A2708

An Act concerning STEM coursework and resources in public schools and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Next Gen STEM Support Act.”

2. As used in this act:

“Program” means the Next Gen STEM Support Program established pursuant to section 4 of this act.

“STEM” means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“STEM resource” is defined to include laboratory equipment; computer software and technology including, robotic and engineering materials; the expansion of STEM development and extracurricular activities; and professional training for STEM educators.

3. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. New Jersey public schools struggle to provide adequate STEM resources necessary for students to succeed in STEM coursework.

b. In support of the constitutional mandate to provide students in New Jersey with a “thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State,” the Legislature should have input into the instructional programs provided in the public schools.

c. The core function of public schools is to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.

d. Coursework in STEM provides students with learning opportunities in these vital subject areas.

e. It is altogether fitting and proper to establish a grant program that promotes STEM by expanding and supporting existing programs with the resources necessary to provide superior instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

4. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish the Next Gen STEM Support Program within one year of the effective date of this act. Under the program, the commissioner shall provide grant funds to public schools to ensure the growth and development of STEM coursework, resources, and extracurricular programs.

b. A grant awarded through the Next Gen STEM Support Program shall be used to support public schools in:

(1) providing STEM coursework;

(2) attaining STEM resources necessary to support students engaged in STEM coursework and extracurricular activities;

(3) encouraging student participation in STEM coursework and extracurricular activities; and

(4) any other activities the commissioner deems necessary.

c. A public school that receives a grant pursuant to this act shall not allocate more than one-third of the total grant amount to professional training for STEM educators.

5. a. A public school that wishes to participate in the program shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education in a manner and form determined by the commissioner. The application shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) a description of current STEM coursework offered by the public school;

(2) a description of current STEM extracurricular activities offered by the public school;

(3) the total number of students enrolled in elective STEM courses offered by the public school;

(4) a list of STEM resources needed by the public school;

(5) a description of how the public school will use any grant funds awarded through the program for the expansion of any existing, or the provision of any new, coursework, activities, or resources; and

(6) any other information the commissioner deems necessary.

b. The commissioner shall develop criteria for the evaluation of grant applications. Based on this criteria, and within the limit of available appropriations, the commissioner shall allocate to each selected public school a grant in an amount as determined by the commissioner.

c. To the maximum extent practicable, the commissioner shall select a cross-section of public schools from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and a cross-section of public schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

6. Each public school that receives a grant pursuant to this act shall annually submit a report to the Commissioner of Education detailing the use of grant funds and the impact of the grant funds on students, STEM coursework, and STEM resources.

7. There is annually appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education such funds as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act; however, no more than $100,000 shall be appropriated in any one fiscal year.

8. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish the “Next Gen STEM Support Act” within one year of the bill’s effective date. Under the program, the commissioner is to provide grant funds to public schools to ensure the growth and development of STEM coursework, resources, and extracurricular activities. A grant awarded through the program is to be used to support public schools in: (1) providing STEM coursework; (2) attaining STEM resources necessary to support students engaged in STEM coursework and extracurricular activities; (3) encouraging student participation in STEM coursework and extracurricular activities; and (4) any other activities the commissioner deems necessary. The bill limits the amount of grant funds a public school may allocate for professional training for STEM educators to no more than one-third of the total grant received by the public school.

A public school that wishes to participate in the grant program is required to submit an application to the commissioner in a manner and form determined by the commissioner. The application is to include certain listed information. The bill directs the commissioner to develop criteria for the evaluation of grant applications and to allocate, based upon the criteria and within the limit of available appropriations, to each selected public school a grant in an amount as determined by the commissioner. The bill limits the total amount of grant funds to be distributed pursuant to the bill to not more than $100,000 in any one fiscal year. To the maximum extent practicable, the commissioner is to select a cross-section of public schools from the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and a cross-section of public schools from urban, suburban, and rural areas.

Under the bill, each public school that receives a grant is to annually submit a report to the commissioner detailing the use of grant funds and the impact of the grant funds on students, STEM coursework, and STEM resources.