Request for Applications
We are recruiting ten afterschool programs to participate in a STEM Peer Learning Community (PLC) through the Million Girls Moonshot Initiative.

Selected programs will receive $500 to support their participation (see below for details).
Are you interested in growing your STEM program or adding a STEM component to your existing program? Now is your chance to take advantage of free resources and training available through the Florida After School Million Girls Moonshot Initiative AND GET PAID TO DO IT!

Programs interested in this exciting opportunity should have an existing STEM program that they wish to enhance or commit to adding a STEM component to their afterschool program, if selected. In addition, applicants must have the ability to implement STEM programming for a minimum of two (2) hours per week (January - May), participate in monthly 90-minute calls with a peer learning community (starting in December), and collect and report student and educator data using specific tools. More details below.

Florida After School will provide funding, training, ongoing technical assistance, and support to selected programs.

Eligibility Requirements: 
  • Must operate an afterschool program in Florida (school or community based); 
  • Be interested in STEM education; 
  • Have a designated staff member to implement programming and participating in the PLC; 
  • Serve at least 25 students in grades 3-8; 
  • Agree to collect student and educator data at the completion of the project, utilizing the PEAR Common Instrument Suite. 

*Preference may be given to programs operating in underserved communities.* 
Selected programs will be notified in November and the STEM Peer Learning Community will kick off in December and meet monthly throughout the Spring. If selected, programs will receive $200 at the beginning of the project term and the remaining $300 after successful completion of the program requirements, which includes a final report in late May/June to coincide with the end of the school year.
Applications are due November 1.
What is the Million Girls Moonshot?
Florida After School is proud to be a part of the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, working to inspire and prepare the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot will not only allow girls to envision themselves as future innovators, but it will increase the quality of out-of-school STEM learning opportunities for all young people, particularly underserved and underrepresented youth. 
 
The Million Girls Moonshot has four (4) transformative practices for programs and communities to participate in. They are:  
  1. STEM for all; 
  2. Engineering Mindset; 
  3. Role models, mentors, and families; and 
  4. STEM Transitions and pathways. 

In Florida, we are using this grant opportunity to launch a "STEM 4 ALL" Campaign and expand the Engineering Mindset.
Engineering Mindsets are high-quality engineering experiences/activities that engage girls in developing a set of ten skills and mindsets including math and science, iteration, persistence, teamwork and envisioning multiple solutions. One of the primary goals of
engineering education is to promote the development of an engineering mindset. 

Our “STEM 4 ALL” campaign will connect rural and underserved neighborhoods with STEM and Engineering Mindset resources through the intentional pairing with existing STEM providers. 
What is the PEAR Common Instrument Suite?
Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) offers a developmental approach to the study of new models of effective educational programming and incorporates educational, health, public policy, and psychological perspectives. PEAR staff is comprised of experienced psychiatrists, social workers, instructional specialists, school and classroom teachers, and former school and out-of-school time administrators. PEAR partners with the 50 State Afterschool Network to promote mental health and well-being in the service of student engagement, academic achievement, and life success.

PEAR has designed The Common Instrument Suite (CIS) to provide programs with a better understanding of student outcomes in STEM. The CIS is a self-report survey that measures a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-related attitudes, including STEM engagement, STEM career knowledge, and STEM identity. It was specifically developed with informal, afterschool, outside-of-school time (OST) STEM programs in mind. The purpose of the survey is to better understand how informal STEM programming impacts students’ perceptions/ attitudes towards STEM.
If selected for the STEM Peer Learning Community, you will be required to use the CIS to collect and report data. All training and technical assistance will be provided at no cost to the program.
Have questions? Let us know by contacting info@flafterschool.com.
Applications are due November 1.