Engaging Girls in STEM

Equity is at the forefront of two important efforts in STEM education: the Science Framework and the California Computer Science Strategic Implementation Plan. The California Department of Education (CDE) supports these goals for equity in STEM education through all of its efforts.

In 2015, the California Legislature declared, and Torlakson recognized April 5 to April 11, 2015, as Girls in STEM Week and encouraged educators and community leaders to work together to increase the representation of young women in STEM fields. In 2016, the CDE STEM Office partnered with the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG), to actively encourage efforts to increase participation of young women in STEM fields. This resulted in three Engaging Girls in STEM Town Hall Events.

Engaging Girls in STEM Town Hall Events

The partnership between the CDE and the CCSWG, with several County Offices of Education, was created to present three Town Hall events as a forum for progress. The goal of these Town Hall events is to promote statewide outreach to local educational agencies to highlight and encourage girls and young women to explore, enroll, and complete STEM courses and to pursue postsecondary degrees in STEM majors, ultimately leading to careers in STEM. The tentative locations and dates of the Town Halls are the following:

• Los Angeles County Office of Education on Wednesday, February 22, 2017
• Riverside County Office of Education on Thursday, April 20, 2017
• San Joaquin County Office of Education on Thursday, April 27, 2017

Please e-mail STEM@cde.ca.gov with any questions about these events.

CDE Resources for Engaging Girls in STEM

California Science Standards: Appendix D (PDF)
The California Science Standards includes this chapter, which is subtitled: "All Standards, All Students: Making the Next Generation Science Standards Accessible to All Students." It provides a wealth of research and case studies to support professional learning to create instructional shifts to enable all students to be college and career ready. One case study addresses classroom issues for girls in STEM (PDF).

California Science Framework
Teachers, administrators, specialists, expanded learning leaders, families, and the broader school community need the support of one another in order to best serve all students. This professional learning document provides case studies and guidelines to provide instruction that is sensitive to the needs of individual students and leverages their particular assets. Chapter 10, page 27 is devoted to girls and gender equity in science education.

External Resources for Engaging Girls in STEM

Building a STEM Pipeline for Girls and Women
The American Association of University Women is committed to encouraging women and girls to pursue STEM fields. They provide conferences, fellowships, and scholarships for young women.

California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
The Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, a nonpartisan state agency, works in a culturally inclusive manner to promote equality and justice for all women and girls by advocating on their behalf with the Governor, the Legislature, and other public policymakers, and by educating the public in the areas of economic equity including educational equity, access to health care including reproductive choice, violence against women, and other key issue areas identified by the Commission as significantly affecting women and girls.

Engaging Girls in STEM | National Girls Collaborative Project
This Web site summarizes current research focused on what works to engage and support girls in STEM.

Million Women Mentors – California
Currently active in over 40 states, the Million Women Mentors states movement centers around efforts happening at the local level aggregated, promoted, and inspired by state leadership.

SciGirls Connect
SciGirls' videos, interactive Web site, and hands-on activities work together to inspire, enable, and maximize STEM learning and participation for all girls, with an eye toward future STEM careers. The goal of SciGirls is to change how millions of girls think about STEM.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: Women in STEM
The development of world-class talent in STEM is critical to America's global leadership. The Obama administration understands that fostering an open and diverse scientific community that draws from an array of unique experiences and viewpoints is a necessary step to realizing this goal.