NEF CyberLearning Announces $100 Million K-12 STEM Education Grants

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In order to level the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education divide in the nation's schools, National Education Foundation (NEF) CyberLearning, the national nonprofit leader in K-12 STEM education solutions, just announced a $100 million grant program for disadvantaged schools across the nation.

The goal of the program is to provide world-class STEM+ education solutions to 250 schools or school districts, to reach 100,000 students during the 2016-17 academic year. Eligible schools must have 35% or more students on free/reduced cost meals.

Grant awards are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply at www.cyberlearning.org.

NEF's partner, the acclaimed State University of New York (SUNY), sets up tailored STEM+ Academies in the selected schools with personalized learning, teacher stipends, student rewards, teacher professional development, and parent training. NEF-SUNY STEM+ Academy program has been very successful, with students advancing one grade level in a subject like math in just 20-30 learning hours – a remarkable achievement.

The total cost of the program is $1,450/student/year. NEF grant subsidizes 80% with a matching grant and provides funds to schools for motivational rewards, and stipends for students, teachers, and parents.

NEF provides annual cash awards to the best performing academies. This year's grand award of $10,000 goes to Lehighton, PA, where students advanced one grade level in 25 learning hours! Merit award winners are Canton, NY, Martins Ferry, OH, Sidney, NE, Steubenville, OH, and Warren County, PA.

Lehighton Superintendent JJ Cleaver states, "It is a great honor and privilege to be recognized with an award of this magnitude from such a prestigious group as NEF. We are fortunate to have such a strong partnership with NEF, and look forward to expanding our STEM program statewide."

NEF Chairman Dr. Appu Kuttan declares, "Our world-class STEM+ Academies across the nation will help students of disadvantaged schools improve their STEM+ skills, and better prepare them for college and the highly competitive jobs of the 21^st-century global economy."

Through the STEM+, Adopt-A-School, and QZAB (www.qzab.org) grant initiatives, NEF has created the most cost-effective and high-quality STEM+ education solutions in the U.S.

NEF has STEM+ Academies in 20 states and several major cities. NEF's ultimate goal is to provide STEM+ education to students in most of the disadvantaged schools by 2020.

For information about NEF's grant programs, contact NEF at 703-823-9999 or visit www.cyberlearning.org.

SOURCE National Education Foundation - CyberLearning

Related Links

http://www.cyberlearning.org