,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bedc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bf1 #bjad ,mrs4 ,shaheen introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to support afterschool and out-of-school-time science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,supporting ,afterschool ,,stem ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,numerous authoritative studies document that the proficiency of students in the ,united ,states in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics 7,,stem7 will have a major impact on the ,nation's future economic competitiveness and on the preeminence of the ,united ,states in scientific inquiry and technological innovation4 7#b7 ,results from the ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress1 the ,trends in ,international ,mathematics and ,science ,study1 the ,programme in ,international ,science ,assessment1 and other sources show that students in the ,united ,states are not demonstrating sufficient achievement in the ,,stem subjects and are not keeping pace with students in other countries4 7#c7 ,research demonstrates the importance of afterschool programs in engaging students in ,,stem fields and building ,,stem-relevant skills and proficiencies1 especially for girls1 students from populations traditionally underrepresented in ,,stem fields1 and students from low socioeconomic circumstances4 7#d7 ,a ,national ,research ,council consensus study confirmed the importance of learning that occurs in out-of-school-time settings such as afterschool programs and science centers1 and proposed a set of strands of science learning framework that articulated capabilities fostered by informal learning environments4 7#e7 ,according to a #bjac study entitled ,defining ,youth ,outcomes for ,,stem ,learning in ,afterschool1 the afterschool field is confident in its ability to help young people develop interest in ,,stem and ,,stem learning activities1 develop capacities to productively engage in such activities1 and come to value them4 ,the afterschool field is also confident that it can impact skills such as problem-solving abilities1 demonstrating ,,stem skills1 career awareness1 and #bast century skills1 such as teamwork1 that are important to the workforce and national economic goals4 7#f7 ,the ,federal ,government should use its resources as effectively as possible to increase opportunities for students to be exposed to ,,stem subjects outside of the school day and to build a balanced kindergarten through grade #ab ,,stem education portfolio that fosters learning in school as well as in out-of-school-time programs4 7#g7 ,afterschool programs have long partnered with other youth-serving and community organizations to meet the needs of students4 ,cross-sector collaborations between afterschool programs1 schools1 science centers1 institutions of higher education1 businesses1 and other entities are yielding great benefits for engaging young people in ,,stem fields4 7#h7 ,as interest and momentum grows around ,,stem programming in afterschool1 more and better partnerships across ,federal agencies become increasingly important to leverage resources and offer high-quality1 hands-on ,,stem experiences for youth4 #c4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to enhance ,america's economic competitiveness by strengthening ,,stem education through fostering interest and success in ,,stem subjects among certain student populations in kindergarten through grade #ab2 7#b7 to engage ,federal agencies and foster interagency collaboration in ,,stem education afterschool program investments2 7#c7 to recognize the important role that afterschool programs offered by nonprofit and community-based organizations1 science centers1 museums1 libraries1 and other such entities1 play in ,,stem education and to support their efforts2 7#d7 to involve institutions of higher education as partners in such efforts and foster increased collaboration2 and 7#e7 to inspire young people to study and work in ,,stem subjects4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,afterschool or ,,stem network ,the term afterschool or ,,stem network means a coalition that fosters partnerships and provides support to afterschool program providers and ,,stem education providers to develop and sustain quality education programming for children and youth in afterschool programs and ,,stem education programs4 7#b7 ,afterschool program ,the term afterschool program means a structured program offered for elementary school1 middle school1 or secondary school students when school is not in session1 such as before or after school1 on the weekend1 or during the summer4 7#c7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7#d7 ,elementary school ,the term elementary school has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,middle school ,the term middle school means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school1 including a public charter school1 that provides middle grades education1 as determined under ,state law4 7#f7 ,secondary school ,the term secondary school has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#g7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#h7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics1 and includes the fields of computer science and robotics4 #e4 ,afterschool ,,stem ,support ,grant program 7a7 ,goals of program ,the goals of the afterschool ,,stem grant program carried out under this ,act are-- 7#a7 to support the development and delivery of high-quality ,,stem education to populations underrepresented in ,,stem fields2 7#b7 to leverage the expertise and infrastructure available to afterschool programs that include ,,stem content through afterschool or ,,stem networks2 7#c7 to leverage existing ,federal ,,stem education investments1 as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 in order to encourage ,,stem-focused grant recipients to lend their time and expertise to afterschool programs that include ,,stem content2 and 7#d7 to provide hands-on learning and exposure to ,,stem research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual distance-learning experiences4 7b7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this part and not reserved under paragraph 7#d71 the ,director shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to afterschool or ,,stem networks-- 7,a7 to support afterschool programs that include ,,stem content through the activities described in subsection 7e72 and 7,b7 to carry out the goals described in subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,duration ,each grant awarded under this ,act shall be for a period of not more than #c years4 7#c7 ,amounts ,the ,director shall ensure that each grant awarded under this ,act is in an amount that is sufficient to carry out the goals described in subsection 7a74 7#d7 ,reservation ,from the amounts appropriated for this grant1 the ,director shall reserve #bj percent of such funds to develop and support new afterschool or ,,stem networks in ,states or areas where such networks do not exist4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,an afterschool or ,,stem network desiring a grant under subsection 7b77#a7 shall submit an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information that the ,director may require4 7#b7 ,contents ,the application