Over the past 25 years, prison education programs that teach STEM skills have been cut, effectively preventing individuals who are incarcerated from entering the STEM workforce after they have served their sentences. In this episode, EDC’s Eden Badertscher and Stan Andrisse of the Prison to Professionals program discuss their efforts to improve STEM learning opportunities in prisons, and how this work is critical to making any meaningful progress toward racial equity and justice. To join the discussion on these topics, email [email protected].

As the pace of innovation in science and technology continues to accelerate, there is tremendous opportunity—and need—for women and people of color to join the STEM workforce. In this podcast, EDC’s Andrés Henríquez discusses why he sees STEM education as an issue of social justice, and what STEM employers can do to recruit and retain more talent from all backgrounds.

This past June, the Minneapolis school board voted to terminate its contract with the city’s police department. It was a big victory for the police-free schools movement, which seeks to shift schools’ disciplinary cultures away from punishment and towards equity and justice. But what’s next for Minneapolis--and other districts—which are contemplating a police-free future? In this episode, EDC’s Meg Caven discusses how school leaders can reimagine school discipline without relying on law enforcement.

In many schools, social and emotional learning (SEL) now takes place alongside traditional core subjects like mathematics, English, and social studies. In this episode, EDC’s Diana Wogan and Josh Cox dive into new REL Northeast and Islands research about how districts are assessing SEL programs. They also offer guidance to administrators.

Babette Moeller and Matt McLeod discuss their efforts to make mathematics teaching more equitable.

Adwoa Atta-Krah discusses how the unique approach of a program in Mali is making a difference by helping children learn to read.

Cindy Hoisington discusses changing perceptions about what “doing science” means and describes efforts to work with schools and families to inspire the next generation of scientists.

Jerry Reed, a suicide prevention expert and Navy veteran himself, discusses what the Veterans Administration is doing to prevent suicide among veterans and comments on the importance of taking a public health approach to address this growing crisis.

Individuals with lived experience can bring an important perspective to suicide prevention efforts.

David Jacobson describes the First 10 Schools and Communities model and also shares observations from promising early childhood programs across the country.