Table of contentsSectionNumberabout the editorThe stem p lan in briefWoSTEMThe s tem work forceNSF Scho warships in ScienceTechnology, Engineering, andMathematics Program(S-STEM)U
S Department of ESTEMupport ActivitieThe future of s tem jobs and educationA Note from the national science14oundation on Educational Opportunities
bilization of talented STEM role models and mentors, or by exposing students toreal- world learning opportunities at Federal S TEM facilities, these agencies inspire and informfutureThe Strategic Plan comp lements the important steps already taken The Plan begins by providingan overview of the importance of STEM education to American scientific discovery andinnovation, the need to better prepare students for today's jobs and those ofture and theimportance of a STEM-literate society and also describes the current state of Federal STEMeducation efforts
The document then presents five priority Stem educaestment areaswhere a coordinated Federal strategy can be deve loped, over five years, designed to lead tomprovements in key areas This increased coordination is expected to bring significantgains in efficiency and coverageAlso included in this plan are initial implementation roadmaps in each of the priority stemeducation investment areas, proposing potential short-, medium-, and long-term objectives andstrategies that might help Federal agencies achieve the outlined goals(section 5) Additionally,throughout the document, the plan highlights (1) key outcomes for the Nation and ways Federaltribute,(2)areas where agencies will play lead roles, therebaccountability, (3)methods to build and share evidence, and (4)approaches for decreasingfragmentation The Strategic Plan will allo w us to better achieve a number of inter-related goals
It will help Federal STEM efforts reach more students and more teachers moreeffectively by reorienting Federal policy to meet the needs of those who are deliveringSTEM education: school districts States, and co lle ges, andI help in reorganizing efforts and redirecting resources around more clearly definedpriorities, with accountable lead agenciesIt will enable rigorous evaluation and evidence-building strate gies for Federal STEMeducation pro gramsIt will increase the impact of Federal investments in important areas such as graduateeducation by expanding resources for a more limited number of programs, whileecognizing shortages in key discip lines and professions; andill provide additional resources to meet specific national goals, such as preparing andecruiting 100,000 high-quality K-12 STEM teachers, recognizing and rewardinglleSTEM instruction, strengthening the infrastructure for supporting STEMinstruction and engagement, increasing the number of undergraduates with a s temdegree by one million over the next decade, and broadening participation in STEM fieldy underrepresented groupsThe STEm Strategic Plan sets out ambitious national goals to drive Federal investment inpriority STEM education investment areas
Improve STEM Instruction: Prepare 100,000 excellent new K-12 STEM teachers by2020, and support the existing STEM teacher workforceIncrease and Sustain Youth and Public engagement in STEM: Support a 50 percentincrease in the number of U
s youth who have an authentic STEM experience each yearprior to completing high schoEnhance STEM Experience of Undergraduate Students: Graduate one million additionalstudents with degrees in STEM fields over the next 10 yearsBetter Serve Groups Historically Under-represented in STEM Fields: Increase theumber of students frothat have been underrepresented in STEM fields thatgraduate with Stem degrees in the next 10 years and improve womens participation inareas of S TEM where they are significantly underrepresented; andDesign Graduate Education for Tomorrows STEM Work force: Provide graduate-trainedSTEM professionals with basic and applied research expertise, options to acquirepecialized skills in areas of national importance, mission-critical work force needs for theCoSTEM agencies, and ancillary skills needed for success in a broad range of careers
About the office of Science and Technology PolicyThe Office of Science and Technology Policy(OsTP) ad vises the President on the effects oftechno lo gy on domnternational affairs The office serves as a source ofscientific and techno logical analysis and jud gment for the President with respect to majorpolicies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government OSTP leads an interagency effortevelop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets The office worksith the private sector to ensure Federal investments in science and techno logy contributeeconomic prosperity, environmental quality, and national securityFormoreinformationvisithttp://wbout the national Science and technology councilThe nationance and Technolo gy Council (NSTC)washed by executive Order onovember 23, 1993 This Cabinet-level council is the principal body within the executive branchthat coordinates science and techno logy policy across the diverse entities that make up theFederal research and development enterprise
