National STEM Week Act
Officially: “National STEM Week Act” Read the full text
What it does
Read it in plain language
1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the National STEM Week Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National STEM Week Act .
2Findings
This section would state Congress's findings on the topic. It would find that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are crucial to the economic competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States. It would find that there is a need to improve access to quality STEM education across all demographics and regions, to address gaps in STEM participation and to build a diverse, capable future workforce. It would find that informal and formal learning environments, including afterschool programs and activities at home, play a significant role in sparking interest and building skill in STEM subjects. It would find that partnerships among educational institutions, industry partners, and communities can effectively inspire and prepare students for STEM careers.
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2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are crucial to the economic competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States. (2) There exists a need to enhance access to quality STEM education across all demographics and regions to address disparities in STEM participation and to ensure a diverse and capable future workforce. (3) Informal and formal learning environments, including afterschool programs and at-home activities, play significant roles in stimulating interest and proficiency in STEM subjects. (4) Collaborations between educational institutions, industry partners, and communities can effectively inspire and prepare students for careers in STEM.
3Designation of National STEM Week
This section would require the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, known as CoSTEM, to designate one week each calendar year as National STEM Week. CoSTEM would have to make this designation in consultation with other relevant stakeholders.
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3. Designation of National STEM Week The National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM), in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, shall designate a week each calendar year as National STEM Week .
4Purposes of National STEM Week
This section would set out the purposes of National STEM Week and the activities CoSTEM must carry out to pursue them. The purposes would be, through the programs and activities described below: to highlight the importance of STEM education in educational institutions across the country; to showcase the range of career pathways within STEM fields, in both classroom settings and informal learning environments; to encourage family engagement with STEM activities at home to foster a supportive learning environment; to help educational institutions and industry leaders form partnerships that give students real-world applications and mentorship opportunities in STEM fields; and to support states and local communities in developing and promoting their own STEM Week activities and resources, tailored to their own educational and industrial circumstances. To carry out these purposes, during National STEM Week CoSTEM would have to: encourage educational institutions to participate in National STEM Week; encourage the families of students attending participating educational institutions to take part in STEM activities; and encourage STEM industries to engage with enrolled students by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures, and to support STEM education initiatives at those educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise.
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4. Purposes of National STEM Week (a) Purposes The purposes of National STEM Week are, through the programs and activities described in subsection (b), to— (1) highlight the importance of STEM education in educational institutions across the country; (2) showcase diverse career pathways within STEM fields in both classroom settings and informal learning environments; (3) encourage family engagement with STEM activities at home to foster a conducive learning environment; (4) facilitate partnerships between educational institutions and industry leaders to provide students with real-world applications and mentorship opportunities in STEM fields; and (5) support States and local communities in developing and promoting their own STEM Week activities and resources, tailored to their unique educational and industrial landscapes. (b) Programs and activities During National STEM Week, the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM) shall carry out the following: (1) Educational activities Encourage educational institutions to participate in National STEM Week. (2) Community and family engagement Encourage families of students attending the educational institutions participating in National STEM Week to participate in STEM activities. (3) Industry involvement Encourage STEM industries to— (A) engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and (B) support STEM education initiatives at such educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise.
5Reporting and evaluation
This section would require CoSTEM to submit a report to Congress on the activities carried out under National STEM Week. The first report would be due no later than 1 year after the Act's date of enactment, and CoSTEM would have to submit a further report every year after that. Each report would have to include a summary of nationwide participation and activities, an analysis of how the activities affected STEM education and helped close educational gaps, and recommendations for improving future STEM Weeks based on feedback from participants and stakeholders.
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5. Reporting and evaluation Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CoSTEM) shall submit to Congress a report detailing the activities conducted under National STEM Week, including— (1) a summary of nationwide participation and activities; (2) an analysis of the impact of these activities on improving STEM education and closing educational gaps; and (3) recommendations for improving future STEM Weeks based on feedback from participants and stakeholders.
6Definitions
This section would define the terms used in the Act. 'Educational institution' would mean any elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education. 'Elementary school' and 'secondary school' would have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 'Industry leader' would mean an individual in a leadership position within an industry partner who has the authority to make strategic decisions and allocate resources to support the purposes of National STEM Week. 'Industry partner' would mean a for-profit or nonprofit entity seeking to support the purposes of National STEM Week. 'Institution of higher education' would have the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). 'STEM' would mean science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 'State' would mean each of the 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
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6. Definitions In this Act: (1) Educational institution The term educational institution means any elementary school, secondary school, and institution of higher education. (2) Elementary school; secondary school The terms elementary school and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 ). (3) Industry leader The term industry leader means an individual in a leadership position within an industry partner who has the authority to make strategic decisions and allocate resources to support the purposes of National STEM Week. (4) Industry partner The term industry partner means a for-profit or nonprofit entity seeking to support the purposes of National STEM Week. (5) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ). (6) STEM The term STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (7) State The term State means each of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Where it is
In the Senate.