STEM Ed Update 6/19/2017

Please enjoy this week's STEM Ed update.

Top Article:

Trump Signs Executive Order on Apprenticeships

Politico

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that will cut back the federal government's role in creating and monitoring apprenticeship programs, a move that the White House says will help fill vacant jobs.

The executive order, which Trump was expected to sign in conjunction with an 11 a.m. speech, is another anti-regulatory victory for business interests. It will move the role of developing government-funded apprenticeship programs from the Labor Department to third-party private entities - including trade groups, labor unions and businesses. The third parties will set their own bar for success and submit their metrics to the Labor Department for approval. Read more here .

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Latest STEM Education Policy News

Can Scientists Help End the Teacher Shortage?

The Atlantic

Two years ago, LaTeira Haynes was working in a quiet laboratory at UC San Diego finishing up her doctorate in biomedical engineering. Now, she's teaching a 9th-grade biology class in South Los Angeles that is so large she uses a microphone to be heard over the constant din of teenage chatter, rustling worksheets, and the

zipping and unzipping of backpacks. But to her, there is no sweeter sound. "These students are here. They want to be here. I want to be here," said the energeti c second-year teacher,

her hair pulled back and her hoop earrings flashing. "I have 47 kids in this class and 44 of them are here today. That's huge." Read more here .

American Schools Teach Climate Change Differently in Every State - Except these 19

Business Insider

The deeply partisan divide on the issue of climate change has set public schools as a battleground in the fight. Seemingly innocuous standard-setting - which usually entails dryly-worded learning benchmarks for students - has become a political issue that plays out at the stat

e level. Public K-12 education standards are set at the state, and not federal level, which means there are normally 50 different sets of standards for learning in the 50 different states. However, a group of states has recently signed up to adopt the same learning goals: the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Read more here.

Gov. Holcomb Announces First STEM Team Award Winners

WBIW

Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick and Treasurer Kelly Mitchell announced the winners of the 2017

Governor's STEM Team awards. "These four students have demonstrated excellence in subjects that are fueling the innovation and entrepreneurship to build our economic future," Gov. Holcomb said. "It's a pleasure to recognize their hard work on a statewide level and elevate Indiana's academic superstars. I can't wait to see where the future takes these bright young Hoosiers." Read more here .

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Applications Open for ASTRA STEAM Summit

The Astra STEAM Summit is an interactive two-day conference is for young women grades 9-12 with interest in STEAM subjects and entrepreneurship. The pr

ogram goes beyond the two-day annual conference. Astra STEAM supports Summit "STEAMers" through their professional journey after the conference by connecting those young women to their peers, women entrepreneurs, and women in STEAM careers. The application deadline is June 27, 2017. For more information on Astra and Astra STEAM Program, please visit ASTRA..

Northrop Grumman and NSTA Host 25 Middle School Teachers

The Northrop Grumman Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) are partnering together, for the second year in a row, to host 25 middle school teachers (fellows) from locations near Nort

hrop Grumman sites for a year-long blended learning experience, culminating in a two-week externship during the summer at a site near them. NSTA and the Northrop Grumman Foundation believe that a passion for engineering can be ignited among teachers and students by engaging teachers in real-world engineering and technology, increasing their awareness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities, and providing teachers aligned professional learning experiences and activities they can implement in their classrooms. Learn more here .

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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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