PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 

FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION 

STRATEGIC PLAN

A Report by the

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

December 2021
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC

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About the National Science and Technology Council

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive 

Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal 

research and development enterprise. A primary objective of the NSTC is to ensure science and

technology policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's stated goals. The NSTC 

prepares research and development strategies that are coordinated across Federal agencies aimed at 

accomplishing multiple national goals. The work of the NSTC is organized under committees that 

oversee subcommittees and working groups focused on different aspects of science and technology. 

More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy

The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and 

Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide the President and others within 

the Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological 

aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, the 

environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics. OSTP leads 

interagency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management and 

Budget with an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development in budgets, and serves 

as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major 

policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government. More information is available at

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp.

About the Committee on STEM Education

The Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) was established pursuant to the requirements of Section 

101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. §6621). In accordance with the 

Act, the Committee reviews science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education 

programs, investments, and activities, and the respective assessments of each, in Federal agencies to 

ensure that they are effective; coordinates, with the Office of Management and Budget, STEM education 

programs, investments, and activities throughout the Federal agencies; and develops and implements 

through the participating agencies a STEM education strategic plan, to be updated every five years. The 

Federal Coordination in STEM Education (FC-STEM) is a subcommittee of the NSTC Committee on STEM

Education (CoSTEM). FC-STEM advises and assists CoSTEM and serves as a forum to facilitate the 

formulation and implementation of the strategic plan.

About this Document

The intent of this progress report is to provide Congress and the wider STEM education stakeholder 

community an update on the Federal activities that occurred from June 2020 to February 2021. This 

progress report includes: a summary of FC-STEM progress on the implementation of the STEM strategy, 

a description of the ways Federal agencies will work together to address common challenges, and an 

inventory of Federal STEM education programs. The annual report includes actual investments for 

FY2020, estimated investments for FY2021, and requested funding levels for FY2022 .
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Copyright Information

This document is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C. 

§105). Subject to the stipulations below, it may be distributed and copied with acknowledgment to 

OSTP. Copyrights to graphics included in this document are reserved by the original copyright holders 

or their assignees and are used here under the Government’s license and by permission. Requests to 

use any images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits or to OSTP if no provider 

is identified. Published in the United States of America, 2021.
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NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

Chair

Eric Lander, Director, OSTP

Executive Director

Kei Koizumi, Acting Executive Director

COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION

Co-Chairs

Alondra Nelson, Deputy Director, OSTP Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, NSF

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL COORDINATION IN STEM EDUCATION

Co-Chairs

Nafeesa Owens, Assistant Director for STEM

Education, OSTP

Mike Kincaid, Associate Administrator for

STEM Engagement, NASA

Sylvia Butterfield, Acting Assistant Director

for Education and Human Resources, NSF

Executive Secretary

Susan Poland, NASA

Senior Advisor

Quincy Brown, OSTP

Members

Melissa Anley-Mills, EPA

Charmain Bogue, VA

Julie Carruthers, DOE

Catherine Derbes, OMB

Robert Hampshire, DOT

Kourtney Hollingsworth, USDA

Diane M. Janosek, NSA

Louisa Koch, DOC/NOAA

Kay Lund, HHS/NIH

Cheryl Martin, DOL

Carol O’Donnell, SI

Albert Palacios, ED

Jagadeesh Pamulapati, DoD

Jeanita Pritchett, DOC/NIST

Craig Robinson, DOI/USGS

Gregory Simmons, DHS

Jorge Valdes, DOC/USPTO

Leslie Wheelock, HHS/FDA
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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................1

FIVE-YEAR FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN ................................................................................................. 1

FEDERAL IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS: JUNE 2020 TO FEBRUARY 2021 ............................................................3

INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUPS (IWGS)...................................................................................................................... 3

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships (Strategic Partnerships IWG).......................................................... 4

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge (Convergence IWG).................................................................... 5

Build Computational Literacy (Computational Literacy IWG) ............................................................................ 6

Operate with Transparency and Accountability (Transparency and Accountability IWG) ................................ 7

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM (IWG on Inclusion in STEM) ................................................................ 8

Veterans and Military Spouses in STEM (IWG on Veterans and Military Spouses in STEM).............................. 9

EFFORTS OUTSIDE OF THE INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUPS .......................................................................10

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ...............................................................................................................................................10

OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION EFFORTS....................................................................................................................10

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS..................................................................................................................................12

STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL...........................................................................................................................13

CLOSING SUMMARY.....................................................................................................................................13

APPENDIX 1. AGENCY STEM EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS ALIGNMENT TOPATHWAYS AND

OBJECTIVES (VERSION: 12.04.2018) ..............................................................................................................14

APPENDIX 2. DEFINITION OF A STEM EDUCATION INVESTMENT ....................................................................15

APPENDIX 3. AGENCY STEM EDUCATION INVESTMENTS (FY2020) ALIGNMENT TO GOALS AND PATHWAYS ...17

APPENDIX 4. PROFILE OF FY2020 STEM EDUCATION INVESTMENTS...............................................................30

APPENDIX 5. FY 2021-ENACTED INVENTORY OF STEM EDUCATION INVESTMENTS .........................................34

APPENDIX 6: SUMMARY OF STEM EDUCATION INVESTMENTS ......................................................................49
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Abbreviations and Acronyms

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory

APHIS USDA Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service

CCLC 21st Century Community Learning

Centers Program

CISE NSF Directorate for Computing and

Information Science and Engineering

CNCS Corporation for National Community

Service

COE FAA Air Transportation Center of

Excellence

CoSTEM Committee on STEM Education

CWMD DHS Countering Weapons of Mass 

Destruction

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DOC Department of Commerce

DOD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DOE/ED DOE Office of Economic Impact and

Diversity

DOI Department of the Interior

DOL Department of Labor

DOS Department of State

DOT Department of Transportation

DSEC Defense Science Technology Engineering 

and MathematicsEducation Consortium

DTRA DOD Defense Threat ReductionAgency

EASE NSF Excellence Awards in Scienceand 

Engineering

ECR NSF EHR Core Research

ED Department of Education

EDA DOC Economic DevelopmentAdministration

EDMAP USGS Educational Mapping Program

EE EPA Office of Environmental

Education

EERE DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy

EHR NSF Directorate for Education and

Human Resources

EM DOE Office of Environmental

Management

ENG NSF Directorate for Engineering

EPA U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency

ETA DOL Employment and Training

Administration

FAA DOT Federal Aviation Administration

FC-STEM Federal Coordination in STEMEducation

Subcommittee

FDA Food and Drug Administration

FE DOE Office of Fossil Energy

FEMP DOE Federal Energy Management

Program

FHWA DOT Federal Highway Administration

HBCU-UP NSF Historically Black Colleges and

Universities – Undergraduate Program

HHS Department of Health and Human

Services

HRSA HHS Health Resources & Services

Administration

HUD Department of Housing and Urban

Development

IES ED Institute of Education Sciences

IMLS Institute of Museum and LibraryServices

IT Information Technology

IWG Interagency Working Group

IWGIS Interagency Working Group onInclusion

in STEM

MDA DOD Missile Defense Agency

MPS NSF Directorate for Mathematical 

andPhysical Sciences

MSI Minority Serving Institution

 MUREP NASA Minority University Research

and Education Project
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NASA National Aeronautics and Space

Administration

NCEAI National Council for Expanding

American Innovation

NE DOE Office of Nuclear Energy

NIFA USDA National Institute of Food and

Agriculture

NIH National Institutes of Health

NIHF National Inventors Hall of Fame

NIST National Institute of Standards and

Technology

NNSA DOE National Nuclear Security

Administration

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

NPS National Park Service

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NSF National Science Foundation

NSF NSF program on Inclusion across

INCLUDES the Nation of Communities of

Learners of Underrepresented

Discoverers in Engineering and

Science

NSTC National Science and Technology

Council

ODASART Office of the Deputy Assistant

Secretary of the Army for Research &

Technology

OESE ED Office of Elementary and

Secondary Education

OIA NSF Office of Integrative Activities

OISE NSF Office of International Science

and Engineering

OMB Office of Management and Budget

ONR DOD Office of Naval Research

OPE ED Office of Postsecondary Education

ORD EPA Office of Research and

Development

OSTP Office of Science and Technology

Policy

OUSDRE Office of the Under Secretary of

Defense for Research and Engineering

P&R/M&RA DOD Personnel & Readiness/

Manpower & Reserve Affairs

PAEMST Presidential Awards for Excellence in

Mathematics and Science Teaching

PAESMEM Presidential Awards for Excellence in

Science, Mathematics and

Engineering Mentoring

PPP Public-private partnerships

R&D Research and development

RES NRC Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research

RFI Request for Information

S&T Science and Technology

SBCR NRC Small Business and Civil Rights

Office

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

Program

SC DOE Office of Science

SI Smithsonian Institution

SMD NASA Science Mission Directorate

STEM Science, technology, engineering,and 

mathematics

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer

Program

TA IWG Transparency and Accountability IWG

TCU Tribal College and University

TCUP NSF Tribal Colleges and Universities

Program

U.S. United States

USDA United States Department of

Agriculture

USGS United States Geological Survey

USPTO United States Patent and 

Trademark Office

VA Department of Veterans Affairs
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Introduction

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are the foundation for discovery and 

technological innovation. STEM skills are increasingly important for all Americans to succeed in the 

workplace and in their everyday lives. To develop these skills, the Nation must engage in a collaborative 

effort to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality STEM education throughout their 

lifetimes. A focus on diversity and inclusion in STEM requires attention to opportunities across 

education and career pathways. This effort is especially important for those who are historically 

underrepresented and underserved in STEM. A well-prepared and diverse STEM workforce is essential 

to maintaining global leadership as it galvanizes the ingenuity of Americans to accelerate tomorrow’s 

breakthroughs and strengthens our economic and national security.

In December 2018, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on STEM Education 

(CoSTEM) released Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education1, a five-year 

STEM education strategic plan, hereafter referred to as the Strategic Plan. 

Federal agencies engaged in STEM education are implementing the Strategic Plan, under the guidance 

of CoSTEM and its Federal Coordination in STEM Education (FC-STEM) Subcommittee. This progress 

report describes ongoing efforts and implementation practices across the Federal government as it 

works to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan. This report also compiles budget 

information from all Federal agencies that have investments in STEM education during Fiscal Year (FY) 

2021.

Additionally, this document fulfills the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 requirement 

that the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) transmit a report annually to Congress that 

provides an update on the performance of the Federal STEM education portfolio and an inventory of 

Federal STEM education investments.

Five-Year Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan

The Strategic Plan presents a vision for a future in which all Americans will have lifelong access to 

high-quality STEM education and the United States will remain the global leader in STEM literacy, 

innovation, and employment. 

The Strategic Plan focuses on three overarching goals2:

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy by ensuring that every American has the 

opportunity to master basic STEM concepts and to become digitally literate.

Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM by providing all Americans with lifelong 

access to high-quality STEM education, especially those historically underrepresented and 

underserved in STEM fields and employment.

Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future by creating authentic learning experiences—for 

both college-educated STEM practitioners and those working in skilled trades that do not require 

a four-year degree—that encourage and prepare learners to pursue STEM careers.

