Few resources are available for district and school leaders looking to establish successful STEM labs. Frequently, efforts do not gain traction because they lack a systemic approach and the support of a broad spectrum of stakeholders within the school community. Unlike other books, Building a K-12 STEM Lab addresses this challenge from the perspective of the leader, identifying opportunities for capacity building and ensuring equal access and equity for all students. This book will: address key issues in building a STEM Lab, including budgetary constraints, space limitations, technology design and resources, and inclusivity; provide step-by-step guidelines designed to meet the diverse needs of a wide range of educational environments; and include vignettes describing the experiences of a variety of schools û public, private, rural, urban û at different levels û elementary, middle school, and high school û that have successfully established STEM labs in their schools. The comprehensive and flexible approach outlined in this book will help school and district leaders develop productive community partnerships in support of STEM education within the STEM lab and throughout the school.

1. Idea + passion + opportunity -- 2. Preparing a strong foundation -- 3. Building a budget -- 4. It takes a village -- 5. PD that fits to a T (as in technology) -- 6. At the intersection of STEM lab and curriculum -- 7. Ready, set ... now implement -- 8. Impact and expectations.