Scaling Up for STEM Initiative

Sponsored by: The Northrop Grumman Foundation

“Our vision for STEM education is that every student experiences the joy and wonder of science, learns how STEM can be used to solve local and global problems, sees the pathways they can take into STEM-related careers, and feels welcomed and valued in classrooms.”

Call to Action for Science Education: Building Opportunity for the Future.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2021, Washington, DC

About The Scaling Up For STEM Initiative

The Scaling Up for STEM Initiative, sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, provides middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) teachers with a yearlong immersive professional learning experience designed to enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence in science, technology, and engineering; and increase STEM career exposure while boosting teacher understanding about the skills needed for a scientifically literate workforce. The program provides a tailored approach to support teachers’ efforts to create an equitable learning environment that increases student interest, participation, and academic success in STEM education.

Access the Scaling Up For STEM Instructional Materials, PLUs, and Web Seminars here.

Participation

NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Anaheim

Educators selected for this yearlong program—who will be known as Scaling Up For STEM Fellows—will

Attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education in Anaheim, CA (April 15-18, 2026). Conference registration and a ticket to a pre-conference workshop are provided by the program. Two nights of lodging and 3 days of parking are included.
Engage in online professional learning, including synchronous Web Seminars and asynchronous Professional Learning Units, via a comprehensive NSTA membership package.
Explore high-quality equitable STEM instructional materials, STEM careers, and workforce skills utilized by Northrop Grumman scientists, engineers, and technologists.
Participate in a capstone project through supported integration of resources centered on real-world problems and phenomena with an emphasis on STEM career awareness and workforce skills based on program experiences; and
Participate in a capstone project through implementation of STEM high quality instructional materials and leverage your program learning in your classroom.

Teachers and administrators are encouraged to apply! Below are potential benefits for teachers and administrators.

Teachers

Build alignment with a national community on the elements of high-quality STEM instructional materials and how to implement high-quality STEM instructional materials.
Identify changes to classroom culture and procedures to support the development of STEM identity and workplace skills.
Create a culture of shared experiences and grow leadership skills while developing mutual supports within the cohort community.

Administrators

Build alignment with your team on the elements of high-quality STEM instructional materials and how to implement high- quality STEM instructional materials.
Develop the capacity to use the STEM Walkthrough Tool and provide meaningful feedback that supports teacher implementation of high-quality instructional materials.
Create a culture of shared experience and mutual support among your school team while fostering connections with other Administrator Fellows.
Build connections and community with other Administrator Fellows.

The Deadline to Apply is December 7, 2025

Eligibility

Teachers can apply to become a Scaling Up For STEM Fellow if they are full time teachers at a public school and are:

Currently full-time middle school (grades 6–8) or high school (grades 9-12) science, engineering, technology, and/or career and technical education classroom teachers;
Have a minimum of two years of classroom teaching experience; and
Possess strong motivation to advance their school/district’s STEM education in support of the vision of three-dimensional standards.
Priority will be given to educators who work in Title 1 public schools located within 250 miles of Anaheim, CA; as well as educators who work in Northrop Grumman Community partner schools located within 250 miles of Anaheim, CA.

Administrators can apply to become a Scaling Up for STEM Fellows if:

They are full time administrators at a public middle or high school.
Bring at least two teachers in their school that meet the teacher requirements to also apply to the program.
Possess strong motivation to advance their school/district’s STEM education in support of the vision of three-dimensional standards.
Priority will be given to administrators who work in Title 1 public schools located within 250 miles of Anaheim, CA; as well as administrators who work in Northrop Grumman Community partner schools located within 250 miles of Anaheim, CA.

We will be accepting 40 Middle School and 40 High School teachers, and 20 administrators.

The Deadline to Apply is December 7, 2025. Notifications of acceptance will go out the week of January 5, 2026. Teachers will need to include a letter of support from a school or district administrator as part of the application.

Questions

For additional program information or questions, please contact professionallearning@nsta.org.

About the Sponsoring Organization

The Northrop Grumman Foundation is focused on increasing access to the tech workforce and removing barriers to STEM and workforce education initiatives across K-12 to post-secondary pathways. Our goal is expanding the STEM pipeline by ensuring the enrollment and success of members of the military and veteran communities and those who have traditionally been underserved and excluded.