,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #e1 #bjbj,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,ms4 ,rosen7 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 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 communities3 places to raise families and invest in the future4 7#c7 ,while students at all grade levels can benefit from ,,stem education1 the evidence points to ensuring quality ,,stem education for middle school students during school and non-school hours4 ,good ,,stem experiences in middle school will lead to positive attitudes toward and expectations of ,,stem experiences in high school4 ,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 ,providing students with additional time in after school and summer ,,stem programs allows students opportunities to engage in hands-on learning that sparks interest in ,,stem fields and careers4 ,students who engage in well-designed laboratory experiences develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills1 and gain exposure to reactions1 materials1 and equipment in a lab setting4 ,sustained investments in hands-on experiences help inspire students to further their education and prepare them for high-technology careers by fostering skills sought by potential employers4 ,hands-on experiences significantly advance learning at all levels of science education when appropriately designed and guided by qualified educators1 in a safe learning environment that is student-centered and curriculum-driven4 ,the classroom should contain enough resources1 space1 and storage to permit long-term multidisciplinary projects1 individual and small-group learning1 inquiry and project-based learning4 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 ,hawaiian 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 ,further1 the ,united ,states is obligated under the ,federal trust responsibility to help raise the standard of living and educational achievement of ,native ,americans to a level comparable to non-,natives4 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 #gcje 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 entity ,the term eligible entity means a local educational agency1 a consortium of local educational agencies1 or an education service agency4 7#b7 ,eligible school ,the term eligible school means-- 7,a7 a public school that-- 7i7 serves students in any of grades #f through #ab2 and 7ii7 7,i7 is located-- 7aa7 in a rural area1 as defined in section #be4ejc of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation2 7bb7 on or near trust land1 as defined in section #cgfe of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 7cc7 on or near a substantially underserved trust area1 as defined in section #cjf;,f7a7 of the ,rural ,electrification ,act of #aicf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #icf;f7a772 or 7dd7 in an eligible community1 as defined in section #adef of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#af72 or 7,,ii7 is determined by an ,indian tribe or tribal organization to serve ,native ,american students2 or 7,b7 a ,bureau-funded school1 as defined in section #aada of the ,education ,amendments of #aigh 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #bjba74 7#c7 ,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#d7 ,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#e7 ,public-private partnership ,the term public-private partnership means a partnership-- 7,a7 between a grantee or subgrantee under this part and a private entity 7which may be a nonprofit organization1 business1 or other nongovernmental entity72 and 7,b7 through which the private entity will provide some or all of the required match under section #ecjb7;e74 7#f7 ,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 safety1 which may include-- 7i7 improving the energy efficiency of a facility2 7ii7 improving the cost-effectiveness of a facility in delivering quality education2 7iii7 improving student1 faculty1 and staff health and safety at a 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 a facility1 or replacement of equipment at a facility that is at the end of its serviceable lifespan1 that will be used to further educational outcomes2 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#g7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means the fields of science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics1 and related fields 7including computer science74 7#h7 ,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 ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program to improve ,,stem education facilities by awarding grants to ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations to enable those ,states1 ,indian tribes1 and tribal organizations to carry out qualified projects at eligible schools or to award subgrants to eligible entities or tribal educational agencies to carry out qualified projects at eligible schools4 7b7 ,reservation1 allotment1 and use of funds 7#a7 ,reservation of funds for ,indian tribes and tribal organizations ,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 out1 or to award subgrants to tribal educational agencies to carry out1 qualified projects at eligible schools4 7#b7 ,allotments and use of funds for ,states 7,a7 ,allotments ,from amounts appropriated to carry out this part for each fiscal year and not reserved under paragraph 7#a71 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 and on such ,indian lands for that fiscal year4 7,b7 ,use of funds ,a ,state receiving an allotment under subparagraph 7,a7 shall use the allotment to award subgrants to eligible entities to carry out qualified projects at eligible schools4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,grant application for ,states 7,a7 ,in ,general ,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-- 7i7 a description of the process that the ,state will use in selecting and awarding subgrants to eligible entities2 7ii7 an assurance that such process will meet the requirements described in paragraph 7#b72 7iii7 an assurance that in awarding subgrants to eligible entities1 the ,state will give priority to eligible entities that are part of a public-private partnership2 and 7iv7 if the ,state has formed a public-private partnership1 a description of that partnership1 including how the private entity partner will contribute to the required match under subsection 7e77#a74 7,b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants to ,states1 the ,secretary shall give priority to ,states that have formed a public-private partnership4 7#b7 ,subgrant application ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall require an eligible entity 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 eligible entity will carry out with subgrant funds4 7,b7 ,a description of the need for those qualified projects4 7,c7 ,a description of how the eligible entity 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 ,,stem during the school day1 summer1 and in after school programs4 7,f7 ,if the eligible entity has formed a public-private partnership1 a description of that partnership1 including how the private entity partner will contribute to the required match under subsection 7e77#b74 7#c7 ,grant application for ,indian tribes or tribal organizations 7,a7 ,in ,general ,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 require1 including a description of any public-private partnership that the ,indian tribe or tribal organization has formed and how the private entity in such partnership will contribute to the required match described in subsection 7e77#c74 7,b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants to ,indian tribes or tribal organizations1 the ,secretary shall give priority to ,indian tribes or tribal organizations that have formed a public-private partnership4 7d7 ,environmental standards ,the ,secretary shall encourage1 but not require1 eligible entities1 ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and tribal educational agencies 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 eligible entity or ,indian tribe or tribal organization4 7e7 ,matching funds 7#a7 ,states ,a ,state that receives a grant under subsection 7b77#b7 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 ,eligible entities ,an eligible entity that receives a subgrant under subsection 7b77#b77;,b7 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 7b77#a7 shall provide1 from ,federal or non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #aj 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 ,waiver authority ,the ,secretary may waive the matching funds requirement under this subsection for a ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization if the ,secretary determines that the ,state1 ,indian tribe1 or tribal organization will be unlikely to satisfy the matching requirement4 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 eligible entities1 ,indian tribes1 tribal organizations1 and tribal educational agencies 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 #bjbj 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 ,community college ,the term community college means a public institution of higher education at which the predominant degree awarded to students is an associate's degree1 including a #b-year ,tribal ,college or ,university as defined in section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7 and a public #b-year ,state institution of higher education4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an eligible institution2 7,b7 a community college2 7,c7 a local educational agency or consortium of local educational agencies2 7,d7 an educational service agency2 7,e7 an ,indian tribe2 7,f7 a tribal organization2 or 7,g7 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 such terms are 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 such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;f771 or an ,asian ,american and ,native ,american ,pacific ,islander-serving institution 7as defined in section #cbj of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;g774 7,b7 ,a ,tribal ,college or ,university1 as defined in section #caf of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c74 7,c7 ,an #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 such ,act 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,f7 ,a minority-serving institution1 which shall be defined as an eligible institution under section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a774 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 7#ab7 in the case of an eligible entity that has formed a partnership with a private entity 7which may include a nonprofit organization1 business1 or other nongovernmental entity71 a description of that partnership1 including how the private entity partner will contribute to the qualified project2 and 7#ac7 such additional information and assurances as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants1 guaranteeing loans1 or making payments under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that have a public-private partnership as described in subsection 7b77#ab74 7d7 ,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 7e7 ,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 7f7 ,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 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part not less than #ajj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj 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 the items relating to sections #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