Minorities in STEM

As an avid supporter of innovation and entrepreneurialism in our District, I recognize the value of emerging technology in the workforce and in schools. Investing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and training is crucial to ensure success and to remain competitive in the global marketplace. By 2020, the demand for STEM professionals will add over 1 million new STEM jobs within the United States. However, women and minorities are vastly underrepresented in STEM. Technology is the language of the present and future; one’s color and gender should not be a barrier to taking advantage of the exciting opportunities in tech. Please see below for grants that are available to groups focused on youth STEM education, particularly among minority students.

US Dept of Education Grants

Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program

This program assists predominantly minority institutions in effecting long-range improvement in science and engineering education programs and increasing the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into science and engineering careers.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/index.html

Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow

The purpose of the TCT initiative is: to develop and implement programs to provide integrated courses of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages, and teacher education, that lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, with concurrent teacher certification; to develop and implement two- or three-year part-time master's degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education for teachers in order to enhance the teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical skills; and to develop programs for professionals in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language education that lead to a master's degree in teaching that results in teacher certification.\
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/tct/index.html

Mathematics and Science Partnerships

This program is designed to improve the content knowledge of teachers and the performance of students in the areas of mathematics and science by encouraging states, institutions of higher education (IHEs), local education angencies (LEAs), and elementary and secondary schools to participate in programs that: Improve and upgrade the status and stature of mathematics and science teaching by encouraging IHEs to improve mathematics and science teacher education; Focus on the education of mathematics and science teachers as a career-long process; Bring mathematics and science teachers together with scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to improve their teaching skills; and Provide summer institutes and ongoing professional development for teachers to improve their knowledge and teaching skills.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/mathsci/index.html

Ready to Learn Television

Ready to Learn Television supports the development of educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. Its general goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach, and research on educational effectiveness.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/rtltv/index.html

STEM Education Grants – Private