The school district was awarded this 5-year grant in 2018 by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Step Up to STEM's main purpose is to enrich the STEM curriculum for 4th-8th graders and their teachers at three target schools through:

• creating a database of STEM field trips and guest speakers
• implementing STEM summer camps for 300 students a summer
• creating before and after school STEMtastic clubs
• facilitating/teaching professional development in STEM areas for staff
• creating makerspaces/STEM labs
• developing local STEM partnerships with businesses, nonprofit agencies, military units, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks

• Arctic Light Elementary
• Ladd Elementary
• Tanana Middle