How to Bring STEM to Your School’s Summer OST Program
At STEM Center USA, we are dedicated to making high-quality TK-12 STEM education accessible to all students. We collaborate with schools and districts to provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences through a variety of programs, including in-person school day programming, afterschool activities, and summer camps. For summer programming, we often leverage Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) funding or Migrant funding to ensure that students have access to supplemental, hands-on STEM learning opportunities.
If you're wondering how to bring STEM programming to your school's summer Out-of-School Time (OST) program, here’s a step-by-step guide to how we work with schools and district officials to make it happen:
We begin with a Zoom meeting with our team, including Lavanya, our President & Co-Founder, to discuss how STEM Center USA can support your summer learning initiatives. During this meeting, we also share insights on how other local schools and districts structure their summer STEM programs. This provides new partners a broad perspective on what works best for various student populations.
Every school has unique needs, and we tailor our programs accordingly. To ensure we create a program that aligns with your goals, we ask key questions such as:
- What grade levels will be served?
- Approximately how many students are you looking to serve?
- What are the program dates and class times?
- Do students have access to laptops or a computer lab for coding-based classes?
- Are you interested in hands-on engineering and physics projects where students take their work home?
- Should the curriculum incorporate a specific focus on Math, ELA, or Science?
- Are there any school board deadlines we should be aware of?
Based on your responses, STEM Center USA provides a detailed proposal outlining:
- Course options tailored to your needs
- Various budget options
- Scheduling options to fit your summer programming structure
If your school or district requires a Request for Proposal (an RFP) process, we have extensive experience preparing and securing RFPs. We understand the detailed documentation, planning, and compliance measures required for a strong submission. Our team ensures that proposals align with district requirements, funding priorities, and state regulations, helping to streamline the process and increase the likelihood of approval.
Once you review the proposal, we will make any necessary adjustments to better align with your requirements. Our goal is to ensure the program fully supports your students' learning experience and meets district expectations.
Once the proposal is finalized, we move to the contracts phase. We work closely with your district’s budget and contracts office to ensure compliance with all insurance, documentation, and funding requirements.
STEM Center USA ensures full coverage in the following insurance areas:
Additionally, we are an approved Department of Justice Youth Organization that fingerprints and background checks all of our employees.
Once contracts are signed, we begin preparing for program execution:
- We set aside all materials needed for the program.
- Our team ensures 1:1 materials for students, delivered directly to your site.
- Our instructors run the classes, provide take-home projects, and assist with classroom management, including attendance tracking and transitions.
At the end of the program, we compile a comprehensive report for your school or district, including:
- Pre- and post-survey data to measure learning outcomes
- A summary of learning objectives achieved
- Detailed lesson plans and project examples
- Attendance records and student engagement insights
Bring STEM Learning to Your Summer Program Today!
If you’re looking to integrate STEM into your school’s summer OST program, we are here to help! Contact STEM Center USA today to schedule a consultation using our Calendly and start building a hands-on, engaging STEM experience for your students.
STEM education is crucial in today’s world, and with the right programming, we can ensure students stay engaged and continue to build valuable skills over the summer. Let’s work together to bring interactive, hands-on STEM learning to your school!
