NEOSTEM Now | May 29, 2026
NEOSTEM Brings Hands-On STEM Learning to Cleveland Recreation Centers
This spring, NEOSTEM partnered with local organizations and the city to host vibrant Family STEM Exploration Days at the Gunning Park and Collinwood recreation centers, engaging local families in collaborative, real-world science and engineering challenges. Learn More
The Midwestern Exodus Is Finally Ending
The long-standing migration away from the Rust Belt is beginning to reverse, as metro areas like Akron, Ohio, draw people back with a combination of tech job opportunities and affordable housing. Learn More
New Survey of Head Start Providers in 7 States Charts ICE’s Negative Impact
A new survey reveals that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions near Head Start facilities have created pervasive fear and anxiety among families, resulting in significant drops in student attendance, an average 7% disenrollment rate, and disrupted operations for early childhood education providers across seven states. Learn More
Test-Blind Policy Resulted in Severely Underprepared STEM Students, UC Faculty Say
More than 600 STEM faculty members across the University of California system signed a letter warning that math-preparation gaps are so severe that professors are forced to reteach middle-school math alongside college-level concepts. Learn More
Ohio awards $26M in STEM scholarships for students at 59 colleges
The Ohio Department of Higher Education has announced $26 million in Choose Ohio First funding to provide four-year STEM and STEM education scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 annually across 59 public and private colleges. Learn More
How the AI backlash could cost investors
Growing public and political resistance over AI-driven job losses, rising electricity costs from data centers, and ethical concerns could slow technology adoption and pose an underappreciated financial risk to eager investors. Learn More
Events & Resources
GRANT: Comprehensive Centers Program, Program and Grantee Support Services (84.283B) | U.S. Department of Education, OESE
This discretionary cooperative agreement will award about $46 million across roughly 19 Comprehensive Centers to provide capacity-building support and technical assistance to state and local education systems. Eligible research organizations, IHEs, and consortium partners can apply to deliver evidence-based services that strengthen teaching, learning, and program implementation, with applications due.
Deadline: June 30, 2026 | More Information: Grant Solicitation
FY 2025 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program: High-Impact Tutoring (HIT)
The U.S. Department of Education has announced nearly $130 million in FY 2025 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grants across 11 major projects, marking a historic federal investment to scale and evaluate evidence-based, high-impact tutoring infrastructure across more than 15 states and tribal nations. Learn More
Get AI training made for small businesses
The Grow with Google program is offering U.S.-based small businesses a free Google AI Professional Certificate training program alongside three months of complimentary access to Google AI Pro and Google Workspace Business Standard to help teams build practical AI skills and streamline their workflows. Learn More
AWS Imagine Grant Program: Technology Support for Nonprofits
This program provides up to $200,000 in funding and $100,000 in AWS credits for nonprofits using cloud technology to scale their impact. While schools are ineligible, the grant is open to EdTechs and nonprofits focused on education equity and workforce development. Deadline 6/5 Learn More
NSF Announces August Deadline for 2026 REU Site and Supplement Proposals
The National Science Foundation has set August 19, 2026, as the upcoming proposal deadline for its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which aims to fund intensive, hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students across all NSF-funded disciplines. Learn More
NSF Launches New “TRAILBLAZER” Engineering Impact Award
The U.S. National Science Foundation has introduced the TRAILBLAZER program to support individual investigators pursuing bold, unconventional research directions in national priority areas like AI and quantum engineering, with full proposals due by July 24, 2026. Learn More
About NEOSTEM
NEOSTEM connects over 100 organizations working across education, business, and community sectors to make STEM equitable, exciting, and career-connected.
From in-school support to out-of-school enrichment, we’re building a regional talent pipeline, from kindergarten through career.
Visit www.neostem.org | Contact us at info@neostem.org| Support NEOSTEM