Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act

This legislation aims to bring real-world math and data skills into K–12 classrooms. It tells the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund research and teacher training so students learn mathematical and statistical modeling, data science, and computational thinking—using math to solve real problems with real data. The grants can support teacher learning, hands-on projects with messy datasets, school–college–employer partnerships, and efforts to include students who are underrepresented in STEM. Projects must be evaluated, and results and best practices must be shared widely .

The NSF must also arrange a study by the National Academies to identify what helps or blocks this kind of learning, how to prepare teachers, and how to communicate with families and school leaders. The study includes at least one public meeting, and a report is due within 24 months of the agreement. The law authorizes $10 million per year (2026–2030) for the school-focused awards and $1 million per year (2026–2030) for the study. Authority to make awards ends on September 30, 2029 .

• Who is affected

  • Students and teachers in public preK–12 schools, with a focus on real-world math, data, and computing skills.
  • Colleges, universities, and nonprofits that can receive NSF awards and partner with school districts and Tribal education agencies.
  • Parents, community members, and employers, who may join through outreach and partnerships linked to local needs and jobs.

• What changes

  • Competitive NSF grants for teacher training, curriculum research, use of real datasets, and school–employer connections; strong evaluation and sharing of results are required .
  • A National Academies study on how to make modeling and data-focused learning work across grades and communities, with a public input meeting and a final report.

• When

  • Funding runs 2026–2030; authority to issue awards ends September 30, 2029. The study must be initiated within 180 days of enactment, with a report due within 24 months of the agreement .