Chaired by the President, the membership of theNSTC conSists of the Vice President the director of the office of Science and Technolo golicy, Cabinet Secre taries and Agency Heads with significant science and techno logyibild other white house offic ialsThe Nstc is organized into five primary committees: Science, Techno logy, Engineeringmathematics (sTEM educatcience:Techno logy; Environment, Natural Resources aSustainability; and Homeland and National Security Each of these committees overseessubgroups focused on different aspects of science and technolo gy One of the NSTC's primary
ejectitablish clear natioIs for Fedeand technology investmentsan array of areas that span virtually all the mission areas of the executive branch The Couneares coordinated interagency research andto form invespackages that are aimed at ac hieving multiple national goals For additional informationoncerning the work of the National Science and Technology Council, please visit the NStcAbout the Committee on Science, Technology, engineeringand Mathe matics (S TEM EducatioThe NstC Committee on S TEM Education(CoSTEM) coordinates Federal programs andctivities in support of STEM education pursuant to the requirements of Sec
10l of the AmericaCOMPETES Reauthorization Act(2010 ) CostEM addresses education and workforce polieissues: research and de ve lop ment efforts that focus on stem education at the prek-12undergraduate, graduate, and lifelong learning levels; and current and projected StEMwork force needs, trends, and issues CoSTEM performs three functions: review and assessmentof Federal STEM education activities and programs; with the office of Management and Budget,coordination of S TEM education activities and programs across Federal agencies, adevelopment and imp lementation of a Federal STEM education 5-year Strategic Plan through theparticipating agencies to be updated e very 5 yearAbout the Federal STEM Education 5-Year Strategic PlanThe America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (2010)directs OsTP to create an interagencycommittee under the nStc to de velop a Federal StEM education 5-year strategic planresponse to the act, Cos tem chartered the federal coordination in stEm Education (FC
STEM Task Fodehe Federal STEM Education 5-Year Strategic Plan and to preparthis report with CostEM oversight The FC-stEM includes members from theented on CosTEM, and the smithsonian Institution Representatives from eachthe agencies represented on Cos TEM made significant contributions to the plan CoStEMhartered the Nstc Fast- Track Action Committee on Federal Investments in S TEM (FIS TEM)to design and conduct an inventory of current Federal investments in Stem education FI-StEMincluded members fiFederal agencies represented on CoS TEM
The Federal Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) Education Portfolio, re leased in Decemboll, provided the most-detailed overview of Federal STEM education activities to date, anduided the de velopment of the Strategic Plannk:https:/wwwwhitehousegov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/stemstratplan2013pdf
Women in StEMSupporting women STEM students and researchers is notoessential part of Americasstrategy to out-inno vate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world; it is also important towomen themselves Women in StEM jobs earn 33 percent more than those in non-StEMoccupations and e xperience a smaller wage gap relative to men And stem careerse opportunity to engage in some of the most e xc iting realms of discovery and techno logicainnovation
Increasing opportunities for women in these fields is an important step towardsealizing greater economic success and equality for women across the boardThe Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the White House Council onWomen and Girls, is dedicated to increasing the participation of women and girlsother underrepresented groups-in the fields of science, technology, engineering, andmathematics by increasing the engagement of girls with STEM subjects in formal and informalIvironments, encouraging mentoring to support women throughout the ir academic andprofessional experiences, and supporting efforts to retain women in the StEm work forceSTEM Depiction Opportunities: Inspiring a diverse generation of science, technoloengineering, and math (StEM)innovatorsBiases are destructive for those who apply them as well as those being judged based onstereotypes Various experiments suggest that those who judge others through a biased lens canmiss the chance to hire superior emp lo yees or appreciate the true talents of others, including theown childrestance, parents rate the math abilities of their daughters lower than parentsof boys with identical math performance in school For example, college faculty are less likely to
About the editorMichael Erbschloe has worked for over 30 years performing analys is of theeconomics of information techno logy, public policy relating to technology, andutilizing techno logy in reengineering organization processes He has authoredseveral books on social and management issues of information technology thatere published by Mc Graw Hill and other major publishers
He has also taught atseveral univers ities and developed technology-related curriculum His career hasfocused on several interrelated areasTechnology strategy, analysis, and forecastingTeaching andcurrIcelopmentWriting books and articlesPublishing and editingPublic policy analys is and program evaluatiBooks by michael ErbschloeSocial Media Warfare: Equal Weapons for All(Auerbach Publications)Walling Out the Insiders: Controlling Access to Improve Organizational Security(Auerbach PublicPhysical Security for IT(Elsevier Sc
