National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

www.nasa.gov 

NASA 

Education Budget Overview 

presented by 

Andrew Hubbard 

Budget Manager 

June 29, 2016 
Topics of Discussion ĀĀ

2 

• Overview

– Historical Context

• Education Coordinating Committee (ECC)

• Key Stakeholders

• Programmatic Consolidation Timeline Overview 

– NASA Mission and Strategy 

• Office of Education Programs 

• NASA Program Lines of Business Alignment 

• Budget

– Historical Budget Data 

– FY 2016 Enacted Budget 

– FY 2017 Proposed Congressional Budget 

• House and Senate Marks 
Education...a National and ĀĀ Agency priority 

3 

The nation that 

 out-educates us today 

 will out-compete us 

 tomorrow

President Barack Obama

. 

 Speech to the National Academy of Science 

 April 27, 2009 

We are committed to inspiring the next generation...who will keep America in the forefront of 

technology, innovation and space exploration. 

Charlie Bolden White House Science Fair 

May 14, 2011 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical Context 

• In the past 10 years, the Office of Education has undergone several

transformations in its organizational landscape and senior leadership.

• In FY 2005, an Education Coordinating Committee (ECC) was established

to provide strategic direction & planning related to education.

• The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 required the Office

of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish, maintain, and

periodically update an inventory of Federal investments in STEM education

as part of a 5-year Federal STEM education strategic plan.

• The Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) was established in 2011,

as called for by the America COMPETES Act, to coordinate Federal

programs and activities in support of STEM education.

• Since 2011, there has been Program/Activity consolidation in an effort to

gain efficiencies and reduce fragmentation.

4 
5 

Education Coordinating Council (ECC ) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECC 

OE (Deputy AAs) 

Mission Directorates (4) 

ARMD, HEOMD, SMD, STMD 

Center Education Directors (10) 

ARC, AFRC, GRC, GSFC, JPL, 

JSC, KSC, LaRC, MSFC, SSC 

Functional Offices 

OHCM, ODEO, OComm, 

OCFO, OCIO, OCS, 

OIIR, OLIA, Astronaut 

Office 

AA for 

Education, Chair 

Budget, Reporting, New Initiatives 

Activity Implementation 

Field Centers, Grantees, 

Contractors 
6 

Key Stakeholders and Influencers 

NASA	
  INTERNAL

EXTERNAL

Ad Hoc

TaskĀĀĀrceĀ

On STEMĀĀĀucaIo n

CROSS-­‐AGENCY

EducaPon CoordinaPng

Council (ECC)

LegislaI ve &

ExecuI ve

Laws &

IniI aI vesĀ
7 

Office of Education Consolidation Timeline 

FY 2011

Higher Education STEM

• Space Grant

• EPSCoR

• MUREP

GCCE • STEM Opportunities in

Higher Education

Innovations in STEM 

Higher Education

GSRP

USRP

K12 STEM	
  EducaPon

• K12 STEM Student

Opportunities

• K12 STEM Teacher

Development

• K12 Competitive Grants

Informal STEM	
  EducaPon

FY 2012 – FY 2013

Aerospace Research and

Career Development	
  (ARCD)

• Space Grant

• EPSCoR

STEM	
  EducaPon and

Accountability (SEA)

• MUREP

• STEM	
  EducaPon &

Accountability Projects (SEAP)

Formal and Informal

Education

Innovation in Education

Evaluation Performance

Monitoring & Accountability

Informal STEM	
  Education

FY 2014

Aerospace Research and

Career Development	
  (ARCD)

• Space Grant

• EPSCoR

STEM	
  EducaPon and

Accountability (SEA)

• MUREP

• STEM	
  EducaPon and

Accountability Projects (SEAP)

STEM Facilitation

STEM Interagency 

Coordination

Continued Consolidation of an OEfocused Portfolio and CoSTEM 

Alignment effort
8 

Office of Education Consolidation Timeline (Cont’d) 

FY 2014

Aerospace Research and Career

Development	
  (ARCD)

• Space Grant

• EPSCoR

STEM	
  EducaPon and Accountability (SEA)

• MUREP

• STEM	
  EducaPon and Accountability Projects

(SEAP)

STEM	
  FacilitaPon

STEM	
  Interagency CoordinaPon

Con7nued Consolida7on of an OE-­‐focused Por6olio and

CoSTEM	
  Alignment effort.

FY 2015

Aerospace Research and Career

Development	
  (ARCD)

• Space Grant

• EPSCoR

STEM	
  EducaPon and Accountability (SEA)

• MUREP

• STEM	
  EducaPon and Accountability Projects

(SEAP)

SUNSETTING — leSng grants and cooperaPve

agreements expire naturally and not	
  running new

compePPon

CONSOLIDATING — redesigning, mergingĀĀĀ

integraPng legacy acPviPes in MUREP

INTERNAL-­‐TO-­‐NASA COMPETITIVE CONSOLIDATIONS

— StarPng in FY 2015, compePPon to idenPfy and

blend the educaPon funcPons, assets and efforts of

HEOMD and ARMD into SEAP along with Office of

EducaPon acPviPes not	
  picked up by MUREP.
9

9

ewĀ – Strategic Framework

– AgencyĀOverviewĀ

– Outcomes and ObjecPves

– EducaPon Pipeline

– PorOolio ManagementĀ

• NaIonal	
  AdministraIon	
  and	
  Congressional	
  PrioriIes	
  

• NASA	
  EducaIon	
  Connects	
  to	
  NaIonal	
  STEM	
  Challenges	
  

• BudgetĀOverviewĀ

NASA Education Mission 

Advance high-quality STEM 

Education using NASA ’s unique 

capabilities • NASA	
  EducaIon	
  Overvi . 
Aligning with Agency Strategy... ĀĀ

10 

NASA Strategic Objective 2.4 on Education 

Advance the Nation’ s STEM education and workforce pipeline by working 

collaboratively with other agencies to engage students, teachers, and faculty in 

NASA’s missions and unique assets. 

Reference: NASA Strategic Plan 2014 
Planned Education Strategy ĀĀ

11 

• Use the Education Coordinating Council (ECC) to make Agency’s

decisions for strategic direction and planning related to STEM education. 

• Broaden participation in STEM plan for the Agency by supporting

Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and

Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Asian American

and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs),

American Indian Alaskan Native Serving Institutions (AIANSIs), 

Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI), and other Minority Serving 

Institutions (MSIs) through multi-year STEM grants to enhance their 

research capabilities and STEM curricula. 

• Use NASA's workforce, unique missions and facilities, discoveries, 

and assets to inspire student achievement and enhance educator teaching 

ability in support of the federal CoSTEM efforts.
Planned Education Strategy (Cont’d ĀĀ ) 

12 

• Strengthen partnerships with other Federal agencies, academia, 

industry, and entrepreneurial and international communities to

leverage NASA’s investments in STEM to reach a greater number of 

students and educators. 

• Expand government-wide effort to improve the delivery and 

effectiveness of STEM education programs. Support a more cohesive 

infrastructure for delivering STEM education and leveraging existing 

resources to improve the reach of agency assets. 

• Use competitive processes to fund the best education programs within

NASA and to coordinate closely with the CoSTEM agencies to broaden the 

reach of NASA ’s capability to engage and educate. 

• Provide evidence-based approaches and results to support the NASA 

Education activities. 
ĀĀ

Ā

Ā

Ā

Ā

Ā

Ā

Ā

ĀĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā

Office of Education Programs 

13 

Aerospace Research & Career Development (ARCD) Program 

Strengthens the research capabilities of the Nation’ s colleges 

and universities and provides opportunities that attract and 

prepare an increasing number of students for NASA-related 

careers. 

– students contributes to NASA’s Mission Directorate research needs. 

– furthers the Nation’s scientific and technology innovation agendas.

– supports programs as a major link in the pipeline for addressing NASA ’s

human capital strategies. 

STEM Education and Ā Accountability (SEA) Program 

Provides unique NASA assets, including its people, 

resources and facilities to support the Nation’ s STEM 

education priorities. 

– enhances education and research capabilities of Minority Serving 

higher-education and non-profit informal education institutions. 

– funds competitive grants and cooperative agreements with third 

parties and uses competition to support meritorious education 

functions, assets, and ef forts at NASA Centers and JPL. 

. 
Office of Education Projects ĀĀ 

14 

Aerospace Research & Career Development (ARCD) Program Ā 

• Ā Space Grant enables the active involvement of the entire country in NASA activities through its 

national network comprised of 52 consortia in 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and the Ā Commonwealth of Puerto Rico . Ā

Ā• Space Grant also supports and enhances science and engineering education and research 

efforts for educators and learners by leveraging the resource capabilities and technologies of Ā over 900 affiliates from universities, colleges, industry , museums, science centers, and state Ā and local agencies .

ĀĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Ā 

• EPSCoR awards grants and cooperative agreements to establish partnerships between

government, higher education, and industry and promotes lasting improvements in the R&D 

capacity of that state or region .

• EPSCoR also develops academic research projects to establish long-term, self-sustaining, and 

nationally competitive activities in jurisdictions with modest research infrastructure .
Office of Education Projects (Cont’d) ĀĀ 

15 

STEM Education and Ā Accountability (SEA) Program 

• Ā Minority University Research and Education (MUREP) supports recruitment and retention of 

underrepresented and underserved students, including women and girls, and persons with Ā disabilities, into the STEM fields. 

Ā

• Ā MUREP also provides financial assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) to the Nation’ s

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), Asian Ā American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Tribal Colleges

Ā and Universities (TCU) and eligible community colleges. 

ĀĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā

STEM Education and Ā Accountability Projects (SEAP) 

• SEAP through internal and external competitive processes, investments are made in activities 

demonstrating evidence-based strategies, contributing to NASA ’s performance goals and 

Administration’s education initiatives, and supporting the Federal STEM education priority 

investment areas and coordination objectives. 

• SEAP also provides funding for competitive STEM education opportunities, including student 

internships at NASA Centers and JPL, student launch initiatives, and grants to higher education 

institutions, youth serving organizations, NASA Visitor Centers, museums, planetariums, and 

other types of organizations. .
Programmatic Structure – Lines of Business 

PROGRAMS Aerospace Research & Career

Development (ARCD)

STEM	
  EducaIon

& Accountability (SEA)

PROJECTS Space Grant EPSCoRĀ MUREP SEAP

DescripPonĀ

Enhances science &

engineering educaPon/

research for educators &

learners through Univ./

ConsorPaĀĀĀ50 States

DistrictĀĀĀColumbia	
  and

the Commonwealth of

Strengthens research

capability of

jurisdicPons thatĀ

haven’t	
  parPcipated

equitably in

compePPve aero

research acPviPes.

Enhances research and

academic capabiliPes

at MSIs to improve

quality of STEMĀ

programs for

underrepresented and

underservedĀ

Provides compePPveĀ

opportuniPes to

support	
  innovaPve

educaPon efforts by

third parPes and at

NASA Centers/JPL

Puerto Rico.Ā populaPons.

Funding Examples

SPpends and scholarships,

hands-­‐on experience on

variety of authenPc

plaOorms.

Fund faculty

research, post-­‐docs

and Univ. capability;

travel to NASA

Centers/JPL work w/

SMEs.

Funds internships and

mulP-­‐year cooperaPve

agreements

research at minorityĀ

serving insPtuPons.Ā

Funds new

commitments with third

parPes and NASA

Centers/JPL as resultĀĀĀ

internal and external

compePPons.

Educator ProfessionalĀĀevelopmentĀ

(EPD)Ā

X X X

STEM	
  Engagement (SE) X X X

NASA	
  Internships, Fellowships, &

Scholarships (NIFS)

X X X

InsI tuI onalĀEngagementĀ(IE) X X X X

16 
 

17 

How Do W e Do It ... 

EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT

INSTITUTIONAL 

ENGAGEMENT 

INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND

SCHOLARSHIPS

STEM 

ENGAGEMENT 
18 

How Do W e Do It ...(Cont’d) 

EDUCATOR	
  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Using NASA’s missions, education resources, and 

unique facilities to provide high-quality STEM 

content and hands-on learning experiences to K-12, 

informal, and pre-service educators.

• Professional development

• In-­‐person and online

INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

Awards grants and cooperative agreements to 

institutions to conduct research and/or deliver 

STEM content.

• Minority University Research & Educa<on Project

(MUREP)

• Experimental Program	
  to S<mulate Compe<<ve

Research (EPSCoR)

INTERNSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Leverage NASA’s unique mission activities to 

enhance and increase the capabilities, diversity, 

and size of the nation’s next generation workforce. 

• One Stop Shopping Ini<a<ve (OSSI): Recruitment,

applica<on, selec<on, and career development.

• USRA Agreement	
  – Provides infrastructure to

manage internships across agency.

STEM ENGAGEMENT

Provides opportunities for participatory and 

experiential learning activities in formal and 

informal settings to connect learners to NASAunique resources.

• Student	
  design challenges and opportuni<es <ed

to NASA content

• Center Collabora<ons with local communi<es and

audiences
19 

FY 2011 – 2021 NASA Education Office Budget Overview 

$ Millions
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agency FY16 Total Appropriations - Education 

Budget Authority in Millions 

FY 2016 

Enacted 

Budget 

NASA Education 152.0 

Office of Education 115.0 

NASA Space Grant 

Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) 

Minority University Research Education Project (MUREP) 

STEM Education and Accountability Projects (SEAP) 

Aerospace Research and Career Development (ARCD) Program 

STEM Education and Accountability (SEA) Program 

58.0 

40.0 

18.0 

57.0 

32.0 

25.0 

Science Mission Directorate 37.0 

NASA Science Mission Directorate STEM Projects 37.0 

20 
21 

Agency FY16 Total Appropriations - Education 

Total Budget = $152M
ĀĀ

Ā

Ā

Ā

Ā

2017 House Report 1 14-605 

Commerce, Justice, Science, Appropriations Report 

22 

• The Committee recommends $115,000,000 for Education, which is the 

same as fiscal year 2016 and $14,900,000 above the request. 

– The Committee is concerned that despite direction in Public Law 1 14–113,

overhead costs remain excessive. 

– To ensure that the program is operating ef ficiently with minimum overhead,

NASA shall provide a report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment that 

analyzes how funds have been spent over the last three fiscal years, to include: 

• 1) A list of cooperative agreements, Space Act Agreements, and grantees, 

including the amount and purpose of grant or funding allocation; and 

• 2) A complete description, including amounts and purposes, of how 

remaining funds have been spent. This analysis shall also include a plan to 

ensure that no more than five percent overhead is charged within the 

Education account by fiscal year 2018 .
ĀĀ

Ā

Ā

Ā

2017 House Report 1 14-605 

Commerce, Justice, Science, Appropriations Report (Cont’d) 

23 

• National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program - The recommendation

includes $40,000,000 for the Space Grant program, which is the same as fiscal year 

2016. These funds shall be allocated to the consortia lead institutions in all 52 

participating jurisdictions according to the percentage allocation provided to States in 

the current five year grant award period. 

• Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) - The

recommendation includes $18,000,000 for EPSCoR, which is the same as fiscal year 

2016.

 

• STEM Education and Accountability Programs (SEAP) - NASA shall brief the 

Committee on the intended distribution of fiscal year 2017 SEAP resources to

individual activities; how that distribution compares to the fiscal year 2016 

distribution; how that distribution supports the priorities contained in the governmentwide STEM education strategic plan; and what partnerships NASA has formed

through its various SEAP programs with Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically

Black Colleges and Universities.

Ā
ĀĀ

ĀĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā

Ā

2017 Senate Report 1 14-239 

Commerce, Justice, Science, Appropriations Report 

24 

• The Committee provides $108,000,000 for Education, which is $7,000,000 

below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $7,900,000 above the budget 

request. 

– The Education account funds science, technology , engineering, and mathematics 

[STEM] education activities to educate and inspire our next generation of 

explorers and innovators. 

– Space Grant -The Committee provides $40,000,000 for Space Grant, and directs 

NASA to support an extension of the current Space Grant program, and to 

allocate the entire funding amount for consortia-led institutions in all 52 

participating jurisdictions according to the percentage allocation provided to 

States in the current 5-year grant award. 
ĀĀ

Ā

ĀĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā

Ā

2017 Senate Report 1 14-239 

Commerce, Justice, Science, Appropriations Report (Cont’d) 

– Competitive Program -The Committee provides up to $10,000,000 for the 

Competitive Program for Science, Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitors

Centers within the STEM Education and Accountability Projects. 

• This competitive grant program creates interactive exhibits, professional development 

activities, and community-based programs to engage students, teachers, and the 

public in science, technology , engineering, and mathematics .

– Space Law - As the civilian space market continues to grow and national policies 

are developed for remote sensing and commercial space launches for cargo and 

crew, there is an increasing need for education on the legal aspects of human 

use of aerospace technologies. 

• To encourage legal research in this area, the Committee provides up to $1,000,000 for 

space law education and outreach. NASA shall provide a spending plan to the 

Committee within 60 days of enactment on how NASA will implement this direction. 

25 
FY 2017 

House & Senate Proposed Marks 

Budget Authority in Millions 

FY 2016 

Enacted 

Budget Delta 

FY 2017 

Budget 

Request 

FY 2017 

HAC 

Marks Delta 

FY 2017 

SAC 

Marks 

Education 152.0 (26.9) 125.1 152.0 (2.0) 150.0 

Aerospace Research and Career (ARCD) Development Program 58.0 (25.0) 33.0 58.0 0.0 58.0

 NASA Space Grant 

 Experimental Project to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) 

40.0

18.0

(16.0)

(9.0)

24.0

9.0

40.0

18.0

0.0

0.0

40.0

18.0

STEM Education & Accountability (SEA) Program 57.0 10.1 67.1 57.0 (7.0) 50.0

Minority University Research Education Project (MUREP) 

 STEM Education & Accountability Projects (SEAP) 

32.0

25.0

(2.0)

12.1

30.0

37.1

32.0

25.0

0.0

(7.0)

32.0

18.0

Science Mission Directorate 37.0 (12.0) 25.0 37.0 5.0 42.0

 NASA Science Mission Directorate STEM Projects 37.0 (12.0) 25.0 37.0 5.0 42.0

26 
Looking Forward... 

...in a 21 st Century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, 

we need to up our game 

 We need to do more. - President Barack Obama

State of the Union Address

January 20, 2015

27 
ĀĀ

28 
Detailed Historical Context 

Under the O’Keefe AdministraIon (December 2001 – April 2005)

• NASA Education removed from underneath Human Capital and made an Enterprise, led Chief Education Officer Dr. Adena Loston. 

Under the Griffin AdministraIon (April 2005 – January 2009)

• Education removed as Enterprise, and became part of new organization – Office of Strategic Communications. 

• Between 2005-2006, there were several acting ASSISTANT Administrators for Education including Dr. Bernice Alston, Angela Phillips Diaz, 

and John Hairston before permanent selection of Dr. Joyce Winterton in Oct 2006.

• During the tenure of Diaz, the management of education projects were internally competed across the Centers with projects then being 

transferred under MOA to selected Centers. 

• Additionally in this timeframe, the ceiling size of the HQ Office of Education was significantly reduced. 

• In Dec 2005, the Education Coordinating Committee (ECC) established to provide strategic direction & planning related to education and 

made recommendations to propel Agency towards a streamlined education portfolio. The committee has since been designated a 

“Council” instead of committee.

Under the Bolden AdministraIon (July 2009 – present)

• The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 required the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish, maintain, 

and periodically update an inventory of Federal investments in STEM education as part of a 5-year Federal STEM education strategic plan.

• Leland Melvin selected to lead Education (Oct 2010) and title then became ASSOCIATE Administrator (AA). 

• The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 required the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish, maintain, 

and periodically update an inventory of Federal investments in STEM education as part of a 5-year Federal STEM education strategic plan.

• The Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) was established in 2011, as called for by the America COMPETES Act, to coordinate Federal 

programs and activities in support of STEM education. 

• Since 2011, there has been Program/Activity consolidation in an effort to align with CoSTEM goals.

• Donald James was competitively selected following the retirement of Leland Melvin in Feb 2014, and began as AA in September 2014.

29