NSF GK-12 Program

Overview

The Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Program, managed by NSF's Division of Graduate Education (DGE), provides funding to graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to acquire additional skills that will broadly prepare them for professional and scientific careers in the 21st century. Although the program resides in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), GK-12 is an NSF-wide activity supported by EHR as well as the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), Geosciences (GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP).

NSF developed the GK-12 program recognizing that, in addition to being competent researchers, STEM graduate students must be able to communicate science and research to a variety of audiences. As the graduate students bring their cutting-edge research and practice into the K-12 classroom, they gain these skills which enable them to explain science to people of all ages, ranging from students to teachers. The graduate students also inspire transformation in the K-12 formal and informal learning environments and stimulate interest in science and engineering among students and teachers. NSF understands that STEM graduate students can contribute to the national effort to advance scientific knowledge through partnerships with K-12 communities.

Through the GK-12 program, institutions of higher education have had an opportunity to make a significant change in STEM graduate and K-12 education programs by creating strong and enduring partnerships.

Since its inception in 1999, the GK-12 Program has funded over 200 projects in more than 140 different universities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Map of GK-12 Projects in 2009: Download PDF
Map of GK-12 Projects in 2008: Download PDF
Map of GK-12 Projects in 2007: Download PDF
Map of GK-12 Projects in 2006: Download PDF
Map of GK-12 Alumni Projects: Download PDF

NSF GK-12 Overview [ppt]