On behalf of the STEM Education Coalition, we urge you to support the bipartisan Hatch #9 Amendment, which will help prepare current and future U.S. students for the best, high-paying jobs of the 21^st Century in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.  We applaud Senators Coons and Klobuchar for co-sponsoring this proposal.    

Our nation’s future depends in great degree on our own home-grown STEM workforce and it makes great sense to establish a broadly-based STEM education initiative – funded through fees collected from U.S. employers of foreign STEM workers – as a component of immigration reform legislation.   The Hatch #9 amendment would do exactly that by establishing a $1000 employer fee on each Green Card labor certification that would be dedicated to provide each state with resources through the Department of Education to improve STEM education at the K-12 and university levels.  The Hatch #9 Amendment would further improve the bill by complimentingprovisions already included in Manager’s Amendment which strengthen programs at the National Science Foundation that target STEM education and focus on broadening the diversity and capacity of the STEM education pipeline.

Recently, a group of more than 30 education, professional, and business organizations called on the Senate to include a robust STEM education provision in immigration reform legislation.  Our Coalition supports the Hatch #9 Amendment as a means to do that.  As that letter states “Simply put, if we are to keep up with our global competitors, we had better step up our investments in STEM education.”

Why is STEM Education a National Priority?  

• Council on Foreign Relations:   “60 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulties finding qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies.
  • Change the Equation: “In the current overall employment market, unemployed people outnumber job postings 3.6 to one.  In the STEM occupations, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by 1.9 to one.”
  • National Governors Association Center for Best Practices:  “At all levels of educational attainment, STEM job holders earn 11 percent higher wages compared with their same-degree counterparts in other jobs.” 
  • Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce:  “47 percent of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations.”

 Attached are further facts and statistics outlining the case for STEM education, good jobs, and U.S. competitiveness.

 Respectfully,

 -James and Jodi

James Brown

Executive Director

STEM Education Coalition

jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org

www.stemedcoalition.org

(202) 400-2192

Jodi Peterson
Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs
National Science Teachers Association
(703) 312-9214
jpeterson@nsta.org
www.nsta.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

On behalf of the STEM Education Coalition, I urge you to sign the Merkley-Franken Dear Colleague letter in support of FY2014 Appropriations for the Math and Science Partnership program at the Department of Education and a pilot initiative to establish a STEM Master Teacher Corps.  The letter is attached.  Current signers include:  Gillibrand, Shaheen, Stabenow, Levin, Menendez.   The text of the letter is attached.  To sign on, contact Susan Lexer in Sen. Merkley’s office or Amanda Beaumont in Sen. Franken’s office.   Deadline for signers is tomorrow.

Please see this letter signed by more than 70 organizations in support of the proposed STEM Master Teacher Corps initiative.  Also attached is a fact sheet on the Math and Science Partnership program, which provides funding to each state to support STEM education efforts at the K-12 level.  Attached is a chart showing funding for each state over the past 10 years.

The central mission our Coalition is to inform federal and state policymakers on the critical role that STEM education plays in U.S. competitiveness and future economic prosperity and to advocate for policies that will improve STEM education at every level.

STEM education must be elevated as a national priority as reflected through education reforms, policies to drive innovation, and federal and state spending priorities.  STEM education is also closely linked with our nation’s economic prosperity in the modern global economy; strong STEM skills are a central element of a well-rounded education and essential to effective citizenship.    Our nation must expand the capacity and diversity of the STEM workforce pipeline to prepare more students for the best jobs of the future that will keep the U.S. innovative, secure and competitive.

Why is STEM Education a National Priority?

 Council on Foreign Relations:   “60 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulties finding qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies.”

• • Change the Equation: “In the current overall employment market, unemployed people outnumber job postings 3.6 to one.  In the STEM occupations, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by 1.9 to one.”
  • National Governors Association Center for Best Practices:  “At all levels of educational attainment, STEM job holders earn 11 percent higher wages compared with their same-degree counterparts in other jobs.”
  • Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce:  “47 percent of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations.”

