The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education today announced 12 STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) programs have been awarded over $200,000 in grants for a new summer pilot program, STEM BEST Explore. STEM BEST Explore will allow existing STEM BEST partner schools to extend work-based and career-connected learning opportunities for students throughout the summer. The pilot program aims to help students make connections between the classroom and the workplace and learn about STEM careers. The 12 schools that were awarded through an application process included Earlham Community School District, Pella Community School District, Waterloo Community School District, Storm Lake Community School District, Osage Community School District, Holy Family Catholic Schools in Dubuque, Council Bluffs Community School District, Iowa City Community School District, Metro and CityView High Schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, Harlan Community School District and the Marshalltown Community School District.