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STEM: Facts and figures about the state of science, technology, engineering and math education.

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Facts and figures about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as compiled by the N.C. Stem Community Collaborative:

• By 2014, there are expected to be 2 million jobs created in STEM-related fields (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

• Concern about America’s ability to be competitive in the global economy has led to a number of calls to action to strengthen the pipeline into these fields (National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Science, Engineering & Public Policy, 2007; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2006; U.S. Department of Education, 2006).

• Forty percent (40%) of all students test at below basic math level; 70% African Americans and 3/5 Latinos test below math level (2005 National Assessment of Education Progress)

• Fifty percent (50%) of all students test at below basic science level; 4/5 African Americans and 7/10 Latinos below basic science level (Ibid)

• The number of engineering degrees awarded in the United States is down 20% from the peak year of 1985. (Tapping America’s Potential; www.tap2015.org)

• Although U.S. fourth graders score well against international competition, they fall near the bottom or dead last by the time they are 12th graders in mathematics and science, respectively. (Ibid)

• More than 50% of all engineering doctorial degrees awarded by U.S. engineering colleges are to individuals ineligible for the security clearances required for most defense industrial base jobs (Ibid)

• In 2001, there were slightly more than 4 million 9th graders. Four years later, 2.8 million graduated and 1.9 million went on to two and four year college; only 1.3 million were actually ready for college work. Fewer than 300,000 are majoring in STEM fields and only about 167,000 are expected to be STEM college graduates by 2011. (National Center for Education Statistics; Digest of Education Statistics)
 

STEM Education

STEM News is generated through a collaborative effort between the NC STEM Community Collaborative, MCNC, and WRAL Tech Wire. To submit story ideas, please email WTW Editor Rick Smith rsmith@wral.com or Noah Garrett noah@thinkngc.com. Read more articles…