GEAR UP is a federally funded grant through the Department of Education, that provides middle and high school students from low-income, first generation, or minority families the support they need to access and succeed in college. In partnerships with the Kent, Tukwila, Auburn, and Renton school districts, our goal here at GEAR UP Achievers is to not only support students in succeeding in college, but to also support students in pursuing degrees in STEM related fields. This grant will hopefully allow educators to pursue innovative ways of increasing STEM interest in students.
Last year, GEAR UP Achievers schools in Kent, Renton, Auburn, and Tukwila received over $120,600 in STEM mini-grant funding. Teachers, principals, librarians, GEAR UP coordinators, and other school staff worked together on various proposals ranging from robotics kits for makerspaces, electrophoresis machines for science classes, to calculators for all students. It was an exciting grant year even amidst the pandemic and we are ready to start the school year with fresh energy and a new round of STEM mini-grant funding!
As our GEAR UP Achievers students move to 10th & 11th grade this year, one of our goals is to increase the number of students taking and succeeding in advanced math and science courses in high school. So, for this round of STEM mini-grants, we are focused on funding projects that will advance low-income or first-generation students in STEM related fields. If you are a teacher, principal, librarian, or other school staff at a GEAR UP Achievers middle or high school, then you are eligible to submit a proposal for a STEM mini-grant.
You can download the application in a fillable Word document format here.
STEM mini grants can be used to fund:
- STEM materials for online learning i.e. at home kits, calculators, etc.
- Afterschool STEM partnerships and programs
- Materials and supplies for the classroom
- STEM related curriculum
- Conferences and teacher field STEM experiences or workshops
For 2022-2023 STEM mini-grants, the two deadlines to submit proposals are:
- November 4, 2022
- January 27, 2023
We are looking forward to reviewing your proposal(s) to read your creative ideas for engaging students in STEM learning during these times. For any questions, please reach out to your GEAR UP site coordinator or to the UW GEAR UP Achievers Director Roslyn Kagy (roslyn@uw.edu)