Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation commits to advancing goal of recruiting, preparing, and retaining 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers by 2021.
Redwood City, CA—100Kin10, a national network coordinating and accelerating efforts to bring 100,000 new excellent science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers into schools by 2021, announced today that Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDEF) has been accepted as a partner.
“We are thrilled to join this incredible network of organizations dedicated to growing the number of STEM educators in the country,” said Shelly Masur, CEO of CDEF. “California is experiencing a shortage of teachers, particularly in the area of STEM education. As part of 100Kin10, we will help meet this challenge by collaborating with our statewide partners to implement the Next Generation Science Standards. And we will harness the success of the annual California STEM Symposium—the largest gathering of STEM educators and advocates in the state—to provide more and better opportunities for professional development.”
Specifically, Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation will strengthen the commitment and capacity of California educators, communities, and business partners to implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) through new cross sector initiatives. By 2020, CDEF will also increase the number of teachers presenting at and/or attending the California STEM Symposium to 5,000, and increase professional development opportunities for California STEM teachers throughout the year.
More and better-trained STEM teachers are essential to preparing America’s students to fully participate in our democracy and to understand and respond to complex national and global challenges. To compete in the global marketplace and provide opportunity to all young Americans, all students—not just those fortunate enough to attend certain schools—must have basic STEM skills and knowledge. CDEF is one of 49 new partners join a network of now over 280 of the country’s top businesses, nonprofits, foundations and academic institutions to help achieve the goal of 100,000 excellent STEM teachers.
“It is critical there be cross sector collaboration to prepare today’s students to be the leaders of tomorrow,” said 100Kin10 Executive Director Talia Milgrom-Elcott. “We are excited for the many ways CDEF will contribute to our shared mission of getting more and better STEM teachers into American classrooms.”
100Kin10 partners have access to exclusive research, learning, innovation, and funding opportunities, all designed to foster collaborative problem-solving and support partners in fulfilling their ambitious commitments towards 100Kin10’s shared goal.
Organizations are accepted as 100Kin10 partners following a rigorous vetting process, conducted by a team of partner reviewers and a national selection panel of experts in education and STEM. Applicants are considered for partnership based on their organization strength and STEM and teaching expertise; clear, meaningful commitments toward the 100,000 STEM teacher goal; and interest in and capacity to build the 100Kin10 movement.