![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nhq202409230025.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA and the U.S. Department of Education are teaming up to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education during after-school hours. The interagency program aims to reach approximately 1,000 students in more than 60 sites across 10 states to join the program, 21st Century Community Learning Centers.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether with the Education Department, NASA aims to create a brighter future for the next generation of explorers,\u201d said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. \u201cWe are committed to supporting after-school programs across the country with the tools they need to engage students in the excitement of NASA. Through STEM education investments like this, we aspire to ignite curiosity, nurture potential, and inspire our nation\u2019s future researchers and explorers, and innovators.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Monday, NASA and the Education Department kicked off the program<\/a> at the Wheatley Education Campus in Washington. Students had an opportunity to hear about the interagency collaboration from Kris Brown, deputy associate administrator, NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement, and Cindy Marten, deputy secretary, Education Department, as well as participate in an engineering design challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 21st Century Community Learning Centers will provide a unique opportunity to inspire students through hands-on learning and real-world problem solving,\u201d said Brown. \u201cBy engaging with in learning opportunities with NASA scientists and engineers, students will not only develop the critical thinking and creativity needed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, but also discover the joy of learning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThrough this collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education and NASA, we are unlocking limitless opportunities for students to explore, innovate, and thrive in STEM fields,\u201d said Marten. \u201cThe 21st Century Community Learning Centers play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality by providing essential after-school programs that ignite curiosity and empower the next generation of thinkers, problem-solvers, and explorers. Together, we are shaping the future of education and space exploration, inspiring students to reach for the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland will provide NASA-related content and academic projects for students, in-person staff training, continuous program support, and opportunities for students to engage with NASA scientists and engineers. Through engineering design challenges, students will use their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to help solve real-world challenges that NASA engineers and scientists may face.<\/p>\n In May 2023, NASA and the Education Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening collaboration between the two agencies, and expanding efforts to increase access to high-quality STEM and space education to students and schools across the nation. NASA Glenn signed a follow-on Space Act Agreement in 2024 to support the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The program, managed by the Education Department and funded by Congress, is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to afterschool programs.<\/p>\n Learn more about how NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement is inspiring the next generation of explorers at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stem<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Abbey Donaldson Jacqueline Minerd
Headquarters, Washington
202-269-1600
abbey.a.donaldson@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
216-433-6036
jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n