STEAM Designation
STEAM Designation
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SBCUSD STEAM School Designation recognizes schools' progress in providing meaningful, inclusive STEAM learning. Through a collaborative process, schools celebrate strengths, identify goals, and expand opportunities for students to create, communicate, collaborate, and think critically. Learn more about the process and discover the steps to transform your schools into a STEAM-focused learning environment. Access clear guidelines, requirements, and support resources to help you achieve STEAM status.
Explore the Designation Levels
Level I: Explorer
Level I: Explorer
Developing a foundation of STEAM learning opportunities.
Level II: Designer
Level II: Designer
Expanding STEAM implementation through multiple opportunities.
Level III: Innovator
Level III: Innovator
Providing STEAM opportunities for all students throughout the school.
Schools begin with Explorer and progress sequentially. Emerging describes schools beginning implentation or undergoing their initial designation process.
Explore the STEAM School Criteria
Explore the STEAM School Criteria
STEAM School Criteria 26-27.pdfA Guide for STEAM Growth:
A Guide for STEAM Growth:
The SBCUSD STEAM School Criteria help school teams celebrate strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and plan meaningful, inclusive STEAM learning experiences for all students.
Explore the Four Domains
Culture
Build ongoing STEAM learning opportunities through instruction, school events, and enrichment.Integrated Curriculum & Instruction
Connect standards and disciplines through relevant problems, innovative tools, and purposeful instruction.College & Career Readiness
Develop communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity while exploring STEAM careers and pathways.Inclusive Design
Ensure equitable access and design learning experiences that reflect students’ diverse strengths and needs.
Use the guide to review the criteria, reflect on current practices, and explore expectations for the Explorer, Designer, and Innovator designation levels.
Celebrating Our Designated Schools
Learn About the Designation Process
Learn About the Designation Process
What does the designation recognize?
What does the designation recognize?
The criteria address four areas of a comprehensive STEAM program:
Culture
Integrated Curriculum and Instruction
College and Career Readiness
Inclusive Design
Who can participate?
Who can participate?
The criteria are designed for SBCUSD schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade. A school’s designation team includes at least an administrator and a teacher.
How does the designation process work?
How does the designation process work?
Across one academic year, the site team reviews current practices, identifies goals, gathers evidence, and collaborates with district STEAM specialists through validation visits. The district STEAM team reviews the submission and notifies the school of its outcome.
What evidence will our school share?
What evidence will our school share?
Evidence may include schedules, sample lessons, student work, photos or videos, feedback, and participation information. A brief narrative explains how the evidence supports the criteria. Your STEAM Program Specialist can help your team consider appropriate evidence.
What is the timeline?
What is the timeline?
August through September: Informational session, initial assessment, and communication of intent to participate
October through March: Evidence collection and validation visits
March 31: Submission deadline
April: District review
May: Outcome notification
How does our school advance to the next level?
How does our school advance to the next level?
Schools may pursue the next level the following academic year. Designer and Innovator require achievement of the preceding level within the last three academic years, along with the criteria for the next level. See the criteria guide for full requirements.
Interested in STEAM School Designation?
Contact the STEAM Program Specialist overseeing your school to learn more about the process, review your school's current STEAM practices, and explore next steps.
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