ELO-P FUNDING CRITERIA

Welcome to Professor Egghead Science Academy, where our innovative ELO-P Science program is designed to meet and exceed the criteria for ELO-P programming funding.

As advocates for accessible and enriching science education, we are proud to align our program with the requirements for ASES grants and the 21st Century Learning grant as well.

Our commitment to quality means that we're always updating our program and guidelines. Read on to discover how Professor Egghead Science Academy stands out as a stellar choice for your ELO-P, 21st Century, ASES, or other funds, and explore below to see how we seamlessly integrate key elements to create an educational experience that meets and exceeds grant requirements you may have to satisfy. 

list of grants and descriptions

21st Century Grant: The 21st Century Grant, a federally funded program, is dedicated to supporting the creation of high-quality afterschool programs for students in communities with economic challenges. These grants aim to enhance academic achievement, foster positive youth development, and provide a safe and engaging environment during out-of-school hours. The 21st Century Grant is available to schools, community-based organizations, and other eligible entities, providing resources to develop innovative and comprehensive afterschool programs that address the unique needs of students and families. While it covers a broad range of afterschool activities, it often includes STEM-related programs and initiatives to provide students with engaging and educational experiences beyond regular school hours.

ASES Grant: The After School Education and Safety (ASES) Grant is a California state initiative that focuses on providing safe and educationally enriching alternatives for students during non-school hours. Aimed at elementary and middle schools, the ASES Grant supports the establishment of quality after-school programs that offer academic support, homework assistance, and a range of extracurricular activities. This grant is available to schools serving students from low-income families, aiming to bridge educational gaps and contribute to the overall well-being of students through holistic enrichment programs. While the primary focus is on homework assistance and academic support, ASES-funded programs may incorporate STEM activities to complement the overall educational experience.

ELO-P Grant: The Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO-P) Grant is a California state initiative designed to extend learning beyond the traditional school day. Geared toward elementary schools, the ELO-P Grant supports programs that provide students with additional learning opportunities in areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). This grant aims to enhance student academic achievement, social-emotional development, and overall school engagement by offering well-rounded, high-quality expanded learning experiences. The Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO-P) Grant is designed to extend learning beyond the traditional school day, and it often includes funding for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEM) programs.

Upward Bound Grant: The Upward Bound Grant is a federally funded program under the TRIO umbrella, specifically aimed at low-income and potential first-generation college students. This grant provides support services, including tutoring, counseling, and cultural enrichment activities, to help eligible high school students successfully navigate the path to higher education. The Upward Bound Grant aims to break down barriers and empower students to pursue postsecondary education, equipping them with the skills and resources needed for academic success. While it includes various support services, it is commonly used to fund STEM-related initiatives to enhance academic preparedness and interest in STEM fields.

TRIO Grant: The TRIO Grant encompasses a set of federally funded programs, including Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services, aimed at assisting low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline. TRIO programs provide a range of services, from tutoring and mentoring to financial aid guidance, to help eligible students overcome barriers to higher education. TRIO Grants play a vital role in fostering equity and accessibility in education. STEM-related components may be incorporated to promote academic achievement and expose students to opportunities in science and technology.

Gear Up Grant: The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Grant is a federal initiative aimed at increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides funding to partnerships of colleges, schools, and community organizations to offer a comprehensive set of services, including academic support, college readiness activities, and financial education. This grant is available to support students from middle school through high school, fostering a college-going culture and preparing students for future success in higher education. While GEAR UP encompasses a broad array of services, it may allocate funds to support STEM-related activities to advance students' readiness for STEM-focused higher education programs.

ELO-P FUNDING CRITERIA AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

1. Program Management

Onboarding with our team consists of a hybrid model, both online and in the classroom. When new Professors are accepted into the Academy, they first go through a set of online modules that establish
proficiency in the core scientific concepts that we are teaching, an introduction to the way that we specifically manage behavior in the classroom, and our policies and procedures.

After this content, they are quizzed and move on to a live training with our full-time dedicated training staff. This staff reviews their online training, places them in real world scenarios, and teach Professors
high level client and student interactions. The bulk of our content focuses around our core mission, which is making science Accessible, Understandable and Cool, and this means educating students on the
different levels they may encounter in the classroom of student exposure to STEM. Following the live training, teachers go through classroom observations with veteran Professors and their Field Manager, which is a role dedicated to site visits and quality control.
When they have demonstrated understanding of the program, they run a mock class for their Field Manager, which is followed up by a classroom observation with the Field Manager to observe and
approve them solo teaching.

