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YOU Belong in STEM

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YOU Belong in STEM

YOU Belong in STEM is an initiative designed to strengthen and increase Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education nationwide. 

  • Partnered with EXPLR to host the first-ever 2024 National STEM Festival.
  • Collaborated with Women in Aerospace (WIA), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Club for the Future, and the Space Foundation to develop Space4All, a space communication campaign illustrating the value and benefits of the space enterprise.
  • Partnered with Beyond100K to identify key challenges regarding the supply and demand of STEM educators. Co-led a product-development sprint with the U.S Census Bureau. Six organizations followed the Opportunity Project model to rapidly prototype solutions in response to a problem statement tackling strengthening the STEM educator workforce. 

Table of Contents

Background
YOU Belong in STEM Webinar Series
Examples of the Department's discretionary grants that can support STEM 
Grant Applicant Resources
Call for Peer Reviewers
America's Strategy for STEM Education
Archived STEM Briefings
Resources
Other Federal Agency STEM Websites
Department STEM Contacts

Background

In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it's more important than ever that our nation's youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering, and math, including computer science -- disciplines collectively known as STEM/CS. If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students' skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEM fields is essential. We must also make sure that, no matter where children live, they have access to quality learning environments. A child's zip code should not determine their STEM literacy and educational options.

YOU Belong in STEM Webinar Series

Examples of the Department's discretionary grants that can support STEM

Below are investments made in FY 2020:

You can search for open grant opportunities or reach out to the Department's STEM contacts noted below. 

Grant Applicant Resources

The Department published in spring 2020 two new grant applicant resources. These resources were developed to (1) provide an overview of the discretionary (or competitive) grants application process and (2) offer more details intended to be used by prospective applicants, including new potential grantees. These support one of the Secretary's new administrative priorities on New Potential Grantees that was published in March 2020. They can also be found under the "Other Grant Information" on the ED's Grants webpage.

Call for Peer Reviewers

The Department is seeking peer reviewers for our Fiscal Year 2024 competitive/discretionary grant season, including in the STEM/CS areas (among others). The Federal Register notice spotlights the specific needs of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA),, the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). The How to Become a Peer Reviewer slide deck provides additional information and n

 

Archived STEM Briefings

Public Health and STEM with CDC [MS PowerPoint, 40MB]
The Pathway to Convergence [MS PowerPoint, 77MB]
Science: Call to Action [MS PowerPoint, 22MB]
Rural STEM Education ([MS PowerPoint, 125MB]
Think Globally, Teach Locally [PDF, 10MB]
Energizing STEM [PDF, 6.7MB]
Data Literacy [PDF, 12.6MB]
Advanced Manufacturing: Industry of the Future [PDF, 11.3MB]
Summertime STEM [PDF, 18.3MB]
Differing Abilities in STEM, featuring Dr. Temple Grandin [PDF, 13.7MB]
Inspiring STEM Interest [PDF, 3.7MB]
New Frontiers in K-12 Computer Science [PDF, 12.7MB]
Federal STEM Strategic Plan: 2 Years Later [PDF, 15.49MB]
Invention Education [PDF, 13.13MB]
STEM Teacher Preparation [PDF, 3.5MB]
Cybersecurity Education [PDF, 10.5MB]
Early Math [PDF, 2.37MB]

Resources

Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary Grades
Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges
Learning in a Pandemic Webinar
Fall 2020 Back-to-School Success Stories
ESEA, IDEA, and Perkins Resources
Work-Based Learning
Stackable Credentials that lead to careers
Cross-agency teacher resources
IES data and statistics, research and evaluation, and tools for educators
Early Learning: STEM – Math Video
K-12 Practitioners' Circle
STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMI2E2) Center and OSEP's Early Learning Newsletter
A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities
 

Other Federal Agency STEM websites

The following are federal agencies that the Department collaborates with to support the aims of the STEM Education Strategic Plan (see above section for more details) and support the Department's stakeholders.

Department STEM Contacts

For inquiries, please reach out to STEM@ed.gov

 

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
Page Last Reviewed:
April 10, 2025