text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Support for Teachers in 
  Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act'' or the ``STEM\2\ Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING.
  
      (a) In General.--Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
  Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
  the following:
  
               ``PART E--STEM EDUCATION PLANNING AND TRAINING
  
  ``SEC. 2501. DEFINITIONS.
  
      ``In this part:
              ``(1) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian 
          tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given those 
          terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
          Education Assistance Act.
              ``(2) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
          engineering, and mathematics.
  
  ``SEC. 2502. PLANNING GRANTS.
  
      ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to address the lack 
  of coordination among STEM education efforts in the States.
      ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
  `eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
  nonprofit organization, or institution of higher education that 
  identifies a coalition of related entities to participate in the grant 
  application process under this section and subsequent STEM network 
  activities funded with a grant awarded under this section.
      ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
              ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
          this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of 
          awarding, on a competitive basis, planning grants to eligible 
          entities to enable the eligible entities to--
                      ``(A) develop effective State or tribal STEM 
                  networks for communication and collaboration that 
                  include school teachers, institutions of higher 
                  education, nonprofit organizations, businesses, 
                  Federal, State, and local governments, and any other 
                  relevant entities; and
                      ``(B) through such State STEM networks, identify 
                  future STEM skills needed for STEM and non-STEM 
                  occupations.
              ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
          section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
          a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
          poverty eligible entities.
      ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
  section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
  such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
  require.
      ``(e) Reports.--
              ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
          receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
          Secretary an annual report describing the progress made on the 
          grant.
              ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
          the date of enactment of the STEM Support for Teachers in 
          Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act, and every 3 years 
          thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
          regarding the program supported under this section.
  
  ``SEC. 2503. TRAINING PROGRAM GRANTS.
  
      ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 
  capacity of preservice and existing teachers, elementary schools, 
  middle schools, and secondary schools to use proven methods, including 
  inquiry or project-based learning, to inspire and prepare students for 
  STEM careers and build STEM literacy.
      ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
  `eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
  local educational agency, institution of higher education, or nonprofit 
  organization.
      ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
              ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
          this section, the Secretary shall carry out a program of 
          awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities 
          to enable the eligible entities to develop, carry out, and 
          evaluate training programs for STEM education--
                      ``(A) in elementary schools, middle schools, and 
                  secondary schools for existing teachers; and
                      ``(B) in postsecondary schools for preservice 
                  teachers.
              ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
          section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
          an equitable distribution--
                      ``(A) between eligible entities serving urban areas 
                  and eligible entities serving rural areas; and
                      ``(B) of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
                  poverty eligible entities.
      ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
  section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
  such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
  require. Such application shall include--
              ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor 
          and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program, 
          including how the eligible entity plans to measure the impact 
          of the training on--
                      ``(A) teachers who attended the training after the 
                  teachers return to the classroom; or
                      ``(B) preservice teachers; and
              ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines 
          appropriate.
      ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
  this section shall use grant funds to carry out a training program, 
  using best practice models (including inquiry and project-based models) 
  and through summer institutes or other professional development 
  enrichment programs, that provides professional development regarding 
  STEM education to existing and preservice STEM teachers (including STEM 
  teachers who are master teachers or have otherwise demonstrated mastery 
  of STEM teaching) and administrators who are employed as teachers and 
  administrators, respectively, as of the time of the program.
      ``(f) Reports.--
              ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--An eligible entity 
          receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the 
          Secretary an annual report that describes the progress made on 
          the grant and includes the results from the evaluation 
          described in the application under subsection (d).
              ``(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
          the date of enactment of this part, and every 3 years 
          thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress 
          regarding the program supported under this section.
  
  ``SEC. 2504. ACADEMIC STANDARDS GRANTS.
  
      ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to strengthen the 
  capacity of States to implement new mathematics and science academic 
  standards.
      ``(b) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
  `eligible entity' means a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
  local educational agency, public charter school, institution of higher 
  education, or nonprofit organization.
      ``(c) Grants Authorized.--
              ``(1) In general.--From amounts made available to carry out 
          this section, the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
          competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible 
          entities to support curriculum development, assessments, or 
          related activities that would enable States to adopt new 
          mathematics and science academic standards.
              ``(2) Proportionality.--In awarding grants under this 
          section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, ensure 
          a distribution of grant funds focused on high-need and high-
          poverty eligible entities.
      ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
  section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
  such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
  require. Such application shall include--
              ``(1) a description of how the eligible entity will monitor 
          and evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum development, 
          assessments, or related activities that would enable States to 
          adopt new mathematics and science academic standards; and
              ``(2) any other information the Secretary determines 
          appropriate.
      ``(e) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
  this section shall use grant funds to carry out curriculum development, 
  assessments, or related activities that would enable States to adopt 
  new mathematics and science academic standards and provide professional 
  development regarding STEM education standards and national tests for 
  administrators who are employed as teachers and administrators, 
  respectively, as of the time of the program.
      ``(f) Reports to the Secretary.--An eligible entity receiving a 
  grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual report 
  that describes the progress made on the grant and includes the results 
  from the evaluation described in the application under subsection (d).
  
  ``SEC. 2505. NATIONAL PANEL.
  
      ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a national panel 
  to review, evaluate, and identify--
              ``(1) rigorous kindergarten through grade 12 STEM curricula 
          models, including computer or web-based simulation education 
          programs, kinesthetic learning, and inquiry- or project-based 
          learning techniques; and
              ``(2) best practices with respect to STEM curricula.
      ``(b) Members.--The Secretary shall determine the membership of the 
  national panel described in subsection (a), which shall be comprised of 
  individuals who have the wisdom and experience to identify and 
  recommend the most effective STEM curricula models, such as--
              ``(1) representatives of technology industries and 
          business;
              ``(2) teachers and school administrators;
              ``(3) representatives of nonprofit organizations and 
          community organizations;
              ``(4) faculty members of institutions of higher education;
              ``(5) research specialists and curricula specialists;
              ``(6) at least 1 rural education expert;
              ``(7) at least 1 high school or college student to provide 
          a youth perspective; and
              ``(8) other individuals, as determined appropriate by the 
          Secretary.
      ``(c) Reports.--The panel shall prepare reports and recommendations 
  regarding the panel's findings as requested by the Secretary.
  
  ``SEC. 2506. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      ``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
  such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014 and each of the 5 
  succeeding fiscal years.''.
      (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents in section 2 of the 
  Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting 
  after the item relating to section 2441 the following:
  
               ``Part E--STEM Education Planning and Training
  
  ``Sec. 2501. Definitions.
  ``Sec. 2502. Planning grants.
  ``Sec. 2503. Training program grants.
  ``Sec. 2504. Academic standards grants.
  ``Sec. 2505. National panel.
  ``Sec. 2506. Authorization of appropriations.''.
target: STEM Support for Teachers in Education and Mentoring (STEM) Act or the STEM 2 Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award competitive planning grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, or institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop effective state or tribal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) networks that coordinate STEM education efforts by: (1) facilitating communication and collaboration among public and private STEM stakeholders, and (2) identifying STEM occupational skills needed in the future. Directs the Secretary to award competitive grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, local educational agencies (LEAs), IHEs, or nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate STEM education training programs for teachers and administrators in elementary, middle, and secondary schools and for preservice teachers in postsecondary schools. Requires the Secretary to award competitive grants to states, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, LEAs, public charter schools, IHEs, or nonprofit organizations to support curriculum development, assessments, or related activities that enable states to adopt new mathematics and science academic standards.  Requires the Secretary to establish a national panel to identify and recommend the most effective STEM curricula models for kindergarten through grade 12.
feat_title: STEM 2 Act