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 support the designation process. 

1) Attend
Deep Dive Workshop

Facilitated by the Ohio STEM Learning Network and the Department of Education, the Deep Dive into STEM and STEAM Designation Workshop provides an in-depth overview of the Ohio STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric, designation process, and available technical supports.

Register for workshop

2) Complete informal self-assessment of your school

Developed based on the STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric, the STEM and STEAM Designation School Self-Assessment is intended to be used as an informal assessment to determine the school’s areas of strength and growth related to various STEM elements.

Complete assessment

Deep Dive into STEM and STEAM Designation Workshop Dates and Registration

All aspiring and current STEM and STEAM schools are strongly encouraged to attend a session prior to starting their designation process.

Upcoming Deep Dive into STEM and STEAM Designation Workshop dates:

  • June 7, 2023 in Columbus (registration closed)
  • June 7, 2023 in Cleveland (registration closed)
  • October 4, 2023 in Columbus

Register here. Registration closes two weeks prior to the workshop or when the seats are filled.

Register for Workshop

Schools applying for the first time:

3a) Indicate interest and review timeline

The Intent to Apply Survey closed on October 17, 2022.  Schools interested in applying this year that missed the deadline for the Intent to Apply Survey should email [email protected] for information.

These schools should also review the complete timeline for initial designation across the 2022-2023 school year.

Review timeline

Schools continuing designation:

3b) Review the re-designation timeline

According to law, applications for re-designation generally begin five years after initial designation. Special requirements are in place for schools designated before 2017 or in 2018-2021. Review the timeline here. 
You will need to know your school's initial designation year to use the timeline. This information is published by the Ohio Department of Education.

Review timeline

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.

Slideroom details

5) Host a
Site Visit

Current and aspiring STEM and STEAM schools will participate in a site visit as part of the STEM and STEAM designation process. Detailed information about the site visit can be found in the Site Visit Protocol for STEM and STEAM Designation.

Schools applying for initial designation do not need to request a site visit. Upon receipt of an application for initial designation, OSLN will contact the applying school.

Schools initially designated in 2018 will begin the quality monitoring process in June 2024. At that time, these schools will be contacted by OSLN to schedule their site visit.

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 will share the final vote from Ohio STEM Committee.



Do you have questions or need more information?

For more information about designation or if you have any questions, please contact Sandra Wilder.

Email Sandra WIlder
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