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May resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

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May resources from the Million Girls Moonshot

During the month of May, the Million Girls Moonshot celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month). Our country owes a lot of our success to many hardworking, innovative AAPI computer scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals. These assets will support Networks and program providers as they pay tribute to and highlight a host of AAPI professionals who have contributed to the STEM fields.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Applications open for Project EDGE Social-Emotional Curriculum Testers!

Project EDGE (Engagement and Development for Girls through Engineering) is testing and evaluating an OST curriculum that integrates engineering activities and social-emotional development for youth with the goal of developing STEM identity and an Engineering Mindset.  Read about the benefits to educators and youth, and requirements for participation here. $1,000 Stipend for program participation.

Applications due May 31, 2023.

WEBINARS

ACRES Training Cohort: Asking Purposeful Questions: Wednesdays: 

05/03/2023, 05/17/2023, 05/31/2023 12:00 pm-2:00 pm EST/ 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop their reasoning through the questions we ask them? This module is a great way to train staff on how to facilitate STEM learning. Experienced educators also love being part of a cohort as a way to connect with other educators across the country, to learn new lesson plans, and to reflect on practice.  This is our introductory module and a prerequisite to other opportunities. *The expectation is that you will be live at all three sessions and an active member of this coaching cohort. Recordings are not available if you are unable to attend. REGISTER HERE Code: AC288PQ

ACRES Training Cohort: Facilitating Science Practices: Wednesdays: 05/31/2023, 06/14/2023, 06/28/2023 3:30 pm-5:30 pm EST/ 12:30-2:30 pm PST

How can we make sure that our ‘hands on’ science experiences for youth are also ‘minds on?’ In this module, participants learn how to support youth as they engage in science practices to learn science ideas, including planning and conducting investigations around testable questions. They’ll talk about the similarities and differences between questioning in science versus questioning in engineering contexts. REGISTER HERE Code: AC225SP

Click2Engineering Spring Community of Practice: May 3, and 17 2023 2:30 pm EST/ 11:30 am PST

The Click2Engineering community of practice (CoP) introduces out-of-school time educators to the basics of engineering and leading engineering activities with youth. The CoP is organized around the 10 Practices for an Engineering Mindset, and includes hands-on engineering activities, developing engineering experiences for youth, and learning skills to facilitate engineering practices.  The CoP is four meetings over 8 weeks. REGISTER HERE

Click2ComputerScience Virtual Workshop: Hacker Series May 23, 2023 1:30-3pm EST/ 10:30-noon PST

Looking to enhance your computer science programming? Join us for the "Hacker Training" virtual workshop on May 23, 2023. We'll explore the fascinating world of encryption with prime numbers. You'll learn the basics of cryptography, including how to encode and decode messages using prime numbers, and how to bring this to the youth in your program.  At Click2ComputerScience, know that you don't need to be an expert coder or techie to lead great CS experiences. This workshop will build on the skills you already have, and you will be prepared to help youth have fun working with numbers and discover the importance of cybersecurity in today's digital landscape. Register now for this workshop on May 23, 2023. REGISTER HERE

Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Training Thursdays: May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, and November 28, 2023 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST

REGISTER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSION HERE

Date and Time

Afterschool Math Plus Curriculum Topic Areas

May 16

1 to p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: The Whys of Jumping Rope

Conduct surveys about why people jump rope and use data to create bar graphs and Venn diagrams to represent people’s answers.

June 20

1 to p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: How Far Can You Go?

Create line graphs and use data to make predictions about how far jumpers can travel in a set amount of time.

July 18

1 to p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: Going to Great Lengths

Observe patterns, create a scatter graph, and analyze data to make predictions about connections between jump rope length and jumper height.

August 15

1 to p.m. EST

Jump Rope Math: Designing a Math Investigation

Use bar graphs, line graphs, scatter graphs and Venn diagrams to explore different ways of answering math questions about jumping rope.

