,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cehi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #aa1 #bjah,mr4 ,schatz introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife by establishing a program to support the modernization1 renovation1 or repair of career and technical education facilities1 and to enable schools serving grades #f through #ab that are located in rural areas or that serve ,native ,american students to remodel or build new facilities to provide ,,stem classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed internet1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,inspiring ,new ,,stem ,professionals by ,investing in ,renovation of ,education ,spaces ,act or the ,,inspires ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,technological advancement has increased the types of jobs available now and for the foreseeable future4 ,over the next #aj years1 employers will be looking to fill an estimated #b1fjj1jjj openings for the top #aj occupations in the collective fields of science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics 7referred to in this section as ,,stem74 ,,stem jobs pay well2 ,,stem workers earn an average of #ad1jjj per year more than non-,,stem workers at every education level4 ,however1 projections suggest that the ,united ,states won't have enough skilled workers to fill ,,stem jobs4 7#b7 ,,stem skills and knowledge are now required in a wide range of occupations1 including many that are not traditionally considered to be science or engineering-related1 such as sustainable agriculture1 management of natural resources1 and health care4 ,because of the growing use of ,,stem skills across all job sectors1 the distinction between a 8rural0 as compared to an 8urban0 job is blurring4 ,for instance1 renewable energy development and bio-based product manufacturing employ workers in a variety of areas of the ,united ,states4 ,known as the 8new collar0 economy1 the phenomenal growth in job opportunities for those who are prepared will also support the growth of communities2 places to raise families and invest in the future4 7#c7 ,in the middle grades1 students begin to demonstrate formal logical operations 7critical thinking74 ,further1 middle school students have been shown to be highly susceptible to developing opinions about their competence and interest in ,,stem learning4 ,research has also shown that interest in mathematics and science declines during the middle school years4 ,while students in any grade level can benefit from ,,stem education1 the evidence points to ensuring quality ,,stem education for middle school students4 ,good ,,stem experiences in middle school will lead to positive attitudes toward and expectations of ,,stem experiences in high school4 7#d7 ,native ,american communities1 including ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 and ,native ,hawaiian populations1 have a long history of discrimination and poverty and have higher high school drop out rates than other underserved groups4 ,in assessments of mathematics and reading throughout elementary and secondary school grades1 ,american ,indian and ,alaska ,native children score lower in mathematics and reading proficiency as compared to other groups4 ,only #bh percent of ,native ,hawaiians students in ,hawaii demonstrate mathematics proficiency as compared with #di percent of non-,native ,hawaiian students4 ,in reading1 #cd4h percent of ,native ,hawaiian students tested proficient compared to #ed4c percent of non-,native ,hawaiian students4 ,these underserved and socially disadvantaged groups require support and motivation to achieve success in their education4 7#e7 ,to meet the challenge of educating youth to fulfill the demand for ,,stem workers1 public schools in the ,united ,states must be equipped to educate all youth in ,,stem skills1 especially youth who are underserved or socially disadvantaged4 7#f7 ,the median age of ,united ,states schools is #fe years4 ,nearly #ej percent of school buildings in the ,united ,states need significant repairs or upgrades1 including clean and safe classrooms and laboratory spaces1 up-to-date technology1 and broadband4 ,moreover1 the condition of school facilities has a measurable effect on student achievement4 7#g7 ,for all of these reasons1 the future workforce of the ,united ,states needs safe1 clean1 well-equipped school facilities where1 regardless of historic or current disadvantages1 students can reach their full potential and learn the knowledge and skills that place students on a secure pathway to enhance the capacity of the ,united ,states to compete globally4 #c4 ,,stem education facilities2 career and technical education facilities 7a7 ,career and technical education facilities ,title ,v of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gbda et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating part ,c as part ,e2 7#b7 by redesignating sections #ecja and #ecjb as sections #eeja and #eejb1 respectively2 and 7#c7 by inserting after part ,b the following3 ,c ,,stem education facilities #ecja4 ,definitions ,in this part3 7#a7 ,eligible school ,the term eligible school means a public school that-- 7,a7 serves students in any of grades #f through #ab2 and 7,b7 7i7 is located-- 7,i7 in a rural area1 as defined in section #be4ejc of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations2 7,,ii7 on or near trust land1 as defined in section #cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 7,,iii7 on or near a substantially underserved trust area1 as defined in section #cjf;,f of the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #icf;f72 or 7,,iv7 in an eligible community1 as defined in section #adef of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#af72 or 7ii7 is determined by an ,indian tribe or tribal organization to serve ,native ,american students4 7#b7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#c7 ,native ,american ,the term ,native ,american has the meaning given the term in section #ajb of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb74 7#d7 ,qualified project ,the term qualified project means-- 7,a7 the modernization1 renovation1 or repair of facilities to provide ,,stem classrooms or laboratories1 including updates related to student and faculty health and safety2 7,b7 building new facilities to provide ,,stem classrooms or laboratories2 or 7,c7 supporting the establishment and maintenance of high-speed internet for a ,,stem classroom or laboratory4 7#e7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means the fields of science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics1 and related fields4 7#f7 ,tribal organization ,the term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 #ecjb4 ,,stem education facilities improvement 7a7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program to improve ,,stem education facilities by awarding grants to ,states to enable those ,states to award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out qualified projects at eligible schools4 7#b7 ,reservation