Florida · Federal Grant

Florida Sea Grant (NOAA)

Florida Sea Grant, part of NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, funds education and research connecting Florida students and communities to coastal and marine science, environmental data, and STEM careers.

Funding

$10,000–$100,000

Eligibility

Florida schools, universities, and nonprofits

Grade Focus

K-12 and higher education

Subject

Marine / Environmental Science / STEM

Deadline

Annual (check seagrant.ufl.edu)

Type

Federal Grant

About This Grant

Florida Sea Grant is administered through the University of Florida and funds education, research, and outreach connecting Florida communities to the state's coastal and marine environments. With over 1,300 miles of coastline, Florida is one of the most sea-grant-relevant states in the nation, and its program reflects that — funding everything from oyster reef restoration to ocean literacy curricula for K-12 classrooms.

Education grants from Florida Sea Grant support programs that help students understand Florida's coastal ecosystems, ocean science, fisheries, and the role of data and technology in marine research. Physical computing and environmental sensor projects — using microcontrollers to measure water quality, weather, or coastal data — are particularly compelling for Sea Grant applications.

Florida Sea Grant education initiatives often reach schools in coastal communities that don't always have access to formal marine science education. Programs that bring real ocean data into the classroom, or take students into coastal environments with technology tools, align well with Sea Grant's mission of connecting communities to the sea.

View Florida Sea Grant (NOAA) →

Eligibility

Florida colleges, universities, and K-12 schools with marine or coastal education programs
Nonprofits and marine science education organizations in Florida coastal communities
Programs must have an educational component tied to coastal, marine, or aquatic science
Research or education proposals should demonstrate relevance to Florida's coastal communities

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Environmental monitoring equipment, water quality sensors, and field data collection tools

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Florida CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Connect your CS or STEM program to a real coastal science question — water quality monitoring, weather data, or marine species observation all work well.
Florida Sea Grant values community partnerships; a relationship with a coastal research institution or marine science center strengthens your proposal.
Ocean literacy standards and Next Generation Science Standards are the right framework to cite in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Florida Sea Grant fund inland schools?

Funding is concentrated on coastal communities, but programs that connect students to Florida's waterways, springs, or estuaries can qualify. Coastal relevance is key.

Can coding kits be used in Sea Grant-funded programs?

Yes, especially if they're used for environmental data collection or analysis. Microcontrollers used for ocean or water quality monitoring fit well within Sea Grant's scope.

Is Sea Grant funding competitive?

Yes, Florida Sea Grant runs competitive funding cycles. The program is funded federally through NOAA, with additional state matching, making proposal quality critical.

Can K-8 schools apply?

Yes. Sea Grant education programs serve K-12, with many successful projects at elementary and middle school levels connecting students to local marine environments.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Florida CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.