EDC Receives NSF Award to Continue STELAR

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded EDC a three-year grant to continue leading the STEM Learning and Research Center (STELAR), a national initiative to address STEM learning opportunity gaps, ignite interest in STEM, and prepare young people for future careers in STEM.

Through STELAR, EDC advances the work of NSF-funded Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) projects nationwide. Over the past 16 years, through its leadership of STELAR and the previous ITEST Learning Resource Center, EDC has provided technical assistance to over 462 ITEST projects, reaching approximately 833,300 youth, 51,500 educators, and 10,600 parents and caregivers in 47 states and Washington, D.C.

In addition to providing ongoing technical assistance, EDC will launch several new initiatives:

• Regional ITEST Research and Development Community of Practice meetings
• Mentorship opportunities for new ITEST principal investigators
• Research briefs developed in collaboration with the ITEST community and experts   

“EDC is honored to lead STELAR for the NSF,” said principal investigator Sarita Pillai. “After 16 years of supporting ITEST projects and sharing their findings, we believe deeply in the potential of this work to improve STEM learning and strengthen the future STEM workforce.”