Learning Engine

In STEM PUSH, the networked improvement community (NIC) is our learning engine.

Our networked improvement community is the learning engine in which pre-college STEM programs strengthen their capacity to support Black, Latina/o/e and Indigenous students on a pathway to STEM undergraduate study. These programs try out small changes to improve their ability to equitably serve their students. The learning from these small tests of change can then be used by other out-of-school providers to better serve Black, Latina/o/e and Indigenous students in STEM.

By 2026, the STEM PUSH Network will increase the capacity of 40 pre-college STEM programs to support Black, Latina/o/e, and/or Indigenous students on a pathway to STEM undergraduate study.

Learn more about how we plan to accomplish this

1. Our Networked Improvement Community

The STEM Push Network uses a collective impact approach called a networked improvement community.

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2. Root Cause Analysis

Our collaborative process to understand why precollege STEM programs working alone had not significantly broadened participation in STEM.

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3. Theory of Improvement

After mapping the system producing our problem, we worked with our stakeholders to determine what we wanted to accomplish together (our aim) and to identify the most high leverage areas that we could work on to achieve that aim (our theory of improvement).

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4. Quality Standards

Focusing the work is a set of evidence-based practices for precollege programs to effectively support Black, Latina/o/e, and Indigenous students on a path to STEM postsecondary education. Our quality standards help programs reflect and plan, help us see Network needs and assets, and help us benchmark progress over time.

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What Programs Are Saying

Cynthia Barragan Romero

Program Manager, Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program, Arizona State University

"It's been really nice to connect with some of the other pre-college STEM programs. We have very unique issues that others, including colleagues at the University, might not understand. We are now part of a community where we are facing a lot of the same things, and we can support each other. It's very easy for us to vocalize the issues and help each other out."

David Bild

Program Lead, Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science (TEENS) at the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

"I was drawn to STEM PUSH because I am a strong believer in the power of networks. I have found it very valuable for my own programming to have a professional learning community. I'm always learning from my peers and it just makes my programing better for my students."

Janiene Langford

Director of CSU East Bay's MESA College Prep Program · Institute for STEM Education at CSU East Bay

"STEM PUSH was a perfect opportunity to be able to work with colleagues across the country to learn more and really get professional development that I was not going to have access to otherwise. I knew I would be able to learn from what others have done and build a program in a way that would really support our students."

Grady Burrows

Executive Director, HIT in the CLE

"Participating in STEM PUSH has energized me and given me more clarity of purpose around how important the work is. I'm basically a committee of one. I don't have a staff, and use instructors who are are contract to help me execute the coding curriculum and instruction. I don't have an assistant. I don't have a peer group. So, when I get the opportunity to share and bounce ideas off others, it's very, very helpful. Specifically, STEM PUSH is allowing me to think bigger about what I want to do to scale my program. The ability to dream, and to show how relevant our work within communities really is; and to show that nationally."

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Self-Study Tool for Out-of-School Time STEM Programs

Through learning and adaptation from use with STEM PUSH pre-college STEM programs, the STEM PUSH Network presents this evidence-based and equity-centered self-study tool designed for use in out-of-school time spaces and organizations that share common goals around broadening participation in STEM.

**Note: This resource is in Google Sheets format to support quick implementation. Click the link, select “Make a Copy” and edit a duplicated version of the spreadsheet. Then, we’d love to hear what you think to help us learn and improve this tool by filling out a brief survey (linked from the START HERE tab).

Evidence-based Improvement Packages

STEM PUSH seeks to broaden participation of Black, Latina/o/e, and Indigenous students in STEM. Pre-college STEM program leaders in this improvement network test out ideas to move us toward that goal.

These evidence-based improvement packages summarize our promising ideas, offering a collection of planning guides and resources so others may try out these changes.

DEVELOPING A GUEST SPEAKER ROUTINE FOR STEM PATHWAY SUPPORT

Leverage guest speaker visits to communicate affirming and practical knowledge about STEM college and career possibilities.

With This Improvement Package

Ideas for centering students’ interests and input to inform guest speaker recruitment and content.

Examples of ways in which STEM PUSH pre-college STEM program leaders re-designed guest speaker preparation.

Templates and tools with which to scaffold “sticky” guest speaker experiences.

EXTENDING RECRUITMENT EFFORTS INTO NEW SPACES, USING REDESIGNED MATERIALS

Use redesigned practices and materials in new communities to successfully recruit students from new communities to broaden participation.

With This Improvement Package

Ideas about how you might rethink recruitment in order to broaden participation of Black, Latina/o/e, and/or Indigenous youth into your organization.

Examples of ways in which STEM PUSH pre-college STEM program leaders expanded their recruitment efforts.

Data collection tools, planning calendars, and other ideas to support equitable recruitment practices.

BUILDING STAFF CAPACITY THROUGH DISCUSSION OF RACISM IN STEM

Increase program capacity to support students around issues of race and racism that they may encounter in STEM.

With This Improvement Package

A discussion routine that can deepen awareness of the subjectivity of STEM, and how that is linked to racism and systemic oppression.

Ways you can help your staff deepen their understanding of racist systems, their position within those systems, and how these systems may affect their students.

Ways in which themes and ideas from the discussion can be used to inform your education practices.

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Looking for more resources?
Our Learning Engine will release change packages - guides and ideas to help your pre-college program implement real changes in your program soon!

Please contact us for information to learn more about our programs, initiatives, and strategic partnerships.

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In STEM PUSH, the networked improvement community (NIC) is our learning engine.