STEM-Education-Strategic-Plan-2018.pdf

CHARTING A COURSE FOR SUCCESS:

AMERICA’S STRATEGY FOR STEM

EDUCATION

A Report by the

COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION

of the

NATIONAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

December 2018

About the National Science and Technology Council The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is the principal means by which the Executive Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal research and development enterprise. A primary objective of the NSTC is to ensure that science and technology policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's stated goals. The NSTC prepares research and development strategies that are coordinated across Federal agencies aimed at accomplishing multiple national goals. The work of the NSTC is organized under committees that oversee subcommittees and working groups focused on different aspects of science and technology. More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc.

About the Office of Science and Technology Policy The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) was established by the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide the President and others within the Executive Office of the President with advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, the environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources, among other topics. OSTP leads interagency science and technology policy coordination efforts, assists the Office of Management and Budget with an annual review and analysis of Federal research and development in budgets, and serves as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government. More information is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp.

About the Committee on STEM Education The Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) was established pursuant to the requirements of Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. §6621). In accordance with the Act, the Committee reviews science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs, investments, and activities, and the respective assessments of each, in Federal agencies to ensure that they are effective; coordinates, with the Office of Management and Budget, STEM education programs, investments, and activities throughout the Federal agencies; and develops and implements through the participating agencies a STEM education strategic plan, to be updated every five years. The Subcommittee on Federal Coordination in STEM Education (FC-STEM) advises and assists the CoSTEM and serves as a forum to facilitate the formulation and implementation of the strategic plan.

About this Document This document presents the Federal Government’s five-year strategic plan for STEM education, based on a vision for a future where all Americans will have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United States will be the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment. The plan accordingly strengthens the Federal commitment to equity and diversity, to evidence-based practice, and to engagement with the national STEM community through a nationwide collaboration with learners, families, educators, communities, and employers.

Beyond guiding Federal activities and investments, it is intended to serve as a “North Star” for the broader community to help achieve the goals, pathways, and objectives within this plan.

Copyright Information This document is a work of the United States Government and is in the public domain (see 17 U.S.C. §105). Subject to the stipulations below, it may be distributed and copied with acknowledgment to OSTP. Copyrights to graphics included in this document are reserved by the original copyright holders or their assignees and are used here under the Government’s license and by permission. Requests to use any images must be made to the provider identified in the image credits or to OSTP if no provider is identified. Printed in the United States of America, 2018.

Front Cover NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope image of a galaxy named NGC 7250. The bright object seen in this Hubble image is a single and little-studied star named TYC 3203-450-1, located in the constellation of Lacerta (The Lizard). See https://images.nasa.gov/details-GSFC_20171208_Archive_e000084.html.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc http://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp https://images.nasa.gov/details-GSFC_20171208_Archive_e000084.html

CHARTING A COURSE FOR SUCCESS: AMERICA’S STRATEGY FOR STEM EDUCATION

– i –

NATIONAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

Chair (Acting) Ted Wackler, Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Director, OSTP

Executive Director Chloé Kontos, NSTC

COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION

Co-Chairs Jim Bridenstine, Administrator, NASA France Córdova, Director, NSF Michael Kratsios, Deputy Assistant to the President, OSTP

OSTP Liaison Jeff Weld, Assistant Director for STEM Education

Members James Blew, ED Mary Cassell, OMB Francis Collins, HHS/NIH Paul Dabbar, DOE Timothy Gallaudet, DOC/NOAA

Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Rosemary Lahasky, DOL Mary Miller, DoD David Skorton, SI

SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL COORDINATION IN STEM EDUCATION

Co-Chairs Mike Kincaid, Associate Administrator for STEM Engagement, NASA Karen Marrongelle, Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources, NSF Jeff Weld, Assistant Director for STEM Education, OSTP

Executive Secretary Susan Poland, NSF

Senior Advisor Nafeesa Owens, NSF

Members Jason Ackleson, DHS James Blew, ED Julie Carruthers, DOE Catherine Derbes, OMB Fred Hauchman, EPA Grace Hu, OMB Louisa Koch, DOC/NOAA Kay Lund, HHS/NIH Daniel Moore, DOS

