How to Apply
Spring 2023
Spring 2023 Programs (Flyer below)
Meet on 12 Saturdays from January 28 – April 29th.* There will no sessions on February 25th and April 8th. Course descriptions can be found on the applications.
*Kaplan SAT Scholars will meet on Saturdays from February 18th until April 29th.
* IN-PERSON (Proof of vaccination required)
- 1st Period: 9am-10:30am
- 2nd Period: 10:35am-12:05pm
- Lunch Break: 12:05am-12:40pm
- 3rd Period: 12:40pm-2pm
Middle School Program | Grades 7 and 8 | Students are required to take both courses and participate in the workshop sessions
Application: https://tinyurl.com/Spring23InPersonMS
1st Period: Coding Design or Environmental Science
2nd Period: Introduction to Algebra or Engineering Design
High School Program | Grades 9-12 | Students are required to take both courses and participate in the workshop sessions
Application: https://tinyurl.com/Spring23InPersonHS
1st Period Options: Algebraic Topics Review, College Statistics, Financial Literacy, Introduction to Precalculus, or Research Methods
2nd Period Options: Chemistry Review, Climate Change Impacts, Introduction to Bioethics, Introduction to Computer Science, General Psychology, or Understanding Genetics
*REMOTE (Access to stable WIFI and a personal device required)
Program A | Grades 10, 11, and 12
Application- https://tinyurl.com/Spring2023RemoteProgramA
Advanced Biology | 10am – 11:30am
Program B| Grades 7, 8, and 9
Application- tinyurl.com/Spring23RemoteProgramB
Life Sciences | 12pm-1:30pm
KAPLAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM (REMOTE) |February 25, 2023- April 29, 2023
Kaplan Scholars Application- https://tinyurl.com/KaplanScholarsSpring23
SAT Preparation: 12pm-2:00pm | Grades 10 & 11 | $175 fee | Intensive prep for May SAT exam.
Submitting a Complete Application
Admission to the STEP Academy is selective and based primarily on a student’s academic record. Interested students must submit a completed program application by the stated deadline. Personal essays, report cards or transcripts, teacher evaluations, and income verification documents (for students claiming eligibility based on economic factors) are essential components of the application. We are unable to consider incomplete applications.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the STEP Academy program a student must be:
- Enrolled in grades 7 -12 with good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 80 overall, and an 80 or above in both math and science courses.
- A resident of New York State.
- A member of a historically underrepresented group (as defined by the New York State Education Department) in the scientific, technical, health-related, and licensed professions. This includes African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American Indian, and Alaskan Native or must qualify as economically disadvantaged based on the household income criteria indicated in the following table.
Income Eligibility Criteria 2022 -2023
| Household Members | Maximum Household Eligible Income for New York State Opportunity Programs Ending for Tax year 2021 |
| 1 | $23,828 |
| 2 | $32,227 |
| 3 | $40,626 |
| 4 | $49,025 |
| 5 | $57,424 |
| 6 | $65,823 |
| 7 | $74,222 |
| 8 | $82,621 |
* For 2022-23, add $8,399 for each additional family member in excess of 8.
Program Expectations
Once admitted to the program students are expected to:
- Attend and participate in all STEP activities and classes
- Arrive at STEP sessions on time and ready to participate with applicable assignments and materials
- Conduct themselves in a manner conducive to their own learning and to the learning of others
