Why STEM? The Case for a Strong Science and Math Education
“Maria” is a toddler in Washington. She is just learning to count, but her parents, like most, are already thinking about her future: a good education leading to a rewarding career.

But without significant investment in STEM education, only 16% of Washington high school graduates will be equipped for family-sustaining jobs in Washington’s predominantly STEM-based economy.

But “Why STEM”? Why not the arts or humanities? In the first installment of our two-part "Why STEM?" series, we zoom in on the impact of a high-quality science and math education.
STEM STORIES
State of the Children:
Announcing the New Dashboard
Our brand-new State of the Children dashboard presents updated data on child care across all regions of the state — including data on student demographics, language, cost of care, and wage disparities for the early learning workforce.

This dashboard complements the regional State of the Children reports, expanding on the stories and data in the 2022 report series.

(Stay tuned for the state-wide State of the Children report due out in June.) 
State of the Children:
2022 Report Series
The 2022 State of the Children regional reports are hot off the presses!

Developed in partnership with Washington Communities for Children, these two-page, easy-to-digest reports provide a data-rich snapshot of child care and early learning in Washington state. The data and stories in these reports were compiled not only to benchmark the current state of child care in Washington, but also to help us envision more equitable early learning systems that support a positive math identity as children continue into elementary and beyond.
Meet Our Staff:
Dr. Jenée Myers Twitchell, Chief Impact and Policy Officer
Five years ago, while at the University of Washington, Dr. Jenée Myers Twitchell was asked to write a job description for what would become Washington STEM's Impact Team. Little did she know, she would end up applying for the position herself.

In this Q&A, Jenée discusses her secret talent, working with UW Community Fellows, and what growing up in Yakima taught her about privilege. 
Integrating Indigenous Learning:
Washington STEM and the Office of Native Education
Our team attended the Washington State Indian Education Conference (WSIEC) in Yakima earlier this month to share our experience partnering with the Office of Native Education (ONE). In addition to integrating tribal knowledge into our early learning and career-connected learning programs, we are also partnering with ONE to explore how data processes have misidentified (or un-identified, in many cases) tribally-affiliated students who are multi-racial or multi-ethic.

Read more about this new research partnership in our latest blog.
Correction: In the previous newsletter it stated that Career Connect Northeast (CCNE) held the Eastern Washington Regional Science and Engineering Fair (EWRSEF). The EWRSEF was organized by its own committee, led by Ray Koelling and was supported by CCNE leadership.
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