STEM & CS in PA
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STEM & CS in PA
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education is an integrated, interdisciplinary, and student-centered approach to learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, artistic expression, collaboration, computational thinking, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, and design thinking.
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Computer Science in PA
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Governor's STEM Competition
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Chief Science Officers Program
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STEM Toolkit
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BrightNow!
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PA Student-Centered Learning
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STEM Ecosystems -- PSSE
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Current Initiatives (contact your local IU for more information)
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Resources
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Computer Science in PA
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Supports the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education by fostering internal and external partnerships to enhance and support statewide professional development and technical assistance of STEM and Computer Science.
Community of Practice
CS Educator Toolkit
CS Family Toolkit
Data Dashboard
Professional Learning -
AI Resources and Opportunities
- AI Circle on Community of Practice
- AI Toolkit
- AI Think Tank Workgroup
- Collect and analyze AI guidance from various organizations and states
- Multiple on-site AI professional development sessions
- AI for Special Education
- AI for CTE
- School personnel using AI
- Students using AI
- Micro-credential courses (2)
- Pop-up Practices videos (2)
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Governor's STEM Competition
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The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) facilitates the annual competition.
Some of the most technologically diverse and scientifically sophisticated businesses and organizations in the world call Pennsylvania home, and they need highly skilled employees to fulfill careers based in STEM.
Expanding and enhancing STEM learning for students (our future workforce) has been a top priority of the administration. The Governor's STEM Competition creates opportunities for students to take the STEM skills they've learned in the classroom and put them to use.
Working with their community, students are required to research, develop, and present a device that can improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and accomplish a series of practical tasks that can fulfill real-world needs.
The competition is open to students in grades 9 through 12 who attend a public, charter, or private school, a career and technical education center, or are homeschooled in Pennsylvania.
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Chief Science Officers Program
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Chief Science Officers Program
The Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program is an international initiative dedicated to elevating student voices through leadership opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This program cultivates a diverse network of student leaders, encouraging active engagement and collaboration. By enriching your school’s STEM culture, the CSO Program raises awareness of STEM careers and empowers students to amplify their voices within the community, making a lasting impact on the future of STEM education.
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STEM Tooklit
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Discover the PA STEM Toolkit on OER Commons, your ultimate destination for cutting-edge K-12 STEM, STEELS, and Computer Science educational materials. Aligned with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s visionary approach to STEM education, this toolkit is a collaborative effort between Pennsylvania Intermediate Units, PDE, and PaTTAN. Dive into this expanding collection that empowers educators with the tools needed to deliver dynamic, equitable STEM/STEELS/CS learning experiences accessible to every student regardless of ability level. Unlock resources that enhance career readiness, promote inclusive STEM/STEELS/CS education, and support your journey as a STEM educator.
Start exploring the PA STEM Toolkit today!
PA STEM Toolkit on OER Commons. STEM Toolkit
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BrightNow!
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BrightNow! is a team of educators, musicians, artists, and innovators dedicated to creating tools for educators and families that support young learners. These supports are addressed and integrated into the lyrics, lessons, and activities in a way that enables a teacher to incorporate them into lessons and day-to-day activities, and are deliverable online or in-person. This resource includes mp3 audio file, downloadable song lyrics, and activity guides.
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PA Student-Centered Learning
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Student-Centered Learning Community of Practice (COP) has been developed to improve educational outcomes for all students by creating a more cohesive and coordinated approach to student-centered learning in Pennsylvania. Our Mission is to empower a Pennsylvania where all learners thrive in student-centered environments. Our Vision is to create ubiquitous learning opportunities where the student is at the center of all learning.
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Welcome to PA Student-Centered Learning!
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The PA Student-Centered Learning COP has been developed to improve educational outcomes for all students by creating a more cohesive and coordinated approach to student-centered learning in Pennsylvania.
The PASCL Mission is to empower a Pennsylvania where all learners thrive in student-centered environments.
The PASCL Vision is to create ubiquitous learning opportunities where the student is at the center of all learning.
PASCL is a collaborative effort with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU).
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What is PA Student-Centered Learning?
