Developing the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Education Pipeline

For almost 50 years, ACT has played a pivotal role in promoting student
access into and success in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) careers.

Through academic and career assessments,
career development tools, and extensive research, we have helped inform
students, parents, teachers, career counselors, employers, and policymakers
about the skills that are needed to perform effectively in STEM fields.

Our research and recommendations for policymakers and educators are
based on the more than one million U.S. high school graduates who take
the ACT® college admission and placement exam each year. The ACT is
the only national college admission test that includes an interest inventory
as well as both math and science assessments. The results provide a clear
picture of high school students’ interest and academic achievement in
STEM, and the news is mixed. Interest in STEM is declining, and most
students are not adequately prepared to succeed in college-level
coursework. However, students who plan early and strategically and have
access to high-level and rigorous coursework are more likely to be
prepared for and succeed in the STEM fields.

Full Story: http://www.act.org/path/policy/pdf/ACT_STEM_PolicyRpt.pdf

(Many thanks to Dave Young for passing this along. Russ)

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Related Story:

K-12 Pilot Programs Shape Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs
A recent white paper from CFED suggests yes, public school systems can do more to prepare students for participation in the entrepreneurial community. http://www.matr.net/article-20382.html