Are Afterschool Programs the Key to Getting Girls Into STEM?
Last year, a trio of accomplished teen girls swept Google's Science Fair, but despite their success, fewer than 25 percent of science, technology, engineering, and math jobs are held by women. A slew of programs are trying to remedy that inequity, but sparking and supporting girls' interest in STEM is happening after hours rather than during the regular school day.
The move to afterschool comes as research shows that many schools aren't teaching science. Most of the school day is taken up by reading and math—subjects measured by standardized tests. Simultaneously, a