PA STEM & CS
Project Center
Pennsylvania has become a national leader in STEM and computer science education. This platform is the statewide infrastructure connecting all 29 Intermediate Units, program leaders, and partners to track, report, and align STEM/CS initiatives across the Commonwealth.
Annually, ORBIT-connected programs reach
Grants vs. Programs
People know PAsmart for its grants. But the grants fund a portfolio of statewide STEM and Computer Science programs — and that program work is what this platform tracks.
PAsmart Grants
PAsmart grants are the Commonwealth's investment in STEM and computer science education — competitive and formula funding awarded to schools, Intermediate Units, and partners. Grant applications, eligibility, and award details live on the official PDE site.
Visit PAsmart Grants on Pa.govPAsmart Programs
The grants fund the program work — and you likely already know many of these programs without realizing they're PAsmart:
ORBIT is the statewide infrastructure connecting all 29 Intermediate Units and program leaders to track, report, and align this program work across the Commonwealth.
Explore the PAsmart Strategic PlanOne investment, two layers
The grants provide the funding. The programs deliver the impact in classrooms across Pennsylvania. ORBIT connects the two — giving leaders the data to see what's working.
Building Pennsylvania's STEM Future, One Classroom at a Time
Building Pennsylvania's STEM Future
MISSION: PAsmart is focused on ensuring Pennsylvania students and workers have the skills and abilities to meet the economic needs of the 21st century.
VISION: Facilitate the growth of STEM and computer science education leaders in formal and informal educational settings, business and industry, family and community organizations, youth centers, learning institutions, and government agencies.
Businesses are growing in Pennsylvania, and they want skilled workers prepared for the 21st century economy. STEM careers are growing at over 9% — with 590,000 new and replacement jobs projected through 2026. Currently, there are 17,787 unfilled CS and software development jobs in Pennsylvania, with an average salary of $85,000.
Six Priority Goal Areas
- 1
Increase and diversify the number of students K–12 engaging in CS and STEM related courses by at least 10,000 learners.
- 2
Increase and diversify the number of educators receiving professional learning in CS and STEM by 20% each year.
- 3
Increase the number of high schools offering 7–12 CS courses by 75 schools and STEM courses by 75 schools each year.
- 4
Increase the number of certified 7–12 CS educators to at least 500.
- 5
Double the number of LEAs with a CS comprehensive plan from 105 to 300 LEAs.
- 6
Establish 29 Three-Dimensional Teaching and Learning Leadership Hubs.
Active Statewide Programs
Twelve active STEM and Computer Science programs connecting all 29 Intermediate Units across the Commonwealth. Some programs have logged impact data; others are active but still building their reporting — both are part of the statewide portfolio.
PA Statewide STEM Ecosystem Support
PSSE
Building and supporting STEM ecosystems across all 29 Pennsylvania Intermediate Units, connecting formal and informal education with community partners.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Statewide System of Support STEM POC Leadership
SSOS:STEM Leads
Supporting STEM Points of Contact leadership across all deliverables, ensuring coordinated technical assistance and professional development delivery statewide.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Keystone STEM Competitions
Keystone STEMComp
A statewide, low-barrier STEM challenge designed to increase student participation by leveraging regional Intermediate Unit leadership, local STEM Ecosystems, and flexible scheduling. Two IUs serve as Co-Leads supporting statewide coordination.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
PA Environmental Literacy Hubs
PA ELit
Environmental literacy and outdoor STEM education, connecting students with meaningful watershed education experiences and place-based environmental learning.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Pennsylvania STEELS Education Leadership
PennSEL
Leadership development for STEM education leaders, focused on the implementation of three-dimensional science standards and systemic instructional shifts.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Chief Science Officers
CSOs
A network of student STEM ambassadors affiliated with each IU. The CSO program strengthens leadership, builds confidence, and connects students with the real world of STEM. More than a club — a life-changing experience for youth engagement in science and community leadership.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Remake Learning Days Across PA
RMLDs x PA
A large-scale STEM-focused exploratory learning festival with 500+ host sites across Pennsylvania for public STEM experiments, maker-space activities, and community engagement. Celebrating 10 years in 2026.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Computational Thinking: Project Tomorrow
CT
Building computational thinking skills statewide, preparing students with the problem-solving foundations essential for STEM and computer science success.
PA Scholastic Esports League
PSEL
Esports as a pathway to STEM and CS engagement and workforce development, leveraging student interest in competitive gaming to build technical, communication, and teamwork skills.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
PA Student-Centered Learning
PASCL
Promoting student-centered, systems-thinking approaches to improving outcomes for all learners across Pennsylvania schools.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Computer Science in PA
CSinPA
A portfolio of projects aimed at increasing the diversity and reach of students and teachers participating in computer science across Pennsylvania, including certification pathways, SCRIPT training, and innovative CS learning experiences.
