We aim to elevate the stories and voices of youth in integrated STEM education, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and excluded from STEM spaces. Our research uses photo-elicitation to decenter the power of researchers and educators and elevate the experiences and expertise of youth in STEM. Findings are presented from…

Motivating students in mathematics requires innovative and engaging approaches. This Spotlight explores strategies to foster a love of math and cultivate students' problem-solving abilities. From creating motivating classroom environments to connecting math to potential careers, these articles offer valuable perspectives. Discover how to build on…

"Making a Difference for American Indian and Alaska Nave Students: Innovations and Wise Practices" was a three-part webinar series for tribal, state, and federal education leaders. Through panels and breakout sessions, participants shared their knowledge on transforming outcomes for Nave American students, administrators, educators, and…

The partnership explored in this article offers a high-level view of one university-based research + practice partnership (RPP) with a local informal science institution (ISI) that suggests implications for advancing science education in various contexts. Touching K12 schools, undergraduate coursework, K12 teacher preparation, undergraduate career…

Technology is transforming the way teachers teach and learn. This Spotlight explores innovative ways to leverage technology to enhance student engagement, personalize instruction, and prepare students for the future. From equitable access to technology and AI-powered tools to drone-based learning and adaptive learning platforms, these articles…

Since 1999, the Kansas K-12 Initiative has generated almost $21 million from university, school district, private foundations, and federal sources to support the development of multiple STEM programs in Kansas City, Kansas. Program goals were to engage urban minority youth in STEM education, increase college readiness, and provide motivation for…

A single case study design was used to explore college and career readiness (CCR) experiences, perspectives, and standards in one Title I elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. Given that much of the research and practice literature related to CCR focuses on middle and high school, the goal of the study was to better understand how elementary…

The journey to achieve gender diversity in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] subjects appears to be a slow one. According to UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) data provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, just 35 per cent of STEM students in higher education in the UK [United Kingdom] are women (STEM…

Neither a traditional college education nor specific occupational training is enough to ensure long-term career success. Today, individuals also need workplace experience before they enter the labor market on their own, to prepare them to navigate the world of work. COVID-19 has put the availability of these critical career readiness experiences…

Dual enrollment (DE), in which high school students take college courses and earn both high school and college credit, has great potential to help make the high-school-to-college transition more effective and equitable--and to do so on a large scale. There is strong evidence that DE improves academic outcomes for students, including completing…

Despite the popularity of Career and Technical Education (CTE), concerns remain about the availability of resources for different CTE pathways, their relative status, and the degree to which adults working within schools are problematically sorting students explicitly or implicitly into different course-taking pathways. This brief examines the…

When it comes to readying students for the jobs of the future, America's K-12 education system too often does not sufficiently prepare Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students. Research has shown that this negatively affects these students' life outcomes, specifically in terms of their long-term career prospects and economic security. To change this…

For more than 30 years, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) has partnered with states, districts and schools to identify and implement strategies that empower young people to connect what they learn in the classroom with the world of work. Their efforts began in 1987 with High Schools That Work, SREB's premier school improvement process. This…

This poll was conducted between July 14-July 15, 2022 among a sample of 2,200 adults. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on gender, educational attainment, age, race, and region. Among the key findings are: (1) Parents most frequently reported their children participating…

Many schools and programs in low-income neighborhoods lack access to the technological resources, including equipment and Internet service, that those in middle- and upper-income neighborhoods have at their fingertips. This inequity creates a persistent digital divide--not a simple divide in access to technology per se, but a divide in both formal…