of ,funds ,from amounts made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall reserve #aj percent for ,indian tribes and tribal organizations to enable ,indian tribes and tribal organizations to carry out qualified projects at eligible schools4 7b7 ,allocation ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this part for each fiscal year and not reserved under subsection 7a77#b71 the ,secretary shall allot to each ,state that has an application approved under this section an amount that bears the same relationship as the number of schools in the ,state that are rural schools designated with a locale code of #da1 #db1 or #dc1 as determined by the ,secretary1 bears to the number of all such schools in the ,united ,states for that fiscal year4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,grant application for ,states ,a ,state that desires to receive a grant under this part shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such a time1 in such a manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,such information shall include1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 a description of the process that the ,state will use in selecting and awarding subgrants to local educational agencies2 and 7,b7 an assurance that such process will meet the requirements described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,subgrant application for ,l,e,as ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall require a local educational agency that desires a subgrant to submit an application that contains1 at a minimum1 the following information3 7,a7 ,a detailed description of the qualified projects that the local educational agency will carry out with subgrant funds4 7,b7 ,a description of the need for those qualified projects4 7,c7 ,a description of how the local educational agency will ensure that the qualified projects will be adequately maintained4 7,d7 ,an identification of the eligible schools that will benefit from the qualified projects4 7,e7 ,a description of how the facilities or internet supported by the qualified project will be used for providing educational services in science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics4 7#c7 ,grant application for ,indian tribes or tribal organizations ,an ,indian tribe or tribal organization desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,environmental standards ,the ,secretary shall encourage1 but not require1 local educational agencies1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations to ensure that the modernization1 renovation1 repair1 or building supported by the qualified project meets ,leadership in ,energy and ,environmental ,design 7,,leed7 building rating standards1 ,energy ,star standards1 ,collaborative for ,high ,performance ,schools 7,,chps7 criteria1 ,green ,building ,initiative environmental design and rating standards 7,green ,globes71 the ,living ,building ,challenge certification standards1 or equivalent standards adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the local educational agency or ,indian tribe or tribal organization4 7e7 ,matching funds 7#a7 ,states ,a state that receives a grant under subsection 7a77#a7 shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #be percent of the amount of the grant 7which may be provided in cash or in-kind7 to carry out activities supported by the grant4 7#b7 ,l,e,as ,a local educational agency that receives a subgrant under subsection 7a77#a7 shall provide1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #be percent of the amount of the subgrant 7which may be provided in cash or in-kind7 to carry out activities supported by the subgrant4 7#c7 ,indian tribes and tribal organizations ,an ,indian tribe or tribal organization that receives a grant under subsection 7a77#b7 shall provide1 from ,federal or non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #be percent of the amount of the grant 7which may be provided in cash or in-kind7 to carry out activities supported by the grant4 7#d7 ,suggested sources of matching funds for ,indian tribes and tribal organizations ,an ,indian tribe or tribal organization that receives a grant under this section may provide matching funds through any of the following ,federal programs1 or through another source3 7,a7 ,the ,tribal ,college and ,university essential community facilities program established under section #cjf7;a77#be7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf7;a77#be774 7,b7 ,the ,native ,hawaiian and ,alaska ,native serving institutions education grants program established under section #adai;,b of the ,national ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,teaching ,policy ,act of #aigg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #caef74 7,c7 ,the ,impact ,aid program established under title ,,vii of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ggja et seq474 7,d7 ,the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs ,facilities ,improvement and ,repair program4 7,e7 ,the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs ,replacement ,school ,construction program4 7f7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal and ,state funds available to carry out the activities supported under this part4 7g7 ,technical assistance and administrative costs ,the ,secretary may reserve not more than #c percent of funds appropriated to carry out this part for the administrative costs of this part and to provide technical assistance to ,states1 local educational agencies1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations concerning best practices in carrying out qualified projects4 7h7 ,reporting requirements ,not later than #a year after funds are appropriated to carry out this part1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported under this part on improving academic achievement4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part not less than #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah and each succeeding fiscal year4 4 ,d ,career and technical education facilities #edja4 ,definitions ,in this part3 7#a7 ,career and technical education ,the term career and technical education has the meaning given the term in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb74 7#b7 ,junior or community college ,the term junior or community college includes-- 7,a7 a junior or community college1 as that term is defined in section #cab7;f7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajeh7;f772 7,b7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja77 that awards a significant number of degrees and certificates1 as determined by the ,secretary1 that are not-- 7i7 baccalaureate degrees 7or an equivalent72 or 7ii7 masters1 professional1 or other advanced degrees2 and 7,c7 an institution of higher education described in section #aja7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;b77 that provides programs that are not more than #b years4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an eligible institution2 7,b7 a junior or community college2 7,c7 