Carol O'Donnell, SI Jagadeesh Pamulapati, DoD Yi Pei, OMB Muquarrab Qureshi, USDA Craig Robinson, DOI/USGS Loren Smith, DOT David Weisshaar, OMB Bronte Wigen, DOL

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STRATEGIC PLAN WRITING TEAM

Bernadette Adams, ED Keshia Ashe, NSF John Baek, DOC/NOAA Andrea Cantu, DoD Christina Chhin, ED Julie Carruthers, DOE Robert Ehrlich, USDA LaShauna Evans, DOS Richard Gilmore, NASA Beverly Girten, NASA James Glownia, DOE Carol van Hartesveldt, NSF Johnathan Holifield, DPC Nirmala Kannankutty, NSF Marlene Kaplan, DOC/NOAA Danielle Kittrell, DOL Louisa Koch, DOC/NOAA Robert LaSalvia, NASA Cheryl Martin, DOL Julie Martin, NSF

Heidi McAllister, USDA Diann McCants, DoD Sarah-Kay McDonald, NSF Christos Michalopoulos, DOC/NOAA Jayne Michaud, EPA Jean Morrow, ED Jorge Narvaez Leon, OSTP Carol O’Donnell, SI Nafeesa Owens, NSF Albert Palacios, ED Susan Poland, NSF Davina Pruitt-Mentle, DOC/NIST Syed Shah, DoD Eleanour Snow, DOI Jake Steel, ED Jennifer Sutton, HHS/NIH Jeff Weld, OSTP Jon Werner-Allen, OSTP Lloyd Whitman, OSTP Lee Zia, NSF

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Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................... iv

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. v

A Vision for STEM Education in America

The State of STEM Education

A Federal Strategy for the Next Five Years

Goals for American STEM Education

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy

Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM

Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future

Administration Actions Laying a Foundation for this Plan

Pathways to Success

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships

Foster STEM Ecosystems that Unite Communities

Increase Work-Based Learning and Training through Educator-Employer Partnerships

Blend Successful Practices from Across the Learning Landscape

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge

Advance Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

Make Mathematics a Magnet

Encourage Transdisciplinary Learning

Build Computational Literacy

Promote Digital Literacy and Cyber Safety

Make Computational Thinking an Integral Element of All Education

Expand Digital Platforms for Teaching and Learning

Operate with Transparency and Accountability

Leverage and Scale Evidence-Based Practices Across STEM Communities

Report Participation Rates of Underrepresented Groups

Use Common Metrics to Measure Progress

Make Program Performance and Outcomes Publicly Available

Develop a Federal Implementation Plan and Track Progress

A Strategy for National Collaboration

Initial Stakeholder Outreach

Using This Plan

Helping Achieve the Goals

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

CoSTEM Committee on STEM Education

CS computer science

CT computational thinking

CTE career and technical education

DOC Department of Commerce

DoD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DOI Department of the Interior

DOL Department of Labor

DOS Department of State

DOT Department of Transportation

DPC Domestic Policy Council

ED Department of Education

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FC-STEM Federal Coordination in STEM Education

HBCUs historically black colleges and universities

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

HSIs Hispanic-serving institutions

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NIH National Institutes of Health

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NSF National Science Foundation

NSTC National Science and Technology Council

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

PreK-12 pre-kindergarten through high school

R&D research and development

S&E science and engineering

SI Smithsonian Institution

STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

U.S. United States

USDA Department of Agriculture

USGS United States Geological Survey

WBL work-based learning

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Executive Summary

Since the founding of the Nation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been a source of inspirational discoveries and transformative technological advances, helping the United States develop the world’s most competitive economy and preserving peace through strength. The pace of innovation is accelerating globally, and with it the competition for scientific and technical talent. Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States—and its prosperity and security—depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem. Individual success in the 21st century economy is also increasingly dependent on STEM literacy; simply to function as an informed consumer and citizen in a world of increasingly sophisticated technology requires the ability to use digital devices and STEM skills such as evidence-based reasoning.

