NASA and the U.S. Department of Education have joined forces to bring STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to after-school programs nationwide. As part of this initiative, the agencies kicked off the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program at the Wheatley Education Campus in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2024. The partnership aims to engage around 1,000 students across 60 sites in 10 states, providing hands-on learning opportunities that foster critical thinking and creativity.
NASA’s Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy emphasized the program’s goal: “Through STEM education investments like this, we aspire to ignite curiosity, nurture potential, and inspire our nation’s future researchers, explorers, and innovators.” Students will participate in engineering design challenges and interact with NASA scientists and engineers, enhancing their problem-solving skills and interest in STEM fields.
At the launch event, students operated robots and engaged in NASA-related activities, with Kris Brown from NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement and Cindy Marten from the Education Department sharing the impact of the collaboration. “Together, we are shaping the future of education and space exploration,” said Marten, highlighting the program’s role in unlocking opportunities for students to innovate and explore.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland will provide continuous support, training, and real-world engineering challenges to inspire the next generation of thinkers. This collaboration builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between NASA and the Education Department in May 2023, reinforcing their shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality STEM education in after-school programs nationwide.
