STEM Scale-Up Program

The application period is open from April 1, 2022 to May 1, 2022.

The budget/pricing structure should be entered on the provided Budget Template.

Indirect costs, also known as Facilities and Administrative costs (F&A) or overhead costs: we allow providers to factor in the expense of facilities operation and maintenance costs, and administrative expenses, commonly categorized as indirect costs. We require that such costs be built in as a portion of the per unit cost of the program deliverable, up to 5% of the per unit cost*.

In the budget template, enter these F&A in the associated administrative costs line.

*Indirect costs are an ideal space for cost share, and many providers use F&A as their cost share component.  We acknowledge F&A beyond 5% as cost share.

AL STEM Council Funding

The STEM Council is supporting the inaugural round of Scale Up at $75,000 total for FY2022.* Three levels of funding are available:

Level 1 – Up to $1000

Level 2 – Up to $10,000

Level 3 – Up to $50,000

Business and Industry and/or Other Grant Funding

Although this funding is not guaranteed, business and industry and/or other non-profit organizations may select some of these programs to fund independent of the aforementioned $75K funding level. Therefore, applicants are also encouraged to prepare and to submit a secondary “wish list budget” beyond the levels listed above. This “Wish List Budget” should be labeled as such and should be submitted along with the Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 budget request as defined above.

All funds will be distributed through cost-reimbursement.

Numerous factors influence total funds to providers, including marketing effectiveness, alignment with Education goals and standards, and number of applications at the regional level. There is no assurance by the STEM Council that any program will be scaled; program selections are market-driven.

Strategic Priorities*:

• STEM careers (especially with local context) – ideally an element of any Scale-Up application
• Computational thinking (elementary, middle or high school levels)
• Early learning (PreK-3) STEM
• Agricultural science (elementary, middle or high schools levels)
• Ecology and energy education (elementary, middle or high schools levels)
• Mathematics, especially applied and contextual to students’ lives (elementary, middle or high schools levels)
• STEM and arts integration (elementary, middle or high schools levels)
• Interdisciplinary (integrated) S-T-E-M (elementary, middle or high schools levels)

*Applications for other topical fields will also be considered.

Yes. In fact, individual applications of deliverable education programs are required, as opposed to a “blanket” application that covers multiple distinct, deliverable programs.

If multiple programs are being considered, programs that require a separate training must be submitted in a separate application.

No, stipends are not required.  Note: If an organization offers a personal stipend or sub pay, how will your organization verify the educator is not being paid by their host organization to attend the training. Note: If a stipend is offered, the program provider is responsible for administration and verification of stipend payments.

Any provider considering proposing to offer licensure incentives should contact the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) for guidance.

The live Zoom Q & A Sessions will include information regarding evaluation. Essentially, the rubric contains information about what is considered for each section of the application. Reviewers will be looking for strong evidence that programs meet the criteria listed in the application. Show evidence, rather than telling about it, and be as clear and concise as possible.

For more information on the Alabama STEM Scale-Up Program or for other questions or technical assistance with your application, please reach out to Amy Hammett, Program Manager, who coordinates this function for the STEM Council.