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

-James

On behalf of the STEM Education Coalition, I urge you to support the Merkley Amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution to “create a reserve fund to expand, enhance, or otherwise improve science, technology, engineering, math, and career and technical education.”   The amendment language and a summary are attached to this message.

The central mission our Coalition is to inform federal and state policymakers on the critical role that STEM education plays in U.S. competitiveness and future economic prosperity and to advocate for policies that will improve STEM education at every level.

STEM education must be elevated as a national priority as reflected through education reforms, policies to drive innovation, and federal and state spending priorities.  STEM education is also closely linked with our nation’s economic prosperity in the modern global economy; strong STEM skills are a central element of a well-rounded education and essential to effective citizenship.    Our nation must expand the capacity and diversity of the STEM workforce pipeline to prepare more students for the best jobs of the future that will keep the U.S. innovative, secure and competitive.

Why is STEM Education a National Priority?

 Council on Foreign Relations:   “60 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulties finding qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies.”

• Change the Equation: “In the current overall employment market, unemployed people outnumber job postings 3.6 to one.  In the STEM occupations, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by 1.9 to one.”
• National Governors Association Center for Best Practices:  “At all levels of educational attainment, STEM job holders earn 11 percent higher wages compared with their same-degree counterparts in other jobs.”
• Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce:  “47 percent of Bachelor’s degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations.”

 Attached are further facts and statistics outlining the case for STEM education, good jobs, and U.S. competitiveness.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition

Engineers are an incredibly important part of the American workforce. Engineers are also a crucial link in research, development, and the transformation of scientific discoveries into useful products — and into jobs. And engineering jobs are good, high-paying jobs with lower unemployment. In fact, over the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times as fast as for non-STEM professions.

Yet, while most parents of school-age students believe that STEM education should be a priority in the U.S., only half agreed that it actually is a top priority for this country. One way to help establish that priority is for Congress to support the celebration of National Engineers Week. For further information or to sign on as a co-sponsor, please contact Jason Day in Rep. Lipinski’s office at jason.day@mail.house.gov. The full text of the resolution is included below.

Respectfully,

James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition
(1996 B.S. Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico)

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week.

 Whereas engineers employ their scientific knowledge and analytical skills for the betterment of the United States;

Whereas the mission of the National Engineers Week Foundation is to sustain and grow a dynamic engineering profession through outreach, education, celebration, and volunteerism as needed to keep the United States a global leader in engineering and engineering education;

Whereas the sponsors of National Engineers Week are working together to transform the engineering workforce through greater inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities;

Whereas by engaging young students, parents, and educators in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math engineers help them discover how they can make a meaningful difference in the world.

Whereas the partnership between engineers and teachers inspires future generations of engineering and technology talent;

Whereas tens of thousands of engineers and engineering students will serve their communities not only through their work but, at this time of year, by reaching into hundreds of local communities;

Whereas engineers have helped meet the major global challenges of our time, including providing state-of-the-art transportation and information technology infrastructures, enhancing national security, and developing the clean energy technologies needed to power the people of the United States into the future;

Whereas engineers are a crucial link in research, development, and the transformation of scientific discoveries into useful products and jobs, as the people of the United States look more than ever to engineers and their creativity, knowledge, and analytical skills to meet the challenges of the future;

Whereas the National Science Board’s ‘‘Science and Engineering Indicators 2012’’ shows that while the number engineering degrees in the United States has reached an all-time high, the rates for women and under-represented minorities do not reflect our national demographics, and our rate of growth in engineering degrees trails that of China;

Whereas a 2012 survey by the Intel Corporation indicates that United States teenagers are more likely to consider a degree in engineering after learning about what engineers do;

Whereas only four percent of the nation’s work force is composed of scientists and engineers, this group disproportionately creates jobs for the other 96 percent’;

Whereas National Engineers Week has grown into a formal coalition of more than 100 professional societies, major corporations, and government agencies that are dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated engineering workforce, promoting literacy in science, technology, engineering, and math, and raising public awareness and appreciation of the contributions of engineers to society;

