What is STEM
The National STEM crisis
STEM EDUCATION (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
PURPOSE
The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields are collectively considered core technological underpinnings of an advanced society, according to both the National Research Council and the National Science Foundation. In many forums (including political/governmental and academic), the strength of the STEM workforce is viewed as an indicator of a nation's ability to sustain itself. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields is a key portion of the public education agenda of the United States of America. Substantial lobbying is underway in Washington, DC to raise awareness of STEM education issues.
To find out more, go to Wikipedia.
In the State of the Union Address on January 31, 2006, now United States Former-President George W. Bush announced the American Competitiveness Initiative. Bush proposed the initiative to address shortfalls in federal government support of educational development and progress at all academic levels in the STEM fields. In detail, the initiative called for significant increases in federal funding for advanced R&D programs (including a doubling of federal funding support for advanced research in the physical sciences through the Department of Education) and an increase in U.S. higher education graduates within STEM disciplines.
OBJECTIVES
In 2006, the United States National Academies expressed their concern about the declining state of STEM education in the United States. Its committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy developed a list of 10 actions federal policy makers could take to advance STEM education in the United States to compete successfully in the 21st Century. Their top three recommendations were to:
Increase America's talent pool by improving K-12 science and mathematics education.
Strengthen the skills of teachers through additional training in science, technology, and mathematics.
Enlarge the pipeline of students prepared to enter college and graduate with STEM degrees.
The American Competitiveness Initiative committed over $380 million in education funding, $5.9 billion overall in FY 2007, and more than $136 billion over the next 10 years.
To find out more, go to the STEM Education Coalition
Orange County Department of Education Grant Objectives
The STEM CTE Community Collaborative Project (STEM CTE Project) is designed to bring multiple local partners and initiatives in Orange County together to better coordinate and organize a focused effort to meet STEM demands. The project goal is to strengthen the K-14 pipeline of students prepared with 1, 2, and 4 years of postsecondary training in STEM related fields.
The STEM CTE Project will focus on the response to three local needs that deter student success and growth in STEM related pathways and employment requiring 1, 2, and 4 years of postsecondary education.
1) Improvement of current science/mathematics phobic student culture.
2) The lack of student engagement and integrated curriculum in grades 7-14, science and mathematics education.
3) The local crisis in STEM related available workforce in Orange County that requires 1, 2, and 4 years of postsecondary education and training.
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CAREER VOYAGERS - IN DEMAND MAGAZINE STEM
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