The United States is falling behind its international peers in building a competitive workforce. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers play a critical role in the growth and competitiveness of the US economy. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators to succeed and compete.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that STEM occupations will grow by almost 11% by 2031. However, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report predicted a shortfall of nearly 3.4 million skilled technical workers by 2022. Other reports indicate the US will have an even more significant shortage of STEM workers by 2025.
The good news is that a recent survey from the Walton Family Foundation found that sixty-two percent of middle and high school students indicated they would consider a future career in biotechnology (26%), artificial intelligence (25%), financial technology (22%), internet networks (15%), or semiconductors (11%), according to the nationally representative survey of 1,000+ K-12 teachers and students ages 12-18, as well as nearly 1,000 voters and parents.
Student interest in STEM careers aligns nicely with the fact that 95% percent of teachers agreed that they need to prepare students for future careers, including STEM.
But today, according to a Harvard-sponsored panel discussion, “New Pathways to STEM,” only 20% of high school graduates are ready for STEM majors. This highlights a significant gap in readiness, where fewer than half of U.S. high schools even offer computer science classes. The Harvard discussion also emphasized the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to STEM education, especially for historically underserved students, as well as those from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Furthermore, research by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) found that taking advanced math and science courses in high school is a strong indicator of post-secondary STEM success. However, there is a disparity in the participation of Hispanic students in these courses compared to white students. This shows that while there are efforts to improve STEM education, significant gaps and disparities remain in preparing all students for future STEM careers. Addressing these gaps requires a focus on universal access to high-quality, engaging content, widespread deployment of new digital tools, and increased availability of STEM opportunities in high schools.
A noteworthy example of an effective, innovative public-private partnership that elevates STEM and workforce readiness for all students is taking place in Nevada. In that state, the Nevada State Department of Education has partnered with Nevada Gold Mines and Discovery Education to support the success of students statewide. Nevada Gold Mines is a member of the STEM Careers Coalition, which is preparing 10 million students for the future of work by providing equitable access to digital content and experiences that engage students, build foundational STEM knowledge, and develop the critical skills students need for college and career success.
Together with Discovery Education, Nevada Gold Mines and the Nevada State Department of Education are providing access to high-quality, standards-aligned resources and professional development to all schools, teachers, and students across the state. This partnership, which is in its third year, is producing results. According to a study being conducted to understand the impact of Nevada’s partnership, the STEM/workforce readiness initiative is resulting in:
- Improved teaching practice: 87% of teachers who attended professional learning sessions reported being able to apply the instructional strategies learned.
- Increased student engagement: 90% of teachers agreed that Discovery Education resources enhance student engagement.
- Heightened interest in STEM: 80% of teachers observed increased student interest in real-world STEM connections and career pathways.
Overall, the Nevada public-private partnership is producing promising progress in enhancing STEM education and workforce readiness across the state. This ongoing partnership addresses many of the challenges in preparing students for the STEM workforce, including:
- Rapid Technological Change: Keeping up with fast-evolving technology and integrating it effectively into education;
- Diverse Learning Needs: Addressing the varied learning styles and needs of a diverse student population;
- Skills Gap: Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical, job-related skills;
- Educator Preparedness: Ensuring teachers are adequately trained to deliver modern, relevant curricula;
- Equal Access: Ensuring all students, regardless of background, have equal access to quality education and career opportunities;
- Student Engagement: Making STEM subjects accessible and interesting to a diverse student body;
- Real-World Application: Integrating real-world problems and industry partnerships to make learning relevant and engaging.
Nevada’s ground-breaking STEM initiative addresses the need for a multi-faceted approach that can be a roadmap for other states by focusing on:
- Engaging Instruction: The National Research Council’s Framework for K–12 Science Education emphasizes student engagement as a top priority. Effective STEM education should build on students’ early interests and experiences, encourage their involvement in scientific and mathematical practices, and provide opportunities to engage with real-world problems.
- Starting Early with STEM Education: Research suggests that promoting student interest in science and mathematics should start as early as elementary school. During these years, students form their interests in STEM identities and careers.
- Frequent STEM Teaching: Given the importance of STEM education, it is vital to devote sufficient instructional time to these subjects. There has been a trend of decreasing time spent on science instruction in elementary schools, which needs to be reversed to ensure adequate exposure to STEM.
- Programmatic Efforts and Intentionality: Many successful programs emphasize mentorship, peer tutoring, and culturally relevant approaches to learning, highlighting the importance of intentionality. This involves creating programs, practices, and policies that are tailored to recognize and address student differences across multiple dimensions: academic, financial, social, and cultural.
A focus on STEM education aligns with the evolving demands of the global economy, ensuring students are well-equipped for future challenges and opportunities. Implementing innovative public-private partnerships like Nevada’s fosters collaboration among educators, policymakers, business, and community stakeholders to create an environment conducive to empowering students to succeed in critically important and increasingly in-demand STEM careers.
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