Lancaster ISD accepts $2 million Texas Instruments Foundation grant for STEM expansion

The Lancaster ISD Board of Trustees voted to accept a $2,000,000 grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation to continue and expand the district’s “STEM for All” initiative.

The grant, presented to trustees by Dr. Knight, will fund teacher training in design thinking and problem-based learning, establish campus maker spaces and support after-school STEM clubs, Dr. Knight said. "These dollars will help support training for all teachers and design thinking and problem based learning, establish maker spaces, and after school STEM clubs on campuses," Dr. Knight told the board.

The board moved and seconded the acceptance during the action-items portion of the meeting. Trustee Mr. Jones made the motion to accept the grant and Trustee Ms. Cortez seconded the motion. Board members voted using their devices; the motion was approved and recorded by the secretary.

The superintendent’s office and district staff said the funds will be used to accelerate math and science instruction, expand college and career pathways and increase hands-on learning opportunities for students across grade levels. District leaders said they will release implementation details once the district finalizes plans with the foundation.

The board discussion at the time focused on implementation and how the grant money will be invested in professional development and student-facing programming. No additional conditions were attached to the acceptance motion.

The approval follows earlier public acknowledgements at the meeting noting Texas Instruments Foundation’s multi-year support for Lancaster ISD and previewing the grant award.

Lancaster ISD will return to the board with specifics on campus-level programming and timelines as staff develop implementation plans.