Supported by the AZ Department of Education and the APS Foundation, ASAP is a grassroots effort to enhance and accelerate STEM activities in schools across Arizona. It provides vital funding and guidance to schools and professional development organizations, increasing their ability to foster engagement, update curricula, and acquire materials needed to improve STEM education for Arizona’s youth and young adults.
Learn More About the Program
Arizona currently ranks last in almost every major education category. We rank 48th in PreK-12 education, and 49th for the lowest graduation rate. Along with other educational deficiencies, there is a serious lack of STEM Education across the state. In the 2021-2022 school year, Arizona had 1 high school physics teacher for every 2,158 students, and statistics show that Arizona high school students enroll in upper-level science classes at only half the national average.
ASAP has sought to change that. Having impacted almost 240,000 students over just two years of our program, and provided millions in funding to STEM teachers across the state, AZ STEM has begun to flourish. By providing support to teachers, the keystone species in a STEM education ecosystem, schools, communities, and students have been widely impacted. Over 2,000 STEM Lessons have been created through our program, as well as nearly 900 STEM projects hosted by our Fellows, who together have attended nearly 35,000 hours of Professional Development. STEM Education is changing for the better - but it needs our continued support.
From every county in Arizona, over the past several years ASAP Fellows had paved the way in STEM education. They have had access to a broad range of professional development opportunities and continue to contribute to an ever-growing Lesson Plan Database.
There are currently a number of opportunities available to either fund, support, or provide professional development to Arizona Educators! Listed below are a number of them, many of which are provided by our PD Partners!
The Arizona Department Of Education wants to help teachers ‘Get Set For STEM!’ This scholarship program offers Arizona Educators $2,000 per year for up to three years to pursue coursework or programs that will prepare them to add a STEM area (calculus, physics, biology, etc) or a CTE Certificate, along with bolster their STEM teaching knowledge and skills.
Any Arizona certified teachers with a current contract at an Arizona public school are eligible and encouraged to apply! Coursework must be taken through a regionally or nationally accredited secondary-education institution in Arizona, such as ASU, UA, NAU, GCU, or an Arizona Community College. In addition, scholarship recipients agree to teach in Arizona public schools for three years after completing their coursework or program.
In partnership with Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation, APS' STEM Teacher Grants help bring learning to life with awards of up to $2,500 for K-12, public and charter school teachers who lead innovative, hands-on activities that introduce STEM concepts to the classroom. A total of $50,000 is available each year. This funding will be awarded for classroom projects from January through May!
Applications for this opportunity are generally open during the month of September, and this year will be available until September 30th, 2024! In addition all project funds must be spent on designated budget items within the school year in which they are approved.
To learn more and apply for this exciting opportunity, click below!
Our Professional Development Partners have a plethora of free or low-cost opportunities available to educators year-round! These workshops are hosted across every Arizona county, and there are plenty of in-person and virtual opportunities!
To visit the websites and professional development calendars of our partners, please feel free to click on any of the icons on the 'Our Partners' page, and there's sure to be workshops available for your grade level and subject area!
Our Partners
I have grown more in the last two years than I ever have. Much more willing to take risks and step way outside my comfort zone! Dare mighty things indeed!
Rob Lynch
Our online library of teacher-sourced STEM lesson plans provides one-stop access for K-12 educators. With lessons from every K-12 STEM subject, this free resource is sure to have something for your classroom!
See All Lesson Plans
Throughout the course of our program, under Grant No. BPM004016 the ASAP program has received essential funding contributions from the Arizona Department of Education, as well as additional funding from the APS Foundation. These efforts have allowed our program to continue providing funds, materials, support, and guidance to teachers, as well as partner with other non-profit programs. The acceleration we've made to date in STEM Education would not have been possible without these funders!
For anyone who may be interested in partnering or contributing funding to ASAP to support future STEM Fellowships and advance education across our state- we would love for you to reach out!
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