NSF STEM K-12

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 to support research and education across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It provides approximately one-quarter of federal support to academic institutions for basic research in these fields. NSF administers a wide portfolio of funding opportunities, including fellowships, research centers, and education initiatives. Its mission is to advance the progress of science, promote the nation’s health, prosperity, and welfare, and ensure national defense through investments in research and education. The NSF STEM K-12 (STEM K-12) program, issued under solicitation NSF 25-545, supports research on learning in formal and informal educational settings. The program is managed by the Directorate for STEM Education within the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings. Its aim is to advance fundamental, applied, and translational research that improves understanding of STEM education across the lifespan. This program specifically encourages innovative, multidisciplinary, and potentially transformative projects, with a special emphasis on how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can enhance STEM teaching and learning. Proposals may address any STEM field and focus on formal K-12 education as well as informal learning environments. The scope of funded projects is broad, including foundational research to advance theory, design-based research to iteratively develop and refine learning systems, and applied projects developing new curricula, assessments, or professional learning tools. Research may also involve investigations into teaching and learning processes, development of data science methods for educational research, or studies of how to build capacity in STEM and technology-related career pathways. The program also supports conference proposals that convene experts and stakeholders around emerging research and practice in STEM education. Supported activities must be rigorous, grounded in theory, and designed to produce findings and frameworks that can be widely disseminated and translated into practice. Funding under this program is expected to total approximately $30 million, supporting around 40 awards each year. Awards typically range from $25,000 to $750,000 for project durations of one to three years. Research and development projects are generally expected to request between $350,000 and $750,000, while conference proposals may request between $25,000 and $99,000. CAREER awards, though related, must be submitted through the separate NSF-wide CAREER solicitation. Proposals must be submitted either through Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Cost sharing is prohibited, and indirect cost limitations do not apply. Eligibility for the STEM K-12 program is broad. Applicants may include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (two- and four-year, including community colleges), non-profit non-academic organizations such as museums, research labs, or professional societies, U.S.-based for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, and federally recognized tribal nations. There are no restrictions on who may serve as a principal investigator, and there are no limits on the number of proposals submitted per organization or investigator. Proposals involving international branch campuses must justify why activities cannot be conducted at the U.S. campus. Independent school districts, individuals, and other organizations not explicitly listed are not eligible. Proposals are reviewed under NSF’s merit review process, which evaluates intellectual merit and broader impacts. Reviewers consider whether proposals advance knowledge, benefit society, employ rigorous methodologies, and provide clear dissemination plans. Broader impacts may include contributions to STEM workforce development, increased diversity, improved STEM education, or enhanced public engagement with science. Proposers must also include a data management and sharing plan, and if applicable, mentoring plans for postdoctoral researchers. Review and selection involve ad hoc and panel reviewers, with recommendations made by program officers and final awards issued by NSF’s Division of Grants and Agreements. Applications are accepted at any time under this program, with no fixed closing date. Proposals are processed on a rolling basis, though investigators are encouraged to apply well in advance of planned project start dates to allow sufficient review and processing time. All proposals must comply with PAPPG requirements, including required sections such as project summary, project description, and supplementary documentation. For more information or questions, applicants may contact the STEM K-12 program office by telephone at (703) 292-8620 or by email at STEMK12@nsf.gov. Additional support for Research.gov submissions is available at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532, and Grants.gov applicants may contact the support center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726