STEM Ed Update 4/22/2016

Please enjoy this week's STEM Ed update.

Top Article:

A Deep Dive into the New STEM OPT Extension Rule: What Employers, Big and Small, Need to Know

The National Law Review

On March 11, 2016 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its final rule for international students with U.S. degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) seeking extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) (the "Final Rule") employment authorization. The Final Rule creates a new 24-month STEM OPT extension period along with additional government oversight and substantial new requirements for students, their universities, and their potential STEM employers. International (F-1) students graduating with STEM degrees may now be issued work authorization for up to 36 months if they will work for E-Verify subscribed employers.

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

Why America's Schools Have a Money Problem

NPR

Let's begin with a choice.

Say there's a check in the mail. It's meant to help you run your household. You can use it to keep t

he lights on, the water running and food on the table. Would you rather that check be for $9,794 or $28,639?

It's not a trick question. It's the story of America's schools in two numbers.

That $9,794 is how much money the Chicago Ridge School District in Illinois spent per child in 2013 (the number has been adjusted by Education Week to account for regional cost differences). It's well below that year's national average of $11,841.

Read more here.

Is Teaching Kids Empathy Just as Important as Teaching Them Math?

Pacific Standard

Are we teaching our kids to feel?

It's a question posed by countless education pioneers, many of whom took issue with the rigid conformity of No Child Left Behind (and found at least some subsequent relief through the new Every Student Succeeds Act). And as study after study proves, Americans don't fare too well in social-emotional competency; the need for early childhood education is becoming increasingly more apparent.

Read more here.

Should All Math Classes Be Morning Classes?

EdWeek

A new research study has found that students perform better in math classes held in the morning than those held in the afternoon. The Review of Economics and Statistics published Nolan Pope's paper, "How the Time of Day Affects Productivity: Evidence from School Schedules, last month. Pope's study found a significant difference in math scores for students who took the subject earlier in the day as compared to students who took it toward the end of the day.

Read more here.

Around the Community

STEM Magazine: April Issue

Check out this month's issue of STEM magazine and read about a variety of topics including articles about basketball, drones, and colleges.

Iowa State University Conducts Research on STEM Education Software

A group of students from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa are working on a research project for a university program called CyBIZ Lab regarding STEM education software in schools K-12 around the United States. Their survey link is below and holds 5 quick questions which should take no longer than 5 minutes to answer. Their goal is to gauge an understanding of satisfaction levels regarding software offerings and utilization. Help them out by following the link below to take their survey!

Read more here.

Carnegie Museums Announces the Public Launch of SPARK! A Campaign for Carnegie Science Center

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh has announced the public launch of SPARK! A Campaign for Carnegie Science Center, which has already raised 77 percent of its $34.5 million goal. To date, the campaign has raised $26.5 million to expand the Science Center's acclaimed science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming and build a three-story Science Pavilion that will house a suite of STEM Learning Labs and a Special Exhibitions Gallery for large-scale changing exhibitions. Already the region's most visited museum with more than 500,000 annual visitors, the Science Center is also re-energizing current exhibits and creating new visitor experiences as part of the SPARK! Campaign.

Read more here.

Join the Coalition!

We at the STEM Education Coalition hope you have enjoyed this week's edition of the STEM Ed Newsletter.

Any organization may join the Coalition, and there is no cost to become an Affiliate Member. Affiliate members are listed on our website, receive periodic communications on policy matters, and will be signed up for the weekly newsletter.

Your organization can also apply to join the Coalition's Policy Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in frequent interactions with policymakers.

If you would like to join the Coalition at any level, please read our message to prospective members or email us at [email protected].

We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

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