NASA and U.S. Department of Education Partner to Enhance STEM Education in After-School Programs
NASA and the U.S. Department of Education have embarked on an exciting partnership aimed at enriching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for students across the United States. The collaborative initiative, known as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, is set to engage approximately 1,000 students in more than 60 sites across 10 states. This after-school program is designed to ignite interest and foster skills in STEM disciplines among young learners.
Bringing STEM to After-School Hours
Pam Melroy, NASA’s Deputy Administrator, expressed enthusiasm about this new venture. “Together with the Education Department, NASA aims to create a brighter future for the next generation of explorers,” she said. “We are committed to supporting after-school programs across the country with the tools they need to engage students in the excitement of NASA. Through STEM education investments like this, we aspire to ignite curiosity, nurture potential, and inspire our nation’s future researchers, explorers, and innovators.”
A Promising Kickoff
The program was officially launched at the Wheatley Education Campus in Washington, where students had the opportunity to learn about the collaboration from Kris Brown, Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. During the event, students participated in an engineering design challenge, which exemplified the hands-on, problem-solving focus of the initiative.
Kris Brown emphasized the unique learning opportunities the program offers. “The 21st Century Community Learning Centers will provide a unique opportunity to inspire students through hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving,” she said. “By engaging with learning opportunities with NASA scientists and engineers, students will not only develop the critical thinking and creativity needed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow but also discover the joy of learning.”
Empowering the Next Generation
Cindy Marten highlighted the transformative potential of the program. “Through this collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education and NASA, we are unlocking limitless opportunities for students to explore, innovate, and thrive in STEM fields,” she said. “The 21st Century Community Learning Centers play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality by providing essential after-school programs that ignite curiosity and empower the next generation of thinkers, problem-solvers, and explorers. Together, we are shaping the future of education and space exploration, inspiring students to reach for the stars.”
Support from NASA’s Glenn Research Center
The Glenn Research Center in Cleveland will play a significant role in this initiative by providing NASA-related content and academic projects for students. The center will also offer in-person staff training, ongoing program support, and opportunities for students to engage directly with NASA scientists and engineers. Through engineering design challenges, students will harness their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges faced by NASA professionals.
Strengthening Collaborative Efforts
In May 2023, NASA and the Education Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding to solidify their collaboration and expand efforts to make high-quality STEM and space education accessible to students and schools nationwide. Following this, NASA Glenn signed a Space Act Agreement in 2024 to further support the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This program, managed by the Department of Education and funded by Congress, is the sole federal funding source dedicated exclusively to after-school programs.
More about NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement
For those interested in learning more about how NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement is working to inspire future explorers, you can find additional information at: https://www.nasa.gov/stem
This partnership between NASA and the U.S. Department of Education represents a significant investment in the future of STEM education. By providing students with hands-on learning experiences and direct interaction with experts, this program aims to foster a new generation of innovative thinkers, problem-solvers, and explorers who are equipped to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
For more information, you can refer to the original news release on NASA’s website: NASA and U.S. Department of Education Launch STEM Project
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