ERIC Number: ED573038
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 19
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
STEM Pilot Project Grant Program: Report to the Legislature, December 2016
Noahr, Lorrell; Black, Scott; Rogers, Justin
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
As our world becomes more and more steeped in technology, educating our students in that and related areas becomes crucial. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education focuses on helping students become the next generation of professionals who will create the new ideas, new products and new industries of the future. Teaching STEM requires the proper physical space--for many districts, more space than they have. In 2015 the Washington state Legislature established the STEM Pilot Program and allocated $12.5 million for it. Combined with the state's School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP), the intent is to increase the number of STEM lab classrooms, either by modernizing existing classrooms or building new ones. Districts can receive grants from the program if they show they have a "special housing burden," which is a lack of adequate science and lab space needed for students to meet their graduation requirements. In establishing the STEM Pilot Program, the Legislature also required the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to make recommendations on how the program can be integrated into SCAP. These recommendations are summarized below and discussed in greater detail throughout this report: (1) Amply fund SCAP; (2) Create a STEM literacy grant program; and (3) Study equipment allowances. Appended to the report are: (1) Washington STEM Report; and (2) STEM Pilot Project Grant Awards. [For the initial report: "STEM Pilot Project Grant Program: Report to the Legislature, June 2016," see ED573034.]
Descriptors: STEM Education, Budgets, Financial Support, State Aid, Grants, School Districts, Educational Facilities, Graduation Requirements, Eligibility, Resource Allocation, Pilot Projects, Equipment
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Old Capitol Building, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200. Tel: 360-725-6000; Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Identifiers - Location: Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A