Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act

The bill would require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to make competitive, merit-reviewed awards to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations for research and development supporting high-quality mathematical and statistical modeling education in K-12 schools. Covered activities would include professional development for teachers, research on curricula and pedagogy, partnerships with local school districts and employers, and efforts to reduce access gaps for students historically underrepresented in STEM. The award authority would expire on September 30, 2029, and $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 is authorized for this purpose.

Separately, NSF would be required to seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) — within 180 days of enactment — to study factors and barriers affecting math modeling education in elementary and secondary schools and to report findings and recommendations to Congress. One million dollars per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 is authorized for the NASEM study. The bill does not mandate changes to any existing school curriculum and does not amend any other statute.

Colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations eligible to apply for NSF grants; K-12 public school districts and teachers who would benefit from funded professional development and curriculum research; students from prekindergarten through grade 12, with explicit attention to underrepresented groups, students experiencing homelessness, and children and youth in foster care; and the Secretary of Education and Congress, who would receive the NASEM report.

If enacted, the bill would channel federal research funding toward modernizing how mathematics is taught in public schools — shifting emphasis toward data science, computational tools, and real-world problem-solving. Teachers could gain access to new professional training, and school districts could partner with researchers and employers. The NASEM study would produce recommendations that could shape future legislation and administrative action on K-12 math curriculum.

NSF's Directorate for STEM Education would administer a competitive grant program; applicants would submit detailed proposals covering target populations, recruitment plans, equity strategies, and evaluation methods. Awardees would report annually and submit final project reports with outcome data. NSF would evaluate the full award portfolio against common benchmarks and submit a report to Congress within 180 days of completing that evaluation. Separately, NSF would seek a NASEM agreement within 180 days of enactment; NASEM would hold at least one public stakeholder meeting and deliver a report to NSF, the Secretary of Education, and Congress within 24 months of the agreement's effective date.