described in paragraph 7#a7 shall1 at a minimum1 include-- 7,a7 a description of the status of afterschool ,,stem programming in the ,state or area in which the afterschool or ,,stem network is located1 including-- 7i7 the number of afterschool programs in the ,state or area2 7ii7 the number of such afterschool programs focused on ,,stem subjects and activities2 7iii7 the number of students served by existing afterschool programs1 as of the date of the application1 in the ,state or area2 7iv7 the number of students served by existing afterschool programs that include ,,stem content in the ,state or area2 7v7 the unmet demand for afterschool programs in the ,state or area2 and 7vi7 the unmet demand for afterschool programs focused on ,,stem subjects and activities in the ,state or area2 7,b7 an analysis of existing and needed resources that identifies areas and populations most in need of opportunities for high-quality afterschool programs that include ,,stem content2 7,c7 a description of the current and past work carried out by the afterschool or ,,stem network to support the needs of afterschool program providers in the ,state or area served by the network2 7,d7 a detailed plan that describes initiatives that shall be undertaken to-- 7i7 support and grow afterschool programs that include ,,stem content2 and 7ii7 leverage existing ,federal investments in afterschool programs and ,,stem education1 as of the date of the application2 7,e7 a description of financial and other commitments that support expanded afterschool ,,stem programming in the ,state or area served by the network2 and 7,f7 a description of any confirmed or potential partners that will work with the afterschool or ,,stem network to carry out the activities under the grant4 7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under subsection 7b77#a71 the ,director shall give priority to applications from afterschool or ,,stem networks that-- 7#a7 demonstrate a clear understanding of the afterschool programs and settings1 and the status of afterschool programs that include ,,stem content1 in the ,state or area to be served by the grant2 7#b7 have established working relationships with afterschool program and ,,stem education stakeholders in the ,state or area2 7#c7 are working to advance the availability of high-quality afterschool programs that include ,,stem content for under-served populations and populations underrepresented in ,,stem fields1 including girls2 and 7#d7 are leveraging ,federal or other public investments in ,,stem education or afterschool programming4 7e7 ,uses of funds ,an afterschool or ,,stem network that receives a grant under subsection 7b77#a7 may use grant funds to carry out any of the following activities3 7#a7 ,develop quality standards for ,,stem programming in afterschool programs and provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to implement such standards4 7#b7 ,work with ,state education stakeholders to define and promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool programs that include ,,stem content4 7#c7 ,provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to start or grow their afterschool ,,stem efforts and define appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts4 7#d7 ,coordinate professional development for afterschool program educators by-- 7,a7 identifying training programs that are available1 as of the time of the identification1 for afterschool program educators2 7,b7 working with partners to allow joint professional development with teachers at elementary schools1 middle schools1 and secondary schools1 as appropriate2 and 7,c7 partnering with teacher training programs to utilize afterschool programs for practicum experiences1 employment placements1 and other opportunities4 7#e7 ,help afterschool program providers form strategic partnerships as needed to advance ,,stem learning in afterschool programs1 including partnerships with elementary schools1 middle schools1 secondary schools1 institutions of higher education 7including community colleges and programs and schools of education71 businesses1 research facilities1 national laboratories1 and other appropriate entities4 7#f7 ,create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate ,,stem professionals as mentors and role models that-- 7,a7 provide technical assistance and guidance1 including assistance in connecting afterschool program providers with ,,stem researchers and professionals who may be able to assist in ,,stem-focused activities2 and 7,b7 include-- 7i7 examples of strong afterschool programs that have incorporated such partnerships to serve as models2 7ii7 a list of potential partners that could assist in ,,stem-focused activities2 7iii7 identified federally supported ,,stem education programs and research in the ,state or area served by the grant2 and 7iv7 guidance on how to engage ,,stem professionals1 mentors1 and role models in the program4 7#g7 ,provide technical assistance to federally funded ,,stem researchers and professionals who wish to engage with afterschool programs that1 at a minimum1 includes-- 7,a7 examples of partnerships between afterschool programs and institutions rich in ,,stem resources2 7,b7 a resource that provides a description of the afterschool program setting1 the opportunities for engagement in afterschool programs1 and the constraints of which the researchers or professionals need to be aware2 7,c7 how to find an afterschool program provider with which the researcher or professional would like to engage2 7,d7 how to ensure an effective and productive partnership with the afterschool provider through mutually beneficial engagement1 and engage in a productive conversation with the afterschool provider to determine if the partnership will be productive2 7,e7 how to craft a mutually beneficial engagement and partnership2 and 7,f7 guidance on how to measure appropriate outcomes for afterschool programs and afterschool programs that include ,,stem content4 7#h7 ,any other activity1 as proposed in the application and determined appropriate by the ,director4 7f7 ,report ,each afterschool or ,,stem network receiving a grant under subsection 7b77#a7 shall submit an annual report to the ,director regarding the progress of the grant4 #f4 ,federal ,partnership with afterschool programs ,beginning not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall provide information1 to each recipient of a ,,stem research grant under the authority of the ,director1 on opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs1 such as through mentorships4 ,such information shall include-- 7#a7 a listing of all afterschool or ,,stem program networks in the region of the recipient2 7#b7 a toolkit that provides guidance to federally funded ,,stem researchers on how to engage and partner with afterschool ,,stem program providers and lend their time and expertise in afterschool programs that include ,,stem content2 7#c7 information regarding how to create opportunities to have students visit laboratories2 and 7#d7 guidance regarding how to create age-appropriate research projects for students4 #g4 ,report ,by not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall prepare and submit to ,congress a report on ,federal ,,stem investments in afterschool programs and the best practices for afterschool programs incorporating ,,stem subjects into their programs4