ED and EXPLR to Hold National STEM Student Festival in April 2024

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 12/14/23

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and streaming educational content company EXPLR have partnered to host the first National STEM Festival in April 2024 in Washington, D.C. The festival will recognize outstanding student innovators in STEM projects.

The festival will be held April 11-13 at The Square at International Square. STEM innovators will be announced in February. To learn more and sign up, follow the link on the main festival page.

The six themes of the festival are environmental stewardship, future foods, health and medicine, powering the planet, space innovation, and tech for good.

The festival follows the Biden-Harris administration initiative "Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students," for Pre–K through higher education, regardless of background. It states its key goals are to:

  • Achieve academic excellence;
  • Boldly improve learning conditions;
  • Create pathways for global engagement; and
  • Increase college affordability and completion.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is thrilled to have the U.S. Department of Education team up with EXPLR to host the first-ever National STEM festival," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "To Raise the Bar in education, we must provide all students with rich and engaging STEM learning experiences that unleash their love of learning and problem-solving skills. This event is an exciting opportunity to celebrate our future scientists, creators, and innovators, and to help more students recognize they too belong in STEM."

EXPLR is a streaming video and curriculum service for grade 5 through 12 students, teachers, and families to fill gaps in K–12 education, the company said. It was co-founded in 2021 by education and entertainment professionals.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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