Opportunity Overview
Commitment to Excellence in STEM Grant, Competition #17, 2026-2027 is a currently open Arkansas school funding opportunity administered by the Arkansas STEM Coalition using Arkansas Committed to Education Foundation license plate funds authorized through Act 529 of 2001. Applications are due September 18, 2026, no later than 5:00 PM. The controlling RFA does not state a time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Funding and Grant Period
The Arkansas STEM Coalition reports a total 2026-2027 funding pool of $112,145.20. There is no minimum request, and applicants may request up to $10,000 per participating school, including professional development. Professional development may not exceed $1,500 and may not exceed 15% of the total award.
The grant period runs from October 5, 2026 through May 31, 2027. Equipment and materials funded by the award must be purchased by April 1, 2027. Professional development and other allowable expenses must be completed by May 31, 2027, and the final report is due June 30, 2027 at 5:00 PM.
Eligibility and Geography
Eligible applicants are Arkansas public schools serving at least one grade from kindergarten through sixth grade. An individual school may apply directly, a school district may apply on behalf of a participating school, or an eligible Arkansas STEM Center may apply on behalf of a participating school. Only one application may be submitted per school. Schools with unspent funds or outstanding reports from a prior Commitment to Excellence award are not eligible for a new award until those obligations are resolved.
Allowable Uses and Restrictions
Grant funds are intended to directly support student STEM learning. The RFA gives examples including microscopes, proscopes, beakers, science kits, technology and software, probeware, GPS equipment, mathematics manipulatives, makerspace materials, and robotics. Professional development tied to the proposed STEM project is also allowable within the program limits.
Field trips, competition entry fees, intangible items other than software subscriptions, costs exclusively serving grades outside K-6, salaries, non-professional-development consulting, and indirect costs are not allowable. The RFA also permits the Arkansas STEM Coalition to purchase approved equipment directly for a participating school, and notes that direct-purchase agreements may limit vendors.
Match and Cost Share
No mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement was identified in the current Competition #17 RFA. Atlas searched the controlling RFA for matching-funds, cost-share, contribution, and related terms and found no stated applicant match requirement. Applicants should still follow the final approved budget and any instructions issued by the Arkansas STEM Coalition.
Required Application Materials
The application package must include the required cover page, district information, school information, project information, timeline and standards information, project narrative, signed Grant Assurance Form, and signed Superintendent Support Letter, plus the STEM Center information sheet when applicable. The main application components are combined into one Word or PDF file. The budget must be submitted separately in Excel using the provided budget template.
The RFA requires handwritten signatures on the assurance and superintendent support materials. Scanned handwritten signatures are acceptable, but typed or electronic signatures are not. Applications can be disqualified for exceeding the $10,000 per-school maximum, exceeding professional-development limits, missing required signatures or documents, using shared or ZIP-file links, submitting the budget in the wrong format, or arriving late.
Submission and Contact
Applicants must submit the complete electronic application package to Grants@ArkansasSTEMCoalition.com by September 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM. The official grant page lists 501-425-2626 for grant questions. The RFA does not publish a deadline time zone.
Strategic Fit
Atlas Opportunity Score: 58/100. This is a verified, currently open Arkansas school-equipment and STEM-learning opportunity with a clear application package, a $10,000 per-school ceiling, and a statewide public-school applicant pool. Strategic value for Atlas is moderated by the K-6 focus, competitive scoring criteria, limited award size, and absence of a healthcare-specific funding purpose.
N9+ Fit Score: 12/100, conditional. The opportunity is not designed for telehealth, clinical care, remote physical examination, or healthcare delivery. A health-science classroom concept could be eligible only when it is genuinely age-appropriate, aligned to K-6 STEM standards, directly benefits students, and fits all equipment and budget rules. Atlas does not recommend forcing a Nonagon N9+ device and platform role into this grant. QC Healthcare and direct Dr. Miltie applicant fit are not indicated by the controlling RFA.
Potential Applicant Profile
A realistic applicant is an Arkansas public elementary or K-8 school with a clearly defined K-6 STEM instructional need, measurable student reach, a standards-aligned project, and a durable equipment or materials plan. The scoring rubric gives weight to demonstrated financial and academic need, student reach, prior award history, and durable equipment use.