This week in education news, California colleges to decrease time to become a math teacher; a new survey finds that educators are feeling more stressed, disrespected and less excited about their jobs; two new RAND Corporation reports emphasize the role of out-of-school time programs in contributing to students’ academic success; NAEP transitions to an online format; and recent studies have made apparent that the greatest number of high-paying STEM jobs are in computing.

In Face Of Shortage, California Colleges To Shrink Time To Become A Math Teacher

To entice more students to become math teachers — and ease a chronic shortage in California classrooms — four state universities will offer preparation programs considerably shortening the time it takes to get a teaching credential.Cal State Los Angeles, San Jose State, San Diego State and Fresno State have each received state grants of approximately $250,000 to create credential programs that allow future math teachers to earn a bachelor’s degree while simultaneously earning a single-subject math teaching credential. Read the article featured in Ed Source.

Educators Are More Stressed At Work Than Average People, Survey Finds

Teachers are feeling especially stressed, disrespected, and less enthusiastic about their jobs, a new survey has found. The survey, released by the American Federation of Teachers and the advocacy group Badass Teachers Association on Monday, included responses from about 5,000 educators. It follows a 2015 survey on educator stress—and finds that stress levels have grown and mental health has declined for this group in the past two years. Read the article featured in Education Week.

High Hopes But Few Details For Trump’s $200 Million STEM Pledge

The White House’s pledge to spend $200 million on science, math and computer education could potentially transform U.S. classrooms, but educators are waiting to celebrate until they know how the money will be spent. Read the article featured in Ed Source.

RAND Issues Reports On Quality, Sustainability Of Out-Of-School Time Programs

Two new RAND Corporation publications emphasize the role of out-of-school time programs, such as summer learning and after-school programs, in contributing to students’ academic success. Read the article featured in Education DIVE.

Despite Access, Students Of Color In Texas Complete Fewer Advanced STEM Classes

Although Texas high schools with the largest proportion of black and Hispanic students offered more advanced math and science classes than schools that serve almost exclusively white students, students of color still tend to complete fewer such courses on average than their white counterparts, according to a new federal study. Read the article featured in Education Week.

Nation’s Report Card Transitions To Digital Format

In keeping with the move to digitally based assessments at the state level, NAEP’s transition to an online format will allow NCES to measure students’ learning in new ways and to collect data, for example, on how long students spend on a math task, how long they take to read a passage or what tools on the computer they use to help them solve a problem. This data, Carr says, “enriches reporting” and will contribute to the development of future test items. Some tasks might also now include audio, video or multimedia. Read the article featured in Education DIVE.

A Simple Solution For Solving Teacher Shortages: Pay Incentives For Hard-To-Find Educators

Policymakers across the country have fretted about a new wave of potential teacher shortages, particularly in certain subjects and schools. Now a new study offers a straightforward solution: give bonuses or provide loan forgiveness to teachers in positions that are hard to staff. Read the article featured in Chalkbeat.

Where the STEM Jobs Are (and Where They Aren’t)

The national priority in education can be summed up in a four-letter acronym: STEM. And that’s understandable. A country’s proficiency in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is vital in generating economic growth, advancing scientific innovation and creating good jobs. Much of the public enthusiasm for STEM education rests on the assumption that these fields are rich in job opportunity. Some are, some aren’t. STEM is an expansive category, spanning many disciplines and occupations, from software engineers and data scientists to geologists, astronomers and physicists. Read the article featured in The New York Times.

Tech Companies Want Great STEM Education – They Should Pay A Fair Share

Some have heralded Amazon’s search for their second headquarters as a wake-up call to policymakers about the need for increased computer science and STEM education funding. While the goals are laudable, it is easy to overlooks a significant problem with the growth of companies such as Amazon and others — It often comes at the expense of local education funding. Read the article featured in The Hill.

Stay tuned for next week’s top education news stories.

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