STEM Ed Update 9/18/2017

Please enjoy this week's STEM Ed update.

Coalition Update:

Policy Forum Hosts Briefing on STEM in State ESSA Plans

On September 13, the STEM Education Coalition Policy Forum hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill with Battelle/STEMx. The briefing, entitled STEM in the States: Impacts of the Every Student Succeeds Act featured expert panelists Anand Vaishnav of Education First, Stephanie Rodriguez of the Afterschool Alliance, and Michael Feder of Battelle/STEMx. The speakers presented their findings on the state level impacts of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and explored how state administrators are utilizing new authorities under ESSA to prioritize STEM education in their states. Read more about the event and view the presenters' slides here.

Stay in the Know:

Latest STEM Education Policy News

After-School Spending Gets Boost in Revised House Education Bill

EdWeek

Champions of spending on after-school programs got a qualified victory on Wednesday during debate over the House education funding bill for the next fiscal year.

Lawmakers voted 228-188 to increase what the bill originally earmarked for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program by $100 million in the House budget bill for the U.S. Department of Education. The amendment to the House bill was sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., among others. It would bring spending on the program, which provides summer learning opportunities as well as after-school programming, up to $1.1 billion. That's less than the $1.2 billion the program currently gets in fiscal 2017, so if the bill's enacted there would still be a year-over-year cut to the learning centers. But advocates still praised the move. Continue reading here.

Can Techie Parents Reinvent School for Everyone- or Just their Rich Kids?

Fast Company

Six-year-old Tiana had just gotten her ice cream

machine working for the first time, and she was triumphant. Wrapped in hot pink decorations and duct tape, the device was now capable of churning out flavors that the young scientist planned to dub "Mint Speshel" and "Tiana's Dlitght." Eyes wide, Tiana turned to her teacher, Shira Leibowitz. "Shira, this is the most important day of my career," she declared. Leibowitz, a founding team member of startup Portfolio School in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood, recalls that story with a laugh. Continue reading here .

Around the Community:

The 2 Stages of Successful Early STEM Education

eSchool News

I have been in education for 18 years and my strongest belief is that all children deserve a fresh start when they begin each school year. My classroom is a safe environment where students feel it's acceptable to try, even if they're not going to be successful the first time-and that certainly applies to STEM education.

Since the spring of 2014, I've worked with Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools in technology integration. The purpose of my position as an Academic Technology Specialist is to help teachers feel comfortable embedding new technology into their classrooms.

Registration Open for Project Lead the Way Summit

PLTW Summit 2017 is the premier gathering for the

PLTW network - a group dedicated to preparing students with the in-demand knowledge and transportable skills they need to succeed in college and career. The conference takes place October 22-25. Learn more and register 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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