STEM

STEM
In 2003, the United States ranked 28th  in math literacy and 24th  in science literacy among 15 year-old students [1].  The STEM education legislative proposals were introduced to address the growing concern about the United States’ inadequacies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics literacy.  It was hoped, with the passage of STEM education legislation, more students would show an interest in math and science. 

In a 2005 study, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found 207 diverse federal STEM education programs that received $3 billion dollars of funding in FY2004 [2].  A 2007 study by the Academic Competitiveness Council, which was formed in 2005, reported that 105 STEM programs received another $3 billion in federal funding in FY2006 [3].  In February 2006, President George W. Bush released the American Competitiveness Initiative, an effort to strengthen education by improving math and science education, foreign language studies, and overall education in high schools. 

In 2007, the America Competes Act (H.R. 2272) a combination of major STEM education legislative proposals, enacted the American Competitiveness Initiative into law. Over $40 billion dollars for FY2008-FY2010 was appropriated for STEM programs by this legislation.  The funding has been used to expand existing STEM programs and to create new STEM initiatives under the Department of Energy, the Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation.

Finally, in 2009, the US Department of Education awarded $6.3 million in grants to programs to increase the number of underrepresented groups pursuing STEM careers and advanced degrees.

In the News
Currently, H.R. 1709 (STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009), introduced by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), has cleared the House and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transportation.  This legislation requires that a report be prepared detailing the federal support of STEM education practitioners and professional development programs.

In response, Texas has developed the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Initiative (T-STEM) to improve instruction and academic performance in science-and mathematics-related subjects at secondary schools.  Click here for T-STEM: (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=4470 )  

[1] http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33434.pdf
[2] US Government Accountability Office, GAO-06-114, October 2005.
[3] http://www.ed/gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/acc-mathscience/index.html