About the STEM Equity Pipeline

The STEM Equity Pipeline, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Grant No. HRD-0734056) (link to NSF Grant Page Below), goals are to:

• build the capacity of the formal education community to implement research based approaches proven to increase the participation and completion of females, including those with disabilities, in STEM education
• institutionalize the implemented strategies by connecting the outcomes to existing accountability systems, and
• broaden the commitment to gender equity in STEM education

Consulting and professional development services will be provided to State Teams who will serve as “extension agents” working with local educators to adopt research-based strategies that will lead to greater participation of women and girls in STEM Career Cluster programs at both the secondary and community college levels in thirteen states. The extension services include:

The STEM Equity Pipeline Project will:

• Assign a member of the Extension Services Group who will provide technical assistance to the State Contact and State Leadership Team. The Facilitator will:
• Assist State Contact in developing the State Leadership Group and State Team
• Inventory State Team professional development needs and identifying potential professional development training opportunities for State Teams
• Assist State Leadership Team to develop an annual work plan
• Identify research and resources that support the work of the State Teams and submit these to the Virtual Learning Community (VLC)
• Develop support materials and resources to increase the effectiveness of the State Team
• Provide technical assistance to the State Team of STEM educators and professionals regarding the implementation of the STEM Equity Pipeline project activities
• Implement 5-Step Program Improvement Process training with State Team
• Maintain regular monthly communication with State Contact(s) and Leadership Team via phone and email
• Make on-site visits with State Leadership Team quarterly to conduct training and assess progress
• Assist the State Leadership Team in conducting the annual State Team meeting
• Monitor the progress of the annual work plan
• Assist the state in analyzing available data to determine gaps in performance for women and girls in STEM cluster programs of study at various levels of detail depending on the available state data sources
• Conduct up to six webinars and three webcasts/year lead by researchers and practitioners on effective strategies for increasing the participation and success of women and girls in STEM cluster programs of study based on the professional development inventories and assessments conducted by the Facilitators
• Conduct an annual STEM Equity Pipeline Leadership Training Institute
• Maintain a Virtual Learning Community where State Teams and Extension Service Group Consultants can share strategies, resources, models and research that supports the projects goals