This document is a result of a Governor’s Roundtable on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) that was composed of leaders in business, education, non-profit and civic organizations who were convened to assess statewide needs for knowledge and skills in math and science. The report focuses on the need to communicate the compelling and shared urgency to raise STEM achievement in the state, as well as the need to increase student and teacher awareness of the STEM fields. The report also explores ways to "link learning to life" by making science and math classes more experiential and relevant and connecting classroom learning to the science and engineering of academia and the workplace. The document also addresses the need to foster cross-sector engagement and accountability for implementing the recommendations. This Call to Action is especially useful to states that are seeking to align their STEM education with the broader community and partner organizations.
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Background and Context
The subject areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) have been an important part of policy debates on both the national and state level. The challenge of raising student performance in these subjects is well documented, with numerous studies showing the United States trailing the rest of the world in all of these areas. An equally daunting challenge exists in the recruitment and retention of teachers who are capable of raising the achievement level of their students in fields where expertise is highly valued outside the classroom.