ience)Trojans, Worms, and Spyware(Butterworth-Heinemann)Implementing Homeland Security in Enterprise IT(Digit al Press)Guide to Disaster Recovery(Course TechnologySocially responsible IT Management Digital Press)Information Warfare: How to Survive Cyber Attacks(Mc Graw Hill)s Guide to Privacy Management(Mc Graw HillNet Privacy: A Guide to Developing Implementing an e-bus iness Privacy Pl(Mc Graw Hill)introductioScience is more than a school subject, or the periodic tablee properties ofrld, a critical way to understand and exploreand engage with the world, and then have the capacity to changePresident barack obama March 23, 2015The United States has developed as a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hardwork of its scientists, engineers, and innovators
In a world thats becoming increasinglycre success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with whatu know, it's more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge alskills to solve tough problems, gather and e valuate evidence, and make sense of informationThese are the types of skills that students learn by stud ying science, techno logy, engineering, andmath-subjects collectively known as STEMYet today, few American students pursue expertise in STEM fields--and we have an inadequatepipeline of teachers skilled in those subjects That s why it is a high priority to increase thenumber of students and teachers who are proficient in these vital fieldAll young peop le should be prepared to think deeply and to think well so that they have thechance to become the innovators educators researchers and leaders who can solve the mosenges facing our nation and our world, both today and tomorrow But, right nonot enough orohave access to quality STEM learning opportunities and too fewstudents see these discip lines as springboards for their careers
PROJECTED PERCENTAGE INCREASESIN STEM JOBS: 2010-202062%36%32%14%16%For example, we know that only 81 percent of Asian-American high school students andpercent of white high school students attend high school where the full range of math andscience courses are offered (algebeometry, Algebra Il, calculus, biology, chemistry, andphysics) The access to these courses for American Indian, Native-Alaskan, b lack, and Hispanichigh school students are significantly worse Children s race, zip code, or socioeconomic statusshould is determining their STEM fluency
We must give all children the opportunity to becollege-ready and to thrive in a modern StEM economyWe also know that only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in math andinterested in a STEM career Even among those who do go on to pursue a college major in theSTEM fields, only about half choose to work in a related career The United States is fallingbehind internationally, ranking 29th in math and 22 nd in science among industrialized nationsWhat's more, a recent survey revealed that only 29 percent of mericans rated this countrys K
12 educaSTEM Subjects as above ahe beglobal economy, this situation is unacceptablePresident obama articulated a clear priority for stem education: within a decade americanstudents must move from the middle top of the pack in science and math The obamaAdministration was also working to ward the goal of fairness between places, where an equitabledistribution of quality StEM learning opportunities and talented teachers can ensure that astudents have the chance to study and be inspired by science, technology, engineering, andmathand ha ve the chance to reach their full potentialSpecifically, President Obama called on the nation to de ve lop, recruit, and retain 100,000excellent stem teac hers over the neyears
He also has asked colleges and universities tograduate an additional l million students with StEm majorsThese improvements in STEM education will happen only if Hispanics, African-Americans, andther underrepresented groups in the STEM fields-including women, people with disabilities,and first-generation Americans--robustly engage and are supported in learning and teaching inIt is not clear what the new ad ministration will do becauseanti-science attitudeLink:https://wwwedgov/stem
The stem plan in briefThe Committee on STEM Education(CoSTEM), comprised of 13 agencies--including all of themission-science agenc ies and the department of Education-are facilitating a cohesive nationastrategy, with new and repurposed funds, to increase the impact of federal investments in fiveareas:I)improving STEM instructpreschool through 12th grade; 2)increasing andsustaining public and youth engagement with STEM; 3 ) impro ving the StEm experience foundergraduate students; 4) better serving groups historica ly underrepresented in STEM fieldsand 5 )designing graduate education for tomorrow's STEM workforceCoordinated efforts to improve STEM education are outlined in the federal, 5-year Strategic Planfor STEM Education and concentrate on improving the delivery, impact, and visibility of STEMefforts
Additionally, the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and theSmithsonian Institution are lead ing efforts to impro ve outcomes for tradit ionallyted groThe healthloNItizenry, economy and environmental resourcedepend in large part on the acceleration of scientific and technological inno vations, such as thosethat improve health care, inspire new industries, protect the environment, and safeguard us fromharm Maintaining Americas historical preeminence in the STEM fields will require a concertedand inclusive effort to ensure that the StEM work force is equipped with the skills and trainingeeded to excel in these fie lds during president Obamas first term the ad min istration usedltiple strate gies to make progress on improving STEM education
