PAsmart

Pennsylvania's future depends on the development of a highly skilled workforce able to compete in the global economy.

Over the next decade, most good paying jobs in Pennsylvania will require some form of education or training after high school, especially in the fast-growing fields of STEM and computer science. However, we know a one-size-fits-all approach to education and training will not work for everyone.

To expand access to STEM and computer science teaching and learning, and to help ensure students across Pennsylvania have the skills and abilities to meet the economic needs of the 21st century, Governor Tom Wolf launched the PAsmart initiative.

Built upon recommendations of the governor's Middle-Class Task Force, PAsmart strategically invests resources in education and training opportunities to support Pennsylvania's economic growth now and in the future.

PAsmart Grants

Since 2018, $60 million has been secured and strategically invested in education and workforce development through PAsmart. The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board provided initial recommendations and approved the framework for the funding priorities. 

Targeted and Advancing PAsmart grants support high-quality STEM and computer science learning and professional development opportunities to communities across Pennsylvania, including within early learning centers, libraries, out-of-school time providers, career and technical centers, post-secondary institutions, and K-12 schools. The department awarded a total of 438 PAsmart grants since the 2018-19 school year.

Targeted Grants

Up to $35,000 each, these grants are structured to meet the needs of LEAs and their schools that currently have limited to no CS/STEM offerings. There are two funding options:

• Option 1: LEAs may request funding to send teams of educators and administrators to PDE-designed professional development (see Appendix A), which is aligned to the CSTA standards and the K-12 Computer Science Framework.
   
• Option 2: LEAs may request funding to support alternative professional learning by an expert STEM/CS institution. The alternative professional learning must incorporate evidence-based approaches and be aligned to the CSTA standards and the K-12 Computer Science Framework.

Prerequisite: All PAsmart Targeted Grant recipients will be required to engage in a 1-day comprehensive planning workshop on SCRIPT, a comprehensive planning tool for computer science education.

Access information and resources on PAsmart K-8 and 7-12 Targeted Grant Pathways delivered by PaTTAN.

Advancing Grants

Up to $500,000 each, these grants are designed to support broad, cross-sector partnerships that are using ecosystem or networked approaches to:

• expand access to CS/STEM education and promote inclusion (especially for historically underserved students and communities) through learning experiences such as integrative CS/STEM experiences, standalone CS/STEM courses, out-of-school learning, dual enrollment, industry credentials, work-based learning, internships, and apprenticeships;
• expand and diversify the number of CS/STEM educators at all education levels.

Advancing Grants will support partnerships that operate on a larger scale and provide quality CS/STEM experiences to learners of any age (early childhood, preK-12, postsecondary, and adult learners) as part of a high-level strategic approach to CS/STEM workforce readiness.

View a list of PAsmart Advancing Grant recipients.

Need Help or Have Questions?

Please email: RA-EDPAsmart@pa.gov for all inquiries about current or future PAsmart grants from PDE. Targeted Grant recipients, please continue to email PAsmart@pattan.net