A more than $3 million state investment in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs will provide learning opportunities for students in every area of the state. The funding has been made available to 16 regional organizations under provisions of the 2019 School Aid Act.
“These grants will bring programs like robotics, engineering and bioscience to students across Michigan who wouldn’t normally have these opportunities,” State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Rice said at the announcement in January.
Students and educators in small and rural districts are encouraged to participate. “Every student needs to pursue and engage in these fields of study,” Rice said.
MiSTEM (Michigan STEM) Advisory Council Chair Michelle Richard said, “The grants allow students to see how STEM can help solve important problems and lead to rewarding careers.”
Sixteen separate consortia across Michigan were chosen to receive the grants.
Each STEMworks program chosen to receive money was based on an analysis of regional needs data. Projects include Michigan-developed Cereal City Science, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Michigan Science Teaching and Assessment Reform (MiSTAR) and Phenomenal Science.
“A strong economy and a strong state requires a concentration of talented people who are prepared to solve future challenges and compete in a global economy,” Richard said. Richard sees the program as an investment in Michigan’s future.
The 16 chosen projects have built implementation capacity in Michigan and have a proven track record for improving student engagement and achievement in STEM.
Individuals or organizations that would like to be a member of one of these consortia can contact their local regional director. A map of the regions and director contact information can be found at Michigan.gov.
The Michigan STEM Advisory Council consists of business, higher education, K-12 education and philanthropic leaders. It was created by the Michigan Legislature in 2015. More information on the STEMworks database can be found at Stemworks at WestEd.
Alerts Sign-up