NSF STEM and Computing Partnerships
Eligibility
Higher education institutions, school districts, and community organizations can apply. NSF STEM and computing partnership grants require collaborative teams. Texas universities serve as lead applicants while K-12 districts participate as implementation partners. Individual schools cannot apply on their own.
- Lead applicants: Universities, colleges, and research institutions
- Partners: K-12 school districts, ESCs, nonprofits, and industry organizations
- Priority: Underserved communities, rural schools, and underrepresented populations in STEM
- Applications submitted through grants.gov and nsf.gov
Program Goals
NSF has funded a series of programs supporting partnerships between universities and K-12 schools to integrate STEM and computing education. While specific program names shift across funding cycles (STEM+C, CS for All, MSP, Noyce), the core goals remain consistent: build sustainable pathways for rigorous STEM and computer science education, especially in underserved communities.
Texas universities including UT Austin, Texas A&M, Rice, and UT Dallas have partnered with districts and ESCs to win NSF STEM and computing grants. Districts can join these partnerships even when universities lead the application.
Application Timeline
NSF solicitations for STEM and computing partnerships open at various points throughout the year. Check nsf.gov regularly for active solicitations related to STEM, K-12 computing education, and university-district partnerships. Deadlines are firm and proposals require significant lead time - plan 3-6 months ahead for a competitive application.
Grant Award Amount
Awards in this category typically range from $500,000 to $2.5 million over three to five years. Larger awards require extensive partnerships and strong evaluation components. Smaller exploratory grants ($300K-$500K) are available for early-stage research and partnership development.
Allowable Purchases
Curriculum Tools and Research Platforms
NSF-funded partnerships need curriculum tools that are research-friendly, well-documented, and proven in classrooms. Tools used as the primary learning platform in a research study can be purchased as direct costs.
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micro:bit Classroom Kits
Used across North America in school-based physical computing programs. Well-documented and research-friendly. Strong fit as the core hardware platform in an NSF STEM partnership study. -
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit
Curriculum-included AI literacy tools that can serve as the intervention in a study examining AI literacy outcomes. Research-aligned curriculum with clear learning objectives. -
Coding for Climate Kit
Project-based STEM curriculum that connects computing to real-world environmental science. Good fit for NSF programs that emphasize interdisciplinary STEM learning.
Keep in Mind
NSF partnership grants require higher education institutions as lead applicants. Connect with a Texas university education research center before developing a proposal. UT Austin, Texas A&M, and UT Dallas all have active STEM education research programs.
NSF awards are grants for research, not implementation only. Your proposal must include a rigorous evaluation plan examining how the program affects student outcomes and teacher practice.
A competitive NSF proposal requires 3-6 months of development. Start by attending NSF webinars, reading prior funded abstracts on nsf.gov, and connecting with your regional NSF program officer.
NSF evaluates proposals on both intellectual merit and broader impacts. Clearly describe how your partnership will build long-term capacity in your community beyond the grant period.
Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents - TEKS, Common Core, and state standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing - classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support - documentation for grant applications
- Project ideas and scope-and-sequence - ready-to-use program outlines
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
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