USC Subpart 2

20 U.S.C. § 1067e YES partnerships grant program

(a) Grant program authorizedSubject to the availability of appropriations to carry out this subpart, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships (as described in subsection (f)) to support the engagement of underrepresented minority youth and youth who are low-income individuals (as such term is defined in section 1058 of this title) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through outreach and hands-on, experiential-based learning projects that encourage students in kindergarten through grade 12 who are underrepresented minority youth or low-income individuals to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (b) Minimum grant amountA grant awarded to a partnership under this subpart shall be for an amount that is not less than $500,000. (c) DurationA grant awarded under this subpart shall be for a period of five years. (d) Non-Federal matching share requiredA partnership receiving a grant under this subpart shall provide, from non-Federal sources, in cash or in-kind, an amount equal to 50 percent of the costs of the project supported by such grant. (e) Distribution of grantsIn awarding grants under this subpart, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable, the projects funded under this subpart are located in diverse geographic regions of the United States. (f) Eligible partnershipsNotwithstanding the general eligibility provision in section 1067g of this title, eligibility to receive grants under this subpart is limited to partnerships described in paragraph (5) of such section.

20 U.S.C. § 1067e–1 Promotion of entry into STEM fields

(a) Authority to contract, subject to appropriationsThe Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with a firm with a demonstrated record of success in advertising to implement a campaign to expand the population of qualified individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (referred to in this section as “STEM fields”) by encouraging young Americans to enter such fields. (b) Design of campaignThe campaign under this section shall be designed to enhance the image of education and professions in the STEM fields and promote participation in the STEM fields, and may include—(1) monitoring trends in youths’ attitudes toward pursuing education and professions in the STEM fields and their propensity toward entering the STEM fields; (2) determining what factors contribute to encouraging and discouraging Americans from pursuing study in STEM fields and entering the STEM fields professionally; (3) determining what specific factors limit the participation of groups currently underrepresented in STEM fields, including Latinos, African-Americans, and women; and (4) drawing from the market research performed under this section and implementing an advertising campaign to encourage young Americans to take up studies in STEM fields, beginning at an early age. (c) Required componentsThe campaign under this section shall—(1) include components that focus tailored messages on appropriate age groups, starting with elementary school students; and (2) link participation in the STEM fields to the concept of service to one’s country, so that young people will be encouraged to enter the STEM fields in order fulfill the obligation to be of service to their country. (d) PriorityThe campaign under this section shall hold as a high priority making specific appeals to Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, students with disabilities, and women, who are currently underrepresented in the STEM fields, in order to increase their numbers in the STEM fields, and shall tailor recruitment efforts to each specific group. (e) Use of variety of mediaThe campaign under this section shall make use of a variety of media, with an emphasis on television advertising, to reach its intended audience. (f) TeachingThe campaign under this section shall include a narrowly focused effort to attract current professionals in the STEM fields, through advertising in mediums likely to reach that specific group, into teaching in a STEM field in elementary schools and secondary schools.

20 U.S.C. § 1067e–2 Evaluation and accountability plan

The Secretary shall develop an evaluation and accountability plan for projects funded under this subpart. Such plan shall include, if the Secretary determines that it is practical, an objective measure of the impact of such projects, such as a measure of whether underrepresented minority student enrollment in courses related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics increases at the secondary and postsecondary levels.