National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program

Overview

In response to the CHIPS Act of 2022, NSF is establishing the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program. The purpose of this program is to elevate the profession of STEM teaching by establishing a National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program to recognize outstanding STEM teachers in our Nation’s classrooms, reward them for their accomplishments, elevate their public prole, and create rewarding career paths to which all STEM teachers can aspire, both to prepare future STEM researchers and to create a scientifically literate public.

With this solicitation, NSF is inviting proposals to establish an initial set of Regional Alliances responsible for 
(a) recruiting eligible applicants to become members of the National STEM Teacher Corps; 
(b) screening, interviewing, and selecting members; and (c) supporting other activities detailed in the Program Description and the law.

Each Alliance will be awarded as a cooperative agreement that represents the breadth of activities important to National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program and serves to elevate the public prole of STEM teachers within the region. Collectively these Alliances are expected to have a national impact.

The National STEM Teacher Corps also welcomes planning proposals submitted at any time during the year. 

The NSF’s National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program will fund Regional Alliances that demonstrate exceptional ability to fulfill the duties of the Alliances in an innovative and robust manner. NSF Seeks to fund Regional Alliances that will enact the goals of the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program in a novel and complete manner. Regional Alliances should aim to elevate the STEM teacher profession by recognizing a diverse cadre of outstanding STEM educators that advance equity in our Nation’s PreK –12 classrooms. The Regional Alliances should propose a plan for rewarding teachers for their accomplishments and elevating their public prole. Regional Alliances will be responsible for recruiting, screening, and selecting diverse STEM Teacher Corps members that serve as professional models to whom all teachers can aspire. The STEM Teacher Regional Alliances will provide professional development support to STEM teachers, including support for teachers certified in non-traditional or alternative methods, with the intent of enhancing the quality and preparedness of the STEM Teachers and to create a scientifically literate public.

Regional Alliances 
Composition – Regional Alliances must include a State Educational Agency (SEA) and/or a Local Education Agency (LEA) from each of the Regional Alliance states. Alliances may also include education nonprofit associations, a cross sector STEM organization, and/or another type of entity, including a for-profit STEM-related business. Alliance proposals require letters of collaboration from all school and community partners, appropriate for the size and scope of the Alliance’s efforts. 

Regional Alliances should be intentional about the selection of partners to ensure that the composition of the Alliance is well aligned with the identified needs of the region and that selected partners are capable of contributing to the support of its members and teachers. Alliance partners should be well aligned with the goals of the Regional Alliance and contribute directly to the aims as outlined by the Regional Alliance.

Alliances should aim to include PIs and Co-PIs that are both education and STEM faculty as prior research has indicated more positive results when there is a balance.

Key Project Information 
Project Features – Proposals should describe the nature of the Regional Alliance and the plan for fulfilling the duties of the Alliance. In addition to outlining a plan for Alliance composition, content and grade level focus, meeting the Alliance duties, selecting, screening, and retaining National STEM Teacher Corps members, the proposal should also provide a plan for supporting STEM Teachers who are non-members of the National STEM Teacher Corps. The proposal for the Alliance should speak directly to the following three requirements: 

1. How will the Regional Alliance work to elevate National STEM Teacher Corps members while providing support to other teachers in the region? How will the Alliance support teachers who have entered STEM teaching in nonth 10 traditional methods? 
2. How will the Regional Alliance retain STEM educators focused on enhancing inclusive environments and advancing equity of access to high-quality STEM learning? 
3. How will the Regional Alliance create opportunities for the professional growth of National STEM Teacher Corps members, with a focus on increasing STEM student achievement and STEM participation rates for all students, particularly those from rural and high-need schools?

An eligible institution may submit no more than one proposal in response to this solicitation. An institution may have only one active National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program award at any given time

Link to internal competition: https://asu.infoready4.com/#freeformCompetitionDetail/1940956

Up to $35,000,000 to support up to 10 Regional Alliances for an initial five years with the opportunity to extend the Alliances cooperative agreement up to 10 years.

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization’s local time): August 20, 2024
A Letter of Intent (LOI) is recommended to facilitate the NSF review process.
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization’s local time): October 01, 2024