Annual Avg · 3-yr Reach
Phila STEM/CS Technical Assistance
Phila Tech Asst
Targeted technical assistance for STEM and CS programs in Philadelphia, supporting urban STEM education initiatives and equitable access.
Reach figures show annual averages across the last 3 school years. Programs marked "Active — impact data coming" are running but have not yet logged reach data.
SY 2024-2025 Impact at a Glance
Data from the SY 2024-2025 Annual Report, showing the collective reach of all active programs across Pennsylvania's 29 Intermediate Units.
Program-Level Impact Breakdown
Programs with logged activities this school year
| Program | Activities | Students | Educators | Workforce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Keystone STEM Competitions Keystone STEMComp | 1 | 2,150 | 50 | 50 |
PA Environmental Literacy Hubs PA ELit | 7 | 1,750 | 118 | 194 |
Chief Science Officers CSOs | 8 | 1,312 | 295 | 58 |
PA Statewide STEM Ecosystem Support PSSE | 4 | — | 585 | 701 |
Statewide System of Support STEM POC Leadership SSOS:STEM Leads | 10 | — | 146 | — |
Phila STEM/CS Technical Assistance Phila Tech Asst | 1 | — | — | — |
| Statewide Total | 68 | 140,984 | 32,484 | 26,931 |
Data from the SY 2024-2025 Annual Report. Six additional programs are active but did not log activities during that school year.
Annual Reports
Year-by-year documentation of Pennsylvania's statewide STEM and CS program impact, implementation, and outcomes.
Stories from the Field
The people behind the numbers — students, educators, and workforce partners across Pennsylvania whose work is documented in the latest PAsmart annual report.
Students
Confidence, skills, and early engagement in STEM and Computer Science pathways.
Students in grades 7–12 are now enrolled in computer science courses statewide — a milestone in sustained CS access.
CSinPAStudent leaders serving as STEM ambassadors in their schools and communities, with participation up 11× since launch.
CSO ProgramYoung people designing solutions — from biomedical prototypes to renewable energy — that improve life for Pennsylvanians.
Governor's STEM CompetitionStudents created career artifacts this year, with 88% produced by K–5 learners — underscoring early engagement.
CSO ProgramEngaging the youngest learners through music and movement while embedding STEM and CS concepts in classrooms.
BrightNow
Educators
Scalable, evidence-based professional learning aligned to high-quality instruction.
CSinPA used a train-the-trainer model across 21 IUs, multiplying local capacity to deliver professional development.
CSinPAProject Tomorrow’s Computational Thinking initiative engaged 41 IUs and 16 LEAs — nearly all participants affirmed direct classroom applicability.
PASCL · Project TomorrowPennSEL (WestEd) supported 160+ district and IU leaders with resources and toolkits for STEELS implementation.
PennSEL · WestEdISTE/ASCD’s generative AI professional learning built educator understanding, with strong demand for district-level adoption.
AI · ISTE/ASCDThe Student-Centered Learning Network now includes nearly all IUs statewide, equipping leaders to personalize instruction and increase student agency.
Student-Centered Learning
Workforce & Community
Career-connected partnerships and regional ecosystems addressing workforce challenges.
Employers, higher education, nonprofits, and government engaged through STEM Ecosystems facilitated by IUs statewide.
STEM EcosystemsPSSE convened leaders from 14 regional ecosystems, hosted a statewide leadership summit, and built a pipeline of STEM ecosystem leaders.
PSSEEnvironmental Literacy & Sustainability Hubs hosted symposia and mini-grants, aligning instruction to sustainability and green industries.
ELit HubsRemake Learning Days connected 254 schools and 175 LEAs with families through free events across the Commonwealth.
Remake Learning DaysSee the Work in Action
Voices and stories from students, educators, and workforce partners across Pennsylvania — captured in classrooms, communities, and convenings statewide.
Foundational Plans & Frameworks
Foundational plans and frameworks guiding Pennsylvania's long-term STEM and CS education strategy.
PAsmart Strategic Plan
The overarching strategic framework guiding Pennsylvania's STEM and CS investment priorities, goal targets, and cross-agency coordination.
PAsmart Grants
Official PDE page for PAsmart grant programs, eligibility, applications, and award details — administered through Pa.gov.
PAsmart Evaluation (AIR)
American Institutes for Research evaluation of the PAsmart initiative, providing formative and summative recommendations for future Commonwealth STEM and CS initiatives.
Access the ORBIT Portal
Sign in to access your IU reporting dashboard, log program activities, track deliverables, and collaborate with STEM leaders across Pennsylvania.