; and (3) assesses the core research and data needed to understand the challenges rural areas are facing in providing quality STEM education and workforce development; and (4) makes recommendations for improving STEM education for students in grades Pre–K through 12 and workforce development in rural areas. (b) Report to Director The agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall require the National Academy of Sciences, not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, to submit to the Director a report on the study conducted under such subsection, including the National Academy’s findings and recommendations. (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. 6. Capacity building through EPSCOR Section 517(f)(2) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 1862p–9(f)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (C) to increase the capacity of rural communities to provide quality STEM education and STEM workforce development programming to students, and teachers; and . 7. NIST engagement with rural communities (a) MEP Outreach Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k ) is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (6), by striking community colleges and area career and technical education schools and inserting the following: secondary schools (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )), community colleges, and area career and technical education schools, including those in underserved and rural communities, ; and (B) in paragraph (7)— (i) by striking and local colleges and inserting the following: local high schools and local colleges, including those in underserved and rural communities, ; and (ii) by inserting or other applied learning opportunities after apprenticeships