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Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grants Open
The SEED grant program is now accepting applications for efforts that increase the pipeline of highly effective educators. The SEED program will award $65 million to support the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of educators. Preexisting teacher shortages in critical areas such as STEM, special education, multilingual education, career and technical education, and early childhood education have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—directly impeding student access to educational opportunity. Research shows that existing educator shortages disproportionately impact students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and, often, rural communities. The Applications are due June 3, 2022.
Teacher Quality Partnership Grants
The Department published a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program, which will award $35 million to bolster teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate or "fifth-year" level (Pre-Baccalaureate Models), as well as teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching that integrate relevant academic content and meaningful clinical experience (Residency Models). Applications are due April 26, 2022.
From Recovery to Thriving: How the American Rescue Plan (ARP) is Supporting America’s Students - April 27, Register Today
Education Secretary Cardona just announced a virtual summit, "From Recovery to Thriving," to provide an opportunity for schools, educators, parents, families, students, advocates, government officials, and more to convene, share best practices, and learn how ARP funds are making a real difference. "By working together, leveraging partnerships between the public and private sectors that put students first, we can meet this moment and make sure our school communities have the supports they need fueled by the American Rescue Plan," said Cardona. "The opening panel and subsequent learning sessions will create opportunities to support school districts and states in utilizing their federal funds to deepen and scale strategies to address learning recovery, mental health support, and labor shortages during and beyond the three years of American Rescue Plan funding so students can recover and thrive in the future." Please register here for the April 27, 2022 event.
Department Releases Equity Action Plan
The Department recently released its inaugural equity action plan as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's continued commitment to advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. This plan aligns with President Biden's executive order, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
"We need to keep the focus on transforming our education system so it truly expands opportunity for all students, no matter their race, background, zip code, age, or family's income," said Secretary Cardona. The detailed action plan can be found here. The Department will host a listening session on May 17, 2022 to hear feedback on the equity action plan. Details forthcoming.
Fireside Chat with Deputy Secretary Marten
U.S. Education Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten and NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy sat down recently for a chat to recognize Women's History Month and the 50th anniversary of Title IX. You can watch the collegial one-on-one here.
Education, Innovation and Research (EIR) Webinar Series The Department’s EIR Program in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education provides funding to create, develop, implement, replicate, or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve student achievement and attainment for high-need students and rigorously evaluate such innovations. This webinar series is designed to share these finding with educators and researchers. EIR has made significant investments in funding equity-focused social and emotional learning (SEL) and STEM programs. To subscribe, contact EIR@ed.gov.
The EIR team also held a webinar on the overall EIR program and application process.
Artificial Intelligence in Education
The Department’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) is working to develop policies and supports focused on the effective and fair use of AI-enabled educational technology. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and related technologies can support and enable learning not only through direct supports for students, but also by improving how educators adapt to learner needs. However, there are risks with using AI – the algorithms can be biased. In this first of a series of six blog posts, the Department defines AI in three ways, shifting from a view of AI as human-like toward a view of AI that keeps humans in the decision cycle.
IES Blog – “Education Runs on Lies”
The Director of Department’s Institute for Education Science, Mark Schneider, cites former Education Secretary Arne Duncan in this blog that reflects on the release of the latest results from the recent NAEP High School Transcript Study. Despite some encouraging data points, there is a grimmer story uncovered and, unfortunately, the data support Secretary Duncan's charge that schools routinely mislead their students. Student assessment scores are not increasing. Compared with 2009, the 2019 NAEP science scores have not changed and the 2019 NAEP mathematics scores actually declined for high school graduates. The evidence from the most recent transcript study shows a disconnect between what courses high school graduates took (seemingly more and more rigorous ones) and their performance on NAEP science and math assessments. Schneider suggests there is "inflation" in course grades and course titles but stagnation in student performance.
Learning with NASA is Out of this World
April 26, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET Register here
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a long history of inspiring American students to reach for the stars. By engaging students in real life design challenges, teachers provide learning opportunities that have lifelong impacts. NASA’s Artemis mission is inspiring students, in partnership with LEGO Education, by offering free Build to Launch Curriculum to schools nationwide, giving students a chance to learn from and interact with our nation’s top aeronautics leaders as they progress towards a first launch in 2022. This exciting mission offers students meaningful, hands-on experiences that aim to inspire the STEM workforce of the future. Please join the Department and NASA to learn more about the Artemis mission, their collaboration with LEGO Education, and how to spark joy in your classrooms.
Recent Archives
March 25, 2022 – Call to Action: Science
February 24, 2022 – Rural STEM Education: Opportunities, Obstacles and Resources
January 19, 2022 – Think Globally, Teach Locally (resources from EPA)
All STEM briefings and webinars are archived here.
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My STEM Adventure App
The Department’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)-funded STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE) Center created My STEM Adventure App. The app is a fully accessible/born accessible app that will guide families or other adults in children’s lives to engage in STEM activities with young children from birth to 5 years old. The app provides step-by-step guidance for families or teachers to lead young children, including those with disabilities, on adventures in their homes or neighborhoods to learn about STEM. The prototype is now available and has been tested with families and practitioners with young children with disabilities. STEMIE is continuing to develop more adventures and additional accessibility features this year.
STEMIE Book Recommendations for Celebrating Black and Women Innovators STEMIE also curated two book lists to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month. These books embrace and celebrate Black Innovators in STEM with engaging illustrations and photos to talk about with your young children. Each book indicates Black representation (author, STEM innovator, character) and the STEM domain and accurate and age-appropriate STEM concepts.
Women are also underrepresented in the STEM field and there is evidence that seeing positive representation and role models can impact girls’ aspirations in STEM and confidence in STEM. This cultivation of a positive STEM identity can begin in the early years through books. The books in this curated list celebrate Women Innovators in STEM fields with engaging illustrations and/or photos to talk about with your young children. Each book may also embrace everyday STEM concepts accurately and indicate the STEM domain as well.
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Earth Day with the Department of Energy (DOE)
Mark your calendar for DOE’s STEM Earth Day events on April 22, which will take place virtually from coast to coast. This will be a collective celebration of energy and environmental research across the National Laboratory complex while demonstrating the commitment, excitement, and importance of STEM with our local and national communities, showcasing the National Laboratories’ scientific contributions and commitment to tackling global issues, engaging national and international audiences, and strengthening our connection to local communities and areas that do not have a National Laboratory.
NASA Confirms 5,000 Exoplanets
Thanks to NASA’s space telescopes, we now know that there are at least 5,000 planets beyond our solar system, or exoplanets. Astronomers believe that is just a fraction of the likely billions in our galaxy. The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope, will capture light from the atmospheres of exoplanets, reading which gases are present to potentially identify tell-tale signs of habitable conditions. And in 2027, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will make new exoplanet discoveries using a variety of methods. Learn more and experience a musical animation of these planet discoveries.
NASA & Kahoot!
Thanks to the team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, you can test your NASA Know-How as a class, a group, individually, or via a team competition. Check out each of these fun online Kahoot! quizzes and related resources:
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Pioneering Women in Aerospace
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum curated Pioneering Women in Aerospace, a rich online exhibit of women in history, the present, and the future of aviation and space. With hundreds or stories an artifacts, everyone will be inspired by these women of flight.
The Department issued a FAQ supplement on using the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds. The Department’s Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) Transparency Portal displays award and expenditure data by state for all four major ESF programs: ESSER, GEER, the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) Fund, and the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Program.
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