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The STEM Scale-Up Program provides high-quality STEM education programs to PK-12 youth in school and out of school along with training for educators to implement effectively. 

Since 2012, Iowa STEM has partnered with STEM education programs reaching up to 100,000 students each year and engaging them in exemplary STEM curriculum. Thousands of Iowa educator have delivered exciting units in robotics, coding, engineering design, agriculture, animal science, health science and more. 

As the STEM Scale-Up Program enters its 15th year, it is evolving to better meet the needs of Iowa’s educators. Beginning in 2026-2027, we are piloting a three-year model featuring three program offerings. This intentional shift will give educators what they are asking for to make a more meaningful impact—time, focus, and sustained support. By investing deeper in each offering, awardees can enjoy stronger, long-term support which will lead to elevated learning and time for ideas to mature. 

Who can apply?

PreK-12 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 preK-12 teachers, youth-organization leaders, informal education professionals, home-school associations, and others who deliver STEM education programming. Every applicant must secure the commitment and signature of the institution’s lead administrator(s).

This program is an award, not a grant

Scale-Up is a program delivered to selected applicants. However, applicants who propose to cost-share by absorbing some expenses (e.g. supplies, travel or administration, etc.) or bringing additional funding (e.g. a grant or private sector donation, etc.) will be considered favorably during the review process. Some program options require cost-sharing as noted in their descriptions.

Help us evaluate the programs

Once the program has been implemented, all awarded educators will be required to participate in assessing the effectiveness of their awarded program with the following:

  • An educator survey to be completed at the end of the STEM Scale-Up Program; and
  • A student participant list to be completed at the end of the STEM Scale-Up Program.

[Note: Some STEM Scale-Up Program providers may request additional evaluation data.]  

Required materials and resources for the application

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact Matt Stier at matthew-j-stier@uiowa.edu

Definitions

  • Educator: is any school (public, private or home school association), a Boy/Girl Scout troop, a 4H Club, library, a childcare organization or any organization that works with youth—formally or informally.
  • Scale-Up Programs: programs must be “scalable” to any community in Iowa, regardless of that community's resources or size. A Scale-Up STEM program must be well established programming that can be sustained beyond initial Advisory Council investment. A Scale-Up program must be able to adapt to rapid and exponential growth of an organization’s programming and administrative operations. Providers are expected to have the staffing and capacity necessary to expand their operations from a small number of sites to statewide coverage.
  • Service Provider: (selected through this Scale-Up Program proposal process) is an independent contractor who agrees to provide related scale-up programming and services to the awarded educators as part of the Iowa STEM Scale-Up initiative. Programming may include, but not be limited to, curricula, teacher professional development, kits, materials, equipment, mentor systems, on-line resources and/or educational technology.