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Introduction
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The Student-Centered Learning COP key terms were developed to establish a shared understanding of key terms, instructional frameworks, and instructional practices related to student-centered learning concepts. The key terms were created through the use of the Delphi Method by the Student-Centered Learning Initiative Advisory Committee. This committee included educational leaders from intermediate units and school districts and was led by staff from Penn State University's Pennsylvania School Study Council. The purpose of this document is to promote interoperability between professional learning facilitators and designers, specifically within the context of Pennsylvania. By aligning their understanding of key terms and instructional frameworks related to student-centered learning concepts, these stakeholders can better support and promote student-centered learning practices in their respective schools and districts. Ultimately, this initiative aims to improve educational outcomes for all students by creating a more cohesive and coordinated approach to student-centered learning in Pennsylvania.
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Student-Centered Learning
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A philosophical perspective to education whereby equitable learning experiences are intentionally designed using a constellation of approaches to create relevancy, purposefulness, and meaningfulness to motivate students to take greater ownership over their learning (Aurora Institute, 2022). Specifically, the learning process is adaptable to the students’ unique needs, interests, and aspirations and designed with their ideas and voices at the table (Kaput, 2018). Student-centered learning can be viewed as an umbrella term encompassing active learning strategies, personalized approaches, competency-based learning, deeper learning, and learner-centered techniques. At the system level, this requires implementing sustainable curriculum planning practices, support systems, online and offline technologies, community engagement, pedagogy, and assessment methods that support a student-centric approach (Aurora Institute, 2022; Education Reimagined, 2015; ISTE, 2020).
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Online & Distance Learning
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A philosophical perspective and innovative approach to the design of learning that is facilitated in flexible learning environments that connect learners across time and space with curriculum and instruction. With the aim to make learning student-centered and accessible, this model encompasses a wide range of educational activities, instructional strategies, and openly accessible resources delivered through the Internet and other emerging technologies. Special organizational processes, administrative practices, and student-support systems are required to provide learners with high-quality and flexible educational experiences (Digital Learning Collaborative, 2021; Hewlett, 2022; Kalir et al., 2019; Moore & Kearsley, 2011)
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Blended Learning
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The strategic integration of technology-enhanced learning that combines supervised synchronous learning and online learning to enable student-centered learning. The learning design provides elements of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace and allows for whole child support, personalized instruction, and mastery-based progression. Blended learning can be implemented using a combination of several models (Horn and Staker, 2011; Learning Accelerator, 2022).
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Personalized Learning
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Personalized Learning creates authentic, equitable, culturally relevant learning opportunities centered around each learner’s readiness, needs, and interests in the learning environment. Personalized learning includes the following elements and components: varies the time, place, and pace of learning for each student; provides opportunities for learner agency through voice and choice in how, when, and where they learn; utilizes multiple instructional modes and feedback to scaffold each student’s learning and enhance the student’s personal competencies; enlists the student in the creation of learning pathway; designs assessment in a meaningful, positive and empowering learning experience that is customized for students and yields timely, relevant and actionable evidence, and integrates individualization and differentiation (Aurora Institute, 2019; Remake Learning, 2022).
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PASCL Resource Group
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The OER Commons PA Student-Centered Learning Group offers a variety of resources aimed at enhancing student-centered educational practices. Key components include:
● Resource Sharing: Educators are encouraged to contribute and access materials that promote student-centered learning across Pennsylvania.
● Professional Development: Opportunities on UDL, Blended Learning, Station Rotation and more provide structured learning experiences for educators.
● Podcasts and Discussions: Episodes like "For the Love of Student-Centered Learning" feature insights from educators on the transformative effects of student-centered approaches.
● Strategic Frameworks: Documents such as the "Blueprint for Pennsylvania" offer strategic guidance for implementing student-centered practices in K-12 education.
● Terminology Standardization: Efforts to define key terms and instructional frameworks aim to create a cohesive understanding of student-centered learning concepts.
● Community Engagement: The group fosters collaboration among educators, administrators, and community members to share best practices and resources from the official PASCL Network and other communications.
These components collectively support the advancement of student-centered learning in Pennsylvania by providing educators with access to resources, professional development, and collaborative opportunities.
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PA Student-Centered Learning (PASCL) Network
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The PA Student-Centered Learning (PASCL) Network is dedicated to advancing student-centered learning practices across Pennsylvania. Our network meets virtually on a regular basis to facilitate resource sharing, highlight district success stories, and support collaboration among educators. By fostering a statewide community of practice, we aim to empower educators, administrators, and stakeholders with the tools and strategies necessary to implement effective student-centered learning approaches.
Our network provides a platform for:
● Resource Sharing: Curating and distributing best practices, research, and tools to support student-centered learning.
