The Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program was launched as a way to meet the Governor's STEM Advisory Council's top priority: Increasing student interest and achievement in STEM across the state.
Through legislative appropriations, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council is able to offer exemplary STEM programs throughout the state. STEM Scale-Up programs are programs that have demonstrated success in increasing student interest and achievement in STEM no matter the size of the community. A top priority of the STEM Council is to help improve learner interest and achievement in STEM areas.
Application Process and Timeline:
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January 9, 2023 - STEM Scale-Up application opens. Applicants must apply online.
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February 28, 2023 – DEADLINE to apply for 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up Programs
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April 7, 2023 – Tentative date for the announcement of 2023-2024 STEM Scale-Up awardees.
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July 1, 2023 – (pending legislation) – Scale-Up programming begins
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July – September – (depending on Scale-Up) Educator attends training.
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October 31 - All kits/materials are ordered and delivered to the organization (pending program).
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Educator implements the STEM Scale-Up program.
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March-May 2024 – Evaluation/Survey
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. 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. However, applicants who propose to cost-share by absorbing some expenses (e.g. supplies, travel or
administration, etc.) or bringing additional funding (e.g. a grant or private sector donation, etc.) will be considered favorably during the review process. Some
program options require cost-sharing as noted in their descriptions. The STEM Scale-Up Program funding is provided from the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory
Council Regional STEM Hub Institutions directly to the program provider, rather than to the selected applicant.
Apply Today!
With the top priority of boosting student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the Governor's STEM Advisory Council has approved 13 high-quality STEM education programs for 2023-24:
Codelicious
Description: Computer science that builds fluency in procedural, computational and problem-solving skills while also learning the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety.
Grade Level: K-6
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Whitney Dove, Coder Kids, Inc., wdove@codelicious.com
For more information: www.codelicious.com
Daily Math Fluency
Description: Targeted instructional kits use Math Talks and Number Strings to build numeracy skills in students who are struggling with core number concepts.
Grade Level: K-5
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Valerie Cole, hand2mind, Inc., vcole@hand2mind.com
For more information: https://www.hand2mind.com/merch-pages/program-pages/dmf-kits/dmf-centers
Discover Drones
Description: Prepare students for emerging drone careers with lessons in engineering, iterative design and applied science that encourage collaborative learning.
Grade Level: 7-12
For Settings: In school and out of schoo
Contact: Michelle Victor, PCS Education Systems, Inc., michelle@edventures.com
For more information: https://edventures.com/collections/drones/products/discover-drones
Innovate-IT
Description: Inquiry-based learning and curriculum to form an Innovate-IT club. The clubs use the program’s curriculum and activities to guide students in any or all of these three venues: robotics, game design, and cyber defense (cybersecurity).
Grade Level: 9-12
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Lindsay Foster, Iowa State University, lfoster1@iastate.edu
For more information: https://www.cyio.iastate.edu/innovate-it/
Ioponics
Description: An aquaponics system that easily incorporates biophilia with NGSS standards into a “living” learning setting. The model provides a hands-on, minds-on approach to STEM curriculum.
Grade Level: PreK-12
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Michael Bechtel, Ioponics, LLC., Michael.bechtel@wartburg.edu
For more information: www.wartburg.edu/ioponics
Iowa Leadership in Engineering Design
Description: Engineering design activities where students will observe, measure and record data, organize data, analyze data, draw conclusions, evaluate results and present their findings – experiences that will prepare students for all STEM careers.
Grade Level: K-12
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Jesse Wilcox, University of Northern Iowa, jesse.wilcox@uni.edu
For more information: www.IowaLeadershipinEngineeringDesign.com
Positive Physics and Chemistry
Description: An engaging, online physics and chemistry lesson and problem bank. The site was designed to be accessible to students on any level from basic to AP.
Grade Level: 8-12
For Settings: In school
Contact: Jack Replinger, Positive Physics, jack@positivephysics.org
For more information: www.positivephysics.org/
Python for the BBS micro:bit
Description: Bring text-based coding into the classroom and make code come off the screen with the BBC micro:bit.
Grade Level: 6-12
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Kelsey Derringer, CodeJoy LLC, kelsey@codejoyedu.com
For more information: https://codejoyeducation.com
STEM Cart: K-12+ Schoolwide STEM Solution
Description: Youth will build, experiment and redesign; learning from their successes and failures; and growing their understanding with their designs.
Grade Level: K-12
For Settings: In school
Contact: Jack Fuller, TeacherGeek, jfuller@teachergeek.com
For more information: TeacherGeek.com/STEM-Cart
STEM Innovator
Description: An app-based virtual platform for students to document STEM competencies as they innovate solutions to everyday problems and collaborate with peers and business partners.
Grade Level: 6-12
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Leslie Flynn, University of Iowa, Leslie-flynn@uiowa.edu
For more information: https://jacobsoninstitute.org/stem-innovator/portfolio-tool
Storytime STEM-packs: STEM + Computer Science
Description: Incorporate age-appropriate STEM+C concepts into children’s programming. Children collaboratively explain phenomena or solve the problem, thereby making sense of the STEM concept.
Grade Level: PreK-2
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Gabriela Rose, Allegheny Intermediate Unit Math & Science Collaborative, gabriela.rose@aiu3.net
For more information: Storytimestem.com
Tiny Techies
Description: Youth will learn key computer science skills without being in front of a computer. Students will learn computational thinking, problem-solving skills, creative thinking and collaboration - all skills that will help them as they grow and prepare for jobs that don’t yet exist.
Grade Level: PreK-2
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Alison Mohr, NewBoCo, alison@newbo.co
For more information: https://newbo.co/education/educators/tiny-techies-for-educators
Waterworks: Engineering and Investigating the Properties of Water
Description: Open-ended experiences that capitalize on children’s natural interest in water and grow their skill in close observation. Students master the tools of reading, writing and mathematics to communicate about their STEM learning.
Grade Level: PreK-2
For Settings: In school and out of school
Contact: Sherri Peterson, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa Regents’ Center for Early Developmental Education, sherri.peterson@uni.edu
For more information: https://regentsctr.uni.edu
Learn more about the STEM Scale-Up Program.
