Educators

2010 STEM Professional Development Program

Purpose

The purpose of the STEM Professional Development Program is to promote and fund “special focus” workshops that will serve teachers in Arkansas school districts needing specialized STEM training. The workshops should be curriculum based in STEM subjects and utilize innovative teaching techniques that include inquiry-based hands-on activities.  The participating STEM teachers should leave the workshop equipped to enhance classroom learning and to promote STEM career awareness. The workshop should offer training and/or resources that are currently not available to the targeted teachers. The program will also fund post-workshop activities such as, but not limited to, teacher fellowships for individual professional development support, follow-up activities in the participating school districts, or additional outreach efforts.  This is a competitive grant with proposals for 2010 due on September 21, 2009.

Download the 2010 STEM Professional Development application. 

Program Description

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority supports a competitive cash-matching grant project for the STEM Professional Development Program.  The objectives of the grant program are to promote and support the delivery of professional development to science and mathematics teachers in Arkansas school districts needing training in both STEM instructional techniques and improvement of STEM curriculum.  The focal point of each workshop provided shall depend on the identified areas of special need in STEM curriculum requiring enhanced professional development services.

The goals of this program are to:
1) enhance significantly the capacity of teachers (schools) to provide a challenging curriculum for students,
2) encourage more relevant, inquiry-driven, hands-on activities and instructional methods, and
3) promote the development of a cadre of STEM teachers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance STEM curriculum and STEM career awareness in public schools. 

Type of Awards

The Authority will provide funds for a professional development workshop(s) in an amount up to $10,000 and an additional amount up to $2,000 in post-workshop expenses.  The total will not exceed $12,000.  The direct workshop cost must have fifty percent (50%) matching funds by cash or in-kind services provided by the school districts participating and/or an Arkansas college or university, the Arkansas Department of Education, or other educational organization collaborating on the project.

Eligible Applicants

Math and Science Educational Resource Centers affiliated with an institution of higher education in the State of Arkansas, Department of Education Cooperatives, public schools, or educational foundations and organizations may apply for this award.  Applications are evaluated by an STEM Advisory Committee composed of industry professionals with STEM expertise, educational experts, and other relevant education stakeholders.

How to Participate

Download the 2010 STEM Professional Development application

The application can be completed, saved, or printed using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (link http://get.adobe.com/reader) and must be submitted as a .pdf file attachment to stemgrants@arkansas.gov or to becky.hart@arkansas.gov .  No additional files or pages will be accepted.   

For more information see the complete STEM Professional Development Guidelines
or check out the 2009 Professional Development workshops.

Contact Becky Hart for help with a proposal or for any questions pertaining to the application process.

becky.hart@arkansas.gov
501 682-8187