Mississippi State Funding
K-8 STEM Initiative Grant
Eligibility
- Mississippi school districts with an approved 2024–2025 Perkins Local Plan Application
- Each district may submit only one proposal per district (can include multiple schools)
- Past subgrantees must be in good standing with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), having submitted required reports and reimbursements
Goals
- Applicants must be seeking to implement or enhance a STEM program in grades K–8
- Align activities with the Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards in math, science, and computer science (See the Keep In Mind section below for how we align.)
- Support student success through updated resources and hands-on STEM learning
Application Due Date
- September 29, 2025, by 2:00 p.m. CST
Grant Cycle
- One-year project period (FY26, school year 2025–2026)
- Budget revisions allowed until January 30, 2026
- Reimbursement requests due June 30, 2026
- Liquidations by July 11, 2026
Grant Award Total Amount
- Up to $20,000 per district
Allowable Purchases
- Equipment for K–8 STEM programs
- Software and/or hardware for K–8 STEM programs
Alignment with LEGO® Education Solutions:- SPIKE™ Essential and SPIKE™ Prime: Robotics and engineering solutions directly align with allowable equipment/software purchases and STEM program enhancement.
- LEGO® Education Science: Supports hands-on science instruction that aligns with MS College and Career Readiness Standards.
- Professional Development (PD): Funds can cover our in-person or virtual training that ensures teachers are prepared to integrate hands-on solutions into their classroom for meaningful impact.
Program Implementation
- Required activities include advancing student achievement and supporting STEM-related success, including technology and computer science
- Subgrantees must ensure accessibility under ADA, Section 504, and IDEA
- Performance reporting required (students served, measurable outcomes)
Keep in Mind
- LEGO Education SPIKE Essential and Spike solutions are Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards aligned.
- LEGO Education Science is also Mississippi College- and Career- Readiness Standards aligned.
- Highly competitive scoring rubric (100 points total) with a minimum of 75 required for funding
- Project Narrative & Work Plan: 60 points
- Collaboration & Support (with letters of commitment): 5 points
- Evaluation Plan: 20 points
- Budget Information: 15 points
- Proposals must follow strict formatting (max 30 pages, specific forms included)
- The MS DOE will hold a virtual pre-proposal conference will be held September 9, 2025 (optional but encouraged)
Ready to bring LEGO® Education to your district?