September 19

1 to p.m. EST

MusicMath: Unexpected Math, Creating Rhythms, and Making Rhythm Patterns

Create musical patterns, then repeat the patterns and think about how to represent the patterns using words, pictures, and symbols.

October 17

1 to p.m. EST

MusicMath: Composing Music (with Math!)

Experiment with repeating patterns and create new arrangements using similar sounds in different sequences.

November 14

1 to p.m. EST

MusicMath: Discovering Music Fractions

Identify and represent parts of fractions using music and explore combinations and permutations, or ways of creating variety while still using the same elements.

December 12

1 to 2 p.m. EST

MusicMath: Orchestration

Use fractions to create musical compositions, then perform the compositions using found instruments (pans, boxes, pencils, whistles). Create new combinations and permutations for the music fractions.

Note: Each webinar will include strategies to support a positive Math Identity (e.g., role models, career connections, family connections, literacy connections).

REGISTER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSION HERE

ACTIVITIES

Activity Playlist

Looking for a sequence of activities you can implement in your afterschool program today? Say goodbye to googling or searching on Pinterest. Use the following activities in sequence to support youth in building an engineering mindset.

  • Environmental Science Playlist
    • Activities: A list of dozens of activities on climate change with descriptions, age level, everything you need to know.
    • Role Models: List of 13 inspiring examples of young environmentalists making a difference
    • Activities: Free hands-on activities for families and educators on environmental advocacy, role models, and environmental friendly strategies.
  • Environmental Science and Engineering: These  20+ free STEM lessons, projects, and activities have been grouped thematically to highlight environmental science challenges and potential STEM-based solutions: Energy, Ecological Footprint, Water, STEM Solutions
  • Activities: Celebrate spring with 26 free science and engineering lessons, projects, and activities for enriching hands-on STEM related to spring weather, flowers, plants, and more!

Looking for EVEN More Activities at NASA?! Activity Toolkit: Engineering is Elementary's NASA Partnership free units - A suite of free NASA-funded STEM resources for students in grades 3-8. All resources are research-based and classroom-tested. They are designed to support students’ understanding of space, while helping them see themselves as capable problem solvers.

RECRUIT STEM EXPERTS AS VOLUNTEERS

Less than 50% of high school girls know a woman in a STEM career. Let’s change that - recruit STEM professionals to support the youth you serve today!

The Moonshot helps to connect STEM experts with OST programs! Share your program’s volunteer opportunities for STEM experts to work with your youth today! Register here to find role models and mentors in STEM.

TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICES

  • Website: State of Girls and Women in STEM - This updated NGCP resource presents a high-level summary of the most compelling statistics and research on the state of girls and women in STEM, focused on K-12 Education, Higher Education, and the STEM Workforce. The report highlights the impacts of intersectional inequalities, as Latina, Black, and Indigenous women represent less than 10% of the STEM workforce. A toolkit with graphics of these statistics and research is available to use in social media and presentations.
  • Webinar Series: NCWIT Webinar Series: Advising for Future-Ready Careers - NCWIT Counselors for Computing in partnership with Department of Defense STEM is hosting a webinar series for educators, parents/caregivers, and students focused on preparing youth for diverse careers in computing. Participants will gain resources and strategies for engaging youth in computer science experiences and topics, such as machine learning. The next webinar entitled “Support and Strengthen Pre-college STEM Programs” is May 11.
  • Website: Exploring Paleontology to Spark Science Engagement from a Young Age - Learn how to nurture your students’ interest in dinosaurs and increase science engagement beginning in elementary school in this webinar recording. Hear from Dr. Holly Woodward Ballard, an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Paleontology at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, and PK-5th grade teacher Alyssa Barr who shares tips on how to use a book like Lily and Maia to fuel an integrated learning experience. This webinar also featured Audrey O’Connell, co-founder of HSG, who shared the process of developing the Lily and Maia characters and working with the young artist, Grace Hattrup, to ensure scientific accuracy of the paleo elements.
  • Website: Smithsonian Science for Makerspaces - This series of free engineering design challenges engage youth in emerging technologies through hands-on learning. Inspired by Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, these activities bridge formal science education and the makerspace movement by helping educators and teachers engage with digital and physical technologies within the context of STEAM by asking them to make something new.
  • Toolkit: Brokering Youth Pathways: A Toolkit for Connecting Youth to Future Opportunity  from the Hive Research Network - This toolkit shares ways in which various out-of-school educators and professionals have approached the challenge of brokering. We provide a framework, practice briefs and reports that focus on a particular issue or challenge and provide concrete examples, as well as illustrate how our partners worked through designing new brokering routines in partnership with our research team.

