STEM Coalition

Coalition Activities

The STEM Education Coalition supports policies that increase federal funding for STEM programs. The coalition has more than 1,200 members and includes individuals, universities, professional societies, community organizations, and the private sector. The STEM Coalition is cochaired by the American Chemical Society and the National Science Teachers Association. The STEM Education Coalition recognizes that STEM education programs in the United States are not keeping pace internationally. The coalition identifies several areas for improving STEM education in the United States, including increased funding for teacher professional development, improving the technological infrastructure in schools, supporting after-school programs, funding research and development, and building partnerships between the public and private sector.

In the past few years, the STEM Educational Coalition has been influential in ensuring that every major education law included provisions for supporting STEM education. For example, in 2008, the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) included funding for STEM teacher professional development, scholarships for students to obtain STEM degrees, and outreach efforts that engage minority youth in hands-on STEM learning. The No Child Left Behind Act (Public Law 107-110), passed in 2002 and reauthorized in 2007, provides increased funding for educational technology.

Gender and STEM Education

In recent years, much of the economic growth in the United States has come from the science and engineering sector, yet women and minorities continue to be underrepresented in these fields. STEM educators have identified a “leaky” pipeline that contributes to the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. In middle school, studies suggest that there is an achievement gap between girls and boys on math and science test scores. At the high school level, girls are less likely to enroll in advanced math and science courses, which are the prerequisites for pursuing STEM degrees in college. At the college level, female students make up only 20 percent of engineering undergraduate degrees and 17 percent of computer science degrees. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, women comprise only 24 percent of jobs in the technical workforce. The coalition supports gender equity by lobbying for increased funding for STEM educational initiatives, such as after-school programs that increase girls’ interest in STEM careers. Additionally, several member organizations conduct specific activities related to gender equality.