State of STEM and ARTS 5/21/14

The LA Regional STEM Hub will host "The State of STEM + Arts" at the Los Angeles Times Building on 21 May 2014.  Registration begins at 7:30am, and the event runs from 8:30 to 11:40am.  The convening will focus on multi-industry collaborations to advance STEM and arts education for workforce development.  For more information and to register, go to State of STEM + Arts .

On a related note, Vital Link of Orange County will be hosting the 2014 STEM and the Arts Career Showcase at the OC Fair and Event Center on 11-13 April 2014.  For more information, see OC STEM and the Arts Career Showcase .

Upcoming STEM Events

Several statewide STEM education events are coming up in the fall, so please keep them on your radar:

• AV MSET, STEM School Tour in Palmdale for industry partners: 30 October 2013 - contact Bob Johnstone for details, bjohnstone@cityoflancasterca.org
• California Science Education Conference: 25-27 October 2013 in Palm Springs - http://www.cascience.org/csta/conf_home13.asp
• California Math Council - South:  Annual Mathematics Council 1-2 November 2013 in Palm Springs, CA - http://cmc-math.org/activities/south_conference.html
• California's 1st Annual STEM Conference: 18-19 November 2013 in Sacramento, CA - http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/sc/stemconference.asp

21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act Introduced in House

Ten members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Congressman Bill Foster of Illinois, and joined by Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod of California, introduced the 21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act in late May.  “The 21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act will incentivize school districts to provide students with the skills they need to be successful in the workplace,” said Foster.  “Despite high unemployment levels, many employers tell me they can’t fill jobs because they can’t find workers with the training and education they need. This legislation would help bridge that gap.” House Press Release May 23, 2013 .

The legislation looks to provide competitive grants to local education agencies which link with local or regional employers to develop curricula and program metrics, as well as providing internships or apprenticeships and dual enrollment (articulation) opportunities. 

To view the full legislation, visit http://foster.house.gov/sites/foster.house.gov/files/2013-05-22%20STEM%20jobs%20act.pdf .
 

STEM Presentations at CALCP/CAROCP Fall Conference

Mimi Lufkin, Executive Director of the National Association for Partnerships in Equity, presented on 15 November 2012 at the CALCP/CAROCP [California Association of Leaders in Career Preparation and California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs] Fall Conference in Rancho Mirage.  Her presentation explained the initiatives of the STEM Equity Pipeline toward increasing the numbers of under-represented populations within the STEM community. To view her presentation, visit http://www.napequity.org/nape-content/uploads/Lufkin.CAROP_.2012.pdf.

Joel Beckmann, Coordinator of the AV region National Defense Education Partnership grant, and Diane Walker of the AVUHSD also presented "Creating and Expanding Vibrant STEM Pathways" at the conference .  Please enjoy their presentation by following this link:

Creating and Expanding Vibrant STEM Pathways Presentation

California STEM Summit Held in San Diego 10/15-16/12

The California STEM Learning Network, along with industry partners, is sponsoring the California STEM Summit on 15-16 October 2012 in San Diego.  The keynote speakers include California Education Secretary Tom Torlakson, NBA great and new California STEM Ambassador Kareem Abdul Jabbar, David Seidel - NASA's Deputy Education Director, and Sugata Mitra - Newcastle University Professor of Education Technology.  They are joined by legislators, policymakers, business, industry and education leaders who will network to cover strands throughout the theme of "Transforming Ideas Into Action."  The sessions may be viewed through FORATV at http://www.castemsummit.com/tunein/ .  Follow the summit through tweets @CaSTEMLearning .

California and Kentucky Communities Models for STEM Education

Vince Bertram, in the US News "STEM Education" blog, cites industry and education partnerships in California and Kentucky as models of the way that STEM education can be operated, resulting in success for students.  Chevron's California Partnership, Project Lead the Way, and Linking Education and Economic Development "are working together to address the STEM jobs gap in California."  Likewise, "Toyota, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, and PLTW present another example of a scalable solution addressing the STEM education and workforce needs of Kentucky."  http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/stem-education/2012/08/15/industry-educators-build-in-roads-to-stem-success