ASSETS FROM THE IF/THEN® COLLECTION

These assets feature IF/THEN® Ambassadors , and can be used in marketing, presentations, social media, and conference presentations.

ABOUT THE MOONSHOT

www.milliongirlsmoonshot.org

Setting up a site visit: Insights from an afterschool STEM program leader

Photo courtesy of Scientific Adventures for Girls By Amy Miller, Executive Director, Scientific Adventures for Girls. Scientific Adventures for Girls is an afterschool and summer STEM enrichment program that provides hands-on, project-based learning. Our programs encourage dialogue,...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/16/26

CYESS May resource round up: New data on summer, environmental action civics, and building the field

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      05/27/26

Congressional budget battles put STEM education and afterschool programs at risk

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The FY2027 budget and appropriations process could be one of the most consequential federal budget debates for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, scientific research, and afterschool learning in years. The...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/15/26

Department of Education finalizes rule on Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education

In April, the Department of Education (ED) announced its Final Priorities and Definitions for the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education (Docket ID ED-2025-OS-0118). Effective May 13, these priorities will guide ED in soliciting...

BY: Leslie Brooks      05/13/26

April CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week recap, messaging for environmental literacy, and a survey to the field on AI

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      04/29/26

Make Games, Save the Planet: Young people as civic science leaders

By Alexis Kelley, Student, Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University; Gouri Nair, Student, Westwood High School; Iliana Rodriguez, Student, Arizona State University; Jaclyn Rodriguez, Student, Mesa Community College; Jackeline Santiago-Aguiluz, Student, Forensic...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/27/26

AI is driving federal STEM policy—but will informal learning be included?

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. Over the past month, federal STEM education policy has taken a decisive turn toward artificial intelligence (AI), digital literacy, and workforce development. A series of new initiatives, funding announcements, and high-level convenings...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/24/26

Finding the right words: A new tool for communicating your environmental programming work

April 22 is Earth Day, and afterschool STEM programs have much to contribute to this global day of awareness and action! From hands-on research and curiosity-driven exploration to youth-led civic action, afterschool programs across the country are engaging young people in meaningful environmental...

BY: Leslie Brooks      04/22/26

How CODE313’s afterschool STEAM programs are building futures

Photo credit: CODE313 By Lauryn Herron, Assistant to eXperience Director, CODE313. From early curiosity to career pathways in Detroit CODE313 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating equitable access to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education for...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/21/26

How did afterschool STEM education fare in the FY2027 President’s Budget Request?

The President’s FY2027 budget request is out and, at first glance, it looks very similar to last year’s. At the Department of Education (ED), 17 grant programs that currently provide $6.5B in funding for a variety of services are proposed to be eliminated and consolidated into a new $2B...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      04/09/26

Setting up a site visit: Insights from an afterschool STEM program leader

Photo courtesy of Scientific Adventures for Girls By Amy Miller, Executive Director, Scientific Adventures for Girls. Scientific Adventures for Girls is an afterschool and summer STEM enrichment program that provides hands-on, project-based learning. Our programs encourage dialogue,...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/16/26

Congressional budget battles put STEM education and afterschool programs at risk

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The FY2027 budget and appropriations process could be one of the most consequential federal budget debates for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, scientific research, and afterschool learning in years. The...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/15/26

Department of Education finalizes rule on Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education

In April, the Department of Education (ED) announced its Final Priorities and Definitions for the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education (Docket ID ED-2025-OS-0118). Effective May 13, these priorities will guide ED in soliciting...

