National stem teacher corps pilot program: midwest alliance for rural elementary science

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Northern Iowa $4.918 million under a cooperative agreement (CFDA 47.076, STEM Education) on October 1, 2025, to support the National STEM Teacher Corps Pilot Program: Midwest Alliance for Rural Elementary Science, running through September 30, 2030.

The project designates 18 rural elementary teachers in Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota as STEM Teacher Corps members, recognizing their accomplishments in advancing STEM instruction. An additional cohort of 120 rural elementary teachers across the three states receives professional development, mentorship, instructional materials, funding to purchase science curriculum materials, and participation in a community of practice structured around the Next Generation Science Standards three-dimensional framework. The work is centered at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and establishes partnerships among four institutions of higher education—University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Kansas, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities—alongside the three state departments of education for Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota.

Iowa State University (sub-award dated November 7, 2025) serves as a Regional Alliance Partner responsible for creating and fostering communities of practice across Iowa and the broader Midwest, coordinating and conducting professional development activities, connecting national STEM Teacher Corps members with existing educator professional development programs, and supporting research activities including data collection and analysis on student and teacher learning and science instruction implementation.

University of Kansas Center for Research Inc. (sub-award dated February 11, 2026) recruits STEM teachers and rural cohorts in Kansas, develops curriculum for professional learning sessions, implements professional development with Corps teachers and rural cohorts, and analyzes qualitative data.

University of Minnesota (sub-award dated December 22, 2025) recruits STEM teachers in Minnesota, develops curriculum, supports STEM teachers, and analyzes qualitative data.

Abstract

The national stem teacher corps pilot program alliance project, ?midwest stem alliance to elevate science teaching in rural elementary schools,? Aims to recognize outstanding educators in high-need elementary schools to advance excellence in stem education in the midwest region. This project will support 18 rural elementary teachers to become stem teacher corps members by recognizing and rewarding their accomplishments and efforts to enhance stem teaching and learning in rural elementary classrooms in iowa, kansas, and minnesota. The project also intends to provide professional development, mentorship, and support to 120 rural cohort teachers within the region. This significant teacher cohort will receive instructional materials, money to purchase science curriculum materials, and opportunities to participate in the planned community of practice among all the regional teachers. The proposed project intends to enable, elevate, retain, and sustain exemplary and innovative elementary stem teachers within the community of practice during and after the project. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve young, midwest students? Interests, knowledge, and abilities in science. The project at the university of northern iowa includes the development of partnerships among four institutions of higher education, the university of northern iowa, iowa state university, the university of kansas, and the university of minnesota twin cities. This midwest alliance also includes all three state departments of education to address the needs of teachers in rural elementary schools throughout the three states to increase and improve the teaching of science. Project goals include the enhancement of science knowledge and skills among the teacher corps members and participating rural cohort elementary teachers in a community of practice using ngss?S three-dimensional framework with an emphasis on collaborative sense-making. In addition, the project intends to elevate the prominence of science in the elementary curriculum in rural schools and to increase instructional time for science throughout the region. Finally, the creation of legacy products for future in-service and pre-service elementary teachers by corps members can influence the teaching of science for years to come. This project is informed by iterative evaluation, guided by the following questions: (a) how do participating teachers shift their science teaching practices over time? (B) how does the amount of instructional time devoted to science instruction impact science and mathematics achievement in students? (C) how does the engagement of corps teachers in the community of practice support students? Science and mathematics achievement? The results of this project are to be disseminated nationally to help enhance the field. This regional alliance project is supported through the national stem teacher corps pilot program. The NSF national stem teacher corps pilot program supports outstanding stem educators in high-need schools that advance educational excellence in our nation?S prek-12 classrooms. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.