STEM Council is Seeking PreK-12 STEM Programs to Scale for 2025-2026

Each year, Iowa STEM seeks prospective program providers to offer STEM Scale-Up programs. Through an application and selection process, program providers offer evidence-based STEM programs for Iowa STEM Scale-Up educators to use in their classrooms.

STEM Scale-Up programs align with Iowa STEM’s strategic priorities on workforce needs in agricultural science, computational thinking, early learning, ecology and energy education, mathematics, STEM and arts integration, STEM careers, integration into existing curriculum and transdisciplinary learning. 

STEM Scale-Up uses a combination of state and private funds to invest in evidence-based STEM programs for Iowa schools. The intent of the program is to develop or expand exemplary STEM programs that have future sustainability and the power to inspire and educate PK-12 students.

Timeline

• Aug. 5, 2024: 2025-26 STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application posted and disseminated.

• Aug. 8, 2024, 2:00 PM Central Time: Informational webinar for program providers. (Recording)

• DEADLINE TO APPLY is Sept. 10, 2024, 4:59 PM Central Time

• September - November 2024: Review period.

• November 2024: Selected program providers notified.

• November - December 2024: Selected program providers collaborate with Iowa STEM to prepare materials for the educator application phase.

Eligible Applicants

STEM programs that serve PK-12 students in or out of school with the capacity to deliver professional development/training and materials in Iowa are eligible to apply to provide programs for STEM Scale-Up. Professional development/training is appropriate for Iowa STEM Scale-Up programs when preparing an educator to implement a student kit, curriculum, activity, lesson or new course of study in STEM.

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

Requesting Exhibitors for the

Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival

in Waverly

The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival moves to Waverly this Fall.

The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival will be held on Tuesday, October 29 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at The W - Wartburg College in Waverly.

The goals of the festival are to promote, inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities and to introduce youth and their parents to STEM careers.



Exhibitor registration is open for the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival in Waverly. Registration is free, but your organization/business will need to provide a hands-on STEM activity for Prek- 8 kids. Examples of activities.

Who is invited to exhibit?

• Business and Industry
• Higher education
• Community non-profit groups
• Organizations providing STEM education

What are we looking for?

• Fun and free hands-on activities
• Conducting an experiment
• Playing a game
• Participating in an interactive demonstration
• Refer to examples for your organization

To learn more,

https://neiowastem.com/cedar-valley-family-stem-festival

Exhibitor registration deadline is

October 18.

Iowa DOE Science Educator Regional Professional Learning Day

On October 8, the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) will host Science Educator Regional Professional Learning Day at the University of Northern Iowa. We're hoping every Iowa district will send an individual or team to share in one of the three days.

Here are the details for the University of Northern Iowa event:



• DATE: October 8
• WHERE: Maucker Union Ballroom, University of Northern Iowa
• TIME: 9pm-3pm
• AUDIENCE: K-12 educators
• CONTENT: Provide best practices in using investigation to teach science and meet standards within phenomenon-based exploration.

Attendees will leave with curriculum ideas, new connections, and an inspiring message on the importance of what you do everyday--encourage kids to be curious and understand the world.

If you are unable to attend on October 8, the IDOE will be hosting two other events on October 1 at Drake University and October 24 at Morningside University.

STEM Scale-Up Programs Roll Out

Nearly 200 educators from Northeast Iowa, who were awarded an Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program gathered this summer for hands-on learning about their new programs. Scale-Up programs will be introduced to more than 15,000 kids/students across the Northeast Iowa STEM Region.

We're excited to see it all in action as implementation gets rolling.