The SE MA STEM Network Advisory Board met September 19 to discuss the Commonwealth's STEM Council priorities and alignment of the PK-16 education system. Blair Brown, Executive Office of Education and Keith Connors, Department of Higher Education shared updates pertaining to Council priorities while educators and business leaders shared their vision for how STE practices align and are demonstrated in daily activities in school and in the workplace.

The STE Practices, which align with the Commonwealth's new STE Standards, provide a continuum spanning every grade level, PK-12. The STE Practices are:

In 2017, the SE MA STEM Network will host a Business and Educators Alignment Meeting and a STEM Resource Fair. Click here to see additional photos from the Advisory Board Meeting.

The Southeastern Massachusetts STEM Network along with the Cape Cod Regional STEM Network recently received a total of $80,000 in grant funding to advance STEM education and training efforts throughout the region. The grant, from the Commonwealth's STEM Pipeline Fund, includes incentives for collaboration across regions as well as for aligning focus areas with STEM Advisory Council priorities. Click here to read more about the awards.

"Building a Lifetime of Opportunity" is the theme of the 13th annual Massachusetts STEM Summit on Tuesday, November 1, at the DCU Center in Worcester. The day will include panel presentations, plenary speakers, and exhibitors showcasing STEM initiatives; sharing innovative thinking; and highlighting the goals, plans, and progress of STEM policies and programs. Click here for additional information and to register.

At its January 26, 2016 meeting, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to adopt new 2016 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards. These revised standards were incorporated into the 2016 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework, published in April 2016. Accordingly, over the next few years, the MCAS STE program will be transitioning to assess the new standards. Click here for more details and a timeline of the transition.

Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Locally, North Easton Machine and AccuRounds are participating, offering tours of their facilities to students, teachers, political leaders, and community members to learn about the industry and the benefits of buying American made products. Click here to learn more about the North Easton Machine event in Easton and click here to learn more about the AccuRounds event in Avon.

As the Massachusetts Affiliate University for PTLW, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is hosting a free professional development conference on October 20 at its Worcester campus. District administrators, principals, curriculum specialists, teachers, school counselors, and business and industry professionals are invited to learn about K-12 curricular programs in engineering, computer science, and biomedical science from Project Lead the Way. Click here for more information and to register by October 11.

Page Keeley, an international leader in science education, is the keynote speaker at the 2016 MAST Conference, November 3 - 4, at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough. The conference will focus on Teacher Leaders, Local Connections, Student Misconceptions, Innovative Assessments, and Technology/Engineering. Click here for additional information and to register.

"How Physics Teaching Has Changed Since 1950" is the theme of the American Association of Physics Teachers Tri-Regional meeting at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Participants will review the past and present of Physics teaching and look ahead to the future. Click here for additional information and to register.

Teachers looking for a free, unique STEM adventure will find it in Massachusetts Maritime Academy's 2017 Follow the Voyage program. FTV is an online blog documenting the six-week training cruise of MMA cadets aboard the TS Kennedy. From January 8 - February 19, your students will feel like they're actually onboard as they witness the day-to-day life and adventures of cadets while experiencing the food, art, and culture of the ship's exciting ports of call. A Facebook page has been created just for educators who will be participating in the program. Log onto and "LIKE" the page here. For additional information, email Nancy Franks, Follow the Voyage Outreach Coordinator.

Registration is now open for the Girls STEM Summit - Statewide 2017, hosted by Jr. Tech. This one-day summit is for girls in grades 8 - 12 who love science, technology, engineering, and math. The key goals of the event are to educate participants about various STEM career paths through hands-on breakouts, to encourage further STEM study in preparation for college, to inspire through interaction with female STEM professionals, to demonstrate the possibilities of a STEM career, and to close the gender gap in the STEM workforce. Click here for additional information and to register.