November - December 2025: Selected program providers collaborate with Iowa STEM to prepare materials for the educator application phase.
Jan. 27, 2026: Educator application opens in IowaGrants.gov
March 10, 2026: Educator application due in IowaGrants.gov by 4:59 p.m. Central Time
Week of April 20, 2026: Awarded educators notified.
May 2026: Program providers introduced to awarded educators to begin planning.
Summer 2026: Initial professional development/training in preparation for program implementation 2026-27 school year.
July 2026 - June 2027: Scale-Up Program Implementation
Spring 2027 - Awardees affirm commitment to implement for year 2 (2027-2028)
Spring 2028 - Awardees affirm commitment to implement for year 3 (2028-2029)
Who Can Apply?
PK-12 cross-curricular educators, both in and out of the classroom, are eligible to apply, so long as they have undergone a criminal background check as a requirement of employment. Eligible applicant(s) include public and private school PK-12 teachers, youth organization leaders, informal education professionals, home school associations, licensed child care centers and others who deliver STEM education programming. Every applicant must secure the commitment and signature of the institution’s lead administrator(s).
Awards Not Grants
STEM Scale-Up programs are delivered to the awarded educator applicants. Funding is provided from Iowa STEM Regional Hub Institutions directly to STEM Scale-Up Program Provider, rather than to the awarded educator applicants. On occasion, some STEM Scale-Up programs may require out-of-pocket funds as noted in their descriptions.
Help Us Evaluate STEM Scale-Up Programs
Once a STEM Scale-Up program has been implemented, all awarded educators are required to participate in assessing the effectiveness of their awarded program with the following:
An educator survey to to renew each year of the award
A student participant list
Note: Some STEM Scale-Up Program providers may request additional evaluation data.
Please title your application using this format: [Region], [Scale-Up Program Title], [Applicant Organization].
Examples:
SC, STEMwonder, Cowles Library
NE, Exploring AI and the Future of Work, Clayton Ridge Middle School
SW, FIRST Tech Challenge, ISUEO Cass County
Communicate with your administrators prior to submitting the application. Remind them to watch their email for approval messages that require a response.
What Reviewers Look For
Use correct spelling and grammar
Complete all sections accurately and in their entirety
Essay questions should have essay answers
More than one or two sentences
Each essay should be uniquely written for the program, please do not copy and paste from another application
Be very descriptive on how the program will be implemented with fidelity and longevity
Yes. There is a place on the application to rank your preferences. We recommend you coordinate with your building colleagues, as awards are prioritized by building so that we can distribute resources to serve as many Iowans as possible.
Yes. The three-year model is designed to provide deeper learning, stronger support, and opportunity for ideas to grow. All Scale-Up Program offerings include updated materials that can enhance and expand upon your existing supplies.
Educators may also choose to apply for professional development (PD) only. If you are considering electing for PD only, we strongly recommend connecting with your region manager to ensure you have access to the materials needed to fully participate in the professional development and implement with youth.
Yes! Here are some guidelines:
A separate application must be completed for each Scale-Up Program menu offering.
Applications should be submitted by building. All of the educators who want the same Scale-Up Program offering and work in the same building can be on a single application together.
Educators from separate buildings must apply separately. Curriculum directors or team leads submitting on behalf of multiple educators across buildings or schools should submit separate applications for each building.
As soon as you know of a change in staffing on the award, let your region manager know. Depending on the timing of the staff transition, we can discuss options to catch replacement educators up on training with the cohort of awarded educators in your building.
While the program is intended as a three-year progression to deepen practice, we understand it can be difficult to predict all the variables in advance. We recommend you apply. If circumstances change during the course of your award, contact your region manager to discuss.
That feedback is incredibly important to us as program facilitators. If you encounter any roadblocks at any point in the award cycle, please contact your region manager. We’re here to support you throughout your implementation. We'd genuinely like to learn more about what barriers your team is facing and explore additional adjustments, support or clarification the STEM Council can offer.
If you ultimately choose to forfeit the rest of your award, that conversation is still important. Your input helps inform the STEM Council in future program selection and ensures the program continues to evolve in ways that better serve schools and educators.
There will be a round of applications open next year, for two years of support. We strongly recommend that you apply this year to make the most of the STEM Scale-Up Program award three-year investment and best odds for selection. We will prioritize funds in years 2 and 3 to honor our three-year commitment to the applicants awarded in this year. Next year’s application (opening early 2027) will offer the same menu of programs and two years of support.
Each year, a new cohort of educators will begin implementation. In year two, a new cohort will be awarded while Year One awardees continue their work with ongoing support—allowing programs to deepen over time and ensuring long-term success. The year two application will be open to new applicants, as well as buildings who were awarded in year one that would like to add an additional cohort of educators (i.e. an additional grade level, the career and technical team, or the school librarian).
All grant applications submitted to the State of Iowa must include a Minority Impact Statement. This is the state’s mechanism to require grant applicants to consider the potential impact of the grant project’s proposed programs or policies on minority groups. (2008 Iowa Acts, HF 2393, Iowa Code Section 8.11)
This information is not shared with reviewers and is not used in scoring or funding decisions. We encourage you to answer as accurately and objectively as possible.
