What's happening
This bill creates competitive STEM grants to encourage women and minorities in grades 6-12 to pursue technology careers in New York.
Why it matters
Targets persistent gaps in STEM fields. by directly funding programs for women and minorities in grades 6–12, aiming to address underrepresentation where disparities often begin and can have long-term career impacts.
Emphasizes accountability and outcomes. by requiring five-year grant cycles with effectiveness evaluations based on specific metrics—such as changes in participation rates and post-graduation outcomes—ensuring the program focuses on measurable progress, not just funding activities.
Prioritizes disadvantaged districts. in grant allocation, which could help level the playing field for students in under-resourced schools who might otherwise lack access to quality STEM opportunities and career exploration.
Promotes collaboration and sustainability. by involving the State Education Department in proposal development and evaluation, and by encouraging partnerships with postsecondary institutions—potentially creating pathways from secondary education to higher education and employment in STEM fields.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
STEM Grants for Diversity
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 4
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
STEM Grants for Diversity
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8614
IN SENATE
May 10, 2018
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation to providing science, technology, engineering and mathematics grants for the encouragement of women and minorities to pursue careers in technology
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 16-m of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
(o) Assistance to encourage women and minorities to pursue technology careers by providing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants, on a competitive basis, to school districts, charter schools, or boards of cooperative educational services for use in public and private schools, to develop new and enhance current STEM programs in grades six through twelve, including career exploration activities, opportunities for technical skills attainment and partnerships with postsecondary education and training programs.
(i) Development of proposals and selection of recipients of such STEM grants shall be carried out in cooperation with the commissioner of the state education department.
(ii) Grants shall be made for a recurrent period of five years at which time the chairperson shall evaluate the effectiveness of the STEM grants based on criteria developed in cooperation with the commissioner of the state education department.
(1) Such criteria shall provide disadvantaged school districts or boards of cooperative educational services priority when allocating the grants authorized by this paragraph;
(2) Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the number of women and minority students in STEM programs before and after the grant period; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05329-01-7
S. 8614 2
(3) The percentage of the new STEM students who have gone on to twoand four-year postsecondary education institutions and the percentage who have been employed for a period not less than two years in mathematics, science, technology, health related fields and the licensed professions.
(iii) For purposes of this section local education agencies shall mean school districts, charter schools, or boards of cooperative educational services.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments to subdivision 1 of section 16-m of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, made by section one of this act, shall not affect the expiration of such section and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation to providing science, technology, engineer- ing and mathematics grants for the encouragement of women and minorities to pursue careers in technology
Purpose
This bill provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to local education agencies to encourage women and minori- ties to pursue technology careers.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one adds new paragraph (o) to S 16-m of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
In today's high-tech, global economy, most well-paying jobs require a basic understanding of math and science. The most recent 10-year employ- ment: projections by the U.S. Labor Department show that of the 20 fastest-growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them require significant mathematics or science preparation to successfully compete for, a job. Today, large numbers of jobs are going unfilled, and many of them require a background in science, technology, engineering and math- ematics. While some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs involve STEM skills, the number of women and minorities in these fields lags significantly behind white males. For example, in a 2010 survey by the Bayer Corporation of female and minority chemists and chemical engi- neers, 77 percent said significant numbers of women and minorities are missing from the U.S. STEM work force because "they were not identified, encouraged or nurtured to pursue STEM studies early on." Increasing the participation of under-represented groups in STEM education is not only educationally sound, it also will fill a critical need for workers skilled in the areas of demand in today's economy.
Legislative history
2015-16: A.968 - Vetoed; S.1960 - Vetoed 2013-14: A.6417-B - Passed Assembly; S.5237-A - Referred to Corpo- rations, Authorities and Commissions
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.