Can ESSA Funding Help us Get Closer to STEM Equity?

On a good day, I'm idealistic, but every day I believe that it is realistic to provide quality STEM education for ALL teachers and students. I get it; I do. There isn't anything easy about it. But here are a few resources put together by organizations like NSTA and CSSS that help us better understand funding that can help us get a little closer to our goals.

Title IV/A under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) consolidates funding for several subjects, including STEM.

"Wait, I think we CAN afford quality STEM education for ALL teachers and students."

• Expand high-quality STEM courses;Increase access to STEM for underserved and at risk student populations;

• Support student participation in STEM nonprofit competitions;

• Provide hands-on learning opportunities in STEM;

• Integrate other academic subjects, including the arts, into STEM subject programs;

• Create or enhance STEM specialty schools – new definition created;

• Integrate classroom based and after-school and informal STEM instruction; and

• Expand environmental education.

Timeline for ESSA fund distribution

The Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS), affectionately known to science educators as the Cubers, published an ESSA ToolKit, and NSTA published an infographic. If you are an NSTA member, there are also some wonderful resources available here.