1. Status and Highlights of Educational ProgrammingGregory S. Boebinger, Florida State University, DMR 0654118Center for Integrating Research and Learning Broader impact: Research demonstrates that reaching underrepresented minorities as early as elementary school - and then providing continuous exposure to STEM research and careers - will significantly increase their persistence in STEM fields. CIRL helps these students and all students who participate in our programming at each of the crucial stages of their STEM career trajectories: middle school, high school, and college. We reach over 10,000 students every year in outreach alone with 50% of these students attending Title I schools. We also provide hands-on opportunities for students and teachers in our summer programs, activities which improve students’ interest and persistence in STEM. Research conducted by CIRL staff on the effectiveness of our programs has been presented at national conferences and is under review for publication in international journals including: The Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, and the Research in Science Education Journal.