NEOSTEM Now - January 23, 2026
Score with STEM Returns with STEM Series This Spring
Score with STEM brings hands-on STEM learning and career exploration to Cleveland with a series of exciting events: Request free tickets to the Cleveland Charge on March 3 at 11 AM, and Offer STEM experiences as an exhibitor on March 27 from 10 AM–1 PM ahead of the Cavaliers’ 7:30 PM tip-off—connecting students and families to real-world STEM through the energy of game day. Learn More
From Head Start to Civil Rights, 8 Ways Trump Reshaped Education in Just 1 Year
In just one year, the Trump administration dramatically scaled back the federal role in education—reshaping civil rights enforcement, immigration protections, disability services, early childhood programs, research, and school choice in ways experts say could trigger even deeper disruption in 2026. Learn More
Texas, N. Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania — where pharma manufacturing investments have surged
Pharmaceutical manufacturers pledged more than $370 billion in U.S. manufacturing investments in 2025, with major projects concentrated in established hubs like North Carolina and Pennsylvania and rapidly emerging centers including Texas and Ohio. Learn More
New State Education R&D Playbook Highlights System-Level Alignment
A new State Education R&D Playbook from Alliance for Learning Innovation, Education Reimagined, and Transcend frames education–workforce alignment as a design challenge—calling for shared roles, structures, and language to create more durable, student-centered systems. Learn More
New York City Unveils Plan to Expand Toward Universal Afterschool
New York City is advancing a preliminary plan to enroll 20,000 additional students in afterschool programs by 2027, outlining funding, workforce, quality, and equity strategies as the city moves toward universal afterschool access. Learn More
Ohio Releases Model Policy to Guide AI Use in Classrooms
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has issued a statewide model policy to help districts responsibly integrate artificial intelligence—addressing data privacy, academic integrity, AI literacy, and ethical use ahead of a July 1, 2026 policy adoption deadline. Learn More
Google Invests $1M+ to Strengthen Central Ohio STEM and Workforce Pipelines
Google has committed more than $1 million to Central Ohio nonprofits to strengthen STEM education, workforce development, and community infrastructure—reinforcing the region’s growing role in the national tech economy. Learn More
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel Launches WorkOhio Tour in Cincinnati
Jim Tressel kicked off the statewide WorkOhio initiative in Cincinnati, highlighting a new, regionally driven approach to connecting Ohioans with in-demand jobs, training, and personalized career support through local workforce partners. Learn More
Brookings’ New Framework for Students in an AI World
A new global report from the Brookings Institution outlines a three-part framework—Prosper, Prepare, Protect—urging education leaders to proactively shape how AI is used so it strengthens, rather than undermines, students’ learning, well-being, and development. Learn More
Reimagining the Teaching Workforce: How Strategic Staffing Can Make Excellent Teaching Sustainable – Bellwether Report
A new report from Bellwether outlines how strategic staffing—rethinking roles, time, and team structures—can make excellent teaching more sustainable while improving outcomes for both educators and students. Learn More
$1 Million on the Line: The Mott Million Dollar Challenge Invites K–12 Innovators to Pitch Big Ideas
Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge invites students in grades K–12 from across the U.S. to pitch a business or social-impact idea for a chance to win part of a $1 million prize pool, with entries due February 27, 2026. Learn More
Free College Credit STEM Classes for High School Students—Now Enrolling at Tri-C
Cuyahoga Community College’s Youth Technology Academy is offering free College Credit Plus STEM courses for grades 9–12—covering robotics, drones, construction, AutoCAD, and more—with weekly Wednesday classes, dinner included, starting January 28 at Tri-C’s Advanced Technology Training Center. Learn More
Girls Who Code at Case Western: Spring 2026 Arduino & Python Workshops Now Open
The Case Western Reserve University Girls Who Code Club is offering free, in-person Spring 2026 workshops (2/7 & 2/8 start dates) in Arduino circuitry and Python programming—welcoming all experience levels to build hands-on coding skills with real-world applications in tech, data, and engineering. Learn More
RSVP: Take Students Inside Northeast Ohio Workplaces
RSVP (Regional Site Visit Program) connects students to behind-the-scenes visits at regional employers—like Deloitte, Ohio CAT, LAND, and KeyBank—where they can explore careers firsthand through tours, demos, hands-on activities, and real conversations with professionals. Learn More
Ohio Healthcare Virtual Career Fair
On February 25, 2026, students across Ohio can explore high-demand healthcare careers through a free, statewide virtual career fair featuring hospitals, career videos, and live Q&A sessions with healthcare professionals. Register Here
Applications Open for Appalachian Ohio Scholarship Opportunities
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is now accepting applications for more than 50 scholarship funds serving students across its 32-county region, with all materials due online by February 15, 2026. Learn more
The Future Is Now: Helping Educators Teach AI with Confidence
A new in-person professional learning experience at Putnam County ESC will equip grades 8–12 educators with practical, classroom-ready strategies for teaching AI literacy—no coding required—with applications closing March 16 and the first session beginning March 23, 2026. Learn More
Takeda Grant Supports Stronger STEM Foundations for Students
Takeda’s investment is helping strengthen early STEM learning by expanding hands-on, real-world experiences that build curiosity, confidence, and long-term pathways into science and innovation. Learn more about the Building STEM foundations grant and its rolling acceptance deadline
2026 Summer Learning Awards Now Open: $10K Grants for High-Impact Programs
The New York Life Foundation’s Excellence in Summer Learning Award recognizes outstanding summer programs with $10,000 grants, national recognition, and professional visibility for organizations advancing safe, engaging, and effective learning experiences for youth. Round 1 due January 30, 2026. Learn More
New NSF Grant Opportunity: Advancing K–12 Math Through Research & Data
NSF is accepting proposals for its CAMEL program, supporting large-scale research collaborations to improve K–12 math learning through data, technology, and education research; Phase I proposals are due March 11, 2026. Learn More
Rural Technology & Assistive Technology Grants — Rolling Applications Open
This national grant opportunity provides $500–$2,500 awards to U.S. public schools and organizations for rural technology education and assistive technology projects, with applications reviewed every 30–60 days and no fixed deadline. Learn More
New York Life Foundation Aim High Grants: $20K Awards for Middle School OST Programs — Apply by Feb. 6, 2026
The New York Life Foundation’s Aim High Grant Program is offering forty $20,000 grants to eligible afterschool and summer programs serving low-income middle school youth nationwide, with applications due Friday, February 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Learn More
Apple Opens 2026 Swift Student Challenge for Young Innovators
Submissions for Apple’s annual Swift Student Challenge run February 6–28, 2026, giving student developers the chance to showcase their creativity through app playgrounds and compete for recognition at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Learn More
Power the Connections That Power Northeast Ohio.
When educators, industry leaders, and community partners stay connected, students win. Your support powers the partnerships and programs that expand hands-on STEM, educator resources, and real career pathways across Northeast Ohio.
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