Sec. 4. STEM education facilities grants
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/bill/118/s/2167/is/section-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary shall carry out a program to improve STEM education facilities by awarding grants, through allotments under subsection (b), to States to enable the States to award subgrants to eligible agencies or tribal educational agencies to carry out qualified STEM education facility projects at eligible schools. From amounts appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under subsection (g), 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 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary, bears to the number of all such schools in the United States and on trust lands for that fiscal year.
From amounts provided to a State under paragraph (1), each State with 1 or more eligible schools described in item
(bb)or
(cc)of subclause (I), or subclause (II), of section 3(7)(A)(ii) shall reserve not less than 10 percent of the State's allotment for qualified STEM education facility projects at such eligible schools. A State receiving an allotment under paragraph
(1)shall, use the amount of such allotment remaining after any reservation required under subparagraph
(A)to award subgrants to eligible agencies to carry out qualified STEM education facility projects at eligible schools. A State that desires to receive an allotment under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such a manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such information shall include, at a minimum— a description of the process that the State will use in selecting and awarding subgrants to eligible agencies; an assurance that such process will meet the requirements described in paragraph (2); an assurance that in awarding subgrants to eligible agencies, the State will give priority to eligible agencies that are part of a public-private partnership; and if the State has formed a public-private partnership, a description of that partnership, including how the private entity partner will contribute to the required match under subsection (e)(1). A State that receives an allotment under this section shall require an eligible agency that desires a subgrant to submit an application that contains, at a minimum, the following information: A detailed description of each qualified STEM education facility project that the eligible agency will carry out with subgrant funds. A description of the need for each such qualified STEM education facility project. A description of how the eligible agency will ensure that each qualified STEM education facility project will be adequately maintained. An identification of the eligible schools that will benefit from the qualified STEM education facility projects supported under the subgrant. A description of how the facilities or internet supported by a qualified STEM education facility project will be used to provide educational services in STEM during the school day and the summer, and in after school programs. If the eligible agency has formed a public-private partnership, a description of that partnership, including how the private entity partner will contribute to the required match under subsection (e)(2). The Secretary shall encourage, but not require, States receiving allotments under paragraph
(1)to ensure that the modernization, renovation, repair, or building supported by the qualified STEM education facility project meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED)building rating standards, Energy Star standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools
(CHPS)criteria, Green Building Initiative environmental design and rating standards (Green Globes), the Living Building Challenge certification standards, or equivalent standards adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the States. A State that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the State's allotment under subsection (b)(1) to carry out activities supported by the grant. An eligible agency that receives a subgrant under subsection (b)(2)(B) shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of the subgrant to carry out activities supported by the subgrant. A matching requirement under this subsection may be provided in cash or in-kind. The Secretary may waive the requirement under this subsection for a State if the Secretary determines that the State will be unable to satisfy the matching requirement. Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and State funds available to carry out the activities supported under this section. The Secretary may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section for the administrative costs of this section and to provide technical assistance to States and eligible agencies concerning best practices in carrying out qualified STEM education facility projects. Not later than 1 year after funds are appropriated to carry out this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the effect of the qualified STEM education facility projects supported under this section on improving academic achievement.