STEM BEST Applications Are Open!

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is accepting applications for the STEM BEST® (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) Program, which is aimed at launching or expanding models specifically focused on creating project-based learning opportunities.

The goal of the awards is to enable students to develop future-focused, high-demand skills to ensure success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) pathways.

Iowa public and nonpublic school districts and buildings serving students in grades K-12 may apply for the competitive grant opportunity, which offers awards up to $40,000.

The STEM BEST Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to design project-based learning models that combine STEM subjects with hands-on learning. These experiences highlight the essential skills needed in the workplace and give students the opportunity to learn about different industries and businesses and explore potential career paths in high-demand sectors. 

Award may be used for many things, including facility upgrades, the purchase of industry-grade equipment, acquiring additional space, travel needs for exploration, and costs associated with planning with partners and integrating curriculum into existing courses.

In addition to acquiring high-demand skills, the projects should help students hone key 21st century skills, such as innovative thinking, problem solving, and complex communication and collaboration.

An applicant is required to provide a 2:1 match. For instance, if a school is seeking the full $40,000, it would need to have $20,000 to invest in the project, as well. The match may be either cash and/or in-kind support and the match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner. To be eligible as a match, the cash and/or in-kind contribution must be provided during the funding period of the STEM BEST® Program award.

Timeline:

·    October 2 - Application opens

·    December 13 - Application deadline

·    February 2024 - Awards announced

·    February 2024 - May 2025 - Implementation

Read more about the STEM BEST Program and learn how to apply.

On November 2, Fort Dodge was the home of one of the region's largest STEM festivals held at Iowa Central Community College. The festival was a collaborative effort between the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College, Blanden Art Museum, and McClure Engineering.

Over the course of three hours, nearly 30 community partners engaged with youth and families through hands-on, engaging STEAM activities. Youth were able to learn about birds from Blank Park Zoo, explore the Iowa Corn trailer, experiment with watercolors and so much more! These events help increase interest in STEM and STEM careers. If your community is interested in hosting a STEM festival, contact Mauree Haage (link my email) to learn more about the process. 

• It's hard to believe we are almost to the most wonderful time of the year... Scale-Up time! With that, I would like to give you a few tips as you get ready for the big reveal of the Scale-Up menu.
• Coordinate with other teachers in your building who are applying for awards. WHY: Scale-Up awards are given by school building. In other words, various individual classroom teachers and grade levels may apply for multiple programs. BUT, if the SC Advisory Board has to make hard decisions, awards will be made with the big picture of the building in mind.
• Collect SES information. WHY: Know your numbers--free and reduced lunch, population information, access to other STEM programming. Use that information to write an informed application ensuring inclusion and equity.
• Study last year's application and ensure you have thoughtful answers this year. You'll find a PDF of last year's questions and scoring rubric online right now, and this year's official launch will look similar. Let us know if you have questions.
• Get registered for your Iowa Grants account. This year we will be utilizing a new application platform at www.iowagrants.gov. To help traffic flow for new registrants, head over and sign up for your account ahead of application time. If you've done this already for other state of Iowa grants or STEM BEST, there's no need to do it again.
• In the meantime, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Mauree Haage and she will happily answer those questions.

CS Ed Week will be here before we know it. Once again, we have partnered to bring educators a collaborative, statewide approach for providing resources and programming centered around our theme, Creativity in AI. All resources from last year as well as this year will once again housed at www.IowaSTEM.org/csedweek. Once we have published the new resources and this year's programs, we will send an announcement out, so be on the lookout!

In October, the NC STEM Advisory Board traveled to Latimer, Iowa to visit CAL Elementary.

CAL has been the recipient of several STEM Scale-Up awards over the past several years and recently became a STEM BEST program. Students in grades preschool through 5th grade receive a strong computer science foundation while attending school at CAL.

Teachers work collaboratively to create lessons that build each year a student is there. In addition, students have a real farm on school grounds where students partake in raising livestock, growing flowers and produce, and even cooking from all the produce.

Students at CAL take pride in their farm that is home to chickens, hogs, and goats. Innovation teacher, Kelsey Enslin, said that not only have the awards from the Governor's STEM Advisory Council helped them achieve what they have, but also community partnerships.

Jill Craighton, Farm to School and Science Coordinator, agreed and added that the funds from STEM BEST have helped add more to their farm-to-school program including the incorporation of agriculture-related books. 

Upcoming Events!

November 14th - Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council Meeting

December 4-10 - CS Ed Week

December 13 - STEM BEST Applications Due

January 5 - North Central STEM Advisory Board Meeting

February 7 - STEM Day at the Capitol

April 1 - STEM Summit

April 17 - STEM Festival in Mason City

Know of other STEM events in North Central Iowa? Email us at: ncstem@iastate.edu

Connect with us!

NC Regional Manager:

Mauree Haage

Website: https://ncstemhub.iastate.edu

Email: ncstem@iastate.edu

Phone: 515-294-0645

Address:

NC STEM Hub

Extension 4-H Building

1259 Stange Road

Ames, IA 50011