Project Lead The Way (PLTW) offers up to $500,000 in grant funds to expand hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning for PreK-5 students
DES MOINES, Iowa – Project Lead The Way (PLTW) today announced that up to $500,000 in grant funds are available for Iowa PreK-5 schools to expand access to hands-on STEM learning experiences for students. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for PreK-12 students and teachers across the country.
The grants are for schools to implement PLTW Launch, designed for students in grades PreK-5. PLTW Launch empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Throughout the program, students become creative, collaborative problem-solvers, more confident in STEM subjects and ready to take on any challenge. PLTW provides teachers with training, resources, and support, including PLTW Professional Development, preparing educators to become facilitators and coaches and enabling them to continue the PLTW program beyond the grant period.
The grants, up to $5,100 per school over two years, will support implementation of PLTW Launch at up to 100 Iowa elementary schools, including training for up to three teachers per school. Any Iowa school serving PreK-5 and currently not offering PLTW is eligible to apply.
“We must nurture students’ curiosity and engage them in career learning at a young age,” said PLTW President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vince Bertram. “We’re excited to continue partnering with teachers, principals, superintendents, community and state leaders, and great corporate partners to inspire, engage, and empower Iowa students.”
Since 2005, PLTW has partnered with schools across the state to deliver high-quality, STEM-based learning experiences to students. Currently, more than 380 schools in 80 counties across the state offer PLTW programs to students. PLTW has trained more than 2,000 Iowa teachers, empowering them to lead students in this kind of career learning.
PLTW has also been a proud partner with the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and the STEM Scale-Up Program, supporting Iowa schools with over $1.8 million in PLTW PreK-12 program funding.
"Iowa STEM has benefited greatly from our six-year partnership with Project Lead The Way to bring world-class engineering education resources to hundreds of teachers and thousands of learners across the state,” said Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Executive Director Jeff Weld. “This extension of PLTW Launch to elementary teachers and learners through a generous investment by PLTW is further testament of that partnership and the mutual trust built through years of shared impact."
Schools may apply through March 29. To learn more and apply, schools may visit PLTW’s Funding and Grant Opportunities page.
About Project Lead The Way Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. More than 11,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Erbacher
Senior Director of Communications
jerbacher@pltw.org
(317) 669-0871