Project Grant 2601338

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Computing and Communication Foundations awarded a $600,000 Project Grant to Worcester Polytechnic Institute effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070). This Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Site establishes a fully online, three-year initiative designed to prepare high school teachers across the United States to integrate quantum computing and cybersecurity education into their classrooms. The project delivers a six-week summer research experience annually in which participating teachers collaborate with university researchers to develop standards-aligned lesson plans, classroom activities, and laboratory exercises. Teachers and students gain access to an online platform featuring a browser-based quantum circuit simulator, automated assessment tools, and artificial intelligence-driven learning capabilities.

Throughout the academic year, the project provides ongoing support to participating teachers through biweekly meetings, curriculum refinement, classroom implementation assistance, and opportunities to share instructional materials and research findings. The initiative addresses a critical workforce development need by preparing teacher-leaders to deliver game-based and technology-supported instruction on cybersecurity concepts within the context of quantum computing, thereby expanding access to emerging science and engineering topics in secondary education and supporting national workforce development objectives in quantum information science and cybersecurity.