The character of STEM education itself has been evolving from a set of overlapping disciplines into a more integrated and interdisciplinary approach to learning and skill development. This new approach includes the teaching of academic concepts through real-world applications and combines formal and informal learning in schools, the community, and the workplace. It seeks to impart skills such as critical thinking and problem solving along with soft skills such as cooperation and adaptability. Basic STEM concepts are best learned at an early age—in elementary and secondary school—because they are the essential prerequisites to career technical training, to advanced college-level and graduate study, and to increasing one’s technical skills in the workplace. Increasing the overall digital literacy of Americans and enhancing the STEM workforce will necessarily involve the entire U.S. STEM enterprise.

The Federal Government has a key role to play in furthering STEM education by working in partnership with stakeholders at all levels and seeking to remove barriers to participation in STEM careers, especially for women and other underrepresented groups. Accordingly, this report sets out a Federal strategy for the next five years based on a Vision for a future where all Americans will have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United States will be the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment. It represents an urgent call to action for a nationwide collaboration with learners, families, educators, communities, and employers—a “North Star” for the STEM community as it collectively charts a course for the Nation’s success.

This vision will be achieved by pursuing three aspirational goals:

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy by ensuring that every American has the opportunity to master basic STEM concepts, including computational thinking, and to become digitally literate. A STEM-literate public will be better equipped to handle rapid technological change and will be better prepared to participate in civil society.

Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM and provide all Americans with lifelong access to high-quality STEM education, especially those historically underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields and employment. The full benefits of the Nation’s STEM enterprise will not be realized until this goal is achieved.

Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future—both college-educated STEM practitioners and those working in skilled trades that do not require a four-year degree—by creating authentic learning experiences that encourage and prepare learners to pursue STEM careers. A diverse talent pool of STEM-literate Americans prepared for the jobs of the future will be essential for maintaining the national innovation base that supports key sectors of the economy and for making the scientific discoveries and creating the technologies of the future.

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The Federal strategy is built on four pathways representing a cross-cutting set of approaches, each with a specific set of objectives and priority Federal actions for achieving these goals.

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships. This pathway focuses on strengthening existing relationships and developing new connections between educational institutions, employers, and their communities. That means bringing together schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums, and other community resources to build STEM ecosystems that broaden and enrich each learner’s educational and career journey. It also means engaging learners in work-based learning experiences with local employers, internships, apprenticeships, and research experiences. Having strategic partnerships also means exploring opportunities within the education community to blend formal and informal learning, and to blend curricula to enable students to complete both core academic and applied technical curricula in preparation for higher education. Together the objectives under this pathway can help retain learners interested in STEM fields and develop high-quality talent for both public and private sector employers.

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge. This pathway seeks to make STEM learning more meaningful and inspiring to students by focusing on complex real-world problems and challenges that require initiative and creativity. It promotes innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging learners in transdisciplinary activities such as project-based learning, science fairs, robotics clubs, invention challenges, or gaming workshops that require participants to identify and solve problems using knowledge and methods from across disciplines. It seeks to help students challenged in mathematics— frequently a barrier to STEM careers—by using innovative, tailored instructional methods. Another objective is teaching learners to tackle problems using multiple disciplines; for example, learning data science by combining basic mathematics, statistics, and computer science to study a societal problem.

Such activities help to create a STEM-literate population and prepare Americans for the rapidly evolving workplace.

Build Computational Literacy. This pathway recognizes how thoroughly digital devices and the internet have transformed society and adopts strategies that empower learners to take maximum advantage of this change. It recognizes that digital literacy empowers people with the tools to find information, answer questions, and share ideas, and that they need to understand how to use these tools responsibly and safely. This pathway seeks to advance computational thinking as a critical skill for today’s world. Computational thinking, including computer science, is not just about using computing devices effectively; more broadly, it means solving complex problems with data, a skill that can be learned at an early age. It seeks to expand the use of digital platforms for teaching and learning, because they enable anywhere/anytime learning; make possible individualized instruction customized to the way each person learns most effectively; and can offer more active and engaging learning through simulation-based activities or virtual reality experiences. These tools have the potential to decrease achievement gaps in formal educational settings and to offer rapid reskilling or upskilling opportunities in the workplace.

Operate with Transparency and Accountability. This pathway commits the Federal Government to open, evidence-based practices and decision-making in STEM programs, investments, and activities.

Complementary practices by other STEM stakeholders will facilitate the entire ecosystem to collectively monitor progress towards achieving the shared national goals of this strategic plan.

