FY27 Star Academy Grant
FY27 Star Academy Grant supports Kentucky public school districts in creating STEM-driven programs for at-risk seventh- and eighth-graders, using hands-on, project-based learning to meet their needs.
Funder: Kentucky Department of Education
Due Dates: September 17, 2026 (Questions) | October 27, 2026, 4 p.m. ET (Applications)
Funding Amounts: $1,000,000 for one anticipated district award over three years
Summary: Supports a STEM-driven Star Academy for at-risk students in grades 7 and 8 within a Kentucky public school.
Key Information: Districts funded through the FY26 Star Academy Grant cannot apply.
Description
The Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support is seeking to fund a Star Academy: a STEM-driven, school-within-a-school program for at-risk students in grades 7 and 8. The model is intended for students who would benefit from hands-on, project-based learning.
The three-year partnership provides furniture, technology, and curriculum for dedicated math, science, social studies, and English language arts classrooms. A fifth classroom becomes a research and development space in the second year. Math and science include collaborative, hands-on work, while the program also gives students opportunities to work independently and in pairs. Districts decide which students to select.