BY: Leslie Brooks      05/13/26

April CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week recap, messaging for environmental literacy, and a survey to the field on AI

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      04/29/26

AI is driving federal STEM policy—but will informal learning be included?

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. Over the past month, federal STEM education policy has taken a decisive turn toward artificial intelligence (AI), digital literacy, and workforce development. A series of new initiatives, funding announcements, and high-level convenings...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/24/26

Finding the right words: A new tool for communicating your environmental programming work

April 22 is Earth Day, and afterschool STEM programs have much to contribute to this global day of awareness and action! From hands-on research and curiosity-driven exploration to youth-led civic action, afterschool programs across the country are engaging young people in meaningful environmental...

BY: Leslie Brooks      04/22/26

How CODE313’s afterschool STEAM programs are building futures

Photo credit: CODE313 By Lauryn Herron, Assistant to eXperience Director, CODE313. From early curiosity to career pathways in Detroit CODE313 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating equitable access to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education for...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/21/26

Grow math skills this spring! New Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Report

Photo credit: National Museum of Mathematics (momath.org) The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is delighted to share the spring 2026 edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review (ASQRR) newsletter. This newsletter aims to provide summaries of...

BY: Leslie Brooks      03/31/26

New policy brief: Afterschool programs are essential partners to build AI literacy and proficiency

Photo Credit: Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania March 27 is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy Day — a nationwide day of action dedicated to helping learners of all ages understand and navigate an increasingly AI-driven world. AI literacy is quickly becoming a foundational...

BY: Leslie Brooks      03/27/26

Federal STEM education policy in flux: What it means for afterschool and informal STEM learning

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The federal STEM education landscape is entering a period of significant transition and uncertainty. For advocates of afterschool and informal science education, the current moment is defined by shifting National Science Foundation (NSF)...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/23/26

CYESS May resource round up: New data on summer, environmental action civics, and building the field

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      05/27/26

April CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week recap, messaging for environmental literacy, and a survey to the field on AI

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      04/29/26

Make Games, Save the Planet: Young people as civic science leaders

By Alexis Kelley, Student, Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University; Gouri Nair, Student, Westwood High School; Iliana Rodriguez, Student, Arizona State University; Jaclyn Rodriguez, Student, Mesa Community College; Jackeline Santiago-Aguiluz, Student, Forensic...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/27/26

March CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week & the Supporting Afterschool STEM Educators Act

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. Where we've been Civic Learning Week National Forum [Philadelphia, PA | March 9–10]: CYESS presented a poster...

BY: Leah Silverberg      03/26/26

A nationwide survey of out-of-school time STEM programs’ community impact: Initial analysis

By Emily Howard, Graduate Student Researcher, and Katie Headrick Taylor, Associate Professor of Learning Sciences & Human Development, University of Washington, Seattle This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM &...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/19/26

We looked for research on youth shaping communities: here's what we found—and didn't find.

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative, which showcases the systemic change young people can make in their communities when their afterschool programs support them to layer action onto their STEM...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      03/12/26

February CYESS round up: STEM Talk Special Edition & grants for environmental ed

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people...

BY: Leah Silverberg      02/26/26

When young people lead: Creating free, global platforms for youth innovation

By Juli Shively, Founder, Innovation World. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/10/26

CYESS monthly resource round up: January 2026

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people...

