SciMathMN

STEM Day at the State Fair 2023!

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Exhibitor Applications and Sponsorship Opportunities Available

STEM Day at the State Fair 2023!  Always the best day of summer STEM Day brings together several dozen STEM education providers, leading Minnesota corporations, award winning teachers, and thousands of families to explore and celebrate all things STEM. It’s an opportunity for youth and their families to take time play, learn, and discover in ways that might surprise and deight them.

This year’s theme is You Belong in STEM, assuring everyone that they have a place in the STEM community and in a STEM career.  We will be celebrating the diversity of roles and individuals in STEM today and the opportunities for tomorrow.

Organizations wishing to participate can apply to be exhibitors.  Exhibitors applications are due by May 1. Those organizations looking for a different level of engagement can become sponsors.

Department of Education Moves Forward on New Math Standards

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Public comment period begins

The Minnesota Department of Education has moved the proposed new academic standards in math another step forward, starting the statutory rule making process.  This technical process can be lengthy, with multiple technical steps, and is estimated to run 14-17 months.  The public is being invited to comment on two dimensions of the standards. 

Under Minnesota law comments are limited to the proposed academic standards themselves.  Public comment on those is during a 60 day period that began December 28, 2022 and continues through February 27, 2023.  This process is conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings and can be found here.

To provide more transparency to the process MDE has voluntarily opened a thirty day public comment period on the proposed new benchmarks. This comment period also opened in December and runs through 4:30 p.m. January 26, 2023. The comment survey can be found here.

Congratulations to award winning schools!

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Congratulations to two Minnesota school systems of Code.org’s Computer Science Leaders Prize!  They are two of only 102 school nationwide to receive this award.  The award recognition comes with $10,000 to advance computer science in their schools. Minnesota’s winners are the Kasson-Mantorville … [Continue reading...]

SciMathMN Engages Legislative Candidates

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Continuing its work as a nonpartisan advocate for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in Minnesota SciMathMN is working on engaging legislative candidates in this fall’s election on issues of importance to students, teachers, and families in STEM education. Education right … [Continue reading...]

STEM Day 2022 a Success

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The 13th STEM Day at the Minnesota State Fair was another successful event for Fairgoing families, and the Minnesota public and private sector participating sponsors. Reflecting the increased attendance at the Fair on opening day over the 2021 Fair STEM education providers and supporters saw … [Continue reading...]