 

1 Charting a Course for Success: America's Strategy for STEM Education (archives.gov)

2 Overarching goals updated slightly in 2021
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Figure 1. Schematic illustrating the organizational structure of the Federal STEM Education 

Strategic Plan released in December 2018. The Strategic Plan’s vision is supported by three

aspirational goals. Four pathways contain objectives to guide efforts by the Federal 

government and the wider STEM education community to realize the Strategic Plan’s vision

and goals.
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The Strategic Plan is further organized around four pathways, representing a cross-cutting set of 

approaches to improve STEM education that will help fulfill its vision and achieve its three goals:

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships – Strengthen relationships between educational 

institutions, industry, and community organizations to leverage resources for the purpose of 

providing the student with meaningful learning opportunities.

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge – Draw on knowledge and methods across 

disciplines to solve complex, real-world problems in STEM using innovation, creativity, and 

initiative.

Build Computational Literacy – Design integrated approaches to teaching and learning 

computational thinking and promote the expansion of digital platform use.

Operate with Transparency and Accountability – Develop and apply metrics that assess 

implementation progress in meaningful ways.

Federal Implementation Efforts: June 2020 to February 2021

CoSTEM is the highest-level interagency body in the Federal government devoted to STEM education. It

oversees coordination of STEM education programs across government and, every five years, creates a 

strategic plan. The Federal Coordination in STEM Education Subcommittee (FC-STEM) oversees the

implementation of the Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan and advises CoSTEM and the OSTP

Director on the development and progress of the collaborative work in STEM education across the 

Federal science agencies. 

In FY 2019, CoSTEM developed an implementation structure (four interconnected interagency working 

groups) to support work toward the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan. The IWGs are organized 

by the Strategic Plan’s four pathways. A fifth IWG, the Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM 

(IWGIS), was chartered by the NSTC in response to Section 308 of the American Innovation and

Competitiveness Act3. A sixth IWG was formed in 2020 in response to the Supporting Veterans in STEM 

Careers Act4. FC-STEM facilitates the work of all six IWGs.

The interagency collaboration of FC-STEM empowers agencies to improve STEM education by sharing

best practices, leveraging the expertise and resources of Federal partners, and coordinating activities

in support of common educational goals. FC-STEM agencies are also working together to maximize the

impact of their efforts within the broader STEM education community.

Interagency Working Groups (IWGs)

This report captures activities carried out by the IWGs from June 2020 to February 2021. Four of the 

IWGs— Computational Literacy, Convergence, Strategic Partnerships, and Transparency & 

Accountability— concentrate their efforts on one of each of the four pathways outlined in the Strategic

Plan. A fifth IWG, the Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM (IWGIS) supports the goal of 

increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM. The sixth IWG on Veterans and Military Spouses in 

STEM, supports the representation and equity of veterans and military spouses in STEM fields and 

careers.

 

3 S.3084 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): American Innovation and Competitiveness Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

4 S.153 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
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The six interagency working groups coordinate to ensure they produce complementary efforts that

further the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan. The sections that follow provide an overview of 

the foci for each IWG, highlight some of the actions that agencies are taking that support the work of 

the IWG, and provide an overview of the work that the IWGs have prioritized to pursue collaboratively.

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships (Strategic Partnerships IWG)

Participating Agencies: DOC, DOD, DOE, DHS, DOI, ED, NASA, NSF, OSTP, and SI 

Description: Partnerships among Federal agencies, educational institutions, employers, museums,

and other community organizations leverage resources and expertise across STEM education

ecosystems to maximize the impact of educational efforts. These connections broaden and enhance

the education of today’s learners by providing authentic STEM experiences, seamless career and

educational transitions, and opportunities for diverse mentorship.

Investment: From the Federal STEM Inventory, 129 programs with a total FY 2020 investment of $2.25 

billion directly or indirectly supported the Strategic Partnerships Pathway under the Federal STEM 

Education Strategic Plan. These investments are found in CNCS, DHS, DOC, DOD, DOE, DOL, DOT, ED, 

EPA, HHS, NASA, NSF, SI, USDA, and VA.

Actions Taken Toward Implementation:

To advance strategic partnership objectives, the Strategic Partnerships IWG engaged with stakeholders

internal and external to the Federal government through a series of data calls and Requests for 

Information (RFIs), to learn and encourage adoption of partnership and ecosystem5 approaches. 

Through these efforts, the IWG learned of over 100 new or updated partnerships amongst the Federal 

agencies in FY 2020.

The IWG included questions on a FC-STEM data call to learn about agencies’ anticipated use of the IWG’s 

STEM education ecosystem definition, finalized in FY 2019, and agencies’ current use of work-based 

learning (WBL) models. Twelve agencies reported that they plan to use the STEM education ecosystem 

definition in the next 2 years, and 82 FY 2020 WBL programs were reported. The majority of these WBL 

programs support undergraduate and graduate students, but high school, teacher and veterans’ 

programs were also identified.

The IWG also contributed questions to a public RFI led by FC-STEM. Analysis of the responses led to 

important insights around the direction of the IWG’s future work. The responses to questions related to 

STEM education ecosystems highlighted the need for more information on consistent measures, 

structures, and membership. Employers and industry were cited as key partners, emphasizing the 

importance of work-relevant partners. The responses to questions related to work-based learning 

revealed models of and barriers to work-based learning that the IWG had not previously considered, 

especially for high school programs.

 

5 Federal definition for STEM Education Ecosystems: STEM education ecosystems consist of multi-sector partners united by a 

collective vision of supporting participation in STEM through the creation of accessible, inclusive STEM learning 

opportunities spanning all education stages and career pathways. A STEM education ecosystem continuously evaluates its 

activities and adapts as needed, plans for the long-term, and communicates its work to build broad support and advance 

best-practices. (2020 Progress Report on the Implementation of the Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan (archives.gov))
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The IWG enhanced public knowledge of Federal internship opportunities and promoted the formation 

of new partnerships through two public webinars. These webinars were conducted in partnership with 

the NSF INCLUDES National Network, thereby tapping into an existing STEM education ecosystem.

Finally, the IWG defined standards for robust WBL programs and completed an initial assessment of 

models for expanding opportunities across agencies. This included programs that provide WBL in 

Federal contracts and private sector awards. 

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge (Convergence IWG)

Participating Agencies: DOC, DOD, DOE, ED, NASA, NSF, OSTP, and SI

Description: When incorporated into STEM teaching, learning, and assessment, real world STEM

challenges engage students by drawing on knowledge and methods from across disciplines by

promoting initiative and creativity. To encourage transdisciplinary learning, the IWG established a plan

to review existing efforts to: (1) support STEM educators and students through upskilling, resourcing,

and providing a forum to share best practices; (2) support the dissemination of effective

transdisciplinary STEM education practices and programs to attract a more diverse and inclusive

community of participants; and (3) expand support for STEM learners to study transdisciplinary

problems through internships, fellowships, scholarships, and other experiential learning opportunities.

Investment: From the Federal STEM Inventory, 128 programs with a total FY 2020 investment of $2.67 

billion directly or indirectly supported the Convergence Pathway under the Federal STEM Education 

Strategic Plan. These investments are found in CNCS, DHS, DOC, DOD, DOE, DOI, DOT, ED, EPA, HHS, 

NASA, NSF, SI, USDA, and VA.

Actions Taken Toward Implementation:

The Convergence IWG conducted a substantive literature review on convergence education in the K-20 

space towards the development of a convergence education definition. This literature review also 

established a basis of reference for further understanding transdisciplinary (TD) learning in STEM 

education. 

Research suggests that, while much work has been done to promote and advance convergence 

education over the past decade, a distinct and common framework is beneficial to the concept of 

convergence being adopted and universally recognized. Therefore, the Convergence IWG efforts were 

subsequently centered around developing, refining, and promoting a flexible and adaptable “Pathways 

to Convergence” framework that can be leveraged by educators, stakeholders, and federal agencies. 

While still under development, the framework will emphasize the need for input from both Federal 

agencies and external stakeholders and is designed to be iterative and to evolve over time.

The IWG also hosted a series of educator roundtables which helped establish a preliminary 

understanding of “convergence,” “transdisciplinary learning and teaching,” and “integrated STEM,” 

and how they are communicated, leveraged, and understood in various educator spaces. These initial 

conversations with educators across the K-20 spectrum offered a preview of information to be collected 

more broadly in the public RFI. Together, information from the educator roundtables and public RFI 

contributed to the realization of the challenges and feasibility in implementing evidence-based 

convergence education.
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Solicitations for model programs and best practices in TD learning and education from Federal agencies 

brought to light programs that are exemplary. Most Federal agencies indicated that work-based 

experiences are an area where TD programming is most feasible. 

Build Computational Literacy (Computational Literacy IWG)

Participating Agencies: DOC, DOD, ED, NITRD, NSF, OSTP, SI, and USDA

Description: Federal agencies are well-positioned to help Americans of all ages and backgrounds

harness the benefits of digitaltechnology and be critical and ethical participants in the digital economy.

By developing integrated approaches to teaching and learning computational thinking and supporting

new digital technology-based learning environments, agencies can advance mission-critical goals like

promoting cyber safety and encouraging responsible data management. In addition, Federal agencies

are creating internships and job opportunities for students with computational skills. For example,

NOAA hired more than 75 students with strong computational skills through the Pathways program.

Investment: From the Federal STEM Inventory, 119 programs with a total FY 2020 investment of $2.32 

billion directly or indirectly supported the Computational Literacy Pathway under the Federal STEM 

Education Strategic Plan. These investments are found in CNCS, DHS, DOC, DOD, DOE, DOI, DOL, DOT, 

ED, EPA, HHS, NASA, NSF, SI, USDA, and VA.

Actions Taken Toward Implementation:

The Computational Literacy IWG continued to execute towards its objectives that encourage the use of 

a common definition of computational literacy, support dissemination of promising content and 

practices that promote computational literacy and expand digital platform use. The CL IWG utilized the 

FC-STEM Request for Information (RFI) to advance efforts across its core objectives, including four 

questions specific to the CL IWG, for which there were more than 100 respondents. In reviewing the full 

set of responses, there were many other inputs relevant to CL activities. The CL IWG is using the RFI 

responses as input to its Federal agency definition of computational literacy. The definition will help 

provide a means for common metrics and clarity to enable accurate reporting of Federal Agency 

actions.

The IWG also developed strategic objectives for measuring progress, including developing consensus 

among Federal agencies on an operational definition of computational literacy; curating and 

disseminating fundamental and applied research on promising content and practices to promote 

computational literacy and effective uses of digital platforms, tools, and methods for teaching 

computational literacy; and expand research on and support for development of curricula using digital 

tools and universal design principles. 

FC-STEM agencies also worked alongside the country’s education community to promote digital 

literacy and cyber safety. In November 2020, NSF released a call for proposals to its Data Science Corps

program with plans to award up to $12 million dollars. The program promotes data literacy and 

provides training in data science to the existing workforce. NIH is preparing the next generation of 

researchers by incorporating computational skills and the principles of responsible data use into all of 

its programs for undergraduate and graduate students. ED held several webinars that align with the CL 

objectives to include integrating emerging technologies into teaching practice and online and hybrid 

teaching. ED, in collaboration with NSF and the National Security Council, opened nominations for the 

second annual Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award. The DOC National Initiative for 
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Cybersecurity Education Program, led by NIST, included a focus on digital citizenship, digital literacy, 

and CL in its new National Strategic Plan to build the nation’s cybersecurity workforce. Across the 

Department, DoD supported a number of CL related programs and activities for K-12, undergraduate 

and graduate students. DOD continued to collaborate with DHS and others to promote and facilitate 

cyber education for teachers and students of military families. 