Making STEM a priority in more of the Administration's education efforts The firstround of the Department of Educations $43 billion Race to the Top competition offereds a competitive preference priority on developing comprehensive strategiesimprove achievement and provide rigorous curricula in STEM subjects; partner withlocal stem institutions businesses and museums, and broaden participation of womenand girls and other groups underrepresented in STEM fields Other examples includeSTEM priorities in the Department of Educations Invest in Innovation and SupportingEffective Educator Development programs
Prioritizing S TEM in existing programs atthe Department of Education has the advantage of le veraging existing resources andembedding s tem within our o verall education reform effortsSetting ambitious but achievable goals and challenging the private sector, PresidenObama announced the goal to prepare 100,000 excellent STEm teachers over the nextdecade in his 2011 State of the union ddress answethisorganizations led by the Carnegie Corporation of New York formed a coalition called100KinlO Members of the coalition have made over 150 commitments to supportSTEM-teacher preparation and have raised over $30 million for this effort In mid-March,the Ho ward Hughes Medical Institute announced a $22 5M investment to supporexpansion of the successful UTeach program in support of this goal Add itional exampleshis all-hands-on-deck approach to challenging companiendations, non-profitsuniversities,and skilled volunteers inc lude Change the Equation, US2020, and the scalingup and expanding an ap program for children in military families
The first-ever White House Science Fair took place in late 2010 and the second in 2012,fulfilling a commitment made at the launc h of the educate to innovate campaign todirectly use the pulpit to inspire more boys and girls to exea call to action was issued to the 200000 Federal scientists and engineers to volunteer intheir lotmmunities and think of creative ways to engage students in stem subiectsImproving STEM education will continue to be a high priority in President Obamassecond term Guided by the aims articulated in the February 2012 Progress Report arsubsequent pre-final drafts of this Strategic Planas well by the Presidents desire to reorganize S TEM-education programs for greater coherence, efficiency, ease of evaluation,and focus on his highest priorities--the Executive Office of the President recommendedand the President accepted, a FY2014 Budget Request for STEM education that wouldincrease the total investment in STEM-ed pro grams by 6 percent over the 2012appropriated levelThe Department of Education was designated to play an increased role in improving P-12STEM ins truction by supporting partnerships among school districts and universitiesscience agencies, businesses, and other community partners to trans form teaching andlearning
It also invested an add itional $80 million in support of the 100,000 new STENed teachers goal and $35 million for the launch of a pilot STEM-ed Master Teacheras in creation of new s tem inno vation networks to better connect sc hoodistricts with local, regional, and national STEM resources The department alsoco llaborated with all of the cos tem agencies to ensure that federal scientifiwere utilized in the impro vement of pTEM education
The National Science Foundation increased its focus on improving the delivery ofundergraduate STEM teaching and learning through evidence-based reforms, including anew $123 million pro gram aimed at improving retention of undergraduates in StEMlds NSF also received $325 million to expand and enhance its graduate fellowshipprograms, including creation of a new National Graduate Research Fellowship, using acommon infrastruc ture at nsf to reac h more students and offer aopportunities thataddress national needs and mission critical work force needs for the costed agenciesThe Smithsonian Institution received $25 million to focus on improving the reach ofinformal S TEM education by ensuring that materials are aligned to what students arelearning in the classroom The Smithsonian worked with NSF, ed, the other CoStEMagencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), nationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), US Department of the Interic(OD, U
S Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health(NIH), andother science partners to harness the ir uniq ue e xpertise and resources to disseminaterelevant, evidence-based materials and curricula, on- line resources, and de livery anddissemination mec ha nis ms to reach more teac hers and students both inside and outs ideroomAll of the CoS tEM agencies continued to be key players in the re-organized effort All of thesecultivation of a talented and well-trained work force in order to meettheir STEM-related missions, and all of them play a critical role in insp iring and training the nextgeneration of STEM workers Whether it be through direct support, pro vision of expertise and