THE AEROSPACE EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND OPERATIONS (AERO) INSTITUTE IS A CALIFORNIA NOT FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION AEROSPACE TECHNICAL WORKFORCE WITHIN THE AEROSPACE COMMUNITY. THIS PROPOSAL ENHANCES A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE AERO INSTITUTE AND NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER (ARC). THE AERO INSTITUTE PARTNERS ARE DIRECTLY SUPPORTING THE 2011 NASA STRATEGIC PLANS OVERARCHING STRATEGY OF INSPIRING STUDENTS TO BE OUR FUTURE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, EXPLORERS, AND EDUCATORS THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH NASAS PEOPLE, MISSIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS THE AERO INSTITUTE PARTNERS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO MEET NASAS STRATEGIC GOALS. NOW THE AERO INSTITUTE PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS BY PARTNERING IN THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH THEMES. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDING K-12 EDUCATORS WITH TOOLS, EXPERIENCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATE IN UNIQUE NASA LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF STEM AND INSPIRE PURSUIT OF STEM CAREERS. HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION STRENGTHENING THEIR RESEARCH CAPABILITIES AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ATTRACT AND PREPARE INCREASING NUMBERS OF STUDENTS FOR NASA-RELATED CAREERS. E-EDUCATION PROGRAM SUSTAINING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY-ENRICHED INFRASTRUCTURE IN FACILITATING THE APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY-BASED APPLICATIONS TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS FOR FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION. INFORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPPORTING PROJECTS DESIGNED TO INCREASE PUBLIC INTEREST IN, UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ENGAGEMENT IN STEM ACTIVITIES WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON NASA CONTENT. MINORITY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM ENGAGING UNDER-REPRESENTED POPULATIONS THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF INITIATIVES. COMMUNICATING WITH KEY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, THE MEDIA, THE PUBLIC, ACADEMIA, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES, TO ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGENCY S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND PLANS, AND TO ADVANCE THE NATION S SPACE PROGRAM AGENDA.