Whereas National Engineers Week is celebrated during the week of George Washington’s birthday to honor the contributions that our first President, a military engineer and land surveyor, made to engineering; and

Whereas February 17, 2013, to February 23, 2013, has been designated as National Engineers Week by the National Engineers Week Foundation and the theme is, “Celebrate Awesome,” spotlighting all the amazing things engineers do every day to make the world a better place;

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1)  supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers;

(2)  recognizes that engineering education is a critical component of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and essential to improving our educational system and economic prosperity; and,

(3)  ensures that technological solutions designed by the engineering community can be advanced through research, development, standardization, and innovation.

This is the 2012 Annual Report for the STEM Education Coalition’s activities and accomplishments for the past year.   Thanks to everyone for all your support and involvement in the Coalition over the past 12 months.  You will see from reading through this that we have really done a lot – and I look forward to continuing our work together in 2013.

Cheers,

-James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition
700 North One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 400-2192
jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

Members of Congress are on the campaign trail as the final weeks of the election season wind down, plus two STEM related reports of note, and more, all below.  Also, make sure to follow the Coalition on Twitter @StemEdCoalition for more daily updates.

Obama and Romney Education Priorities — ASCD has put together the education platforms of President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney in a nonpartisan way, compiling information from the candidates’ own resources without external analysis or commentary.

See the full analysis here:  http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/policy/ASCD_PolicyPoints_Obama_Romney.pdf

The two campaigns also supplied responses on a wider range of science and technology related policy questions here:  http://www.sciencedebate.org/debate12/

“The Competition That Really Matters” — The Center for American Progress released a recent report on the role of education in ensuring the preimment position of the U.S. within the global economy.  Their new release compares U.S., Chinese, and Indian investments in the next-generation workforce.

Read the full report here:   http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/report/2012/08/21/11983/the-competition-that-really-matters/

STEM and Immigration Reforms — The Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings last month hosted  a forum on STEM education and immigration reforms and how policy innovations can recharge American competitiveness and economic opportunity. During the event Microsoft released a National Talent Strategy,

Read more at:  http://www.computinginthecore.org/newsroom/cinc-member-microsofts-general-counsel-brad-smith-spoke-at-the-brookings-in/

Calling all digital divas, web chix & coder girls! — The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. The program offers both national and local affiliate competitions. National winners receive $500, a laptop and a trip to the March 9, 2013 awards gala. APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31: APPLY NOW! Since 2007, NCWIT has inducted more than 1300 young women into the Aspirations in Computing Talent Pipeline program and honored more than 50 teachers with the NCWIT Educator Award. Learn more at www.aspirationsaward.org.

FIRST is Seeking a Regional Director for the National Capital Area –  The Regional Director will report to the VP of Field Operations and work collaboratively with FIRST program directors and staff at FIRST Headquarters and FIRST Regional Directors and staff in the National Capital Regional (MD, DC, and VA) in the development, growth and support of the FIRST Programs which include the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) at the local and regional level.

For full job description, please go to: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/employment

For more information on how to become a member of the Coalition’s Leadership Council, please contact the Coalition.

Cheers,

-Jodi and James

Jodi Peterson Chair, STEM Education Coalition Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs National Science Teachers Association 1840 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201 (703) 312-9214 (office) jpeterson@nsta.org www.nsta.org www.stemedcoalition.org

James Brown Executive Director STEM Education Coalition 700 North One Lafayette Centre 1120 20th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 223-1187 jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org www.stemedcoalition.org

As we near the fall Presidential election and what is sure to be a very busy and unpredictable “lame duck” session of Congress that will immediately follow, we pass along a series of updates on issues that will impact the STEM education community.  

