CRESMET Policy Director:  National Science Board Takes Aim at Math & Science in U.S. Schools

The NSB is composed of researchers, college presidents, business and industry leaders and higher education faculty.

At the time of my appointment, I was a K-6 science specialist with Mesa Public Schools. Since my appointment I’ve worked to convince my colleagues on the board of the need to look at the increasingly urgent pipeline issue—there are too few students majoring in science, mathematics and engineering to fill the nation’s workforce demands— and to act on the understanding that the journey to becoming a STEM teacher or professional begins not in college, but in kindergarten.

In my latest board assignment I have focused on the Pre-K–20 STEM education system by serving as vice-chair of the Commission on 21st Century STEM education. 

It was an honor to host the commission here in Phoenix in January, where members discussed with Governor Janet Napolitano the Innovation America theme she has chosen to mark her term as chairman of the National Governors’ Association, as well as to host board members at the Biodesign Institute at ASU.  

Our congressionally charged commission grew out of a spate of recent national reports on the state of STEM education—

• “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,” National Academy of Sciences
• “America’s Pressing Challenge: Building a Stronger Foundation,” National Science Board
• “Science and Engineering Indicators 2006,” National Science Board
• “A Commitment to America’s Future: Responding to the Crisis in Mathematics and Science Education,” Business-Higher Education Forum
• “Tapping America’s Potential: The Education for Innovation Initiative,” Business Roundtable

 

The NSB commission has been considering and synthesizing these and other reports to make recommendations to the president and the U.S. Congress for an education reform plan that is

• realistic,
• affordable and
• politically acceptable.

 
The first objective of this commission is to forge a national action plan that effectively employs Federal resources cooperatively with those of stakeholders from all sectors, from state governments to families, higher education, labor unions, national organizations and informal science educators such as museums.

The commission’s action plan will look to

• Encourage and sustain reform of the national pre-K-16 STEM education system
• Achieve world class performance by U.S. students
• Prepare the U.S. workforce for 21st century skill needs
• Ensure national literacy in science and mathematics for all U.S. citizens

The second major objective of the commission is to provide direction to the National Science Foundation on its role in continuing to provide the educational research and development needed to respond to our pressing issues in STEM education.  
 
The overarching recommendation of the 21st Century Commission is for Congress to charter a national body to coordinate and facilitate implementation of a national system for STEM education, in partnership with the National Governors Association. 

The commission’s draft report will be available for public comment on the NSB website sometime in early April. Already bills are circulating on the Hill which will bring all this together. Perhaps this will be the tipping point for our nation to take the needed steps for change in our fractured system of STEM education. 

Jo Anne Vasquez,
 CRESMET Director, Policy & Outreach