About us: The Northern Virginia STEM Learning Network was established by Virginia Tech in 2007 as an informal network of STEM educators, maintained by Virginia Tech's DC Area Technical Education and Workforce Development Team. It became a formal part of the DMV Ecosystem in 2021 until that ecosystem grant expired in 2024. In October 2025 we received national recognition for our ecosystem and were now building the architecture to accomplish our goals. Please join us. STEM@vt.edu or Workforce@vt.edu
WASHINGTON (WJLA) – Two school districts in Virginia have made Niche’s 2015 list of 100 Best School Districts in America. (Full List of 100 Best School Districts in America) Arlington County Public Schools was ranked 38th while Falls Church City Public Schools came in at 90th on the list.
The top two school districts came from New York, Edgemont Union Free School District in Greenburgh Town and Jericho Union Free School District. Tredyffrin-Easttown School District in Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania rounded out the top three.
Niche looked at over 8,000 school districts to compile the list and evaluated them using student survey responses about everything from academics to extracurriculars to resources.
The top five districts in the Washington, D.C. area, according to Niche's rankings, are: Arlington County, Falls Church City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County and Montgomery County Public Schools.
Good life science jobs may pay less than physical sciences and engineering, but the work is fascinating, the salaries are still okay, there are more jobs (although more competition) and the demand will continue to grow as baby boomers get older and feeding the world gets more challenging. More (full-size) graphs here.
Sun Gazette: Arlington School Board member Abby Raphael.
With so many plates spinning in the air simultaneously, the last thing School Board members may need at the moment is another contentious community controversy.
So they’re trying to get the word out – now – about the possibilities that exist to create a “tech academy” at the Arlington Career Center starting with a class of 40 freshmen in the 2016-17 school year.
“There are many of us who are champing at the bit to get this going,” said School Board member Nancy Van Doren, but she voiced concern that the idea, which has received extensive internal discussion, needs to get out to the broader community.
It’s time to “begin to get people to understand where we’re going,” Van Doren said. “Let’s show people what the vision is, let’s show them what kind of money we’re talking about.”
The issue came before the School Board Oct. 22 not for action, but as part of a plan to include a description it in the school system’s 2015-16 program of studies. School officials also are asking for permission to add a counselor who would be responsible for promoting the program to middle-school students and their parents.
The Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) uses technology challenges to meet qualified non-traditional performers who can help solve national security problems. The current CTTSO challenge is seeking “solvers” to develop a written proposal and experimental proof-of-concept for a 3D printable, small robot to assist in bomb disposal. TandemNSI is creating this opportunity for “solvers” to meet CTTSO decision makers and get their questions answered before materials are due on November 27th. The CTTSO panel will outline their innovation strategy and clarify what they look for in a written proposal. Attending this event will put your company at a competitive advantage.
Alan SingerSocial studies educator, Hofstra University, my opinions, of course, are my own
Common Core and the End of History
Posted:
Since then, in the face of emerging conflict between the West and the Islamic world and global economic stagnation, Fukuyama, a neo-conservative commentator, has backtracked. Among other things, he challenged the Bush administration's idea that the U.S. could somehow export democracy and American values to the rest of the world.
Fukuyama's shift, however, does not seem to have affected the New York State Board of Regents. The governing body regulating education in the state recently voted once again to de-emphasize the study of history in the state curriculum. On Monday October 20, 2014, the Regents, as part of their effort to promote new national Common Core standards and mystically prepare students for non-existing 21st century technological careers, voted unanimously that students did not have to pass both United States and Global History exams in order to graduate from high school and maintained that they were actually raising academic standards.
Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education Green Schools Training
November 5, 6, or 10
Interested in learning about Sustainable Schools in Maryland? Are you applying to be a green school? Would you like to strengthen environmental education in your local community? The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) is hosting a FREE Fall Green Leader/Green School Training.
This workshop will review the Maryland Green Schools 2014-2015 Application and the connection with Environmental Literacy. This is a workshop for those who are interested in becoming a Green Leader or getting a detailed understanding of the Green School Application.
DATES:
November 5, 2014 (Wed. 4:30PM 7:30PM ) MAEOE Office, Jessup, MD,
November 6, 2014 (Thu. 4:30PM 7:30PM ) Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD, or
November 10, 2014 (Mon. 4:30PM 7:30PM ) Pearlstone Center, Reisterstown, MD. PLEASE NOTE: No outside food is allowed at the Pearlstone Center, but snacks will be provided.
