; and civic associations. Such groups need to be able to coordinate and cooperate successfully with each other. (4) Coordination among students, community colleges, secondary and postsecondary institutions, and employers would improve educational outcomes. (5) Promising experiments currently underway may guide innovation and reform, but scalability of some of those experiments has not yet been tested. (6) Evidence suggests that integration of academic education, technical training, and hands-on work experience improves outcomes and return on investment for students in secondary and postsecondary education and for skilled technical workers in different career stages. (7) Outcomes show that mentoring can increase STEM student engagement and the rate of completion of STEM postsecondary degrees. 3. National Science Foundation STEM innovation and apprenticeship grants (a) Establishment The Director of the National Science Foundation (referred to in this Act as the Director ) shall award competitive grants to eligible applicants in accordance with this section. (b) Coordination In carrying out this section, the Director shall consult and cooperate with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies to avoid duplication with, and enhance the effectiveness of, the provision of grants under this section. (c) Grants for associate degree programs in STEM fields (1) In general The Director shall award competitive grants to community colleges to develop or improve associate degree and certificate programs in STEM fields in which there is significant workforce demand in the region of the community college receiving the award and a need to strengthen the global competitiveness of affected companies. (2) Application In considering applications for grants under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider— (A) applicants that consist of a partnership between the applying community college and individual employers or an employer consortia, and may include a university or other organization with demonstrated expertise