Operate with Transparency and Accountability (Transparency and Accountability IWG) 

Participating Agencies: DOC, DOD, DOE, ED, HHS, NASA, NSF, OMB, OSTP, and USDA

Description: Across the Federal STEM education enterprise, agencies are working to: develop and apply 

metrics that assess progress in meaningful ways; identify and scale evidence-based practices; collect 

data on educational programs, such as performance evaluations, program outcomes, and participation 

rates for underrepresented groups; and disseminate information to external stakeholders. The 

complexity of Federal investments in STEM education dictates the multiplicity of approaches that are 

being pursued to implement the Strategic Plan, and it is an essential consideration for the interagency 

development of metrics, operational definitions of terms, and best practices. This complexity requires 

creative and flexible approaches that focus on key points of intersection between programs to help 

establish and enhance returns on these investments. Developing common metrics may also require 

consideration of available resources with the understanding that budgets vary widely across the 

inventory of Federal STEM education programs.

Actions Taken Toward Implementation: 

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 calls on CoSTEM to document “rates of 

participation by women, underrepresented minorities, and persons in rural areas” in its federally 

sponsored STEM education programs and activities. To help agencies with this reporting requirement, 

the Transparency and Accountability Interagency Working Group (T&A IWG) developed a set of 

guidelines for defining “participants” and for designating persons in rural areas. In order to determine 

the feasibility and utility of the recommended participant reporting guidelines, the T&A IWG conducted 

a pilot with a small number of FC-STEM agency investments using a survey instrument. The goals of the 

pilot were to: (1) test and, if necessary, refine guidelines for agency-level decisions regarding 

participation rate reporting; and (2) provide FC-STEM with information on factors that may impede or 

support the adoption of the guidelines. 

Investments across agencies were nominated for inclusion in the pilot and 19 investments across 10

agencies were selected for inclusion in the pilot. The 19 investments were selected to represent a range 

of STEM programs and activities supported by FC-STEM agencies, including small to large budget 

investments, different population targets (e.g., students, teachers, institutions), and different focus 

areas (e.g., training, scholarships, informal learning, K-12, postsecondary). Agency program 

representatives were asked to provide: (1) an overview of the program/activity/investment; (2) 

feedback on proposed participant guidelines; (3) feedback on proposed guidelines for designating 

“persons in rural areas”, and (4) participant data.

Based on the survey responses, the T&A IWG concluded it was not necessary to refine its original 

recommendations or proposed guidelines for participant reporting. Accordingly, some of the T&A IWG 

recommendations continue to be that: participants be classified into specified “participant types” for 

reporting purposes; “rural areas” be defined using OMB’s Core-based Statistical Areas (CBSA); agencies 
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internally collect and organize their geographic data by zip code, or alternatively by county or by street 

address (bearing in mind that agencies using zip code or street address as geographic identifiers will 

need to be able to translate that raw data into county data and the CBSA designation in their data 

systems); and FC-STEM adopt the recommended guidelines for agencies’ use in determining the STEM 

education programs and activities subject to participant reporting.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM (IWG on Inclusion in STEM)

Participating Agencies: DOC, DOD, DOE, DHS, DOI, DOS, DOT, ED, EPA, HHS, NSF, NASA, OSTP, SI, and 

USDA

Description: Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM is one of the Strategic Plan’s three

central goals. When an organization’s workforce is diverse in terms of gender, race, socioeconomic

status, ethnicity, physical ability, geography, etc., and provides an inclusive environment that values

diversity and promotes equitable opportunities, the organization better retains talent and is more

innovative and productive. Increasing equity and inclusion are fundamental prerequisites for making

high-quality STEM education accessible to all Americans and will maximize the creative capacity of

tomorrow’s workforce.

Investment: From the Federal STEM Inventory, 165 programs with a total FY 2020 investment of $3.33

billion directly or indirectly supporting the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Goal under the Federal STEM 

Education Strategic Plan. These investments are found in CNCS, DHS, DOC, DOD, DOE, DOL, DOT, ED, 

EPA, HHS, NASA, NRC, NSF, SI, USDA, and VA.

Actions Taken Toward Implementation:

Efforts toward inclusion in STEM across FC-STEM agencies are coordinated by the IWGIS. For this 

reporting period, IWGIS carried out work in three priority areas. 

First, the IWGIS worked to develop and share a resource for outlining best practices for diversity and 

inclusion across Federal agencies. Following up on work defining best practices, promising practices, 

emerging practices, underserved, and underrepresented, IWGIS completed a literature search for best 

practices in diversity and inclusion and compiled information from an FC-STEM data call highlighting 

successful practices in federal agencies. The committee organized the findings and completed a draft 

of the best practices report by February 2021. 

Second, the IWGIS is charged with working collaboratively with the other IWGs as they work toward 

their goals. IWGIS and TA IWG formed a joint committee to work on a literature review on barriers to 

inclusion in STEM and common metrics for Federal STEM programs. The review on barriers to 

inclusion in STEM is being reviewed and will be an addition to a summary document of best practices 

in inclusion in STEM document. IWGIS and SP IWG are working jointly on internship, fellowship, and 

other work-based learning programs. This joint committee’s ongoing work will support best practices 

that eliminate barriers for inclusion in work-based learning programs, including those in the 

application process and on-site harassment. 

Third, one of the IWG’s overarching goals is to increase the diversity of the Federal STEM workforce. 

Toward that goal, the IWG completed an analysis of the diversity of the current Federal STEM 

workforce using 2019 FedScope data. This will be the baseline for progress measured under this plan. 
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The IWGIS also worked with the Hiring Authorities Tiger Team to propose new hiring authorities that 

target diversity. Recommendations were presented to FC-STEM in fall 2020.

Veterans and Military Spouses in STEM (IWG on Veterans and Military Spouses in STEM)

Participating Agencies: DOD, ED, EPA, NSF,NASA, OSTP, OMB, and VA

Description: Develop and implement a plan to better enable military spouses and veterans to be fully 

engaged in a mobile, highly technical, and malleable STEM workforce designed to advance our Nation’s 

global leadership and economic development by increasing the representation and equity of veterans 

and military spouses in STEM occupations and careers through targeted government programs that 

support access to STEM educational pathways and the development of skillsets portable across 

geographic regions. 

Actions Taken Toward Implementation:

In February 2020, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act was signed, seeking to improve 

representation and equity of veterans and military spouses in STEM fields. The Act directed OSTP to 

develop and facilitate the development and implementation of a strategic plan to support veterans, 

service members, and military spouses in STEM education and careers by establishing an Interagency 

Working Group (IWG) to coordinate efforts across the Federal government. 

The Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act specifies that the strategic plan should: Identify barriers 

veterans face in reentering the workforce; Identify barriers military spouses face in establishing careers 

in STEM fields; Specify short- and long-term objectives; Describe the approaches that each participating 

agency will take; Specify common metrics that will be used by Federal agencies to measure progress 

toward objectives; and Identify barriers requiring Federal or State legislative or regulatory changes.

A multi-agency working group was formed meeting almost monthly to create a new strategic plan. The 

IWG intends for their work to address points of intersection between STEM education and barriers to 

growing the domestic STEM workforce, as well as changing conditions that could positively influence 

the employment of veterans and military spouses. The strategy should aim to identify overarching goals 

and specific actions the Federal government can take to help address barriers that Veterans, 

transitioning service members, and military spouses experience pursuing STEM education and careers, 

and to propose workforce investments that fuel expansion of science and engineering to maintain 

global leadership in research and development. The report should be released in 2021. 
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Efforts Outside of the Interagency Working Groups 

Public Engagement

On August 3, 2020, the Excellence Awards in Science and Engineering (EASE) program honored 107 

recipients with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) 

and 15 recipients with the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering 

Mentoring (PAESMEM). NSF manages the EASE program on behalf of OSTP. The COVID-19 pandemic did 

not allow for a face-to-face recognition event, which limited agency interaction with the awardees. 

Federal science agencies from across government taped short videos congratulating the awardees, 

which were combined to create a video montage of agency representatives speaking to the awardees.

In September 2020, OSTP and NSF, on behalf of CoSTEM, released a public RFI containing 24 questions 

related to the Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan and changes in education systems that have been 

impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred fifteen total responses were submitted and 

included responses from teachers, university faculty and administrators, state governments, and nonprofit organizations, among others. While the individual responses varied, there were several 

overarching themes including: The digital divide became very apparent and important in a post-COVID 

education and that digital divide includes access to Internet, technology, and technological support; 

Student engagement is a huge, unresolved issue (present pre-COVID, exacerbated post-COVID); and 

There is a great deal of concern about how to mitigate these issues. In general, many responses also 

suggested the Federal government:

• Boost STEM literacy initiatives: Increased introductory and applied computational and data 

science training is needed for undergraduate and graduate level students to boost STEM 

literacy.

• Increase funding for STEM Education: Federal investment in STEM Education should support 

funding for apprenticeships and development programs, and should engage State and local 

governments.

• Push to make STEM more inclusive: Focused mentorship, bias training in hiring, and workforce 

cultural changes can improve representation of women and underrepresented racial and ethnic 

groups within the STEM workforce.

• Broaden the definition of STEM: To be inclusive of the behavioral and cognitive sciences.

In addition to individual and non-profit responses from across the United States, several State-level 

education offices submitted official responses to the RFI, including the Virginia STEM Education 

Commission, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the STEM unit of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education division of the Arkansas Department of Education. Among other information, 

states provided a list of future opportunities for improving the quality of STEM education, plans and 

activities for increasing computational literacy, and information on State-level activities in response to 

COVID-19 challenges as well as public private partnerships. The full RFI responses are available online6. 

Outreach and Dissemination Efforts

The COVID-19 Pandemic caused a myriad of challenges for the Nation. The STEM Education and 

Workforce community experienced shifts in the ways in which learning and working occurred in the 

recent year. Federal agencies also shifted - in the ways their STEM programs were offered and in some 

of the ways they engaged with the public. In 2020, nearly all of the Federal government entities shifted 

 

6

 https://www.nsf.gov/ehr/Materials/STEMEDRFIResponses.pdf
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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their in-person programs to the virtual format. While at least ten programs were cancelled or 

postponed, most other programs were adapted for virtual delivery in 12 different ways, including virtual 

field trips, online labs, and virtual internships and mentoring. 

The NOAA Office of Education Higher Education Programs transitioned their internships to a virtual 

format while their facilities were closed due to the pandemic. In particular, scholars from the Ernest F. 

Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship and José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with 

Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholars Program were able to conduct NOAA-mission 

research, network, and learn new skills while remaining safe. The 10-week summer program, originally 

planned as an in-person engagement, continued with 180 employees serving as mentors and research 

leads for the students. 

The shift to virtual formats provided opportunities for Federal agencies to use virtual resources to reach 

a greater number of program participants with the removal of constraints such as room size and travel 

cost. Without access to the National Zoo, the Smithsonian Institute offered a webinar series, the Wild 

Side of STEAM, in 2020. The webinars are open to individuals and groups of all sizes which allows the 

Zoo to increase the scale of their engagement. 

