April 3, 2014

Welcome!

Here's this week's edition of the STEM Ed Update.

Also, if you haven't yet registered for the U.S. News STEM Solutions National Leadership Conference, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C from April 23-25, make sure to use the Coalition's discount code: SEC14.

Coalition Update

Coalition Supports Merkley-Franken STEM Appropriations Letter

The Coalition urged Senators this week to sign a letter supporting funding for the Math and Science Partnership program at the Department of Education.

Read the full message here.

Top Article:

State Adoptions of the Common Core: Updating Our Map

Education Week

We began reporting on the adoptions in February of 2010, when Kentucky became the first state to do so, four months before the final, official standards were released (they made their decision based on drafts they'd reviewed). By November of 2011, with Montana's adoption, 46 states and the District of Columbia had adopted the standards. Ever since, we've been saying "all but four states" have adopted them. Now, with Indiana's move, we'll get accustomed to saying "all but five states."

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

Gillibrand Unveils Agenda to Boost STEM Education

The Leader

Standing amid aging giants imagined and created by the last generation of great engineers, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Monday the nation needs to do more to help the next generation get started. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., came to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center to push for three new pieces of legislation she's introduced to help educate and train students in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Read more here.

Bringing Code to Class: Teachers Emphasize Software, Engineering Skills in Schools

TreeHouse Island, Inc

The Miami Heat's Chris Bosh knows how. So do Will.i.am, Ashton Kutcher and Shakira. Elementary school students are figuring it out, too: Learning to write and develop software opens a world of opportunities. American K-12 educators are among those at the forefront of a movement that's bringing coding and related STEM fields - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - to young students.

Read more here.

3 Technologies Bolstering STEM Learning

Education Week

According to the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) Coalition, there are 26 million STEM jobs in the U.S., comprising 20 percent of all jobs. By 2020, there will be 9.2 million STEM jobs in the U.S. Despite the need for these workers, only 45 percent and 30 percent of high school seniors are prepared for college-level math and science courses, respectively.

Read more here.

STEM or STEAM? We're Missing the Point

Huffington Post

STEM education is one of the most talked about subjects in our country today -- and for good reason. From our K-12 system and post-secondary institutions to business, industry and government, most everyone is focused on -- or at least has something to say about -- STEM education as a key solution to improve educational performance and solve the persistent workforce development problems that plague our nation.

Read more here.

More Challenging Kindergarten Curriculum Boosts School Performance

Medindia

Kindergarten teachers who cling on to teaching basic content alone are hence, unknowingly, restricting the potential of their kids. Amy Claessens, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Chicago University's Harris School of Public Policy Studies, who led the team, based her research on data acquired from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS). The ECLS program examines child development, school readiness, and early school experiences.
Read more here.

We appreciate your continued support and involvement.

Sincerely,

The STEM Education Coalition

STEM Education Coalition

[email protected]
2000 M Street NW
Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs

-------------------------------------------------------------