Virtual STEM Employer Engagement

Creating career exploration and hands-on, project-based learning experiences for six through eighth grade students in Arizona through an employer engagement program that includes virtual tours, real time broadcasts, projects and lessons tied to the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards.

Request for Proposals

Submission deadline

Application Submission: Friday May 23, 2014 5:00 pm MST

Terms of Reference While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this document, it is provided for information purposes only and as a guide to expected developments. It is not intended, and should not be relied upon, as any form of warranty, representation, undertaking, contractual, or other commitment binding in law upon Science Foundation Arizona. SFAz Terms and Conditions shall govern the administration of SFAz grants and awards to the exclusion of this and any other oral, written, or recorded statement.

Virtual STEM Employer Engagement

Introduction

About Science Foundation Arizona

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization initiated in 2006 by the Greater Phoenix Leadership Inc., Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the Flagstaff Forty in conjunction with the executive and legislative branches of state government. SFAz serves as a catalyst for high-wage, knowledge-based jobs and economic diversity through administration and strict oversight of research, development and education grants to public education and other non-profit research performing institutions.SFAz’s commitment to effective, innovative education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focuses on high academic achievement for all Arizona students while strategically leveraging the development of work place competencies and exposure to STEM related careers.For more information, visit

Project Description

This project will provide career exploration and hands-on, project-based learning experiences for 6-8th grade students in AZ through an employer engagement program that includes virtual tours, real-time broadcasts, projects and lessons tied to Arizona College and Career Ready (AzCCR) Standards. Virtual access to companies will help students discover the wide range of career options available to them, chart the most efficient paths for students to achieve those goals, and work directly with business and industry partners to ensure that students are developing the most necessary skills, credentials and technical knowledge. The target for piloting and marketing will be districts with existing STEM programming that include at least one rural and one low-income district. The pilot phase will reach a minimum of five school districts during the initial grant year with an expectation of scaling to twenty-five within a year of completing this grant.

Eligibility

Any contractor (vendor) that can develop and deliver a virtual STEM employer experience that has the potential for scale and can meet the proposal requirements listed below.

Funding

One grant will be awarded in the amount of $20,000.00.

Application Content

Application Requirements- 12 point font, one inch margins
(1/2 page maximum) Provide the following information including vendor name and contact information, qualifications, reporting and project management details. Include:
Identify pertinent staff and provide a brief skill summary for each.

Provide the following Content Deliverables:

(1/2 page maximum) Provide a brief description of your program
Describe a sample or case study of comparable projects.

(One page maximum) Describe how you will develop content to highlight engineering careers and augment classroom learning across industry sectors to be delivered in Q3 of 2014, including;
Collaborate with STEM-focused Arizona businesses to develop a four to six week project (the length of project will be determined by the number of companies featured) that will enable students to explore engineering in a variety of contexts.
Establish lesson units for each week tied to the industry and Arizona College and Career Ready (AzCCR) Standards.

(One page maximum) Detail your plans to develop a virtual, lower cost delivery model for interactive live programs to be broadcast to at least 500 students in Q3 of 2014, including;
Videotape and develop interactive materials, including representations of engineering at work.
Identify industry hosts and guest for live feed portion of the program.
Develop supplemental materials to support each video segment.

(1/2 page maximum) Explain how you will conduct teacher in-person and online teacher training for every teacher facilitated program, including;
Provide teachers with curriculum complete with lesson plans, a broadcast technology guide, content resources, key learning terms and assessment.
Assess additional supply needs during first cohort.

(1/2 page maximum) Outline your approach to translate the program into an open source, virtual program that can be accessed through the Arizona STEM Network website in Q4 of 2014, including;
Conduct the feasibility of developing a smart phone App to broaden access to the program.

(One page maximum) Describe how you will adopt a standard assessment of the program to measure impacts on teachers, students and the participating companies by Q3 of 2014.
Define reporting procedures with timelines, including report substance, types of data and analysis that will be included and frequency of reporting.

(1/2 page maximum) Define how you will explore integration of the program into the classroom time with participating districts in Q4 of 2014.

(One page maximum) Provide a narrative of the program budget and expenditures.

Submit aone-page budget on the SFAz Budget Formfor the proposal signed by the fiscal agent using theBudget of Record Template in this link

A final report and evaluation of the program will be submitted by February 15, 2015.

Submit acknowledgment and acceptance of the above-mentioned budget and conditions by sending completed proposal cover sheet, sample included – Appendix A

Review and Selection Process

All proposals must be submitted by Friday, May 23, 2014 5:00 pm MST
Proposals will be evaluated by an external team of experts with experience in STEM education. Final recommendations will be sent to the leadership of SFAz.
The SFAz Board of Directors will make the final determination as to which proposal is funded.
A final decision will be made by Friday, June 6, 2014

Submission Details and Deadlines

Electronic submissions in pdf format to Stephanie Torigian at

Science Foundation Arizona

400 E. Van Buren St., Suite 200

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Full Application Submission Deadline:

May 23, 2014 5:00pm MST

For questions please contact Science Foundation Arizona at 602-682-2800 or John Kriekard, Director of Education, or