New 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act to Fund Business and Patent Education for Students in Grades 6-12

The 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act aims to turn middle and high school students into the next generation of business owners by funding entrepreneurship and inventorship programs. The bill authorizes $10 million annually through 2014 for a grant program managed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), allowing schools, community centers, and organizations like SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) to apply for up to $400,000 over three years. The goal is to move beyond basic classroom theory and teach practical skills like business planning, accounting, marketing, and the technical process of applying for a patent (Section 1). By targeting students in grades 6 through 12, the bill attempts to spark interest in innovation before students enter the workforce or higher education.

Mentorship in the Neighborhood

A major component of this legislation focuses on bringing real-world expertise into community learning centers. Under Section 2 and 4, the SBA is tasked with developing a specific curriculum for SCORE volunteers—mostly retired business executives—to mentor students. Think of it as a formal way for a retired shop owner or a former corporate CFO to teach a 14-year-old how to draft a balance sheet or protect an invention. The bill specifically directs these resources toward students who are often left out of the startup world, including those from rural areas, low-income families, minority groups, and English learners. It also amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to make these business programs a standard authorized activity for after-school centers.

Tracking the ROI

To make sure this isn't just a feel-good exercise, the bill includes strict reporting requirements. Within one year of enactment, and every two years after, the SBA must report to Congress on exactly how many students are being reached and where the money is going (Section 4). The report must also identify barriers—like a lack of volunteers in certain zip codes—and document that SCORE leadership is actually being trained on how to handle these federal funds. With $2.5 million authorized annually from 2026 through 2030 to specifically support these mentorship partnerships, the bill sets a clear expectation that these programs should be measurable and transparent in their attempt to reverse declining entrepreneurship rates in the U.S.