The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) seeks to further advance and expand life sciences education at Massachusetts public high schools and middle schools through implementation of project and inquiry-based curriculum.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
State: Massachusetts
Cities: Selected Cities
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/30/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $200,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Through this program, the MLSC awards grant funding to schools and curriculum providers for the purpose of teacher professional development and the purchase of equipment, materials, supplies, and technology needed to support new or expanded curriculum. Funding will enable schools to educate students in real-world scenarios that will prepare them for career opportunities in the life sciences. Funding for teacher professional development will ensure that educators receive the technical training needed to effectively use newly acquired equipment and technology.
Funding Information
Applicants can request grant funding of up to $200,000 (up to $100,000 per high school and up to $50,000 per middle school) for capital expenses (including equipment, materials, supplies, and technology), and up to $40,000 (up to $20,000 per school) for professional development.
Funding Period
All equipment, materials, supplies, and/or technology must be shipped to grant recipients between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
Investments made through this program seek to:
- Expand access to STEM equipment, curriculum, and professional development.
- Increase educational equity and help close the achievement and opportunity gaps.
- Train a diverse STEM workforce pipeline.
- Support the implementation of Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering Standards.
- Increase student achievement and interest in STEM.
- Increase awareness of life sciences careers.
- Improve college & career readiness.
- Leverage partnerships.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be at least one of the following:
- Vocational technical high school as determined by Chapter 74 of the General Laws of Massachusetts or a comprehensive public high school with a life sciences Chapter 74 program.
- Public middle schools or high schools (including charter schools) located in one of the following “Gateway Cities” as determined by Section 3A of Chapter 23A of the General Laws of Massachusetts: Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, and Westfield, and Worcester.
- Public high schools or middle schools (including charter schools) with a student population of at least 25 percent classified as “low income” by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Non-profit curriculum provider, with a presence in Massachusetts, delivering STEM curriculum and teacher professional development to schools that meet any of the above-stated criteria. Any equipment requested on behalf of partner schools must be delivered to and remain housed at the schools.
For schools belonging to a district, the district must be the applicant and only one application can be submitted per school district. Districts must submit applications that reflect district-wide resource needs and promote curriculum alignment.
For more information, visit STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant.