FCPS Receives $1.5 Million Grant from DoDEA to Support STEAM Education at Fort Belvoir Primary and Upper Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) through the Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP). The funding will support the implementation of PROPEL STEAM (Promoting Rigorous Opportunities, Programs, and Education in STEAM Learning), a program designed to elevate mathematics and science education at Fort Belvoir Primary and Fort Belvoir Upper Elementary schools.
PROPEL STEAM aims to enhance students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills through innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) enrichment programming and hands-on learning experiences. By fostering engagement in STEAM, the program seeks to provide students with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.
This initiative will benefit all students at the two schools, with a particular focus on supporting the needs of military-connected students, ensuring they receive high-quality educational opportunities in mathematics and science. The grant will allow for the schools to hire a math resource teacher (Primary) and a science resource teacher (Upper) and will also provide after-school and summer STEAM enrichment programming.
The current school year is a planning year, followed by four years of program implementation (school year 2024-25 through 2029-30).
More than one-third of schools in FCPS are designated as Purple Star Schools. The Virginia Department of Education recognizes these schools for supporting military-connected children and their families. FCPS is proud to have more than 14,000 military-connected students.
For more information, contact Nancy Rowland, DoDEA Grant Specialist, at [email protected] or 571-423-3772.
