Education

As last year's drastic shift to online learning put technology front and center for school districts, many K-12 IT officials have found themselves in key advisory or leadership roles with growing responsibilities.

Settling a lawsuit from 2006, the additional state funding for historically Black colleges and universities will go toward scholarships, high-demand STEM degree programs and infrastructure over the next decade.

Running this week through Saturday, the third annual COSI Science Festival, hosted by the Center of Science and Industry, will involve free programming from universities, nonprofits, museums and other community groups.

Under new Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced funding for college students to get involved with national research projects in areas such as hydrogen production and 5G solutions.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education will spend federal stimulus funds on summer-school initiatives to make up learning loss during the pandemic, as well as provide food, extracurriculars and mental health support.

What started two years ago as a push for K-12 computer science education in the rural town of Phillipsburg, Kansas is now a statewide effort, including the state department of commerce and the nonprofit NetWork Kansas.

The ed tech company is looking for teachers and administrators to participate in its sixth annual State of Technology in Education survey, which will assess adaptations schools have made in the past year.

The K-5 elementary school will start the 2021-22 school year as Elolf STEAM Academy, the first tech-based magnet school and a potential feeder program in San Antonio's Judson Independent School District.

Ignister is a new program that pushes for computer science classes to count as a core curriculum toward high school graduation, aiming for related skills to grow into new tech jobs that will foster a younger workforce.

A degree program in sustainable building technology at Missoula College, Montana aims to give students a range of career options to fill construction jobs involving renewable energy or sustainably sourced materials.

More virtual schooling has meant more network vulnerabilities, and a webinar this week recommended that K-12 districts consider monitoring tools such as ManagedMethods to accomplish what limited IT staff cannot.

The youth sports advocacy group has partnered with the educational nonprofit TeachAids to share its CrashCourse software curriculum with athletes, parents, coaches and administrators in NCYS programs nationwide.

Next Generation Academy in Greensboro, N.C. is launching 10 career pathways programs from the education company Woz ED, including coding, cybersecurity, engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence and drone piloting.

Massachusetts state and local education officials have seen growing interest in cybersecurity training as cyber attacks continue to disrupt day-to-day operations in schools and municipal organizations.

With help from a state grant and private funding, Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill. is planning a new training school while electric vehicle maker Rivian readies for production in the city.

In an effort to retain students who learn better from home or have COVID-related health concerns, Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Indiana is preparing two virtual-only options for the coming school year.

Information technology is among the subjects in which students in the Texas school district can get certifications, through a program expected to recruit future business partnerships across the state.

Following a record-breaking year for cyber attacks, American institutions are devoting more resources to cybersecurity degree programs in an effort to meet growing demand for qualified professionals in the field.