A student's high school experience with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) coursework has proven to be an important indicator for overall
college readiness,
postsecondary success, and preparation for STEM careers.
But the numbers are cause for concern. Of the 1.9 million students who enrolled in college, only 1.3 million were ready for college-level STEM work without remediation, and less than 280,000 intended to major in STEM-related fields.
The special significance of STEM education, and its challenges, has led to three primary areas of focus:
- Student achievement in STEM disciplines in high school is among the strongest predictors of success in college. Consequently, the effort to develop more effective teachers in math and science as well as new STEM curricula and classroom assessments will offer greater opportunity for youth.
- STEM disciplines pose some of the highest barriers to college readiness for students, especially students from disadvantaged and underserved backgrounds. And yet STEM study, when taught well, can be powerfully motivating for students, engaging and nurturing their natural curiosity about how their world works. The foundation is pursuing the creation of academic supports across the curricula, including STEM coursework, aligned with college-ready state standards.
- The STEM education challenge—and the concerns it raises about U.S. economic competitiveness—has provoked the nation’s STEM experts, innovators, and leaders to get more directly involved in developing solutions. The STEM sector’s engagement on education reform issues and its efforts to help school systems incubate, pressure test, and adopt effective innovations are a critical factor in improving student achievement.