Author Archives: Marge Piercy

The University of Texas at Austin launched its National Center for STEM Education on August 11, 2026, in response to STEM teacher shortages and the need for stronger preparation in science, mathematics, and technology teaching. The Center was formerly the UTeach Institute, and it builds on three decades of UT Austin work in teacher preparation. For schools, families, and community partners, the launch is not just a university announcement. It … Read the rest

NASA State Hubs give schools a timely reason to connect science, mathematics, career and technical education, and community partnerships with real aerospace workforce needs. In August 2026, NASA selected seven states—California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Texas, and Utah—to host State Hubs for Skilled Technical Workforce, an effort meant to better align education with aerospace industry needs. NASA’s public update also reported that awardees and partners met on September 15, 2026, … Read the rest

Literacy teacher preparation has become a practical reform issue for schools, colleges, families, and community partners who care about whether new teachers enter classrooms ready to teach reading. The strongest recent signal is not that every program has solved reading instruction. The signal is more measured: more programs are aligning coursework with scientifically based reading instruction, while many still need closer attention to practice, phonemic awareness, and program oversight.

For … Read the rest

The STEM talent shortage is not a distant workforce topic reserved for universities, employers, or federal agencies. It begins in the daily experiences of students who either build confidence in mathematics and science or quietly step away from those subjects before they see a future in them. For teachers, counselors, families, and local education partners, the AAU-related data offers a practical message: strengthen student preparation early, widen pathways after high … Read the rest