Aspiring to Educate (A2E) STEM-CS Grant Program
In recent years Pennsylvania, like other states, has faced both a shortage in the number of teachers in the educator pipeline as well as a shortage in the number of diverse teacher candidates in the pipeline. This has created a disproportionate representation in the number of diverse students vs. teachers.
To address both the shortage and the lack of diversity in the teacher workforce, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) developed the
Aspiring to Educate program (A2E) which was piloted during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years in the Southeastern region of the state.
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. 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.
As part of the next phase of A2E, PDE is investing PAsmart funds to make simultaneous progress at diversifying the teacher workforce and strengthening the preparation of STEM and Computer Science (CS) teachers. The goal of the A2E STEM-CS grant program is to increase the number, diversity, and cultural awareness of STEM-CS teachers.
PDE is inviting traditional and alternative educator preparation programs (EPPs), including institutions with missions to educate historically disenfranchised groups, to submit applications for funding. Funding will be available for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. Deadline to submit applications is September 23, 2022.
Types of Grants
Planning Grants: PDE will award planning grants to consortia led by EPPs with the goal to create and sustain partnerships between EPPs, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and other relevant partners such as workforce development boards, chambers of commerce, etc. During the grant period, the partnership is expected to design a regional pilot that will increase the diversity of the STEM-CS teacher pipeline. The highest dollar amount for a planning grant will be $100,000 and the funds must be expended during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Implementation Grants: PDE will award implementation grants to EPPs with plans and designs for partnership-based interventions that are already established so that a planning grant is not necessary. The highest dollar amount for an implementation grant will be $250,000 and the funds must be expended during the two-year period of the grant (2022-2023 through 2023-2024).
Applications should be completed using the application for funding below. Please check the application for guidelines document before you prepare your application.
Need Help or Have Questions? Please e-mail RA-EDOPHEGrants@pa.gov