Learn more about what’s next in informal STEM. We will continue to feature new and creative research and programs, exciting stories, big picture thinking, news, and STEM systems.
Trump Administration’s Budget Would Devastate Afterschool STEM Learning Opportunities For Our Nation’s Youth
Read morePresident Trump’s proposed budget cuts to afterschool programs would deny millions of American youth the opportunity to engage in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning; inhibit the development of the nation’s future scientists, engineers, inventors, and business leaders; and cut young people off from building the skills they need to advance in school, work, citizenship and life.If enacted by Congress, the President’s budget would eliminate the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, the single largest source of funding for afterschool and summer programs that enroll 1.6 million students across rural, urban and suburban communities in all 50 states.Afterschool…
STEM Ready America: A Compendium
Read moreOn Wednesday, March 1, new resources and research was released, highlighting how afterschool programs can provide gains in critical workforce skills and interest in STEM careers.The evidence is clear: Students participating in afterschool programs that focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) reported increased interest in science careers and gains in important 21st century skills such as critical thinking and perseverance, which are in high demand in today’s workforce.The key findings emerge from the Afterschool & STEM System Building Evaluation 2016, an ambitious study supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and STEM Next. The study looked at the…
- By STEM Next in News on
States receive new grants to improve career pathway programs
Read moreThe Council of Chief State School Officers and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have awarded $20 million to ten states to increase career-readiness of high school graduates. Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wisconsin will convene business and education leaders to strengthen career education and create pathways to economic success for young people.
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STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative opens applications for 3rd cohort; releases early assessments
Read moreThe STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative, led by STEM Next and supported by the STEM Funders Network, is now accepting applications for its third cohort. Currently 37 communities are participating in this national ‘community of practice’ to support and advance a cross-sector approach to STEM learning. In early January, the ecosystems initiative released two assessments of the Initiative: Design for Success: Developing a STEM Ecosystem by the University of San Diego’s Institute for Entrepreneurship in Education, and STEM Learning Ecosystems: Evaluation and Assessment Findings by Harvard’s PEAR program.
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Tiger Woods Foundation and Discovery Education Launch TGR EDU: Explore
Read moreThe Tiger Woods Foundation and Discovery Education recently launched TGR EDU: Explore, a new web-based resource to help middle and high school students navigate the college exploration process and learn about STEM-focused career paths. TGR EDU Explore is freely accessible and includes TGR Learning Labs’ curriculum, interactive student experiences, online learning activities, educator training, family discussion starters and a virtual field trip around STEM careers.
- By STEM Next in Research and Resources on
Advance CTE report recommends actions to increase high school students’ access to industry experts
Read moreA key element of Career and Technical Education initiatives and career pathway programs is providing high school students with access to industry experts who bring a real-world perspective and can help students explore and connect with career opportunities. According to a new report by Advance CTE, the roles industry experts can play in high schools include: part-time or “adjunct” high school instructors, career advisers or counselors, post-secondary faculty who teach dual or concurrent enrollment courses, mentors and career coaches, and advisors for Career Technical Student Organizations.The report, The State of Career Technical Education: Increasing Access to Industry Experts in…
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Current funding opportunities
Read moreNew York Life Foundation Aim High Grant Program.Deadline: February 17$2 million to be awarded to middle school afterschool, summer or expanded learning programs serving disadvantaged youth. Read the full application and eligibility requirements, join a webinar on January 25 at 2 PM ET. For more information email Dan Gilbert at dgilbert@afterschoolalliance.org.National Science Foundation STEM+Computing Partnerships.Deadline: March 29This program seeks to build evidence to inform development of new pedagogical strategies and pedagogical environments for integrating computing and computational thinking in the teaching and learning of pre-K-12 STEM and/or to integrate science, mathematics, and engineering in the applied teaching and learning of…
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Upcoming Events. Sign Me Up.
Read moreNationwide STEM events from February to May.
Every Hour Counts STEM Institute: A message from Ron
Read moreOn January 12 and 13th I had the pleasure of joining STEM leaders from seven cities in Nashville Tennessee for the Every Hour Counts STEM Institute. There I witnessed some of the deepest work I have seen focused on preparing cross sector teams of STEM educators to interweave the development of scientific practice as required by the Next Generation Science Standards with social emotional learning strategies in their teaching both in and out of school. To envision this is one thing, but to do it is another thing entirely! Cary Sneider, a professor at Portland State University, member of…
Focus Moves to States to Advance STEM in Out-of-School Time
Read moreThe new Every Student Succeeds Act moves states to the forefront on education policy and resource allocation. Taking advantage of the moment, the Overdeck Family Foundation is supporting the Afterschool Alliance and STEM Education Coalition to lead a multi-state initiative equipping the Mott Statewide Afterschool Networks to advance policy at the state level favorable to high-quality STEM learning in out-of-school time (OST) settings.The initiative is providing policy updates; sharing advocacy resources for afterschool/informal STEM to participate in state ESSA plan development; and brokering partnerships between members of the STEM Education Coalition and state-based afterschool advocates.In addition, six statewide networks…
