Five North Central Iowa Schools Receive STEM BEST® Program Awards

The Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education has announced that five school districts in North Central Iowa have been awarded funding through the STEM BEST® Program.

The STEM BEST® (Business Engaging Students and Teachers) Program connects students and educators with local employers and industry professionals to provide real-world learning experiences. Through these partnerships, schools work to identify and address local workforce needs while expanding career exploration and work-based learning opportunities for students.

The awards are designed to strengthen Iowa’s future workforce by supporting hands-on STEM learning aligned with community and industry needs.

STEM BEST® Enhancement Award

The STEM BEST® Enhancement Award supports previously funded programs that demonstrate how additional funding will expand or enrich existing STEM BEST® initiatives, strengthen business partnerships and enhance student learning experiences. The performance period for this award runs from December 2025 through May 2026.

The following North Central Iowa school district received an Enhancement Award:

• Boone Community School District

STEM BEST® Awards for New Schools

These awards are intended to help school districts launch or grow a STEM BEST® Program. Funding may be used for industry-grade equipment, facility upgrades or integrating STEM curriculum into existing courses. The performance period for new school awards runs from February 2026 through May 2027.

The following North Central Iowa school districts received awards as new participants:

• Lake Mills Community School District

• St. Ansgar Community School District

STEM BEST® Awards for Returning Schools

Returning School awards support districts looking to expand or enhance existing STEM BEST® Programs by adding grade levels, expanding into additional buildings or creating new business partnerships. The performance period also runs from February 2026 through May 2027.

The following North Central Iowa school districts received awards as returning participants:

• Mason City Community School District

• South Hamilton Community School District