In addition to adapting their programs, agencies employed a variety of strategies to disseminate 

resources, programmatic updates, and communicate with the public. Common strategies included 

creating online downloadable materials, e.g. labs, and lesson plans, posting videos for online STEM 

teaching and learning, enabling students to deliver poster and oral presentations online, and 

information about STEM careers and educational pathways.

The use of websites was common to reach participants. The Department of Defense experienced a 97% 

increase in users, a 65% increase in page views and a 108% increase in the number of sessions for their 

DoD STEM website (dodstem.us). The site is an online environment that provides visitors with 

information about DoD career and educational opportunities, resources for teachers, and DIY activities 

for adults and children. The site includes information and resources about topics ranging from health 

and medicine (e.g. DNS), science (e.g. electromagnetic waves), and technology (e.g. robotics).

The Environmental Protection Agency Community Engagement Program, Research Triangle Park (RTP) 

Speakers Bureau provides a way for more than 200 EPA RTP employees to communicate EPA science to 

the public including over 2,100 K-12 students and educators on the EPA’s RTP campus as well as at local 

school, community, and national events. The shift to virtual engagements provided the EPA experts 

across the country an opportunity to continue participating in educational programming independent 

of location. 

The NASA Kids Club website received over half-million page views in mid-March 2020 eventually 

experiencing a 316% increase compared to the prior month. As the pandemic continued, page views 

for FY2020 Q3 and Q4 experienced a 57% increase from their viewership in FY2019. By June 2020, nearly 

300 media outlets had highlighted NASA STEM resources that were created and disseminated online. 

The increased attention yielded increased page views. For example, the NASA Science Mission 

Directorate’s (SMD) “Get Involved” page experienced a 770% increase in page views, the NASA Citizen 

Science site experienced a 358% increase in page views, and SMD awardee WGBH experienced a 700% 

increase in downloadable materials. In total, 193 new products were added during FY2020 Q3 and Q4. 
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Public-Private Partnerships 

Partnerships between public and private entities provide opportunities to invest in and support STEM 

education programs and initiatives. Leveraging the best that each partner contributes allows for STEM 

education and workforce projects to be effective in supporting the Nation’s current and future 

workforce. Federal agencies engage in individual partnerships that enable non-Federal resources to 

augment federal investments. Across the Federal government, agencies engaged in partnerships with 

entities most often with academic sector as well as those in the private sector, State or local 

governments, non-profit organizations and other Federal agencies. 

In FY2020, nine agencies established new partnerships including DoD, DoT, EPA, NASA, ED, USPTO, NIH, 

VA, and SI. In support of on-going efforts, agencies including, DOD, DoT, EPA, NASA, NOAA, NSF, SI, and 

USPTO also renewed or expanded exiting partnerships in FY2020. To document the partnerships, a 

variety of mechanisms was used with MOU/MOAs, Grants, and Informal Agreements most commonly 

utilized. 

The Department of Defense established the OnRamp II program in FY2020 using an educational 

partnership agreement with four institutions, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, 

University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Texas- San Antonio, and the Collaboration for 

Advancing Minority Participation in Security which includes Texas Agricultural & Mechanical University, 

Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University, Texas Agricultural & Mechanical State UniversityCorpus Christi, Texas Agricultural & Mechanical State University-San Antonio, and West Texas 

Agricultural & Mechanical State University. This partnership promotes the technical health of a diverse 

STEM pipeline for NSA and offers scholarships to students in return for internships, service with the NSA, 

and mission-focused research opportunities. 

The Rural Tech Project, a $600,000 challenge to advance technology education in rural high schools was 

started in FY2020. Recognizing that today’s high school students need advanced technology skills and 

that one-third of American schools are in rural areas, the Department of Education has established this 

challenge and will provide rural schools with opportunities to design programs based on what they 

know will work best for their students. Four finalist teams are in phase 2 of the project when they plan, 

execute, revise, and report on their programs. The project is expected to conclude in fall 2023.

In partnership with a private-sector organization, Dreams Soar, the Federal Aviation Administration 

(Department of Transportation), created a female Aviation STEM Ambassador for the FAA. The 

ambassador will be a role model for young women and girls who want to pursue aviation and STEM 

careers. The partnership allows the FAA to leverage Dreams Soar’s platform and deliver resources of 

female empowerments through aviation at a scale beyond what the FAA could do on its own. 

To improve the employment opportunities for Veterans, the VA established the VET TEC Employer 

Consortium in FY2020. The goal of the consortium is to accelerate the hiring of VET TEC students who 

complete a tech-focused program of study. The Consortium connects students to employers with 

hiring opportunities and offers career resources to assist them with their vocational goals signed 12 

memoranda of agreements with industry employers.

In 2020, NASA established a partnership with Discovery Education to expand digital access to STEM 

resources and opportunities. Collaborative programming included interactions with NASA scientists 

and engineers and development of playlists that leverage high-profile missions to teach classroom 

topics. 
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Agencies used agreement mechanisms including, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), cooperative 

agreements, grants, gifts, inter-agency agreements, contracts, informal agreements, and educational 

partnerships.

STEM Education Advisory Panel

The role of the STEM Education Advisory Panel is to provide advice and recommendations to CoSTEM,

assess CoSTEM’s progress in carrying out responsibilities related to the America COMPETES 

Reauthorization Act, and help identify need or opportunity to update the Federal STEM Education 

Strategic Plan. Members met in December 2020 to assess CoSTEM’s progress in fulfilling the Strategic 

Plan. At the December 2020 meeting, after receiving updates from FC-STEM and IWG representatives, 

panel members discussed whether there was evidence of action in meeting the COMPETES Act 

requirements and if there was evidence of action towards the pathways and objectives of the Strategic 

Plan. Members of the public can find more information about the meeting and its minutes on the panel 

website7. 

Closing Summary

STEM priorities as detailed in the 2018 Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan were released following 

a White House State-Federal STEM Education Summit held earlier in the year.8 The central objective of 

the strategic plan is to ensure lifelong access to high-quality STEM education for all Americans and to 

position the U.S. as the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment. To achieve this 

objective, the strategy identifies three overarching goals: build strong foundations for STEM literacy; 

increase diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM; and prepare the STEM workforce for the future. 

Supporting these goals are four pathways: develop and enrich strategic partnerships; engage students 

where disciplines converge; build computational literacy; and operate with transparency and 

accountability. These pathways are further supported by 3-5 objectives for improving STEM education 

and assessing this improvement. Progress reports released in 20199 and 202010 summarize efforts made 

to achieve the strategic objective, including an inventory of Federal programs, their budgets and their 

alignment with the goals and pathways. This annual progress report captures activities up until 

February 2021 with the exception of the information in the Appendix. Information collected after 

February 2021 was necessary to ensure the report fulfills American COMPETES Reauthorization Act11

requirements. As such, the appendix also begins to reflect the priorities of a new Administration. 

 

7 https://nsf.gov/ehr/STEMEdAdvisory.jsp

8https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Summary-of-the-2018-White-House-State-FederalSTEM-Education-Summit.pdf

9https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Progress-Report-on-the-Federal Implementation-ofthe-STEM-Education-Strategic-Plan.pdf

10https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Progress-Report-Federal- Implementation-STEMEducation-Strategic-Plan-Dec-2020.pdf

11 PUBL358.PS (congress.gov)
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Appendix 1. Agency STEM Education Implementation Actions Alignment toPathways

and Objectives (Version: 12.04.2018)

GOALS FOR AMERICAN STEM EDUCATION

*

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy *

*

Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM *

*

Prepare the STEM Workforce forthe Future *

Pathways Objectives

DOC

DOD

DOE

DOI

DOL

DOSDOT

ED

EPA

HHS

NASA

NSF

SI

USDA

Develop and

Enrich

Strategic

Partnerships

Foster STEM Ecosystems that

Unite Communities

            

Increase Work-Based

Learning and Training

through Educator-Employer

Partnerships

            

Blend Successful Practices

from Across the Learning

Landscape

        

Engage

Students

where

Disciplines

Converge

Advance Innovation and

Entrepreneurship Education

         

Make Mathematics a Magnet      

Encourage Transdisciplinary

Learning

           

Build

Computational

Literacy

Promote Digital Literacy and

Cyber Safety       

Make Computational

Thinking an Integral Element

of All Education

        

Expand Digital Platforms for

Teaching and Learning

      

Operate with

Transparency

and

Accountability

Leverage and Scale EvidenceBased Practices Across STEM

Communities

Report Participation Rates of

Underrepresented Groups

Use Common Metrics to

Measure Progress

Make Program Performance

and Outcomes Publicly

Available

Develop a Federal

Implementation Plan and

Track Progress
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Appendix 2. Definition of a STEM Education Investment (Version: 03.06.2019) 

STEM: For the purposes of this inventory, STEM includes physical and natural sciences, technology, 

engineering, mathematics, and computer science disciplines, topics, or issues (including 

environmental science, environmental stewardship, and cybersecurity). We recognize that various 

different and usually broader definitions are used for “STEM.” This relatively narrow definition has 

been chosen to constrain the focus of the inventory to specific areas that have similar educational 

contexts, issues, and challenges, in order to maximize the inventory’s usefulness in characterizing and 

improving the effectiveness of the Federal spending intended to address this particular set of 

educational contexts, issues, and challenges. 

Investment (the unit of analysis in the detailed survey): A funded STEM education activity that has 

a dedicated budget of more than $300,000 in FY 2018 and staff to manage the budget. This budget 

may be part of a budget for a larger program. Federal salaries and expenses and activities that are 

one-time or irregular expenditure of overhead funds are excluded. 

STEM Education: Formal or informal (in school or out) education that is primarily focused on STEM 

disciplines, topics, or issues, as defined above. All the investments included in this STEM education 

inventory have one of the following as a primary objective: 

• Learning: Develop STEM skills, practices, or knowledge of students or the public. 

• Engagement: Increase learners’ interest in STEM, their perception of its value to their lives, and/or 

their ability to participate in STEM. 

• Pre- and In-Service Educator/Education Leader Performance: Train or retain STEM educators (K12 pre-service or in-service, postsecondary, and informal) and education leaders to improve their 

content knowledge and pedagogical skills. 

• Postsecondary STEM Degrees: Increase the number of students who enroll in STEM majors, 

complete STEM credentials or degree programs, or are prepared to enter STEM careers or advanced 

education. 

• STEM Careers: Prepare people to enter into or advance in the STEM workforce with training or 

certification (where STEM discipline specific knowledge and skill are the primary focus of the 

education investment). 

• STEM System Reform: Improve STEM education through a focus on education system reform. 

• Institutional Capacity: Support advancement and development of STEM personnel, programs, and 

infrastructure in educational institutions such as universities, informal education institutions, state 

education agencies, and local education agencies. 

• Education Research and Development: Develop evidence-based STEM education models and 

practices. 

For the purposes of this inventory, activities that have the following primary objectives are not 

considered to be a STEM education investment: 

• Providing post-doctoral research fellowships/scholarships. 

• Focusing on subjects other than STEM subjects or including STEM subjects as one of many possible 

focal subjects (more than two other non-STEM areas).* 

• Focusing on broad education system reform that encompasses far more than STEM education. 

• Supporting one-time or ad hoc STEM education investments. 
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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• Engaging in volunteer activities by Federal employees (e.g. judging STEM competitions, visiting 

classrooms). 

