U.S. economic and national security increasingly depends on a technologically literate workforce.  It is therefore essential that K-12 STEM education be strengthened to prepare today’s students to meet this growing demand.
 
Parents, educators, the private sector, and the federal, state, and local governments at all levels have important roles to play in ensuring that future generations will possess the skills and critical competencies necessary to be successful in a highly competitive, global, and technologically sophisticated economy.  Together, these stakeholders must work cooperatively to ensure that children receive the STEM education essential to future success.

POLICY OBJECTIVES:

• Increase federally funded research focused on STEM teaching and learning to cultivate the most effective teaching methods.
• Recruit, train and retain qualified STEM teachers to meet demand.
• Foster partnerships among educational institutions, industry, and non-profit organizations.
• Encourage the adoption of curriculum standards that cultivate high student performance; the development of curricula that foster creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking; and the development of assessments aligned with these standards and curricula.
• Encourage women and minorities to pursue STEM education and careers.

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