A. The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

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1. Create a unified vision regarding STEM education initiatives, language, and measures of success to promote a culture of collaboration for STEM programming in the Commonwealth.

2. Develop the infrastructure for creating STEM Regional Hubs and naming STEM Champions in communities across the Commonwealth to facilitate partnerships between organizations across regions and populations that will lead to increased cross-sector opportunities.

3. Advance and disseminate STEM curricular and professional development resources for formal and informal education.

4. Identify strategies to promote the participation of historically underrepresented students in STEM education. Such strategies shall include (i) identifying barriers to STEM participation for historically underrepresented students in elementary and secondary schools; (ii) developing recommendations for elective courses in secondary schools that expand hands-on STEM opportunities for all secondary school students; (iii) developing recommendations for elective courses in secondary schools that expand and promote hands-on STEM opportunities and STEM participation for historically underrepresented students; (iv) recommending changes to the Standards of Learning that promote the STEM-related contributions of historically underrepresented groups; and (v) collaborating with institutions of higher education and the private sector in the Commonwealth to educate students on and expand STEM pathways and opportunities in higher education, STEM careers, STEM internships, STEM fellowships, and other STEM enrichment programs.

5. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly’s website.

B. The Board may apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable it to carry out its objectives.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 291; 2024, c. 814.