NEOSTEM Now | March 6, 2026
Record-Breaking Hoops: NEOSTEM at the Cleveland Charge STEM Day
The Cleveland Charge made history at Public Hall with a record-breaking STEM Day, where nearly 7,000 students engaged in a high-octane mix of pro basketball, drone competition from Davis Maritime and Aerospace High School, and interactive curriculum powered by NEOSTEM and STEM Playbook. Learn More | See More Coverage from STEM Playbook
Score with STEM with the Cleveland Cavs on March 27
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. Register to join the free STEM experience at Rocket Arena, purchase seats for the evening’s Cavaliers vs. Heat game, or sponsor a family to attend by completing this form. | Learn More
House Hearing: AI Teacher Training Is Not Optional
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are calling for a stronger federal role in providing AI professional development to ensure educators can safely and effectively navigate the technology’s rapid evolution. Learn More
Ohio Secures $7.6M in Federal Grants to Elevate Early Literacy
As one of the nation’s top funding recipients, Ohio has awarded $7.6 million in federal grants to 16 early care programs to expand evidence-based instruction, professional teacher training, and community-driven literacy support for underserved children from birth through kindergarten. Learn More
Brookings Report: The Current State of the U.S. Department of Education
A report from the Brookings Institution indicates that while the U.S. Department of Education remains a legal entity, the current administration has reduced its workforce by 50% and pivoted toward more aggressive civil rights enforcement. Learn More
Schools are using AI counselors to track students’ mental health. Is it safe?
As hundreds of schools adopt AI chatbots like “Kiwi the Llama” to monitor student mental health and flag “severe” risks, educators celebrate the tech’s ability to catch students in crisis while experts warn that automated tools lack the human judgment and connection essential for true emotional support. Learn More
Upcoming Events & Resources
Call for Papers: Special Issue on Federally Funded Research on Educational Effectiveness
The Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness (JREE) is launching a special issue to examine and defend the federal role in sustaining the education evidence ecosystem following significant government cutbacks to research funding. Proposals are due May 1, 2026. Learn More
DOL Unveils $145M Pay-for-Performance Initiative to Scale Registered Apprenticeships
The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a $145 million funding opportunity focused on incentive-based payments to expand Registered Apprenticeships across high-growth sectors like AI, shipbuilding, and healthcare. Learn More
thinkSTEM 2026: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
Case Western Reserve University is now accepting applications for thinkSTEM 2026, a two-week intensive summer program (July 13–24) designed to immerse rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders in hands-on engineering exploration and world-class instruction at the Sears think[box]. Applications due 3/9 Learn More
Launch Your Career with Battelle: Internship and Co-op Opportunities
Battelle is seeking engaged critical thinkers for its paid summer internships and semester-long co-op positions, offering students the chance to work alongside experts in national security, health, and infrastructure. Learn More
Registration Opens for Attend Ohio 2026
The Stay in the Game! Network invites nearly 500 educators and district leaders to the Greater Columbus Convention Center on June 10th for a day of collaboration, professional training, and resource sharing. Learn More
Civic Engagement as a Career Accelerator: An Emerging Leaders Panel
On March 12, United Way’s Emerging Leaders will host a professional development panel at The Union Club of Cleveland exploring how civic engagement—from volunteerism to community leadership—can accelerate career growth, expand networks, and open new professional pathways through real-world examples from local leaders. Learn More
Carnegie Foundation RFI: Research and Development for High School Transformation
The Carnegie Foundation is seeking input from the research community to identify collaborators and existing work aligned with their R&D agenda to build a new educational architecture for American high schools. Learn More
Apply for a K-12 AI Infrastructure Program Grant, Due March 8
Digital Promise has launched an RFP for a K-12 AI Infrastructure Program, inviting projects developing public goods—including datasets, benchmarks, and models—designed to support multiple applications of AI in K-12 education. Due March 8 Learn More
Empowering Change: Join NAPE’s 2026 Professional Learning and Innovation Summit
The 2026 NAPE Summit brings together education and workforce leaders to dismantle systemic barriers and build equitable pathways into the modern workforce, with a focus on STEM, CTE, and AI. Learn More
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