Accessing STEM Funding in Kansas' Rural Schools
GrantID: 10496
Grant Funding Amount Low: $600,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Grant Amount High: $600,000
Summary
Grant Overview
Kansas's Barrier to STEM Inclusion
Kansas faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to STEM education, particularly for underrepresented students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 32% of Kansas high school students enrolled in advanced science courses in recent years, with enrollment disparities particularly pronounced among students from low-income backgrounds and minority groups.
Who Faces STEM Access Barriers in Kansas?
In Kansas, these barriers affect students broadly across urban and rural landscapes. Urban centers such as Wichita and Kansas City have diverse populations, yet marginalized groups often lack access to quality STEM education due to economic disadvantages. Simultaneously, rural districtsparticularly those in the Flint Hills and western Kansasstruggle with infrastructure limitations, including inadequate internet access and the absence of comprehensive STEM programs.
How Funding Aims to Bridge STEM Gaps
The ongoing Grant for STEM Pathways in Kansas aims directly at these barriers by providing resources specifically to K-14 educators. The initiative promotes partnerships between local colleges and schools to foster a collaborative environment that emphasizes mentorship and community engagement focused on STEM education. Grant recipients are encouraged to develop programs that will increase both enrollment and retention in advanced science courses, thereby addressing the equity gap that exists in Kansas.
Targeted Outcomes for Kansas Students
The expected outcomes of this funding are clear: increased enrollment among underrepresented students in rigorous STEM courses. The initiative is structured to track measurable academic advancements, enabling stakeholders to understand the impact of funding on student performance over time. By focusing on local needs, the program equips educators with the tools necessary to foster a more inclusive STEM landscape.
Fit Assessment for Kansas Education
Unlike neighboring states where access to STEM resources may be more evenly distributed, Kansas’s dual challengesurban educational inequity and rural infrastructural deficitsrequire a nuanced approach. The program's emphasis on localized partnerships ensures that solutions are tailored to the specific demographics and geographic realities of Kansas, providing a model for effective engagement that is vital for the state's educational advancement.
Eligible Regions
Interests
Eligible Requirements
