NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden attended an Afterschool Alliance congressional briefing on "21st Century Community Learning Centers: Improving STEM Education during Out-of-School Time." Speakers included Time Warner Cable Vice President of External Affairs and Policy Counselor Fernando Laguarda, who discussed Time Warner's Connect a Million Minds initiative; Science Club for Girls Executive Director Connie Chow; and Exploratorium Center for Informal Learning and Schools Director Bronwyn Bevan. The Afterschool Alliance recently released a report on STEM learning in informal education. The report found that high-quality STEM afterschool programs improved students' attitudes toward STEM, increased STEM knowledge and skills, and increased the likelihood that students would pursue a STEM career. Read the report here.