Welcome!

From everyone here at the STEM Education Coalition, and all of our members, have a fun and safe Halloween!

 

Please enjoy this week's edition of the STEM Ed Update.

  
Top Article:
19 Spooky STEM Projects For Kiddos This Halloween
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Stay in the Know:
Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.
Midterm Elections Next Week
With mid-term elections coming up next Tuesday, November 4th, this week's edition will focus on some of the midterm implications for STEM education policy.
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Education and the 2014 Election: A Guide to Key Races

Education Week

Education is front and center in dozens of federal, state, and local contests in this pivotal midterm election year, with issues such as K-12 funding, teacher collective bargaining rights, and the growing role of the charter sector roiling the campaign landscape. In all, 36 governorships are up for grabs, along with control of 46 state legislatures, seven state schools chiefs' spots, and nine state school boards. And with control of the U.S. Senate hinging on the outcome in a few key showdowns-including North Carolina's expensive battle, where education is a marquee topic-the Nov. 4 results could set the policy template for years to come. Here's a selection of key contests to watch election night.
Meet the Tech Donors Who Are Dominating the Midterms
National Journal
Political donor classes are like the cliques that make up the different tables in a high school lunchroom. You've got your run-of-the-mill popular kids. You've got your hippie tree-huggers. You've got your eccentrics. And you've got your computer nerds. So National Journal crunched the numbers and came up with a list of some of the most influential political donors in tech this cycle.
Women in STEM: Our Role in the Midterm Elections
AWIS
voting_people.jpgThe midterm elections are on Tuesday November 4th. Typically, only 40% of voters turn out for this and, although women became the majority of the electorate in 1984, midterm voters tend to be older, white males. For women in STEM, there are many political issues currently on the table that impact us and our communities.  We need to exercise our voting power in this election, and we need to leverage the potential that we have to influence long-term political outcomes. Regardless of political affiliation, it is imperative that we educate ourselves and show leadership in setting the agenda for the future. 
Ten Facts About What the Candidates Are Saying on Education
Education Week
My talented research associate Max Eden has examined what candidates running for governor and the U.S. Senate have to say on K-12, higher ed, and pre-K. He's scoured the websites for all 139 major party nominees (there is no Democratic nominee for the Senate in Kansas) to see what their official stance is on a raft of issues. Here, I share a few data points that may provide some hints as to what the next two years hold for education policy.
After Election 2014: COMPETES REAUTHORIZATION
AAAS
The axiom that federal funding for research enjoys bipartisan support will be sorely tested next year as the U.S. Congress tries to reauthorize major legislation governing federal policies on research and science education. And although voters rarely ask candidates about research, the results of next month's election could have a major impact on the bill's fate.

Read more here.

  

From Around the Community

 
UMB Launches Program to Cultivate Middle-Schoolers' Interest in Cancer Careers
The University of Maryland, Baltimore has received a $750,000 grant to develop a program designed to spark interest in cancer research and care among middle school children in the university's low-income West Baltimore neighborhood. "Middle school is a critical time to interest students in STEM subjects," said James Brown, the executive director of the STEM Education Coalition, an alliance of business and education professionals promoting STEM education.

 

 

STEM: Paths - An Interactive Christmas Experience 

We invite you to support and participate in our next event: an Interactive Christmas Experience for children living in DC public housing communities. Youth, parents, and stakeholders will get to enjoy unique interactive experiences with STEM competitions, coaching, teamwork, building, and more. This STEM carnival will include at least 20 educational experiences and will encourage participating youth to choose from a variety of potential STEM careers. The event will also include giveaways of STEM toys.

Find out more here. 

 

 

Volunteers Wanted for Stamford, CT STEMfest

The Stamford (CT) Public Schools, with support from the GE Foundation and Mill River Park Collaboration, will be hosting the second annual Stamford STEMfest. Located in Mill River Park in downtown Stamford, STEMfest will contain a variety of activities and displays centering around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for students and their parents. This event is free and open to the public.

Volunteer here. 

  

 

Campos: The Role of STEM Education in Improving the Tri-State Region's Workforce 

The ultimate promise of STEM education is to develop the next generation of collaborative problem-solvers as a means of closing the workforce gap of skilled workers in the region that includes Southwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent counties in Ohio and West Virginia. Although educators say that STEM education is becoming more of a priority across the region, a seminal finding of this study is that rural areas represent one of the greatest, yet underexploited, opportunities for STEM education to impact workforce development.

  

 

Guerilla Educators: Dream. Design. Build.

A project assisted by Guerrilla Educators with 10th graders from 1st Philadelphia Charter High School demonstrates the critical intersections between Project Based Learning, Community Partnerships, and STEM.  "Dream" was developed as a multi-disciplinary, student-centered way to connect the actual design and construction of their new high school to teachers, students, and curriculum.  Over the first month of this school year, the Project took place in Geometry, Chemistry, and Social Studies classes and helped students achieve academic and civic proficiencies in each of those subject areas.  

Take a look here. 

 

Note from the Editor

 

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

 

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

 

Members can also join our Leadership Council, where they play an active role in setting the public policy agenda for the Coalition and are invited to participate in the Coalition's 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 info@stemedcoalition.org.

 

We appreciate your continued support and involvement. 
  
Sincerely,
Taylor Luczak
STEM Education Coalition

 

Our Coalition's Co-Chairs  

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STEM Education Coalition
info@stemedcoalition.org
2000 M Street NW
Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036
October 30, 2014 

 

  
In This Newsletter
 
Quick Links
Upcoming Events

 

October 30, 2014

 How Much Digital Literacy Do Students Need?

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November 3, 2014

Teaching and Measuring the Common Core's Mathematical Practices

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November 15, 2014

 Expanding Your Horizons Network 40th Anniversary Event

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November 18, 2014

Creating a Diverse & Inclusive Maker Movement

 

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December 11, 2014

Nanoscale Science & Engineering

Education (NSEE) Materials Exhibition

 

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