Grants for project-based learning

(a) Grants authorized (1) In general The Secretary of Education shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible partnerships to carry out project-based learning programs in courses related to English, reading or language arts, writing, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, geography, computer science, music, career and technical education, health, or physical education. (2) Grant period A grant awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (3) Grant amount Subject to the availability of appropriations, a grant awarded under this section shall be in an amount that is not more than $2,000,000. (4) Reservations From the total amount made available pursuant to subsection (g) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not more than— (A) 1 percent to provide technical assistance to, and support the capacity building of, the eligible partnerships receiving a grant under this section; and (B) 1 percent to complete required reporting under subsection (f). (b) Application (1) In general An eligible partnership shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the program proposal described in paragraph (2). (2) Program proposal The program proposal required under paragraph (1) shall include a plan to develop and integrate project-based learning programs and activities in elementary schools and secondary schools, which shall include a description of how the eligible partnership will— (A) provide teachers who work for an entity that is a member of the eligible partnership with the opportunity to participate in a project-based learning program and collaborate with other teachers, content experts, school leaders, colleagues, or other pertinent personnel; (B) develop lesson plans and learning projects that incorporate project-based learning and are aligned to challenging State academic standards; (C) compensate each teacher who participates in professional development programs for project-based learning outside of the regular workday at a rate that is proportional to the amount earned by such teacher for a regular workday; (D) work with teachers described in subparagraph (A) who participate in a project-based learning program to develop and implement the use of evidence-, research-, or practice-based rubrics to assess student learning; (E) spend grant funds awarded under this section, including whether, and how, other Federal, State, Tribal, or local funding sources may be used to supplement such grant funds in order to carry out the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (C); (F) ensure that project-based learning programs are accessible for students with disabilities and English learners, such as by incorporating the principles of universal design for learning; and (G) after the conclusion of the grant period described in subsection (a)(2), continue to promote and use the lesson plans and learning activities developed for the project-based learning program. (c) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible partnerships in accordance with the number of the following criteria met by such partnership: (1) Eligible partnerships that include— (A) a high-need local educational agency or consortium of high-need local educational agencies (especially in rural areas); or (B) Indian Tribes, Tribal educational departments or agencies, Tribal educational organizations, or community-based organizations that support professional development programs for underrepresented populations, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Eligible partnerships that include local educational agencies that serve schools with teacher shortages in high-need subject areas. (3) Eligible partnerships that include local educational agencies or educational service agencies that demonstrate in the program proposal under subsection (b)(2) a plan to recruit, retain, and train teachers who are individuals from underrepresented populations in the teaching profession, including such teachers who— (A) are Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, or of 2 or more races; or (B) have a disability. (4) Eligible partnerships that include an entity that has demonstrated success in supporting professional development and advancing teacher diversity, as determined by the Secretary, such as a minority serving institution. (5) Eligible partnerships that include a public local educational agency. (d) Use of funds (1) In general An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section— (A) shall use such grant funds to implement the program proposal under subsection (b)(2); and (B) may use such grant funds to support— (i) collaboration between program participants, such as meetings between teachers who work at the same elementary school or secondary school in different subject areas for the development or design of project-based learning materials; (ii) the development and implementation of instructional materials for project-based learning, including classroom tools and equipment and assessment-related materials; (iii) the compensation of teachers and other educators who gain additional responsibilities through participation in a project-based learning program; and (iv) any other activity determined to be necessary by the eligible partnership for the implementation of a project-based learning program. (2) Administrative expenses An eligible partnership awarded a grant under this section shall use not more than 5 percent of such grant funds for administrative expenses. (3) Supplement not supplant Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, or local funds used to implement or support project-based learning. (e) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section, including with respect to the evidence-, research-, and practice-based rubrics described in subsection (b)(2)(D). (f) Reports and evaluation (1) Reports to Secretary Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under this section, and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period described in subsection (a)(2), an eligible partnership shall submit to the Secretary any information that is necessary for the Secretary to carry out the evaluation described in paragraph (2). (2) Evaluation Using the information submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall carry out an independent evaluation measuring the effectiveness of the activities carried out pursuant to grants awarded under this section, including the following: (A) Information about whether entities that are members of eligible partnerships that received a grant under this section experienced greater student engagement and increased learning than entities that did not receive a grant under this section. (B) The following information, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender: (i) Student scores on State assessments for reading or language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science. (ii) Rates of graduation, student absenteeism, and teacher turnover. (iii) Anonymous teacher and student surveys about academic engagement during project-based learning lessons. (iv) Survey responses from first and second year teachers who received professional development during development of lessons and projects related to project-based learning. (v) Data on how activities carried out pursuant to a grant awarded under this section helped the development of project-based learning materials and lessons and the entities or schools that were involved in the development of such materials. (3) Publication The information submitted under paragraph (1) and the results of the evaluation under paragraph (2) shall be made publicly available on the website of the Department of Education, except that such information shall not include personally identifiable information. (4) Reports to Congress Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives a report that summarizes the information submitted under paragraph (1) and the results of the evaluation under paragraph (2) of project-based learning programs carried out pursuant to grants awarded under this section. (5) Clearinghouse of best practices (A) In general The Secretary shall integrate project-based learning resources into the appropriate Educational Resources Information Center Clearinghouses (established under section 941(f) of the Educational Research, Development, Dissemination, and Improvement Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 6041(f))). (B) Information and data collected The resources for integration shall include the following: (i) Reports submitted under paragraph (1). (ii) Resources for educators to implement project-based learning initiatives. (iii) Lessons learned from eligible partnerships that received grants under this section, including— (I) best practices; and (II) practices that other entities or eligible partnerships seeking to establish project-based learning programs should strive to avoid. (iv) Technical assistance opportunities made available by the Department to assist eligible partnerships that received grants under this section. (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000,000, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.