Sandia National Laboratories and DOE STEM Education Grants
What This Grant Funds
The U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratories, including Sandia National Laboratories, fund K-12 STEM education initiatives through a variety of programs. DOE STEM programs support science, technology, engineering, and math education connected to energy science, climate research, computing, and national security technology. Grants and partnerships are available for schools, nonprofits, and universities that can connect K-12 students to DOE research priorities, including clean energy, environmental monitoring, physical computing, and computational science.
Who Is Eligible in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania K-12 schools, universities, and nonprofits are eligible for DOE STEM education grants and national laboratory partnership programs. Pennsylvania is home to several DOE-affiliated research facilities and university programs, which can serve as institutional partners for applications. Schools located near energy infrastructure, manufacturing centers, or research universities are well positioned to make a compelling case for DOE-connected education funding.
Funding Amounts
Funding amounts vary significantly by program. Individual classroom grants and teacher fellowships may provide a few thousand dollars. Larger program grants and university partnership awards can reach six figures or more. DOE also provides free curriculum resources and in-person visits from scientists as non-monetary support for schools.
How Forward Education Products Qualify
Forward Education's physical computing and climate education tools connect naturally to DOE STEM priorities. Our micro:bit-based sensor and data collection kits can be used to monitor energy use, weather, and environmental conditions, linking student learning directly to the kinds of real-world science that DOE and its national laboratories conduct. Programs connecting our tools to energy science, climate data, or computational thinking fit well within DOE STEM education goals.
How to Apply and Timeline
DOE STEM education opportunities are listed on the DOE STEM website at energy.gov/topics/doe-stem and on Grants.gov. Programs include competitive grants, teacher fellowships, student internships, and school-lab partnership programs. Each program has its own application timeline. Schools should also explore outreach programs offered directly by DOE national labs, which often include free curriculum resources and scientist-in-residence programs that do not require a formal grant application.
Visit the DOE STEM education page for current programs, grants, and partnership opportunities available to Pennsylvania schools.
