On January 5, House Science, Space and Technology Committee released a bill to improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in rural communities. The Rural STEM Education Research Act was crafted to address inequalities that make it harder for students in rural communities to access quality STEM education. According to the bill’s sponsors, the legislation:
1) Supports research and development activities to improve understanding of the challenges rural communities are facing in providing and sustaining quality STEM education.
2) Addresses obstacles to rural STEM education, including reduced connectivity and the lack of broadband access by establishing a working group to set key research priorities for improving broadband access to rural communities.
3) Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a prize competition to stimulate innovations in technologies to deploy broadband connectivity to underserved rural communities.
4) Supports training opportunities for rural educators at Federal Laboratories and universities.
5) Broadens the participation of rural students in STEM by giving students direct access to STEM knowledge present in their communities and local environment.
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