Opportunity Information: Apply for 15 537
Apply for 15 537
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "STEM Computing Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.076 Education and Human Resources.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2015 and posted on Jan 9, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 8, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $43,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 37 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The STEM Computing Partnerships (STEMC Partnerships) grant opportunity, offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a discretionary grant program focused on improving how K-12 students and teachers learn and teach STEM and computing. The central purpose is to drive meaningful advances through research and development of instructional approaches that either (a) integrate computing into one or more STEM disciplines or (b) integrate STEM concepts into computing education. The program is built around the idea that computing is increasingly essential across STEM fields, and that K-12 education needs stronger, research-based models, materials, and teaching practices that reflect that reality.
A key expectation of STEMC Partnerships projects is that they are not starting from scratch or relying on intuition alone. Proposed work is expected to be grounded in STEM education research and prior development efforts, with clear theoretical and empirical justification for the approach being taken. In practical terms, NSF is looking for proposals that can explain what is already known, what gap remains, and why the proposed innovation is likely to produce measurable improvements. The program emphasizes both the creation of usable educational products (such as courses, curriculum units, instructional materials, and classroom-ready strategies) and the research needed to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions.
Teacher learning and preparation is a major theme throughout the opportunity. STEMC Partnerships explicitly aims to build capacity in K-12 computing education through foundational research and focused teacher preparation. Both pre-service teachers (those preparing to enter the profession) and in-service teachers (currently teaching) who participate are expected to strengthen their understanding of STEM and computing content, practices, and skills, and translate that growth into improved classroom instruction. This reflects the program view that lasting changes in student learning depend heavily on equipping teachers with the knowledge, confidence, and pedagogical tools to teach integrated STEM and computing effectively.
The solicitation is organized into two proposal tracks. Track 1, Integration of Computing in STEM Education, supports projects that meaningfully embed computing concepts and practices into established STEM areas, such as using computational modeling in science, data analysis and simulation in engineering contexts, algorithmic thinking in mathematics, or other approaches where computing deepens understanding of a STEM discipline. Track 2, Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building, focuses more directly on computing education itself, including expanding the research base and strengthening the systems needed to support K-12 computing instruction and teacher preparation. Track 2 is described as discipline-specific and is noted as an area that may broaden to include additional disciplines in future versions of the solicitation, signaling NSF interest in evolving the program as computing education matures.
In terms of administrative details, the Funding Opportunity Number is 15-537, and the program is associated with CFDA numbers 47.070 (Computer and Information Science and Engineering) and 47.076 (Education and Human Resources). The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. NSF anticipated making around 37 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $43,000,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which generally lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have institutional funds available to contribute. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals are open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation text.
The timeline included an original posting date of January 9, 2015, with full proposal deadlines on April 14, 2015, and March 8, 2016, and then a recurring deadline described as the second Tuesday in March annually thereafter (during the period when the solicitation was active). The archive date is April 7, 2016, indicating the announcement is no longer open under those dates, though the program concept may continue under updated NSF solicitations. For full details, the solicitation is referenced as NSF Publication 15-537. Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
STEM Computing Partnerships (STEMC Partnerships) Grant (NSF 15-537) - FAQs
What is the STEM Computing Partnerships (STEMC Partnerships) grant?
The STEM Computing Partnerships (STEMC Partnerships) grant is a discretionary grant program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) focused on improving how K-12 students and teachers learn and teach STEM and computing. The program supports research and development that strengthens instruction where STEM and computing intersect.
What is the central purpose of the program?
The central purpose is to drive meaningful advances through research and development of instructional approaches that either (a) integrate computing into one or more STEM disciplines or (b) integrate STEM concepts into computing education. NSF emphasizes the growing importance of computing across STEM fields and the need for stronger, research-based K-12 models, materials, and teaching practices.
What kinds of projects fit this opportunity?
Projects are expected to develop usable educational products (such as courses, curriculum units, instructional materials, and classroom-ready strategies) and conduct research to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions. NSF expects proposals to be grounded in existing STEM education research and prior development efforts, not created from scratch based on intuition alone.
What does NSF mean by “integrating computing into STEM”?
In this program, integrating computing into STEM means embedding computing concepts and practices into established STEM areas in ways that deepen learning. Examples mentioned include computational modeling in science, data analysis and simulation in engineering contexts, and algorithmic thinking in mathematics.
What does NSF mean by “integrating STEM concepts into computing education”?
This refers to bringing STEM concepts into computing education so that computing instruction is informed by and connected to STEM ideas and practices, strengthening the knowledge base and capacity for K-12 computing education.
How research-driven do proposals need to be?
NSF expects proposed work to be grounded in STEM education research and prior development efforts, with clear theoretical and empirical justification. Proposals should explain what is already known, what gap remains, and why the proposed innovation is likely to produce measurable improvements.
Does the program require the creation of instructional materials, or is it research-only?
The program emphasizes both: (1) the creation of usable educational products (courses, curriculum units, instructional materials, classroom-ready strategies) and (2) the research needed to understand effectiveness, including for whom the approach works and under what conditions.
How important is teacher learning and preparation in this program?
Teacher learning and preparation is a major theme. The program aims to build capacity in K-12 computing education through foundational research and focused teacher preparation, with attention to both pre-service teachers (preparing to enter the profession) and in-service teachers (currently teaching).
Who are “pre-service” and “in-service” teachers in the context of this opportunity?
Pre-service teachers are individuals preparing to enter the teaching profession, while in-service teachers are those currently teaching. The solicitation indicates that participating teachers are expected to strengthen their understanding of STEM and computing content, practices, and skills, and translate that growth into improved classroom instruction.
Why does NSF emphasize teacher preparation so strongly?
The program reflects the view that lasting changes in student learning depend heavily on equipping teachers with the knowledge, confidence, and pedagogical tools to teach integrated STEM and computing effectively.
What are the two proposal tracks in this solicitation?
The solicitation is organized into two tracks: Track 1 (Integration of Computing in STEM Education) and Track 2 (Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building).
What is Track 1: Integration of Computing in STEM Education?
Track 1 supports projects that meaningfully embed computing concepts and practices into established STEM disciplines. The solicitation highlights examples such as computational modeling, data analysis, simulation, and algorithmic thinking as ways computing can deepen STEM learning.
What is Track 2: Computing Education Knowledge and Capacity Building?
Track 2 focuses more directly on computing education itself, including expanding the research base and strengthening the systems needed to support K-12 computing instruction and teacher preparation. It is described as discipline-specific, and NSF notes it may broaden to include additional disciplines in future versions of the solicitation.
Is this opportunity open to specific types of applicants, or is eligibility limited?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals are open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation text (NSF Publication 15-537).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and solicitation reference?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 15-537, and the solicitation is referenced as NSF Publication 15-537.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA 47.070 (Computer and Information Science and Engineering) and CFDA 47.076 (Education and Human Resources).
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
How much funding was anticipated and how many awards were expected?
NSF anticipated making around 37 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $43,000,000.
What were the proposal deadlines listed in the announcement?
The timeline included a posting date of January 9, 2015, with full proposal deadlines on April 14, 2015 and March 8, 2016. The announcement also described a recurring deadline as the second Tuesday in March annually thereafter during the period the solicitation was active.
Is this solicitation still open?
The archive date is April 7, 2016, indicating the announcement is no longer open under those dates. The description notes that the program concept may continue under updated NSF solicitations.
Where can applicants find the full details?
Full details are referenced as being in NSF Publication 15-537.
Who should be contacted for technical help accessing the announcement?
Applicants needing technical help accessing the announcement were directed to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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