This week in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), legislators and educators continue to look for ways to get more students into STEM-related studies as jobs have opened up with far fewer applicants available.

In Los Angeles, the STEM3 Academy is looking to get students frequently overlooked into the pool of applicants: students with social and learning differences.

Alabama's Journey to Raising Test Scores in STEM 

As the school year begins a-new, so does Alabama policy makers efforts' to raise Alabama students' performance in math and STEM fields in general.

Matthew Brown, member of the state's Board of Education "said the state has made a big push over the last two years to boost the state's STEM portfolio – such as reaching out to Airbus and Austal USA – in an effort to provide more opportunities for public school students, regardless of economic background," according to BizJournals.com.

The state will continue the push- while trying to find a balance- this school year.

Read more here.

STEM School for Students with Students with Social and Learning Differences

In Los Angeles, a high school is now in operation that specifically focuses on helping children with learning differences study STEM subjects.

"STEM3 Academy is the newest school operated by The Help Group, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to serving children, adolescents and young adults with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems," said Benzinga.com.

85 percent of adults with social and learning differences are unemployed or underemployed, said the article, and STEM3 Academy hopes to change that by helping these people take advantage of the 8.65 million STEM jobs that will be available by 2018.

Read more here. 

Legislator Pushes Legislation to Recruit and Retain Teachers in STEM

Rep. Ed Narain, D-Tampa is pushing for new legislation that will help Florida recruit more teachers to teach STEM.

"Narain's proposed law would create a loan forgiveness program for STEM teachers. It would fund up to $16,000 worth of college expenses for teachers who qualify and fulfill several requirements," said WTSP.com.

The legislation is just another example of how policymakers are looking for seeking ways to not only incentivize all teachers- but to incentivize teachers in subjects that are generally underrepresented. Most STEM subjects qualify as subjects that nationally need more teachers.

The bill will be considered this January.

Read more here. 

New York City Sees Unprecedented Efforts in STEM This Summer

As the summer comes to a close, officials in Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration are applauding a summer of STEM in New York City.

For instance, this summer "[t]he DOE created a three-year STEM professional development session for 450 teachers this summer and released the department's new STEM Framework, intended to guide instructors on teaching technology," according to Politico New York.

NYC businesses also a had a hand in helping efforts, with AT&T providing a $1.6 million grant to the Department of Education and "NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering is training 1,100 students with a $2 million boost from Microsoft and public funds and Cornell Tech," the article said.

Read more here.

Compiled by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

08/25/2015