Welcome!

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

Coalition Updates

Broad Array of STEM Organizations Supports Common Standards in Math, Science

The STEM Education Coalition has joined with a diverse group of professional, educational, and business organizations in issuing a join statement of support

for state-led efforts to adopt and implement rigorous common standard in mathematics and science that promote deeper learning in STEM subjects. The statement, which was co-signed by 44 different organizations, emphasizes the importance of mobilizing the entire STEM education community - employers, professionals, educators, and their supporting organizations - to become informed about the benefits and implications of standards and to be engaged in their success.

Read more here.

Top Article:

Closing the Skills Gap

Politico Magazine

Every day we hear about the strains on the U.S. economy and the struggles millions face in securing a job. Yet there is a major disconnect at play. There are about 10 million people who are unemployed, while four million jobs continue to go unfilled and the skills gap - the difference between the skills that employers need to get the job done and the skills that potential employees have - contributes significantly to that problem.

Read more here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News Across the U.S.

Schools Teach Common-Core Math to Two Generations

Education Week

Schools around the country are holding math nights, sending letters home, and posting videos on their

websites to teach parents about the Common Core State Standards for mathematics, which require students to use calculation methods that many parents never learned. The result is that initially frustrated parents, once they fully grasp the new strategies, often end up convinced they're a good way to learn, educators and parents here and in other districts say.

Read more here.

Parents Play Vital Role in Molding Future Scientists, Research Shows

Science Daily

Parents and family make all the difference in creating the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians, according

to new research. The research team surveyed 149 participants in the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program from classes from 2007 to 2013. This competitive internship attracts top high school and undergraduate students who work on real-world research.

Read more here.

How Educators are Taking STEM Education Out of Traditional Classrooms

Atlantic

The way teachers educate their students about science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, has come a long way. Students used to spend hours learning formulas and proofs, paying little attention to how these processes apply to the world. In university settings, professors would drone on in huge lecture halls with limited opportunity for creativity. But much of this has changed.

Read more here.

Feds Invest $28M More for STEM Education

Washington Times

President Obama announced a

new partnership Thursday with an array of organizations to invest $28 million to increase the number of math, science and technology teachers in classrooms across the country, at a White House ceremony where the president presented this year's top national awards for science, technology and innovation.
Read more here.

NSF Opens STEM Graduate Education Forum

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Graduate Education has opened a national dialogue on the state of STEM graduate education.

The NSF Graduate Education Forum provides stakeholders the opportunity to discuss challenges and to propose innovative ideas across four broad topic areas: diversity and broadening participation; career preparation and pathways; the graduate education experience; and mentoring.

Read more here.

From Around the Community

TeenLife STEM Directory

TeenLife provides the web's most comprehensive directory of STEM, gap year, pre-college, overnight summer and community service programs for students in grades 7-12.

Search for a STEM program near you.

STEMulation Learning Systems, Inc.

Fly through the skies with STEMulation Learning Systems, who are bringing flight simulations to public schools.

Learn more here.

American Chemical Society Welcomes New CEO

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Board of Directors has named Thomas M. Connelly, Jr., Ph.D., executive vice president and chief innovation officer at DuPont, the Society's next executive director and chief executive officer (CEO), effective February 17, 2015.

Read more here.

Washington Facts: STEM Edition

The building of America's highly skilled and innovative workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is part of the current immigration issue that is facing America's government leaders right now.

Read more here.

UTeach Institute and Partners Produce 8,300 Math & Science Teachers

The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) announced that five additional research universities have been selected to join a national network of universities in the expansion of the UTeach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teacher preparation program, made possible by a $22.5 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

Read more here.

Thinkerella Brings STEM to Kids

Thinkerella is the FIRST of its kind, mobile science lab in New Orleans. Safe, non toxic STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) experiments are geared towards elementary and early-middle school aged girls (and boy Thinkerfellas!)

Find out more here.

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.

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 Leadership 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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