6 Virginia Universities Awarded $28.5 Million Grant for STEM
Six Virginia universities were selected by the U.S. Department of Education to receive and lead a STEM grant, of $28.5 million from the Invest in Innovation (i3) program to improve K-12 science education (science teaching and student learning) throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, especially in the most high-need schools.
The Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement (VISTA) project partnership includes t six universities, 47 Virginia school districts, SRI International and the Virginia Department of Education. The universities, all members of the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBIO) are George Mason, Virginia Tech, the College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia and James Madison University. The i3 grant will help to train Virginia K-12 students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The competition for i3 funds was open to school districts, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education working in partnership with public schools. Of the nearly 1,700 applicants, 49 applicants were selected to receive a share of the $650 million in i3 grants.