The Looming Budget Sequester

As a part of the Congressional debt limit deal reached last summer, mandatory reductions in federal discretionary spending levels are set to take effect in January of 2013. Unless Congress takes further action, non-defense discretionary federal spending – including funding for nearly every education and STEM-related programs – will be subject to an approximately 9 percent across-the-board reduction.   There is a wide range of speculation about whether or how Congress and the Administration will act to address this looming budget crisis that will occur shortly after the fall elections and here are several resources with further information and guidance. Our Coalition has been continually engaged with our policymakers on Capitol Hill and in the Administration to ensure the impacts of potential sequestration cuts are clearly understood. 

Alliance for Excellent Education Webinar:  Sequestration: Are Major Cuts to Education Around the Corner?

September 20, 2012 Capitol Hill Briefing Sponsored by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation on the Sequestration and Potential Impacts on Innovation and Economic Growth

Obama Administration Report to Congress on Potential Impacts of Budget Sequester

Rep. Hanna Introduces Bill to Create Tax Incentive for STEM Majors

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) recently introduced the STEM Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 6325), bipartisan legislation which would provide tax benefits for those paying for higher education in a STEM field. The STEM Ed Coalition’s Leadership Council worked with Hanna to develop and support this new policy proposal. If your organization is interested in being added to the list of supporting organizations please contact the Coalition.  

Read more news coverage on the STEM Education Opportunity Act

See the text of the bill

See a full list of legislation supported by the Coalition in the 112^th Congress

Rep. Honda Introduces Legislation to Boost State STEM Networks

Introduced last week, the STEM Network Act (H.R. 6517), which would provide a system of federal grants to support state-based networks focused on improving student performance in STEM subjects. If you are interested to learn more about the bill or to lend your organizations support to Rep. Honda’s legislation please contact the Coalition.  

See Rep. Honda’s Press Release on the STEM Network Act

Business Alliance Releases State-by-State STEM Vital Signs

Change the Equation has released the 2012 STEM Vital Signs, critical state and national data on the current condition of STEM teaching and learning.   The 2012 Vital Signs provide state and national information on the demand for STEM skills and knowledge, student achievement in STEM, academic standards and expectations, access to STEM skills and knowledge, teacher preparation, and school support.  The reports provide a wealth of key data that teachers, administrators, and others can customize and use to advocate and support the teaching and learning of science/STEM in your school/district/state.   

See the STEM Vital Sign for your state

Coverage of the Vital Signs Indicators in Education Week

Upcoming Event:   Brookings to Host September 27^th Event on STEM Education and U.S. Competitiveness

On September 27, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings will host a forum on STEM education and immigration reforms and how these policy innovations can recharge American competitiveness and economic opportunity for current and future generations of workers. Brad Smith, executive vice president and general counsel of Microsoft, will deliver keynote remarks. Moderated by Vice President Darrell West, a panel of experts will discuss policy changes in education, immigration, among a variety of other areas, to enhance the American workforce’s competitiveness in a global economy.

Register to Attend the Event or View the Webcast

For more information on how to become a member of the Coalition’s Leadership Council, please contact the Coalition.

Cheers,

-Jodi and James

Jodi Peterson
Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 312-9214 (office)
jpeterson@nsta.org
www.nsta.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition
700 North One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 223-1187
jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

Good News!

This afternoon the Senate Appropriations Committee restored $51 million in funding for the Department of Education’s Math and Science Partnership, which had been earlier been cut from the program by the Labor, HHS, Education Subcommittee.   The program would continue at the current funding level of $150 million under the bill approved today.

For the past 2 days the Coalition has worked very closely with Sen. Shelby to build support for an amendment that would restore the proposed cuts to the MSP program.  Over the past day, dozens of organizations have voiced their support for that amendment and more than 1,000 people sent letters to Senators on this matter through the Coalition’s website.  As it became clear that a majority of Senators from both sides of the aisle were opposed to cuts to the MSP program, the leadership of the Appropriations Committee decided to include the Shelby Amendment in the final “Manager’s” bill approved by the full Committee this afternoon.

