STEM Scale-Up Program Awards Announced for 2025-26 School Year

The Northeast Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board is thrilled to announce that more than 180 PK–12 educators across Northeast Iowa have been selected to receive a STEM Scale-Up Program award for the 2025–26 academic year.

The STEM Scale-Up Program, an initiative of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education, provides high-quality STEM programs and professional development to educators, equipping them with the tools and resources to deliver engaging, hands-on STEM experiences for their learning environments.

Thanks to this program, thousands of students across the region will gain access to cutting-edge STEM learning opportunities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and career readiness.

Congratulations to all of this year’s awardees! Your dedication to innovative teaching is helping to shape a stronger, STEM-ready future for Iowa.

To learn more about the STEM Scale-Up Program and its impact, visit the Council's Scale-Up Program webpage.

For a complete list of 2025-2026 STEM Scale-Up Program recipients

Now Accepting Applications for the Northeast Iowa STEM Advisory Board

Are you passionate about STEM education and workforce development in Northeast Iowa? We are currently seeking committed, community-minded individuals to serve on the Northeast Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board.

As a board member, you will play a vital role in guiding STEM initiatives that impact students, educators, and industry across the region. Your insights and leadership will help strengthen partnerships and advance STEM opportunities in our communities.

Applications are now open and must be submitted by June 16.

We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds—education, business, nonprofit, government, and more. If you’ve served before or are new to the board, your contribution matters.

Thank you for your commitment to STEM in Iowa. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

STEM Festival Inspires Hundreds Across Northeast Iowa

The excitement was unmistakable at this year’s Northeast Iowa STEM Festival, held on April 24 in Waukon, where hundreds of kids and their families came together to celebrate science, technology, engineering, and math in action!

The event featured more than 23 hands-on exhibits and interactive demonstrations from local businesses, schools, and community organizations. Participants explored everything from robotics and virtual reality to agriculture, coding, and more.

A heartfelt thank you to our volunteers, exhibitors, and attendees for making this event a success. Together, we're building a stronger, more innovative future—one student at a time.

Become a STEM Scale-Up Program Provider and Empower Iowa's

Future Innovators

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, at the Iowa Department of Education, is seeking innovative, evidence-based programs to join the 2026-2027 STEM Scale-Up menu offerings. This is your opportunity to be part of a statewide movement that brings high-impact STEM education directly into Iowa classrooms and other learning environments—empowering educators and inspiring students in grades PK-12.

Each year, the STEM Scale-Up Program connects PK–12 educators with outstanding STEM programs that equip students with the skills they need for success in the modern workforce. Program providers are selected through a competitive application process and receive state and private funding to help scale their initiatives across the state.

Why Apply?

Becoming a Scale-Up program provider gives your organization the chance to:

• Expand your impact across hundreds of classrooms and other learning environments statewide.
• Connect with passionate educators and thousands of PK–12 students.
• Align with Iowa’s strategic STEM priorities including agricultural science, artificial intelligence, computational thinking, early learning, mathematics, energy and ecology, arts integration, and STEM careers.
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of your program with measurable outcomes.
• Contribute to workforce readiness in one of the nation’s most forward-thinking STEM education initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking evidence-based programs that:

• Inspire and engage PK–12 students in STEM learning.
• Are ready to scale across diverse educational settings.
• Support integration into existing curriculum and promote transdisciplinary learning.
• Offer strong potential for long-term sustainability.

Application Opens July 7

The application window opens July 7 and closes August 13. For more information about eligibility, program requirements, and the selection process, visit educate.iowa.gov/iowa-stem/stem-scale/program-provider-application

Bring your program to the forefront of STEM education in Iowa. Apply to become a STEM Scale-Up Program provider and help spark curiosity, creativity, and career exploration in the next generation.

Eligible Applicants

STEM programs that serve PK-12 students in various learning environments with the capacity to deliver professional development/training and materials in Iowa are eligible to apply to provide programs for STEM Scale-Up.

Organizations providing STEM Scale-Up Programs may include;

• County Government
• For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
• Nonprofit with 501C3 IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
• Nonprofit without 501C3 IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
• Private Institution of Higher Education
• Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
• Small Business
• State Government
• Other

Resources

• Program Provider Application Response Planning Worksheet
• Program Provider Application Scoring Rubric
• Program Provider Application Budget Template

Questions?

For more information on the Iowa STEM Scale-Up program, visit the STEM Council website or contact Sarah Derry, South Central Regional STEM Manager, at Sarah.Derry@drake.edu.