Frequently Asked Questions
Any teacher employed full time in a high school or middle school in the United States (or United States territory) is eligible. Preference will be given to applications that come from schools that serve underrepresented populations in STEM. If you have previously received a STEM Research Grant, you are eligible to apply again. Teachers who are teaching in US schools overseas are eligible if their school provides a US diploma to graduates.
The application will close in the end of October. The review process will take approximately 2 – 3 weeks. Grantees will be notified in late November or early December. Grantees requesting funding for specialized equipment will receive a paper check mailed to their school or school district by the end of December. Grantees selected to receive take-home kits will receive the bulk of their equipment by the end of January, dependent on manufacturer availability.
If you have specific equipment in mind you should apply for up to $5,000.
If you don’t have a need for specific equipment, if you are just starting out with independent student research, or if you prefer to receive the items off of the take-home kit list, you should apply for $1,000 worth of take-home kits.
Yes, you can apply for one or both grants. If you are selected, it will be for one or the other, not both.
We expect that grantees will deliver a final report, including photos, on the use of the equipment. The deadline will be clearly communicated at least 30 days in advance and will be dependent upon the timing of receipt of equipment. Photos should include students using the equipment as well as some photos with the teacher included. Any student that is identifiable in a photo will require a photo release signed by a parent or guardian.
All equipment is considered property of the school, not the individual teacher.
Grantees will also be expected to notify the Society if they change schools or are otherwise unable to utilize the equipment and will identify another teacher at that school to take over the responsibilities.
When you are initially filling out the application, make sure to “Save as Draft” early and often. You can save and come back to your application at any time before the submission deadline. You will log in using your username and password to edit your application. You can also edit your application after it has been submitted as final, as long as it is before the submission deadline.
Please email Teachers@societyforscience.org.