Supporting Educational Initiatives
Table of Contents
Introduction
Today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) is hosting the YOU Belong in STEM National Coordinating Conference in Washington, D.C. This conference is a key initiative for the Biden-Harris Administration and is part of the Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students initiative. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education across the country. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to implementing and scaling equitable and high-quality STEM education for all students, from PreK to higher education, regardless of their background. This initiative aims to ensure that students are prepared for 21st-century careers and are globally competitive.
Breaking Down Barriers for Student Success
Research has shown that a sense of belonging in rigorous classrooms is directly linked to long-term academic success. Unfortunately, the Department’s Civil Rights Data Collection has revealed that students of color and students with disabilities are often excluded from learning opportunities in STEM. To address this issue, the Department is taking bold action to break down long-standing barriers for student success in the STEM fields. This initiative brings together government agencies, nonprofits, professional organizations, industries, philanthropies, and other community stakeholders to work towards a common goal.
Goals of the Initiative
The Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students initiative has set three goals to guide its efforts in STEM education:
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Ensure all students excel in rigorous, relevant, and joyful STEM learning: The initiative aims to provide all students, from PreK to higher education, with the opportunity to excel in STEM education. This includes creating engaging and relevant learning experiences that foster a love for STEM subjects.
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Develop and support STEM educators: The initiative recognizes the importance of having qualified and diverse STEM educators. It aims to support the professional development of STEM teachers and create pathways for them to enter and stay in the field.
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Invest strategically in STEM education: The initiative seeks to leverage the $120 billion dollars allocated to K-12 education in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and other federal, state, and local funds to invest in STEM education. These funds will be used strategically to meet the needs of students and educators and ensure equitable access to high-quality STEM instruction.
Department’s Efforts to Support the Initiative
The Department of Education has taken several steps to support the Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students initiative. These efforts include:
Dear Colleague Letter
The Department has published a Dear Colleague Letter to state and district leaders outlining how federal education funds can be used to enhance STEM teaching and learning. This letter provides guidance on how these funds can be allocated to support STEM education initiatives and programs.
Partnership with Beyond100K
The Department has announced a partnership with Beyond100K through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Beyond100K will work with the Department to address the challenges of fully staffing schools with STEM teachers who reflect the diversity of their students. They will also collaborate with stakeholders to better understand the supply and demand of STEM teachers at the state and local levels. Additionally, Beyond100K will co-sponsor national communities of practice to develop innovative solutions to the STEM educator shortage and improve access to high-quality STEM instruction for all students.
Commitments from Public and Private Sector Organizations
Over 90 public and private sector organizations from across the country have made specific commitments to enhance STEM education. These commitments range from local grassroots efforts to national initiatives. Some examples of these commitments include:
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Data Science for Everyone will assist 100+ school districts in piloting and scaling data science education programs, with a focus on serving Title I and rural communities. They will also launch working groups in 10 states to expand teacher training pathways into emerging technology education and develop a research and development campaign for students with disabilities.
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DiscoverE will create 10 million K-12 engineering experiences, with a priority on serving girls and underrepresented students.
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New York Hall of Science will engage over 300 three- and four-year-old students each year from the Corona community of Queens, New York, in its STEM-themed preschool through PreK program.
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Smithsonian Science Education Center will provide professional development to over 100 K-12 STEM educators on Universal Design for Learning and culturally based pedagogy in STEM classrooms. They will also support education entities in developing a diverse STEM teacher pipeline.
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STEM Next Opportunity Fund will invest additional funds to expand the portfolios of Million Girls Moonshot partners, as well as invest in a research agenda to increase public awareness of out-of-school time as a critical component of ensuring a sense of belonging for youth in STEM.
A full list of organizations that have made commitments can be found on the Department’s website.
YOU Belong in STEM National Coordinating Conference
The YOU Belong in STEM National Coordinating Conference is being held in Washington, D.C. and is bringing together over 200 STEM stakeholders from 30 states and territories. The conference aims to foster collaboration and learning around the importance of belonging in STEM. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with students and educators to learn about their experiences in STEM education and develop new partnerships and commitments. The conference will feature plenary sessions that can be attended virtually.
Conclusion
The Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students initiative is a crucial step towards strengthening STEM education in the United States. Through this initiative, the Department of Education is working to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to high-quality STEM education. By uniting stakeholders and leveraging federal, state, and local funds, this initiative aims to break down barriers and create equitable opportunities for success in the STEM fields. Together, we can support educational initiatives that prepare students for the careers of the future and foster a sense of belonging in STEM.
