STEM Pathways for the Future Act

This bill tells the National Science Foundation to fund more hands-on STEM training, like apprenticeships, outside of four-year colleges. Within one year, the NSF must start a competitive grant program to help create or grow STEM apprenticeships. Money can be used to recruit trainees, plan and improve programs, add new technology, and partner with STEM companies through advisory boards or consortia. It cannot be used to lure a business to move from one place to another. Some applicants may get preference, based on program rules.

It also sets up a short-term task force made up of leaders from major federal science, education, labor, and health agencies. Within one year, they must send Congress a report listing federal programs that focus on STEM career training through registered apprenticeships, community colleges, or minority-serving institutions. The task force ends after the report is submitted.

• Who is affected: Students and workers seeking STEM skills; training providers like community colleges and apprenticeship programs; STEM employers that may advise programs.
• What changes: New NSF grants to build or improve STEM apprenticeships not run by four-year colleges; clear do’s and don’ts for how funds can be used; a one-time federal report to map key STEM training programs.
• When: The NSF grant program and the federal report must both start within one year of the law taking effect.