Racial Equity in STEM Education

Racial Equity in STEM Education Program Description (EHR Racial Equity)

Persistent racial injustices and inequalities in the United States have led to renewed concern and interest in addressing systemic racism. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) seeks to support bold,ground-breaking,andpotentiallytransformativeprojectsaddressing systemic racismin STEM.Proposalsshouldadvanceracial equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce developmentthroughresearch(both fundamental andapplied)andpractice. Core to this funding opportunity is thatproposalsare led by, or developed and led in authentic partnership with, individuals and communities most impacted bytheinequities caused by systemic racism. The voices, knowledge, and experiences of those who have been impacted by enduring racial inequities should be at the center oftheseproposals,includingin, for example: project leadership and research positions,conceptualization of theproposal,decision-making processes, and the interpretationand disseminationof evidence and research results. Theproposed workshould provide positive outcomes fortheindividuals and communities engaged and should recognize peoples' humanity, experiences, and resilience.Proposalsneed to considersystemic barriers to opportunities and benefits, and how these barriersimpact access to, retentionin,and success in STEM education, research,and workforce development.Competitiveproposalswillbe clear with respect to how the workadvancesracial equity andaddressessystemic racism, as these constructs may have different meanings in different settings.

Proposals should articulate a rigorous plan to generate knowledgethroughresearch (both fundamental and applied) and practice, such as, but not limited to:

• buildingtheory;
• developingmethods;
• testing approaches andinterventions;
• assessing the potential, efficacy, effectiveness, and scalability of approaches andinterventions;
• establishing,cultivatingand assessingauthenticpartnerships;

• changing institutional, organizational, and structural practices and policies; and/or
• focusing on affective, behavioral, cultural, social components,and implications.

Contexts may include, but are not limited to: preK-12,two- andfour-year undergraduate, and graduate institutions; municipal organizations;STEM workplaces;andinformal STEM contexts, such as museums, community organizations, and media.

In addition, proposals should include adissemination plan to proactively share what is learned with individuals and communities most impacted,as well asrelevant leaders, policy makers, and other stakeholders.Proposal budgets and project durations should be determined by the scope of the activities and in accordance with theNSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).PIs should include Racial Equity: at the beginning of the proposal title.