• Providing outreach for education (raising awareness of education programs) or communication 

about an agency and its activities. 

• Distributing STEM education products that are no longer part of a funded education investment. 

• Supporting knowledge, interest, or skills not specific to STEM disciplines. 

* The Department of Education is excluded from this provision, in order to include the Department of 

Education’s contributions to the federal STEM education portfolio that are funded via investments 

that may support education in STEM and non-STEM subject areas.
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Appendix 3. Agency STEM Education Investments (FY2020) Alignment to Goals and

Pathways

The information in the table below shares how each individual agency’s investment aligns with the 

goals and pathways identified in the Strategic Plan. This information was collected by FC-STEM. FCSTEM agencies were asked how investments aligned to the Federal STEM Education Strategic Plan goals 

and pathways. A “D” indicates that the major outcome of the STEM investment contributes directly to, 

or progress towards the attainment of the goal or pathway. An “I” indicates that the major outcome of 

the STEM investment contributes indirectly to the attainment of the goal or pathway, or the investment 

outcome supports the goal or pathway or progress towards the goal, but is not a stated goal or objective 

of the investment. A blank indicates that the anticipated outcomes of the investment are unlikely to 

contribute, directly or indirectly, to achieve the goal or pathway.

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

CNCS/

AmeriCo

rps

CNCS STEM Programs D D D I D D

DOC EDA STEM Talent Challenge D D D D I D

DOC NIST

STEM Pipeline for the Next 

Generation Scientists and 

Engineers 

D D D D D I

DOC NIST Summer Middle School 

Institute D I D D D D

DOC NIST

Summer Undergraduate 

Research Fellowship 

(SURF) Program

D D D

DOC NOAA Bay Watershed Education 

and Training (B-WET) D I I D D

DOC NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster 

Scholarship Program I I I I

DOC NOAA Ernest F. Hollings 

Scholarship Program I I D I

DOC NOAA

Jose E. Serrano 

Educational Partnership 

Program with Minority 

Serving Institutions

I D D D D

DOC NOAA NOAA Environmental 

Literacy Program (ELP) D I I I D I

DOC NOAA Margaret A. Davidson 

Graduate Fellowship I I D D D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

DOC NOAA NOAA Teacher at Sea 

Program I I I I I

DOC NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration 

Education Programs D D D D I I

DOC NOAA Sea Grant D I D I D

DOD AFRL Air Force STEM/Legacy 

Program D I D I I I

DOD DTRA Joint Science and 

Technology Institute (JSTI) D I I I I I

DOD MDA

MDA - Inspiring Generations 

with New Ideas to 

Transform Education 

(IGNITE)

I D I D D D

DOD NSA Centers of Academic 

Excellence D I D D D D

DOD NSA GenCyber Program D D D D D D

DOD NSA NSA Cyber Exercise D I D I I I

DOD ODASA

(R&T)

Army Educational Outreach 

Program (AEOP) D D D D D D 

DOD ONR

Navy - Science and 

Engineering Apprenticeship 

Program (SEAP) 

I I I I I

DOD ONR

The Naval Research 

Enterprise Intern Program 

(NREIP) 

I I I I I

DOD OUSD

(R&E) 

National Defense 

Education Program (NDEP) 

STEM Education and 

Outreach

D D D D I I

DOD OUSD

(R&E) 

National Defense 

Education Program (NDEP) 

Science, Mathematics And 

Research for 

Transformation (SMART) 

I D D D I I

DOD OUSD

(R&E) 

National Defense Science 

and Engineering Graduate 

(NDSEG) Fellowship 

Program 

I I D I I I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

DOD P&R, 

M&RA DoD STARBASE Program D D D D D D

DOE ED

Minority Educational 

Institution Student 

Partnership Program

I D D D

DOE EERE Advanced Manufacturing 

Consortia I D D D

DOE EERE Advanced Vehicle 

Competitions D I D D D I

DOE EERE Algae Technology 

Educational Consortium D I I I D I

DOE EERE Buildings Workforce 

Development Activities D D D D I I

DOE EERE Collegiate Wind 

Competition D D D D D D

DOE EERE FEMP Online Training 

Program D I D I I D

DOE EERE

Frontier Observatory for 

Research in Geothermal 

Energy (FORGE) 

D I D D

DOE EERE Graduate Student 

Fellowships D D D I D I

DOE EERE H2 & FC STEM and 

Workforce Training I I I I I I

DOE EERE Industrial Assessment 

Centers D I D D I D

DOE EERE Land Grant University 

Graduate Education FOA D I D I D I

DOE EERE Manufacturing 

Demonstration Facility I I I D I D

DOE EERE Marine Energy Collegiate 

Competition D D D D D I

DOE EERE Solar Decathlon I D D D I D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

DOE EERE

Water Power 

STEM/Workforce (e.g. 

Incubators) 

D D D D I

DOE EERE Wide Bandgap Power 

Electronics Traineeship D I D D D

DOE EERE Wind for Schools D D D D I D

DOE EERE Workforce FOA I D D D I D

DOE EM

Minority Serving Institution 

Partnership Program 

(MSIPP) 

D D D D I I

DOE FE

Special Recruitment 

Programs/Mickey Leland 

Fellowship 

I D D D I

DOE NE Integrated University 

Program I D I I

DOE NNSA

Minority Serving Institution 

Partnership Program 

(MSIPP) 

I D D D D I

DOE NNSA

Stewardship Science 

Academic Alliances (SSAA) 

Grants and Cooperative 

Agreements 

I I D D D I

DOE SC Community College 

Internship I D D I D I

DOE SC National Science Bowl D I I I D I

DOE SC Nuclear Chemistry Summer 

School (NCSS) I I D D D

DOE SC Office of Science Graduate 

Student Research Program I I D I D I

DOE SC Science Undergraduate 

Laboratory Internships I I D I D I

DOE SC U.S. Particle Accelerator 

Training I I D D D I

DOE SC Visiting Faculty Program I D D I D I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 21 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

DOE SC/ASCR 

and NNSA 

Computational Science 

Graduate Fellowship 

(CSGF)

I I D D D I

DOI USGS EdMap D D I I

DOL ETA H-1B Skills Training Grants I I I I I

DOT FAA Air Transportation Centers 

of Excellence D D D D D D

DOT FHWA

Dwight David Eisenhower 

Transportation Fellowship 

Program

D D D D D D

DOT FHWA

National Summer 

Transportation Institute 

Program

D D D D D D

DOT FHWA

Summer Transportation 

Institute Program for 

Diverse Groups

D D D D D D

DOT OAS(R&T) University Transportation 

Centers Program D D D D D D

ED FSA Teacher Loan Forgiveness I I

ED IES Research Education 

Laboratories (REL) I I I I I I

ED IES Research in Special 

Education (RiSE) I I I I I I

ED IES Research, Development, 

and Dissemination (RDD) I I I I I I

ED OESE 21st Century Community 

Learning Centers D D D D D D

ED OESE 

Investing in Innovation 

(now called Education 

Innovation and Research 

(EIR) 

I I I I I I

ED OPE 

Developing Hispanic 

Serving Institutions STEM 

and articulation programs 

D D D I I I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 22 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

ED OPE 

Graduate Assistance in 

Areas of National Need 

(GAANN) 

I I D I I I

ED OPE 

Minority Science and 

Engineering Improvement 

Program 

D D D I I I

ED OPE 

Strengthening 

Predominantly Black 

Institutions 

I I I I I I

ED OPE Upward Bound Math and 

Science Program I I I I I I

EPA ORD P3 - People, Prosperity & 

the Planet D D D D D D

HHS NIH

Aging Research 

Dissertation Awards to 

Increase Diversity 

D D

HHS NIH

Blueprint Program for 

Enhancing Neuroscience 

Diversity through 

Undergraduate Research 

Education Experiences 

D D D

HHS NIH Bridges to the 

Baccalaureate Program D D

HHS NIH Bridges to the Doctorate D D

HHS NIH Cancer Education Grants 

Program I D

HHS NIH Center for Cancer Research 

Cancer Interns D D

HHS NIH

Center for Cancer Research 

Cancer/ John Hopkins 

University Master of 

Science in Biotechnology 

Concentration in Molecular 

Targets and Drug Discovery 

Technologies

D D I I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 23 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

HHS NIH

Courses for Skills 

Development in Biomedical 

Big Data Science 

I I D I D

HHS NIH

Diversity Research 

Education Grants in 

Neuroscience 

D D D

HHS NIH Drug Abuse Dissertation 

Research D D

HHS NIH Graduate Program 

Partnerships D I

HHS NIH

Initiative for Maximizing 

Research Education in 

Genomics; Diversity Action 

Plan 

D D

HHS NIH Initiative for Maximizing 

Student Development D D

HHS NIH MARC U-STAR NRSA 

Program D D

HHS NIH Medical Research Scholars 

Program I I D I

HHS NIH

National Institute of 

Diabetes and Digestive and 

Kidney Diseases Research, 

Education Program Grants 

for Summer Research 

Experiences (R25) 

I D

HHS NIH

National Institute on Aging 

Medicine, Science, 

Technology, Engineering 

and Mathematics: 

Advancing Diversity in 

Aging Research (ADAR) 

through Undergraduate 

Education 

D D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 24 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build

comput

ational 

literacy

HHS NIH

National Library of 

Medicine Institutional 

Training Grants for 

Research Training in 

Biomedical Informatics and 

Data Science 

D D D

HHS NIH

NCI Predoctoral to 

Postdoctoral Fellow 

Transition Award (F99 

Portion Only) 

I D I

HHS NIH

NCI Youth Enjoy Science 

(YES) Research Education 

Grant (R25) 

I D D I D D

HHS NIH

NIH Big Data to Knowledge 

(BD2K) Enhancing Diversity 

in Biomedical Data Science 

D D D

HHS NIH

NIH Building Infrastructure 

Leading to Diversity 

(BUILD) Initiative (RL5 

portion only) 

D D

HHS NIH

NIH Building Infrastructure 

Leading to Diversity 

(BUILD) Initiative (TL4 

portion only) 

D D

HHS NIH

NIMHD Minority Health and 

Health Disparities 

International Research 

Training (T37) 

D

HHS NIH

Post-baccalaureate 

Intramural Research 

Training Award Program 

I I D

HHS NIH

Postbaccalaureate 

Research Education 

Program (PREP) 

D D

HHS NIH

Research Supplements to 

Promote Diversity in 

Health-Related Research 

D D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 25 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

HHS NIH

Ruth L. Kirschstein National 

Research Service Award 

Institutional Research 

Training Grants (T32, T35) I D I

HHS NIH

Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA 

for Individual Predoctoral 

Fellows, including 

Underrepresented 

Racial/Ethnic Groups, 

Students from 

Disadvantaged 

Backgrounds, and 

Predoctoral Students with 

Disabilities 

D D

HHS NIH Science Education 

Partnership Award D D D D D D

HHS NIH

Short Courses in 

Population Research 

(Education Programs for 

Population Research R25) 

I I I I I

HHS NIH

Short-Term Research 

Education Program to 

Increase Diversity in 

Health-Related Research 

D D D I

HHS NIH

Short-Term Research 

Experience for 

Underrepresented Persons 

(STEP-UP; R25) 

D D D I I I

HHS NIH

Student Intramural 

Research Training Award 

Program 

I I D

HHS NIH Summer Institute for 

Training in Biostatistics D I D I I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 26 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

