At SchoolAmanda Vaden
An image of a piggy bank and a chart showing education funding trending downward.

By Zac Amos

According to Pew Research, 28% of Americans believe schools don’t have enough STEM resources. While science scores improve, math remains challenging, and U.S. students still lag behind in global rankings.

So, how can schools with tight budgets level the playing field? It starts with thinking outside the box – and leveraging the resources that are already available.

Five Ways to Fund STEM in Your School

1. Find Local Partners

You don’t have to do it alone! Connect with local organizations, universities, museums, and businesses that support STEM education. Many offer mentorship programs, free or low-cost training for teachers, and hands-on learning experiences for students.

Companies facing a shortage of STEM-skilled workers are also stepping up – offering internships, competitions, and field trip opportunities to spark student interest in future careers. These partnerships can provide game-changing experiences without breaking the budget.

2. Support Faculty Training

STEM learning starts with confident educators. When teachers feel comfortable with STEM concepts, they can pass that knowledge on in more engaging ways.

Look into professional development programs, in-school workshops, or training partnerships with universities and tech organizations. You don’t always need big budgets for this – in-house training can be just as effective. Have math, science, or computer science teachers share insights with colleagues during professional development sessions. Also, many universities offer STEM professional development programs for free. A little collaboration can go a long way!

3. Make STEM Part of Every Subject

STEM isn’t just for science class—it’s everywhere. Finding creative ways to infuse STEM into different subjects can give students more exposure to critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • History teachers can highlight the impact of major scientific discoveries.

  • English classes can include STEM-focused readings or vocabulary.

  • Art and shop classes can take on engineering-inspired design challenges.

The more STEM concepts are woven into everyday learning, the stronger students’ understanding will be.

4. Bring in Guest Speakers

Seeing real-world STEM professionals in action can be incredibly inspiring. Invite engineers, scientists, or tech entrepreneurs to discuss their careers, answer questions, and show students what’s possible. 

Better yet, partner with local businesses to host hands-on workshops, like a robotics demo from a nearby manufacturing company. Seeing (and building) real robots can make STEM feel exciting and accessible.

5. Use Virtual Resources

Can’t afford a class field trip? No problem. Virtual experiences can open up a world of possibilities—from online science labs to digital field trips at NASA.

For example, if real frog dissections aren’t in the budget, try a virtual alternative where students can explore anatomy without the mess (or the smell).

Encourage students to search for cool virtual experiences and share their discoveries with classmates. Sometimes, all it takes is a laptop and an internet connection to bring the world of STEM into the classroom.

Give Students Time to Explore

Standardized testing often dictates classroom priorities, but hands-on exploration is just as important. When students have the opportunity to dive into STEM projects at their own pace, they gain confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime.

STEM education isn’t about expensive tools or high-tech labs—it’s about fostering confidence, creativity, critical thinking, and perseverance. By using these strategies, educators in underfunded schools can open doors to STEM careers and help students see themselves as future innovators—no matter their circumstances.

 

Zac Amos is the Features Editor at ReHack Magazine, where he covers educational technology, AI, and data literacy. His insights have been featured on CollegeXpress, Talented Learning, and HackerNoon. For more of his work, follow him on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).

Opinions expressed by sphero.com contributors are their own.

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