These four pathways have the potential to catalyze and empower educators, employers, and communities to the benefit of learners at all levels and to society as a whole and to ensure the realization of a shared vision for American leadership in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment.

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GOALS FOR AMERICAN STEM EDUCATION

* Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy *

* Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM *

* Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future *

Pathways Objectives DO C

Do D

DO

E

DH

S

DO

I

DO

L

DO

S

DO

T

ED

EP

A

H H

S

N

AS

A

N

SF

SI

U

SD

A

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships

Foster STEM Ecosystems that Unite Communities

Increase Work-Based Learning and Training through Educator- Employer Partnerships

Blend Successful Practices from Across the Learning Landscape

Engage Students where Disciplines Converge

Advance Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

Make Mathematics a Magnet

Encourage Transdisciplinary Learning

Build Computational Literacy

Promote Digital Literacy and Cyber Safety

Make Computational Thinking An Integral Element of All Education

Expand Digital Platforms for Teaching and Learning

The table above lists the educational pathways and objectives under this strategic plan and the Federal departments and independent agencies that have STEM education programs, investments, and activities. The dots indicate the objectives each agency currently plans to contribute to through mission-specific actions, subject to budgetary constraints and other approvals.

The Federal agencies collectively plan to Operate with Transparency and Accountability with the following five objectives:

• Leverage and Scale Evidence-Based Practices Across STEM Communities

• Report Participation Rates of Underrepresented Groups

• Use Common Metrics to Measure Progress

• Make Program Performance and Outcomes Publicly Available

• Develop a Federal Implementation Plan and Track Progress

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All Americans will have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United States will be the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment.

A Vision for STEM Education in America

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been the foundation for discovery and technological innovation throughout American history. Americans with a strong foundation in STEM have electrified the Nation, harnessed the power of the atom, put men on the Moon and rovers on Mars, developed the internet, designed computers that fit in your pocket, created imaging machines that reveal the inner workings of the body, and decoded the human genome. These stunning achievements have transformed the human experience, inspired generations, and fostered the strong public support for STEM education and research.

The pace of global innovation is accelerating along with the competition for scientific and technical talent. Today, the economic prosperity and national security of the United States rests increasingly on its capacity for continued scientific and technological innovation. America’s national innovation base depends more than ever on a strong, cross-sector collaboration around common STEM education interests and goals—a STEM ecosystem—that can provide all Americans with access to high-quality STEM education throughout their lifetimes. Establishing a path to basic STEM literacy for everyone is vital to preparing a diverse workforce needed for the United States to lead and prosper in an increasingly competitive world driven by advanced technology.

Over the past 25 years, STEM education has been evolving from a convenient clustering of four overlapping disciplines toward a more cohesive knowledge base and skill set critical for the economy of the 21st century. The best STEM education provides an interdisciplinary approach to learning, where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world applications and students use STEM in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the wider world. Leaders in STEM education continue to broaden and deepen its scope and further transcend the fields of study beyond just a combination of the four disciplines to include the arts and humanities. Modern STEM education imparts not only skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, higher order thinking, design, and inference, but also behavioral competencies such as perseverance, adaptability, cooperation, organization, and responsibility.

The American STEM enterprise is composed of a constellation of public and private sector organizations providing education and training in myriad ways and conducting research and development (R&D) across all sectors of the economy. STEM education and training occurs from pre-kindergarten to high school (preK-12); both in school and after school; from undergraduate to postdoctoral studies; and through technical education, internships, apprenticeships, community colleges, and retraining programs. Although preK-12 education in the United States is primarily a State, local, and Tribal responsibility, the Federal Government plays an important role in fostering educational excellence, including supporting and disseminating the latest discoveries on what works in teaching and learning and facilitating equal access. Federal agencies support education and workforce development programs and sustain the national R&D enterprise through ongoing support of post-secondary education and R&D, including R&D that captures the imagination of the public and inspires the next generation of STEM learners.