All new teachers are observed again in their first month, followed by an ongoing observation schedule that diminishes in frequency with their tenure if their evaluations continue to be high. If they ever need
remediation, they are scheduled with our training team to review, contact and make sure they are delivering fantastic classroom experiences before heading back out.

2. Active and Engaged Learning

We prioritize active and engaged learning within our STEM programs. Through a dynamic approach centered on hands-on experiments and activities, students actively participate in the exploration of scientific concepts. Our curriculum is designed to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, helping students not only grasp theoretical knowledge but also develop practical expertise. We believe that learning is most effective when students are immersed in the material and having fun, and our interactive approach encourages them to take ownership of their educational journey.

 By emphasizing inquiry-based strategies and promoting a classroom culture that values curiosity, we strive to create an environment that nurtures a deep and lasting appreciation for science. The ELOP Science program at Professor Egghead Science Academy is more than just education; it's a dynamic experience that inspires students to actively engage with the wonders of the scientific world.

3. Skill Building

Our curriculum is designed to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, ensuring that students acquire valuable skills applicable to various aspects of their academic and personal lives.

Our science classes promote understanding of the world and the things in it, allowing students to draw connections between things that they see, as well as understand how to solve complex problems and test their hypotheses.

Our Engineering classes develop spatial understanding, problem solving, and creative thinking to overcome complex challenges. 

4. Youth Voice and Leadership

Within our ELOP Science program, we place a significant emphasis on fostering youth voice and leadership in the classroom. Our approach encourages students to actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and express their thoughts, creating an inclusive learning environment where each student's perspective is valued. Through collaborative experiments and projects, students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles, enhancing their confidence and communication skills.

Our program also incorporates real-world applications of scientific concepts, allowing students to explore issues that matter to them and discuss how science can be a catalyst for positive change. By empowering students to voice their opinions and take on leadership responsibilities, we aim to cultivate a generation of young scientists who not only excel academically but also emerge as confident, articulate leaders in the scientific community and beyond.

5. Healthy Choices and Behavior

At Professor Egghead Science Academy, our elementary science program is designed to be more than just an academic endeavor—it's a gateway to fostering lifelong healthy habits. Through our carefully crafted curriculum, we seamlessly integrate key health-related topics into the learning experience. From nutrition education on acids and bases and how they interact within us, to the importance of calcium in our teeth, and a whole module called Egghead Doctors focuing on anatomy modules on anatomy, our program ensures that students gain a comprehensive understanding of how their choices impact their well-being.

 Our engaging experiments and activities allow students to witness firsthand the effects of different lifestyle choices on the body, reinforcing the importance of making informed decisions. By incorporating these elements into our program, we aim to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to make healthy choices throughout their lives, creating a foundation for a lifetime of well-being. Join us on this exciting journey where science not only fuels curiosity but also cultivates a culture of health and vitality.

6. Diversity, Access, and Equity

Addressing Diversity, Access, and Equity is at the core of our mission within all of our programs. Our company motto is to make Accessible, understandable, and cool.

As a result, we are committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive and accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Our curriculum is designed to reflect a wide range of perspectives, ensuring that students see themselves represented in the scientific content they engage with. We teach that anywhere can be your laboratory- no fancy tools or requipment are needed to be a scientist. 

Science provides a common language that enables students from various backgrounds to communicate and work together. The principles of scientific inquiry are objective and unbiased, emphasizing empirical evidence and logical reasoning. 

To enhance access, we prioritize the use of inclusive teaching methods and materials that cater to different learning styles. Our program also takes into consideration the varied socioeconomic backgrounds of students, and we provide all of our materials with our program.

When they leave the classroom, the materials that we use are things they can find around any household, meaning socioeconomic factors don't discourage students from continuing the science.

We believe that science serves as a powerful unifier, transcending cultural, geographical, and societal boundaries. The pursuit of scientific knowledge promotes collaboration and the sharing of ideas, and the fact-based nature of it means that anyone can do science. In our ELOP Science program, students are exposed to a diverse array of scientific contributions from around the world, fostering an appreciation for the universal nature of scientific inquiry.

 

7. Quality Staff

The quality of our STEM programs is underpinned by a team of exceptional Professors (Teachers). Comprising seasoned educators with extensive backgrounds in science, our faculty brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to the classroom. Rigorous recruitment processes ensure that our educators not only possess academic expertise but also share our commitment to fostering a love for science and creating a supportive learning environment. Continuous professional development keeps our staff abreast of the latest pedagogical advancements, ensuring that our program remains innovative and aligned with the evolving landscape of science education.

