SILVER SPRING, Md.,
Nov. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital
curriculum resources, content, and professional development for K –
12 classrooms nationwide, announced today the launch of the STEM
Careers Coalition. With a focus on equity and access, the
STEM Careers Coalition unites the business community with
the shared goal of accelerating the growth of America's STEM
pipeline. The STEM Careers Coalition aims to prepare 10
million students for the future of work by 2025 by providing
no-cost access to digital content and experiences that engage
students in instruction, build foundational STEM knowledge, and
develop the critical 21st Century skills students need
for college and career success.
The anchor partner organizations who have provided initial seed
funding and support to power the initiative's launch include
Chevron, The Manufacturing Institute, the American Petroleum
Institute (API), Boeing, Microsoft, and Best Buy. These industry
leaders depend on a strong pipeline of STEM-ready students to drive
their businesses and the American economy forward, and thus are
aligned on a shared mission to accelerate the elevation of STEM
career pathways for students, parents and guardians in public,
private, charter, and tribal schools nationwide.
Coalition member companies are catalyzing and engaging in
regional approaches to workforce development by creating connected
pathways for students through K-12, postsecondary education, and
the STEM workforce. In addition to providing no-cost STEM
experiences and career resources to schools nationwide, Coalition
members will also underwrite Discovery Education STEM Connect
in local communities identified by the partners. Inspired by the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the NAE Grand
Challenges for Engineering, STEM Connect is an
interdisciplinary resource that enhances core curriculum and helps
students build valuable problem-solving skills as they develop and
apply solutions to important real-world challenges. Rooted in
authoritative research, users become part of a global student
laboratory to share data and collaborate with others around the
world. District leaders and educators may now apply online to be
considered for Coalition scholarships, with preference given to
schools in under-resourced communities.
The initiative officially launched today with an event at the
Carnegie Institution for Science, featuring a keynote address by
former astronaut, science advocate and NFL player Leland
Melvin and a panel discussion focusing on STEM solutions and
workforce preparedness. In his remarks, Melvin shared his
experiences as an athlete, astronaut, scientist, engineer,
photographer, and musician to reinforce the necessity of closing
the inspiration gap and supporting the next generation of students
in pursuit Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics
(S.T.E.A.M.) careers. Guests included leaders from education,
industry and government who are invested in preparing the next
generation of solution seekers and leveraging the power of
technology to close the awareness gap.
"The STEM Careers Coalition will connect classrooms to careers
at unprecedented scale," said
Lori McFarling, President of
Corporate Partnerships, Discovery Education. "We believe that
through direct investment in schools with a focus on equity of
access, engagement of Coalition member employees, and exposure to
digitally immersive STEM career experiences, more students will
have the opportunity to envision their future in STEM and emerge as
the STEM leaders of the future to fill the ever-growing careers
pipeline."
The Coalition will provide no-cost resources to engage both
educators and students in effective STEM instruction. "Through the
generosity of the Coalition partners, students will have access to
an array of STEM-focused resources, such as virtual field trips,
digital instructional assets, career exploration videos, and more,"
said Marla Wilson, Senior Director
of the Coalition.
Over time, the efforts of the Coalition are expected to result
in increased awareness as it relates to STEM and STEM careers.
During its first five years, there will be a dedicated effort to
study the execution and impact of the initiative's efforts,
anchored by a multi-year study conducted by McRel International
will explore the implementation of STEM resources in classrooms
supported by the Coalition.
For businesses and organizations interested in learning more
about joining the STEM Careers Coalition and school districts
interested in learning more about the scholarship process, please
visit https://stemcareerscoalition.org/.
About Discovery Education:
As the global leader in standards-based digital curriculum
resources, digital content, and professional development for K-12
classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching
and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia
content and the largest professional learning community of its
kind. Serving more than 5 million educators and 51
million students, Discovery Education's services are available in
approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the
UK, and more than 90 countries around the globe. Inspired
by the global media company Discovery,
Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and
like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers,
and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase
academic achievement. Explore the future of education
at DiscoveryEducation.com.
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SOURCE Discovery Education