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Abstract In STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, people with disabilities are underrepresented. This study aimed to determine what barriers might prevent students with and without disabilities from pursuing STEM careers. Differences in students’ interest in enrolling in advanced STEM courses and having a STEM career were evaluated in a sample of 438 students with (24.9%) and without disabilities (M_age = 15.09, SD = .82) recruited from public high schools in Southeastern United States. Differences in their interest in enrolling in advanced STEM courses and having a STEM career were evaluated. Although students with disabilities report lower interest in enrolling in advanced STEM courses they have the same interest in STEM careers as students without disabilities. Moreover, students with disabilities report higher rates of discrimination and more educational barriers than students without disabilities. Schools should focus on providing specific support to students with disabilities to ensure that their educational experiences are equitable. 

ABSTRACT During adolescence, individuals make key decisions about coursework, and career paths, including paths toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study identified groups of adolescents who vary in STEM career interests, feelings of support, and perceptions of barriers in STEM and explored what factors predict group membership. Using a latent class analysis with a sample of 473 9th and 10th grade students from public schools in the Southeastern United States (M_age= 15.14, 48.4% White and 43.6% female), 4 distinct classes of adolescents were identified: low STEM, supported with barriers (38.2%), high STEM with barriers (26%), high STEM without barriers (21.6%), and low STEM with high barriers (14.2%). The likelihood of membership in the high STEM without barriers class was higher for participants who reported greater STEM class belonging, growth mindset, and engagement. Efforts to promote continued STEM trajectories may focus on belonging, mindsets, and fostering STEM engagement. 

Abstract This study explores adolescents' evaluations of unfair teacher and peer behavior in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classes. Participants included ninth and tenth grade students from five public schools in the Southeastern United States, (N = 577, 45.9% female, 49% male, 5% other/prefer not to say/unsure). Students were ethnically representative of their communities: 48% White/European American, 22.7% Black/African American, 14% Latino/a/e/x, and 15.3% multi‐racial/other/prefer not to say. Measures assessed adolescents' responses to hypothetical scenarios of unfair treatment. The findings indicate that adolescents recognize both teacher and peer unfair behavior as wrong, with nuanced differences based on participants' gender and grade. Attribution analysis reveals varied expected reasons for unfair treatment. Responses to unfair behavior differ, with adolescents more likely to confront peers than teachers. Demographic factors, school climate, discrimination, belonging, and critical consciousness contribute to variations in judgments and responses. The study highlights the importance of addressing unfair treatment in STEM settings to foster inclusivity and support student persistence in STEM. 

Abstract Racially minoritized groups are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degree programs and careers, warranting the need to examine students' racialized experiences in K‐12 settings that may influence their STEM persistence. In particular, the current study explored adolescent perceptions of school racial climate (SRC) as a potential contributor to pre‐college racial disparities in STEM. We used latent class analysis to group adolescents based on their SRC perceptions and explored group differences in their interest in a STEM career and their belonging, psychological needs satisfaction, and engagement in STEM courses. Adolescent participants (N = 412, 50.2% female, 36.9% male, 12.9% other/not reported,M_age = 15.72 years, standard deviation = 1.24) attending five high schools in the Southeastern United States, were grouped into five classes based on their perceptions of SRC: Critical SRC (CritSRC), Average SRC, Average with Stereotyping, Positive SRC (PosSRC), and Positive with Stereotyping. Latent class membership differed by race, age, and learning environment. Results revealed that students with more positive perceptions of SRC reported greater belonging, engagement, and needs satisfaction in their STEM courses and more interest in a STEM career compared to students with CritSRC perceptions. Findings also indicated that White students were more likely than Black students to perceive a PosSRC. Recommendations for areas of future research and policy implications are discussed. 

Abstract Maintaining adolescents' engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in and out of school may help ensure that adolescents are prepared to enter the STEM workforce. This study aims to extend prior work by documenting internal and external factors that matter for both STEM class engagement as well as engagement with STEM outside of school through STEM activism. Participants included  ninth and tenth grade students (N = 852) from ethnically diverse public schools in the Southeastern United States, approximately evenly divided by gender. Findings from regression analyses revealed that girls and participants who perceive educational barriers to STEM were less engaged in STEM classes, whereas those who reported learning about more male scientists in class, and those who reported higher levels of belonging, STEM growth mindset, and STEM motivation were more engaged in STEM classes. Those who reported higher critical motivation, critical action, belonging, and STEM motivation were more engaged in STEM activism outside of school. Findings suggest that STEM teachers and out‐of‐school program developers may learn new ways to engage students from each other. Further, findings highlight some factors that may promote engagement in STEM both in and out of schools such as belonging and STEM motivation.