CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is accepting applications to cultivate school and business partnerships as part of the STEM BEST (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) Program. This program provides resources for K-12 educators to expand the learning continuum from school to careers. Models feature public-private partnerships between schools and local businesses and are cost-shared enterprises that match the STEM Council’s investment with local funds.
The STEM BEST Program encourages teachers and industry professionals to collaborate on curriculum and projects that provide students with authentic workplace experiences. This work-based learning model makes the connection from classroom learning to meaning beyond the school walls. Overarching guidelines are provided to assist proposers, with ample flexibility to support organic development of STEM BEST Programs to address local strengths, challenges and resources.
The STEM Council has designated a portion of the state legislative funding to support the establishment of Iowa STEM BEST Program models across each of Iowa’s six STEM regions. Successful applicants will become an Iowa STEM BEST Program model of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. A total of 63 STEM BEST Program awards have been made throughout Iowa since 2014.
Past STEM BEST Program award recipients are eligible to apply for expanding current programs. Award recipients for the 2020-2021 STEM BEST Program will be announced in July 2020.
For more information about the STEM BEST Program or to submit an application for the program, visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/STEMBEST/application.
— Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council
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