,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #feba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #bh1 #bjbb,mrs4 ,hayes 7for herself and ,mr4 ,mc,kinley7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to provide for hands-on learning opportunities in ,,stem education4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,supporting ,,stem ,learning ,opportunities ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,developing a robust1 talented1 and homegrown workforce1 particularly in the fields of ,,stem1 is critical to the success of the ,united ,states innovation economy4 7#b7 ,the ,united ,states educational system is not producing a sufficient number of workers with the necessary ,,stem expertise to meet the needs of the ,united ,states industry in ,,stem fields4 7#c7 ,hands-on and experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom are critical for student success in ,,stem subjects and careers1 stimulating students' interest1 increasing confidence1 and creating motivation to pursue a related career4 7#d7 ,hands-on and experiential learning opportunities can be particularly successful in inspiring interest in students who traditionally have been underrepresented in ,,stem fields1 including girls1 students of color1 and students from disadvantaged backgrounds4 7#e7 ,an expansion of hands-on and experiential learning programs across the ,united ,states would expand the ,,stem workforce pipeline1 developing and training students for careers in ,,stem fields4 #c4 ,hands-on learning opportunities in ,,stem education 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,esea terms ,the terms elementary school1 high school1 secondary school1 and ,state have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,eligible nonprofit program ,the term eligible nonprofit program-- 7,a7 means a nonprofit program serving prekindergarten1 elementary school1 or secondary school students2 and 7,b7 includes a program described in subparagraph 7,a7 that covers the continuum of education from prekindergarten through high school and is available in every ,state4 7#c7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7#d7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this section are to-- 7#a7 provide effective1 compelling1 and engaging means for teaching and reinforcing fundamental ,,stem concepts and inspiring the youth of the ,united ,states to pursue careers in ,,stem-related fields2 7#b7 expand the ,,stem workforce pipeline by developing and training students for careers in ,united ,states ,,stem fields2 and 7#c7 broaden participation in the ,,stem workforce by underrepresented population groups4 7c7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall1 subject to the availability of appropriations for such purposes1 provide grants to eligible nonprofit programs for supporting hands-on learning opportunities in ,,stem education1 including via after-school activities and innovative learning opportunities such as robotics competitions and for the purposes of evaluating the impact of such programs on ,,stem learning and disseminating the results of such evaluations4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,director shall give priority to eligible nonprofit programs serving students that attend elementary schools or secondary schools 7including high schools7 that-- 7,a7 are implementing comprehensive support and improvement activities or targeted support and improvement activities under paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 of section #aaaa7;d7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa7;d772 or 7,b7 serve high percentages of students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq47 7which1 in the case of a high school1 may be calculated using comparable data from the schools that feed into the high school74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4