STEP UP is a national community of physics teachers, researchers, and professional societies. We design high school physics lessons to empower teachers to inspire students to pursue physics in college.
Goal: STEP UP 2026-27 Advocates cohort will join a growing, regional community of teachers, university faculty, and pre-service teachers to implement STEP UP curriculum in their classrooms to inspire all students to pursue physics. Selected teachers will join a cohort of nearly 200 teachers from three specific regions centered around Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City. See Eligibility below.
The application is now closed
Eligibility:
-
Apply anytime between February 27, 2026 - March 29, 2026
-
Teaching at least one section of physics during the 2026-27 academic year
-
Able to attend the in-person Advocate Summit for your region
-
Willing to provide feedback about your and your students’ experiences with the STEP UP lessons
-
Teaching in one of the regions below during the 2026-27 academic year:
|
Los Angeles Region
|
Chicago Region
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Los Angeles Metropolitan, including Anaheim, Long Beach, and Orange counties
|
Greater Chicago area, including ISTA Regions 1 (Chicago) and 7 (Suburban Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or Will County |
|
|
New York Region
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, Northern New Jersey (counties shown on the map), Westchester, Suffolk, Nassau counties and the greater Buffalo area
|
|
The STEP UP program will accept up to 60 teachers from each region, and each Advocate will earn a $750 stipend. The STEP UP program staff will train Advocates on the STEP UP curriculum at an in-person regional STEP UP Summit (See below for date/time) in the summer of 2026.
Advocates earn their stipend by:
-
| Time of year |
Advocate Program Task |
|
April 2026
|
Welcome to the Cohort 3 Advocate Program for 2026-27 |
| May - June 2026 |
Attend a one-day in-person training on the STEP UP curriculum (summer 2026)
-
Los Angeles Regional Summit: TBD
-
Chicago Regional Summit: TBD
-
New York Regional Summit: TBD
Complete Advocate pre-surveys
|
| September - October 2026 |
Administer pre-surveys for students
|
| September 2026 - March 2027 |
Use the STEP UP Careers in Physics & Women in Physics lessons with your students
Utilize the Everyday Actions Guide in your classroom
Attend optional in-person and virtual community events in your region
|
| April 2027 |
Complete Advocate post-survey; Administer student post-survey
|
| May - June 2027 |
Receive stipend for your time and dedication
|
Clip from our Summer 2024 New York Regional Summit
Advocate Program FAQs:
1. Can I apply if I'm retired / taking a leave of absence / not in a high school classroom?
2. I am just graduating from a teacher credential program, can I apply?
3. If I can't attend the in-person STEP UP Summit training, can I still apply?
4. Should I have delivered the STEP UP lessons before?
-
No, we're excited to welcome folks who know about STEP UP but haven't done the lessons yet!
-
Also, if you have delivered the STEP UP lessons, you are still welcome to join us!
5. I don’t know my teaching schedule for the 2026-27 school year. Can I still apply?
6. I might be changing schools for the 2026-27 school year, but will remain in one of the regions of focus. Can I still apply?