A Broader Mission to Launch Oklahoma’s Students — and Its Future Workforce
Every great idea starts with a clear problem to solve.
For STEAM Catapult Fund, that problem was aerospace.
Oklahoma is a national leader in aviation and aerospace, yet too many students never see a pathway into those careers. STEAM Catapult Fund was created to change that — to help schools bring aerospace experiences into classrooms and give students hands-on exposure to real-world opportunities.
That mission worked.
And it revealed something bigger.
When One Pathway Opens, Others Follow
As schools began engaging with aerospace programs, a pattern emerged. Aerospace didn’t exist in isolation. It was deeply connected to robotics, engineering, computer science, advanced manufacturing, and other STEM disciplines already shaping Oklahoma’s economy.
Students weren’t just discovering aviation; they were discovering how STEM connects to careers.
But the original scope was limiting how many students and schools could benefit.
The challenge wasn’t vision.
It was reach.
That’s why STEAM Catapult Fund became LaunchOK.
The Same Model Built for More Students
LaunchOK isn’t a departure from the work that came before. It’s a natural expansion.
The same funding model.
The same commitment to public schools.
The same focus on workforce-connected education.
What’s different is the runway.
LaunchOK supports all STEM programming, while continuing to include and strengthen aerospace pathways. This expansion allows more schools, more communities, and more students to participate, no matter where their interests or opportunities begin.
A student might start with robotics.
Another with engineering.
Another with aerospace maintenance or flight.
LaunchOK exists so all of them have a place to launch.
The Real Problem LaunchOK Solves
Across Oklahoma, schools face the same obstacle.
Great ideas. Passionate educators. Motivated students.
But funding is short-term and unpredictable.
One-time grants make it hard to plan. Hard to grow. Hard to sustain what works. Teachers leave. Programs stall. Opportunities disappear just as momentum builds.
Donors feel it too.
Businesses and individuals want their dollars to matter. They want to see outcomes, not paperwork. Impact, not ambiguity.
LaunchOK was built to solve both sides of that problem.
How LaunchOK Becomes the Guide
LaunchOK gives clarity where there’s confusion and stability where there’s uncertainty.
By redirecting Oklahoma state income tax, LaunchOK turns required tax payments into sustainable funding for public schools — funding that supports tools, training, certifications, competitions, and teacher support tied directly to STEM and aerospace careers.
The process is simple. The impact is measurable. The funding stays in Oklahoma.
You can learn the full model here:
How LaunchOK Works
A Clear Plan Forward for Donors and Schools
LaunchOK follows a straightforward path:
- Businesses and individuals redirect a portion of their Oklahoma state income tax.
- LaunchOK awards funding to public PreK–12 schools statewide.
- Schools invest in STEM and aerospace programs that connect learning to careers.
- Students gain skills, confidence, and pathways into Oklahoma’s workforce.
For donors, this means meaningful tax benefits paired with visible impact.
For schools, it means planning beyond a single year.
Explore options based on your role:
- For companies focused on workforce development: Business
- For individuals and families seeking local impact: Personal
- For districts and educators building programs: Schools
What Success Looks Like
Success isn’t just a funded program.
It’s a student who sees a future they didn’t know was possible.
A teacher who stays because their program has support.
A business that helps grow the talent it will one day hire.
A community that keeps opportunity close to home.
LaunchOK creates the conditions where these outcomes aren’t rare, they’re repeatable.
From STEAM to LaunchOK: A Shared Transformation
STEAM Catapult Fund proved that redirecting tax dollars could unlock opportunity.
LaunchOK ensures that opportunity reaches further.
For donors, the transformation is simple. What was once uncertainty about where tax dollars go becomes clear, visible impact: real students, real classrooms, and real outcomes.
For schools, the shift is just as powerful. Instead of chasing one-off funding that disappears after a year, they gain the ability to build programs that last and grow.
And for students, the change is life-shaping. Limited exposure turns into real opportunity, confidence, and the momentum to launch into futures they can see and reach.
Your Role in the Launch
LaunchOK is a statewide effort built on partnership.
Whether you’re a business leader, an individual taxpayer, or a school preparing students for what’s next, you have a role to play in shaping Oklahoma’s future workforce.
Learn more about the mission and team behind LaunchOK:
Who We Are
Because when classrooms connect to careers, students don’t just learn.
They launch.