Pennsylvania to Award $20 Million in STEM Grants

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolfe has announced a $20 million grant opportunity as part of his PAsmart initiative.  The PA Department of Education will award the grants through two programs that serve schools with limited STEM and computer science opportunities and expand partnerships for out-of-school earning, dual enrollment and industry credentials.

Targeted grants are available for up to $35,000 each to help districts and their schools to expand their STEM and computer science offerings.  Local education agencies can request funding to send teams of educators and administrators to a program designed by the PA Department of Education for professional development. Districts can also get funding to support alternative professional learning options with an institution that uses evidence-based approaches aligned with state standards.

Advancing grants are designed to expand access to computer science and STEM education outside of the classroom and to help grow the number of educators with specialized training. The grants will be awarded for up to $500,000 each.

The PA Department of Labor is also expected to announce applications for apprenticeships industry partnerships for $10 million as part of PAsmart initiative.

The deadline for submitting a Targeted grant application is Dec. 20. Advancing grant applications will be accepted until Jan. 10.

More information about the grant programs is available on the PA Department of Education's website.

About the Author

Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.

Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.

Friedman can be contacted at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.

Click here for previous articles by Friedman.


Featured

  • cloud icon with a padlock overlay set against a digital background featuring binary code and network nodes

    Cloud Security Auditing Tool Uses AI to Validate Providers' Security Assessments

    The Cloud Security Alliance has unveiled a new artificial intelligence-powered system that automates the validation of cloud service providers' (CSPs) security assessments, aiming to improve transparency and trust across the cloud computing landscape.

  • stack of gold coins disintegrates into digital particles against a dark circuit-board background with glowing AI imagery

    Report: Most Organizations See No Business Return on Gen AI Investments

    Despite $30-40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of organizations are seeing no business return, according to a recent report out of the MIT Media Lab.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • student holding a smartphone with thumbs-up and thumbs-down icons, surrounded by abstract digital media symbols and interface elements

    Teaching Media Literacy? Start by Teaching Decision-Making

    Decision-making is a skill that must be developed — not assumed. Students need opportunities to learn the tools and practices of effective decision-making so they can apply what they know in meaningful, real-world contexts.