Our educators serve as more than instructors; they are mentors dedicated to inspiring students through their scientific journeys. Their empathetic and responsive approach, combined with a genuine passion for teaching, establishes a positive atmosphere that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. At Professor Egghead Science Academy, our commitment to quality staff is paramount, as we believe that the caliber of our educators is integral to providing an exceptional learning experience that prepares students for a lifelong appreciation of science.

8. Clear Vision, Mission, and Purpose

At Professor Egghead Science Academy, our vision is to ignite a lifelong love for learning and curiosity through the wonders of science. Our mission is to provide a dynamic and engaging science education experience that goes beyond textbooks, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and a sense of wonder in young minds. And finally, our purpose is clear: to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers by offering innovative and hands-on science programs that make learning a ton of fun. 

Our vision is to create a world where every child sees the magic in science, fueled by their natural curiosity and a deep understanding of the world around them. Through our mission, we aim to transform education into something fun, free from textbooks and lectures, empowering students with the knowledge and skills to understand the world around them and move forward in STEM careers if they choose. 

9. Collaborative Partnerships

We're always looking to partner with organizations that foster the same mission and goals as us. To date, we've partnered with over 30 individual organizations or local community groups to offer science experiences. 

For years, we've partnered with Worthy of Love, a Los Angeles based foundation that offers birthday celebrations to homeless children, or those without parents. We have supplied free birthday parties for these students that are science based. 

We've also partnered with local science community groups, given presentations and donated free worskhops to Title 1 Schools, and partnered with groups that can expand our reach to others in pursuit of science. 

Our partnerships have one goal in mind - expand science opportunities and exposure to students that we wouldn't otherwise be working with. 

10. Continuous Quality Improvement

We understand that for a company like ours, so rooted in the people who work with us, and our staff, improvement and our promise to deliver quality is an ongoing journey, and we actively engage in systematic processes to enhance the quality of our programs continually.

One key aspect of our commitment to continuous improvement is regular program evaluations. We conduct thorough assessments of our science curriculum, our teachers in the classroom with local Field Managers, and student engagement strategies.

We evaluate all of our teachers and our course curriculum, and solicit feedback from clients, end users, teachers, and internal staff in order to make sure we're hearing what we can do better, and also what we're doing right!

Every client that we work with is asked to evaluate their experience, and students are asked to assess how much they enjoyed our lessons and their teacher. Our curriculum team combs each lesson to ensure it's gotten good feedback, and we're always working to improve the direct teaching methodologies our teachers use to manage students by way of our training and development and field manager team.

This includes seeking feedback from students, parents, and educators to identify areas of strength and opportunities for refinement. By carefully analyzing this feedback, we can adapt and evolve our programs to meet the ever-changing needs of our students and ensure that our science education remains innovative and effective.

In addition to feedback-driven improvements, we stay abreast of advancements in educational research and pedagogical practices. Our team of educators participates in ongoing professional development, attending workshops and staying connected with the broader educational community. This commitment to staying informed about the latest trends and methodologies allows us to integrate cutting-edge practices into our programs, ensuring that our students receive a top-tier education that aligns with the latest advancements in the field of science education. Through these continuous quality improvement efforts, we strive to provide an unparalleled learning experience at Professor Egghead Science Academy, setting the stage for the success and satisfaction of our students.

11. Safe and Supportive Environment

All of our staff members (Professors!) are trained to create a supportive atmosphere where students feel comfortable exploring and learning.

We keep careful role and roster to your desired level to satisfy all attendance reporting requirements.

Award Winning Curriculum

The key to our high quality curriculum is that it’s designed to engage students in a short period of time while still leaving them with a concrete understanding of important scientific concepts and ideas.

ELO-P Science Programs Include:

  • High Energy Instruction
  • 2 Hands On Science Experiments
  • 2 Science Demonstrations
  • 3 Science Keywords
  • A Take-home from class

Easy For Your Staff

Before coming on site, we handle making sure all logistics are accounted for, and all procedures are in our hands. You can trust our experience with over 60,000 students to catch everything needed to ensure a smooth launch.

What We Provide:

  • Propose program content
  • Propose Group Sizing
  • Logistics and Rostering
  • Class Management and Teaching
  • Pre-Service Planning Meeting
Science Summer Camp Professor Egghead Rocket

Intersession Schedule

LEAs that receive an ELO Program apportionment must operate an ELO Program for a minimum of 30 nonschooldays, which may include Expanded School Year Days. This requirement is something we can help with.

Intersession Dates:

  • Calendar Provided
  • Summer Programs and Camps
  • Spring Break and Winter Camps
  • Blend Seamlessly with Academics
ELOp Science Program students witness rocket launch
Professor Ashley making Volcanoes in ELOP Science Program

For more information on ELO-P Science Program guidelines visit https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ex/elofaq.asp