● District Storytelling: Showcasing innovative approaches and success stories from schools implementing SCL practices.
● Site Visits and Observations: Facilitating structured school visits to observe SCL in action and foster cross-district learning.
● Statewide Collaboration: Connecting school districts, Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and Intermediate Units (IUs) to scale best practices and share insights.
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PASCL Leadership Team
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Contact Information:
PA SCL Leadership Team - Dr. Demetrius Roberts - PDE Becky Henderson - IU7 Resources Microsite Kendy Schiffert - IU14 Tracy Rains - IU8 Blueprint Project Eric Lech - CLIU Brian Stamford - IU3 Project Marketing Brandon Langer - MCIU Ken Zimmerman - IU13 Statewide Network Tim Leister - IU13
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STEM Ecosystems -- PSSE
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A hub for all things STEM in PA!
PSSE is a statewide, cross-sector network representing Pennsylvania’s diverse regions and perspectives striving to be all things STEM in PA. PSSE engages Pennsylvanians from a range of sectors including those from the workforce, education, non-profits, community organizations, families, and others, in our efforts to work collaboratively to strengthen and accelerate STEM learning outcomes. PSSE has been influential in informing bipartisan legislation, spotlighting innovative practices, connecting youth to STEM secondary, post-secondary and career opportunities, and providing professional development for STEM educators.
As we grow, PSSE endeavors to continue to advance promising practices and programs, provide access to information, opportunities and resources, facilitate connections and partnerships, support existing and evolving regional STEM ecosystems, and influence policy and political advocacy.
Our vision is for all Pennsylvanians to have access to quality STEM education and career pathways to become tomorrow’s leaders, influencers, and problem-solvers.
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ABC CREATE
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ABC CREATE is actualizing its mission - actively connecting teachers across school districts with professional learning communities, tools, and best practices to develop competent and technologically fluent students.
ABC CREATE centers its core values in all its initiatives: Equitable Access, Collaboration, Technological Fluency, Innovative Teaching and Learning.
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Berks STEM Connection
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Berks STEM Connection Ecosystem is focused on providing STEM thinking and learning opportunities for the 70,000+ students in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Through an alliance of business and industry, post-secondary partners, community organizations, and school districts, Berks STEM Connection Ecosystem is able to provide the latest innovations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math together with the Pre-K to post-secondary population to ensure a viable, thriving workforce for the future of Berks County.
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CSB2
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The CSB2 STEM Ecosystem consists of schools, public libraries, higher education institutions, and businesses/industries in the four counties of Cambria, Somerset, Blair and Bedford.
The purpose of the CSB2 STEM Ecosystem is to promote collaboration and provide opportunities for education, training, and resource sharing across the region.
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Central Susquehanna EcosySTEM
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The Central Susquehanna EcosySTEM is motivated to harness the rich and unique resources of the Central Susquehanna Valley to connect and transform the local infrastructure and ensure more students, particularly under-served and underrepresented students, develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. We strive to empower youth living and working in our region to be innovative problem-solvers, ready to flourish in careers of tomorrow, and to create abundant, sustainable opportunities to benefit our students, employers, and our region.
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Engine of Central PA
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ENGINE of Central PA, Empowering Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs, is a collaborative network elevating and cultivating cross-sector partnerships. Our network builds a community of lifelong learners that promotes equitable access to meaningful, transdisciplinary experiences. We strive to empower youth living and working in our region to be innovative problem-solvers, ready to succeed in careers of tomorrow.
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FrAY Ecosystem
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The mission of the FrAY Ecosystem is to offer opportunities to students and community members to develop the skills and mindsets in STEM that will result in college and career readiness for all through learning opportunities, networks and student events to support STEM learning and grow economic development across the region.
FrAY Ecosystem envisions a world where all students possess the STEM skills and are prepared to be productive and successful citizens by becoming problem finders and solvers, critical and computational thinkers and thoughtful designers of a new world.
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Lancaster STEM Alliance
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Lancaster County STEM Alliance
Lancaster County STEM Alliance is a collective of business, education and community partners ensuring the long-term prosperity of Lancaster County by creating, aligning, and investing in equitable access to STEM experiences that build a talented workforce.
The Lancaster County STEM Alliance is committed to data-driven decisions, evaluating the effectiveness of supported programs and optimizing community investments. By gathering and monitoring data annually, we track outcomes over time, assessing both individual programs and their collective impact on STEM education and workforce development in Lancaster County.
