STEM Designation
How Does a School Become a STEM School?
Ohio law provides a specific pathway for schools to seek and receive designation as a STEM or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) school. Designation recognizes a school as an effective place for STEM or STEAM learning.
Schools apply for designation from the Ohio STEM Committee, a committee of state and community leaders. The Ohio STEM Learning Network and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce support the designation process.
Updated rubric, video overviews, portal
As schools prepare to seek designation over the 2025-2026 school year, supports are available:
- The Ohio STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric provides the foundation of the STEM and STEAM designation process.
- On July 10, 2024, Ohio’s STEM Committee approved updates to the protocol for the sites visits required for designation.
- The Ohio STEM Learning Network has launched an updated version of the online Slideroom portal for schools seeking designation.
Learn about the rubric in these video overviews from the Ohio STEM Learning Network.
Step by step process guide
1) Attend a designation
review session
The Ohio STEM Learning Network and the Department of Education and Workforce will host virtual Q&A sessions. Hear insights about the Ohio STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric, designation process, and available technical supports.
2) Complete informal self-assessment of your school
Schools applying for the first time:
3a) Indicate interest and review timeline
The schools applying for initial STEM or STEAM designation are required to complete an Intent to Apply form. The deadline to complete the Intent to Apply is December 1, 2025.
After successfully submitting an Intent to Apply, complete designation applications are due February 3, 2026.
The 2025-2026 timeline can be found on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s website.
Schools continuing designation:
3b) Review the re-designation timeline
According to law, applications for re-designation generally begin five years after initial designation.
The timeline for redesignation is published by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
4) Apply for STEM or STEAM Designation
Review the Ohio STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric.
The Ohio STEM and STEAM Designation application is available through SlideRoom.
Please read and refer to the SlideRoom Information for STEM and STEAM Designation for details on accessing and completing the application.
5) Host a Site Visit
Current and aspiring STEM and STEAM schools need to meet minimum requirements to participate in a site visit as part of the STEM and STEAM designation process.
Detailed information about the site visit, including the requirements, can be found in the Site Visit Protocol for STEM and STEAM Designation.
6) Receive Notification
The Ohio STEM Learning Network will notify the school of the Network’s recommendation regarding the school’s designation status within four weeks of the site visit.
The final OSLN recommendation will be submitted to the Ohio STEM Committee for their approval.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will share the final vote from Ohio STEM Committee.