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The State of STEM Education

The United States has a higher education system that is the envy of the world, providing undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM and conducting research that is an engine for American prosperity and security. That engine depends upon a diverse pool of well-prepared students. Even for those not headed for higher education, STEM skills are increasingly important for all career paths and for all people to succeed throughout their lives. STEM skills such as computational thinking, problem-finding and solving, and innovation are crucial for people working to manufacture smarter products, improve healthcare, and safeguard the Nation, and these skills are valuable assets across many other fields and job categories. The success of the Nation demands a STEM-literate modern workforce and Americans adept at navigating an increasingly high-tech, digital, and connected world.

Recognizing that a quality STEM education should be accessible to Americans of all ages, backgrounds, communities, and career paths, organizations from across the entire STEM ecosystem have been working to improve STEM education and training, with many examples of success. STEM-focused schools and informal learning programs have been established across the country. Federal investments are supporting a wide spectrum of STEM education activities spanning all age groups and learning environments. Businesses, nonprofits, and professional societies have built programs to support STEM learners, both locally and nationally. These successes form a foundation upon which to build much-needed improvements in STEM education and keep the United States globally competitive.

According to the National Science Board’s Science and Engineering Indicators 2018,1 Americans’ basic STEM skills have modestly improved over the past two decades but continue to lag behind many other countries. According to the Indicators, from 2006–2015, American 15-year-olds still tended to score below the international average in mathematics skills, and at or slightly above the international average in science skills. Recent data from a test commonly taken by college-bound high school students found that only 20% are ready for courses typically required for a STEM major.2 Other countries are doing a better job preparing their students: the Indicators show that in the past 15 years, India and China have outpaced the United States in the number of science and engineering (S&E) bachelor’s degrees conferred. Together, these two countries have produced almost half of the total degrees, with India at 25% and China at 22% of the global total. By comparison, American S&E bachelor’s degrees comprised only 10% of the global total, while the demand from U.S. employers for graduates with STEM degrees continues to grow.3

STEM employment in the United States continues to grow at a faster pace than employment in other occupations, and STEM workers command higher wages than their non-STEM counterparts. STEM degree holders enjoy higher earnings, regardless of whether they work in STEM or non-STEM occupations.4 Despite the value and importance of STEM skills, not all Americans have equal access to STEM education or are equally represented in STEM fields. Women, persons with disabilities, and three racial and ethnic groups—Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and American Indians or

1 https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report 2 http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/cccr2018/National-CCCR-2018.pdf 3 https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm 4 https://www.commerce.gov/news/reports/2017/03/stem-jobs-2017-update https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/cccr2018/National-CCCR-2018.pdf https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm https://www.commerce.gov/news/reports/2017/03/stem-jobs-2017-update

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Alaska Natives—are significantly underrepresented in S&E education and employment.5 As also reported in the Indicators, although women make up half the population, they comprise less than 30% of the STEM workforce. Similarly, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups make up 27% of the population but comprise only 11% of the STEM workforce. People with disabilities and veterans also face barriers to participating in STEM education and occupations. Americans from all backgrounds may experience geographic disparities that affect access; for example, of the 24 million Americans who lack access to basic broadband services, 83% live in rural or Tribal communities.6 Although improved access to STEM education on its own will not create equal representation within STEM fields, equitable access is an essential priority for the Nation.

More than a decade of studies by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the need to prepare learners for the jobs of the future and identify a host of challenges and opportunities within the U.S. STEM education ecosystem.7 In the past year alone, Federal strategic plans and reports have called out the importance of STEM education to achieving national goals in areas including national security,8 artificial intelligence,9 cybersecurity,10 quantum information science,11 and advanced manufacturing.12 There can be no doubt that STEM education continues to be a significant priority for the United States.

A Federal Strategy for the Next Five Years

This document presents the Federal Government’s five-year strategic plan for STEM education and is responsive to the requirements of Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.

This plan strengthens the Federal commitment to equity and diversity, to evidence-based practices, and to engagement with the national STEM community through a nationwide collaboration with learners, families, educators, community leaders, and employers. Beyond guiding the Federal agency actions over the next five years,13 it is intended to serve as a “North Star” for the STEM community as it charts a course for collective success. The Federal Government encourages STEM education stakeholders from across the Nation to support the goals of this plan through their own actions, as summarized in the final section of this document (A Strategy for National Collaboration).

