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1. STEM and high school students with disabilities: A qualitative review of the research literature

   Yamamoto, Scott Ph.D.; Alverson, Charlotte Y.; McCoid-Goudy, Laura M.A.T.; Castle, Hannah B.A.; and Burr, Jacquelyn M.Ed. (November 2022, Journal of science education for students with disabilities)

   We conducted a qualitative review of the research literature on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) related to high school students with disabilities (SWD). We selected and analyzed 53 articles to answer two questions: (1) How are high-school SWD prepared for careers in STEM? (2) How are educators prepared to support high-school SWD for opportunities in STEM? In answering the first question, four qualitative themes emerged: (a) barriers to STEM, (b) increasing STEM opportunities, (c) STEM readiness in college and career, and (d) STEM identity. In answering the second question, three qualitative themes emerged: (a) individualizing learning and supports for SWD, (b) using technology and collaboration among educators, and (c) professional development for educators. Limitations of this review related to search terms and inclusion criteria. Implications of this review related to the need for more research on STEM enrichment programs, STEM identity, and long-term outcomes. 

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2. How do middle school girls of color develop STEM identities? Middle school girls’ participation in science activities and identification with STEM careers

   https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21492  

   Kang, Hosun; Calabrese_Barton, Angela; Tan, Edna; D_Simpkins, Sandra; Rhee, Hyang‐yon; Turner, Chandler (December 2018, Science Education)

   Abstract This study explores ways to support girls of color in forming their senses of selves in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) during the middle school years. Guided by social practice theory, we analyzed a large data set of survey responses (n = 1,821) collected at five middle schools in low‐income communities across four states in the United States. Analyses focus on the extent to which key constructs that inform girls’ development of senses of self and relations among those indicators of STEM identities varied by their race/ethnicity. Though the means of indicators sometimes varied across racial/ethnic groups, multigroup structural equation modeling analyses indicate no significant racial/ethnic differences in the relations of STEM identities, suggesting that similar supports would be equally effective for all girls during the middle school years. Girls’ self‐perception in relation to science was the strongest predictor of their identification with STEM‐related careers, and this self‐perception was positively and distinctively associated with their experiences with science at home, outside of school, and in school science classes. This study argues for strategically expanding girls’ experiences with science acrossmultiplesettings during middle school in a way that increases their positive self‐perception in and with STEM. 

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3. FOUR CORNERS NOYCE PROGRAM

   O'Brien, A.; Choate, J. (July 2019, NSF Noyce Summit 2019)

   The Four Corners Noyce Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals to become high school mathematics and science (including engineering and computer science) teachers in the Four Corners area. The geographic area includes both tribal and public K-12 school districts. The program seeks to serve high schools in these districts. 

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4. Comparing Effectiveness of Peer Mentoring for Direct Admit and College- Ready Freshmen

   Cutright, Teresa J; Willits, Rebecca K; Ott, Donald W. (June 2020, ASEE Annual Conference proceedings)

   The University of Akron has had two National Science Foundation (NSF) funded science, technology, engineering and mathematics scholarship (S-STEM) programs. The cohort of the first S-STEM program (2010-2015) were students that were directly admitted to their selected discipline’s department. The current NSF S-STEM cohort (2015-2020) is a mix of students who were either directly admitted to their major or college-ready students. The university classifies college-ready students as those who are ready for college but lack either a requisite high school GPA, ACT score or completion of a high school science or math course. Each program spanned five years with science disciplines typically graduating in four years and engineering students that participated in co-operative education graduating in five years. The final year of each S- STEM was used to provide peer mentoring in a pseudo-formal environment. In each, seniors who had already participated in the S-STEM program for four years mentored new freshmen for one year. This paper will describe demographics of each S-STEM cohort, the activities used during the peer mentoring, observable differences between direct admit and college-ready freshmen with respect to peer mentoring, and possible peer mentoring activities that can be implemented at other institutions. 

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5. Student Interest in STEM Careers: An NSF ITEST Project for High Schoolers’ Renewable Energy Technology Engagement

   Antink-Meyer, A; Aldeman, M; Williams, J; Jo, JH (June 2025, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE))

   This NSF ITEST project (Award # 2148429) at Illinois State University focuses on engaging students in four Chicago Public High Schools in an afterschool STEM program, SUPERCHARGE, where they experience hands on activities with renewable energy technologies and related sustainability-tied experiences. Between 10 and 20 students met weekly afterschool during the first year of implementation which was preceded by a planning year in which teachers provided feedback on activities and connections to the communities of the schools were developed. Four faculty were involved in the design of the project and activities and an additional group of undergraduate STEM majors were also involved in the design and pilot of all activities. Four goals frame this project and research. These are to learn how (1) high school students’ knowledge of STEM careers and STEM domains change across their participation; (2) the high school students improve their interest in STEM career attainment and their self-efficacy for career relevant skills; (3) the undergraduate STEM majors’ views about Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers develop across their participation; and (4) teachers’ knowledge of current STEM domains, skills, and careers change. To examine the impact of the programming on each stakeholder group, PEAR’s CIS-S and CIS-E surveys, interviews, activity surveys, and workshop surveys were used. Currently, the data from the first year of programming includes 21 pre-post student surveys and 10 surveys from the undergraduate designers and 9 surveys from the teachers in the program. At this time, statistical tests were not appropriate due to these small numbers, but future years will bolster these numbers, and we anticipate the ability to perform statistical tests as the data set grows. Therefore, we focus on a qualitative analysis of the surveys and interviews at this stage. 

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