About ED INITIATIVES
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Programs

Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship provides a unique professional development opportunity for accomplished K-12 educators in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to serve in the national education arena. Fellows spend eleven months working in a federal agency or in a U.S. Congressional office, bringing their extensive knowledge and experience in the classroom to education program and/or education policy efforts. Current host agencies include the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Act was signed into law in November 1994 and gave the DOE the responsibility for administering the program. The DOE's Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, which is located in the Office of Sciences, manages the program in collaboration with the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

Einstein Fellows have made a number of outstanding contributions to the field, which include:

  • Designing and implementing national science, math, and technology education programs;
  • Initiating collaborations and partnerships among federal agencies;
  • Drafting legislation and advising on policies that seek to improve K-12 education in the United States;
  • Creating web-based science education programs; and
  • Establishing and evaluating national and regional programs centered on school reform and teacher preparation in STEM disciplines.

Eligibility

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship requires that all applicants:

  • Be a U.S. citizen at the time of applying;
  • Have a minimum of five years of full-time classroom teaching experience prior to completing the application;
  • Have been teaching full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least five of the last seven years in a STEM discipline;
  • Be currently employed full-time in a public or private elementary or secondary school or school district;
  • Be able to provide a letter of recommendation from a school district official as one of their three required letters of recommendation; and
  • Be able to obtain approval for a leave of absence from teaching in order to participate in the program for the full 11 months.

Additional Requirements

  • Current and former Einstein Fellows are not eligible to apply for a second fellowship.
  • Eligible individuals may apply a maximum of 3 times within a 6 year period.

Additional Information

Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

National Science Bowl (NSB)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. Middle and high school student teams from diverse backgrounds are comprised of four students, one alternate, and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. These teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math.

A featured event at the National Finals for middle school students, the Electric Car Competition, invites students to design, build, and race battery-powered model cars. This competition tests the creative engineering skills of many of the brightest math and science students in the nation as they gain hands-on experience in the automotive design process and with electric battery technology.

Regional science bowl championship teams receive an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the national event. High school and middle school teams travel to Washington, DC, in late April. The national events include several days of science activities, sightseeing, and competitions. There are cutting-edge science seminars and hands-on science activities.

Eligibility

To be eligible to compete, a high school student must be enrolled for the current school year in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 at the team's school; a middle school student must be enrolled for the current school year in grades 6, 7, or 8 at the team's school. A student is limited to, at most, 3 years of middle school competition and 4 years of high school competition. A student may not compete in both the middle school and high school events in the same year.

Teams of home school students and science clubs are welcome to participate provided that all members of the team live within the DOE's defined geographic area of the regional event. However, if the school that a student attends is competing in a Regional Science Bowl, that student may compete only on a team from that school.

Further Information

Agency: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

State Energy Program (SEP)

The National Energy Conservation Policy Act (1978) established the Institutional Conservation Program, which provided energy conservation grants to schools and hospitals to improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce cost. Beginning in fiscal year 1996, this program was consolidated into the new State Energy Program, together with the State Energy Conservation Program. The new program is operated like the State Energy Conservation Program, with States having the flexibility to offer a wide range of activities, including energy efficiency projects of schools and hospitals.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) amended Title III, Part D of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), pertaining to State energy conservation plans. The amended section provides that the Secretary of Energy shall, at least once every three years, invite the Governor of each State that has submitted a State energy conservation plan to DOE to review and, if necessary, revise the State plan. In addition, the amended section provides that the energy conservation goal in State plans must call for a 25 percent or more improvement in the efficiency of State energy use in calendar year 2012 as compared to calendar year.

Private schools that qualified for assistance under the Institutional Conservation Program would also be eligible under the new program, if the State is including assistance to schools in its activities. To determine if the State in which you reside offers such activities, and to obtain information about State programs and/or applications, contact the State energy officer (link provided below).

Further Information:



   
Last Modified: 09/05/2019