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 of subsection 7a7 at the elementary school level1 including the content of the programs and research and models used to design the programs2 and 7ii7 a description of how the programs described in clause 7i7 will support the success of women and girls1 underrepresented minorities1 and individuals from all economic backgrounds 7including economically disadvantaged individuals and individuals living in economically distressed areas7 in ,,stem education1 such as-- 7,i7 recruiting such individuals to participate in the programs2 7,,ii7 supporting educators who will lead the programs1 and participants in the programs2 7,,iii7 encouraging partnerships between in-school and out-of-school educators1 such as afterschool providers1 science centers1 and museums2 7,,iv7 identifying public and private partners that are able to support the programs2 and 7,v7 planning for sustaining the programs financially beyond the grant period2 and 7,b7 in the case of an eligible entity that plans to use the grant funds at the secondary school level-- 7i7 a description of the programs the eligible entity will carry out to achieve #a or more of the goals described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#e7 of subsection 7a7 at the secondary school level1 including the content of the programs and research and models used to design the programs2 7ii7 a description of how the programs described in clause 7i7 will support the success of women and girls1 underrepresented minorities1 and individuals from all economic backgrounds 7including economically disadvantaged individuals and individuals living in economically distressed areas7 in ,,stem education and workforce training that prepares such individuals to take advantage of employment opportunities in ,,stem fields1 such as-- 7,i7 recruiting such individuals to participate in the programs2 7,,ii7 supporting educators who will lead such programs1 and participants in the programs2 7,,iii7 identifying public and private partners that are able to support the programs2 7,,iv7 partnering with institutions of higher education or institutions providing informal science education1 such as afterschool programs and science centers and museums2 7,v7 partnering with institutions of higher education2 and 7,,vi7 planning for sustaining the programs financially beyond the grant period2 7iii7 a review of the industry and business workforce needs1 including the demand for workers with knowledge or training in a ,,stem field2 and 7iv7 an analysis of job openings that require knowledge or training in a ,,stem field4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,required use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such grant funds to carry out programs to achieve #a or more of the goals described in subsection 7a7 at the elementary school or secondary school levels1 with respect to women and girls1 underrepresented minorities1 and students from all economic backgrounds 7including economically disadvantaged individuals1 and students living in economically distressed areas74 7#b7 ,authorized use of funds ,the programs described in paragraph 7#a7 may include any of the following activities1 with respect to the individuals described in paragraph 7#a73 7,a7 ,carrying out the activities described in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 or 7,b77ii7 of subsection 7c77#b71 as appropriate4 7,b7 ,providing professional development for teachers1 afterschool providers1 and other school personnel in elementary schools or secondary schools1 including professional development to encourage1 through academic instruction and support1 such individuals to pursue advanced classes and careers in ,,stem fields4 7,c7 ,providing tutoring and mentoring programs in ,,stem fields4 7,d7 ,establishing partnerships with institutions of higher education1 potential employers1 and other industry stakeholders that expose such individuals to professionals in ,,stem fields1 or providing opportunities for postsecondary academic credits or credentials4 7,e7 ,providing after-school activities and other informal learning opportunities designed to encourage interest and develop skills in ,,stem fields4 7,f7 ,providing summer programs to extend learning time and to deepen the skills and interest in ,,stem fields of such individuals4 7,g7 ,purchasing and utilizing-- 7i7 educational or instructional materials that are designed to improve educational outcomes in ,,stem fields1 and will serve to deepen the skills and interest in ,,stem fields of such individuals2 or 7ii7 equipment1 instrumentation1 or hardware used to teach and encourage interest in ,,stem fields4 7,h7 ,internships or opportunities for experiential learning in ,,stem fields4 7e7 ,report 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,each eligible entity receiving a grant under this ,act shall1 on an annual basis1 submit a report to the ,secretary on the use of funds and the number of students who participated in the programs carried out with the grant funds4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall1 on an annual basis1 and using the reports received under paragraph 7#a71 report to ,congress on the overall impact and effectiveness of the grant program under this ,act4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,esea definitions ,the terms educational service agency1 local educational agency1 institution of higher education1 ,secretary1 and ,state have the meanings given the terms in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,community college ,the term community college has the meaning given the term junior or community college in section #cab of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh74 7#c7 ,economically disadvantaged individual ,the term economically disadvantaged individual has the meaning given the term in section #djj4d of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as such section is in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#d7 ,economically distressed area ,the term economically distressed area means a county or equivalent division of local government of a ,state in which1 according to the most recently available data from the ,bureau of the ,census1 #dj percent or more of the residents have an annual income that is at or below the poverty level4 7#e7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local educational agency2 7,b7 an educational service agency serving more than #a local educational agency2 7,c7 a consortium of local educational agencies2 7,d7 a nonprofit organization that-- 7i7 works with elementary schools1 secondary schools1 or institutions of higher education2 and 7ii7 has demonstrated a commitment to achieving the goals described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 of section #c7;a72 or 7,e7 a community college working in partnership with secondary schools to create opportunities for dual enrollment1 credit transfer1 or accelerated postsecondary credentialing4 7#f7 ,partners ,the term partners means organizations that employ workers in ,,stem-related careers or organizations with demonstrated expertise in identifying1 scaling1 and implementing successful practices in ,,stem education and workforce development4 7#g7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics4 7#h7 ,underrepresented minority ,the term underrepresented minority has the meaning given the term minority in section #fcg4d7;b7 of title #cd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as such section is in effect on the date of enactment of this ,act4