This strategic plan is a product of extensive input from stakeholders representing the broad STEM education ecosystem—Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal, and local; public and private; formal and

5 https://nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/digest/introduction/ 6 https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2018-broadband-deployment-report 7 http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/pga_041693 8 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf 9 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Summary-Report-of-White-House-AI-Summit.pdf

10 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Cyber-Strategy.pdf 11 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Strategic-Overview-for-Quantum-

Information-Science.pdf 12 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Advanced-Manufacturing-Strategic-Plan-

2018.pdf 13 Within this document Federal departments, independent agencies, and commissions are referred to collectively as “agencies.”

https://nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/digest/introduction/ https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2018-broadband-deployment-report https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/2018-broadband-deployment-report http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/pga_041693 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Summary-Report-of-White-House-AI-Summit.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Cyber-Strategy.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Strategic-Overview-for-Quantum-Information-Science.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Strategic-Overview-for-Quantum-Information-Science.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Advanced-Manufacturing-Strategic-Plan-2018.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Advanced-Manufacturing-Strategic-Plan-2018.pdf

– 4 – informal—including the STEM Education Advisory Panel.14 The strategy realigns the focus of Federal agency STEM education programs, investments, and activities with the priorities and needs of both the Administration and the national STEM community. Accordingly, the plan reflects multiple new and renewed areas of emphasis, such as education-employer partnerships leading to work-based learning and the development of America’s skilled technical workforce. It emphasizes the importance of building connections across disciplines of study, across formal and informal education, and across communities. It highlights the need for innovation and entrepreneurship education, the value of universal competencies in computational thinking, the power of digital educational tools, and the need for digital literacy. Finally, this plan emphasizes the commitment of Federal agencies to transparency and accountability in their implementation of this strategy and in reporting progress and outcomes.

This strategic plan is based on a Vision for a future where all Americans have lifelong access to high-quality STEM education and the United States is the global leader in STEM literacy, innovation, and employment. This vision will be achieved by pursuing the following three goals representing aspirational intentions to be strived for as a Nation:

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future

In formulating how these goals could be fulfilled, it became clear that many of the same approaches and objectives were needed to address multiple goals. For example, all three goals would benefit from increasing the involvement of communities in STEM education. Making computational thinking an integral element of all educational activities will have a similarly broad impact if done inclusively.

Therefore, the strategy is built on the following four pathways representing a cross-cutting set of approaches:

• Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships

• Engage Students where Disciplines Converge

• Build Computational Literacy

• Operate with Transparency and Accountability

Each pathway includes a set of objectives that represent the priorities that the Administration has identified for the success of this plan. Each objective includes a discussion of why it is of central importance, a summary of how the Federal Government plans to reach the objective, and an initial set of key actions that will move each objective forward. A table identifying which Federal agencies will contribute to each of the educational objectives is included in the Executive Summary. Agencies will identify additional specific and measurable actions through an implementation plan to be developed following the release of this strategy.15

Finally, throughout the document are vignettes illustrating recent Federal programs, investments, or activities that align with the objectives. Through these examples, Federal agencies may learn about opportunities they might join or replicate with other partners, and others in the STEM education community may find inspiration for local or regional programming.

14 See the final section of this document and https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=295999.

15 All Federal activities listed in this strategic plan are subject to budgetary constraints and other approvals, including the weighing of priorities and available resources by the Administration in formulating its annual budget and by Congress in legislating appropriations.

https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=295999

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Goals for American STEM Education

The Plan’s three goals provide overarching guidance for Federal agencies in prioritizing their investments and interagency coordination and collaboration activities, and can serve as a framework for the national stakeholder community to contribute to this strategy’s success.

Build Strong Foundations for STEM Literacy

The Nation is stronger when all Americans benefit from an education that provides a strong STEM foundation for fully engaging in and contributing to their communities, and for succeeding in STEM-related careers, if they choose. STEM literacy depends on access to high-quality, lifelong STEM learning for all Americans. Even for those who may never be employed in a STEM-related job, a basic understanding and comfort with STEM and STEM-enabled technology has become a prerequisite for full participation in modern society. STEM education teaches thinking and problem-solving skills that are transferrable to many other endeavors. STEM literacy gives individuals a better capacity to make informed choices on personal health and nutrition, entertainment, transportation, cybersecurity, financial management, and parenting. A STEM-literate public will be better equipped to conduct thoughtful analysis and to sort through problems, propose innovative solutions, and handle rapid technological change, and will be better prepared to participate in civil society as jurors, voters, and consumers.

Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM

The national benefits of a strong STEM foundation cannot be fully realized until all members of society have equitable access to STEM education and there is much broader participation by those historically underserved and underrepresented in STEM fields and employment. A wide body of research has established that organizations that are diverse in terms of gender, race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, ability, geography, religion, etc., and provide an inclusive environment that values diversity better retain talent, are more engaged and productive, are more innovative, and generally are higher-performing organizations.16

Presently, high-quality STEM opportunities are not available to all learners. Implicit bias is one factor that inhibits the realization of this goal. Disparity in the distribution of human, material, and financial resources across rural, urban, and suburban America also inhibits this goal. An effect is that Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and American Indians or Alaska Natives are underrepresented in STEM fields as compared with their overall participation in the workforce.17 Women in occupations such as computing and engineering are dramatically underrepresented given their participation in the U.S. workforce as a whole.18 One analysis found that many additional inventions and patents, business start-ups, educational innovations, and other stunning achievements could be realized if the under-served had more equitable exposure to innovation.19 Even in cases where they are not under-represented in a community, women and minorities face barriers to success in STEM. For example, one

16 For example, see https://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/why-diversity-and-inclusion-matter.

17 https://nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/digest/introduction/ 18 https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states 19 http://www.nber.org/papers/w24062 https://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/why-diversity-and-inclusion-matter https://nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/digest/introduction/ https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states http://www.nber.org/papers/w24062

– 6 – business analysis found that although women lead 45% of all U.S. businesses, just 17 of the 225 new biotech companies launched in the last 4 years were led by women CEOs, and only four were women of color.20

Regardless of geography, race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, parental education attainment, disability status, learning challenges, and other social identities, all Americans deserve the chance to master STEM skills and methods, both for their own success and for America’s competitiveness. This plan sets clear expectations that STEM education practices and policies at all levels should embed the values of inclusion and equity while prohibiting discrimination.

Prepare the STEM Workforce for the Future

A diverse talent pool of Americans with strong STEM knowledge and skills prepared for the jobs of the future is essential to maintaining the national innovation base that supports key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, information and communications technologies, manufacturing, transportation, and defense, along with emerging areas like artificial intelligence and quantum information science. Since 2000, the number of degrees awarded in STEM fields has increased,21 but labor shortages persist in certain fields requiring STEM degrees, such as computer science, data science, electrical engineering, and software development.22 Labor shortages also exist in skilled trade fields, and many of these open positions do not require a bachelor’s degree for entry into the labor market but still benefit from STEM training.23 More opportunities for learners to acquire STEM skills and approaches would expand their career options, including careers in the Federal Government, where one in seven of the 2.1 million Federal employees occupies a STEM position.24

Only when Americans have strong STEM foundations, and when diversity and inclusion in STEM are achieved, will the goal of a robust STEM workforce for the future be attainable. Tomorrow’s workers are today’s learners, and the learning experiences provided to them will directly impact how many decide to pursue STEM careers as well as how ready they will be to do so. Many pursuing STEM careers will benefit from Federal and other investments in STEM R&D and training that support undergraduate and graduate students, technicians, early career researchers, and others who ultimately comprise a large share of the Nation’s STEM workforce.

20 https://magazine.awis.org/publication/?i=491204#{%22issue_id%22:491204,%22page%22:0} 21 https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states 22 https://www.commerce.gov/news/reports/2017/03/stem-jobs-2017-update 23 https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm 24 https://www.fedscope.opm.gov/employment.asp https://magazine.awis.org/publication/?i=491204#%7B%22issue_id%22:491204,%22page%22:0%7D https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsb20181/report/sections/higher-education-in-science-and-engineering/undergraduate-education-enrollment-and-degrees-in-the-united-states https://www.commerce.gov/news/reports/2017/03/stem-jobs-2017-update https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/home.htm https://www.fedscope.opm.gov/employment.asp

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Administration Actions Laying a Foundation for this Plan

The Trump Administration has already taken multiple actions that will serve as a foundation for this plan. Notably, it has:

• Re-chartered the Committee on STEM Education under the National Science and Technology

