Skip to content
SHPE on the Hill

SHPE to Receive Federal Investment, Expanding STEM Learning Opportunities and Building the Next Generation of Innovators in California Schools

  • $236,000 Congressional Directed Spending Award to Launch STEM Labs Program at California Middle Schools
  • Mariana Acuña Delgado

|

We are grateful to share that SHPE has been awarded $236,000 in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2026 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. This support comes from Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) requests championed by Senator Alex Padilla of California and enacted into law on February 3. The award is a significant milestone, signaling that early STEM talent development is a national priority worthy of federal investment. 

SHPE will use this funding to launch a hybrid program combining Virtual STEM Labs and Noche de Ciencias at two California middle schools, bringing hands-on, in-class learning and mentorship directly to students. The program is designed to make STEM visible, relevant, and achievable, connecting students with professionals whose career journeys can inspire them to become the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. 

SHPE CEO Suzanna Valdez Wolfe reflected on the significance of the award: 

“The STEM Labs Program will allow us to remove barriers for young students who are curious about STEM, giving them hands-on experiences, mentorship, and role models whose life experiences and STEM journeys resonate with their own. We thank Senator Padilla and his team for believing in our mission and supporting our vision for this program.” 

Congressional Directed Spending is one of the most direct signals the federal government sends about where the national interest lies. Senator Padilla’s leadership on this request affirms what SHPE has long demonstrated: that strengthening the STEM talent pipeline is a matter of national competitiveness and economic strength. For industries that depend on a skilled STEM workforce across technology, engineering, defense, energy, and healthcare, this opportunity will attract private matching funds, giving the private sector a direct role in developing the talent pipeline. 

For SHPE, this federal investment is more than a recognition. It is an opportunity to accelerate what has been built through years of program design, community relationships, and advocacy. We are eager to launch the STEM Labs Program and deepen its impact on students, industries, and the nation. 

See Senator Padilla’s full list of secured projects: padilla.senate.gov