Girl Scouts and Motorola Outline Keys to Engaging Girls in STEM

There is new research from Girl Scouts of the USA and the Motorola Foundation about girls' engagement in STEM. The study outlines three keys to successful programs: 1) Make it real; 2) Make it relevant; 3) Make it possible. Click here for the full press release and links to more information.

K-8 Intervention Critical to College Readiness

When I talk to people (especially those who do not work in education) about after-school programs, most picture their high school extra-curriculars - sports, clubs, etc. In reality, high quality after-school enrichment and youth development are necessary from an early age. Among other benefits they provide, these programs help youth see where school connects to the real world. This is important in helping them build their skills on a path toward success.

When one of the points on that path is college attendance, high school is very late to start an intervention. That conclusion is supported by a recent report from ACT, which finds that student readiness in 8th grade has a larger impact on college and career readiness than anything that happens academically during high school. Meanwhile, only about 20% of eighth graders are on a pace to be college-ready by high school graduation.

There are so many hours that are not used in the years before high school. Let's support the after-school programs that are trying to change that for millions of youth.

Sports4Kids National Model

Thanks to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sports4Kids, an Oakland, CA, based non-profit, is seeking to reach more than 1 million more children with its successful model of safe and healthy play. This is a great opportunity to expand a successful program, which teaches positive behaviors through sports and playground activities.

The grant is for $18.7 million and seeks to reach 650 schools in 27 cities. For those interested in taking youth development to a larger scale audience, this is a huge step in the right direction.

Nominate our After-School Science Project

Some members of the Coalition for Science After School have submitted a project for consideration by the American Express Members Project. This program grants funds to projects that have been suggested by AmEx members for worthy causes. We hope that you will help us by logging on to the Members Project site and nominating our proposal. You do not have to have an American Express card to participate.

The project is called "Afterschool Science and Technology Seminars," and the link is: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/86H7ME

Should we receive funding for this project, it would support hundreds of individuals or organizations in starting science clubs. This would be a positive achievement for all of us and benefit the entire field. Even if the project is not selected, having it as a finalist would provide great publicity for after-school STEM as a goal.

Again, the link is: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/86H7ME.

Here is a link that will take you straight to the "Guest Signup" page if you are not a cardmember:
https://www.membersproject.com/registration/guest_signup.html

All you have to do is login and click nominate. Feel free to leave comments as well. The sooner you do this, the better, since it will move up to the top of the list faster. Please also pass this link along to friends and colleagues.

Thanks for your support!

Youth Involved in Major Scientific Announcement

Today, National Geographic announced a major archaeological find in the Sahara. Follow the link to read more about the science. However, what is most relevant to readers of this blog is the involvement of Chicago-area teens in the announcement. The African gravesite was found by an expedition led by paleontologist Paul Sereno, who is also co-founder of Project Exploration, a non-profit science education organization that connects science to the public - especially minority youth. Some of those youth traveled to Niger as part of the excavation team, and still more were involved in the production of today's public announcement. Read here about Shureice, one of the junior paleontologists involved in the program. Many scientists will tell you that communicating their findings to the public is one of the hardest parts of their job. Project Exploration gives youth an early opportunity to experience the science and the communication. Visit their website announcing the find, and you should be impressed by how well they do it.