Council (NSTC) to provide leadership for the Nation in achieving the plan’s goals;25

• Directed agencies to prioritize STEM workforce education and training in their fiscal year 2020 budget requests;26

• Established the President’s National Council for the American Worker, which will raise awareness of the STEM skills gap, help expand apprenticeships, and encourage investment in worker education;27

• Championed and signed into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act) to increase student access across secondary and postsecondary levels to high-quality technical education and credentialing;28

• Issued an Executive Order to expand apprenticeships and improve job-training programs;29

• Directed the Department of Education (ED) to expand access to high-quality STEM and computer science education to K-12 students;30

• Issued an Executive Order to protect and preserve State and local control over the curriculum and administration at educational institutions;31 and

• Established a White House Initiative to promote excellence and innovation at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).32

These actions reflect the Administration’s recognition of the importance of STEM education and training as a driver of American job creation and economic prosperity. This plan builds on these actions with a comprehensive strategy for the next five years.

25 https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc/ 26 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/M-18-22.pdf 27 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-national-council-american-worker/ 28 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-committed-preparing-americas-workers-jobs-today-tomorrow/ 29 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/3245/ 30 https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/president-trump-signs-memorandum-stem-education-funding/ 31 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-statutory-prohibitions-federal-control-education/ 32 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-white-house-initiative-promote-excellence-innovation-historically-black-colleges-universities/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/nstc/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/M-18-22.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-national-council-american-worker/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-establishing-presidents-national-council-american-worker/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-committed-preparing-americas-workers-jobs-today-tomorrow/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-committed-preparing-americas-workers-jobs-today-tomorrow/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/3245/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/president-trump-signs-memorandum-stem-education-funding/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-statutory-prohibitions-federal-control-education/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-statutory-prohibitions-federal-control-education/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-white-house-initiative-promote-excellence-innovation-historically-black-colleges-universities/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-white-house-initiative-promote-excellence-innovation-historically-black-colleges-universities/

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– 9 –

Pathways to Success

This Federal strategy for STEM education is built on the following four pathways representing a cross-cutting set of approaches to achieving the three goals (each supported by a set of priority objectives):

• Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships to cultivate new or strengthen existing connections between educational entities and the broader communities they serve.

• Engage Students where Disciplines Converge using STEM as an interwoven and complex pursuit that blends disciplines and makes STEM learning meaningful and inspiring.

• Build Computational Literacy through STEM education heavily imbued with computational skills and accessed through digital means.

• Operate with Transparency and Accountability within Federal agencies implementing this plan, using evidence-based practices and assessments that can be emulated by other STEM stakeholders.

Develop and Enrich Strategic Partnerships

America will benefit from strategic partnerships that align what is taught and learned with what is needed at work and in the community. Cross-sector strategic partnerships are needed that better connect educational entities, employers, and the broader communities they serve in order to foster communication and better align workforce needs with educational preparation.

Federal agencies should encourage the collaboration of stakeholders in STEM ecosystems that unite a broad range of non-Federal partners: preK-12 schools, families, informal educators, community colleges and universities—including HBCUs and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs)—employers, nonprofit organizations, social services, faith-based entities, economic and workforce development organizations, and museums, libraries, credentialing services, and other lifelong learning organiza-tions. Community-connected STEM ecosystems that engage individuals and organizations can more effectively leverage resources and expertise from strategic partners to provide seamless wrap-around support to prepare the workforce of the future. It is also important to increase work-based learning and training through educator-employer partnerships. The work world has grown increasingly reliant on schools, colleges, and other credentialing sources for job-ready graduates possessing technological, collaborative, and problem finding and solving skills. By working together to adjust to rapidly changing career readiness standards and expectations and shape curriculum and instruction, educator-employer partnerships have the potential to achieve more than can be accomplished by these players working independently. Finally, different elements of the STEM education ecosystem often develop approaches that may seem specific to the learning environment (e.g., informal versus formal), but in fact may prove effective in others. Partnerships can be an effective means for blending best practices so that STEM education is consistently high quality across education experiences.

There are three objectives under this pathway:

• Foster STEM Ecosystems that Unite Communities

• Increase Work-Based Learning and Training through Educator-Employer Partnerships

• Blend Successful Practices from…