Superintendent’s Memo #028-17

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA 
Department of Education

February 3, 2017

TO:  Division Superintendents

FROM:  Steven R. Staples, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is pleased to announce the STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative: a state-funded, after-school initiative.  Grant awards are available to Virginia schools/divisions that have demonstrated an interest in establishing new STEM competition teams and will serve as model schools for the STEM Competition Team Initiative. State funding is available to elementary schools of up to $1,250 per school per year, to middle schools of up to $2,500 per school per year, and to high schools of up to $5,000 per school per year. The purpose of the STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative is to increase awareness of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among teachers and students through STEM-related, problem/project-based, team-building activities.

Schools applying for the first time can use the funds for planning purposes and will be eligible to receive a second-year (initiative expansion) grant in the subsequent year. A school division may apply for grant funding to establish and then support STEM competition teams for one or more qualifying schools in the division. Total funding can be up to $10,000 per school division per year for eligible schools.

For additional details, refer to the attached STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative - Guidance Document and STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative - Application Packet. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Technology Innovations at [log in to unmask].

SRS/BK/nb

Attachments:

A.     STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative - Guidance Document-This is a PDF document. (PDF)

B.     STEM Competition Team Grant Initiative – Application Packet-This is a Word document. (Word)