Oct 29 STEM Update and News

[Michelle Freeman]

[From Patti Curtis, Robert Noyce/Ellen Lettvin STEM Education Fellow]

ED GRANT NEWS

New Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) Grants Support STEM & CS
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos awarded more than $20 million in new funding to support innovative teacher preparation models that prepare prospective and new teachers to serve students in high-need schools. Under the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program, the Department of Education made 31 awards totaling $20.1 million. Recipients include more than two dozen school districts, institutions of higher education (IHEs) and nonprofit organizations.

Over two-thirds of the funded projects are specifically designed to better prepare teachers for teaching STEM and computer science, including innovative ideas such as enabling teachers to earn micro-credentials in the field of computer science. Nearly half of the funded projects will take place in a Qualified Opportunity Zone (see here for more about Opportunity Zones. See new grantees here.

New Jacob K. Javits Gifted & Talented Student Education Program Awards
Education Secretary DeVos announced $4,047,789 for fiscal year 2019 grant awards which recently resulted in making 10 new awards as part of the Jacob K Javits Gifted and Talented Education (Javits) Program.  These grants provide funding to carry out a coordinated program of evidence-based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the capability of elementary schools and secondary schools nationwide to identify gifted and talented students.

While the major emphasis of the program is on serving students traditionally underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, many of the projects focus on STEM-related activities and programming.  In 2018, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education established new GPRA measures to collect data on the percentage of students served in the program who made gains on State assessments in mathematics and in science.  STEM-related data will be collected and reported in fiscal year (FY) 2021.  See new grantees here.

New Perkins Innovation & Modernization Program Awards
In September 2019, the Department awarded nine grants totaling $1,488,221. Each Perkins I&M grant recipient has been awarded funding for the first year of a three-year project period. Funding for years two and three is subject to the availability of funds and to a grantee meeting the requirements for continued funding. At the end of the three-year project period, the Secretary may extend the grants for two additional years provided certain conditions are met. See new grantees here.

ICYMI

• The Department issued $123 million in new grant awards to 41 school districts, nonprofit organizations and state educational agencies across the United States as part of the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program.  See recipients here.
• The Department issued 31 awards totaling $20.1 million under the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program.  See recipients here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov. 4 – Role of Authentic STEM Learning Experiences in Developing Interest and Competencies for Technology and Computing
The Board on Science Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a public workshop at the Keck Building on November 4, 2019 from 1p.m. to 6p.m. to explore issues in STEM education. The workshop will illustrate the various ways in which stakeholders define and conceptualize authentic STEM learning opportunities for young people in grades K-12 in formal and informal settings, and what that means for the goals, design, and implementation of such experiences. Presenters will unpack the state of the evidence on the role of authentic STEM learning opportunities and promising approaches and strategies in the development of interest and competencies for technology and computing fields. A recurring theme throughout the workshop will be implications for increasing diversity and access to authentic STEM learning experiences among underserved young people. Register here.  And follow #STEMforCompTech

Nov. 6 – Second Annual Faith Leaders’ Summit
Join us November 6 at the Department headquarters for the Second Annual Faith Leaders’ Summit to hear directly from U.S. Department of Education leadership on Administration initiatives and learn how faith leaders can get involved. There will be panels and breakout sessions covering higher education, STEM, religious liberty and education freedom. Local leaders will share innovative approaches to student driven education, and the Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at other federal agencies will be discussing ways they are supporting the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative.  Register here.

Nov. 21 – ED STEM briefing: The STEM Opportunity Index
The next STEM briefing on November 21, 2pm-3pm, at the Department will feature the interactive STEM Opportunity Index produced by the National Math-Science Initiative.  The Index is based on the STEM Framework for Success which is a collection of 10 conditions, practices and outcomes that education and research experts agree help indicate how well a state, school system or school is performing in the delivery of STEM education. Each element of the Framework is measured by publicly available data, and visually reported through the STEM Opportunity Index map.   To join in person, RSVP Patti.Curtis@ed.gov or watch online here.

 RECENT EVENTS

Presidential STEM Awardees in Teaching and Mentoring
The White House and approximately a dozen federal agencies honored more than 200 excellent STEM teachers and mentors in Washington, D.C., at a recent recognition celebration of the Presidential Awardees for Excellence in and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).   Applications and nominations for the 2019-2020 awardees is now open.  Nominate an excellent STEM teacher and/or mentor today.

Lights On Afterschool 20^th Anniversary
The Afterschool Alliance celebrated its 20^th year of Lights On Afterschool with more than 10,000 events honoring the 10 million young people served in afterschool programs across the country.  Highlights of the event can be found here.  State by state data can be found here.

STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice
The 68+ STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) met in Cleveland, OH with over 400 in attendance.  The SLECoP team members participated in peer to peer learning and top-notch plenary sessions.  I was fortunate to present alongside a NASA colleague, Maria Arredondo, on the plethora of free federal STEM teacher, student and parent resources.

REPORTS

White House STEM Strategic Plan Progress Report
In conjunction with the Presidential STEM Awards celebration the White House released a progress report on the federal implementation of the STEM education strategic plan.  Full report here. 

Ed Tech Spotlights
The Office of Educational Technology, in partnership with Digital Promise, reviewed research literature on how technology can enrich STEM learning. They found nine ways that technology can help students engage with these subjects which are highlighted in this newly released report from the U.S. Department of Education— Innovation Spotlights: Nine Dimensions for Supporting Powerful STEM Learning with Technology.  We hope that teachers, curriculum specialists, and other education leaders will learn how these methods can deepen students’ learning experiences. You can see these methods in action by clicking the link to each video. Check out the videos here.

From Risk to Opportunity: Afterschool Programs Keep Kids Safe
This report shows that the peak in juvenile crime on school days occurs between 2-6 p.m. and provides powerful examples of afterschool programs making a positive difference in young people’s lives, and lifts up law enforcement voices who see the influence programs can have in their community.   The hours immediately after school lets out were first dubbed the “Prime Time for Juvenile Crime” in a report published by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids in 2000. Since the time of that first report, participation in afterschool programs has grown by more than 60%, and juvenile crime has decreased by 70%.   This new report and the accompanying website, which includes state-level data for 46 states and examples of afterschool programs in all 50 states, will help more stakeholders recognize the value of afterschool and more young people access quality afterschool opportunities in the future. Full report here.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Presidential Cybersecurity Education Awards
This new teacher recognition award supports section 3(c) of the Executive Order dated May 2, 2019.  This honor will be bestowed to one elementary and one secondary teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week in May 2020.  The nomination period is open until January 31, 2020.  Submit nominations here.

Presidential Council of Advisors on Science & Technology
On October 22, the President Trump signed an executive order launching the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and announced the first wave of seven members.  PCAST will include 16 total members in addition to the Chair, Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).  PCAST is a presidential-level advisory council of the Nation’s science and technology leaders from the private sector and academic communities who will provide advice about science, technology, and innovation topics critical to the Nation’s security and economy, and the health and welfare of the American people.

RESOURCES

K-12 Practitioners’ Circle
US Department of Education STEM Webpage
STEM Opportunity Index
LinkEngineering.org
North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF)

Disclaimer: The contents of this STEM ED Fellow Update was developed for the benefit of the reader and contains various informational resources. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities in this Update. The contents of this Update may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this Update does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department, nor does it reflect its importance. This publication is not intended to represent or be an endorsement by any Federal agency or department, or the U.S. Government of any views expressed, or materials provided, or links to information contained therein.

Patti Curtis

Robert Noyce/Ellen Lettvin STEM Education Fellow

Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development

U.S. Department of Education

http://www.ed.gov/STEM