HHS NIH

Team-Based Design in 

Biomedical Engineering 

Education 

I D D D

HHS NIH

Training in Computational 

Neuroscience: From 

Biology to Model and Back 

Again (R90 portion only) 

I D D

HHS NIH

Undergraduate Research 

Education Program (UP) to 

Enhance Diversity in 

Environmental Health 

Sciences 

I D D I I I

HHS NIH

Undergraduate Scholarship 

Program for Individuals 

from Disadvantaged 

Backgrounds 

I I D

HHS NIH Werner H Kirsten Student 

Internship Program I D I D D

NASA OSTEM

Minority University 

Research and Education 

Project (MUREP)

I D D I D

NASA OSTEM

National Space Grant 

College and Fellowship 

Project (Space Grant)

D I D D D

NASA OSTEM Next Gen STEM I I D D I I

NASA SMD GLOBE D I D D I I

NASA SMD Science Activation I I I D D I

NRC RES Integrated University 

Program

I I

NSF CISE/IIS

Harnessing the Data 

Revolution (HDR): Data 

Science Corps (DSC)

D D D I D D

NSF CISE/OAC

Training-based Workforce 

Development for Advanced 

Cyberinfrastructure 

(Cybertraining)

D I D D D D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 27 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

NSF EHR Advancing Informal STEM 

Learning (AISL) I D I D I

NSF EHR 

Alliances for Graduate 

Education and the 

Professoriate (AGEP) 

D D D I

NSF EHR Computer Science for All 

(CSforAll) I D D D I

NSF EHR Cybercorps: Scholarship for 

Service (SFS) I D D D D D

NSF EHR Discovery Research PreK-12 

(DR-K12) I D D I D D

NSF EHR EHR Core Research (ECR) D D D I I I

NSF EHR 

Excellence Awards in 

Science and Engineering 

(EASE) 

I I D I I I

NSF EHR Graduate Research 

Fellowship Program (GRFP) D D D D

NSF EHR Hispanic-Serving 

Institutions (HSI) D D D D I I

NSF EHR 

Historically Black Colleges 

and Universities 

Undergraduate Program 

(HBCU-UP) 

I D D I I I

NSF EHR Improving Undergraduate 

STEM Education (IUSE) D D D I D I

NSF EHR 

Innovative Technology 

Experiences for Students 

and Teachers (ITEST) 

I D D D D D

NSF EHR 

Louis Stokes Alliances for 

Minority Participation 

(LSAMP)

D D D D I I

NSF EHR 

NSF Inclusion across the 

Nation of Communities of 

Learners of 

Underrepresented 

Discoverers in Engineering 

and Science (NSF 

INCLUDES) 

D D D I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 28 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

NSF EHR 

NSF Scholarships in 

Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and 

Mathematics (S-STEM) 

D D D I I D

NSF EHR Robert Noyce Scholarship 

(Noyce) Program D D D I D D

NSF EHR 

Tribal Colleges and 

Universities Program 

(TCUP) 

I D D I D I

NSF ENG

Emerging Frontiers in 

Research and Innovation 

(EFRI) Research Experience 

and Mentoring (REM) 

D D D I D D

NSF ENG/EEC

Research Experiences for 

Teachers (RET) in 

Engineering and Computer

Science

D D D I I D

NSF IES

International Research 

Experiences for Students 

(IRES) 

I D D I I I

SI OUS(ED) STEM Informal and Formal 

Education and Instruction D D D D D D

USDA NIFA 1890 Facilities Grant 

Program D D D D D I

USDA

1890 Institutions Capacity 

Building Grants Program: 

Extension 

I I I I I I

USDA

1890 Institutions Capacity 

Building Grants Program: 

Teaching 

D D D D D I

USDA OPPE 1890 Scholarships Program D D D D D D

USDA NIFA 4-H Science, 4-H Youth 

Development Program D D I I D I

USDA Agriculture in the 

Classroom D D D D D I
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 29 –

Agency SubAgency/

Office

Program Name Goal: 

Build 

strong 

foundat

ions for 

STEM 

literacy

Goal: 

Increase 

diversity, 

equity 

and 

inclusion 

in STEM

Goal: 

Prepare 

the 

STEM 

workforce 

for the 

future

Pathway: 

Develop 

and 

enrich 

strategic

partner

ships

Pathway: 

Engage 

students 

where 

disciplines 

converge

Pathway: 

Build 

comput

ational 

literacy

USDA

Hispanic serving 

Institutions Education 

Grants Program 

D D D D D I

USDA Insular Programs D D D D D I

USDA

Multicultural Scholars, 

Graduate Fellowship and 

Institution Challenge 

Grants 

D D D D D I

USDA NIFA Fellowship Grants 

Program D D D D D I

USDA

Secondary Postsecondary 

Agriculture Education 

Challenge Grants (SPECA) 

D D D D D I

USDA

Women and Minorities in 

Science, Technology, 

Engineering and 

Mathematics Fields 

Program (WAMS) 

D D D D D I

VA VBA Edith Nourse Rogers STEM 

Scholarship I D I I I

VA

Veteran Employment 

Through Technology 

Education Courses (VET 

TEC)

I D D I D
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 30 –

Appendix 4. Profile of FY2020 STEM Education Investments

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 called for the creation of a National Science and 

Technology Council (NSTC) Committee to inventory Federal STEM education programs and create a 

five-year STEM education strategic plan. The NSTC Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) was 

created ten years ago in 2011 to carry out these tasks. Agencies have different definitions of “programs,” 

“projects,” and “activities.” However, the development of the definition of a STEM education 

“investment” was to help provide a common unit of analysis (See Appendix 2). Below, from over 170

agency investments, the report reflects the FY2020 STEM Education Profile based off of this year’s data 

collection. 

The data request asked agencies to identify their investments’ primary objective(s). The eight 

objectives can be found in Appendix 2. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Federal STEM education investments 

reported learning (developing STEM skills, practices, or knowledge of students or the public) as one of 

their primary objectives. Fifty-one, fifty, and forty-nine percent of Federal investments reported STEM 

career training, engagement, and postsecondary STEM degree as one of their primary objectives,

respectively. Less than thirteen percent of investments reported improving pre- and in-Service 

Educator/Education Leader Performance as a primary objective. Less than four percent of investments 

listed STEM system reform as a primary objective. Less than fifteen percent had education research and 

development as one of their primary objectives.

STEM education investments tend to cover a range of fields – either covering a range of STEM 

disciplinary/transdisciplinary areas or covering multiple areas of STEM as seen in Figure 1. STEM 

education initiatives were often designed for many different audiences and often addressed the needs 

of multiple audiences. The data collection reflects that the most frequently served audience in FY2020 

Federal STEM Education investments were postsecondary learners as seen in Figure 2. 

Federal science agencies reported information on over 170 ongoing STEM education investments. Of 

the investments that ask participants to self-report on some form of demographic information

(race/ethnicity, gender, locality/rural status, disability, etc.), forty-one investments were able to share 

a portion of this data. Of these, twenty-one of the investments collected self-reported data on 

race/ethnicity, twenty-one investments on gender, and six on participant rural or urban status. Of the 

investments that did not report collecting demographic data, 18 plan to do so in the future. 

Agencies also shared how they assess the impact oftheir STEM education investments. Mechanisms for 

data collection varied greatly across investments. These included annual program assessments, focus

groups, pre- and post-surveys, interviews, artifacts, expert input, portfolio analysis, longitudinal 

tracking and assessment, data analysis, qualitative analysis, research studies, participantlistening

sessions, third party evaluations, etc. While investments often conduct annual or ongoing periodic 

forms of assessment, formal/external evaluations did not occur at the same cadence. At least fifty 

investments have had some form of formal/external evaluation and twenty-eight had evaluations in 

progress at the time of the data request. Recently released public reports include: NASA Science 
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 31 –

Activation Program12, NSF INCLUDES Special Report to the Nation II 13, DoD ARMY Educational Outreach 

Program14, and USGS EDMAP Program15.

Based on a comparison the FY2020 STEM education investments, agencies and their investments 

focused on different primary objectives, audiences, and STEM fields, and did not appear to be 

duplicative.

 

12 https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25569/nasas-science-activation-program-achievements-and-opportunities

13 https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20099/nsf20099.pdf

14https://www.usaeop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Part-1-FY19-AEOP-Summative-Report-Executive-Summary-Dec2020.pdf

15 https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20193059
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 32 –

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

No specific disciplines or areas; general ED

Astronomy

Agricultural sciences

Bioeconomy

Quantum science/Quantum information Science

Advanced Manufacturing

Artificial Intelligence

Material science

Cybersecurity

Information Technology

No specific disciplines or areas; general STEM

Social sciences

Physics

Chemistry

Climate science

Mathematical sciences

Earth, atmospheric, and ocean science

Technology

Data Science

Computer science

Skilled Technical Workforce

Engineering

Biological/Biomedical sciences

Number of Investments Reported

Figure 1. FY2020 Federal Investments by 

Disciplinary/Transdisiplinary Area

CNCS DHS DOC DOD DOE DOI DOL DOT ED

EPA HHS NASA NRC NSF SI USDA VA
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 33 –

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Principals, leaders, administrators of PreK-12 schools

Other (please specify)

Education researchers

Informal STEM educators

Leaders, administrators, program developers for organizations

that provide informal STEM learning opportunities

Two-year college/community college mentors

Informal STEM learners

PreK-12 learners

Deans, leaders, administrators of postsecondary institutions

Two-year college/community college instructors

K-12 classroom teachers (including pre-service and in-service

teachers)

Four-year college/university mentors

Two-year college/community college learners

Four-year college/university instructors

Four-year college/university but NOT post-doctoral learners

(e.g., undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate

learners)

Number of Investments Reported

Figure 2. FY2020 Federal Investments by Audience 

Served

CNCS DHS DOC DOD DOE DOI DOL DOT ED EPA HHS NASA NRC NSF SI USDA VA
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 34 –

Appendix 5. FY 2021-Enacted Inventory of STEM Education Investments

Below is a list of STEM education investments and funding levels provided by OMB’s 2021 data call on 

Federal STEM education programs. Programs were included if they had any funding in FY 2020 or FY 

2021.

Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

CNCS AmeriCorps NCCC 0.2 0.2 0.2

CNCS AmeriCorps State & 

National (Competitive) 66.7 66.7 66.7

CNCS AmeriCorps State 

(Formula) 18.7 18.7 18.7

CNCS AmeriCorps VISTA 3.6 3.6 3.6

DHS CWMD National Nuclear 

Forensics Expertise 

Development Program

2.6 2.6 3.5

DHS S&T Educational Programs -

Minority Serving 

Institutions

3.4 5.2 5.2

DOC EDA STEM Apprenticeship 

Pilot Program 0 4 10

DOC NIST NIST Summer Institute 

for MIddle School 

Teachers

0.1 0.3 0.3

DOC NIST STEM Pipeline for the 

Next Generation 

Scientists and 

Engineers.