Our Coalition extends its profound thanks to Sen. Richard Shelby and to all of the organizations that added their voice to this successfull effort to ensure EVERY state will continue to recieve federal support for STEM reform efforts.  Below is the list of everyone group who lent their support to the amendment.

Cheers,

-Jodi and James
STEM Education Coalition

National Science Teachers Association

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

American Mathematical Society

American Society of Civil Engineers

ASME

American Chemical Society

Education Development Center, Inc.

IEEE-USA

Hands on Science Partnership

American Society of Agronomy

Crop Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America

Campaign for Environmental Literacy

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Statistical Association

TechNet

School Science and Mathematics Association

Triangle Coalition

National Council for Advanced Manufacturing

Society of Women Engineers

Center for Innovation in Engineering  & Science Education (CIESE) & Stevens Institute of Technology

ASHRAE

National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC)

Texas STEM Center Coalition

American Society for Microbiology

National Society of Professional Surveyors

Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

National Society of Professional Engineers

Stratford STEM Magnet High School

National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

Action Works

Engineers Without Borders-USA

EAST Initiative

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Next Steps, powered by Earth Force (formerly the Association of Science Materials Centers)

LearnOnLine, Inc

ecoCAD Design Group, LLC

Tech House

National Girls Collaborative Project.

Technology Student Association

American Institute of Physics

American Physical Society

The Optical Society

STEM Education Alliance at the College of William and Mary

Oregon State University

National Science Education Leadership Association

Association for Women in Mathematics

Project Exploration
CESA6 for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Southwest Technology Center

STEM Fuse

NARST

Jodi Peterson
Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 312-9214 (office)
jpeterson@nsta.org
www.nsta.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition
700 North One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 400-2192
jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

Thanks to all of our partner and member organizations for your support of this effort!

-James

James Brown

Executive Director

STEM Education Coalition

From: Brown, James (StemEdCoalition)
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:28 AM
To: Brown, James (StemEdCoalition)
Cc: Jodi Peterson
Subject: FW: Support the Math and Science Partnerships & the Shelby Amendment

Dear Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee-

As you prepare to meet this morning, we appreciate your consideration of an amendment proposed by Sen. Shelby to restore the cuts proposed to the Math and Science Partnerships program the Department of Education.   We wanted to share the full list of organizations supporting this proposal below, as the list has nearly doubled overnight as many STEM stakeholders are eager to convey their support for the MSP program.  Again, thank you for your consideration.

-James

Executive Director

STEM Education Coalition

Organizations Supporting the Shelby Amendment:

STEM Education Coalition

National Science Teachers Association

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

American Mathematical Society

American Society of Civil Engineers

ASME

American Chemical Society

Education Development Center, Inc.

Hands on Science Partnership

American Society of Agronomy

Crop Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America

Campaign for Environmental Literacy

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Statistical Association

TechNet

School Science and Mathematics Association

Triangle Coalition

National Council for Advanced Manufacturing

Society of Women Engineers

Center for Innovation in Engineering  & Science Education (CIESE) & Stevens Institute of Technology

ASHRAE

National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC)

Texas STEM Center Coalition

American Society for Microbiology

National Society of Professional Surveyors

Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

National Society of Professional Engineers

Stratford STEM Magnet High School

National Council of Structural Engineers Associations

Action Works

Engineers Without Borders-USA

EAST Initiative

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

Next Steps, powered by Earth Force (formerly the Association of Science Materials Centers)

LearnOnLine, Inc

ecoCAD Design Group, LLC

Tech House

National Girls Collaborative Project.

Technology Student Association

American Institute of Physics

American Physical Society

The Optical Society

STEM Education Alliance at the College of William and Mary

Oregon State University

National Science Education Leadership Association

From: Brown, James (StemEdCoalition)
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 5:25 PM
To: Brown, James (StemEdCoalition)
Cc: Jodi Peterson
Subject: Support the Math and Science Partnerships & the Shelby Amendment

Dear Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee:

As you prepare to consider legislation to fund the Department of Education, the STEM Education Coalition and our partner organizations urge you to support STEM education as a national priority by continuing to fund the Math and Science Partnership program at its current level of $150 million.   We urge you to support the Shelby Amendment, which would reverse a proposal to reduce the funding level for this program from $150 million to $99 million, end the formula-based nature of the program, and consolidate the remaining funds into grants awarded by the Department to a relatively small number of states.

