“State of STEM” Report Seeks to Address the Gaps that Persist in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education

Despite recent efforts to bolster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at all educational levels, a skill gap persists between what skills are needed at the professional level, and what students are learning in school. In the first of a series of reports, STEMConnector joins the conversation that has become a top legislative priority for the Department of Education with its report, “The State of STEM: Defining the Landscape to Determine High-Impact Pathways for the Future Workforce.” This comes following the Trump administration’s directive to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos last year to prioritize high-quality STEM education, instructing her to spend at least $200 million per year in existing grant funds on that priority.  Secretary DeVos followed suit, including STEM in its list of priorities for competitive grant programs.

The report does a deeper dive into the specific types of gaps that exist within the STEM field—including a comprehensive look at what is a “talent gap”— and how to address them. Specific gaps that are examined include those in fundamental skills, postsecondary pathways, geography, demographics, and students’ self-perception. In addition to this analysis of current gaps, the report provides its own contribution to the greater dialogue happening at all educational levels of how to address these issues.

“It was encouraging to learn through this research that employers, educations, and others are generally aligned on an overall goal of STEM talent development-to create and harness both personal and economic opportunity,” explained report author Erin White, Senior Director of Product Development and Research at STEMConnector. “State of STEM creates a common framework action and investment to achieve that common goal.”

To view the full report, click here: https://www.stemconnector.com/stemconnector-releases-state-of-stem-report/

To view the Trump administration’s STEM funding directive to Education Secretary DeVos, click here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-secretary-education/

To view the Education Secretary’s list of priorities for competitive grant programs, click here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/02/2018-04291/secretarys-final-supplemental-priorities-and-definitions-for-discretionary-grant-programs