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Latest News
The momentum for improving U.S. STEM capabilities is building, with opinion leaders and editorial boards opining in support of reform and newsrooms writing about it across the country.
Read these opinions, the latest news coverage and news from TAP in this section.
Editorial and Op-ed Support
June 11, 2013 — Christian Science Monitor (Editorial) — “The US Economy's Hidden STEM Jobs”
President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal invests $3.1 billion to train Americans for high-tech jobs, a 6 percent increase over two years prior. The emphasis on so-called STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) makes sense: In 2011, 26 million US jobs required in-depth knowledge in at least one of the STEM fields. That’s 20 percent of the workforce. And STEM-trained workers account for even more of the federal government’s workforce: 29 percent and growing.
June 04, 2013 — Huffington Post (Opinion) — “Tom Vander Ark: The Business Role in Education: Examples, Expectations and Support”
This month, I talked to three extraordinary corporate CEOs about talent development and the role of business in education. All three were trained as engineers and support the Common Core State Standards and expanded STEM education. Rex Tillerson is CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world's most valuable company (rivaling Apple). You've probably seen their ubiquitous TV commercials in support of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) and the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy.
June 03, 2013 — Huffington Post (Opinion) — “Anne Chow: Why a Science Degree Is Key to Success”
My first memories about work involved a very interesting set of 'stems' - no, not the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math variety - but rather the legs of the landmark water tower shaped like a transistor on the campus of Bell Labs in Holmdel, N.J. I'm a "Bell Labs" baby, the child of immigrant parents who came to this country in pursuit of the American Dream, which they began to realize when my father, an electrical engineer, landed one of the much-coveted jobs at that mecca of communications innovation.
May 28, 2013 — POLITICO (Opinion) — “Governor Jack Markell: Winning the Jobs War”
… First, according to Gallup, 3 billion people in the world today are looking for jobs, but only 1.2 billion jobs are available. That’s daunting math, reflecting a global war for jobs, which is better characterized as a global war for talent. However, in Delaware, 3.8 jobs are open in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) for every unemployed worker, while we have 1.7 unemployed workers for every available job not related to STEM.
May 28, 2013 — Tallahassee Democrat (Opinion) — “Paul Cotte: Teaching Must Match the Push for STEM Grads”
Many of the students who graduate from Florida’s high schools during the next few weeks will flock to the state’s public universities planning to major in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. … But most of these students will fail to earn a bachelor’s degree in their STEM fields. According to the 2012 White House report “Engage to Excel,” nationally only 40 percent of students who enter college intending to major in a STEM field complete a STEM bachelor’s degree. Given the national shortage of STEM professionals, which is estimated in “Engage to Excel” to be 1 million over the next decade, this is a problem not only for the students but also for the national economy.
Editorial and Op-ed Support Archive
News Coverage
June 12, 2013 — POLITICO — “Tech, Education Leaders Talk STEM Challenges”
Education and tech leaders on Wednesday lauded the Obama administration’s efforts to open the science, technology, engineering and math fields to more students — but said the resource challenges in underfunded schools remain a major hurdle. Tom Kalil, the White House’s deputy director for technology and innovation, said the Obama administration’s efforts include preparing and recruiting 100,000 new STEM teachers and opening opportunities to get more younger students interested in STEM.
June 11, 2013 — US News & World Reporter — “STEM Schools Bring Students Best Return On Investment”
As the cost of college continues to rise, more students are interested in finding a school that will provide them with a solid return on investment (ROI). For this reason, Forbes creates its annual list of colleges with the best ROI, helping students see which schools could provide the best value.
June 11, 2013 — Fox Business — “The Best Cities For High-Tech Jobs”
One in every five jobs in the United States required a high level of knowledge in science, technology, engineering or math as of 2011. Since the industrial revolution, the share of these kinds of jobs in the U.S. workforce has roughly doubled. This week the Brookings Institution released “The Hidden STEM Economy,” a report that reviews the concentration of jobs that require knowledge in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) by metropolitan area.
June 10, 2013 — Washington Post — “Study illuminates the role of STEM jobs in D.C. area economy”
Jobs that incorporate science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills comprise a larger share of positions in the Washington region than in nearly every other metropolitan area in the United States, according to a study released Monday by the Brookings Institution. Brookings found that 27.1 percent of Washington area jobs require STEM skills. Only San Jose, the metropolitan area that is a hub for start-ups and home to technology giants such as Google and Apple, had a larger share of STEM jobs: 33.2 percent.
June 09, 2013 — Bloomberg — “Bachelor Degree Not Only Path to Science, Math Jobs, Study Says”
Only half of science, technology, engineering and math jobs require a bachelor’s degree, according to a new Brookings Institution report. That should inform how the U.S. government invests in education, says the study author. “One of the implications is that public policy makers should respect the role of community colleges and other sub-bachelors training more than they currently do,” said Jonathan Rothwell, an associate fellow with Brookings. He authored the report after determining that so-called STEM job definitions overlook many non-professional occupations that require specific skills.