Report on Successful K-12 STEM Education (Part of a Continuing
Series) The Sept. 8 issue of OVAE Connection outlined the first
goal of STEM education from the report, Successful K–12 STEM
Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by a committee of the
National Research Council, part of the National Academy of
Sciences. The second goal set by the Committee is: Goal 2.
Expand the STEM-capable workforce and broaden the participation
of women and minorities in that workforce. The Committee
identified a two-fold objective with regard to expanding the
STEM-capable workforce. As we noted last week, increasing the
number of STEM-capable workers with advanced degrees in the STEM
disciplines is essential if the U.S. is to retain its role as a
leader in innovation in the 21st century. Equally as important
for the health of the U.S. economy, is increasing the “number of
people who are prepared for STEM-related careers, such as being
K–12 teachers in the STEM disciplin