Starting for the 2023-24 school year, the NCESD STEM Materials Cooperative will supply OpenSciEd units to ALL GRADES 6-8. This replaces the Smithsonian STCMS units for middle school classrooms.

What will it look like?

  • Districts will purchase their own set of materials and store them at their district. Each kit serves 160 students (5 classes of 32 students).

  • Refurbishment is available on an annual basis through NCESD

    • Refurbishment will likely look like a district responding to a KBE sent by the ESD in the spring indicating the need for a new consumable supply kit.
    • Districts will have the flexibility to order those supplies when needed. For example, some of our smaller districts may not need supplies shipped to them every year since the kits serve up to 160 students.
    • Kits will not be shipped back and forth between the ESD and the district like they are with Smithsonian kits. A box of new supplies will be shipped directly to the district upon request and the purchase will be indicated on the KBE.
  • There are many benefits to being a part of the Cooperative and participating in the new structure.

    • Receive bulk/discount pricing
    • Free training
    • PLC opportunities for support
    • Worry free refurbishment
    • And more!

To learn more please contact Jane Schuyleman (NCESD) at janes@ncesd.org or Jeff Frates (Carolina Science) at jeff.frates@carolina.com