STEM Next Strategic Direction, 2023-2027

Every afternoon holds the possibility to build, invent & discover.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION 2023-2027

STEM learning should be everywhere and for everyone But for the 74 million school age children in the U.S., that’s not a reality

For young people, 80% of learning happens outside the classroom.

Afterschool and summer programs are powerful, proven settings for youth to explore, develop and apply STEM skills.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOUBLING DOWN ON WHAT WORKS AND SETTING A BIG GOAL:

20 Million More Youth Our national initiatives lean into existing infrastructure to infuse STEM into 100,000+ local afterschool and summer programs nationally and reach millions of youth.

With 20+ years of building the field of STEM in out-of-school time and decades of research, STEM Next sparks innovation to create an equitable, sustainable STEM ecosystem for all

Our work ensures informal educators have the resources, support, mentorship, and actionable guidance they need to deliver high-quality, hands-on STEM learning.

Three big strategic initiatives to Engage Learners Everywhere: GROWING STEM LEADERS:

Raising awareness, building skills & connecting problem-solvers across communities POLICY & RESEARCH:

Powering lasting change in STEM learning by putting ideas into action LEADING MOONSHOT BETS:

Local, regional & national challenges that create seismic STEM learning shifts for youth & educators

Let's prepare youth for the future of work According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 65% of today’s students will grow up having careers that do not exist yet. Because the world is changing rapidly – we’re fueling career exploration and building transferable skills across industries and sectors.

Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing Math & Computational Thinking AI, Space & Emerging Frontiers Climate & Science

STEM learning fuels workforce readiness for millions of youth.

Collective impact investments power big leaps by providing training, consultation, planning, tailored implementation assistance, learning opportunities, resources, cross-state peer exchanges and curated curriculum that build the capacity of the out-of-school time field.

Learn more & join us in Engaging Learners Everywhere

stemnext.org

Inspiring 20 million more youth with STEM learning opportunities by 2027