The Math and Science Partnership program is program is currently the ONLY source of dedicated funding within the Department targeted exclusively at improving instruction in STEM subjects in the K-12 public schools that reaches each state.  With these funds, every state administers a competitive grant competition, with partnerships of universities, LEAs, and non-profits all competing for resources to improve teacher knowledge in STEM subjects.   In many states, funds from this program are the ONLY source of STEM-focused educational resources.

Our Coalition has always advocated for a balanced approach to the use of both competitive and formula-based funding mechanisms to promote STEM-related educational activities.   By employing both strategies, every state will be provided with some level of support for STEM education needs, while larger competitive grants to individual states promote more significant innovations.  By eliminating the only source of STEM-related funding that goes to every state, this balance will be severely upset, with more than 30 states potentially at risk of receiving no federal STEM-dedicated funding at all next year and beyond.

We urge the Committee to continue its longstanding support for the Math and Science Partnership program as a means of supporting STEM teaching and learning activities in each of the 50 states.  Please support the Shelby Amendment, which we hope will garner broad bipartisan support.  Further materials on the amendment are attached.

“But whatever we can do to dramatically increase the number of young people with a passion and a love and an excellence in STEM fields, our whole country needs that.” – Education Secretary Arne Duncan in 2012 before the House Education Committee [emphasis added].

A list of organizations supporting the Shelby Amendment is below.   A May letter from our Coalition to the Committee highlighting this program is attached as well.

Respectfully,

-James

A list of organizations supporting the Shelby Amendment:

STEM Education Coalition

National Science Teachers Association

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

American Mathematical Society

American Society of Civil Engineers

ASME

American Chemical Society

Education Development Center, Inc.

Hands on Science Partnership

American Society of Agronomy

Crop Science Society of America

Soil Science Society of America

Campaign for Environmental Literacy

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Statistical Association

TechNet

School Science and Mathematics Association

Triangle Coalition

National Council for Advanced Manufacturing

Society of Women Engineers

Center for Innovation in Engineering  & Science Education (CIESE) & Stevens Institute of Technology

ASHRAE

National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions (NASSMC)

Texas STEM Center Coalition

American Society for Microbiology

National Society of Professional Surveyors

Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

National Society of Professional Engineers

A number of great events and key reports on STEM listed below, but first please review the action item letter from the coalition to House and Senate appropriations leaders.

Action Item: Sign on to STEM Education Coalition letter on FY2013 Appropriations to Senate appropriations leaders

In the attached letter the Coalition is asking Congress to ensure STEM education is a national priority in the FY2013 budget. Specifically we are seeking strong support for the NSF Education and Human Resources Directorate; continued support for the Math and Science Partnership at the Department of Education (ED); and continued support of STEM efforts at the federal mission agencies. Last year the ED Math and Science Partnership program was zeroed out by House appropriators. In the current fiscal environment it is absolutely critical that we get as many organizations as possible to show their support for strong federal funding of STEM programs. Let us know by Monday, April 30th if your organization can sign on to the attached letter.

Click here to see the Coalition’s appropriations letter.

STEM Events of Interest:

STEM / Health Sciences Day

Students with an affinity for science, technology, engineering, math, and health sciences are in high demand. Students and interested others including parents and STEM professionals, are invited to join the online STEM Health Sciences Day on April 24, 2012 from 2:00 pm-10:00pm EDT to learn what top STEM programs have to offer.  During the event students can

• Chat live with 50+ leading schools in STEM/health sciences- including Texas Tech, Cal State Polytech, Oregon Institute of Technology, Emory University, and Florida A&M University