BY: Leah Silverberg      01/26/26

Youth-led STEM action: Turning curiosity into community change

By Scott Ganske, Vice President of Education at Youth Service America and CYESS Advisory Board member. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/22/26

April CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week recap, messaging for environmental literacy, and a survey to the field on AI

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

BY: Leah Silverberg      04/29/26

How the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western PA are paving AI futures with teens

Photo credit: Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania By Amanda Sullivan of the National Girls Collaborative Project Reaching and supporting older youth through afterschool STEM requires creativity and adaptive models. This blog is part of a series showcasing afterschool programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/21/25

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Professional Development Opportunities Making Connections to STEM Careers with Click2Science This series of short, online video tutorials help afterschool programs connect their STEM programming to the work of STEM professionals and help youth experience the practical application of STEM...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/01/25

Launch real-world learning in just 4 sessions with Mini Technovation

By Jenna Boles, Content Strategist at Technovation. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/10/25

June assets from Million Girls Moonshot

Professional Development Opportunities Free STEM Coaching from ACRES The ACRES project is now offering all STEM coaching materials for FREE—giving leaders like you the tools and resources to keep reflecting on the STEM lessons offered at your sites and within your programs. Check out...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      06/03/25

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Pi Day is March 14! Professional Development Opportunities Free DNA Science Resources The Future is Bright!  From developing cures for cancer to solving the world’s food crisis, genomics is full of meaningful and exciting career opportunities. These roles are critical to...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      02/27/25

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

October resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for October 2024 Techbridge Girls: Become a Certified Techbridge Girls STEM Curriculum Facilitator October 16: Applications Open October 30: Information Session. REGISTER. Using a blend of theory and application, youth instructors become certified in delivering Techbridge...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      10/07/24

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for August 2024 ACRES Coaching: Making Math Engaging Thursdays: 8/22, 9/5, 9/19/2024 1:00 - 3:00 pm EST / 10:00 am- Noon PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      08/06/24

Highlights from the Flight Crew Experience at Girls Build Solutions 2024

After six months of virtual programming as members of the Million Girls Moonshot 2024 Flight Crew, from June 24 to 26, 2024, young STEM advocates met in-person at Girls Build Solutions (GBS) 2024! The Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew, launched by STEM Next Opportunity to engage millions more...

BY: Elizabeth Bannan      07/09/24

Congressional budget battles put STEM education and afterschool programs at risk

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The FY2027 budget and appropriations process could be one of the most consequential federal budget debates for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, scientific research, and afterschool learning in years. The...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/15/26

How did afterschool STEM education fare in the FY2027 President’s Budget Request?

The President’s FY2027 budget request is out and, at first glance, it looks very similar to last year’s. At the Department of Education (ED), 17 grant programs that currently provide $6.5B in funding for a variety of services are proposed to be eliminated and consolidated into a new $2B...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      04/09/26

Federal STEM education policy in flux: What it means for afterschool and informal STEM learning

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The federal STEM education landscape is entering a period of significant transition and uncertainty. For advocates of afterschool and informal science education, the current moment is defined by shifting National Science Foundation (NSF)...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/23/26

Supporting Afterschool STEM Educators Act introduced in the Senate

In September 2025, the Afterschool STEM Hub released a report highlighting the challenges that many afterschool STEM programs face in recruiting, developing, and retaining qualified educators. The report revealed that educators need access to high-quality STEM professional development and...

BY: Leslie Brooks      03/10/26

Afterschool STEM Policy Landscape: Appropriations

The current fiscal year ends on September 30 and Congress needs to negotiate and appropriate federal funding levels by that deadline to avoid a shutdown. This is important for afterschool STEM because funding for programs, research, support, and partnerships come through a variety of agencies and...

BY: Leslie Brooks      09/12/25

Congressional Appropriations Committees Mark Up FY2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Funding Bill

UPDATE August 4, 2025: Within the past couple of weeks, both the Senate and the House Appropriations Committees released report language for each respective FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) funding bills. We have updated the Notes: *Senate report language included strong support...

