161.261.  STEM career awareness, program established, purpose — online program, criteria — fund created — rulemaking authority. — 1.  Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary education shall establish a statewide program to be known as the "STEM Career Awareness Program" to increase STEM career awareness among students in grades six through eight.  For purposes of this section, "STEM" means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

  2.  The department of elementary and secondary education shall promote the statewide program beginning in the 2019-20 school year.  The program shall introduce students to a wide variety of STEM careers and technology through an online-based STEM curriculum.

  3.  By January 1, 2019, the department of elementary and secondary education shall solicit proposals for the online program.  By March 1, 2019, the department of elementary and secondary education shall select a provider for the online program.  The program selected shall meet a majority of the following criteria:

  (1)  The program introduces students to a wide variety of STEM careers and technologies;

  (2)  The curriculum is designed for flexible implementation in a wide variety of classrooms, including science, math, English, and social studies, through lessons that emphasize the application of STEM careers in such contexts;

  (3)  The curriculum demonstrates how math and language arts skills appropriate to middle schools are used by STEM careers, making classroom instruction relevant to students interested in STEM careers;

  (4)  The program produces analytic reports for individual students and for classes, including an analysis of performance against individual math and language arts skills objectives;

  (5)  The curriculum is available in a self-paced online format; and

  (6)  The program includes web-based professional development for school staff.

  4.  Notwithstanding subsections 2 and 3 of this section, the department of elementary and secondary education may choose a third-party nonprofit entity to implement the statewide program, solicit proposals, and select a provider as described under subsection 3 of this section.

  5.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the "STEM Career Awareness Program Fund".  The fund shall consist of any appropriations, gifts, bequests, or public or private donations to such fund.  The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund.  In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements of public moneys in accordance with distribution requirements and procedures developed by the department of elementary and secondary education.  The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this section.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

  6.  The department of elementary and secondary education may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after December 18, 2018, shall be invalid and void.