Ohio · Federal Grant

NSF CS for All (Ohio)

The National Science Foundation's CS for All program funds research and researcher-practitioner partnerships expanding computer science education access and quality in Ohio K-12 schools, aligned to Ohio's CS standards adoption.

Funding

$300,000–$3,000,000

Eligibility

Ohio higher education institutions and school districts (partnerships)

Grade Focus

K-12

Subject

Computer Science Education Research

Deadline

Annual NSF solicitation cycle

Type

Federal Grant

About This Grant

NSF's CS for All program funds university-district partnerships in Ohio that research what works in K-12 computer science education. Ohio is an important CS for All target state given its adoption of K-12 CS standards and growing demand for CS-literate workers in the Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati tech ecosystems.

Ohio research universities — Ohio State, Case Western Reserve, University of Cincinnati, and Bowling Green — are well-positioned to lead CS for All proposals. Districts in Columbus City Schools, Cleveland Metropolitan, and Southwest Ohio have significant equity needs that make compelling RPP (researcher-practitioner partnership) proposals for expanding CS access.

CS for All grants build the evidence base for CS education in Ohio, helping districts identify which curriculum and professional development approaches produce the best outcomes for underrepresented students. Findings from Ohio-based CS for All projects can inform state policy and investment.

View NSF CS for All (Ohio) →

Eligibility

U.S. colleges and universities as lead principal investigators
Ohio-based partnerships between researchers and K-12 districts or education nonprofits
Projects with rigorous research design and evaluation built in from the start
Proposals focused on broadening participation in CS for underrepresented Ohio students

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Research personnel, participant incentives, and dissemination costs

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio 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

Ohio's CS standards adoption creates a strong policy rationale for a CS for All proposal — cite it explicitly.
Focus on equity: Ohio has significant urban-rural and racial gaps in CS access that make compelling research contexts.
The Exploratory strand ($300K) is a good starting point for new research teams before scaling to Implementation ($1-3M).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Ohio universities have led CS for All projects?

Several Ohio universities have been involved in NSF CS education grants, including Ohio State, Case Western Reserve, and University of Cincinnati. New research teams should contact NSF program officers before submitting.

Can a school district apply directly to NSF CS for All?

Districts are typically co-applicants (subawardees), not lead applicants. A university researcher is the principal investigator, with the district as implementation partner.

What's the difference between the Exploratory and Implementation strands?

Exploratory grants (~$300K) fund early-stage research and design. Implementation grants ($1-3M) fund larger-scale studies of CS education approaches with strong preliminary evidence.

How does Forward Education fit into an Ohio RPP?

Forward Education can serve as a curriculum and materials partner in an Ohio RPP, providing tested CS tools and implementation support that the university research team studies.

How can Forward Education help?

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