Tupelo School District students soon will have greater exposure to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). District officials are planning to roll out a new STEM initiative when the upcoming school year begins in August, as reported by Daily Journal education reporter Emma Crawford Kent. Superintendent Gearl Loden presented more details on the initiative while speaking at Friday’s Kiwanis Club meeting. Implementation includes hands-on materials, a redesigned college and career curriculum in the middle school grades and lots of training for teachers. Students in kindergarten to sixth-grade will begin using Full Option Science System kits – teaching and learning materials designed to provide multiple, hands-on exposures to science concepts. Meanwhile, the district received permission from the Mississippi Department of Education to revamp the middle school curriculum to align with the STEM initiative.