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NEPA STEM System
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Northeastern Pennsylvania STEM (NEPA STEM) Ecosystem is a collaboration between the PA Department of Education and the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit (NEIU 19). NEPA STEM Ecosystem joined five previously recognized STEM Ecosystems in Pennsylvania in 2019 to further this important work. We are one of more than 100 formally recognized STEM Ecosystems worldwide. A founding member of the Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem, NEPA STEM Ecosystem works to ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to quality STEM education and career pathways.
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NWPA STEM Ecosystem
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We are an organization driven to help learners make connections by growing partnerships between schools, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling the development of STEM Literacy and preparing them for future workforce demands in Northwest and North Central Pennsylvania.
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PA SEED Ecosystem
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The PA SEED STEM Ecosystem is a collaboration of partners committed to engaging its local and global community in connected science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. PA SEED promotes collaboration, connections, and partnerships to overcome barriers and advance STEM education and workforce development and works to generate coherent STEM experiences for all learners that highlight innovative approaches and technologies being utilized to enhance STEM learning and engagement and to create STEM pathways to cultivate a talent-rich workforce prepared to creatively address challenges, leverage opportunities, and fulfill tomorrow’s jobs.
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Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem
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The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem, an initiative within the Philadelphia Education Fund's McKinney Center for STEM Education, aims to promote equitable access to STEM opportunities for children and youth in the Greater Philadelphia area. With the collaboration of our Steering Committee, Workgroups, and over 900 members, we strive to ensure that everyone succeeds when students succeed in STEM.
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Remake Learning
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Remake Learning is a free, peer network for educators and innovators that powers the greater Pittsburgh region’s learning ecosystem. Our members are a cross-sector group of people, projects, and organizations invested in transforming learning. We are artists, designers, classroom teachers, learning scientists, early learning educators, administrators, principals, mentors, professional learning facilitators, out-of-school time programs, universities, libraries, museums, nonprofits, edtech startups, and more.
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SHINEonPA STEM Ecosystem
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The SHINEonPA STEM Ecosystem is a one of over 114 designated STEM Ecosystems in the US, Canada, Mexico, Iceland, Colombia, Israel, and Kenya. The STEM Learning Ecosystem initiative empowers communities to bring together local partners to create systemic change to ensure underserved and underrepresented students develop STEM knowledge and skills they need to learn and thrive in today's world. Ecosystems provide the architecture for cross-sector learning, offering all young people access to STEM-rich learning environments so they can develop important skills and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math throughout preK-16.
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Current Initiatives
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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ISTE+ASCD collaborated with the Pennsylvania Department of Education STEM & CS team to build the capacity of educators throughout the statewide intermediate unit network to support educators across the state in navigating the impact of artificial intelligence. The learning series focused on learning in the age of AI and addressed the integration of artificial intelligence to support and enhance teaching, learning, and operations. ISTE+ASCD customized, structured, and designed the series in collaboration with the STEM & CS leadership team.
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Computational Thinking
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Project Tomorrow delivered a comprehensive suite of professional development services aimed at enhancing computational thinking (CT) integration within Pennsylvania. This initiative includes 15 hours of professional learning for at least 20 IU-based CT Integrationists, focusing on CT concepts, integration strategies, and mentoring techniques using Project Tomorrow’s methodologies. Additionally, Project Tomorrow collaborated with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to create a scaling plan for CT key activities including planned workshops, training events, and access to a range of resources to ensure sustained support and development in CT practices across the state.
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Resources
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STEM Lab opens in new window
The State Library of Pennsylvania's STEMlab offers a full lending library of STEM resources for public and school libraries, including kits, books, and materials for STEM-powered library programs.
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The Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective (PSEC) opens in new window
This organization cultivates STEM equity, access, and inclusion in STEM career pathways for Philadelphia students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM occupations.
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STEM Enrichment of Pennsylvania (STEMEPA) opens in new window
STEM is the future, so we believe in providing education and opportunity to students to get ahead of the game. To accomplish this, we offer the resources to help them succeed and reach their aspirations. We aim to make it easy for those of all backgrounds to have access to STEM and its amazing benefits.
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STEM Competitions and Research Programs opens in new window
An organization run independently by students, STEMEPA aims to improve youth literacy in STEM through partnerships with local businesses and communities.
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