S. 5317 — INSPIRES Act

This section states congressional findings on the projected demand for 870,000 STEM jobs through 2034, the $55,580 annual wage premium for STEM workers, the importance of middle school hands-on STEM programs, limited access to STEM courses for Native American students, and the need to repair or upgrade 54 percent of U.S. school buildings.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including career and technical education, community college, eligible agency, eligible entity, eligible institution, eligible school, Indian Tribe, Native American, public-private partnership, qualified STEM education facility project, and qualified CTE facility project.

This section establishes a grant program under which the Secretary allots funds to States based on each State's share of rural schools with locale codes 41, 42, or 43, to award subgrants to eligible agencies and Tribal educational agencies for qualified STEM education facility projects at eligible schools. States must reserve at least 10 percent of allotments for projects at schools serving Native Americans, provide a 25 percent non-Federal match, and require subgrantees to provide a 10 percent match; the Secretary may reserve up to 3 percent of appropriated funds for administration and technical assistance.

This section establishes a program to improve career and technical education facilities by awarding grants, guaranteeing loans, or making interest payments for qualified projects. It requires applications that detail project descriptions, needs, maintenance plans, educational outcomes, student demographics, and partnerships; prioritizes applicants with private-entity partners; caps administrative and technical assistance costs at 3 percent of appropriated funds; and directs the Secretary to submit biennial reports to Congress on effects on academic achievement.

This section authorizes appropriations of not less than $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each succeeding fiscal year to carry out section 4, and not less than $25,000,000 for the same period to carry out section 5.