STEM BEST Program - Iowa | LEGO® Education

Iowa State Funding

Iowa public and nonpublic school districts and individual school buildings serving K–12 students - Accepting New and Returning BEST Awarded School Districts applications.
Clusters or collaboratives of schools/districts encouraged; lead applicant must serve as fiscal agent and define partner roles
Accepting new and returning applications. Entities that have previously received STEM BEST funding must apply as “Returning” and clearly show how the new proposal expands or differs from earlier projects

Build or expand authentic, work-based STEM learning through strong school–business partnerships
Give students direct experiences that connect STEM content to local careers and industry
Strengthen career pathways and 21st-century skills, helping students transition beyond high school to further training or employment

Returning STEM BEST Award: November 10, 2025, 4:59 p.m. (applications open September 3, 2025; awards announced January 2026)
Enhancement Award: November 5, 2025 (applications open October 1, 2025; awards announced December 2025)

New STEM BEST® applications
- Can request up to $50,000 in state funds
- Must provide a 2:1 cost-share/match (for example, to receive $50,000, the district provides $25,000 cash or in-kind)
Returning STEM BEST® applications
- Can also request up to $50,000 in state funds
- Must still provide the 2:1 cost-share/match
- The difference is not the dollar ceiling — it’s the requirement to show growth/expansion and to use the Returning Application and Rubric

Industry-grade STEM equipment and facilities: LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential and SPIKE™ Prime sets for robotics and coding labs; LEGO® Education Science resources for hands-on data collection and applied STEM projects
Curriculum integration and materials: LEGO® Education lessons and digital content are free and embed real-world STEM and coding within Iowa Core/NGSS-aligned courses
LEGO® Education Professional development: LEGO Education training and workshops to prepare teachers for project-based and career-connected learning

Grant funds must be used within the stated cycle (Jan 2026–June 2027 for Returning awards; Dec 2025–May 2026 for Enhancements)
All awards require a 2:1 match (cash or in-kind); consider district and/or federal funding, local industry sponsorships, or donated resources to meet this requirement
Two informal status updates required (October and January during the grant period)
Final report and invoice due May 2027 (Returning) or May 2026 (Enhancement)
Applicants must track and report program outcomes such as student participation and partner engagement

Returning applicants must clearly show how the new project differs from previous awards and expands impact
Review the official Returning STEM BEST Scoring Rubric to strengthen the proposal narrative
Regional STEM Hub managers can advise and connect districts with local business partners
Applications must be original and applicant-authored; generative AI content should be used cautiously and with attribution as required