Grants boost STEM studies
Cash-strapped school districts are using grants to boost curriculum and increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields of study.
Albert Gallatin Area School District has utilized grants to support larger scale STEM initiatives in the district which is making a positive impact on educational delivery.
“The NASA and MSP (Math Science Partnership) initiatives that are designed to enhance teachers’ content knowledge in math, science and technology are funded by regional grants that serve multiple school districts,” said Beth Hutson, the district’s assistant superintendent.
The state level competitive grants are deepening professional development for teachers and broadening student understanding.
Hutson explains one grant that has enabled the district to expand STEM initiative was “Race to the Top,” which was exclusive to the district.
“Using Race to the Top funds, we were able to hire a STEM coach to oversee and lead several valuable middle school STEM initiatives,” said Hutson.
The administration chose a seventh-grade science teacher in the district to fill the role
The teacher and STEM coach, Hutson explained, has helped the district reach several milestones by optimizing curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the middle level STEM classrooms.
The district has also received a $3 million federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) which has supported STEM education by enabling the district to offer early enrollment college courses to students beyond school hours at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and Westmoreland County Community College; funded a career video showcase project for student produced STEM related occupation documentaries; and helped the district partner with Chevron to help meet workforce demands in the oil and gas industry.
Chevron has been supporting education through grants. The company recently gave Frazier School District a grant for $70,000 which will be used for a computer lab and technology facility with a 3-D printer at the high school to enhance STEM programs.
Hutson said teachers in the district continue to seek grants to assist in filling gaps in educational needs related to STEM.
The middle school STEM coach in Albert Gallatin was awarded two grants this year by the Society of Analytical Chemists for the purchase of student and teacher microscopes.
Grants have helped the district increase interest in STEM fields of study which Hutson said is important for students pursuing career options and occupations that match their skill sets.
“Sadly, many high paying STEM jobs go unfilled because candidates lack the necessary technical skills and training,” said Hutson. “Contemporary educators must focus on generating an awareness of career options and preparing students for the 21st century workforce.”
The following are among many private industry grants available for STEM-related fields of study:
–The PA STEM Girls Collaborative awards mini-grants to girl-serving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused programs to support collaboration, address gaps and overlaps in service, and share exemplary practices.
www.ngcproject.org/collaborative/pa-stem-girls-collaborative-project/grants
–The Toyota USA Foundation is offering more than $1.3 million in new grants to support innovative K-12 math, science, engineering and environmental science education programs, with a focus on programs that serve diverse and under served communities.
stemgrants.com/toyota-usa-foundation-awards-1-3-million-in-stem-grants/
–STEM education grants from Medtronic Foundation are designed to ignite and sustain students’ natural curiosity in science and technology though hands-on-K-12 programs, and help further develop innovators through science and engineering scholarships and fellowships at selected post-secondary institutions.
www.medtronic.com/foundation/grants/stem-education.html
–One website with a comprehensive list of STEM grants and resources that are available for teachers and educators looking for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is www.grantwrangler.com