Through legislative appropriation, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is able to offer exemplary STEM programs throughout the state. The STEM Scale-Up Program has demonstrated success in increasing student interest and achievement in STEM across all demographics. Here's the statistics that prove it . Through a rigorous review process, the STEM Council selected fourteen programs to be offered on the 2024-25 STEM Scale-Up Program menu to provide high-quality STEM education offerings to schools, after school programs and other settings for grades pre-K through 12. These programs range from artificial intelligence and coding programs to exploring Iowa’s agriculture and learning about STEM careers. All went through a rigorous review process, demonstrating an appeal to diverse youth, success in improving academic performance, evidence of integrating STEM concepts, development of school-business-community partnerships and sustainability beyond STEM Council financial support.
SCALE-UP PROGRAM TIMELINE
January 8, 2024: Educator application opens
February 28, 2024, 4:59 PM Central Standard Time: Educator application submission deadline
March – April 2024: Regional STEM Advisory Boards review applications
April 8, 2024: Awardees notified
May 2024: Program providers provided list of awardees
Summer 2024: Training, professional development in preparation for program implementation during 2024-2025 academic year
July 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025: Implementation
WHO CAN APPLY?
PreK-12 cross-curricular educators, both in and out of the classroom, are eligible to apply, so long as they have undergone a criminal background check as a requirement of employment . Eligible applicant(s) include public and private school PreK-12 teachers, youth organization leaders, informal education professionals, home school associations and others who deliver STEM education programming in Iowa. Every applicant must secure the commitment and signature of the institution’s lead administrator(s).
THIS PROGRAM IS AN AWARD, NOT A GRANT.
It is a program delivered to selected applicants. The STEM Scale-Up Program funding is provided from the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council Regional STEM Hub Institutions directly to the STEM Scale-Up Program Provider, rather than to the selected applicant. On occasion, some STEM Scale-Up Program options may require out-of-pocket funds as noted in their fact sheets .
What’s Required of Educators?
Once the program has been implemented, all awarded educators will be required to participate in assessing the effectiveness of their awarded program with the following:
An educator survey to be completed at the end of the STEM Scale-Up Program; and
A student participant list to be completed at the end of the STEM Scale-Up Program.
[Note: Some STEM Scale-Up Program providers may request additional evaluation data.]
For additional information, please visit: https://iowastem.org/Scale-Up
