STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application

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.

Steps for Completing a STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application

Ensure you have an account in IowaGrants.gov.
First-time users will need to set up an account in IowaGrants. Please note, this is not an instantaneous process and requesting an account multiple times will slow down processing time. If you do not receive a confirmation email within three business days for a new account to be activated, contact info@IowaSTEM.org or 515-271-2403. See Iowagrants.gov Login Instructions.
For additional instructions on starting and finding a funding opportunity, see WebGrants Instructions for Applying for Funding.

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.
- Watch the Recording
Sept. 10, 2024, 4:59 PM Central Time: Program provider application submission deadline.
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.
January 2025: Educator application opens
March 2025: Educator application submission deadline.
March - April 2025: Regional STEM Advisory Boards determine awarded educators.
April 2025: Awarded educators notified.
May 2025: Program providers introduced to awarded educators to begin planning.
Summer 2025: Professional development/training in preparation for program implementation 2025-26 school year.
July 2025 - April 2026: Scale-Up Program Implementation

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.

Process Overview

Iowa STEM Scale-Up process has three stages:

Iowa reviewers selected and trained by Iowa STEM review program applications against the STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application Scoring Rubric to assess their readiness to go to scale in Iowa.
Programs selected for STEM Scale-Up are offered to Iowa educators. Iowa educators apply to bring the program(s) to their students during the 2025-2026 academic year. Implementation training occurs during the summer 2025. Rare exceptions may be made for training.
Advisory boards in each of the six STEM Regions in Iowa determine which of the STEM Scale-Up educator applications they will award in their regions. Not all eligible programs are equally implemented in all six STEM Regions of Iowa.

Programs previously selected as an Iowa STEM Scale-Up program, must submit a new program provider application each year to be considered for STEM Scale-Up program eligibility.

Terminology

PK-12 Educator

Eligible educators may be associated with organizations in Iowa such as: public and private PK-12 schools, childcare centers, county conservation, libraries, county extension offices, home school associations and other formal and informal youth organizations that deliver STEM education programming for PK-12 youth.

Program Provider

A Program Provider is an organization providing a high-quality STEM education program, and the program is selected to be offered to Iowa educators through the Iowa STEM Scale-Up program.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application open?
- The application period is open from August to September 2024.
How should we communicate our budget/pricing structure?
- Use the STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application Budget Template
What is allowed for the facilities and administration (F&A) fee within the proposal budget?
- Indirect costs, also known as Facilities and Administration costs (F&A) or overhead costs: we allow providers to factor in the expense of facilities operation, maintenance costs and administrative expenses, commonly categorized as indirect costs. We require that such costs be built in as a portion of the per unit cost of the program deliverable, up to 5% of the per unit cost.*
- In the budget template, enter these F&A in the associated administrative costs line.
- *Indirect costs are an ideal space for cost share, and many providers use F&A as their cost share component. We acknowledge F&A beyond 5% as cost share.
What are the program capacity and funding requirements?
- It is anticipated the Iowa legislature will support the Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program at just over $3 million total for FY2026. That amount may vary year to year. Typically, funds are distributed across ten to twelve programs that are selected for scaling across Iowa every year. The funds are distributed through a cost reimbursable model. Single program provider funding through the STEM Council across six regions can reach six figures, depending upon how many educators select the program from the menu and how many educators who select the program are awarded the program by the regional STEM advisory boards. Numerous factors influence total funds to providers, including marketing effectiveness, alignment with educators' goals and standards and/or number of educator applications across programs at the regional level. There is no assurance by the STEM Council that any program will be scaled. It is market driven.
What kinds of programs are you looking for this year?
- Strategic Priorities for Elementary, Middle or High School Levels unless identified below:
  - Agricultural science
  - Applied engineering
  - Computational thinking
  - Ecology and energy education
  - Mathematics, especially applied and contextual to students' lives
  - STEM and arts integration
  - STEM careers (especially with local context) - ideally an element of any Scale-Up application
  - STEM programming that integrates into existing curriculum
  - Transdisciplinary (integrated) S-T-E-M
    Applications for other topical fields will also be considered.
Can we submit applications for multiple programs in the same cycle?
- Yes. In fact, individual applications of deliverable education programs are required, as opposed to a “blanket” application that covers multiple distinct, deliverable programs.
What is required for a separate application?
- If multiple programs are being proposed, programs that require a separate training must be submitted in a separate application.
When may our organization begin educator training?
- The ideal time frame to begin training is between July 15 – August 15. The initial training may not be scheduled earlier than July 1 and must occur by October 31.
Are organizations (Program Providers) submitting a program through the STEM Scale-Up Program application required to offer educators a stipend to attend training?
- No, stipends are not required. Note: If an organization offers a personal stipend or sub pay, how will your organization verify the educator is not being paid by their host organization to attend the training. Note: If a stipend is offered, the program provider is responsible for administration and verification of stipend payments.
May a provider propose to cover the cost of license renewal credit(s) for educators who take part in program professional development/training?
- Any provider considering proposing to offer licensure incentives should contact the Iowa STEM Program Provider applications manager Sarah Derry at Sarah.Derry@drake.edu for guidance.
Can we get some pointers on what you expect for rigorous evaluation?
- The webinar will include information regarding evaluation. Essentially, the STEM Scale-Up Program Provider Application Scoring Rubric contains information about what is considered for each section of the proposal. Reviewers will be looking for strong evidence that programs meet the criteria listed in the application. Show evidence, rather than telling about it, and be as clear and concise as possible.
Are we allowed to do district outreach to educators during the period between selection and the educator application opening?
- We ask that selected programs wait to announce their selection to the Scale-Up menu until the menu is released in January. After that, we welcome your promotion to educators! The Iowa STEM team will be promoting the entire menu during the educator application period (January – February) and every voice helps!
- We use the period between November and January to make sure providers and Iowa STEM team have a strong understanding of the programs and what will be offered to educators through Scale-Up awards. That way, we’re aligned in what we communicate.
Are there special considerations for returning program providers who have already had a program selected for a previous year’s menu?
- Since Scale-Up is meant to lower the barrier to try something new, Iowa’s STEM Regions will not prioritize awarding educator applications that sustain the same program with the same educator for a second year. Therefore, it’s important for returning programs to show:
  - Additional demand for the program. What evidence do you have that there are Iowa educators who want the program that were not awarded this year?
  - And/or new and or additional learning resources. Some providers offer new units/equipment/features to the previously scaled program, others propose a different program all together.
I have more questions. Who should I contact?
- For more information on the Iowa STEM Scale-Up program, contact Sarah Derry, South Central Region STEM Manager, at Sarah.Derry@drake.edu.