Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act
Key claim: This legislation would require the National Science Foundation to award competitive research grants to colleges and nonprofits to improve mathematical modeling, data science, and computational thinking education in K-12 schools.
Abstract
(HR3588 · 117th Congress) Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to take certain actions to increase mathematical and statistical modeling education in public elementary and secondary schools. First, the NSF must provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations for research and development to support high-quality mathematical modeling education (e.g., data science and computational thinking) in schools. In addition, the NSF must seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study and report on mathematical and statistical modeling education in schools. Latest action (2022-07-27): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Why this matters
The bill would make colleges and nonprofits the recipients of competitive NSF research grants aimed at improving K–12 quantitative education, rather than providing direct funding to every school. Its House passage advances a proposed federal role in STEM education research, but does not by itself make grant funds available.