0.9 1 1

DOC NIST Summer Undergraduate 

Research Fellowship 

(SURF)

0.1 0.8 0.8

DOC NOAA Competitive Education 

Grants (including 

Environmental Literacy 

Grants)

2.8 2.7 5

DOC NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster 

Scholarship Program 0.6 0.6 0.9

DOC NOAA Educational Partnership 

Program with Minority 

Serving Institutions

17.2 20 23

DOC NOAA Ernest F. Hollings 

Undergraduate 

Scholarship Program

5.4 5.4 7

DOC NOAA Margaret A. Davidson 

Graduate Research 

Fellowship

1.6 1.7 1.8
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 35 –

Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

DOC NOAA National Sea Grant 

College Program 1.3 1.5 1.7

DOC NOAA NOAA Bay Watershed 

Education and Training 

(B-WET)

7.8 7.8 7.8

DOC NOAA NOAA Teacher at Sea 

Program 0.6 0.6 0.6

DOC NOAA Office of Ocean 

Exploration Education 

Programs

1.3 0.8 0.5

DOD AFRL Air Force STEM 4.6 4.6 4.7

DOD DTRA Joint Science and 

Technology Institute 0 0.5 0

DOD MDA MDA - Inspiring 

Generations with New 

Ideas to Transform 

Education (IGNITE)

0.5 0.6 0.6

DOD ODASA(R&T) Army Educational 

Outreach Program 

(AEOP)

10.2 10.3 10.6

DOD ONR Navy - Science and 

Engineering 

Apprenticeship 

Program (SEAP)

0.1 0.6 0

DOD ONR The Naval Research 

Enterprise Intern 

Program (NREIP)

2.1 4.3 0

DOD OUSD(R&E) National Defense 

Education Program 

(NDEP) K-12 component

46.6 60.1 23.3

DOD OUSD(R&E) National Defense 

Education Program 

(NDEP) Military Child 

STEM Educational 

Programs

11.5 0 0

DOD OUSD(R&E) National Defense 

Education Program 

(NDEP) Science, 

Mathematics And 

Research for 

Transformation 

(SMART)

71 77 88.8
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 36 –

Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

DOD OUSD(R&E) National Defense 

Science and 

Engineering Graduate 

(NDSEG) Fellowship 

Program

45 45 45

DOD P&R, M&RA DoD STARBASE 

Program1 35 41.2 0

DOE CESER CyberForce 

Competition 0.6 1.6 1.6

DOE ED Minority Educational 

Institution Student 

Partnership Program

0.7 1.5 1

DOE EERE Advanced Vehicle 

Competitions 3 2.5 2.5

DOE EERE Algae Technology 

Education Consortium 0 0.8 1.2

DOE EERE Collegiate Wind 

Competition 0 0.9 1.2

DOE EERE Geothermal Energy 

STEM Activities 0 4.5 3

DOE EERE Industrial Assessment 

Centers 12 12.5 12.5

DOE EERE Jump into STEM 0 1 1

DOE EERE Solar Decathlon 2 2 2.5

DOE EERE Solar District Cup 0 0.7 0.4

DOE EERE Water Power STEM 

Activities 0 2 3.2

DOE EERE Wind for Schools 1 1 0

DOE EM HBCU Mathematics, 

Science & Technology, 

Engineering and 

Research Workforce 

Development Program

6 0 0

DOE EM Minority Serving 

Institution Partnership 

Program (MSIPP)

0 6 6

DOE EM MSI STEM, 

Manufacturing and 

Cybersecurity 

Consortium

0 0 50

DOE FE Special Recruitment 

Programs/Mickey 

Leland Fellowship

0.7 0.7 0.7

DOE IE Alaska Resource 

Education (ARE) Energy 

Education and Outreach

0 0.6 0
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 37 –

Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

DOE NE Integrated University 

Program 5 5 6

DOE NNSA Center of Excellence for 

Materials Degradation 

and Life Extension

0 6 0

DOE NNSA Computational Sciences 

Graduate Fellowship 

(CSGF)

2 2 2

DOE NNSA Joint Program in High 

Energy Density 

Laboratory Plasmas

8.5 8.7 8.9

DOE NNSA Minority Serving 

Institution Partnership 

Program (MSIPP)

25 35 35

DOE NNSA MSI Pit Production 

Workforce Development 

Partnership

0 7 10

DOE NNSA Nuclear 

Nonproliferation 

International 

Safeguards Graduate 

Fellowship Program

0.5 0.7 0.8

DOE NNSA Predictive Science 

Academic Alliance 

Program

20 20 20.5

DOE NNSA Rickover Fellowship 

Program in Nuclear 

Engineering

1 1.2 1.4

DOE NNSA Savannah River Site 

Community Reuse 

Organization Workforce 

Opportunities in 

Regional Careers 

Program

1.4 1.4 1.2

DOE NNSA Stewardship Science 

Academic Alliances 

(SSAA) Grants and 

Cooperative 

Agreements

26 26.2 24.3

DOE NNSA Tribal Education 

Partnership Program 

(TEPP)

5 5 5

DOE SC American Chemical 

Society Summer School 

in Nuclear and 

Radiochemistry

0.6 0.6 0.7
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

DOE SC Community College 

Internship (formerly 

Community College 

Institute of Science and 

Technology)

1.7 1.9 2

DOE SC Computational Sciences 

Graduate Fellowship 10 10 15

DOE SC Graduate Student 

Research Program 4.5 4.6 5

DOE SC Isotopes (IP) 

Traineeship 0 1 0

DOE SC National Science Bowl 2.9 2.9 2.9

DOE SC Reaching a New Energy 

Sciences Workforce 

(RENEW)

0 0 30

DOE SC Science Undergraduate 

Laboratory Internships 13.6 13.8 14

DOE SC U.S. Particle Accelerator 

Training 1 0.8 1

DOE SC Visiting Faculty Program 

(formerly Faculty and 

Student Teams)

2 1.8 2.1

DOI USGS EDMAP 0.5 0.9 1

DOL ETA H-1B Training Activities 40.4 76.5 60

DOT FAA Air Transportation 

Centers of Excellence 66.9 70.3 57.6

DOT FHWA Dwight David 

Eisenhower 

Transportation 

Fellowship Program

2.1 2 2

DOT FHWA Garrett A. Morgan 

Technology and 

Transportation 

Education Program

0 0.4 0.4

DOT FHWA National Summer 

Transportation Institute 

Program (NSTI)

2.7 2.7 2.7

DOT FHWA Summer Transportation 

Institute Program for 

Diverse Groups 

(STIPDG)

0.9 1.4 1.5

DOT FHWA University 

Transportation Centers 

Program

70.2 68.9 77.5
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

DOT FRA Encouraging Early 

Interest in Railroad 

Careers

0 0 0.3

DOT FRA Making Railroading a 

Career of Choice 0 0.4 0.4

DOT FRA Partnerships with 

Associations and 

Industry

0 0 0.4

ED IES Institute of Education 

Sciences - American 

Rescue Plan

0 0 5

ED IES Regional Educational 

Laboratories 3.1 1.7 1.3

ED IES Research in Special 

Education 13.8 18.1 14.7

ED IES Research, Development, 

and Dissemination 39.4 45.7 65.3

ED OESE 21st Century 

Community Learning 

Centers

0 0 0

ED OESE Investing in Innovation 65 67 0

ED OPE Developing Hispanic 

Serving Institutions 

STEM and articulation 

programs

94.1 94.3 290.3

ED OPE Graduate Assistance in 

Areas of National Need 

(GAANN)

23.1 23.5 23.5

ED OPE Minority Science and 

Engineering 

Improvement Program

12.6 13.4 18.4

ED OPE Strengthening 

Predominantly Black 

Institutions

8.2 7.5 20

ED OPE Teacher Loan 

Forgiveness 100 105 108

ED OPE Upward Bound Math 

and Science Program 64.5 65.9 94.6

EPA EE Environmental 

Education Grants 3.3 3.3 3.3

EPA EE National Environmental 

Education and Training 

Partnership

2.1 2.1 2.1
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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

EPA ORD P3-People, Prosperity & 

the Planet-Award: A 

National Student Design 

Competition for 

Sustainability

0.7 0.8 0.8

HHS HRSA Health Careers 

Opportunity Program 15 18.5 18.5

HHS NIH AD/ADRD Clinical Trials 

Short Course 0 0 1.8

HHS NIH Aging Research 

Dissertation Awards to 

Increase Diversity

0.7 0.8 0.8

HHS NIH Blueprint Program for 

Enhancing 

Neuroscience Diversity 

through Undergraduate 

Research Education 

Experiences

2.4 3.8 4

HHS NIH Bridges to the 

Baccalaureate Program 10.1 8.8 9.9

HHS NIH Bridges to the 

Doctorate 2.1 1.5 1.4

HHS NIH Cancer Education 

Grants Program 14.9 20.9 21.4

HHS NIH Cancer Research 

Training Award (CRTA) 

Program

6.6 7.5 7.9

HHS NIH Center for Cancer 

Research Cancer/John 

Hopkins University 

Master of Science in 

Biotechnology 

Concentration in 

Molecular Targets and 

Drug Discovery 

Technologies

0.4 0.4 0.4

HHS NIH Drug Abuse Dissertation 

Research 0.5 0.5 0.3

HHS NIH Enhancing Science, 

Technology, 

Engineering, and Math 

Educational Diversity 

(ESTEEMED) Research 

Education Experiences 

(R25)

1.5 0.8 0.8
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

HHS NIH Fogarty Global Health 

Training Program (US 

predoc component)

1.3 1 1

HHS NIH Graduate Program 

Partnerships 12.1 12.4 12.7

HHS NIH Health Careers 

Opportunity Program 0.8 0.9 0.2

HHS NIH Initiative for Maximizing 

Research Education in 

Genomics; Diversity 

Action Plan

3.1 3.4 2.9

HHS NIH Initiative for Maximizing 

Student Development 16.8 13.6 8.6

HHS NIH MARC U-STAR NRSA 

Program 18 17.1 18.9

HHS NIH Mathematics and 

Science Cognition and 

Learning (MSCL) 

Program

9.2 9.4 10

HHS NIH National Institute of 

Diabetes and Digestive 

and Kidney Diseases 

Research, Education 

Program Grants for 

Summer Research 

Experiences (R25)

3.1 3 3.2

HHS NIH National Institute of 

Neurological Disorders 

and Stroke 

Neuroscience 

Development for 

Advancing the Careers 

of a Diverse Research 

Workforce

3.8 3.5 4

HHS NIH National Institute on 

Aging Medicine, 

Science, Technology, 

Engineering and 

Mathematics: 

Advancing Diversity in 

Aging Research (ADAR) 

through Undergraduate 

Education

4.5 6.5 8.3
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

HHS NIH National Library of 

Medicine Institutional 

Training Grants for 

Research Training in 

Biomedical Informatics 

and Data Science

11.8 11.5 12

HHS NIH NCI Predoctoral to 

Postdoctoral Fellow 

Transition Award (F99 

Portion Only)

2 1.9 1.8

HHS NIH NIA Research and 

Entrepreneurial 

Development 

Immersion (REDI): 

Entrepreneurship 

Enhancement Award

0 0 0.8

HHS NIH NIDA Research 

Education Program for 

Clinical Researchers 

and Clinicians

5.2 5.2 5.8

HHS NIH NIH Big Data to 

Knowledge (BD2K) 

Enhancing Diversity in 

Biomedical Data 

Science

0.3 0.3 0.3

HHS NIH NIH Building 

Infrastructure Leading 

to Diversity (BUILD) 

Initiative (RL5 portion 

only)

