Pre-College (K-12) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education

IEEE-USA believes that action is needed to improve technical literacy and strengthen our current and future engineering work force by improving the United States’ education system.

IEEE-USA supports the recommendations of the National Academy of Engineering in its report on The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter, Economic Future, with specific emphasis on those recommendations targeted at:

Improving the nation’s education system from preschool through graduate school and beyond, with special emphasis on improving math, science and communications skills in grades K-12
Early recognition and support for students with aptitude and passion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields
Increasing incentives for individuals to pursue an education and career in STEM fields, and promote more effective utilization of STEM personnel by public and private sector employers

IEEE-USA Position Statements

U.S. Competitiveness and Innovation Policy (Feb. 2006)

Related Policy Communications

Coalition letter to Reps. Gordon and Hall endorsing a proposed Nanotechnology Education Partnership initiative as part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Math and Science Partnership program, which is contained in the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 5940) (30 May 2008)
Coalition letter to House and Senate energy appropriators urging $12 million in FY09 funding for the DOE Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program as authorized in the America COMPETES Act. (23 April 2008)
STEM Education Coalition letter to House and Senate Commerce, Justice and State appropriators supporting the budget request for the National Science Foundation's Math and Science Partnership Program and Noyce Scholarships. (16 April 2008)
STEM Education Coalition letter to House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Resources appropriators in support of budget request for the Dept. of Education's Math and Science Partnerships and Math Now programs. (16 April 2008)
Coalition letter to the President and Congressional leaders urging inclusion of science and engineering research, and math and science education funding in the supplemental Fiscal Year 2008 spending bill. (16 April 2008)
Letter to Rep. George Miller endorsing the “School Building Enhancement Act,” (H.R. 3197), which seeks to improve the energy efficiency of public school buildings. (28 Feb. 2008)
STEM Education Coalition letter to House and Senate Education leaders urging inclusion of specific STEM education priorities into pending reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (11 Feb. 2008)
Coalition statement expressing concern at failure to fund FY2008 S&T programs at levels authorized in the American Competes Act. (18 Dec. 2007)
Joint letter with ASME to the Federal Office of Management and Budget urging enactment of FY 2008 increases for STEM education and fundamental scientific and engineering research authorized for in the America Competes Act. (13 Dec. 2007)
STEM Coalition letter endorsing the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). (28 March 2007)
Letter to Rep. Bart Gordon endorsing the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362) and the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act (H.R. 363). (29 Jan. 2007)

IEEE-USA also works through the STEM Education Coalition to advance our pre-college education policy agenda.

How You Can Help

You can use IEEE-USA's Legislative Action Center to send messages, or join the CARE Team to help us on this and other issues by volunteering as a grassroots advocate.

Pending Legislation

The Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Act of 2008 (H.R. 6104)

Congressional Hearings

House Committee on Education and Labor hearing on The National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report (21 May 2008)

House Science Committee hearing on STEM Education Before High School (12 May 2008)

Government Programs and Reports

Department of Education Math and Science Partnership Program

National Science Foundation's Math and Science Partnership Program

National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

Other Resource Links

STEM Education Coalition

National Academy Report "Ready, Set, Science!: Putting Research to Work in K-8 Science Classrooms"