• Video chat with current college students majoring in STEM or health sciences

• Gain expert advice on making the most of your STEM education

Circulate this opportunity among your listservs and members! Sign up now http://www.collegeweeklive.com/en_CA/br/STEM_HEALTH_SCIENCE_DAY/refcode=NGO_STEMCOALITION_STEM For additional information or to receive STEM Day materials please contact CollegeWeekLive representative Shaina Jackson at sjackson@collegeweeklive.com

Special White House Event on Women and Girls in STEM

On April 24, 2012 from 10:30am – 11:30am EDT. Women and girls continue to be significantly underrepresented in the STEM fields – a trend that starts early and comes at a serious cost to both the career prospects of our young women and the success of our economy.  By ensuring women and girls receive the exposure, encouragement and support they need to enter, and succeed in, STEM fields, this country can benefit from the full range and diversity of its talent.

The White House Council on Women and Girls is excited to announce a White House event that features a panel of trailblazing women in STEM fields who will share their experiences and encourage young women to follow in their footsteps – or blaze a trail of their own.  This event will also include the very first public screening of “Girls in STEM,” a video on girls in STEM, featuring footage from girls who participated in the 2012 White House Science Fair.   This event will be live-streamed over the internet, and students will be able to submit questions for the panelists via Twitter and Facebook.

Here’s how you can participate:

Submit your questions for the panel right now through a webform on www.WhiteHouse.gov

On April 24th, watch live and join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter:

o        Watch live stream on WhiteHouse.gov/live beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT

o        On Facebook, watch the event live through the White House Live App and ask questions on our wall

o        On Twitter, use the hashtag #GirlsInSTEM to ask questions and discuss the panel

If you can’t join live, full video of the event will be posted on www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/cwg

The USA Science & Engineering Festival, www.usasciencefestival.org is slated for April 28-29 at the Walter Washington Convention Center.

Framework and Next Generation Science Standards symposium on  May 10, 8:30 to 12 at the National Education Association (NEA), Washington, DC The National Research Council’s Framework for K-12 Science Education is serving as the foundation for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and notes that professional development, instruction and instructional materials will also need to reflect this foundation.   In this half-day event, experts will describe model professional development and specific ways instruction and materials must change.

The AAAS/SSE STEM Volunteer Program annual meeting at AAAS on May 17 from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at AAAS, 1200 New York Ave. NW, DC.  Learn about the development and implementation of the new K-12 science standards. A second presentation will feature AAAS/SSE STEM volunteers and their teacher partners and describe their work at area elementary, middle and high schools. Volunteers assist teachers for the school year, generally going to schools for a few hours, one day a week.

The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation need your help identifying exemplary afterschool programs serving middle school youth to win a $10,000 MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Award and to be featured in our 2012 series of issue briefs. Nominate a program by May 15, 2012, to be considered for this prestigious initiative, now in its fifth year. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MetLifeInnovator2012

STEM Reports to Note:

An Analysis of STEM Education Funding at the NSF: Trends and Policy Discussion < http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42470.pdf>

This report from the Congressional Research Service analyzes NSF funding trends and selected closely related STEM education policy issues in order to place conversations about FY2013 funding in broader fiscal and policy context. It concludes with an analysis of potential policy options.

The Role of Informal Science in the State Education Agenda http://www.nga.org/cms/home/nga-center-for-best-practices/center-publications/page-edu-publications/col2-content/main-content-list/the-role-of-informal-science-in.html This publication from the National Governors Association provides guidance to states on how to make informal science a part of their state STEM agenda,.

New Poll Shows Strong Support for Improving Science Education http://achieve.org/new-poll-shows-strong-support-improving-science-education

A recent poll commissioned by Achieve on public attitudes toward science and math education finds strong public support for improving science education and support for the idea of states working together to create common science standards.

Cheers,

-Jodi and James

Jodi Peterson
Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 312-9214 (office)
jpeterson@nsta.org
www.nsta.org
www.stemedcoalition.org

James Brown
Executive Director
STEM Education Coalition
700 North One Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 400-2192
jfbrown@stemedcoalition.org
www.stemedcoalition.org