Eligibility

Higher education institutions, nonprofits, and school districts in partnership. Louisiana universities partnering with K-12 districts for CS and STEM workforce programs are competitive.

Program Goals

Build student interest and skills in STEM fields that drive innovation in the US economy. ITEST grants fund research and program development that connects K-12 students to technology careers.

Application and Distribution

Applications submitted through NSF's grants portal (grants.gov and research.gov). Requires university or nonprofit as lead applicant. Check nsf.gov for current solicitation.

Cycle Notes

Annual solicitation. Check nsf.gov for ITEST program solicitation dates. Awards are multi-year (3-5 years).

Grant Award Amount

Awards up to $1.2M over multiple years. Smaller exploratory projects can receive less. Multi-year grants require annual performance reporting.

Allowable Purchases

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a school district be the lead applicant?

Usually no. NSF ITEST requires a university or qualified nonprofit as lead. Districts can be strong partners.

What STEM fields qualify?

All STEM fields including computer science, environmental science, engineering, and technology.

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 — Louisiana 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

Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.