8.9 7 5.9

HHS NIH NIH Building 

Infrastructure Leading 

to Diversity (BUILD) 

Initiative (TL4 portion 

only)

10.2 8 6.8

HHS NIH NIMHD Minority Health 

and Health Disparities 

International Research 

Training (T37)

3.3 3.2 3.5

HHS NIH Office of Intramural 

Training and Education 

(OITE)

0.3 0.3 0.3

HHS NIH Oxford-Cambridge 

Scholars Program 

(Ox/Cam)

0.2 0.3 0.3

HHS NIH P30 CURE Supplement 1 0 0
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

HHS NIH Post-baccalaureate 

Intramural Research 

Training Award 

Program

52.3 53.3 54.4

HHS NIH Postbaccalaureate 

Research Education 

Program (PREP)

12.7 13.6 14.1

HHS NIH Programs to Increase 

Diversity Among

Individuals Engaged in 

Health-Related 

Research (PRIDE)

4.2 4.2 4.2

HHS NIH Providing Research 

Education Experiences 

to Enhance Diversity in 

the Next Generation of 

Substance Abuse and 

Addiction Scientists

2.4 2.4 2.4

HHS NIH Research Supplements 

to Promote Diversity in 

Health-Related 

Research

56 56 56

HHS NIH RISE (Research Initiative 

for Scientific 

Enhancement)

25.9 23.1 26.6

HHS NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein 

National Research 

Service Award 

Institutional Research 

Training Grants (T32, 

T35)

313.4 328.2 352

HHS NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein 

NRSA for Individual 

Predoctoral Fellows, 

including 

Underrepresented 

Racial/Ethnic Groups, 

Students from 

Disadvantaged 

Backgrounds, and 

Predoctoral Students 

with Disabilities

110.9 117.1 124.6

HHS NIH Science Education 

Partnership Award 21.1 22.2 23
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

HHS NIH Short Courses on 

Interdisciplinary 

Behavioral and Social 

Sciences Research on 

Aging

0 0 0.5

HHS NIH Short Courses on 

Interdisciplinary 

Behavioral and Social 

Sciences Research on 

Alzheimer's Disease and 

Related Dementias

0 0 0.5

HHS NIH Short Courses on 

Mathematical, 

Statistical, and 

Computational Tools 

for Studying Biological 

Systems

0.1 0.1 0.1

HHS NIH Short-Term Research 

Education Program to 

Increase Diversity in 

Health-Related 

Research

5.5 5.3 5.5

HHS NIH Short-Term Research 

Experience for 

Underrepresented 

Persons (STEP-UP; R25)

1.57 1.57 2.25

HHS NIH Strengthening 

Institutional Capacity to 

Conduct Global Cancer 

Research NCI D43

0 1.9 1.9

HHS NIH Student Intramural 

Research Training 

Award Program

0 5.5 5.7

HHS NIH Summer Institute for 

Training in Biostatistics 1.5 1.5 1.5

HHS NIH Summer Research 

Education Experience 

Programs

5.7 7.9 9.1

HHS NIH UMD-NCI Partnership 

for Integrative Cancer 

Research 0.8 0.8 0.9
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

HHS NIH Undergraduate 

Research Education 

Program (UP) to 

Enhance Diversity in 

Environmental Health 

Sciences

1 1 1

HHS NIH Undergraduate 

Scholarship Program for 

Individuals from 

Disadvantaged 

Backgrounds

4.3 4.3 0.1

HHS NIH Werner H Kirsten 

Student Internship 

Program

0 0.2 0.5

NASA Office of STEM 

Engagement

MUREP

36 38 48

NASA Office of STEM 

Engagement

NextGen STEM Project 

(NGS) 12 12 16

NASA Office of STEM 

Engagement

Space Grant - National 

Space Grant College 

and Fellowship Program

48 51 57

NASA SMD GLOBE Program 6 6.9 6.9

NASA SMD SMD Robotics Alliance 

Program 4 4 4

NASA SMD SMD Science Activation 

Program 45.6 45.6 55.6

NRC RES Integrated University 

Program 2.5 18.4 0

NRC SBCR Minority Serving 

Institutions Program 

(MSIP)

0

NSF CISE CyberTraining 5 6 6

NSF CISE, EHR, MPS Harnessing the Data 

Revolution (HDR): Data 

Science Corps (DSC)

3 6 3

NSF EHR Advanced 

Technological 

Education (ATE)

73.5 75 75

NSF EHR Advancing Informal 

STEM Learning (AISL), 

formerly Informal 

Science Education (ISE)

62.5 62.5 70
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

NSF EHR Alliances for Graduate 

Education and the 

Professoriate (AGEP)

8 8 8

NSF EHR Cybercorps: Scholarship 

for Service (SFS) 55 60 70

NSF EHR Discovery Research K-12 

(DR-K12) 95 95 95

NSF EHR Excellence Awards in 

Science and 

Engineering (EASE)

7.3 5 7.7

NSF EHR Graduate Research 

Fellowship Program 

(GRFP)

284.5 284.5 318.5

NSF EHR Hispanic-Serving 

Institutions 45 46.5 56.5

NSF EHR Historically Black 

Colleges and 

Universities 

Undergraduate 

Program (HBCU-UP)

35 36.5 46.5

NSF EHR Improving 

Undergraduate STEM 

Education

109.5 111.5 108.6

NSF EHR Innovative Technology 

Experiences for 

Students and Teachers 

(ITEST)

34.9 44.3 40.7

NSF EHR Louis Stokes Alliances 

for Minority 

Participation (LSAMP)

47.5 49.5 69.5

NSF EHR NSF Inclusion across the 

Nation of Communities 

of Learners of 

Underrepresented 

Discoverers in 

Engineering and 

Science (INCLUDES)

20.8 20 46.5

NSF EHR NSF Research 

Traineeships (NRT) 49.6 58 58

NSF EHR NSF Scholarships in 

Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and 

Mathematics (S-STEM)

79.9 132.8 121.9

NSF EHR Research Experiences 

for Undergraduates 

(REU)

98.6 82.3 84.5
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

NSF EHR Robert Noyce 

Scholarship (Noyce) 

Program

69.8 67 67

NSF EHR Tribal Colleges and 

Universities Program 

(TCUP)

15 16.5 21

NSF EHR, CISE Computer Science for 

All (CSforAll) 30.5 24.5 24.5

NSF ENG Emerging Frontiers in 

Research and 

Innovation (EFRI) 

Research Experience 

and Mentoring (REM)

0.5 0.8 1

NSF ENG, CISE Research Experiences 

for Teachers (RET) in 

Engineering and 

Computer Science

8.2 6.3 7.2

NSF OISE International Research 

Experiences for 

Students (IRES)

11.8 12.3 12

SI STEM Informal 

Education and 

Instruction

5.2 5.7 6.1

USDA APHIS AgDiscovery 0.3 0.5 1

USDA APHIS Historically Black 

Colleges/Universities 

Vet Tech Programs

0.6 0.7 0.7

USDA NIFA 1890 Facilities Grant 

Program 20.5 21.5 21.5

USDA NIFA 1890 Institutions 

Capacity Building 

Grants Program: 

Extension

7.7 8.7 8.7

USDA NIFA 1890 Institutions 

Capacity Building 

Grants Program: 

Teaching

7.7 8.7 8.7

USDA OPPE 1890 National Scholars 

Program 5 10 10

USDA NIFA 4-H Science, 4-H Youth 

Development Program 26.6 26.6 26.6

USDA NIFA Agriculture in the 

Classroom 0.6 0.6 1
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

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Agency SubAgency/Office Program Name

FY 2020 

Actual 

($, millions)

FY 2021 

Estimated 

($, millions)

2022 

President's 

Budget 

($, millions)

USDA NIFA Alaska Native-Serving 

and Native HawaiianServing Institutions 

Education Competitive 

Grants Program

3.2 3.2 3.2

USDA NIFA Hispanic_serving 

Institutions Education 

Grants Program

11.2 12.5 12.5

USDA NIFA Insular Programs 2 2 2

USDA NIFA Multicultural Scholars, 

Graduate Fellowship 

and Institution 

Challenge Grants

9 9.5 9.5

USDA NIFA NIFA Fellowship Grants 

Program 32 58 70

USDA NIFA Secondary 

Postsecondary 

Agriculture Education 

Challenge Grants 

(SPECA)

0.9 0.9 0.9

USDA NIFA Women and Minorities 

in Science, Technology, 

Engineering and 

Mathematics Fields 

Program (WAMS)

0.4 0.4 1

VA Edith Nourse Rogers 

STEM Scholarship 18.4 131.6 75

VA Veteran Employment 

Through Technology 

Education Courses (VET 

TEC)

26.5 47.1 45

FY 2021 STEM Education Investments Adjustments

Outside of the new programs that were initiated in FY2021, only one investment was terminated as its 

funding authority expired (National Defense Education Program (NDEP) Military Child STEM 

Educational Programs). Otherwise, changes from FY2020 to FY2021 investments included: Programs 

pivoting from in-person to virtual, changes in program offerings warranting inclusion or exclusion 

from the CoSTEM inventory, and/or changes in the amount of funds toward STEM-specific activities 

warranting inclusion or exclusion from the CoSTEM inventory.
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 49 –

Appendix 6: Summary of STEM Education Investments

This table provides a summary of all inventory data from Appendix 5 by agency.

Agency FY20 Actual

($, millions)

FY21 Estimated Budget

($, millions)

2022 President's Budget

($, millions)

Corporation for National and 

Community Service

89.2 89.2 89.2

Department of Agriculture 127.7 163.8 177.3

Department of Commerce 39.7 47.2 60.4

Department of Defense 226.6 244.2 173.0

Department of Education 423.8 442.1 641.1

Department of Energy 156.7 193.9 274.6

Department of Health and 

Human Services

789.5 822.2 861.4

Department of Homeland 

Security

6 7.8 8.7

Department of Labor 40.4 76.5 60

Department of the Interior 0.5 0.9 1.0

Department of Transportation 142.8 146.1 142.8

Department of Veterans 

Affairs

44.9 178.7 120

Environmental Protection 

Agency

6.1 6.2 6.2

National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

151.6 157.5 187.5

National Science Foundation 1250.4 1310.8 1418.6

Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission

2.5 18.4 0

Smithsonian Institution 5.2 5.7 6.1

Grand Total 3503.6 3911.2 4227.9
2021 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

– 50 –

Figure 3. This pie chart depicts the number of investments by agency for FY 2021 based on the 

inventory in Appendix 5.

Figure 4. This pie chart depicts the information provided in the table above in the FY2021 Estimated 

Budget column.

CNCS, 4

USDA, 15

DOC, 13

DOD, 11

ED, 12

DOE, 39 HHS, 54

DHS, 2

DOL, 1

DOI, 1 DOT, 9

VA, 2

EPA, 3

NASA, 6 NSF, 24

NRC, 2

SI, 1

FY 2021 Number of STEM Education Investments by Agency

CNCS, 89.2 USDA, 163.8

DOC, 47.2

DOD, 

244.2

ED, 442.1

DOE, 193.9

HHS, 822.2

DHS, 7.8

DOI, 0.9 DOL, 76.5

DOT, 146.1

VA, 178.7 EPA, 6.2

NASA, 157.5

NSF, 1310.8

NRC, 18.4 SI, 5.7

FY 2021 Estimated Budget ($, millions)