BY: Leslie Brooks      07/17/25

Budget details confirm scope of cuts to afterschool STEM education

The White House released details of its FY26 budget late on Friday and the cuts to afterschool overall and to STEM education are as bad as we projected earlier this month. They are devastating for afterschool and for STEM education overall and comes as the evidence for the importance of afterschool...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      05/31/25

Afterschool STEM programs threatened by cuts and budget proposal

Children building and launching rockets. Youth learning about our planet’s environment and designing projects to clean the air and water in their communities. Teens gaining hands-on experience with coding to solve real challenges in the world. Young people inspired by engaging with NASA...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      05/02/25

Department of Education finalizes rule on Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education

In April, the Department of Education (ED) announced its Final Priorities and Definitions for the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education (Docket ID ED-2025-OS-0118). Effective May 13, these priorities will guide ED in soliciting...

BY: Leslie Brooks      05/13/26

How did afterschool STEM education fare in the FY2027 President’s Budget Request?

The President’s FY2027 budget request is out and, at first glance, it looks very similar to last year’s. At the Department of Education (ED), 17 grant programs that currently provide $6.5B in funding for a variety of services are proposed to be eliminated and consolidated into a new $2B...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      04/09/26

Federal STEM education policy in flux: What it means for afterschool and informal STEM learning

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The federal STEM education landscape is entering a period of significant transition and uncertainty. For advocates of afterschool and informal science education, the current moment is defined by shifting National Science Foundation (NSF)...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/23/26

Department of Education finalizes rule on meaningful learning opportunities priority

Photo by Andy Feliciotti on Unsplash In February, the Department of Education (ED) announced its Final Priorities and Definitions for the Secretary's Supplemental Priority and Definitions on Meaningful Learning Opportunities (Docket ID ED-2025-OS-0680). Effective March 16, these priorities...

BY: Leslie Brooks      03/16/26

White House releases AI Action Plan

The White House recently released its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan to achieve the policy objectives outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.” The executive order directed the creation of...

BY: Leslie Brooks      08/26/25

Budget details confirm scope of cuts to afterschool STEM education

The White House released details of its FY26 budget late on Friday and the cuts to afterschool overall and to STEM education are as bad as we projected earlier this month. They are devastating for afterschool and for STEM education overall and comes as the evidence for the importance of afterschool...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      05/31/25

Afterschool STEM programs threatened by cuts and budget proposal

Children building and launching rockets. Youth learning about our planet’s environment and designing projects to clean the air and water in their communities. Teens gaining hands-on experience with coding to solve real challenges in the world. Young people inspired by engaging with NASA...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      05/02/25

Congressional budget battles put STEM education and afterschool programs at risk

By Della Cronin, Principal, Bose Public Affairs Group. The FY2027 budget and appropriations process could be one of the most consequential federal budget debates for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, scientific research, and afterschool learning in years. The...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/15/26

March CYESS roundup: Youth Voice Week & the Supporting Afterschool STEM Educators Act

A compilation of upcoming opportunities, resources, and events relevant to out-of-school time practitioners in STEM, civics, and teen leadership for the month ahead. Where we've been Civic Learning Week National Forum [Philadelphia, PA | March 9–10]: CYESS presented a poster...

BY: Leah Silverberg      03/26/26

Supporting Afterschool STEM Educators Act introduced in the Senate

In September 2025, the Afterschool STEM Hub released a report highlighting the challenges that many afterschool STEM programs face in recruiting, developing, and retaining qualified educators. The report revealed that educators need access to high-quality STEM professional development and...

BY: Leslie Brooks      03/10/26

White House releases AI Action Plan

The White House recently released its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan to achieve the policy objectives outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.” The executive order directed the creation of...

BY: Leslie Brooks      08/26/25

Department of Labor releases new “Talent Strategy”: Opportunities for afterschool programs

As the school year begins, a recently released document from the Administration deserves some attention. Titled “America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age,” it describes the Trump Administration’s strategy to “Make America Skilled...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      08/21/25

Budget details confirm scope of cuts to afterschool STEM education

The White House released details of its FY26 budget late on Friday and the cuts to afterschool overall and to STEM education are as bad as we projected earlier this month. They are devastating for afterschool and for STEM education overall and comes as the evidence for the importance of afterschool...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      05/31/25