Grant Details

The Indiana General Assembly appropriated funding in Fiscal Year 2025 to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for STEM Program Alignment. The STEM Integration Grant is designed to expand access to high-quality instruction across K-12 schools in order to enhance student participation and achievement in STEM disciplines. Through allocation of these targeted funds, IDOE seeks to assist grantees in expanding their access to additional activities and high-quality materials to elevate student learning. This grant opportunity is designed to achieve these key results in alignment with Indiana's Priorities for STEM Education:

• Implement sustainable STEM professional development to promote implementation of the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards (IAS) for Integrated STEM;
• Prioritize educator professional development aligned with evidence-based instructional strategies and age/grade-level content in mathematics, science, computer science and/or interdisciplinary STEM content;
• Create learning environments that promote growth in critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills; and
• Increase student access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities and resources.

A key strategy to meet the priorities is through implementation of integrated STEM education. Purposeful integration of STEM disciplines through an engaging and motivating, student-centered pedagogy and curriculum that promotes student engagement in solving real-world problems using inquiry-based learning, problem-based learning, and engineering design practices. The STEM Integration Grant is a competitive grant. Compelling grant proposals will be refined in scope and clearly describe a plan to advance student achievement in the chosen STEM content strand. 

To achieve the key results of the STEM Integration Grant program, awarded funds must be used to support one of the following strands: Science, Computer Science, or Mathematics. Additionally, each grant application must identify a strand and reflect a clear focus and achievable goals related to one or more domains of the 2023 IAS for Integrated STEM and the chosen content area.

Strand 1: STEM - Science 

STEM-S involves professional learning and planning activities for implementation of the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Science. The application should focus on phenomenon-based, three-dimensional instruction that integrates science and engineering practices, technology, and mathematics in the science classroom. A grant application could include (but is not limited to):

• High-quality professional development opportunities that incorporate the content and pedagogy required of the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Science with additional opportunities to develop curricular materials, alignment to ILEARN assessments in grades four, six and Biology and the integration of one or more of the domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards;
• Curricular support materials aligned to the integration of one or more domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards, technology, and/or mathematics to build hands-on, problem-based units of study based on the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Science.

Strand 2: STEM - Computer Science 

STEM-C involves professional learning and planning activities for integrating the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Computer Science in STEM by cultivating the connection between science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science. An application could include (but is not limited to):

• High-quality professional development opportunities and/or curricular materials to support the implementation of high school computer science courses. Additional guidance is outlined within this August 30, 2024, memo and April 4, 2025, memo.
• High-quality professional development opportunities that incorporate the content and pedagogy required of the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Computer Science (K-8) with additional opportunities to develop curricular materials, alignment to ILEARN assessments in grades four and six, and the integration of one or more domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards.
• Curricular support materials aligned to the integration of one or more domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards, mathematics, and/or science to build hands-on, problem-based units of study based on the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Computer Science (K-8).

Strand 3: STEM - Mathematics 

STEM-M involves professional learning and planning activities for integrating the 2023 Indiana Standards for Mathematics in STEM by cultivating connections between science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics. An application could include (but is not limited to):

• High-quality professional development opportunities that incorporate the content and pedagogy required of the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Mathematics with additional opportunities to develop curricular materials, alignment to ILEARN assessments, and the integration of one or more domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards;
• High-quality professional development opportunities to support the implementation of a multitiered system of support framework as outlined in House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1634 and this memo.
• Curricular support materials aligned to the integration of one or more domains of the 2023 Integrated STEM Standards, technology, and/or science to build hands-on, problem-based units of study based on the 2023 Indiana Academic Standards for Mathematics.