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

Attend a full-day onsite experience at the nearest Northrop Grumman facility designed to help you translate real-world STEM applications into classroom-ready ideas, observe workforce skills in action, and hear about career journeys in STEM fields.
Engage in a synchronous virtual web seminar series grounded in meaningful STEM and attend two virtual mini-conferences featuring Northrop Grumman employees that emphasize STEM career connections and workforce-ready durable skills.
Complete four competency-based, self-paced learning modules focused on workforce-ready (durable) skills, engineering design, STEM career exploration, and the implementation of high-quality STEM instructional materials that support digital badging and stackable micro-credentials.
Explore high-quality equitable STEM instructional materials, STEM careers, and workforce skills utilized by Northrop Grumman scientists, engineers, and technologists.
Showcase classroom practices and share your experience through an opportunity to write for NSTA’s blogs or journals, in partnership with NSTA staff.
Complete a capstone project that extends the impact of your professional learning by implementing meaningful, career-connected STEM experiences that strengthen STEM teaching and learning within your local education communities.

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.

Apply Today!

Deadline: November 25, 2026

Click Here to Apply

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.

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.

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.