Y-12 STEM Classroom Grants is sponsored by Y-12 National Security Complex. Awards grants to teachers or school administrators in public or private K-12 schools in specific East Tennessee counties to advance STEM activities in the classroom.

Y-12 STEM Classroom Grants | Y-12 National Security Complex Y-12 STEM Classroom Grants Proposals for the Y-12 STEM classroom grant will be accepted through October 2. The winner will be notified prior to a media announcement from Y‑12.

Eligible applicants are teachers or school administrators in public or private schools, grades K–12, located in the following East Tennessee counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union. Educators who are immediate family members of Y-12 employees are not eligible to apply for or receive a grant.

To apply for the grant, please send an e-mail to Kristin. Waldschlager@y12nsc. doe.

gov that includes a response to each of the following: School, address, community, and postal code. Teacher’s name, grade level, e-mail address, and phone number (other than the school’s number). Principal’s name, e-mail address, and school phone number.

Project title, start date, and end date. Project summary (maximum of 500 words): This summary may be used as a project description for the grant adjudication and communication purposes. Project objectives: Briefly describe the issue your project is designed to address.

Can the outcome of the project be achieved solely with the $5,000 grant? Project participants: Describe the demographics of the school participants. Number of participants: Estimate the number of students who will benefit from the project.

Project activities and timeline: Indicate the primary types of activities involved in executing the project and the anticipated time of year when the project will be taught. Expected results: Describe the expected outcomes, benefits, or results those participants will gain from their involvement in the project. Acknowledge that, if a grant is awarded, you will provide photos of the students participating in the STEM grant project.

Expenses: Provide a budget with quotes for the project. A well-written application will clearly communicate the project and anticipated results, explain the anticipated student learning outcomes, and outline how the project will deepen students’ understanding of STEM. Y-12 engineers will serve as judges and will support efforts to determine the grant winner.

The submissions will be screened for any relationships or potential conflicts of interest before the judging process begins. The judges will evaluate the project applications and make recommendation allocations to the CNS senior director of Communications and the vice president of Production and Operations for final review and approval.

Funds will be made payable to the individual school and will be disbursed to the teacher or administrator in adherence to school protocols.

Funds will not be awarded for individual efforts; sporting events; school trips or transportation; construction or renovation projects or capital campaigns; political, labor, or fraternal organizations; religious organizations directly tied to a place of worship; or chairs, endowments, or scholarships sponsored by academic or nonprofit institutions. All funds should be spent in the 2026-2027 academic year in the manner outlined here.

Funds may not be used for cash, gift cards, travel, salary, food, furniture, or general office supplies not related to STEM activities. Everything purchased with the grant funds becomes the property of the school or organization and must stay with the school or organization if the teacher who applied for the grant departs.