a local educational agency2 7,d7 an ,indian tribe2 7,e7 a tribal organization2 or 7,f7 another entity determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,eligible ,institution ,the term eligible institution means any of the following3 7,a7 ,an ,alaska ,native-serving institution or a ,native ,hawaiian-serving institution 7as defined in section #cag of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;d771 a ,native ,american-serving1 nontribal institution 7as defined in section #cai of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;f771 or an ,asian ,american and ,native ,american ,pacific ,islander-serving institution 7as defined in section #cbj of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;g774 7,b7 ,a ,tribal ,college or ,university1 as defined in section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c74 7,c7 ,a #ahij ,institution1 as defined in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja74 7,d7 ,a #aiid ,institution1 as defined in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja74 7,e7 ,a ,hispanic-serving agricultural college or university1 as defined in section #adjd of the ,national ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,teaching ,policy ,act of #aigg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cajc74 7#e7 ,indian tribe ,the term ,indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#f7 ,qualified project ,the term qualified project-- 7,a7 means the modernization1 renovation1 or repair of a facility that will be used to improve the quality and availability of science1 technology1 engineering1 mathematics1 or career and technical education instruction to students1 and that may include-- 7i7 improving the energy efficiency of the facility2 7ii7 improving the cost-effectiveness of the facility in delivering quality education2 7iii7 improving student1 faculty1 and staff health and safety at the facility2 7iv7 improving1 installing1 or upgrading educational technology infrastructure2 7v7 retrofitting an existing building for career and technical education purposes2 and 7vi7 a one-time repair of serviceable equipment at the facility1 or replacement of equipment at the facility that is at the end of its serviceable lifespan1 that will be used to further educational outcomes2 and 7,b7 does not include new construction or the payment of routine maintenance costs4 7#g7 ,tribal organization ,the term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #feh,p of the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ihehn74 #edjb4 ,career and technical education facilities improvement 7a7 ,program authorized ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this part1 the ,secretary shall carry out a program to improve career and technical education facilities by-- 7#a7 awarding grants to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to carry out qualified projects2 7#b7 guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for qualified projects2 or 7#c7 making payments of interest on bonds1 loans1 or other financial instruments 7other than a refinancing7 that are issued to eligible entities for qualified projects4 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant1 loan guarantee1 or payment of interest under this part shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such a time1 in such a manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 ,the application shall include-- 7#a7 a detailed description of the qualified project2 7#b7 in the case of a qualified project described in section #edja7f77;,a77vi71 a description of the educational outcomes to be furthered by the one-time repair of serviceable equipment or replacement of equipment2 7#c7 an indication as to whether the eligible entity prefers to receive a grant1 loan guarantee1 or payment of interest2 7#d7 a description of the need for the qualified project2 7#e7 a description of how the eligible entity will ensure that the qualified project will be adequately maintained2 7#f7 a description of how the qualified project will improve instruction and educational outcomes at the facility1 including any opportunities to integrate project activities within the curriculum of a school or institution2 7#g7 a description of how the facility supported by the qualified project will be used for providing educational services in science1 technology1 engineering1 mathematics1 or career and technical education2 7#h7 a description of how the eligible entity will describe how the modernization1 renovation1 or repair supported by the qualified project meets ,leadership in ,energy and ,environmental ,design 7,,leed7 building rating standards1 ,energy ,star standards1 ,collaborative for ,high ,performance ,schools 7,,chps7 criteria1 ,green ,building ,initiative environmental design and rating standards 7,green ,globes71 the ,living ,building ,challenge certification standards1 or equivalent standards adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the eligible entity2 7#i7 a description of the fiscal capacity of the eligible entity2 7#aj7 the percentage of students enrolled in the eligible entity or a school or institution served by the eligible entity to be served by the qualified project who are from low-income families2 7#aa7 in the case of a qualified project at a facility that is used by students in a secondary school1 the secondary school graduation rates2 and 7#ab7 such additional information and assurances as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,supplement not supplant ,funds made available under this part shall be used to supplement1 and not supplant1 other ,federal and ,state funds available to carry out the activities supported under this part4 7d7 ,technical assistance and administrative costs ,the ,secretary may reserve not more than #c percent of funds appropriated under subsection 7g7 for the administrative costs of this part and to provide technical assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in school facility renovation1 repair1 and modernization4 7e7 ,reporting requirements ,not later than #a year after funds are appropriated to carry out this part1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported under this part on improving academic achievement4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part not less than #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah and each succeeding fiscal year4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,the table of contents in section #b of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating the item relating to part ,c of title ,v as part ,e of title ,v2 7#b7 by redesignating the items relating to sections #ecja and #ecjb as #eeja and #eejb1 respectively2 and 7#c7 by inserting before the item relating to part ,e of title ,v1 as so redesignated1 the following3 ,part ,c--,,stem ,education ,facilities,sec4 #ecja4 ,definitions4,sec4 #ecjb4 ,,stem education facilities improvement4,part ,d--,career and ,technical ,education ,facilities ,sec4 #edja4 ,definitions4,sec4 #edjb4 ,career and technical facilities improvement4 4